Japanese vs. English Dubbed Anime

Okay, this is not an argument over which is better, the English dub or the original Japanese language anime. Rather, this is a mere comparison based on my observation after watching both versions. I have noted one very glaring difference between the two in the way the script is delivered, and now I understand why most people used to watching anime in Japanese seem to hate English dubs.

Lovely Complex Kiss Scene

I have observed that the characters in the Japanese version tend to speak in a quick and forceful manner, often exaggerating lines. (I guess that's how the Japanese normally talk?) In the English dub, however, the characters speak in a calmer, more normal manner. (Normal in English speaking countries, that is.) Being used to watching anime English dubbed, my initial reaction after watching Loveless, Special A, and Lovely Complex in Japanese was that the characters were overacting, over-dramatic, or too noisy. It kind of reminded me of a cheesy afternoon radio drama. On the other hand, those used to watching anime in Japanese would probably find the English dubs bland and lifeless.

So I guess it boils down to your preference. I for one still prefer watching anime English dubbed (You can read why here: English Dubs vs Subs), although I'll have to start watching anime in Japanese more frequently from now on since I am trying to learn Japanese. :)

Over 300GB of Anime & Manga Lost

Today is a very sad day for me. My 1TB hard disk drive suddenly died and I lost over 300GB of anime and manga that I hadn't seen or read yet. Wish I had transferred them all to my external hard drive, but I was following a simple system to ensure that I remembered which ones I had already watched or read. I kept the files on my main hard drive until I had finished watching them then I transferred them to my external hard drive for archiving once I was done with them. Now I'm thinking of backing up my external hard drive on DVD's just to be safe.

I have no idea why my less than 3-year old 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 hard drive died. This morning it just wouldn't boot. Switched it over to secondary hard drive to try to recover files but both BIOS and disk management couldn't detect it. I'm thinking my only hope of recovering data now is to send the disk to the professionals.

Funny though how I feel worse about losing my anime and manga collection than the photos I've uploaded from my camera. I guess I really am an otaku.

Special A: My First Non-English Dubbed Anime

Special A

Today marks a momentous event in my life: I watched non-English dubbed anime for the first time! Haha! I didn't have a choice, actually. I really wanted to watch the anime Special A after finishing the manga, but it doesn't have an English dub yet. So I had to make do with English subs. It wasn't bad. My only complaint was that I had to sit up close to the computer to be able to read the subtitles instead of lying down on the bed like I usually do while watching anime. And there were times when I thought the Japanese voice actors were a bit overdramatic and too over the top, kind of reminding me of a cheesy radio drama, but I didn't let it bother me too much.

But what surprised me was that I could already understand a teeny tiny little bit of Japanese! Nihongo ga sukoshi wakarimasu. (Translation: I understand a little Japanese.) Hehe. I've been doing Pimsleur's Japanese I. Overall, the experience was an enjoyable one. I will most definitely do it again. However, I would still choose English dubs over subs if already available. :) Nothing beats anime in bed. Haha...

Now on to the next anime!

Japanese Manga Lost in Translation

Have you ever thought that Japanese manga doesn't seem quite right when translated into English? I mean, the story is the same, but there are subtle differences that affect the "feel" of certain scenes. Like when a female character refers to herself using a word only men would use for instance. (In Japan, there are several ways to say "I". "Ore" and "Boku" are used mainly by men while "Atashi" is used by women only.) The English language simply cannot convey these minute variations and would probably consider it as discrimination.

Translation sketch from Sherry's LiveJournal

Another thing that gets lost in translation is the level of formality used in conversations between people of different social standings. (The Japanese use different words when addressing someone of superior rank than when they are talking to a colleague or subordinate.) There are also manga that contain cultural idiosyncrasies that a non-Japanese person would simply not understand. And then there are the word plays that just don't make sense when translated into another language. Trying to resolve this issue, some manga have side notes that explain things that were lost in translation, and others modify the context a little and make it more Western-friendly.

I guess that's why there are a lot of people who say that the only way to fully appreciate Japanese manga is to read it in its original Japanese form. But since I don't know how to read Japanese yet, I will enjoy reading the English translations and not complain too much. :)

Manga With Romance Between Teacher and Student

Oresama Teacher

I have something to confess. Today I realized that I have a fetish for manga about male school teachers falling in love with one of their female students. I had no idea until I read Sugar Family, Faster Than a Kiss, and Oresama Teacher. (Well, in Oresama Teacher, it's the student who used to be in love with the teacher but I'm hoping the teacher has feelings for the girl as well. Hehe...) I didn't expect to enjoy those three manga so much, but they got me giggling and shrieking like a high school girl in love.

Maybe it was one of my unconscious desires when I was still in school... to have a teacher fall in love with me? Hah! Regardless of the reason, I am very much looking forward to reading the continuing chapters of Faster Than a Kiss, Sugar Family, and Oresama Teacher.

By the way, if you're looking to download these three manga, you can find them at Manga Traders by clicking on the links above. You'll have to register first if you don't have an account, but it's quite worth it.

Great Gifts For Manga Lovers: Manga in the New York Times Bestseller List

I've been looking for some of the best manga to buy for myself this Christmas and I thought I would make a list for those like me who would like to buy manga for themselves or would like to buy manga as a Christmas gift for a family member or friend. I've compiled ten manga titles in all, each with a synopsis and links to where you can buy it. Check it out:

Great Gifts For Manga Lovers: Manga in the New York Times Bestseller List

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan Characters

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan is full of hot anime guys. The members of the Shinsengumi alone make eight smoking hot specimens of the male species, - the anime kind. Hehe. Here are the main characters of the reverse harem anime Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan:

Chizuru Yukimura
Chizuru is the main protagonist. She came to Kyoto in search of her missing father, a Dutch-educated doctor who, on orders from the Shogunate, developed the "ochimizu", a potion which increases the drinker's healing abilities, speed, and strength but which also has an unfortunate side-effect of turning the drinker into a mindless, vampire-like monster called a rasetsu.

Toshizo Hijikata
Hijikata is the vice-captain of the Shinsengumi and makes most of the Shinsengumi's decisions. He is the one who brought Chizuru back to Shinsengumi headquarters. He has taken on the responsibility for Chizuru's welfare and acts as if he's dismayed at having to do so, but in reality he does care for Chizuru's safety and is often shown protecting her during battles.

Souji Okita
Okita is the First Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He is a brilliant swordsman, but he suffers from tuberculosis. He is based on the historical Okita Sōji.

Isami Kondou
Kondou is the commander of the Shinsengumi. He has the trust, respect, and loyalty of his men inspite of being very emotional. He is based on the historical Isami Kondō.

Keisuke Yamanami
Yamanami is the bespectacled scholar captain of the Shinsengumi. In spite of being a ruthless tactician, he is kind and caring albeit a little reserved. He is based on the historical Yamanami Keisuke.

Shinpachi Nagakura
Shinpachi is the Second Division captain of the Shinsengumi. He is usually very cheerful, especially when he is with his comrades. He is very skilled with the sword, but he is also a true alcoholic and womanizer. He is based on the historical Nagakura Shinpachi.

Sanosuke Harada 
Harada is the Tenth Unit Captain of the Shinsengumi. He prefers the spear to the sword, but he is seen carrying both. He is based on the historical Harada Sanosuke.

Heisuke Todo
Heisuke is the youngest member of the Shinsengumi being around the same age as Chizuru. He is based on the historical Tōdō Heisuke.

Hajime Saito
Saito is the leader of the third squad of the Shinsengumi and a master of the left hand sword technique. He is silent and a taciturn but also very loyal, polite, and wise. He often analyzes the situation before attacking to figure out which actions are necessary to complete the mission. He is based on the historical Saitō Hajime.

Chikage Kazama
Kazama is a member of the Bakumatsu, enemies of the Shinsengumi. He is the strongest Oni in the North and is after Chizuru so they can mate and create stronger oni.

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

I was doing some research on hot anime guys and I discovered a fairly new anime called Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan that seems to be a very promising reverse harem anime. I haven't seen it yet, but as far as I can tell, there are eight main male characters in the anime, all of them beautiful bishonens. Hehe. The story reportedly also has some romance in it - and not between the boys, mind you! The anime has one main female character as well. I wonder which of the characters falls in love with her or she falls in love with. Hmm...

The story is about a girl named Chizuru Yukimura who has come to Kyoto looking for her father, a doctor who has gone missing. During her search for her father, she witnesses a fight between a mindless, vampire-like monster called a rasetsu and the special task force in Kyoto called the Shinsengumi. The Shinsengumi take Chizuru into custody and decide to keep her close at hand after discovering that she is the daughter of the doctor they are also looking for. And so Chizuru follows the Shinsengumi in their battles to help the shogunate and search for the missing doctor.

I can't wait to watch it. I bet I'm going to fall in love with the characters of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan. Hehe. Hope it gets dubbed in English soon. Sigh... I know, I know, it will probably be two or more years before an English dubbed version of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan gets released, but there's no harm in wishful thinking, is there? :)

Hellsing Anime Wallpapers

Oh, I just love Alucard, don't you? ;D Enjoy these Hellsing anime wallpapers that I have collected from different websites and have used on my computer at some point in time. Click on the images to view full size. Full size resolution is 1024x768. To download, right-click and select Save Image.

Quotes From Hanabusa Aido, Vampire Knight

Hanabusa Aido

Vampire Knight naughty boy Hanabusa Aido teases Yuki Cross and the other day class girls like crazy. But I kind of like his charm, actually. Here are some of his more memorable quotes:

To the day class girls waiting outside the night class dorm:
"Good morning, girls! I could hear you loud and clear from the dorm. You're all looking quite cute today!"

Using his hand like a gun and pointing it towards the heart of one of the girls:
"Bang!"

To Luca after she hit his hand with the corner of her notebook:
"Luca, do you wish to die?!"

After two day class girls got excited about seeing him and Cain Akatsuki come out of the school:
"No need for all this fuss. We just came out here because we smelled blood. You're so mean, Yuki. You know, the real reason we came out here tonight... Sigh... You smell so nice."

After Yuki Cross firmly tells Aido to let go of her while he was drinking blood from her hand:
"Oh, but I want more. May I partake from your neck?"

Referring to the holes left by Zero's fangs on Yuki's neck:
"So Yuki, whose bitemarks are those?"

Vexed at Kaname Kuran's special treatment of Yuki:
"Do you know how annoying this is Yuki? Just what are you to Lord Kaname?!"

To Yuki after he pulled her inside their dorm in front of all the other day class girls:
"They're really jealous of you. It's so... cute."

Grabbing Yuki from behind and hugging her in front of the other day class girls:
"The jealous girls will go mad with envy and bully you from now on, Yuki Cross."

Quotes From Kaname Kuran, Vampire Knight

Kaname Kuran

Vampire Knight pureblood Kaname Kuran, one of the most powerful of vampires, dotes on Yuki Cross like an overprotective father. It's not surprising therefore that most of his memorable quotes have something to do with Yuki:

To Yuki Cross after she brushed off Kaname's show of concern by acting all professional all of a sudden:
"When you act reserved like this, I feel... lonely."

To Zero Kiryu after Zero grabbed Kaname by the arm and brusquely told him to go to class now:
"You're so scary... Mr. Disciplinary Committee."

To the night class as the moon hid behind the clouds:
"The night is made for vampires."

To Ichijo Takuma after he commented about Yuki Cross being interesting and that there wasn't a single girl in the night class like her:
"No... And for someone so used to the dark, she's a rather blinding sight."

Apologizing for Aido's drinking blood from Yuki's hand and trying to suck it from her neck as well:
"I'm sorry he scared you. That was wrong of him, Yuki."

Before killing a level E vampire attacking Yuki:
"You poor creature, ending up like this. However... the person you've chosen to hurt is someone very dear to me."

To Yuki:
"...I'm sorry but I just can't ignore that you got bitten by someone else."

To Yuki after realizing that she let Zero secretly drink her blood:
"When did this happen to us? Just when did you stop talking to me about everything, Yuki?"

To Luca:
"You want me to slap you. You're an odd girl."

Quotes From Zero Kiryu, Vampire Knight

Zero Kiryu

Vampire Knight Disciplinary Committee member Zero Kiryu puts on a bad guy facade but in reality is very deeply in love with Yuki Cross. The contradictory emotions raging within him often show through his words and actions. Here are a few memorable quotes from Zero Kiryu:

To Yuki Cross about her infatuation with Kaname Kuran:
"You're so obvious, it's pathetic."

To Headmaster Cross about their job in the Disciplinary Committee:
"Why are we doing this? Come on, Headmaster. Our job is to work security, not be bodyguards for celebrities!

To Headmaster Cross after the Headmaster rambled about alleviating his guilt by giving the job of keeping the night class's secret to his dear son and daughter:
"I admit I do have certain obligations to you, but I do not remember agreeing to become your son!"

To Lily the horse when Yuki barged into the stable where Zero was taking a nap:
"Easy there, Lily. Calm down. She's a very simple, uncomplicated girl. She's by no means a threat to you even if she tried to be."

To Yuki Cross who was staring at Kaname Kuran from outside the window:
"How's Kaname Kuran tonight? I know he's your hero."

To Aido Hanabusa who was trying to drink blood from Yuki's neck:
"Drinking blood on school grounds is strictly prohibited."

After Kaname somewhat sarcastically asks how he is feeling and tells him to take care:
"Listen, if you want to challenge me, I'll be ready and waiting anytime you want, Kaname."

To the night class when they tried to ambush him:
"Come on then, vampires. Go ahead, I'm in a bad mood anyway."

To Yuki after drinking her blood:
"This being I've become is despicable. Even if I loathe vampires, even if I don't want to hurt anyone, I can't stop myself from lusting for blood."

Dragging Yuki out of the night class dorm:
"Don't let yourself be carried off. Come on."

To Yuki after she tried to sacrifice herself to save Zero:
"Why do you insist on doing this? You don't need to care for me so much. I'm really glad nothing happened to you."

Code Geass Anime Wallpapers

There was a time when I was completely obsessed with Lelouch vi Brittania and Code Geass. Naturally, I collected quite a few Code Geass wallpapers from various websites to use on my own computer. Here are some of my favorites: (All of them are in 1024 x 768 resolution except for the fourth one which is 1152 x 864.)

Click on the images to view full size. Right-click and select Save image to download.

Black Butler (a.k.a Kuroshitsuji) Manga: Where To Buy?

I'm thinking of reading the manga Black Butler (a.k.a. Kuroshitsuji). I spent the weekend looking for volume one of the manga in the major bookstores around my city but sadly I wasn't able to find it. I did find it in Amazon but international shipping fees might cost more than the book itself. (I live in the Philippines.) My most probable course of action now is to avail of the special order service of our local bookstores. I've already emailed my request to National Bookstore. I'll also ask Fully Booked and Power Books and see which store has the lowest price. I hope they don't charge exorbitant fees for special orders.

I wish manga were easier to find. If any of you know of a place to buy affordable manga here in Cebu City, Philippines, please let me know. Thanks. :)

Top 3 Anime Characters Voiced by J. Michael Tatum

J. Michael Tatum is one of my favorite voice actors in the anime biz. He has lent his voice to quite a number of anime titles. So far, these three are at the top of my list of anime characters voiced by J. Michael Tatum:

#3.
Jiro Mochizuki 
Black Blood Brothers

#2.
Reiji Moritsugu
Linebarrels of Iron

#1.
Kyoya Ootori
Ouran High School Host Club

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad Opening Theme - "Hit in the U.S.A." by Beat Crusaders

Now that I'm on the subject of my favorite anime opening/ending themes, I remember one that is also at the top of my list. "Hit in the U.S.A" by Beat Crusaders, which is the only opening theme for the anime BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad, is a very catchy tune that will get you bobbing your head and singing with all your heart. In fact, the main reason why I decided to watch the anime in the first place was because the opening theme sequence piqued my interest. And I'm very glad it did because BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad turned out to be a really great anime. Take a look at its opening theme for yourself. By the way, the chorus is "I was made to hit in America", not "I was born to hit an American" as some people on YouTube joke. Hehe. :)

New Site Layout

Hi, all. I've been tinkering with the site layout and have decided on this one. Sadly, all the reaction counters zeroed out when I edited them to fit the new width of the column. :( Anyway, hope you find the site easier to navigate and read now. Please comment and react to the posts. Thanks. Have fun! :)

Ouran High School Host Club Chapter 83

I just finished reading Ouran High School Host Club Chapter 83, the final chapter of Hatori Bisco's very popular manga, and I love it, love it, love it!!! I have to admit that I had my doubts about how good it would be after being a little disappointed with chapter 82, but chapter 83 was so good! I laughed and laughed and laughed some more, and I even felt like a high school girl falling in love for the first time at one point. Kyaaa! Haha! (I won't give out any spoilers though. :-p) And I really liked the ending to the story. Well, I'm a sucker for happy endings. Hehe...

Farewell, Host Club. Tamaki, Kyoya, Hikaru, Kaoru, Honey, Mori, and Haruhi... I'm going to miss all of you. Let's meet again! :-)

Oh by the way, you can read the final chapter of Ouran High School Host Club here:

Ouran High School Host Club Chapter 83

Have fun. :)

Harem vs Reverse Harem

First of all, let me tell you what I mean when I say "harem" and "reverse harem" because different people seem to have varying definitions of these two terms which are frequently used in the world of anime and manga.

Harem - is a subgenre of anime and manga characterized by one male protagonist surrounded by three or more women who at one point or other start to develop feelings of love for him. The love may or may not be reciprocated as long as the element of romance or sexual tension is there. Animes I've seen that I would classify as harem are Clannad and Kanon.

Reverse harem - is the reverse of a harem in the sense of there being one female protagonist surrounded by three of more men who at one point or other start to develop feelings of love for her. And just like in a harem, all that's needed is a hint of romance or sexual tension between the guys and the girl. Animes I've seen that I would classify as reverse harem are Ouran High School Host Club, The Story of Saiunkoku, and Fushigi Yuugi.

Personally, I like reverse harems better than harems mainly because I like my anime and manga with lots of hot guys in it. And I find the notion of three or more guys fighting over the same girl quite exciting and romantic. On the other hand, I hate watching anime with lots of stupid, frivolous-minded girls fawning over one guy. In the case of Clannad and Kanon, however, I was able to tolerate the girls because the main male characters are hot anime guys.

In conclusion, there is really no contest between harems and reverse harems in my book. I would choose a reverse harem any day simply because there are more hot anime guys in it. Hehe... ;)

Ouran High School Host Club Chapter 81 Update

(Warning: This post may contain spoilers.)

Oh, my god! Chapter 81 didn't disappoint at all! I was grinning and giggling like a high school girl in love all throughout. And as I expected, Tamaki was incredibly cute! (So was Kyoya, by the way.) Haha! But I felt a pleasant tingle when Tamaki kissed Haruhi. And the scene near the end was just so sweet... The only thing I didn't like about it was that it was too damn short! I can't wait for the next chapter to come out. When will it come out, anyway? Grr... this is going to be another marshmallow test. Hmph! Hehe.

Can you blame me though? I mean, this is how chapter 81 ended:

It's so sad that the manga is now coming to an end. I had originally heard that the last chapter would be chapter 83, but just tonight I read in a forum somewhere that chapter 82 is going to be the last one. Oh, say it ain't so! I still want more!

On another note, I heard that season 2 of the anime is in the works. Now that is good news, if it's true. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Ouran High School Host Club Chapter 81

Aghhh! I can't stand it! Chapter 81 of the Ouran High School Host Club manga was supposed to be out by July 24 but I still can't find it online. There are a lot of previews though, and people are talking about how this is where Tamaki plans his first date with Haruhi and where the two of them have their first kiss. Ohhh... I can just imagine how cute Tamaki will be! Haha!

But I'm also sad to hear that Ouran High School Host Club will end at Chapter 83. (Is that true?) I mean, there are still many things that are unresolved. There's Kyoya's situation for one. And what about the Hitachiin twins? Will the last three chapters of Ouran High School Host Club focus solely on Tamaki and Haruhi? Well, I like Tamaki and Haruhi as a couple, but I kind of like Haruhi with Kyoya too. And I also like Haruhi with Kaoru... or was it Hikaru? Haha! I'm obviously a confused person when it comes to love. Not! Hehehe... Anyway, I've been waiting two months for Chapter 81 to come out and I'm about to fail the marshmallow test. I want it now! ;P

Anime Recommendations: Good Anime Love Stories

Recommending animes to watch can be a tricky thing. I've been to many forums where they say that an anime that I didn't particularly like was the "best anime" they've ever seen. Of course I understand that different people have different preferences, but my point is that recommendations should be taken with a grain of salt... whatever that means. Haha!

I'm going to divide my recommendations into categories. This one is a list of anime titles that I would recommend to those looking for "kilig" or otherwise want to feel like high school kids falling in love for the first time. I have to warn you though that some of these anime contain violence and gore as well as love and romance. The list is in alphabetical order and only contains anime that I have seen from start to finish. Take a peek into the first episodes of each by watching the videos.

Great Teacher Onizuka (GTO) Anime Summary and Review

(Warning: This post may contain spoilers.)

Great Teacher Onizuka is a totally ridiculous yet lovable anime about a 22-year old, crazy, over-the-top, good-for-nothing, ex-gang leader named Eikichi Onizuka whose dream in life is to become a high school teacher just so he can get close to all those high school girls. After several failed attempts at passing the exam to qualify as a teacher and even more disastrous attempts at getting hired, he gets a lucky break when a school principal notices his passion for never belittling students (since he was always belittled by his teachers when he was in school). Unfortunately, he gets assigned as the class adviser to the most notoriously problematic middle school class ever, and to his dismay doesn't even get to see any high school girls at all.

But between Eikichi Onizuka's idiotic antics and highly unconventional teaching methods, his students are gradually learning not only from textbooks but also from life itself. As I was watching the 43-episode series, I found myself wishing I had had a teacher like Onizuka when I was in high school. Because... while Eikichi Onizuka may not fit the description of a "good role model" or even a "good teacher" for that matter, what with his bad habits and all (e.g. smoking, being a ladies man, breaking the law, etc.), the life lessons he teaches his students impacts their lives in a big, positive way. And when all is said and done at the end of the day, his students are better off having known him.

This is an anime that I would definitely recommend watching. Who knows, you might even learn a few things from the Great Teacher Onizuka. :)

Added bonus:
The opening and ending themes are very catchy tunes that you can listen to all day and sing in the shower.

Ouran High School Host Club Anime Summary and Review

(Warning: This post may contain spoilers.)

The story of Ouran High School Host Club revolves around a smart girl named Haruhi Fujioka who, by her own merits and determination, was able to get a scholarship at the elite private school known as Ouran Academy. There at the Ouran Academy, while looking for a quiet place to study, she stumbles into an old music room where a group of boys who call themselves the Ouran Host Club hold their meetings, and she accidentally breaks a renaissance vase worth eight million yen. Tamaki Suoh, founder and self-proclaimed president of the Ouran Host Club, mistakes Haruhi for a boy and orders her to become the Host Club's "dog" (i.e. errand boy) in order to pay off the eight million yen. And so begins the story of the Ouran High School Host Club.

Throughout their adventures or should I say, misadventures (and they are quite hilarious), in the Host Club, Haruhi Fujioka, Tamaki Suoh, Kyoya Ootori, Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin, Mitsukuni Haninozuka and Takashi Morinozuka learn about friendship, love and acceptance. What started out as one of Tamaki's capricious whims turns out to be the best thing that's ever happened in their lives.

You know at first I thought this reverse harem anime was going to be one of those brainless, shallow, childish animes that are so common, and quite honestly I wasn't going to watch it at all after seeing the words "High School" so blatantly advertised in its title. But I'm very happy that I did because Ouran High School Host Club has now become one of my favorite animes of all time. The hilarious parodies and witty dialogues cracked me up, but what surprised me the most I guess was the depth of the story and personalities of the characters. It was also quite refreshing to see that Haruhi, the main girl in the story, had backbone and inner strength (unlike a lot of anime girls who whine and nag and fuss a lot and can't seem to do anything else besides being helpless and annoying).

I confess that I have watched the entire series of 26 episodes three times already, and I haven't gotten tired of it yet. In fact, I liked it better the third time around. And I loved the ending to the anime as well, and a good ending is quite rare in anime. Another thing I like about Ouran High School Host Club is its soundtrack. The orchestral tunes as well as the opening and ending themes are quite perfectly suited to the anime.  Overall, I give Ouran High School Host Club a 10/10. I would highly recommend watching it.

Bad English Dubbed Anime

I wasn't expecting it to happen, but I seem to have run out of good English dubbed anime to watch. And I'm not talking about the plot of the story itself because a handful of the anime I've been watching lately have somewhat decent storylines, but the voice acting, voice quality of the English voice cast (and also the way they pronounced words), and overall sound mixing sounded terrible! Now I understand why a lot of people say that English dubbed anime sucks. They probably watched the same ones I saw recently.

Why do I say the voice acting was terrible? Well for one, the characters sounded like they're reading from a script. They over-enunciated each word and spoke so slowly that they just sounded unnatural if not flat. Their voices did not contain the emotion portrayed by their character's face or body during some scenes. Their voices were annoyingly shrill at times probably in an effort to make the character sound young. Then there's that "pausing at the wrong time in the middle of the sentence" habit that they seem to have. My poor heart (and ears) can't take it!

Examples of anime I've seen recently which were, in my opinion, horribly dubbed although I've never seen the original Japanese versions:

• Ayashi no Ceres
• Kyo Kara Maoh!
• Weiss Kreuz

Too bad, because these anime had a few hot guys in them. Hehe.

More Hot Anime Guys

It was a hard task selecting who would land a spot in my Top 10 Hottest Anime Guys list as I consider personality to be a key criterion in gauging hotness aside from good looks and a great body. And choosing only ten out of the many, many hot anime guys out there proved to be quite a challenge. Now to be fair to the other hot anime guys who didn't make it to my Top Ten, I have decided to feature another batch of ten hottest anime guys (in no particular order). And don't underestimate the hotness of these guys just because they're runners-up, they just might give you a nosebleed. ;)


Takashi "Mori" Morinozuka
Ouran High School Host Club

Age: 18 years old
Height: 6'2"
Weight: ?
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Black
Race: Human






Takashi Morinozuka or Mori, as his friends call him, is the strong, silent type and the girls in the Host Club love him for it. He doesn't say much, and this creates an air of mystery around him. Plus he's tall, dark and handsome.

Meet The Ouran Host Club

Only those with excellent social standing and those from filthy rich families are lucky enough to spend their time here at the elite private school, Ouran Academy. The Ouran Host Club is where the school's handsomest boys with too much time on their hands entertain young ladies who also have way too much time on their hands. Just think of it as Ouran Academy's elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful.

One. Good looks that attract the public eye.
Two. More wealth than you can imagine.
Three. Chivalry that will never be able to overlook...
...the hideous wickedness of this world.

That's what makes up the Ouran Host Club.
WE'RE HERE. WATCH OUT!

Quotes From The Hitachiin Twins, Ouran High School Host Club

The Hitachiin Twins

The Ouran Host Club's Hitachiin Twins Kaoru and Hikaru, who seem to take pleasure in making Tamaki Suoh jealous over Haruhi Fujioka, have some entertaining quotes between the two of them. Here are the most memorable ones:

To some Host Club clients:
Hikaru and Kaoru: "Let's all play the 'Which one is Hikaru?' game! ...So... can you tell which one of us is Hikaru? ...Many ladies have tried to tell us apart but so far none have succeeded!"

To Haruhi Fujioka after Haruhi commented about not understanding why Kaoru and Hikaru are so popular:
Kaoru: "Apparently you don't understand the merits of having a pair of twins as members of the Host Club."
Hikaru: "Listen up. Having a couple of good-looking guys with homosexual tendencies earns the club high points. It also helps that the two struggle between their attraction and their friendship."
Kaoru: "And in our case because we're twins our relationship is taboo and therefore more intriguing."
Hikaru: "And besides, who hasn't fantasized about twins? Having two loves is better than one, don't you think?"
Kaoru: "It's a young woman's romantic fantasy."

About themselves:
Kaoru: "We were always contradicting ourselves. We wanted to be told apart - We didn't want to be told apart. We wanted people to know us - We didn't want them to know. We were always looking for someone who would finally accept us. But there was no way that would ever happen, not as twisted as we were. We were so afraid of someone breaking through our barrier and hurting us, we kept a strong lock on our hearts to protect ourselves."