[Anime Review] - Bubuki Buranki E1: Childhood Nostalgia Done Right

Bubuki Buranki is one of a kind. After watching some anime this season that's (mostly) just a waste of awesome talent, finally there is one title that made me watch the entire episode without a pause.

Bubuki Buranki might had a confusing opening episode, but it has a stunning background art, godlike 3D animation (or 2.5D, I'm not really sure, but what I'm sure it's not a hand-drawn animation) that looks like hand-drawn animation, beautiful music, also cool as fuck seiyuus.

To be honest, I never heard about this anime before I watch it so I don't have any expectations for Bubuki Buranki but I feel quiet good for not having any expectations, because Bubuki Buranki is just what I need.

Story: 

WARNING - since the first episode is not that clear for me and it's quiet weird in someway, the story that I write here is from my point of view, my experience. So if you find it's a little (or not little) different from other site, then it's because of our different PoV of Bubuki Buranki.

Bubuki Buranki told us about a world that's broken because of Buranki. Buranki it self is like a mechanical destroyer that's sometimes evil, sometimes not. Buranki used to live a world other than us, in the sky, I assume. Buranki sleeps in that world and they shall never be awaken.
In that world, there's a family with two kids, Kaoruko and Azuma. Kaoruko and Azuma are twins with Azuma as the older brother. Their family consist of mother, father, and two childerns, and their mother acts as a guardian of the Buranki. To act as a guardian, their mother had a power that's also given to Kaoruko and Azuma.

Someday, Kaoruko realizes that something is wrong with her mother and she decided to wake her mother's Buranki, called Ougi. A big handsome mecha colored in white and orange (reminds me of Inaho Kaizuka's mecha), which in Kaoruko believes that Ougi will help her to helps her mother taking care of the wild Buranki.

But she was wrong.

10 years prior to the accident that Kaoruko made, Azuma is now living in the surface, Tokyo. Kaoruko, his mother, and his father's where about is unkown so far, but what Azuma believe, is that he have to meet his mother again.

In order to meet his mother, his only way is to find Ougi that's used to transport him and his family to the surface. 

Because Ougi is sent to the surface, apparently his mother caused chaos in the world and made Buranki delivers a total disaster. The surface is now full of Bubuki users, a Bubuki is a person who's using a part of Buranki as their super power. Bubuki's powers are different for each person and Bubuki can transform to weapon or shield, or simply anything that's needed by the user. Bubuki it self isn't given to everyone, some of the chosen one are able to use Bubuki.

In this world, Bubuki users are divided in to two, those who hates Azuma's mother and those who wants to activate Ougi and made the world a better place for everyone. Those who wants to activate Ougi are in Azuma's side and they want Azuma, who have the blood of the Buranki guardian, to activate Ougi and help the world.

My opinion:
Although this anime is quiet confusing as a first episode, I do think that it will have more explanation on the second episode. Plus, it has so many cool stuff to see and moreover, handsome characters plus bad ass girls. This anime is a bliss for the season. It gives off some 90s anime aura around it, a childish and true, yet also full of mysteries.

But of course, I don't think it will be popular.

[Anime Review] - Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R: 01

Hello again, it's been a while since I posted a review, I'm sorry. My schedule is pretty tight so I have to rest while I can and that affects my anime watching time > - < ;;

So, today I'll give a review about an unpopular anime called Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R. As a fan of anime since 199x, I'm pretty aware of Komugi series. I'm also a fan of it's Magikarte arc which aired long time ago back in 200x. Now that Komugi is back on TV, I'm really looking forward to see how much Komugi-chan has changed and how the studio will bring back my favorite mahou shoujo to modern world.

Image source: Alphacodes

Of course I was skeptical, since it's 2016 when moe-shit is a thing (I like moe-shit anyway), Komugi might be changed to a PWP - plot? What plot? anime that's full of fan service here and there.

And it was true. Komugi R turns Komugi series to a PWP anime, but it's not full of fan service, not even jiggling boobs was there. So if you're here for the fan service, you might wanna leave.

Komugi-chan now looks quiet modern, though

Story:
Komugi R told us about a pretty and genki little girl (14 years old) called Komugi that's living a life as a normal junior high school girl and an idol. She's pretty popular in her neighborhood, not only because his father is a renowned doctor there, but also because Komugi herself is really kind and helpful to everyone.

Komugi's wish is to be a famous idol and she's working hard for it. She also have two other close friend who's her classmate and her neighbor. Those other two are also idols but they're more popular than Komugi. Since Komugi is a ditz, she's not even jealous of her friend's popularity, she's rooting for them from the bottom of her heart.

This plot sounds really boring, isn't it?

One day, after having a walk with her friend, Komugi accidentally met a weird bunny that's talking. That bunny then asked Komugi to become a magical girl.
Sounds reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally typical.
Komugi then promised the weird bunny that she will be a magical girl in order to save the world from evil monsters just because she's that good. (Well, the bunny helps her before so it's kind of a payback).

So how will Komugi adapt to her new and not-so normal life? You can watch the first episode of Nurse Witch Komugi-chan R with HorribleSubs' sub right now!

What I Think:
It's... kind of... weird, bad, but also good. I have mixed and biased feeling for this anime. It's really bad and sometimes the seiyuu's voice sounds quiet annoying and half-hearted but on the other hand, I really enjoy seeing Komugi-chan back on TV. It's your usual magical girl anime but I'm sure that this one is targetted to U-15 rather than the other Komugi series that's targetted to above 15.
This anime is really safe, I told you.

Komugi R also have so many parodies on the first episode. From Milky Holmes to Yatterman, it's quiet fun to see. I will watch the next episode, but I hope the seiyuus got better next time.

As a comedy-not-comedy anime, Komugi R didn't deliver its comedy that well, but if you're fond of lame jokes, this anime might entertain you.

Extra:
The insert songs aren't so good, it's bad, even. It sounds cheap and annoying. But it's Komugi so I guess I'll like it somehow.

[ANIME REVIEW] - Prince of Stride: Ep. 1 On Your Mark

First, I wanna say that I am never interested in this anime before, but my life's motto is that "you have to know what you dislike so I know what I dislike and can give argument to people why I dislike it, or I can have another look at it, probably I will like it" so I watch every anime I could, before you complain "why you dislike it but you watch it?"

I cried, really.

Prince of Stride or PuriSuto is an anime about a form of Parkour that's Free Running. I don't have much knowledge about Parkour and Free Running but since there is "Parkour and Free Running Association" I assume that Free Running is a more exclusive form than Parkour that's so well known so that it have its own path. More exclusively, this anime is telling us about STRIDE. Yes, stride it self is a technique to give our body a faster running speed significantly, also Stride it self is also a form of relay run that involves really fast running here and there and jumping over obstacle. That's from what I know when I read my father's book.
Anyway, when I watch the first one minute of the anime, I feel so... "hah, as I thought". Rather than running, this anime's animation focused more on HAAAAAAAAAAAAIR. Hair. Yes, hair. Like, it animated the hair much better than the running.

Flowing hair here and there, can you even run with that kind of bangs, sirs?

The opening song is quiet standard sport anime for girls, but it introduces us so many character in one go. It's good though. Also, if you ever played IDOLiSH7 (AiNana) you will fell that this anime has the same vibe. Although in someway the opening is weird, it looks so Murrica. lmao.

Typical opening for an anime, isn't it?

This anime told us about Nana, a girl who's going to Hounan Academy just to enter the STRIDE club. Nana, I really hope she's more than a "usual twintail girl", but sadly she is. Nana is voiced by HanaKana though so I don't mind......well I DO MIND. But, no, I'm fine. In some way I feel that she is not Nana, she is HanaKana. You know when you feel more of the seiyuu than the character it self? It's like Nana's personality is overwhelmed by HanaKana's voice.

Also, this anime have quiet a kira kira effect. Eveywhere is sparkling. Sparkling here and there my eyes hurts. Madhouse's animation is really M A D.

Riku Yagami is a first year at Hounan and he fall in love at the first sight to Nana, who's a stride freak. Riku Yagami is someho a prodigy in Stride but he somehow try to hide it by trying many clubs in one go. He wishes to help any sport club because he wants to try many form of sports.

But unfortunately, Takeru Fujiwara holds him and drag him to Stride club.

Yes, that man on the middle is Takeru

To convince Riku for joining the Stride club, the regulars senpai made a relay race at school. It was a huge race and somehow everyone is loving it and helping the desperate (Yes, Stride club somehow lose its two prodigy members and almost disbanded, so typical) Stride club. If you ever read or watch Eyeshield21, you will feel the resemblance.

The senpais are playing shogi instead of training. Senpai's cleavage though.

Well, will Riku interested to join the Stride club or not? Watch on the first episode of stride. I watched it raw though, I don't know when the subs will out but if you're a fuoshi or reverse harem loving girl, or just a man who wanna watch a cool (not cool for me) sport anime, you may want to watch PuriSuto.

On additional note, Shimono Hiro acting as green haired senpai is really good. Like, SOOOOOOOO GOOD.

Will I continue watching this? Mhm, well, yes. 

What for?

THIS IS MY REASON.

SENPAI IS MY REASON HE IS MY REASON. MY REASON. MY R E A S O N.

Yes, I must admit that this senpai (and HanaKana) gave me a reason to stay in this anime. I can't with this type. His chest is so manly it's jumping here and there, oh I can see I will draw him everyday from now on.

Bonus for you guys for reading my review, thank you so much.

『Book Review』- Antique Fuga Vol. 2

Yoo~
It's Antique Fuga again, today I'll review about the second volume that I finished yesterday afternoon.
Again, this book is really light, but this second book is actually better than the first one. In volume two, we find more fascinating journey of Fuga and Shana. How Ambiru Yasuko write the story didn't change, but Ambiru-sensei made quiet a good arrangement of climax and end.

[Image Source: Pinterest]

In the second volume, we meet new characters who made a change of the game in the end. Fuga and Shana is having a proper meal this time, while in the morning they still consuming instant foods, at night they eat a healthy and expensive food in a restaurant called Shino. This where all started.
Shino restaurant bought an antique set to Antique Fuga, which Shana trade for free meal everyday until Shino can pay the antique set.
The owner of Shino told Fuga and Shana that he met a beautiful lady in an antique exhibition, and he asked for Shana's help to get the lady's phone number. When Fuga and Shana went to the exhibition, all strange things started to happen.

Translation

It's all good, not a single typo found in the book. Somehow the translator made a better word choice than the first one.

Illustration 

More angle variation than before and Fuga looks more mature in this volume.

Verdict

If you never read Antique Fuga before, I suggest you read the first book first then move on to the second book, because this book won't tell you a single thing about what happened in the first book. I'm sure you'll be confused.
The second book is definitely better than the first one, so you have to read it if you got a copy of the first.

Also, ( S P O I L E R ) this book shows you Yuimaaru! The second conro that Shana has been looking for! 

『Book Review』- Antique Fuga Vol. 1

Maybe term light novel is not well known among book lovers in Indonesia so I'll make a simple description of it. Light novel is a term that is used in Japanese novels to differ light novel from the other novel. Light novel usually not more than 40,000–50,000 long, so it's really light in many way. It's also primarily targeted to teen to young-adult and usually printed in A6. 

Image Source: Ranobe

Light novels also rich in illustrations, unlike usual novel. Light novel (often called as LN in Indonesian Otaku forums or Ranobe in Japanese) usually have illustration for each chapter, it's drawn in Japanese manga style. For you who's fond of manga, light novels are like manga, but it's written. It's really easy to read but you won't find beautiful words like Neil Gaiman's in light novels. 

Alright, that's all about light novels. 

Today I will make a review about a light novel I finished yesterday, titled Antique Fuga. This book is on my MUST READ LIST since last two years but I didn't buy it because it was so expensive. So, why I got it now? It's on sale. 90% off. So yeah, I took it without thinking. It must be fate.

Anyway, Antique Fuga is a light novel made by well-known author in Japanese called Ambiru Yasuko. Ambiru-sensei made some other books that's translated in to Indonesian by same publisher as Antique Fuga such as Lulu and Rara and Little Witch, Co. Different from Lulu and Rara or Little Witch, Co., Antique Fuga targeted to older audience. Even thought Ambiru-sensei said that Antique Fuga is targeted to 11 and above, I think it's more enjoyable if it's read by 15 (and above). 

What is it about?
Antique Fuga told us about the journey of Fuga Ichijou and the kodama, a tree spirit that live in a Corno (French horn), called Shaniah (Shania, in Indonesian translation) in search of Fuga's missing parents. Fuga made a pact with Shaniah to be his blood-related-big-brother until Fuga finds his parents. Shaniah then got a new name from Fuga as Shana Ichijou. Ichijou, Fuga's family, runs an antique shop called Antique Rondo that's soon changed to Antique Fuga as Shana suggested because now that his parents are missing, Fuga is the owner of this shop (Rondo is Fuga's father's name). Since Fuga runs an antique shop, Fuga has an ability to see spirits that resides within antiques.With the help of Shana, Fuga is now making a living with selling and appraising antiques while trying to figure out why his parents are missing so suddenly.

Translation and Words Choice
Bentang Pustaka, as a publisher of this book, had a good job translating it. I'm kinda disappointed with Shining Rose Media (Light novel publisher in Indonesia) by its typos here and there so Bentang made me feel satisfied with its translation works. As a light novel, Antique Fuga sure have an "easy to read" feel around it. You can finish this book in less than 4 hours, or even, 3 hours. But even if it's light, this book have a good flow, and is really enjoyable to read. It's been a pleasure reading it because I just finished reading book about ghosts and depression. It's a good book for weekend before starting to work again tomorrow (ayy, lmao).

Illustration
Totoya did a cute job drawing Fuga and friends. By cute I mean it fits well with the book's image. I wish it's all colored though.

Verdict
I can't give a 4/5 to this book because some of the part jumped too fast and this book is not a book that you will remember for the rest of your life. So I give it 3/5. You can enjoy this book while playing games or waiting for your food on a cafe on weekend. It's a good book to let your mind stress-free from reading too much heavy stuff. Unfortunately, this book is a series. So far Ambiru-sensei made six books and I assume it's ended on the sixth, but in Indonesia, it's only translated until two (I hope the third book out soon). 

If you're wondering if this book has shonen-ai or boy's love aura around it, as a fujoshi, I say N O. Stop it. This book doesn't have it. Please don't read it as a gay novel. Thanks. 

『Cosmetic Review』- MOKO MOKO Sugar Lipstick

MOKO MOKO is a brand of cosmetic that suddenly popped outta nowhere in a supermarket near my home. It's not particularly new, but I finally decided to buy it because I need softer color on my lipstick collection. 

Cute packaging and as I thought, the lipstick itself is cuter

Price

It's not that cheap, but it's not as expensive as Maybelline's lipstick. IDR 42.000, it's quiet expensive for its target market but, well, girls right now will save for a cosmetic they want, right?

Quantity

Your usual lipstick quantity, but this one is a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitle bigger than some lipstick. Just a little. 

Color

It's not what I thought it would be.I thought it would be soft pink but this one is BRIGHT PINK.

But still pretty af

Application

It doesn't fit my dry lips well, so I have to use lip balm first then this one. Also, even though it's said that this lipstick is moisturizing, it didn't. Not so much. Your lips have to be EXTRA MOIST to apply this one, in order to see its true color. 

Is it long lasting?

Not really. But it's enough to keep your lips pretty for four hours or so.

Verdict

I recommend this one for girls who have a very moist and healthy lips (unlike mine). It have a pretty bright pink color that will suit a darker skin, I don't think it will be that good on fair or pale skin, since the color is super bright and won't look natural (if you want to look natural).

『Book Review』 - Gerbang Dialog Danur by Risa Saraswati

I'm a person who's judging the book by its cover.
I also judge people by how they look.
I am not ashamed of that, and I already know that it is not good, but I'm trained to judge by the cover as a person who's graduated from design institute.

Beautifully drawn cover illustration

So, I buy this Gerbang Dialog Danur book because I'm interested in the cover. Five young handsome aristocrat boys, and they are ghosts. It reminds me of a friend of mine, back in Middle School. No, no, he's not a ghost, but he is my friend's alter ego. A pale and handsome European man, but he's perverted as fuck.

Anyway, I bought this book in a mili second decision. Yes, because its cover. Cover.

I didn't even bother to try reading a book that's having a cover that I don't like.

So, as you can see, the cover of this book is well drawn. Soft and scary. But I'm a little bit disappointed by the cover's paper quality. Since it's only plain 260 gr Art Paper without lamination at all so it's easily damaged when I read the book too much.

Right, so I'm disappointed with the packaging but satisfied with the cover illustration and layout.

Let's go in to the book itself.

It's based on a true story, the story of the author, Risa Saraswati with her ghost friends. The book itself is really light, you can read the 200+ pages in less than a day, and what's cool about that, is that you won't feel tired at all. Usually after reading a book non-stop I will feel weary and decided to sleep, but not with this book. Probably because it's really easy to read, the language that's used by Risa is not hard to devour, unlike George Orwell's 1984 which made me almost give up understanding his words, and tried not to eat it for a while.

Risa told us about her experience with the ghosts, from the beautiful one to the scary one. Reading Risa's book at night is not that good, because some part of it is quiet scary, telling us about deaths of some girls, eerie deaths.

My favorite character in this book, William.

The book have so many characters to read, and those characters are interesting, each one of them. Sometimes we're seeing them in Risa's PoV, sometimes in their own.

But that's the flaw of this book, I guess.

Since the PoV of each of the ghosts looks, same. The way the talk might differ a little, but as a reader, I can't see their personality in this book. They are all look the same for me. They look like Risa.

It's probably because I ate too much George RR Martin's characters' PoV. They have a rich personality, their own soul, their own way of thinking. So when I read them, it's like, I'm seeing them as a different person. Not like GRRM.

But this book is Risa's first book, and it's not that bad. If you're fond of ghost stories you might want to read it. But if you're looking for a book with beautifully written words, this book is not the book for you.