HAIM - The Wire

"It felt great, it felt right, oh…But I fumbled him when I came down to the wire.” 

This song is practically stamped on to my head now. I love Haim. Every time I listen to them I can’t help but think that their sound was made from a different decade, more reminiscent of the 80s/and early 90s, but transported into the present time.

The 1975 - Chocolate

Oh my tippy toes. This song makes me wanna dance…as though no one is watching.

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers

LSS for Lykke Li’s song “I Follow Rivers”, which I’ve heard played/featured in two French films. First in the official bande annonce of “Blue is the Warmest Color”, and secondly, in the disco sequence of “Rust and Bone”.

Six Seasons of Madness

If the U.S. Library of Congress could deemed any show as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant," Mad Men will fit the bill perfectly. Unlike most viewers, I am generally picky with the kind of TV series I watch. I don't fall for the usual crime and action serials, rather I prefer something that would make me think. Watching (movies and TV series) is not just a form of entertainment to me but a way to educate myself, so I screen what I watch and read reviews from reliable news websites, such as Indiewire, HuffingtonPost, New York Times and The Guardian before I jump on the bandwagon. Being a Psychology major, a history buff and some sort of cultural anthropologist Mad Men is my meal ticket to anything and everything 60s. It's been 6 years since its "premier" season and we're now nearing the beginning of a new decade and closing in on a turbulent one. Season 7 next year will surely be a bittersweet experience. Whatever the finale may bring I am eternally grateful for the ride. 

Anime 2013: Second Quarter Season Roundup

Now this post has been delayed for such a long time. It feels like ages since the anime Spring, but due to real life matters that needs my personal attention my review for the First Look and Final Notes from the last season and this season were basically impeded. The third quarter is going to wrap up soon so I might as well do this entry before that day comes. P.S. My apologies for the absence of description to my other choices.


BEST ANIMATION - SPRING 2013

I fell in love with this P.A. Works adaptation the very first time I laid my eyes on the preview. It is scenery porn at its best and the characters are just beautiful, cute and sweet without bordering on the Moe. I could have picked Urobuchi's "Suisei no Gargantia", but except for Ledo, the characters are too rambunctious and fleshly for me, especially during the swimsuit episode. RDG's world of fantasy, magic, encapsulating both spiritual and the Japanese culture is a true delight as a visual. Never mind the poor pre-airing at NicoNico, P.A. Works is a force to be reckon with. 

BEST STORY - SPRING 2013

Choosing Aku no Hana for best story is a risky decision, given the hatred that spurns online for its anime adaptation. But P.A. Works blotched their chance for not giving RDG a two cour run. Hence, I have to choose something that truly stood out to me as a story, in spite of its unattractive animation. Aku no Hana's story has the appeal of a European art film. It is controversial for being difficult. In a sense that our characters are going over the edge. They want to be free from the shackles of boredom and normality, to the point that their actions bring discomfort to the viewers. This is not the anime for the faint of heart, nor for the people of sunny and sweet disposition. Aku no Hana is a diamond in the rough, a rare anime gem, that dares to tell the truth about adolescence and about life. 

FAVORITE MALE CHARACTER - SPRING 2013

I am completely torn between these two. But it's all about the connection and their extraordinary character appeal that is always consistent and never generic in spite of their seemingly typical lifestyle.

BEST GIRL - SPRING 2013

The kickass level 5 "biribiri" of Academy City has always been my best girl. Her long overdue comeback is very much needed and welcome by us Mikoto fans. I don't think there is enough words (to express) why I love her to bits. 


BEST SUPPORTING CHARACTER - SPRING 2013

BEST RECURRING CHARACTER - SPRING 2013

BEST VILLAIN - SPRING 2013

In a true sense of the word, Nakamura is a character that is the anti-hero to the hero. She is neither nice and friendly, not a girl-next-door that people would love to hang out with. She spreads misery to her company, even if her intention is to free them from their ennui. She is brutal, a borderline psychopath, and a ruthless human being that uses violence to cover up her frailty. 

MOST UNDERAPPRECIATED - SPRING 2013

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS - SPRING 2013

DISAPPOINTMENT - 2013

Kirino is the worst thing that ever happened to this anime. She is annoying and selfish. There are better characters over her. So why pull (spoiler alert!) the incest route to the very end? It ruins everything. What a waste of time! And I'm not the only one who feels the same way about this. 

BEST OPENING SONG/SEQUENCE - SPRING 2013

"Guren no Yumiya" by Linked Horizon for Shingeki no Kyojin 

BEST ENDING SONG/SEQUENCE - SPRING 2013

"Yokan" by Masumi Ito for Red Data Girl

BEST SOUNDTRACK - SPRING 2013

Red Data Girl by Myu

BEST ANIME - SPRING 2013

Hands down to this series. Maybe we didn't get as much character interactions and revelations from our lead triangle compared to the first season, but honestly, I don't care. I love Chihayafuru and the whole reason that keeps me glued each week are the intense karuta matches. And for its entire 25 episode run that's exactly what I get. Just pure, unadulterated, blissful, extensive and at times torturous Karuta. Mizusawa clinched the best team trophy. Taichi finally made it to class A. Desktomu and Tsukuba also won in their respective classes. Chihaya got a fair beating from Megumu. Then there's the showdown of the Karuta Gods: Shinobu and Arata, just in time before the season closes.