Presenting my top 12 favourite characters for both females and males. And this is not in any particular order....

Females~

1. Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail

Erza <3

2. Misaka Mikoto from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun

 Mikoto (Biri biri) <3

3. Mikasa Ackerman from Shingeki no Kyojin

Mikasa :D

4. Altria Pendragon aka Saber from Fate Zero

Saber  <3

5. Shana from Shakugan no Shana

Shana :3

6. Akiyama Mio from K-On!

 Mio :3

7. Nakamura Yuri aka Yurippe from Angel Beats!

Yuri  (Yurippe) :) :)

8. Tohsaka Rin from Fate/Stay Night

 Rin >.<

9. Kikuchi Makoto from The Idolm@ster

Makoto :DDDD

10. Haibara Ai aka Miyano Shiho from Detective Conan

Ai :3

11. Nishikino Maki from Love Live!: School Idol Project

 Maki :3

12. Kisaragi Chihaya from The Idolm@ster

Chihaya :D 

Males~

1. Usui Takumi from Kaichou wa Maid-sama!

Takumi 

2. Fujisaku Yuusuke aka "Bossun" from Sket Dance

Bossun :3

3. Killua Zoldyck from Hunter X Hunter (2011)

Killua :3

4. Jellal Fernandes from Fairy Tail

Jellal

5. Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood

Edward

6. Okumura Rin from Ao no Exorcist

Rin :3

7. Ootori Kyoya from Ouran High School Host Club

Kyoya

8. Natsu Dragneel from Fairy Tail

Natsu

9. Leo aka Loki from Fairy Tail

Loki

10. Sawada Tsunayoshi from Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Tsuna

4 Day Marathon

I'm currently feeling the effects of watching 3 seasons straight of Maria-sama ga Miteru and a 17-episode season of Kokoro Connect from Friday to Monday. The feeling isn't really that great. I feel like I ate too many potatoes. I spent Friday, Saturday and part of Sunday finishing up Maria-sama ga Miteru (31 Episodes since i finished season 1 some time ago) and the rest of Sunday and most of Monday watching Kokoro Connect.

I would have continued watching more but i think i should stop for now before my obsession starts to take over my entire being and when that time comes, it would be too late. 

Anyways, on with my review of  Kokoro Connect. 

Kokoro Connect tells a story of 5 high school students, Taichi, Iori, Himeko, Yui and Yoshifumi who are all part of Cultural Research Club. One day, Yui and Yoshifumi swapped bodies without warning. The next day, the same thing happens to the other club members. The swapping of bodies between the five students threw their daily life in disarray as they began to suffer the effects of the swapping of bodies - emotionally. 

However, after that phenomenon, another phenomenon occurred whereby the 5 students' (deepest) desires would be unleashed, followed by them turning back to when they were younger (for 5 hours before they turn back to normal) and remembering stuff from when they were of that age and finally, transmitting of emotions between the five of them randomly. 

Just by reading that you could already foresee the troubles they all faced. Just by experiencing this unnatural phenomenon caused by the whims of a mysterious being called Heartseed, their calm lives were shattered, the relationship between them starts to change as painful  scars that were once buried inside their hearts were exposed, ultimately putting their friendship to test. Past trauma and secrets were also exposed as the five of them struggle to continue on with their daily lives without letting anyone know of the burden they each carry under the warning of Heartseed. 

Thoughts

This anime explores human emotions and feelings, what we actually are like, how fragile human beings are and how sometimes we let our emotions get better of us, causing us to inadvertently hurt others by what we say. This is explicitly shown under the "unleashing of your desires" and "transmitting of emotions" phenomenon. All five of them went through hell because of the unexplained phenomenon. Heartseed caused this phenomenons to happen for his own amusement, and wouldn't hesitate to 'spice things up' if things start to get 'boring' or 'uninteresting' --- (e.g. hiding inside your room everyday and not going to school etc)

This anime is like all the supernatural/unnatural phenomenon (that involves only humans) out there that you can think of mashed into one huge emotional story of love and friendship. The characters are all unique, and can be surprising at times. When you think you know a character very well, they'd spring something else onto you, leaving you shocked and surprised.

I really like this anime (and its characters as well) and would definitely re-watch it sometime in the future. That's how awesome this anime is. If the plot doesn't capture your interest, then maybe the characters will. I hope.

Characters

From right to left: Yaegashi Taichi, Inaba Himeko, Nagase Iori, Kiriyama Yui, Aoki Yoshifumi

Tachi's a 'selfless freak' (dubbed by Himeko). He is selfless and would try to help anyone in trouble, which, according to Himeko (and much to her chagrin) , would naturally make girls swoon over him. He would naturally sacrifice himself to save others and his desire to help others would often override his rational mind.

Himeko is the vice president of the club, and would often react violently to Tachi's or Yoshifumi's jokes. She is nicknamed "Inaban" by Iori (later "Derebun" -laughs-) and is generally distrustful of others and worries a lot. However, she is the most calm and rational amongst the five when dealing with unexpected situations. She's also the sharpest and perhaps the most sensitive of the five.

Iori is the president of the club. An easygoing and cheerful person, she lives alone with her mother who is seldom at home. She has had 5 (i think) stepfathers, of which one or two are pretty violent. Hence in order to fit their expectations of her, she often alters her personality to the point where she is unsure of who she really is, and what or who the real her is. 

Yui is skilled in karate but has androphobia after she was almost raped in middle school. After receiving help from Tachi and Yoshifumi, she starts to be more comfortable with men though she has rejected Yoshifumi many times but later admits that she's just not ready for a relationship yet. She later overcomes her androphobia after Yoshifumi reaffirms his love for her (During the "turning into their younger selves" phenomenon)

Yoshifumi has a carefree attitude but is in love with Yui and does not hesitate to to show it seriously even though he was rejected by Yui many times. When he was younger, he vows to live his life to the fullest after a student from his class died. He used to date a girl called Nana back in middle school who looks like Yui. He began to question his love for Yui during the "turning into their younger selves" phenomenon. 

Of all the characters, I love Himeko the best. She is so adorable and cute especially when she's embarrassed. And i almost died from the overflowing cuteness during the "turning into your younger selves" phenomenon when Himeko turned into a kid. 

Mini Himeko <3 ISN'T SHE ADORABLE?

Iori can't resist hugging her :3 (I WANNA HUG HER TOO)

Yui and Iori unable to take Himeko's cuteness -- after hugging /playing/touching mini himeko for a period of time

A scared Himeko hiding behind Tachi

Will you kill someone you love, because of love?

Ga-Rei Zero 

The subtitle for this particular anime is this: Will you kill someone you love, because of love?

Sounds familiar? We get this a lot in fiction books -- especially supernatural or/and fantasy books targeted at teens. (e.g. Vampire Academy) but that's not the point. It also sounds strangely like euthanasia but that's not it either. It also sounds like star-crossed lovers but that's not it too. Since this isn't a romance anime. In this anime, two girls are forced to make the choice. Any ways, I'll begin with the Opening theme!

And oh, do not judge this anime by its first episode. The first episode is not what it seemed to be. It's actually... well, the start of the ending of the anime.

This is a heartbreaking, tragedy, supernatural story (maybe horror?) about  two sisters, Kagura and Yomi and the choices they made and how it impacts everyone. Yomi's choice in killing Mei, and accepting the sesshouseki (some weird red stone that makes her go all bad and stuff), and finally, her choice of being killed by Kagura. In Kagura's case, her choice in killing the school nurse and her beloved sister, Yomi. Basically, it's beautiful story of sisterhood, love, as they are forced to make inevitable choices.  

What makes this a really sad anime is the fact that you already know what's gonna happen and you're watching it happen. You're relieving Kagura's and Yomi's past memories, all the fun and sad times that shared as they grew closer and closer as sisters as they work in the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division, battling paranormal forces as part of their everyday job after school, along with other side colleagues and friends.

(Left) Yomi and (Right) Kagura
Aren't they cute? >.<

Thoughts

The story was captivating, touching and heart wrenching to the point that I got a little depressed after finishing this anime. It's definitely a tragedy type of anime but it has its share of humour as well, usually generated between Yomi and Kagura as well as Yomi's fiancé, Noriyuki.

I liked how the deep bond between the sisters were portrayed in the anime and how its was an emotional roller coaster ride from the beginning. Speaking of the beginning, I almost stopped watching after the first episode. You shouldn't stop watching after the first. Keep on watching. It's gonna get awesome and more awesome. This anime doesn't follow the cliché start. One of its notable points is how uninteresting and how irrelevant the characters in the first 3/4 of episode 1 are. They all died, basically. I'm gonna spoil this so hang onto your seats. Yomi killed'em.

Poor poor poor Kagura, she had a hell of a traumatic experience one after another in the anime and Yomi...well let's just say that she isn't living in a paradise either. She has her own share of issues and problems due to her being an adopted child and such.

Did i mention that this is a prequel to the Ga-Rei? It's a manga series which i haven't got around reading. Kagura looks quite different there though.

Well, I'll keep this post short(er) and I'll end off with this question in mind:

Will you kill someone you love, because of love?

Personally, I would.

I was watching clips from The Idolm@ster and Love Live!: School Idol Project yesterday while studying and I got so caught up with the songs and dance movements that I just want to watch the entire series all over again. And then I started thinking, listing down all the anime that i wanted to re-watch. 

- The Idolm@ster

- Love Live!: School Idol Project

- Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

- Ga-Rei Zero 

- Fate Zero

- Shakugan no Shana Final

- Hidan no Aria

I think I'll re-watch Love Live! and Hidan no Aria during the June hols. Maybe Fate Zero too. -sighs- so many things that i want to do but so little time. -sighs again- 

A few (of the many) clips that i watched yesterday:

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru has reached its climax. Everything has been revealed but the episode ends off with a typical cliffhanger. 

Episode 8 of Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru.

The episode is the continuation of the previous one whereby Yukino, Hachiman, his sister (i forgot her name), Yui, Saiko, the homeroom teacher of Hachiman's class (who insists that she's younger than 30) and the other "gang" who they don't hang out with, went on a voluntary trip to facilitate an elementary school camp. 

However, nearing the end of the episode, a plot twist smacked right into our face.

The car that crashed into Hachiman (during the first day of school) when he saved Yui's dog when it ran out into the road was actually Yukino's car. 

Yukino's black car and Yui's dog

First we learn from earlier episodes that Hachiman got into a car accident on the first day of school as he was trying to save a dog that ran out into the road. 

Then we learn that the dog is actually Yui's. (Yui was pretty guilty by this and it took i think one episode for them to resolve this issue of misunderstanding that Hachiman had - he thought that Yui was taking pity on him  by being his friend or something) 

And now, we learn that the car is actually Yukino's. Yukino never said anything before and i suspected she knew it all along. The question is why? Why didn't she say anything? 

The final scene: 

"Yukinoshita Yuki and I would not meet again"

I'll end this off with a question: In such a situation, who's fault do you think it is?

Love Live!: School Idol Project

I shall start by declaring this. Umi and Maki are mine. No one shall have them.

Anyways, I finished watching this sometime last month but never got around doing a review on this for various reasons. This anime, Love Live!: School Idol Project tells the story of a group of students who formed a School Idol Group, as they try to make it to the famous Idol competition, Love Live, in order for their school to gain recognition to attract new students the next year so as to prevent their school from closing down.

The School Idol Group started off with only three childhood friends, on the whim of the group leader, Honoka.

From left to right: Sonoda Umi, Kosaka Honoka, Minami Kotori

However, the Student Council opposed this idea and sought to disband the group. Well, mostly the Student Council Prez, Eri. (Btw, she's half Russian)

Ayase Eri

Toko Nozomi - Vice Prez

Nonetheless, the three of them decides to go ahead with being school idols, with the approval from the school's chairman. They only had limited time before their first concert and got their idol name, μ's and decided to use it. Their first live song is "Start: Dash!!"; however, things don't go as planned as nobody showed up. The auditorium was empty, save for a senior - Niko, who hides herself behind the chairs, and later on Hanayo and Rin who runs in to see the live. Despite this, the trio decided to continue with their concert.

This anime tells the story of how the trio gets more members - 9 in total including the trio, the challenges they face, the fun, happy times they share and how hard they work, setting "Love Live" as their goal.

Hanayo, Rin and Maki joined soon after, followed by Niko, and finally, Eri and Nozomi

From left to right: Hoshizora Rin, Nishikino Maki, Koizumi Hanayo

Yazawa Niko 

My Thoughts

What I liked about this anime is the realistic side high school, and how people don't become idols so easily. Being an idol here wasn't depicted as something that can be easily obtain but rather, it comes through hard work and determination. Honoka, Umi and Kotori's first live concert didn't draw anyone in at first even though they advertised, gave out flyers and put of posters and all. But no one came, save for two or three. Despite this, they never did give up and persevered on, with the aim of trying to save the school from being closed down. 

The way they searched for new members, or rather, how they got their members was sort of expected but still fun to watch, especially when you have Eri and Nozomi in there. I liked how each of their personalities are varied and different - you have the easily embarrassed one (Umi), the upbeat and cheerful one (Honoka), the tsundere (Maki), the super shy and soft one (Hanayo), the wise one (Nozomi), the one who never faces her real feelings and would often neglect them for the sake of others (Eri) and etc. When all these people come together, you get a very interesting bunch working together towards a common goal.

Umi having stage fright

Hahaha Rin, What on earth are you doing?

Each character is not without their own flaws and this is also explored later on in the series. Tension starts to rise in the group, especially within the three childhood friends.

Kotori's outburst towards Honoka

The climax and the peak of the story:

When Honoka faints during their rooftop live and the events that happen soon after (including the fight with Kotori):

Honoka faints after rooftop live of "No brand girls"

Honoka' decision, feeling that it was her fault that μ's dropped out of the top 20 School Idol Groups qualified for Love Live since the concert that determines their final rankings is cancelled due to her fainting. 

I think this few episodes were awesomely portrayed and executed, showing how fragile human beings are, their emotions and all, as well as how little things could change a person. In this case, Umi gives Honoka a big fat slap across her face after she said that she's quitting.

Drama and more drama. I love dramas. 

Anyways, though i expected some sort of drama like this near the end of the anime, i wasn't let down by what i saw. And as per all "break-ups", there's always a "make-up". Though it happens at the very last minute as Honoka chases Kotori all the way to the Airport to get her back to school, when Honoka decides to return to μ's after some (tough) convincing by the group, just in time for their next school live. And this time, to wrap up the whole series, the song that the 9 of them sang is the same song that Umi, Kotori and Honoka sang for their first live - Start: Dash!! And this time, the auditorium is packed with people.

Music

In my opinion, I think that their music's quite good, their voices/seiyuus were rather good in singing though I prefer Umi's, Maki's, Honoka's and Eri's singing. Kotori's singing is fine, perhaps a little to cutesy for me - but still good nonetheless- and (I'm sorry Niko fans) I don't particularly like Niko's singing voice. It feels like there is a bit of dragging in her singing... Hanayo's, Rin's and Nozomi's singing are fine though. 

I appreciate the 3D effect of them when they sing and dance but it feels too 3D-ish, to me anyway. Well, I'll get used to it :) Their dance movements are unique since it's hard to choreograph dance moves for nine people with different strengths and weakness and thanks to Kotori (choreographer) and Umi ("Trainer") and Eri (Later episodes), they managed to pull off wonderful dances, uniquely to them. 

Speaking of Umi being the "Trainer", she's a demon. Since she's already fit from kyūdō (the club she's in), she takes charge of training the others into getting them into shape which includes running up and down xxx times the stairs near the temple which Nozomi works in and practising the dance moves to death.

Overall

I really liked this anime and to anyone out there who's looking out for comedy or music genre of an anime, you might wanna consider this. ;)  I've said that before and i'll reiterate it again. Umi and Maki are mine. 

Btw, did i mention that the 9 characters here were actual idols that was adapted into an anime in accordance to the fans' choice in each characters' future? 

 Umi when she gets woken up by Honoka and gang's pillow fight in the dead of the night

Maki getting popular~ They totally should have a Maki fan club or something.

Harsh training. Looks like Umi isn't the only demon trainer.

Maki's Singing

I am officially in love with her voice. Period. HER VOICE IS AWESOME. 



On a side note: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEEcueCs_2I >> "No Brand Girls"

They've released five singles and are all available on Youtube :3



"μ's isn't μ's unless there's nine members."  ---- Eri to Nozomi