Manga Review: Yurara vol.1

Manga Review: Yurara vol.1

Story and art by: Chika Shiomi

By: Aliraluna

                                     Review:

Since being a child, high-school girl named Yurara Tsukinowa, has been able to see, hear and feel ghosts and spirits. What she doesn’t know is what’s inside of her in relation with her strong ability and powers of sensing spirits. Upon arriving to another year at school, she encounters three issues: one: a popular girl is complaining on being in the same classroom with her, two: the two most popular and handsome boys at school are sitting at her row and she’s in the middle of them, and three: there’s a very angry spirit sitting on her desk. As the days passes, the spirit gets more and more violent against her, who supposedly has taken her seat; meanwhile Yurara gets to know more about this popular guys who aren’t that normal: they both can see and fight spirits. Yako Hoshino tells the story of the boy who stole money and committed suicide in the same classroom they are studying which may be related with the spirit of the girl haunting her, but to her dismay, after she starts to run as she got scared of the tale, she gets attacked-but to Yako’s surprise he sees the head of a woman with long black hair appearing to protect Yurara. But the issue doesn’t end there, the spirit decides to attack a second time in which Yurara sees the story of the spirit, and when she’s about to fall to the floor a new strange person appears instead of the cute, shy, blond haired Yurara, instead, is found a long black hair beauty with long legs and arms- very tall and powerful woman who helps the spirit to go to heaven. After Yako explains what must be that strange beauty that emerges sometimes from Yurara, she will encounter different situations that involves, high-school girls jealous of her, boys and spirits. Her strange transformation will save her from drying in the water while trying to pass to heaven a small child found in the swimming pool. And, with this two completely personalities the boys start to unravel their feelings and emotions when it comes to being one or another. What and how will they react every time this strange phenomenon happens again? 

Opinions:

I may have a long list of mangas that I love but I have to say that Chika Shiomi is by far one of my top 5 most loved and adored mangaka. Since I read this manga (long time ago) I have always loved it- you don’t know how many times my heart goes ‘doki-doki’ and heart-broken at the same time. I ALWAYS cry at the end of the story. This story besides the beautiful art, it caught my attention that Yurara, a very young girl who has to deal with ghosts, spirits and more frightening things, with school, boys and girls, is a girl who wasn’t scared of the spirits, rather one that wanted to help them; one that wanted to have the power needed to give them aid. Also, while the stories are a bit sad in this volume, I still laughed SO much when I saw their faces and how well I can imagine the way they would use a tone and their expressions are. Believe me, you can even notice the slight differences of expressions made by the ever stiff Yako! And while I was rereading this I got tears in my eyes when I saw the last page; “Today Yako… seems a bit more… kind than usual”. The reason is because I remember always when I finished the whole series, I was very, very sad. That is, until I saw that a new series that would have my favorite character: Yako, would appear- I was truly happy to have more bits of his amazing world and life even though is …well, sad. And a very particular scene in the other series called Rasetsu, she says the same about him. Anyway, enjoy this story! I’ll be uploading the reviews of this amazing five volumes <3. 

Reseña de Anime: Blue Spring Ride

Anime: Blue Spring Ride 

Manga escrito por: Io Sakisaka

Escrito por: Tomoko Konparu

Por: Sunflower-Unicorn

En la escuela intermedia, Futaba Yoshioka fue ignorada por las niñas por “actuar como nena linda”. Aunque solo actuaba como ella misma, pronto terminó sin amistades. Lo único positivo para ella en la escuela era Kou Tanaka, el niño que le gustaba. Aunque apenas hablaban juntos su conexión era innegable, al menos para ellos. Un día Futaba encuentra a Kou en el santuario, finalmente juntos, ambos confiesan sus sentimientos y acuerdan salir juntos al festival dentro de unos días. Tristemente, las oportunidades para que su amor florezca terminan abruptamente cuando Kou escucha a Futaba decir que odia a todos los niños.  Todo fue un mal entendido, Futaba solo trataba de escapar de una situación incómoda, pero Kou lo tomó más en serio…nunca apareció para encontrarse con Futaba, cambio de escuelas abruptamente después del verano y nunca se volvieron a ver.

En la escuela superior Futaba puso su “acto de nena linda” a un lado y adoptó una nueva y relajada actitud. ¡Pero las cosas comenzaron a cambiar cuando encontró un muchacho que se parecía a Kou Tanaka! Claro, era más alto, tenía la voz más gruesa, y su actitud era más fría, pero estaba segura de que era Kou; y lo era….más o menos. El niño que Futaba una vez conoció había cambiado por completo. Ni siquiera su apellido era el mismo, ahora se llamaba Mabuchi. Tan pronto Futaba confrontó a Mabuchi, este confirmó que sí era el niño que tenía sentimientos por ella en la escuela intermedia, pero que esos sentimientos ya se habían disipado. ¿Las cosas realmente terminarán así?

Opinión:

Este anime es cálido, romántico y adorable, y te dejará deseando por más. Hay escenas sentimentales entre los personajes principales e historias detalladas para los personajes secundarios. Sentirás empatía hacia cada uno de ellos; especialmente hacia Kou. Es importante ver el anime teniendo en mente que no está completo. El manga no ha terminado tampoco, y es por esto que el último episodio te dejará ansioso por más. Pero no te preocupes, tan pronto termines el anime continúa la historia por el manga. ¡La aventura solo está por comenzar!

Anime Review: Blue Spring Ride

Anime: Blue Spring Ride 

Manga written by: Io Sakisaka

Anime written by: Tomoko Konparu

By: Sunflower-Unicorn

Review:

In junior high Futaba Yoshioka was ignored by the girls for “acting cute” around guys, she was just being herself, but soon she was left friendless. Her only beacon of light was Kou Tanaka, the boy she liked. Even though they barely spoke together they had an undeniable connection that only they knew about. One day Futaba finds Kou at a shrine, finally alone, they end up confessing their love to each other and agreeing to meet one day to go to the festival together. Sadly, the chances of their love blossoming stopped abruptly when Kou heard Futaba say she hated boys. It was all a misunderstanding, Futaba was only trying to escape an uncomfortable encounter, but Kou took it a bit more seriously…he never showed up to meet with Futaba, he changed schools abruptly after that summer vacation, and they never saw each other again.

In high school Futaba decided to put the “cute act” aside, she adopted a new, laid back persona and worked hard in fitting in. But things started changing when she spotted a boy that looked exactly like Kou Tanaka! Of course, he was taller, his voice was deeper, his attitude colder; but she was sure it was Kou. And it was…sort of. The boy Futaba was once knew had completely changed. His last name wasn’t even the same, now he was Kou Mabuchi. Once Futaba confronted Mabuchi he confirmed that he was that boy in junior high that had feelings for Futaba, but he didn’t anymore. Will it really end like this?

Thoughts:

This is a heartwarming anime that will leave you wanting for more. There are beautiful scenes between the main characters, and engaging back stories on the secondary characters as well. You will come to empathize and appreciate every one of them; especially Kou. It’s important to watch the anime knowing that it’s not completed. The manga is still ongoing and because of this, the last episode will leave you expectant for more. But don’t fret, as soon as you finish the anime just continue the story through the manga. The adventure has only begun. 

Reseña de Anime: Log Horizon (temporada #1)

Reseña de Anime: Log Horizon (temporada #1)

Anime Producido por: Satelight

Historia y arte por: Mamare Touno

Por: Aliraluna

Traducido por: Aliraluna

Reseña:

La aventura comienza cuando en la duodécima expansión de Cuentos del Elder (Elder Tales), un Masivo Multijugador en línea y juegos de rol con alrededor de veinte millones de jugadores, treinta mil solo en Japón, se encuentran atrapados en el juego si iniciarón la sección. La historia se centraliza con Shiroe, de nivel noventa, mitad-Alv mago el cual realiza que está en Akihabara y encuentra que su amigo Naotsugu está conectado. Mientras en su camino de recolectar información, Shiroe y su amigo Naotsugu se encuentran con un ninja sijilozo que conoce a Shiroe, y le pregunta si le puede vender la posión cambia-apariencia; la cual transforma al ninja en una adorable chica de pelo negro llamada Akatsuki. Shiroe se percata que hay más cantidades de NPC que antes, los cuales son llamados “People of the Land” (Las Personas de la Tierra), mientras que los jugadores son llamados Aventureros; pero también toda la hermosa comida hecha por el juego… sabe a lo mismo- a nada. Mientras comen, él recive una llamada de Maryelle, la lider de ‘Crescent Moon Alliance’ y decide darle una visita. Shiroe aprende que las puertas interurbanas de transporte estan fuera de línea el cual quiere decir que el único modo de moverse es a “pie". Más tarde, Shiroe con sus amigos ayudará a rescatar Serara, una chica que estaba siendo perseguida por otra alianza y un antiguo miembro de la ‘Luna Creciente’ (Crescent Moon); en el cual Shiroe y Naotsugu encontrarán a otro amigo; Nyanta, que estaba en el legendario ‘Debauchery Tea Party’ el cual logran hacerlo utilizando asombrosos y muy raros grifones para poder llegar

Shiroe y Akatsuki (y a su lado, Naotsugu) 
montando los legendarios grifones.

temprano y a salvo. Ellos también averiguan que cuando tu mueres revives, como en el juego, en la catedral. Pero esto quiere decir que otros jugadores pueden matarte y llevarse tus artículos. En su viaje de regreso, Nyanta les muestra que hay una manera de hacer que el alimento tenga buen sabor: tienes que hacerlo con tus propias manos y no con el sistema; pero hay una trampa: necesitas ser un chef. Despúes de llegar, Shiroe recibe la noticia de cómo todas las guías están trabajando para hacerse mejor y más fuerte y sobre la guía llamada Hamelin en la que dos hermanos ( Touya y Minori ) están atrapados como esclavos. ¿Será Shiroe capaz de formar una alianza entre las guías y salvar a sus dos pequeños amigos? ¿Será capaz de hacer su propia guía, siendo un jugador solitario durante tanto tiempo? ...

Opinión:

Log Horizon es por mucho uno de los mejores animes que he visto. La historia es increíble en su propia manera, en un entorno más "amigable ", (no olvidemos que todavía pueden matar, tomar tus cosas y hacerte esclavo) pero las aventuras y desafíos que Shiroe y sus amigos tendrán van a ser increíbles y exorbitantes. Lo que pasa con esta historia es que las “Personas de la Tierra” comenzarán a actuar como nosotros lo hacemos, el cual puedes notarlos desde el episodio primero. Shiroe hará diferentes cambios incluso si esto significa cambiar sus propios ideales para ayudar a los demás y será ; más de lo que ya es ; un jugador increíble .

LA TEMPORADA II YA ESTA AQUI!! DATA-BASE DATA-BASE OH OH OH OH!

Anime Review: Log Horizon (Season #1)

Anime Review: Log Horizon
Anime produced by: Satelight
Story and art by: Mamare Touno
By: Aliraluna
Review:

The adventure begins when at the twelfth expansion of Elder Tales, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game with over twenty million players, thirty thousand in Japan only, are found trap in the game itself if they were log-in. The story is centered with Shiroe, a level ninety, half-Alv enchanter realizes he’s in Akihabara and finds that his friend Naotsugu is online. While in their way to gathering information Shiroe and his friend Naotsugu encounter a quiet ninja that knows Shiroe, and asks him if he can sell the appearance-changing potion; which transforms the ninja into a cute, black haired girl called Akatsuki. Shiroe notices that there are more NPC than before, which are called People of the Land, while the players are called Adventurers; but also all the beautiful-looking well-made food… tastes the same- like nothing. While eating, he receives a call from Maryelle, the leader of ‘Crescent Moon Alliance’ and decides to pay a visit. Shiroe learns that inter-city transport gates are offline meaning the only way to move is by “foot”. Later on, Shiroe with his friends will help to rescue Serara, a girl that was being followed by another alliance and a former member of the Crescent Moon; in which Shiroe and Naotsugu will find another friend; Nyanta, that was in the legendary the Debauchery Tea Party and they do so using amazing, and very rare griffons in order to

Shiroe and Akatuski (and at their side, Naotsugu)
riding the legendary Griffins)

arrive safe and early. They also find out that when you die you revive, like in the game, at the cathedral. But this means that other players can kill you and take your items. In their return trip, Nyanta shows them that there’s a way to make food taste good: making it with your own hands and not with the system; but there’s a catch: you need to be a chef. After arriving, Shiroe gets the news of how all the guides are working to make themselves better and stronger, and about the guild called Hamelin in which two siblings (Touya and Minori) are being held as slaves. Will Shiroe be able to form an alliance between the guilds and save his two little friends? Will he be able to make his own guild, being a solo player for so long?...

Thoughts:

Log Horizon is by far one of the best anime I have seen. The story is amazing on its own way in a more “friendly” environment, (let’s not forget that they still can kill you, take your things and slave you) but the adventures and challenges Shiroe and his friends will have are amazing and mind-blowing. The thing about this story is that The People of the Land will start to act as we do, which you can see from episode one. Shiroe will make different changes even if it means to change his own ideals to help others and will be; more than he already is; an amazing player. 

SEASON II OF LOG HORIZON IS HERE! DATA-BASE DATA-BASE OH OH OH OH!

Reseña de Manga: Heaven's Will

Reseña del manga: La voluntad del Cielo

Historia e Ilustración: Satoru Takamiya

Por: Aliraluna

Traducido por: Orlok

Reseña:

 El Cielo al cual regresarás algún día es la historia de cómo Sudou Mikuzu, una chica temerosa de los chicos y de los fantasmas, conoce a Seto Ashiya (un exorcista travesti) y a Kagari (un vampiro bello que puede transformarse en un lobo) en la célebre mansión embrujada que todos conocen, mientras intenta escapar de un monstruo. Ellos acuerdan por escrito que Mikuzu pagará un pastel a Seto cada vez que éste haga desaparecer a un fantasma. Al día siguiente, Seto visita a Mikuzu en la escuela de ésta, en que Mikuzu descubrirá una facultad suya extraordinaria, consistente en ver criaturas que la gente normal no puede ver; descubrirá por tanto que es una “kenki” y que “oni” es el término que se emplea para designar tales criaturas. Días más tarde, cuando Mikuzu está a punto de morir, Seto y Kagari le salvan de un monstruo pero, para sorpresa suya, Mikuzu descubre que ese monstruo era lo que le perseguía por todos lados; resulta entonces que el monstruo fue antaño un hombre y que anduvo entonces enamorado de Mikuzu sin confesar a ésta, sin embargo, su amor por ella. De esta manera, Mikuzu, Seto y Kagari hiciéronse amigos y compañeros en la misión de exorcizar a los “oni”.

En La voluntad del Cielo, las historias de cómo Seto Ashiya adoptó la conducta travesti y de cómo Kagari conoció a Seto serán descubiertas por Mikuzu mientras los tres intentan exorcizar el piano de Souichirou Takayanagi (el presidente del consejo estudiantil de la escuela superior Seiou) en una semana.

Descripción de los personajes:

Sudou Mikuzu es una chica que tiene pelo negro corto, es bien delgada y tiene grandes ojos negros. Es particularmente temerosa, quizá a causa de la facultad extraordinaria que posee, la cual le permite ver fantasmas y otras criaturas. Teme a los individuos del sexo masculino. Mikuzu toca el piano y hornea pasteles.

Seto Ashiya: Tiene pelo rubio largo y grandes ojos marrones. Viste a la moda Lolita. Su arma es un bello abanico brillante de mano que encierra un misterio. Es muy fuerte y es el maestro de Kagari. Ama comer pasteles y el almíbar (syrup) de arce y el de mantequilla.

Kagari: tiene pelo negro, unos ojos azules gélidos y es bien alto. Él es un vampiro y puede transformarse en un lobo; obtiene su alimento de la mano de Seto, puesto que éste es su maestro. Kagari suele ser un tipo callado. Seto es el único que puede hacer realidad su deseo (i.e. el de Kagari).

Opinión:

Es triste que esta historia consista solamente en un volumen. Hay una carta dentro del libro en que el autor explica que Mikuzu nunca se enamorará de Seto; nunca sabremos si Seto cambiará de parecer, ni lo que ocurrirá a Kagari, ni cuál era el nombre verdadero de Seto. Sabemos únicamente que Kagari luce más tranquilo y que Mikuzu sería más feliz si los tres permaneciesen juntos. Todos se esforzaron tanto por entenderse mutuamente y acercarse entre sí que todo ello tocó en verdad mi corazón.  ¡Ah!, y un sombrero corona la “n” del título.

Manga Review: Heaven's Will

Manga Review: Heaven’s Will

Story and art by: Satoru Takamiya

By: Aliraluna

Review:

The Heaven to which you will someday return, is the story of how Sudou Mikuzu a girl with a phobia toward boys and scared of ghosts met Seto Ashiya; a cross-dressing exorcist; and Kagari a beautiful vampire that can transform into a wolf, in the famous haunted mansion that everyone knows about while trying to escape from a monster. They make a contract in which Mizuku will pay Seto with a cake every time he makes a ghost disappear. The next day, Seto visits Mikuzu at school in where she will learn that she can see things that normal people can’t because she’s a Kenki and that oni is the term used referring to those creatures. Days later, when Mikuzu is about to die Seto and Kagari save her from the monster, but much to her surprise she finds out that the monster was the stalker that appeared everywhere she was- he became a monster because of this but when he was saved by Seto he explained that he wondered why he never confessed his love for her. This is how Seto, Mukuzu and Kagari became friends and companions to exorcism the oni.

In Heaven’s Will the stories of how Seto Ashiya started to cross dress and how Kagari met Seto will be found out by Mikuzu while the three of them try to exorcism the piano of Souichirou Takayanagi, the student council president of Seiou High School; within a week.

Characters overview:

Sudou Mikuzu: She has short black hair, is very slim and has big, black eyes. She’s very easily scared as she has the power to see ghosts and many creatures and has a phobia toward boys. Mikuzu is able to play the piano and bake cakes. 

Seto Ashiya: Has long beautiful blonde hair and big brownish eyes; he dresses in Lolita fashion. His weapon is a beautiful, shiny fan that holds a mystery. He’s very strong and is the master of Kagari. Loves to eat cakes and really likes maple and butter syrup.

Kagari: Has black hair and blue icy eyes and is very tall. He’s a vampire that can transform into a wolf; being Seto his master he feeds from him. Kagari tends to be very quiet. His only wish can be done only by Seto. 

Thoughts:

It’s really sad that this story is a one-volume shot. There’s a letter inside the book in which the author explains that Mikuzu will never fall in love with Seto. We will never know if Seto changed his mind nor what will happen with Kagari, nor which was the real name of ‘Seto’. What we know is that Kagari seemed more at ease and that Mikuzu would be happy if the three of them stayed together. They all worked so hard to understand each other and become closer that it really touched my heart. Oh! And the “n” in the title has a little hat.