J-Zine Second Edition 3 33 January 2009 http://www.fansub.tv http://blog.fansub.tv/Jzine1 CONTENTS 3 darkdog - An anime journey 4 Code Geass vs. Macross Frontier 4 ANIME REVIEWS 8 Vampire Knight 9 Macross OST 3 review 13 Zero no Tsukaima - Princess no Rondo ANIME PREVIEWS 15 Kurokami, Slayers Evolution-R, 16 The Tower of Druaga -the SWORD of Uruk, White Album ANIME CLASSICS 17 Elfen Lied 19 Hanaukyō Meido Tai 21 Shuffle! JAPANESE CULTURE 23 Asian Tour 31 Saimoe contest 33 Japanese Language 34 Best Christmas bands 35 Okawari! CREDITS Management 13 Project leaders Noshi, monsta666 Editorial Editors monsta666, dchaosblade, ImTakes, Nahrallah, daft27, samthebear, noob, Maiku_Ando Design editors Lead Maiku_Ando Second shinigamii Front cover shinigamii Staff writers Kit-Tsukasa, Maiku_Ando, monsta666, Nahrallah, Vicepuma, Kid-Wolf, 34 labk1ta, Noshi, darkdog Pictures JunMisugi Banner shinigamii Blog Maiku_Ando Darkdog – Fansub.TV: An Anime Journey Interview by: There are a number of additions that Recently, Darkdog started to branch he feels have significantly enhanced out into manga. He had little interest the site over the years. These include in reading scanlations; however, his Nahrallah the download managers/schedulers, curiosity was piqued when he learned the screenshot engine and automatic enough Japanese to be able to read the notifications of new episodes. original publications. He plans to “pay Although he is quick to downplay his more attention to manga in the future” Four years ago a chance encounter contribution, over the years Darkdog’s though anime continues to appeal to began both Darkdog’s journey into collaboration with Daft has had a him the most. anime and his long term affiliation direct impact on the design of with Fansub.TV. His feet were set Fansub.TV by allowing for better Anime is far from being Darkdog’s upon this path when he asked for integration between separate systems only interest. In fact, he classifies recommendations on Animesuki's IRC (website, forum and blogs). music as his “favourite thing”. During channel. Invited by Daft to view his a trip to Japan last year, he was able to recently created site, Darkdog found a Anime continues to be one of fulfil a long held dream when he community that encouraged him to Darkdog’s interests; however, he has joined a school club and started immerse himself in a wide range of grown more discerning over the years. playing the drum kit. He has anime and ultimately presented him He still watches Bleach and Naruto performed several times with a band. with opportunities to utilise his which were two of the first anime Unfortunately, he does not own his diverse skills. This computer science series that he actively followed. The own drum kit so his performance student from Portugal became one of current criteria by which Darkdog since leaving Japan have been limited; the few developers on the Fansub.TV chooses new anime series centres on however, an electric drumset is on his Team. Initially, Darkdog’s interest in the atmosphere that is created: Christmas list. Darkdog’s other discovering more about anime was interests include the Japanese sparked by study: “Having a unique atmosphere language, judo and graphical design. (visual style, animation, audio) “I had recently started studying is a major reason for me to give Despite his diverse interests, Darkdog Japanese and, since I was an anime a try lately. It's not still finds time for anime; however, he looking for a way to get a little the most important thing for an admits that he has grown more more connected to Japan and anime, but it's what can make a discerning when it comes to choosing the Japanese language, I series stand out from the crowd new anime series. Since that fateful decided to look for anime at first. If it stands out, I give it day when he was invited to explore a online.” a try; if it doesn't stand out, new site, both anime and Fansub.TV then I'm likely not to even have remained a constant in his life. Anime was viewed as a means to watch its first episode (and I've expand his understanding of the surely missed some good series Profile: Japanese language and culture. The because of this).” Fansub.TV discussion boards helped Darkdog to further his knowledge of His favourite genres are: anime and encouraged him to explore new series that he might otherwise “Science fiction (Dennou Coil, darkdog have overlooked. Ultimately, Darkdog Noein, Ergo Proxy, Evangelion) believes that it is the community and fighting/action series aspect of the site that is the “single (Bleach, Naruto, FMA, FMP -- Name: Translated to English, it's most important thing” that keeps him especially the Second Raid --, something like "John Chick" coming back. As one of the first Rouroni Kenshin).” Age: 24, and not getting any younger... members of the Fansub.TV Team, Sex: Male Darkdog has seen a lot of changes and What appeals to Darkdog is: Location: Poutena, Portugal considers that: Blood Type: A... - I think Favorite Anime / Game: “A clever story with well noein / Chrono Trigger or the Legend of “Other than the front page's thought twists.” Zelda (either Ocarina of time or the Wind overall feel, it's a completely Waker)... Hard to pick one! different beast.” Favorite Sweets: Nothing in particular... Wages in ice cream: We get paid ice- cream? 3 of 37 Fansub.TV J-Zine Issue 2 - Jan 2009 Code Geass R2 vs. Code Geass R2 is known for its terrorists and stumbles across a magnificent character design and Britannian military secret. During this voice casting as well as having a event, he runs into his childhood Macross Frontier recent successful prequel while friend, Suzaku Kuurugi, the son of the Macross Frontier is praised for its prime minister of Japan before Article By: continuing trend of outstanding music Britannia colonized it. Suzaku is now compositions and animation. It comes in the Britannian military and was on down to the most basic element of any the mission to retrieve this stolen show: the story and its development. military secret. However, when the Kit Tsukasa rest of the squad arrives, they order Code Geass is a series about a prince Suzaku to kill Lelouch. Suzaku of Britannia, Lelouch vi Britannia. disobeys and he himself is shot After his mother’s unknown death and instead. Enraged by the selfishness of the emperor’s apathy, Lelouch Britannia and its people, Lelouch’s Most otakus are probably aware that discards his name and royalty at a desire for power unveils the military Code Geass R2 and Macross Frontier young age to live a peaceful life under secret; a girl with a hidden power. are the two biggest series in 2008. the name Lelouch Lamperouge with This girl binds Lelouch to an Both have topped Japan’s Oricon his sister Nunnally. They move to unknown contract in exchange for the charts for all DVD volumes sold thus Japan, which is later colonized by power of the geass. This geass grants far, as well as have had various Britannia and renamed as Area 11, Lelouch the power to bring anyone he advertising promotions before and and its peoples became known as the makes eye contact with come under after the airing of the series on Japan’s 11’s. his complete command. television networks. The questions that remain are which series is truly Several years later, Lelouch attends Realizing the power he now better, and which will be more high school at the Ashford Academy, possesses, Lelouch sets out to gain his successful on the long run? but often skips classes to play chess revenge against Britannia for his and gamble. One day while out on his mother and to establish a peaceful Code Geass R2 and Macross Frontier usual gambling habits, he world for Nunnally to live in. are two entirely different series, and unknowingly involves himself with that makes them difficult to compare. Fansub.TV J-Zine Issue 2 - Jan 2009 4 of 37 Things only get worse when the Black Knights learn about his power of the Geass through Lelouch’s elder brother, Schneizel, and end up betraying him. Lelouch is then forced to obtain his ultimate goals on his own. He eventually defeats the emperor in a very supernatural way and claims the throne for himself, but Schneizel does not recognize him as emperor, however, and wages war against him for control over the world. Suzaku and Lelouch eventually reconcile to work together under a motive that is not revealed until the end of the series where Lelouch had intended to sacrifice himself to remove hatred from the world by piling all the hate on him as emperor. Code Geass R2 started out very much like its prequel, if not better. As stated in the last webzine issue, each episode ended with a cliffhanger, using suspense to keep the audience coming back for new episodes. This was successful for the most part and continued throughout the series. However, this was not what drove viewers up the wall. What really vexed most viewers was the usage of He eventually hides his identity under R2 continues Lelouch’s plan after the supernatural element of the show. the name Zero and forms the Order of regaining his memories at the end of In season one, the supernatural theme the Black Knights, which is a group of the first episode. He learns that he is was kept to a minimum; Lelouch’s 11’s who believe Zero can bring back not the only one with a geass power. geass was simply what made most, if Japan to the way it was.