.: This Girl's Daybreak :.

Well, I just finished watching the last disk of 2nd Gig. And I gotta say...I've got mixed feelings about this season.

Hands down, it's not nearly as good as SAC. The first half or so of the season was utterly boring; it was actually difficult to get myself to watch it sometimes. The story was needlessly complicated and confusing, and not in an entertaining way. And I have some issues with Motoko's characterization in places. She's all...sappy and emotional, later on. That's just weird, and I didn't like it. And the whole tying-Kuze-into-her-past thing was kinda lame, seriously...in the past, they'd indicated that her going full cyborg at such a young age was a big deal. That it was really rare, and she was one of the first. And yet, now we're supposed to buy that another person, on the same damn plane, was also one of the rare younger people to do it? Yeah, that's a stretch. =P

I will say, that once the story finally got going, it was sorta okay. (Better than the earlier episodes, at least.) And we got a background episode on Saito, which was cool.

The bit with the Tachikomas was so sad, though! I think the singing made it worse, almost. *Wibble* Also, I squee'd a bit at the scene with Motoko and Kuze trapped, talking about having someone to count on. He asks her if she has anyone like that, and she gives a hesitant affirmative. Then we see Batou using a huge metal beam, trying to dig her out, calling her name. (Her first name.) <3 Yes, yes, Batou/Motoko shipper here. =D

Now I just gotta wait for my copy of Solid State Society to arrive, and then I'll be finished with this series. It's been fun! (Mostly. XD)

I'm in a pretty good mood, so I here I am posting. Whee! Here's another little review post...more anime disks from Netflix. =D

Noir, Disks 6-7

Well, I got the last two disks of Noir this week. As I'd hoped, the later parts of the series are much better than the earlier parts. I actually rather enjoyed these disks. Better characterization, better plot, everything. I finally see the relationship between Kirika and Mireille. And I ship it. XD (Well, technically, it started to show a little while ago. But it really came through in these disks.) I liked Chloe, too. Almost from the start, honestly. I kinda felt bad for her, though. Especially in the end. Overall...I'd give this series a B-. Really pretty art and music, and eventual good story...but horrible pacing in both plot and characterization.


Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Disk 1

For my next new series, I decided to give SAC a chance. I'm not really familiar with Ghost in the Shell, but I've heard a lot of good things. And hell, it's basically a cop show. <3 A futuristic cop show with really cool technology and a badass lady as the team leader. =D =D

So far, so good. Art and music are nice. I really dig the theme songs. The OP is some other language...Russian, maybe? Whatever it is, it's pretty. And the ED is in English, and is really catchy, despite the nonsense lyrics. I don't care for the OP footage, though. It's entirely CG, where the series itself is standard 2-D animation. It doesn't match, and that bugs me. (Also, the random CG they stick in here and there, like cars...don't like that, either. CG and 2-D animation do not mix. It just sticks out like a sore thumb. =P)

My only worry is how the episodes are divided into 'Stand Alone' and 'Complex' episodes...basically, one-shots and plot-centric episodes. There were three Stand Alone episodes on this disk, and they were fun. But I'm just afraid that I'll get bored if there are too many of them. I love long plot arcs...so I'm sure I'll love the Complex episodes. (Only seen one so far.) I'm just hoping that there's a good balance between the two.

I like the cast, so far. I'm already fond of the Major, Batou, and Togusa. Aramaki seems okay, and as for everyone else....well, I still have to learn all their names. XD And the Tachikomas are seriously the cutest thing I've seen in quite a while. <3 <3