UlasanAnime.com – This week’s update brings a collection of random notes and observations, touching on anime, music, and upcoming conventions.
The anime series “Girls und Panzer” has drawn a comparison to a previous work, with the revelation that Takaaki Suzuki is involved. This comes as a surprise, given the perceived opposite nature of the connection, but the author expresses a desire to support Suzuki’s endeavors.
Sayonara Ponytail is described as a unique band with an unusual presence. Initially an indie cartoon band, they have transitioned to a major label while retaining their distinctive style. The group consists of three girls, with one apparently leading the creative direction. Their major label debut occurred last year, but their music was being discussed even earlier in indie circles. They can be heard covering Spitz’s “Sora mo Taberu Hazu” in the anime Tsuritama, with their single releasing this week. The release comes in three versions: Anime edition, Limited edition, and Regular edition.
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The double-sided poster included with the single features characters from Tsuritama on one side and witches on the other. The Limited and Anime editions come with a bonus CD. However, the poster might be difficult to obtain elsewhere as it is already out of stock on CDJapan.
The author’s opinion on Sayonara Ponytail is one of ambivalence, acknowledging that their view might be incomplete without having listened to the band’s previous album. There is a general sense of uncertainty surrounding the group, with further discussion available through external links.
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In the United States, Memorial Day Weekend signifies the beginning of the anime convention season and the start of summer vacations for those with paid time off. This year’s major conventions include Anime North, known for its English-language tweeting guests like Asakawa Yuu and DJ Sasanuma; FanimeCon, featuring guests such as Aizawa Mai, the Yamaga crew, Kia Asamiya, and Koyama Shigeto; and Animazement.
The author plans to attend Animazement and potentially Kotoko’s concert, which would mark their third concert attendance for the Anison artist, excluding Yoko Kanno. While the three major Memorial Day weekend conventions generally have strong guest lineups, Fanime experienced some delays in announcements this year. Animazement, on the other hand, made their announcements earlier, even referencing Mr. Ishiguro. Other notable guests expected at Animazement include voice actors and directors like Itano (known for his “circus” animation), Nagahama (director of Mushishi), Orikasa Fumiko, and the mangaka of Kaikan Phrase, among others.
The author speculates whether any of the conventions might change their dates in the following year and encourages readers to visit the respective convention websites for detailed guest lists.
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Regarding anime power rankings, the author notes a system where participants vote weekly for shows. This week, Tsuritama is highlighted as having a particularly strong episode, with the current week also being a good one for the show.
Sengoku Collection (Sencolle) is also praised for its quality this week, though the author admits to being a “sucker” for the series.
The author did not participate in the voting this week due to attending a party. They suggest that the voting system could be improved by implementing a lag period, allowing for voting on shows from Saturday to Friday with a ballot due on Monday. Additionally, for those proficient with spreadsheets, utilizing Google Docs for automated polling and results is recommended.
