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Double Arts Cancelled: You Don’t Really Think I’ll Do A Write Up For The Final Chapters, Do You?

Omisyth — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:12:31 +0000

My reaction to that absurd decision.

So if you didn’t know (and if you were a fan of the series, you should’ve) DA got cancelled by Shounen Jump a few weeks ago. I’m still kind of irritated, but nowhere near as much as I was before, and I really can’t be bothered to dredge up all that anger to complain about this idiocy. So, courtesy of my own blo g, you get a mini-rant!

For a bit more of an objective look at the series, take a look at FFVIIKnight’s final impressions.

The fucking end.

SERIOUSLY?!

Yeah, so Double Arts just ends at Chapter 23 apparently, just as the story was starting to get a bit deeper and more interesting with the backstory of the Gazelle and whatever happened to Andie Frau and all that. Too bad we may never get to see a continuation of a great series, I’ll just have to hope the mangaka can go to another magazine other than Shounen Jump YOU SONS OF BITCHES. Apparently it was the lowest rated manga in the magazine, which is a shame, as there are worse series out there at the moment (I’m looking at you Naruto). It doesn’t even feel like the story got a chance to develop and the action and art was great on a whole and the whole thing was just brimming with potential. And there also needed to be more Sui action.

So hopefully we’ll see some sign of DA in the future but other than that all I can say is:

Fuck you, Weekly Shounen Jump.

Double Arts 20: First It Was So You Think You Can Dance, Now It’s Project Runway

Omisyth — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 08:22:05 +0000

Hell yeah, design competition tiem.

Summary:

Farran explains to Kiri and Elle that the name of their fighting style, “Double Arts”, suits them since they’re using a hand-to-hand combat style, akin to that of “Martial Arts”. That ends the day’s lesson, and they’ll continue tomorrow when Farran is going to run them ragged dancing for the whole day. While dancing the next day, Farran notices just how much the two have improved; Elle mentions that she has taken some dance lessons herself and she’s glad to see that there’s finally something that Kiri isn’t ZOMG AMAZING at that she can do. This sparks a little competitiveness in Kiri and he swears to become better han her by the end of the day. Farran continues to muse on the fact that they’re improving faster than he anticipated while they practice. Elle’s getting hot in her Sister uniform so Kiri says that he’ll buy or make something else for her from scratch. Farran overhears this and he decides they should buy some new material and design the outfits themselves; its less about fashion and more about the fact they need to have as much exposed skin as possible to maintain contact, as well as be mobile. Unfortunately, Sui’s taking part as well and to her exposed skin means…

COVER THE CHILDREN’S EYES!

Of course, Elle objects to this, due to the fact it’s just plain stupid. Kiri’s desgin isn’t much better though.

P.I.M.P

They fight for a while, but settle on Elle’s design which pwns both Kiri and Sui’s. At first she’s embarrassed about wearing it, but then Sui reminds her of the… alternatives… and she’s golden. After some choking of Kiri by Sui, the next day the two emerge in their new uniforms…

Awesome.

Though Kiri hasn’t really changed his own as it’s already suitable for fighting and his mom made it for him (ahhh motherly love). Kiri finally asks Farran a question that’s been bothering him; why does he not fight to protect anyone? Farran’s reluctant to answer at all, but Kiri’s persistence manages to get a small piece of information. He made a promise to someone…

He believes he should never break that rule no matter what. Kiri asks him what would happen if he does so, and Farran says he would pay for it in more ways than one. Meanwhile, outside the city…

Thoughts:

Trading plot advancement for lulz and a little character developement is fine too. Nothing much really happened this time around, but that’s to be expected really. I do think that Elle looks great in the new uniform now, it just screams “Battle-Ready”. The details of Farran’s vow never to fight to protect someone (or rather, lack of details) makes me think that there’s probably an actual curse/misfortune that’ll occur if he breaks it, rather than him just being stubborn, and it’ll be nice to find out a little bit more about that.

I’m thinking the grave might be that of someone with the Flare ability, most likely a former member of the Gazelle. This is pure theorisation at this point though, plus the fact most organisations tend to lean towards having twelve head members for some reason (at least in my opinion) and the Gazelles only have eleven.

OH GOD, EMBARRASSED ELLE IS CUUUUUUUTE!

Double Arts 19: LOLTraining Time

Omisyth — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:07:35 +0000

I said, you must win So You Think You Can Dance!

Summary:

Making sure that Kiri and Elle understand that they’re going up against the people who crushed the strongest warriors of the Sisters, he decides to accept Kiri’s request. Elle reacts less enthusiastically, having heard nothing about this before, and Sui says that she’s already taught Kiri how to fight, though Kiri says that’s impossible since she can’t teach anybody anything (probably true). Elle reluctantly agrees that she’ll do her best, but before they go any further, Fallan lays some ground rules. He pretty much says they’re completely under his control for the time they’re training, and that they also…

There you have it. The best way to get cash is to train for years, become a master martial artist and demand students hand over their money. For “training purposes”.

He orders them out of the room to get ready, while Theressa teases him about the meaningless conditions and the fact that he must like the kids. The two get ready (along with Sui) and make their way to a forest within the town. They meet Fallan, who tells Kiri to never call him “Sensei” again, which he proceeds to do, says that questions he asked them previously (though I have no idea when) led him to gauge their abilities and create a basic plan for them.

They each come up with good answers (experience, knowledge, power, weaponry, heck, even Sui chips in with “keeping calm”) but Fallan says that though that’s important, it’s not what’s most important; they need to be in perfect synchronization and move as one as that’ll be the lifeline of their technique. And so, he sets them the most effective teaching method for this.

EPIC!!!

Well, of course all Kiri and Elle can say is “Wha?” and Sui just laughs her ass off. So, we move on to seeing them dance like crap, and the two of them get sick of it quickly. Fallan just tells them that it’s the best method to get them to move together smoothly. Kiri’s still skeptical, so Fallan explains that he’s gone all over the world, learning and mastering multiple martial arts, and has even taught others before; so it’s up to Kiri what he wants to believe about the method. He also tells Elle that she has the talent to become strong too (and Kiri has to stop Sui from doing anything rash). Meanwhile, Fallan wonders about the nature of Kiri’s “Flare” power, which is essentially an inexhaustible, risk-free strength that’s equivalent to “trumping the laws of creation”. He realises that any bad person with even a little bit of imagination could endanger the world with that strength.

He talks to Kiri and Elle, saying that the task of this whole endeavour is to create a martial art only they two can use, which will be known as:

Thoughts:

First off, apologies for the late post (as relatives + 3 hour drive = tired and will not blog) and I must concede to FFVIIKnight, manga blogger extordinaire, who I’ve secretly been trying to beat to the punch for this series ^_^.

I’m not much of a fan of training arcs, but this manga is so hilarious it glazes over most of my problems with them. I knew that it was going to be something stupid, but also made complete sense (like the whole “painting fences and washing cars teaches you martial arts” shtick) but it was still entertaining to watch. Fallan’s thoughts on Kiri’s powers make me think that something bad will eventually show up concerning Kiri; it’s impossible to have such hax a power without some sort of disadvantage and also previously, when fighting Kiri and Elle, Zezu mentioned something about recognizing his power. Fallan seems to have finally given up on that “will not help, only protect self” thing and decided to just help the two as he LOVES has taken a liking to them. And is there any time where Theressa isn’t wasted?

Anyway, if we can blitz through the training, then we may get to more awesome fighting (and I think that at least part of the training will be them two against Sui, which could be fun to watch).

Obligatory Sui end.

Double Arts 18: What’s the Wretched Egg doing here?

Omisyth — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 11:07:40 +0000

Meh, Shiro’s much scarier than Zezu. And a lot crazier.Summary:

A girl named Andie Frau struggles through a forest, remembering the last words her captain said to her before she left. She was sent to get into contact with Kiri, while her companions remain behind. They are the Falzen Sisters who were sent to escort Kiri and Elle back to headquarters, but unfortunately they’ve come into contact with Zezu and 2 mysterious hooded figures. Zezu mocks the strongest warriors the Sisters have as they were aparently nothing at all to him. Zezu asks one of the hooded people if Kiri and Elle are really still alive, even after he sent the Avro after them. Somehow, the figure knows that Farran assisted them, and notices that Zezu’s happy to know that Kiri’s survived. The hooded figure says that they should hurry up as they’ve got a meeting to get to, and while the Falzen hope that Andie Frau got away safely, Zezu decides to attack…

Back in the city, we learn that Andie is a friend of Elle’s. Also, guess who’s back…

Sui, and not in the happiest state of mind. It seems that she hasn’t gotten over her loss to Farran yet ^_^.

Sister Martha calls them, and before Elle can report on what happened concerning Heine, she interrupts with the grim news about the Falzen, who were completely obliterated. Everyone is stunned (except Sui, who’s just confused), and Elle asks about what happened to Andie. All Martha can say is that she managed to get into contact with them to deliver the message; the fate of the remaining members and her are unknown. Martha tells them to hide in the city while they gather reinforcements, but Kiri has a big problem with that.

Martha realises this, but what else can they do? Kiri asks her to hold off as he’s got a plan that he would like to implement. They return to Teressa’s house in the meantime, where she attempts to get them drunk gives them tea and Farran asks Kiri if he really has a plan. Before he actually tells Farran, he looks to Elle, who seems depressed. But she is, in fact, optimistic.

Kiri sees through this, realising she’s just acting tough, but says nothing. They take out a map and start planning their route to Naginzeria, the location of the Sister’s headquarters. Kiri says that they’ll head to headquarters on their own as they don’t wish to get anyone else tangled up in this. Sui complains, but she’ll just follow them anyway, as she’s so battle-hungry. Kiri says that he has a request of Farran. Farran thinks that it’s to be their bodyguard and says the same thing about only protecting himslef, but Kiri says he’s completely wrong.

New Technique, Get!

Thoughts:

Well, though I realised that the Falzen may not be able to do much against the Gazelle, I didn’t expect them to be completely obliterated so quickly. Martha did mention that the Gazelle would be waiting outside the city, but I thought the Falzen would at least have gotten into contact with Kiri and Elle. It makes Kiri seem a bit less righteous and a bit more practical in thinking that he doesn’t want people to get hurt for their sake; it really seems that Zezu and his group are just too strong and the Sister’s don’t have anything stronger than the Falzen so sending reinforcements would be pretty useless.

Any Sui is good Sui. Her anger/killing intent was fun to watch, but she didn’t get enough screen panel time in this chapter. I’m still waiting for her to bust out teh hax on another opponent or meet someone of equal strength. Though the fights aren’t the series’ main focus, they’re really exciting when they do occur, so hopefully Kiri and Elle will learn their new style and then we’ll have a battle of some sort.

Not sure what to make of those hooded people, but they’ll probably be the people who the group fight as, at the moment, Zezu’s just a sadistic, insanely strong, psychopath (though that may be a good thing). And apparently on the 18th of August there’ll be a double chapter of Sui action, which I’ll definitely look forward to.

It’s great to have you back, you violent, crazy girl.

Double Arts 17: As Long As She’s Fine, I Don’t Really Care How

Omisyth — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:52:11 +0000

Well, kudos to FFVIIKnight for seeing this coming.
Summary:
Kiri grasps ahold of Heine’s hand, saving her before she dissapears completely. Elle’s theory from the last chapter is quickly revealed; knowing that Kiri can’t have both of them on his shoulders, she attempts to treat Heine. But there’s also a risk that she could die, despite Kiri’s ability to stop the seizures, as it could simply be too much for her system to handle. However, she does this anyway and….

*dramatic pause*

…everything’s fine.

Of course at this point, both Kiri and Heine freak out about what Elle just did, as she could’ve killed herself. But Elle knows that if she had said anything, Kiri probably would have stopped her, but now they don’t have to worry about Heine taking up his other hand. Kiri proceeds by accepting this calmly threatening her with EXTREME TEDDY BEAR BADGES. Meanwhile, Heine sobs in the corner, glad to be alive, as even though she thought she had given up all of her hopes and dreams, she realises she hadn’t, and Elle knows this as well. Kiri tells her that she should get back to painting as…

In this time, the girl who was just treated by Heine wakes up, learning that the two ladies next to her are Sisters. She’s relived as she thought they weren’t coming, like with an aquaintance’s friend who died as the Sisters were late. Heine, rather than descending back into her self-sacrificial doom spiral, simply apologises and says to the girl that at times, Sisters may be late, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t trying their hardest to save as many people as they can.

Back in the town, Heine explains that though she’s been saved for now, she’ll most likely only have another 2-3 years before the seizures come again, and pretty much tells Kiri (newly named “Mr Hope”) to come up with a cure by then. Kiri says they have to head back to the inn as someone (read:Farran) is getting grumpy (understandably, as they are completely exposed out here). Heine begins to make her farewell, not before shaking Kiri to make him remember that they should meet up again and saying she wants to see his paintings. Kiri explains that he doesn’t paint but he sews *ahem* cute designs, like monkeys, bears and muscle men >_>. He and Elle argue about the cuteness of his designs, while Heine talks to Farran about the two’s predicament. However, Farran believes that despite the fact they are being the most heavily targeted, that Kiri won’t die so easily, and nor will Heine. Unless they just die later (talk about a downer)

Heine finally bids farewell to the two as the rain clears…

As she walks away, she can barely contain her excitement about once again beginning to paint; she’s already found her first soon-to-be masterpiece…

Thoughts:

HEINE DOESN’T DIE!!! YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!

Well, this chapter handled the saving of Heine quite well. The solution was practical, and in hindsight should’ve been predictable, but I was too busy wishing for Heine not to die ^_^. I was also glad to see that though Elle is still a quite self-sacrificial, (you’d have to be to be a Sister, of course) she was also thinking about the well-being of Kiri, who’s still the most important thing at the moment, and the future of the world as well, while still caring about Heine. Nice to see she’s thinking in a broader sense of things.

Heine had some noticeable developement as well; she’s accepted the fact that she may or any other Sisters may be late, but they are always trying their hardests to keep people alive. She’s regained her lost dreams thanks to Kiri and Co., and will (at the very least, this is hinted) go on to a successful career as a painter, with her first masterpiece, Elle X Kiri ^_^. Farran’s still the voice of reason, as well as hope and a bit of dark humour, but he believes in the ability of people to fight for their life. Kiri’s still kind of shallow in character, so hopefully he may come across some sort of dilemma so he can grow and develop.

He says they’re cute, but he knows they’re not.

Why else would he use the horrible bears from my nightmares as a threat?

Double Arts 16

Omisyth — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:58:44 +0000

You can’t save everyone, Kiri.Summary:

While talking to Maria, Elle and Kiri discover that Heine only has one treatment left auntil she succumbs to Troi. 20 minutes ago, Heine was talking to Chris, the Sister who took her in after her parents died. Despite Chris’ wish that Heine simply stop treating others and work behind-the-scenes at Headquarters rather than die that day, Heine decides that she wishes to treat people until the very end.

Saying that she’ll always be grateful that Chris turned her into a Sister, she hangs up and heads off for her fianl charge. Kiri and Elle go after Heine, hoping to save her.

However, the current solution is impractical. How would he be able to make it to Headquarters safely with two ladies in each hand? Despite this, Kiri and Elle continue onwards, him saying that its better that they have options to work with now rather than just letting her die, and she believing that she may have a way to save Heine. At the house of the afflicted, Heine tells herself that she doesn’t have any regrets and that she wishes to be a proud Sister to the end.

As expected the seizures take her, and she realizes just how painful they are and that she really doesn’t want to die. At that moment she flashes back to a time when her mother had admired her young talent and other Sisters had admired her work, praising her skill. She had talked to Chris; deciding then that she would discard her paint and canvas and dedicate herself to being a Sister so no one would undergo such as painful experience an her again. Only in the present time does she realise by doing that she will really dissappear; not even “Heine the Aspiring Painter” will be left in anyone’s memories, yet there is still so much she awants to paint.

At that moment Kiri and Elle burst in….

But did they succeed?

Thoughts:

DON’T DIE, HEINE!!! Wow, there was some quite well done drama in this chapter. Double Arts normally isn’t all about tension or cliffhangers, but what an ANNOYING CLIFFHANGER GODDAM IT TELL ME NOW IF HEINE’S OKAY amazing place to end the chapter. Kiri’s still a stick-to-it kind of guy, living in the moment to try and save anyone he can. Though Farran was right in saying its impossible to save everyone by him holding their hands, Kiri’s not one to just let someone die in the face of a problem that hasn’t even happened yet.

I’m a bit curious as to what the way to save Heine is that Elle’s thought of; if it means sacrificing herself so Heine goes with Kiri instead, I will be extremely annoyed, just because Heine can paint and has dreams it doesn’t mean that Elle should give up her life to save her. Heine’s desperation not to die was the best part; it was a realistic demonstration of her feelings, many people are scared of death and to stare it rigt in the face and be unfazed though you still have things you wan’t to do and dreams you want to achieve would, in my opinion, be unnatural.

And now I begin the wait for another week to see if Heine lives or not. By logic, and in the greater scheme of the story, she probably won’t but I can hope, goddamit. I can hope…..

PLEASE DON’T DIE, HEINE!!!

Double Arts 15: Don’t give up on your dreams

Omisyth — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:46:07 +0000

Just as you think its getting a bit stereotypical…

Summary:

As there are still three days until the Falzen (Warrior Sisters) arrive, Kiri, Elle and Farran book into an inn. Rather than eat a well-made meal (by Kiri, as he is not just an awesome carpenter, but an excellent chef) with them, Farran eats alone, abhoring the gruesome, torturous fact that…

*dramatic pause*

He didn’t tell Kiri he hates carrots… *GASP!*

Elle notices her sleeve’s torn so Kiri uses his hands of wonder…

…to fix it.

But not without some (un)welcome additions…

You know you love it, Elle :3

Later, as they walk around the city, they’re noticed by a girl in the streets who at first speaks as politely as possible, until Kiri tells her to relax.

So cute…

She talks of how she admires Elle, her “White Fairy”, for all her work as a Sister and Kiri, her “Wishing Star”, for what he’s done and what he represents (as well as the handiwork on the bear patch). She feels honoured to be a Sister, and was involved in art herself, being a painter, until…

…her parents succumbed to Troi. Even while blaming the Sister for being late and not saving her parents, she was taken in, while still wishing to be a painter. However, she then came across a point when she had been late herself, unable to save the grandchildren of a couple. Expecting to be blamed herself, all she received was a simple “Thank You” for trying to get there.Since then, she’s tried to help as many people as possible, simply enjoying the happiness and words of thanks she receives for her treatments.

As such, she gave up on her dream, but…

Elle explains that they shouldn’t have to go so far, to sacrifice everything, to be Sisters. They should be allowed to at least follow what they wish to do and Heine should’nt give up on being a painter. Heine takes these words to heart and leaves hoping to see them again. Elle says it was Kiri who should her that she should live not only as a Sister but for her own happiness as well, and that if they cure Troi, they can find a way for Heine to achieve her dream.

But…

Nooooooo!! Despair…

Thoughts:

The wait inside the city is giving a good insight into the nature of the characters and their world in general. Its completely understandable the way Heine reacted as a child, she had just lost her parents and was alone only to see the supposed saviour arrive too late. The fact that she felt shame later on and was willing to give up her dreams in order not to make people go through what she did… and may simply die in the next chapter is just tragic. I thought she was a complete throwaway character until the last page; why can’t her hope for a better future lead to her happiness rather than “you’re going to die soon”? Not so much “WTF!” as “Why now!?”

We also got a look into a different perspective of the Sister’s. It seems that most of them have just resigned themselves to their fate (ironically, thats what Heine does here) but its nice to know that there are those that look forward, like Elle (although I swear she was all gloom and doom earlier on). It just goes to show how much Kiri means to not only the people infected with Troi but to them as well; a cure would mean they could all go about their life as normal people doing as they wish, unchained from the burdens, responsibility and fate of self-sacrificial healers.

Please don’t die, Heine ;_;.

The guy who can defeat 500 bandits and break PAVEMENT with a man’s face loses to carrots…

Its like Superman and Kryptonite.

Double Arts 14

Omisyth — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:32:23 +0000

I is so cool..

I is eatin’ the foods and balancin’ it at the same time ^_^

I think she’s just jealous of Kiri’s mad skills.

Summary:

With the three assasin’s of the Gazelle defeated, Elle contacts Martha the next morning for an update on their situation. Before Elle can say that Farran would be accompanying them, Martha goes into a spiel about how he probably turned them down flat, being and unfriendly, unreliable person… When who arrives but Farran(-kun to Martha, apparently).

After praising Farran for a while (leaving no chance for anyone to speak) Elle finally manages to explain what happened. Kiri also wonders what happened to Sui after the battle. Hearing this, Martha advises them to stay in the city, as more Gazelle could be waoting outside to ambush them if they try to escape. We also get the standard “I’m only protecting myself” quote from Farran, but….

There are still hints that there’s more to it than that.

They move to the city square to discuss how they’re going to act, with Farran planning to return to Terresa’s and Kiri and Elle finding an inn and stocking up on supplies. Unfortunately…

Sui shows up to do the one thing she always does, but then…

She loses in seconds. She struggles but Farran says that they both realize she’s lost and if she attacks the same thing will just happen again.

After this, Sui mutters how she’s lost andeverone expects her to do something rash (hell, I expected her to just get angry and go crazy) but instead…

She cries…

She says ( through sobs) that she’ll definitely get stronger and kill Farran.

Kiri reflects on what just happened and realizes that he’ll have to get much stronger in order to protect Elle if people more poweful than Sui and Farran and even Zezu exist.

Awwwww….

Anyway, we cut back to Teressa and Farran the former of which is chramed by the kids sweetness, and the latter who doesn’t want to acknowledge Kiri’s strength but admits he’s stronger than he thought. Teressa says that things are going to get a lot more interesing now on.

Thoughts:

This was a good chapter, showcasing Farran’s current pwnage level of strength and the differences between the powerful and less powerful in the story. I am getting a bit tired of Kiri saying how he’s going to protect Elle and I’m hoping for something a bit deeper in his character (unlike “I’ll be the Hokage/ Get back Sasuke”). Elle’s as supportive as ever for him, and.. well the header pretty much says it for me.

We still haven’t got much information on the nature of Teressa or Farran’s “destiny” but the mangaka can’t just reveal everything at once so fair enough. Sui was her usual self except for, you know, the crying but it was a good way to show that she isn’t just a crazy girl bent on beating the crap out of people… she’s also a crybaby bent on beating the crap out of people. Don’t worry, Sui, the first loss is always the hardest ^_^.

Presenting Kiri, the amazing Bread Balancer!

Roll up, roll up, only 5 silver coins to see what we balance as we have no basketballs!

P.S Any advice on blogging/ writing/ layout would be appreciated as I need to learn more to make the posts look tidier (and have less agony while putting them together ^_^)