Gosick Review

Gosick is an anime based on solving cases and misteries related to "ghost stories" and local legends. It's a shoujo mistery drama and it takes place in The Kingdom of Sauville, a ficitonal country located in Europe, surrounded by France to the west, Switzerland to the north, and Italy to the east and they all speak french. The time line is somewhere after the Great World War but we'll get to that later. We have 2 major characters in the series and lots of other small characters that appeal to many kinds of personalities, I thought it was a very light story at the beggining but I got caught up in the last 10 episodes and couldn't stop watching. It gets sort of intense towards the ending.

Plot: 7/10

- The plot is nice. Not amazing or mind blowing but enjoyable. I admit I started watching because of the main character's clothing but I found that the mistery solving thing was fairly interesting. As I mentioned before it was very light at the beggining, and it seemed a bit disjointed at first. Exchange student comes into new school, is an outcast, meets another outcast girl and they obviously get along.. let the case solving begin! As we progress the little misteries become bigger and start to intertwine themselves into the life stories of the characters and the political status of the country itself.

 I felt I liked this part a lot more because it had some continuity to it instead of just being random "ghost stories" to try and figure out. In the end the plot gets a bit hectic with everything exploding in in your face fairly quickly (expect lots of fire and deaths, nothing too graffic but blood is a constant) but still, it was a continued plotline and that's nice to see.

Characters: 6/10

- Pretty standart characters actually. You got the weird girl genius, the loyal boy that always stands by her even though he's treated like dirt, the clumsy teacher, the unrequited love interested, the heartless bad guys, the anti-hero, the one that disappeared but is always there watching, the one that seems not to care but actually does, all that jazz. They aren't much imaginative but they fit well in their roles, particularly Victorique, Kujo and Brian Roscoe (in my opinion anyways). 

My favorite character was Kujo for the sole purpose that I love "knights" that overcome everything even for the most flawed and annoying characters. He's too loyal for his own good, but he has a kind heart and never gives up, and I love that. Victorique is also interesting because of her ability to solve the cases, but none of the other characters actually made me love them or connect to them in any particular way, well maybe Grevil.. a little.

Music: 6/10

- Normal I guess, asides from the opening theme I didn't pay much attention to the background music because it was very generic... but it fit in the aesthetics of the series.

Artwork: 7/10

- I usually go for a more mature style of artwork in the anime I really enjoy (such as Wolf's Rain, Bebop, Mononoke, Death Note), and I hate "chibi" characters with big eyes and small mouths and noses, but when I started watching this series it surprised me that the art is actually very well made, not only in terms of characters and wardrobes but in terms of arquitecture, backgrounds, landscaping and such. Nothing too amazing mind you, but it was fairly enjoyable.

Entertaining: 8/10

- This gets the highest score of the lot because it was really entertaining at the end. I really got caught up in the plot and wanted to see how would they solve the cases, how would the main characters overcome their problems and how would they develop, would the country fall or rise with the political issues, conspiracies and mind games, and the fact that anyone could actually die at any point of it was a plus too.

I'm not a fairly smart or deductive person when it comes to solving cases and that's why I enjoy mistery series so much, but some/most of you might find them really easy to solve. Anyways it's a personal review.

Timeline: 6/10

- This bothered me. It started off just fine, the setting is somewhere around 1924, after the Great World War (or WW1) and they talk about that a lot, so it's always present in your mind. Apparently this true history timeline is flawed and was made that way to adapt to the anime. I don't know if it's the same in the manga, as they talk about "in some years you'll be separated by a great storm" but it doesn't pass any few year, it passes, mostly, a year, so I'm not sure if this was mis-adapted or if it's the same in the manga. 

The WW2 (or so it looks) breaks down from around 1924/5 to 1929, which you might know (if you know the basics of history) is total bananas. So yeah I got a little bit flushed by that but it was alright in the end.

OVERALL: 7/10

- It's an enjoyable anime and I recommend it mainly because the ending was very emotional for me, the climax of all the intrigue was very intense, but of course there are much more intense anime endings than this, it was just a surprise to see such a light watch turn into something so deep.

Bottomline: Go watch it if you like mistery solving series, frilly clothing, tsundere relationships and a bit of political drama as a side dish. It's fun, and it's only 24 episodes, it's fairly quick to watch.

Things I personally enjoyed:

~ All the newspapers, posters and books were written in french.

~ Kujo's devotion.

~ The mysteries in general.

~ Victorique's wardrobe.

~ The variety of sweets, candies, cakes and such.

~ The Ending. I'm a sucker for that sort of endings.

~ Grevil, Brian and Kujo are really cute. (I'm a fan girl, deal with it!)

Things that personally annoyed me:

~ Kujo always yelling "Victorique" over and over and over again.. but that's expect in anime right?

~ Tsundere Victorique and why do they always prefer these annoying brats over nice girls. Really, anime people.. why? 

~ The whole "I'm your precious friend thing", c'mon, they know better than that...

~ The fact that Victorique carries a pipe everywhere but doesn't smoke.

~ Sometimes characters yelling or stating obvious happenings, such as one falling on the ground and a passerby stating "she fell" "she got up" or "she's dirty".

~ The lack of accuracy on the beginning of WWII.

~ Second ending theme.

Well, that's it for my review, hope I got you interested (or maybe the opposite?) in seeing this anime, I'm not a professional reviewer or anything, so please don't judge my reviewing too hard :P

Ja ne!

My top 10 Wants at the moment

These are the top 10 things I'm really lusting for right now, my preferences change a lot of times, so it's hard to stay with a "top" too long, I really want so many beautiful things *_* I'm greedy I know..
Lolita top 10:

Other stuff top 10:

- Another Custom-made dress for my Pullip (I comissioned this one <3 but this isn't my doll :P)

- Victorica Pullip

- Star Trek x Portal Tshirt

- Game of Thrones x The Legend of Zelda Tshirt

- Donnie Darko x Portal Tshirt

- I love you Everything Burrito Tshirt

- Ocarina of Time

- 3 More Days Tshirt

- The Legend of Zelda - Spirit Tracks

- Zara Home Bunny Pillow

These are the things I won't pass the chance to buy if I find them AND have the money for them.

I also need a new rug for my bedroom!

And finally the weather is getting warmer, I've been sick for almost a week now, I welcome warm weather <3

Although it's not more food that I need..

I should update more...

.. I have lots of new outfits to show but I'm lazy.

Been Playing Zelda, League of Legends and Dragon Nest

Been watching Master Chef Australia, Bleach and Scrubs

Been going to Lolita meetings, still love Roma Gyaru, Punk and Fairy-Kei

Yeah.. gotta update.. a lot!

Even if life kicks you in the face...

from Chibird @ tumblr

Japanese and Brand Names

This sounds a bit silly for an entry but I've been noticing through some online shopping/browsing that Japanese have some of the cutest, some of the weirdest, some of the most nonsensical Brand names for their products.

Let's start with some of my very familiar and dearest Lolita Brands.

I think one of the cutest names is Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. When I hear it I'm always taken to a vast field of grass and flowers, a clear night sky, and an innocent little lady dressed in frill laying down on a cute little picnic towel with leftovers from a picnic tea party. She's all alone in her cute dress and massive headbow and she thinks about the difficulties in life, about her individuality, about friends, love, work or school. And then she looks at the stars, and they shine brightly to her, saying that everything will be fine. This is what this Brand name makes me think of, I always feel like it's an encouraging phrase meant for keeping your head up no matter what comes at you. Are you mocked for being a frilly princess? Don't worry baby, the stars shine bright, and they shine for you :)

Another cute name is Metamorphose Temps de Fille. 

This one is not only cute because of the meaning behind it but for the phonetic of the name itself, at least it's what I think!

In their website they explain how they came up with the name; it was basically created for girls who wanted to  transform themselves, it was the time for their transformation and to be whomever they wanted. I cut it short but you can check here for a longer explanation from the brand itself.

It makes me feel like I can be anything I want, like I can become a gothic queen or a sweet little princess anytime I want, the name itself gives one the confidence to be who they like, cast off the pressures of society and dress the way you'd like to.

Another very interesting and creative name would be Alice and the Pirates. Allusive to the always-mentioned Alice from Wonderland, this name and concept is a bit darker than it's sister brand (or main branch) Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. I don't know if they ever explained the name concept but when I think of it I always imagine a mischievous Alice, dressed in black and chains, and her pirate friend roaming around doing whatever they want. It reflects on the clothing this brand sells, the outfits are darker, the themes are a bit more gothic and elegant, marine prints are often seen and even drawings of vampires, werewolves, black cats, appealing to the dark mysticism and those fantasy tales of night creatures are all-time favorites from this brand.

Moving on to Gyaru Brands.

The first weird name that comes to my mind is Jesus Diamante. 

I have no idea how they came up with this name, or why did a Hime-Gyaru brand (specializes in princess-like clothing and accessories) would like to be called Diamond Jesus. I kinda understand the Diamond part as this brands' clothing is very expensive, elegant and princessy. Everything is full of lace, ribbons, pink and flowers. The part I think is weird is really the Jesus part, even if it wasn't meant to refer to anything in particular (especially religion) I think it's just a weird name!

I think this next brand has a pretty funny name - CocoLulu or sometimes refered to as Co&Lu. I have the idea it was formed by joining the first syllables of two names, but when I think of the name itself I imagine a Pomeranian Lulu dog drinking a Coconut drink with an Hawaiian leaf skirt! I know it's crazy but that's what I imagine.

The clothing itself is very upbeat and colorful, I guess the crazy weird name suits it well :)

How about some Punk Brands?

Sex Pot Revenge. This is my favorite brand at the moment, I've been buying t-shirts and tops from them, I've even been trying to make my own version of their damaged products at home using old t-shirts but what is it with that name? I admit I might be a little anarchist in my own notion of the concept but I don't condone any sorts of drug usage or violence. The Sex part is self explanatory, the Pot should refer to drugs and the Revenge part to take things into your own hands? I know Punk is supposed to be all "heck with the System" and "I'm doing what I feel like and I don't care about anything or anyone", but I can't really make sense of the name, it just feels to me they've thrown some random punk-ish words and voilá!

And that mini catch phrase "by the roadside" also makes no sense for me, am I suppose to be a punk motard? :P

I'm totally in love with this brand now though.

Another cool but kinda nonsense name would be the now closed Sexy Dynamite London brand. 3 more words thrown in together.

Unfortunately this brand went down a while ago, you can still buy some of their clothing through auction or second hand clothing websites though.

When I hear this name I imagine a dynamite stick, with red lipstick, big eyes with false lashes wrapped around in a British flag! My imagination is pretty weird... I read that the brand concept for this name was clothing for "cool and beautiful women". Personally I think it represents a powerful (dynamite) and beautiful/sexy woman, the London part just adds to the coolness of British Punk.

This name isn't really weird but I think it's super cute! Since this Pop-Punk brand has many colorful items, many with stars, hearts, leopard prints, I always imagine a very cute and happy couple wearing their products, they are very much in love and very positive about everything in life, they know they can accomplish anything together :D They are Super Lovers! This is what I think about when I hear this brands' name!

It's time for the Fairy-Kei Brands!

The first one that comes to mind is 6%DokiDoki.

This name is so cool and yet why the 6%? "Doki Doki" refers to the sound of a beating heart in japanese. You usually see it in manga when a character is in love and it appears as an onomatopoeia or referred to "my heart is going dokidoki for him". But really, why the 6%.. and.. just 6%? Is it that low? Why is your lovely doki doki so low? why not 5%? why not 23%? Ahah I guess it's just random and it just sounds cute and cool :) I always imagine a sparkly colorful heart beating with 6% inscribed on it.

This one I can't really associate with anything. The clothing is cute and inspired in the 80's, lots of care bears, little ponies, disney princesses... I really don't get the name "Spank!"

Other Japanese weird named Brands:

So you have to listen.. to the flavor? Seems a bit LSD-like, very synesthesic like.

I really don't know what to think about this one.

Banana Fish and their cute trademark phantoms.. Unfortunately another store that closed down, they had many cute things, colorful as well with a hint of creepy (phantoms, skulls). I imagine a colorful fish in banana form!

And this last one is a rakuten shop, it's potentially triggering if you know Portuguese fairly well, be advised it contains swear words.

Here you go.

I don't think they really know what that actually means, the brand is gangsta/street-style oriented I guess, and I think they just thought it sounded cool, but the name is not really something you would want to wear on a t-shirt, out on the street. 

So what do you think?

Do you have any weird brand names you would like to share?

Please note that most of these are my interpretations, opinions and imagination about what I think when I  hear some names, I don't want to pass on that I know exactly what the brand designers wanted to portray with their brand names unless I direct you to an actual article or I state that I have sources for the things I say.

If you're interested in really finding out the name concept behind the brands you can always search stuff, I would love to know if you find anything interesting ^_^

See you next time *

Cooking with Dog

Today I've stumbled upon the most delicious YouTube Channel.. it's a Japanese Cooking channel with quite a fair number of recipes and the videos are narrated by the voice of a "dog" that just sits there while this woman cooks. It's a bit unhygienic but it's a great way to watch and learn some recipes I've been dying to try (and are too hard to find/too expensive at restaurants). 

The woman is Japanese, the Narrator as well, and the fun part is trying to understand what he says in English because he has that Japanese accent when speaking, it's pretty funny. I understand it might be a bit difficult for people who are not accustomed to listen to this type of Jap-English accent, but I understand it fairly easily even without the caption subtitles.

Cooking with Dog!

I have no idea how I came across this, I guess I was just craving some Japanese food and through browsing and browsing and browsing some more I got linked to this channel. I'm really glad I found it! This is why I love YouTube, you have so many recipes, crafting tutorials, care tips and such, it's a whole world of possibilities and I get lost on how much stuff I want to do/try /invent/craft myself!

So I've been looking through some videos and I'm gonna leave it here the ones that I want to try out first, either because of the pure yummyness of it (like Okonomiyaki which I've been dying to try since forever) or because of the ease of finding the ingredients needed (yeah... I'm not really good at finding Japanese food supplies even though we have some good shops around.. and pretty cheap as well!)

So here are some awesome Japanese recipes!

There you go, Enjoy :)