Superevil225 (Level 17)

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Aaaand we're back to Zetsubou Sensei. You'll have to forgive last week. I needed to get my thoughts on Sengoku Basara out. But-- I digress, it's time to take a look into Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei Episode 3, Fly Over That Country to Get to Here. One hilarious and crazy episode!
 Meet Panty... I mean Kaere!
 Meet Panty... I mean Kaere!
  Well.. I feel a bit embarrassed here. I was honestly convinced this was an all girls school. Well, apparently there are male students but they don't have some sort of mental disorder to we don't care about them. On the topic of mentally disturbed kids, we have a new character! Nozomu, here's your new stalker: Kaere Kimura. She's an overseas student who's returned to Japan for a while. Oh, yes. She will be joining the stalker train, and will be fighting for your approval in fierce competition with Matoi. Congratulations. I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Nozomu right now. I mean, it's not like he's trying to get all these girls to fall in love with him. But! I can say I'm happy the feeling isn't mutual. If Nozomu returned his feelings to the harem, I'd be a bit disturbed. Paedophilia is a no-no! To give you a little insight into our new character Kaere, she's insane. Not just because she's a stalker, but because she suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder. Yes! I was right! Each episode will talk about a new student and their mental disorders! Huzzah! 
I'm happy they didn't pull another "You could have killed me!" moment, because it was funny once, then a bit boring (and offensive). This episode was taken to a different level, compared to the other ones, and to be honest: I loved it. Something about it seemed a lot more sarcastic, and the dark humour was played up. I'm super eager to watch another episode, and I'm really falling in love with the animation and art style. I was pretty happy I decided to watch this home alone because there's a bit of fanservice, and I was laughing like a fool. The writers must have had so much fun playing with Nozomu's character. I loved his xenophobic outburst. Because let's face it: the lawsuits in America are ridiculous. 
 Hi... I'm not really Taro Sekiutsu... I like to hoard
Then there's Maria. The illegal immigrant who bought the student number and name of Taro Sekiutsu. I found this part ridiculous. I mean seriously? Purchasing someone's student number? Not that I have a problem with it, it's just outlandish, that's all. But yet again, SZS is pretty much entirely outlandish and a total hoot. I found it pretty funny how ignorant Maria is. I'll leave the jokes for you to experience. Maria's little hoarding moments are strangely adorable, and I loved how everyone felt pity for her. A very cute and funny ending to a funny and wild episode.
Watch Sayonara, Zetstubou Sensi Episode 3 on your own time, and let me know what you think in the comments!
Thanks for reading, and keep your eyes out for my review on the next episode!
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Hello and welcome to Homoerotic or What? .... I mean... Weird or What?! This time we're straying from our good friend Zetsubou Sensei and we're going to check out Sengoku Basara: Butch Homo Samurai Kings. Okay... that's a little bit cruel now, but I still really need to get that out. The real title is Sengoku Basara: Samurai Knights. Yes. They just chose the two manliest professions (other than lumber jack) and mixed them up with the Japanese word for "country in civil war", and some nonsense syllables. I think the title explains Basara pretty well. Manly men fighting each other and a tonne of pure nonsense. I'm not really sure if Basara is being serious or not. Heck I'm not sure if it's supposed to be fantasy or not. But I don't really know if anybody does. But, before I talk about how ridiculous and nonsensical Basara is, I'm going to tell you what's good... 
 It looks cool now....
 It looks cool now....

And that would be the animation. Hawt damn that animation is delicious. It's very smooth with great colours and a good frame rate. Slick and nice, and holds up to animation two years later. So, yes. Kudos to Production IG. Pretty much most of IG's work is really nice. Especially their works like Ghost Hound, Ghost in The Shell, and Eden of the East. Since Basara is in fact based off of a game, they have stunning character designs. All the best character designs come from video games, yet some of the worst adaptations. Well, actually most of the characters are super awesome. I guess they just had to have Mrs. Cleavage with some serious hair problems, but other than that Basara is a marvel to look at. It also had a catchy opening!
But that's pretty much all the praise I can give this series. I mean, hell yeah it's entertaining, but hell no it is not good. Let's talk about the story. Wait... never mind. For the life of me I can't find a substantial plot. Samurai fight each other and try to dominate a country... I think. It wasn't really clear. I probably shouldn't be so hard on the plot there. I mean it is an action anime so you shouldn't expect too much. The fight scenes are amazing, so I guess that makes it manly enough and an awesome shounen series.
Hahahaha... Nope. The writing is crap. Tonnes of random Engrish and everything was just so over the top. Horses with handle bars, exploding sword fights, and a guy that wields not one, not two... SIX swords at the same time. This thing is blowing my mind in a bad way. Maybe the silliness was intended. Perhaps Basara is a comedy? But yet again I think they're being serious... or trolling.
 I also cant get over the bromance. The bromance is everything but platonic. I mean, Yukimura falling on the ground after a fight with Masamune grabbing his chest and exclaiming "My heart burns!" and his constant obsession with Masamune is homoerotic and nobody can deny it. Plus that little Rock Lee-Gai Sensei moment with Yukimura and that guy with the fluffy red helmet was just a bit too bromantic. I watched this in anime club, and the entire fujoshi population burst out in fangirling laughter. Sure, fujoshi slash everything, but when the straight guys start growing awkward... you know things have gotten a bit too Brokeback Mountain. I think Basara was intended to be the manliest anime ever but one of the script writers was a serious fujoshi troll.
Well, I'm enjoying myself. And I find this sure as hell a comedy, and the animation is drool worthy. So, I'll watch it. 
Funimation has it up on Youtube right here.. Just for you!
Give me your thoughts on Sengoku Basara: Samurai Knights Episode 1 "Blue Crimson! A Meeting of Fate" -fangirl giggle- in the comments below. :) Thanks for reading!
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Baccano! started back in 2003, by Ryohgo Narita. Originally it began as a novel series, receiving quite a bit of praise, but nowhere near the popularity it’s counter part Durarara!! received. The novel has 16 books and as of today it is on going. Later, a 16 episode anime series spawned from the novel. While the anime was a bust in Japan, it became rather popular with American fans.


The series spans over 200 years, and is told in a non-linear, multi-point-of-view format. In 1711 a ship known as the Advenna Avis crosses the Atlantic Ocean. Aboard it is a group of alchemists who summon a demon to grant them the power of immortality. Their attempts are successful, and they create the Grand Panacea, an elixir that allows them to live forever. The story then follows these immortals, and the new generations of immortals through the span of over 200 years (from 1711 – 2002). The major story arcs featured in the anime are: 1711, 1930, 1931, and 1932. While the anime does follow these four story arcs, the others are not negated, and are occasionally noted and referred to. Mainly, the story of the anime is set in New York during the Great Depression, stressing on the 1931: Grand Punk Railway Arc.

Mafiosi, Camorristi, immortals, thugs, murderers, and fools clash together, spinning this insane cast of character and plot completely out of control. The anime mainly follows the 1931 incident, where strange and supernatural events take a turn for the chaotic aboard The Flying Pussyfoot transcontinental train.

Grand Panacea:

The immortals who were granted this power are forced to follow a set of rules. The only rules were: Only one can be granted the knowledge of how to make the Panacea, immortals cannot hide their names from one another, and an immortal can only be killed by another immortal. The death of an immortal became key to the plot. In order for one immortal to kill another, they must place their right hand on the others head and think, “I want to eat”. They then absorb the experience and knowledge of the immortal they just “ate”. To transfer information to another immortal, they simply need to place their left hand on another head, and their knowledge is transferred.


Baccano has a massive cast of characters. The books more so, but the anime does follow the stories of over twenty main characters. The following have been divided into categories for your convenience.

1711 Immortals:

These characters were granted immortality aboard the Advenna Avis during its voyage over the Atlantic ocean. These are only the characters influential to the anime. While there are plenty more, they either play a small roll or are non-existent in the anime.


Maiza Avaro: Maiza is the alchemist who leads the summoning of the demon aboard the Advenna Avis in 1711. The demon grants Maiza the knowledge of the formula, and later he decides to tell his brother, Gretto, half of the formula. Not long later, Szilard Quates mistakes Gretto for Maiza, and “devours” him in order to obtain the formula for the Grand Panacea. In the 1920’s Maiza becomes the bookkeeper of the Martillo family. He hates violence, and constantly wears a smile.

Szilard Quates: Szilard is one of the alchemists aboard the Advenna Avis. He disagrees with the decision to hide the elixar, and attempts to devour Maiza in order to obtain the formula, but mistakes Gretto for Maiza. He obtains only half the formula and creates an incomplete elixir. This allows one to never die, save of old age. He feeds humans the Panacea and consumes them in order to easily gain information. Dallas Genoard and his thugs drink the incomplete elixir, and become partially immortal but escape from Szilard’s grasp. Later, he is able to create a complete formula in 1930, only to loose it and have it consumed by the Martillo family, purely by accident. He creates a few homunculi, who mostly betray him. The last he made is Ennis.
Czeslaw Meyer: Czeslaw (aka Czes) is a young boy aboard the Advenna Avis. At the age of 10 he is granted immortality. While his body remains that of a 10-year-old, so does his mind, and he is never able to fully mature. After arriving in America, Czeslaw is kept in captivity by his guardian, Fermet, who tortures him to test the extent of their immortality. Czeslaw manages to escape after ‘devouring’ Fermet. He develops the belief that the other immortals are only out to kill him, so he decides to attack before they can.
Huey Laforet: Huey is one of the alchemists aboard the Advenna Avis. He is one of the cruellest alchemists, performing experiments on humans with little regret or feeling. Huey faces no trouble using humans as test subjects for immortal experiments, save Elmer Albatross. He describes himself as an ‘observer’ and rarely takes an opinion or side to a matter. After gaining immortality, he began experimenting on humans and immortals alike. He created numerous homunculi and many of which are incomplete. Chane, his daughter was an experiment to see if immortality could be passed on through genetics. He also has another daughter named Leeza and a son named Lucino who are not featured in the anime. In 1931 he is arrested for conspiracy and treason and is incarcerated in a prison in Newfoundland. Later he is transferred to Alcatraz Prision.
Elmer C. Albatross: While Elmer’s roll is not as strongly enforced in the anime adaptation, he is a major player in the Baccano! scene. He is also an alchemist, and was in favour of hiding the secrets of the Grand Panacea. He is constantly smiling, and is a close friend of both Maiza Avaro and Huey Laforet. His goal is to ‘spread smiles across the world’ and reunite the immortals once more.

1930 Immortals:

In 1930, Szilard Quates successfully recreates the elixir of immortality, only to loose it. It is bought, sold, and passed around Manhattan by numerous gangsters, under the belief that it is alcohol. Eventually it comes into the possession of the Martillo family, and during Frio Prochaniezo’s initiation into the Martillo family, the party guests, creating a second generation of immortals, consume what they think is alcohol.

Firo Prochaniezo: Firo is the youngest member of the Martillo family, and consumed the immortal elixir at age 18. He is close friends with Maiza, the three Gandor brothers, and Claire Stanfeild. He also develops a crush on one red-head homunculus named Ennis. He wears a green suit, and adores his green fedora, gifted to him by Maiza as he joined the Martillo family. Firo and Luck both grew up on the same block, which caused good relations between the Gandors and the Martillos.
Luck Gandor: Luck is around 20 years old, and is the youngest of the Gandor brothers. He is third in command of the Gandor family, and is the smartest and most levelheaded of the Gandor brothers. His 'adopted' borther (also known as 'the fourth Gandor brother') is the assassin Vino, also known as Claire Stanfeild. Is is calm and polite, rarely showing emotion, but can be ruthless and cold when angered of threatened. Luck is often referred to as 'unfit for mafia life'.
Isaac & Miria: Isaac and Miria are a foolish and idiotic couple. They work as thieves and attempt to steal the most ridiculous things, such as museum doors. When they commit their robberies they wear crazy costumes. Despite their profession, Isaac and Miria are friendly and kind, despite their bizarre tendencies. They hold great love and affection towards people they meet, and always believe the best in them. They never realize they became immortal until 2001. Over 70 years later.
Berga & Keith: Are Luck Gandor's brothers, and close friends with Firo and Claire Stanfeild. Keith is referred to as the only one of the Gandors fit for the Mafia life style, while Berga is considered too soft. Keith is the oldest of the Gandor brothers, while Berga is in the middle.


The humans are exactly as they sound. 'Normal' humans. I use normal as in the sense that they are not androids.

Ladd Russo: Nephew to the Russo family leader, Ladd is undeniably insane. He enjoys killing and talking a lot (it's even in the title of an episode). Ladd is a hitman to the Russo family and is more than sadistic.
Lua Klein: Ladd Russo's fiancee. She is quiet and shy, and seems relatively normal compared to Ladd. She loves her fiance unconditionally, despite the fact he promises to kill her.
Jacuzzi Splot: A shy and polite young man with a tendency to cry and stutter when nervous. Apparently he is nervous a lot. He is the leader of a gang, and a bootlegger along with his childhood friend and crush, Nice. Jacuzzi has a sword tattoo on his face, which he procured after Nice lost her eye and was burned at during adolecnce.
Nice Holystone: An mellow and down to Earth explosives expert. She has a love for explosions, and childhood friend Jacuzzi. She works as a bootlegger with Jacuzzi and the gang. Nice recieved scars and burns from an explosives accident as a child.
Chane Laforet: A mysterious and dangerous young woman, daughter to Huey Laforet. She does not speak, as her voice was taken away in promise to keep Huey's immortality secret.
Eve Genoard: Eve is a young girl, and a member of New Jersey's wealthy Genoard family. She is kind and shy, and quickly makes friends, although she is often not let out of the house. Eve is searching for her delinquent brother, Dallas.
The Young Conductor: Remember his face. He's kind of a big deal.
Rachel: A strange woman who gathers information and investigates for the Daily Days newspaper. She is aboard Flying Pussyfoot during the 1931 and plays a large part in unraveling the mystery of the Rail Tracer, a mysterious ghost that haunts the railroads.


Ennis: A strange young woman who follows Szilard around. She at first appears to be his driver, but is an extremely strong fighter. In fact, Ennis is a homunculus created by Szilard. She rarely speaks, and has very few emotions. She has the ability to live forever, but is bound to Szilard.

Read Or Watch?:

Well, honesty it depends what you're referring to. The Baccano! franchise consists of a two volume manga series. While this series does follow the 1931: Grand Punk Railroad arc, and rightfully so, it changes a few of the characters in appearance and personality. While some do enjoy the Baccano! manga, many reviews and opinions are in the negative. The manga is considered to be a must read for zealous Baccano! fans, but you can really live without it. Personally I find that the manga series is passable and not very memorable.

Reading the light novels on the other hand is a must. They are both well written and imaginative. They also give Baccano! fans a much clearer view on the crazy story of Baccano!. The only problem: They aren't published in English. There are some intense and awesome fans who are working super hard to translate the Baccano! light novels and are doing an amazing job.

But for those interested in a casual Baccano! experience are pretty much safe with just watching the anime. It'll be confusing for the first few episodes, but once you get into the swing of things it makes a lot more sense. The anime is well done, with good animation for its time. But for anybody who speaks English, watching it in dubbed format is key. The voice acting is amazing, and suits the characters and setting. Baccano! is one of the few anime where the English challenges (and beats) the Japanese voice acting.

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Sorry Nozomu, but you walked your ass into this one.

Episode two, "At the End Of The Tunnel, It Was White" begins with yet another failed suicide attempt. Already, this little 'joke' is getting old. Suicide isn't funny, and while I am laughing at other jokes in the anime, I find this one a little bit too... well, let's just say it isn't funny. But other than that, this episode was great, despite some facepalm moments directed towards Nozomu.

In this episode we discover a very likely conspiracy theory. Personally the first thing I wondered when I rode the train in Japan was exactly what Nozomu thought up there. When you scan your wallet... what if somebody was able to scan your credit cards and bank cards? I guess cynical minds conspire alike. But seriously Nozomu, there's no need to go and throw yourself in front of a train. In psychology class I think we'd call that manic depressive syndrome spurred by delusional concepts.

Another thing I noticed was how much help the girls in his class need. I though Fuura was just excessively positive, but it also seems like she's become a clingy, backseat driver to Nozomu's life. And then there's the hermit, who Nozomu and Furra unintentionally freak the shit out of, and who finally comes to school. But being as socially awkward and frightened of human contact as she is, I didn't find it surprising when she starts locking herself in the science room.

 Dude... You're asking for it. >.>
 Dude... You're asking for it. >.>

But that's not it. Nope. It seems like slowly, one by one, the girls in Nozomu's class are all falling in love with him. Then generating some sort of stalker-ish tendencies. Then was born the "Stalker Train". Seriously. I feel like each episode is going to focus on a certain mental disorder, and this one is obsessive intimacy seekers.

Well Nozomu, that's what you get when you're a young attractive male in an all girls school. For some reason I have a feeling Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei is going to have a twistedly touching ending.

Keep your eyes out for the next "Weird or What?" of Sayonara, Zetsubou Sensei , and tell me what you think about this episode/show in the comments below.
Previous Episode

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It's taking a bit of a break. It's not going to be weekly anymore. I just don't have the time. You'll get an episode when you do. I'm sorry 'bout this.

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