–newgeekphilosopher.

This is the image that came to mind when I thought of a visual representation of Anime Blogger Enlightenment. Mainly because this is the only Manga I know of that has a decent picture of Buddha.

So here’s what’s happening to the newgeekphilosopher this week:

I CAVED IN: FANSUBS ARE GO

I finally admit it. I got the fansub of Kaiba. And it’s one of the most amazing things my eyes have ever seen, outranking even the time I thought I saw a real Fairy. It was just as weird though. Not that it was a bad thing, I can handle weird quite well. Rather than just telling you that Kaiba is a great Anime, let’s look at why it’s so good. Because, for a very long time, there hasn’t been the aesthetic in Anime Osamu Tezuka developed for his Sci-Fi manga and Anime cartoons in any recent shows I’ve heard of. Kaiba is a breath of fresh air to the Age of Moe not because it emulates the old style of Tezuka, but captures the mood and philosophical mindset he had without trying too hard to be something it’s not: this isn’t a Tezuka Anime, but it is equally satisfying as reading one of his hard Sci-Fi manga volumes, like Apollo’s Song for example. Kaiba, from what I’ve seen, is a show about the ethics of memories, is it right to preserve and sell the memories of the dead, destroying their privacy? In a world gone topsy turvy, and nobody is quite one person anymore, but having more than one body, how can one truly be oneself if the rule of the day is to become something else? These questions and more in one of the best Anime shows you’ll ever watch. It translates well from Japanese into a universal setting too, so if you get a fansub you aren’t bombarded with translator notes.

I am also in the process of adding True Tears to my watching list. I really wanted to see what the fuss over Noe was all about. Hopefully I won’t be disappointed.

As for the Anime Blogger Enlightenment thing, it’s not so much a pretentious opening claiming that I can give other people enlightenment through my blog posts as it is about a discovery I had which changed my mind about getting fansubs. I realised it is possible to get them without getting a virus on my computer, using my Anti-Virus software. It is also possible to watch them in a format that isn’t too obscure, and with the right media player you can pretty much watch anything. I still buy DVDs, it’s just that I am no longer snobby about getting fansubs. Especially when you can watch shows like Kaiba without waiting for the Region 4 release, which often takes a short time once a dub is made, but a longer time if a dub is waiting to be made.

SECRET MEN’S BUSINESS ANIME BLOG ROUND ROBIN

The Secret Men’s Business Anime Round Robin has begun, finally taking off inspired by the beginning of the All Girl’s Round Robin. You can find my first entry in the Secret Men’s Business Round Robin series here. I remind you AGRR members that this isn’t an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the AGRR, it’s a chance for the men to group together to talk in meaningful discussions about men’s issues in Anime, but also topics that are universally relevant in the Anime fandoms (fandoms are like kingdoms, only with more barons thinking they know more about a series than the peasants do).

The first topic of the Secret Men’s Business Round Robin is: ANIME CLUB. How is Anime fandom akin to underground subversive behaviour that is used as a subculture which rebels against mainstream society and cliques? Is liking Anime regarded as “immature” for a young man to like, or is the truth more like Fight Club, only with more cosplay battles than actual fist violence? Is male Anime fandom against the norms of mainstream masculinity, and why is this true or untrue?

I’ll leave that for you guy Anime bloggers to develop on.

SUPER SAIYAN LEVEL 17 SCHOOL HOMEWORK BATTLE

I might not be able to post as much as I used to as I go into a crucial stage of my studies, and don’t hate me for having a life outside of Anime blogging. I thought I could be online most hours of the day, but sadly this is no longer the case. That doesn’t mean I’m abandoning you all, as Yukan Blog and blissmo have been good and forgiving to me and my foibles.

That’s All for now, I’m off to watch more Kaiba, and I’ll see if my fansub of Lucky Star has gotten to me.