May 24, 2013

Happy Birthday Hinagiku Katsura!

In honor of Hinagiku’s birthday I thought I would write about why I love her so much. If you’ve listened to the podcast or follow me on twitter you know that I’m totally in love Hinagiku Katsura. If you don’t know Hinagiku is from the anime and manga Hayate no Gotoku or as it’s called in English Hayate the Combat Butler. Trying to think about why I love Hinagiku is hard to explain. I never really finished the first season of the Hayate no Gotoku anime, and just recently started reading the manga.

Most of my experience with Hinagiku has been based on the second season of the anime. So I have to ask myself the question “Benu, why do you like Hinagiku so much?”. I’m not really sure how to answer the question myself. I plan to write a more in depth look at the subject another time analyzing the second season and the specific things that brought me to love her. Hinagiku is an interesting character in that when I saw the first season of Hayate I didn’t really notice her from the start although I do remember liking her a bit.

Then came along the second season of Hayate which I didn’t really plan to watch. I just watched a couple episodes just because. I don’t know really what happened but around episode 4 something changed. Instead of the silly parody anime the last season was, the characters in the show started to become real characters and not characters purely just to be comical, which is what the first season felt like. So to get to the point and stop rambling I think I like Hinagiku as much as I do because she very much reminds me of myself or rather qualities of character that I aspire to have and improve on.

Hina always shows herself to be very responsible and honest and always has the courage to do the right thing and thinks of others before herself. She shows herself to be a strong, confident, and mature person yet at times deep down inside she is struggling with the same feelings and emotions everyone else feels yet she always tries to show herself as a strong woman no matter what. Her true feelings are deep down inside but she is too embarrassed to express her true self and feelings. I don’t think this even really explains everything about my love for Hina but I think it may give you a better understanding about why I like her.

If you like Hinagiku, what is it about her that makes you like her? For those that don’t like Hinagiku, what is it about your favorite character from Hayate that makes you like them? If you don’t have a favorite Hayate character, what is it about your favorite anime character that makes you like them?

Six Years And Running!


On February 18th, 6 years ago, the first episode of Anime Genesis was recorded. It was know as Benu’s Podcast at the time, the Anime Genesis name didn’t come along till 10 episodes later. A lot has happened in these six years. It has been a long, long road traveled with many successes and failures. I have learned a lot in these six years and I think I still have much to learn. I never would have thought that six years ago Anime Genesis would still be here after all this time. I’m proud to say that Anime Gen is still here and still going strong. Its been an amazing and fantastic journey thus far. I would sincerely like to thank everyone that has been with me on this wonderful journey. I would like to thank those that have had a profound impact on me and the show over the years and a big, big thanks to everyone that has helped me and stood with me these six years. Everyone’s love and support means a lot to me. The podcast and the site would have never got to where it is now without everyone that has helped and contributed to the site and podcast and of course each and every reader, listener, and fan thank you so much! Without everyone that has helped Anime Genesis become what it is today, it would just be another anime podcast and blog that would have already faded out of existence within the first year. There are so many of you to thank so thank you all very much! I love you all! Where does Anime Genesis go from here? It’s going the only place it can go, up to higher places in 2011!

Some of the most notable events in the history of Anime Genesis over the course of six years:

February 18th, 2005 – The first episode of Benu’s Podcast is recorded.

February 13th, 2006 – The first episode bearing the Anime Genesis name is released.

July 2006 – Anime Genesis covers Anime Expo 2006 as press for the first time.

February 18th, 2007 – Anime Genesis hits the two year mark.

July 2007 – Anime Genesis hosts it’s first panel ever at Anime Expo 2007.

May 17th, 2008 – Benu is a guest and guest hosts on the Ramen Revolution TV show making it Benu’s first ever TV appearance.

July 2008 – Benu interviews David Hayter, Shoko Nakagawa, and Jyukai. Also, Anime Genesis has it’s first live show with Anime Diet at Anime Expo 2008.

January 2009 – Anime Genesis has it’s first live show with How A Girl Figures at Anime Los Angeles 2009.

February 18th, 2009 – Anime Genesis hits the four year mark.

July 2009 – Benu interviews Kari Wahlgren, Yosuke Kuroda, Seiji Mizushima, Yun Kouga, Hiroyuki Imaishi, Atsushi Nishigori, and Benu is also one of the hosts for The Indecent Otaku Comedy Hour at Anime Expo 2009.

February 18th, 2010 – Anime Genesis hits the five year mark.

July 2010 – Benu interviews Danny Choo, also, Benu and Dancing Queen host The Indecent Otaku Comedy Show with special guest Danny Choo at Anime Expo 2010.

February 18th, 2011 – Anime Genesis hits the six year mark.

Anime Genesis Podcast: Episode 3 – My Girls Bravo Can’t Be This Cute!

Benu is back with a brand new podcast! Can you believe it? Well believe it! In episode 3 for season four, Benu reviews Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai or My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute and does a DVD review of Girls Bravo: The Complete Series!

Show Notes

(00:00-02:32) – Intro

(02:32-06:35) - Anime Pacific’s response to New Year’s Resolutions For The Otaku

Reviews

(06:35-12:47) – Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai

Final Verdict: A – Masterpiece

(12:47-17:49) – DVD Review – Girls Bravo: The Complete Series

Final Verdict: C – Average

 


 

(17:49-18:59) – Twitter Shout Outs

@otakureview at otakureview.net and ani.me

@ssaapodcast at ssaapodcast.com

(18:59-20:37) – Outtro

(20:37-22:09) – Outtakes

Send any comments or questions to animegen@gmail.com, you can follow anime gen on twitter at twitter.com/animegen, also check out our facebook page at facebook.com/animegen. Send your twitter shout outs by sending your url to @animegen on twitter. Your site must be anime, japan, or geek culture related.

Disclaimer: A copy of the DVD reviewed on this podcast was sent to Anime Genesis by Funimation Entertainment for review purposes.

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Nendoroid Hinagiku Katsura Video Review

Benu reviews the awesome and extremely cute Nendoroid Hinagiku Katsura and lets you know all you need to know about this awesome nendoroid!

Check out the online stores below if you want to pick her up for yourself!

J-list
beNippon
Hobby Link Japan
Hobby Search
Kid Nemo Company
Otaku Fuel
Play Asia

Toylet
AmiAmi

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Hinagiku Nendoroid Get!

Nendoroid Hinagiku

I just got my Hinagiku Nendoroid in yesterday and she is so cute, adorable, and moe! I am working on a video review of her that will be up on the site soon but I’m so excited about her I had to post some pics here on the site! This is one of the best Hinagiku figures to come out and I’m so happy I was able to get this one especially because I’m such and huge fan of Hinagiku. I got mine from AmiAmi and they still have her in stock! So if you want her I recommend that you pick her up while you still can.

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New Year’s Resolutions For The Otaku

Happy New Year everyone! It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted anything. As we are now in 2011 and the new year is upon us here are some resolutions for this year so that we all can become friendly productive members of anime fandom, not unproductive hate mongering otaku.

Stop Making Fun Of People Who Watch Dubs

Look your not any better or superior to anyone else just because you watch anime with “subtitles” only. Dubs have gotten much better then they were in the past anyway. If you prefer watching your anime subtitled then so be it, just don’t be a jerk about it. There was a time before DVDs and the internet when I watched anime on VHS, it was dub only. I watched it and I liked it!

Who Cares If Someone Calls Themselves An “Otaku”

Really if someone calls themselves an otaku and you have a problem with it then that’s your problem! If you don’t like the word otaku then don’t use it but please don’t be a jerk about it. What does it matter if someone else calls themselves something you don’t like it has nothing to do with you. Also I still haven’t been able to get a real true straight story on whether or not “otaku” is the dirty of dirtiest words in Japan that some seem to claim that it is.

Stop Thinking Your Better Then Everyone Else Just Because You Watch Old School Anime

You like anime from the 80′s and abhor any recent anime. That is all fine and dandy till you have to make it a point by being a big huge obnoxious jerk about it. I get it that you don’t like the K-ON’s and the Haruhi’s of late but that doesn’t give you the license to put down everyone who doesn’t watch and like what you watch and like.

Moe Isn’t Going Anywhere So Get Over It

It’s time to stop your useless crusades against the “The Dark Spectre of Moe” because it’s not going anywhere. If you don’t like a show don’t watch it! It’s that plain and simple.

Stop Being A Jerk

I guess that all the other points could be summed up with this last one. Don’t be a jerk! Be nice to your fellow fans and treat each other with respect. Let’s all make this year a great year for anime fandom. Let’s all put aside our differences and come closer together.

So with that I wish you all a Happy New Year! Let’s make 2011 the best year ever!

Anime Expo 2010: Fun With Mega 64!

I went to the awesomely hilarious Mega 64 panel at AX this year. If you don’t already know who or what Mega 64 is they do hilarious comedy skits based around video games. What some may not know though is that Mega 64 is actually an episodic show released only on DVD with their video games skits interwoven into the story of the show. They are hilarious and a must see if your any kind of video game fan. Their panels are also hilarious and a ton of fun! If they ever come to a con in your area and do a panel definitely check them out! Take a look at the video below that Mega 64 took of their panel at Anime Expo this year and also check out some pics of me with the Mega 64 crew and the hilarity that ensued after the panel!

One of the Mega 64 guys grabbed the camera and snapped these pics below.

Derrick also grabbed the camera and took a pic of me and everyone standing next to me at the time randomly.

Is it just me or is there something odd about this picture….

Anime Expo 2010: Danny Choo Interview

Benu sat down for a chat at Anime Expo 2010 with Danny Choo of dannychoo.com. Benu asked Danny about otaku, Japan, moe and what his most important piece of advice for bloggers would be.

The Top Five Most Annoying Anime Characters Of All Time

As much as some of us may love anime there are characters we will find annoying. There are characters that just annoy us every time we see them on screen to no end! It may be just a little catch phrase the character constantly spouts that you find annoying, it may be a little personality quirk you find annoying, or it may be everything about the character in general that you find annoying. What ever it might be there are all anime characters that we love to hate and hate to love. Love them or hate them I’m counting down my top five most annoying anime characters of all time!

5. Mikuru Asahina (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

I will be honest I have a bit of a soft spot for Mikuru deep down in my heart. That still doesn’t change the fact that I thought she was an annoying character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. I just felt like she didn’t serve any purpose in the show other then being the moe bait character that got abused by Haruhi all the time and didn’t do anything to defend herself. I’m annoyed by characters like Mikuru that act helpless and don’t do anything when something they don’t like is happening to them when it’s in a situation where they can easily do something about what is going on. Mikuru does have her moments where bits of her good character shine through, unfortunately these moments are few and far in between.

4. Fuuko Ibuki (Clannad)

I think I can pretty much say that any anime based off a Key property has at least one character I just can’t stand. For Clannad that character is Fuuko Ibuki. Everything about her was annoying. Being and acting stupid isn’t cute it’s annoying. She really didn’t serve any purpose at all in the show and her story arc was annoying as well. Fuuko was just plain annoying!

3. Makoto Sawatari (Kanon 2006)

I really, really disliked Makoto in Kanon. She was a bit annoying in the show but what really made her annoying was the end of her story arc in the anime. It was one of the most annoying and stupidest stories ever! The end of her story arc in the anime was horrible and painful to watch part of it was the story and the other part was how she acted and what she became at the end of her story arc. I really did enjoy Kanon quite a bit but Makoto’s story arc in the show was just horrible.

2.Hazuki (MoonPhase)

Possibly one of the reasons why I was never able to finish watching MoonPhase was it’s main character Hazuki. She is pretty much all the annoying traits of the above characters mixed together making Hazuki annoying on epic levels. Hazuki is selfish, annoying, and her constant screams of “onii-chan!” just drive me insane! She is nothing more than an annoying little sister and I don’t know how that can even be considered moe or be an attractive trait for a character.

1. Nagi Sanzenin (Hayate the Combat Butler)

I love Hayate the Combat Butler, I really do, but I unfortunately have to express my extreme dislike for one of it’s characters. Yes I know this character is one of the main characters and yes she is a huge part of what makes the show what it is. With that said Nagi Sanzenin is the big numero uno on my list of the five most annoying anime characters. Nagi is similar to Hazuki but she is a spoiled rich brat which doubles her annoyance level. Much like Hazuki she is nothing more then an annoying little sister. Even her being an otaku can’t save her from being annoying.

So who are your top five most annoying anime characters?

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Anime Expo 2010: Megumi Nakajima & May’n Live In Concert!

Megumi Nakajima & May’n rocked the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles during Anime Expo 2010! Check out a video excerpt below of May’n performing live! Also check out the pictures below the video of May’n, Megumi Nakajima, and special surprise guest the legendary composer Yoko Kanno! It was one amazing show!

May’n is the singing voice of Sheryl Nome and Megumi Nakajima is the singing voice and voice actress of Ranka Lee both in the anime series Macross Frontier.

*Photography and Video by Benu


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