Skip Beat!: Opening the Locks to Kyoko's Heart

It's all coming back to it- that one moment; that first scene of both the Skip Beat manga and anime: The box that God gave everyone in the world. One that brings both joy and sorrow. 

A box that Kyoko vowed to lock up and never look back...

Till now. 

It all began with this box, and though many of us forgot about it completely (including me), the whole story is practically about this mysterious box. Kyoko keeps pushing her way into show-biz, but this locked piece of her heart is what's holding her back. The deep wounds that Sho left on her heart haven't been erased, but as the story progressed we noticed that it became less and less about her vengeance on Sho, and more about Kyoko. But that healing has brought on events in Kyoko's heart that makes her greatest promise come closer and closer to breaking. Since this is such a HUGE turning point in the story, I'm putting my best effort into making this post good. 

Enjoy ~

Skip Beat: Bits and Pieces of Tsuruga's Past

I've finally reached a high point in Skip Beat! We've seen some character growth from Kyoko and all the other characters, but one character in particular, Tsuruga Ren, has been given an incredibly obscure profile.
We don't know the full story behind the reason he became "Ren" and dropped his birth name (and personality) as "Koun". But after the "Heel siblings" arc, we start to learn more and more about Tsuruga's past as Koun, and why he tries so hard to protect the dark memories beneath it.

What did Ren do?

Skip Beat Chapter 149: The Wake After the Kiss

So incase you guys haven't hear, Kyoko lost her first kiss to Shoutaro...Shou of all people!! That poor child.
But after the big kiss scene, Ren reassured her that your first kiss isn't a kiss until you're feelings are put into it. He also shared a hilarious story about his first "kiss" after an accidental collision with a middle aged man.

aahaha...aahhhh. Poor Ren-kun :(

However, Kyoko being Kyoko keeps loosing her head over every little thing that reminds her of Sho. And trust me, that's a lot of things. But what Ren does to take her mind off him was....nnneeehhmmeehh  (that was fan girl speak for ya)

My face when I read this chapter

Skip Beat: Chapter 145: Shoutaro and Kyoko Kiss!!!

Oh my god ohmygod ohmygod!!!! Whhaatt? Shoutaro and Kyoko...KISS?!?!

So here's what happened: Valentines day is coming up and Kyoko decides to make chocolates for everyone. Well, except Ren, but that's only because she thinks he won't like him (and she's giving him his late birthday present that day). Anyway, turns out that the lead singer from the band Kyoko calls "Beagle" captured one of her hatred spirits and has been holding it hostage. In order to get her spirit back, she was forced to make him chocolates.
Knowing Kyoko, she made a "go to hell beagle, I hate you" chocolate. Now, when Ren saw the dropped "Hatred" chocolate, he assumed that she made them for Shou, and obviously got pissed off.

Bbbuutt (this is when it gets confusing) Kyoko continues to drop the chocolates until the design begins to look like a "I Beagle Heart". Which is just the perfect moment for Shou to come in and find those, right? Well it's also a brilliant time for the Beagles to walk in too!

The World God Only Knows Chapter 7-10 : Kanon

So this chapter's girl is Kanon! The new "idol" in Japan, and former classmate of Keima. Regardless of her superstar status, she's quite crazy when it comes to not being noticed. One of those crazy, insecure, why don't you know me super stars. But when Keima finally realizes her problem and gives her support, he's able to capture the spirit. We learn of a new effect these lost spirits have on their hosts...

Skip Beat Chapter 123: The Birth of Natsu

After a spike in confidence, Kyoko becomes worried with her new part: Natsu- the mean girl with a normal life, normal family, yet mean girl personality. She beats herself up for thinking that she'll redo her evil role or Mio from her "Dark Moon" days. So, as usual, she goes to Ren for help.

What she figures out is surprising.

Playing Catch Up!: Skip Beat

 Fun fact for ya: the author of Skip Beat, Yoshiki Nakamura, doesn't even have a real reason for naming it as it is. In fact, she really just wanted to use the word "beat" in the name...I guess skip won! 

Anyway, as I said before, Skip Beat is about a girl whose "evil spirits" are awakened when she learns that she was betrayed by her childhood friend/ crush/ superstar boyfriend. She then swears revenge on him, and the only way of doing that is by making it in show business. In the episode 2 we see her extreme, and I mean exxtttrreemmee, determination to get into show business. She actually flunks the audition after losing her cool during an acting test. However, she is given the chance to be a part of LME's "Love-Me Section." In episodes 3-11 we pretty much watch as she faces her demons, tries to regain the compassion and practically any loving emotion she lost, and make it in showbiz. On the way she meets Ren Tsuruga, a successful, calm, serious actor. Even though she seems to "hate" him, I see a major romance budding ;).

Actually, I quite like Kyoko. She's the most determined anime character I have EVER seen. And trust me, there are a lot out there. I also like the relationships she has with the men. Sho (the evil SOB who betrayed her) seems to bring out her worst, and Ren always seems to be there to bring her back down to earth. It's a short anime, but the manga is still on going (haven't read it in a while though O__-) so I'm assuming that the anime and manga will have different endings. Which one will be better? I'm gonna take a guess and say that it's going to be the manga...that's usually what happens.

The World God Only Knows Chapters 3-5: Mio

 So WGOK is actually a pretty entertaining manga! It looks like a few chapters are dedicated to the conquest of the day, and chapters 3-5 were dedicated to Mio, the rich girl with a tough outer shell

However, her elite, snotty outside holds a deep secret that can make extracting the lost demon even more difficult. 

Sankarea Summary

Sankarea is a fun anime. Not one where you really have to think: just watch, laugh, and enjoy. It's got the right amount of romance, comedy, and boooobies! Yes, that was immature, but what's life without a little piece of your childish reaction to natural bodily developments?

Anyway, Sankarea is about Chirio Furuya, a boy obsessed (and attracted to) zombie-girls. Chicks with a pulse and non-decaying bodies just don't do it for this guy.

One day, his cat Babu dies and he decides it'd be a good idea to resurrect him using an old manuscript he found at his uncle's place. In an attempt to keep his crazy potion making a secret, he finds an abandoned building, which also happens to be the place where Sanka Rea, the uber-rich "idol" of the girl's school, goes to blow off steam regarding her father's love of taking naked pictures of her (creepy, right?).

After the two learn of each other's secrets, Rea agrees to help Chihiro make his potion. However, once they make the correct potion (using the poisonous hydrangea flower) she drinks it in an attempted suicide. 

Luckily, the potion only works for reviving things, not killing them. Even more so, when  Rea accidentally falls to her death, the potion brings her back to life.... as a zombie. 

As Chihiro takes Rea in, he fights with the responsibility he holds towards her slowly decaying body, and the strong physical attraction to this dream girl he never thought could exist. It's a very cute story, and Rea's background with both her father and surrogate mother brings in great drama, as well as conflict. This is definitely something I'd recommend to anyone looking for a romanic comedy and drama. 

Koizora Review: Thoroughly Entertaining, but Not Captivating

Koizora is an anime I'm not used to. It's not just sad...it's tragic. It even goes by "Love Sky: A Sad Love Story". But what's weird about it: I've never (not once!) cried while reading this. Now, I cried reading Fruits Basket, Full Moon Sagashite, and especially Sword Art Online. WHY?? Fruits Basket

Full Moon wo Sagashite: An Endless Search; The Truth About Eichi-kun

Anime:

Ok, I feel like I need to say this: I memorized this song...And I am incredibly proud of that :). It's such a beautiful song. Her feelings of love, of the heartbreak she's been through, everything! is depicted in this. You don't even need to know what it means to feel the truth behind the lyrics. My favorite line? I love you, namida tomaranai. Konnan ja Kimi no koto, shirazuni ireba Yokatta yo (I love you, I can't keep my tears from falling. I also wish, that I had never met you) Falling in love: the one thing that can be the best thing in your life, while hurting you so much. My singing still sounds pretty strange, and nothing close to how Mitsuki sings it, but come on! It's japanese! That's a mile stone for me :).

So, I decided to post this video to explain what exactly happened in the anime. I must say, angelicsnow did a great job depicting the anime up until Eichi's death (episode 42)...Oh! I gave it away! Yes, people...Eichi is dead :'(. In the anime, Mitsuki won the International Pop Idol of the year or something like that and was given a trip to America. She also went with Wakaouji-sensei and Full Moon's manager (who know of Meroko and Takuto) to investigate a treatment so she won't lose her voice during surgery. Along the way, they search for Eichi, and we learn that he and his adopted parents died 3 months after moving to America. As shown in the video, Mistuki was devistated. Having worked so hard just to see Eichi, having no one else in mind but him, made her hit rock bottom. She laid at his headstone till Takuto rescued her and carried her back to the house.

Manga                                                           Chapter 16

The chains keep moving, which I can't control,
and even though you stay still,
I keep on moving

I hate you all, because you keep me away from Eichi.
You keep pulling me away from him...
But he's waiting. Alone. At the bottom of the deep dark sea :(

Mitsuki: Why do you keep helping me?
Takuto: Because...you're still alive

Ok, here's one of the many differences between the manga and anime: Mitsuki already knew that Eichi was dead. Takuto, Meroko, and Izumi (who has a different personality than the anime) search to find Eichi. That's when Takuto remembers one of his first jobs as a shinigami; a plane flight to America...Eichi's plane. He said he saw a young boy turning into an angel, telling him that he "hated shinigami." We also find out that Mitsuki was one of the first to know this, she's just been repressing the truth. Each time she's told that Eichi is dead, she feels as though she's being pulled farther and farther away from him. In the manga, Takuto works to help her forget about Eichi while keeping him close to her heart, but still love herself enough to want to live.

I'd say that the manga (as always) had a bigger effect on me than the anime. I understand Mitsuki's pain, having worked so hard for something only to learn that it's already gone. However, the fact that she's been holding those feelings inside her for so long, not willing to let go of her loved one, really hit my heart. We finally realize why Mitsuki wasn't afraid to die, which we never understand from the anime. It won't only spur on a more interesting plot, but it also gives us a realistic situation that many people go through. I have a friend who lost her father, and everyday I see her suffer because of it. The manga shows us that it may be hard, but sometimes letting go is the healthiest thing to do.

Vampire Knight: End of Season 1

Episode 12: "Junketsu no Chikai" "Vow of the Pureblood"

 Zero finds Shizuka, the pureblood who killed his family and made him a vampire, making a deal with Yuki: if she drinks her blood, she must save Zero in return. Zero then points his gun, Bloody Rose, at Shizuka, injuring her. After hearing the shot,  Ichiru runs in. Here, we learn that Shizuka never turned him into a vampire and that Zero cannot harm him. At the same time, Shizuka arrives at Kaname's room, where he stabs her in the heart with his hand and drinks her blood, vowing to "destroy their mutual enemy." The episode ends with Ichiru holding a dying Shizuka in his arms.

Episode 13: "Shinku no Ringu" "Crimson Chains"

The season finale! Not so fun after reading this part of the manga and knowing what's going to happen -_-

guess that's the price I pay...

Anyway, Ichiru lays crying at Shizuka's side, where she reveals her story: She was once engaged to a pureblood vampire, but fell in love with one of the humans sent to her as "food." After turning him into a vampire the hunter's association ordered Zero's parents to execute him, hence the grudge and motive. 

This also explains the reason why she didn't turn Ichiru into a vampire, and we learn the true emotions and feelings between the two. In a sad goodbye, we watch as Shizuka's body turns to dust. The next day,Yuki asks Kaien about Zero (who collapsed due to bloodlust), and confesses that she's been letting Zero drink her blood. The scene then changes and we see Zero locked in a basment, chained to the wall. Kaname then enters. He admits to killing Shizuka, saying that he left enough blood for Zero to drink. He then forces Zero to drink his blood, claiming that he's keeping him alive for Yuki's sake. 

What a surprising ending!! Not really!!! Anyway, I think I'll be taking a break from this series (don't worry, I'm not giving it up completely!). I am curious to see what happens to Zero, and what Kaname's true self is. Maybe I'll start season 2 after Full Moon wo Sagashite...and finals :/. Anyway, feel free to comment, give recommendations on any new series, etc. :) 

Full Moon wo Sagashite: Depression Point

Until now, the theme of death and lost love was always prominant, but never really recognized. Like a needle in a haystack: just waiting to be found. Well, I've officially found it! I think it was episode 35 that set off this turn for the worse.


Until now, I've never seen what shinigami really do. Having Meroko and Takuto as our only reference I had this image in my mind that shinigami help children, hate their job, and wouldn't kill anyone even if their lives depended on it. That's what I thought before episode 35, but now, with the introduction on Izumi-kun, realize how close death really is. In episode 35 Mitsuki meets an old man who can see shinigami aswell. Long story short we watch Izumi-kun point his arrow and take his soul, vowing that Mitsuki is next on his list. Immediately after this episode, Mitsuki finally realizes that death is near. That she says she's ready, but is actually very afraid.


The manga of this series is 10 times better than the anime, mostly because it deals with more sensitve issues like life and death in a stronger way. I'm actually happy that the anime has become more sad. I feel like it lacked the emotional aspect that the manga brought.

Newest Anime: Full Moon wo Sagashite

From left to right:
Top: Johnathan,  Izumi, Madoka, Eichi,
Wakaouji, Oshige
Main Characters: Meroko, Mitzuki/Full Moon,
Takuto

Hey readers! It's been a while, hasn't it? I blame Thanksgiving break (haven't had internet for an entire week). But anyway, since I finished my last anime (which I believe was Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne) I've decided to take the safe road and stay with a manga artist I was familiar with. Her name? Tanemura Arina, author of the aformentioned anime/manga, and my current series, "Full Moon wo Sagashite" or "Searching for the Full Moon" 
 She has a pureness to her stories, even though they usually deal with subjects less thanhappy or pure. I think her characters are always someone you can relate to, or at least symathize with. What I love about them is their ever trusting nature, their honesty, their strenght even through serious heartbreak. Maron and Mitsuki are perfect examples. Both have lost someone they love yet they keep on pushing through, putting their best face forward. However, they're determination to stay strong happens to be one of their worst traits. I suppose you could call her main characters...masochistic. Putting themself in harms way in order to make someone else happy or proud.
"Full Moon wo Sagashite" is practically based off the concept, "I'll do it for him!" Full Moon is about a 12-year-old girl named Mitsuki, who suffers from throat cancer. Both of her parents died in an accident and she lives with her prude of a grandmother. One day she is visited by two shinigami in blue and bright red costumes, one with cat ears and the other with bunny ears. May I say that they put shame to the ones in Death Note, but I must keep in mind that it is a children's show. Well, long story short, when Mitsuki finds out she won't live more than a year, she sneaks out and tries to go to a singing audition. We then learn that she promised the love of her life, Eichi, that she'll be closer to her dreams the next time they meet. Feeling sorry for her, the male shinigami, Takuto, turns her into a 16-year-old so she can enter the audition. The rest of the anime/manga is about her career, her love, her drive to meet him again and be noticed by him through singing, and the struggles she faces in coping with her emotions.
All in all, this is a heart-touching, heart-warming series. It's almost like Fruits Basket, in the sense that you both experience extreme warmth and compassion mixed with sorrow and tears. I would recommend that you both watch and read this series. The manga provides better story lines, more twists, more heartfelt moments, whereas the anime allows you to hear one of the many beautiful songs the series has to offer.
P.S: the songs will get stuck in your head, and since it's in Japanese it'll sound something like, "doushite, unetaka waka oujiiiii, humenooo..nnnnaaa oh ahh naahh" ;)

Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne

I'd describe this as a Sailor Moon-esque anime. The typical magical girl/shoujo anime where a girl has to defeat evil with the unwanted help from some sexy bishounen. In a nutshell, Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne is about Maron Kusakabe, a lonely girl who happens to be the reincarnation of Jeanne d'arc, the French hero who fought in the  Hundred Year's War because she "heard the voice of god." In reality, she was actually given the power to seal demons and give God power.  With the help of Fin, a tiny semi-angel, she seals demons in order to save Kami-sama (God) and restore his power over the Devil. In the process, she meets Chiaki/Kaitou Sinbad who seems to be interfering with her and God's will. 

At first I assumed this was going to be a boring anime, with constant repetition. Though I was right, this series added a sweet twist to it. I recommend reading the manga instead of watching the anime. Both are good, but the ending in the manga is much better than the anime. We also see more plot development, with Maron finding out about Chiaki's identity in only about three chapters. I love the love story in this. How Chiaki helps Maron through her loneliness, gives her courage to contact her parents, and how he helps her defeat the Devil. I definately recommend this to any Sailor Moon/ Shugo Chara/ lonely people who need to feel better :). 

Skip Beat!

Skip Beat is about a 16-year-old girl, Kyouko, who gets betrayed by her superstar and insolent childhood friend, Shou. After learning that he brought her to Tokyo as simply a maid, and someone who can watch the house, her "box with many locks" is opened. From it, is a woman's vengeance. And all of you men know NOT to mess with a pissed off woman! Well, she swears to get back Shou by out doing him in the showbiz world. She then attempts to get signed with the same agency that Shou's rival and top superstar, Ren Tsuruga, is signed with.

Don't get me wrong, Skip Beat is a pretty good manga, but for some reason I'm having the hardest time getting into it. Art wise, the faces are a little weird. The men's faces look strangly...oblonged. Like a deformed squash. But, other than that, the story-line seems to be starting off a bit slow. However, I do suspect a budding romance between Ren and Kyouko. Shou better get his balls crushed too :) Maybe once I get further into it I'll enjoy it more.

Vampire Knight: Adamant Yet Willing

Honestly, the word vampire turns me off. I immediately pass an anime if I see that word, seeing an image of Robert what's his face in the process. I really think the Twilight Saga has ruined the vampire reputation. I want to see some sexual innuendo, blood lust...violence! Not some fairy who sparkles in the sunlight. 

Peach Girl Episode 25: Momo's Final Decision

Episode 24 left off with Momo's shocking decision to stay with Toji. In episode 25, the two decide to go on a "short day trip" before they have to start worrying about college. Before the trip, Sae comes to Momo's house and tells her about Okayasu's (Kiari) trip to Shiranami the time he was late to their meeting. This, and a talk with Misao, makes Momo reconsider her actions. During her date with Toji, all she can think about is Okayasu.

Okayasu, on the other hand, goes with Sae to Shiranami in order to "throw out" his feelings for Momo. In his emotional moment, he loses the phone case that Momo made him. Sae, either worried about Okayasu or trying to play games with Momo, sends Momo a message from Okayasu's phone implying that he's at Shiranami about to commit suicide. Realizing that she may never see Okayasu again, Momo finally admits that she loves Okayasu more than Toji, and goes to Shiranami during a typhoon (much like Okayasu's previous trip). There, she finds Okayasu clutching on to her case, drowning because of the huge waves. The two kiss and get back together at the same beach they met. How romantic!

In all honesty, I was never really a fan of Toji. I thought that Okayasu and Momo had more of an emotional connection, where both of them were able to wait for each other's love. I'm incredibly happy about the ending (I was worried that Okayasu would be left alone for a minute there!). At first, especially when reading the description, I thought that this anime was going to be terrible. I mean, the way the described it on animefreak.com? "a girl who has tanned skin and looks like a playgirl..." it just seemed boring....but boy! I was sooo wrong. There was more drama in this than some bad telenova!  Here's a couple of screen shots from the last episode ^_^ :

Peach Girl: Toji vs Kairi- Who Do You Like More?

So, at first this love triangle seemed pretty predictable to me. Momo would have her turn with Toji, figure out that he was different from what her junior high self perceived him to be, and she would go to Kairi. However, that's not how it happened. Like I explained in my last post, Toji and Momo broke up because Toji was trying to protect Momo's reputation. Here's the sequence of events following this twist:

1. Momo and Kairi started dating
2. The two fell in love and Momo forgot about Toji
3. Sae fell in love with Kairi's evil older brother (the boy version of Sae)
4. Momo found out that Kairi's number one love was the school nurse, Misao.
5. The two break up, but get back together. Momo expresses her love to him, saying she'd wait as long as possible until he makes up his mind.
6. Sae starts dating Kairi's brother, almost gets raped by porn people, and repents.
7. Toji gets rejected by Misao and leaves Momo to "walk," promising to meet her at the station by noon if he chooses to stay with her. If he's late by five minutes, she'll give up.
8. Toji becomes Momo's co-worker thanks to Sae, and she learns the truth about why they broke up.
9. Toji learns that Momo is his one true love, but as always, shit happens and he ends up late.
10. Momo goes off to the beach and Toji followers her for emotional support.
11. Those two get back together and a hurt, exhausted Kairi who followed Momo all the out to where ever the hell she was in the middle of a typhoon realizes how selfish and stupid he has been.

So, now that we've been caught up...Who do you think Momo will choose? 

You know, I used to be an Okayasu (Kairi) fan, but I really don't know anymore. Toji went through so much pain and suffering for Momo's sake. I can't imagine what he must have been feeling. It's hard being the one broken up with, but it's even harder being the breakerup-er and still being in love with the person. Hurting someone you love is more hurtful than being hurt.

The two make a good memory in a place with so many bad ones...Kairi

But, Kairi really is a sweet guy. And he was there for Momo in her toughest times, and I think that Momo actually loves Kairi more than Toji. However, he's such...and idiot! He kept telling Momo to wait, and wait. He even kissed Misao! I mean dude, is she really so special that you'd ignore a girl who'd put up with not being your number one love? Gah!

Their first kiss <3

I'm so confused!! Fact wise, Kairi has always been there for Momo and they seem to have a more emotional bond than Momo and Toji...but Toji hurt himself to protect Momo, and I find that incredibly caring and heroic. I wanna know what happens so bad!!! I guess I'll just have to wait and see :)

Fruits Basket: Bittersweet Yet Mostly Bitter Kiss

Yes!!!! The day has finally come! Tohru and Kyo finally kissed! But...it wasn't much of a victorious kiss. It was an incredibly heart touching, sad moment for the two of them. I deem this the best climax I've ever read. Here's the story of what happened...in picture style:

Tohru forgived Kyo for "killing" her mother, even saying that she disagreed with her mother not forgiving Kyo before she died. What did Kyo do? He said "you're disillusioned" and ran away...asshole -_-

Akito meets up with a crying Tohru, telling her how hurt and jealous she is of her. How everyone is now siding with Tohru and breaking the bond with Akito. Having just broken the bond with her mother, Tohru tells Akito the truth about bonds: that they don't last. However, she does say that there is still time to create new bonds and start over. So she reaches out her hand and says, "Let's be friends"

Ok, this part got me confused at first. I thought Tohru falling off the cliff was just a metaphor or delusion in Akito's mind, but people...that shit went down. Akito freaks out, having lost her first and only friend. Yuki finds Tohru first, on the floor bleeding, and Kyo follows.

Kyo says the sweetest things. Seeing Tohru laying in a pool of blood, he gets flashbacks of Kyoko. He breaks down, begging her not to leave. Not to give up. That even though she'll make mistakes, and mess up, that she still has to live. He needs her, and can't bear seeing her like this.

Tohru wakes up, begging Kyo now, to stop worrying. That she's alright, that it's ok. Kyo stops her, and then they kiss, both of them crying. 

I love this manga so much. It's the most heartwarming, heartwrenching, tear jerking manga I have ever read. I will admit it: I cried like a little baby in these few chapters.  This includes: *Chapters 120-123*