Hakuouki Reimeiroku

After cheering myself up with the OVAs, it’s time to throw myself back into the serious stuff! Bring on Hakuouki Reimeiroku!

Name: Hakuouki Reimeiroku

Japanese Name: 薄桜鬼 黎明録

Air Date: July 9 2012 – September 24 2012

Studio: Studio DEEN

Episodes: 12

PLOT

The year is 1863 and as Japan’s long festering wounds of political discord erupt into violent waves of street clashes and murder, the Tokugawa Shogunate sends a new force of masterless samurai called the Roshigumi to the aid of the Aizu forces in Kyoto. However the new ‘police’ are anything but a cohesive force and assassination has already split them into two opposing factions. The stronger is led by the brutal Serizawa Kamo and the lesser by the more honourable but less assertive Isami Kondou. It is into this pack of wolves that Ryunosuke Ibuki is dragged by the rabid Serizawa. Forced to be a virtual slave by blood debt, he hates the samurai and everything they stand for. But as he sees how the other half of the samurai live, he begins to believe that there may still be a chance, for both himself and Japan, if only Kondou will step up and take down the mad dog Serizawa!

[via Sentai Filmworks]

Final season before I move onto the delayed Campione! Don’t blame me for delaying it… blame the bishies! It’s all their fault xD

Hakuouki Reimeiroku serves as a prequel so it shows the Shinsengumi’s beginnings and how the group came together. I can see why it’s a prequel rather than a sequel; there’s nothing to continue from the second season and even if it did, what will the plot be based on? Most of the Shinsengumi are dead which is what upsets me the most. I’m still torn up over that. But they’re alive here! Yahoo!! *Punches fist in air*

First Impressions

It’s strange how Chizuru isn’t the main protagonist in this season. Instead it’s a man named Ryunosuke Ibuki. To be honest, I feel relieved to not see her. I sound very harsh don’t I? But it’s true. However, Ryunosuke can’t fight even though he has a katana attached to him. It’s Chizuru all over again (-_-) brace yourself Jimmy. What’s the point in having a katana if you’re not going to use it? It’s not some sort of decoration that you can carry around… oh wait. That’s EXACTLY what they’re doing? Maybe Chizuru and Ryunosuke are related? xD

I get to see my beloved characters again! Souji, Harada and crew are back! Throughout the first episode, I was looking for Saito in particular and guess what? He makes his appearance at the end of the episode *･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*･'(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)’･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･* Saito, you kept me waiting! I am not a patient girl but you still look as beautiful as ever so I’ll forgive you! Don’t you ever change! And also, he smiles more which is lovely. Saito looks better when he smiles, it shows off his facial features more and his true nature. It’s more natural when he does plus he is super adorable when he does so ❤

Serizawa is really harsh. Calling Ryunosuke a dog and mongrel. He doesn’t even acknowledge him as a human which proves how low he truly is. Ryunosuke wanted to leave quickly after thanking everyone for their hospitality however Serizawa said that he owes him a debt thus makes Ryunosuke his slave. To make matters worse, he kicks or punches Ryunosuke whenever he does something wrong ( ಠ_ಠ) I really don’t like this man. I think Toshi and Souji don’t like him as well… we’re on the same page here. Well it’s understandable, Seizawa is a loathsome character. Don’t we all want to beat him up? Join the petition! Join the fight!

Harada, Shinpachi and Heisuke are really kind to Ryunosuke and they treat him like one of their own. They barely know him and yet they still treat Ryunosuke as a person unlike Serizawa. They really care for him and look at for him so it’s no wonder they get close in such a short amount of time. The four of them are a great group of friends ＼(^o^)／ nothing goes wrong with the power of friendship!

Some people don’t hold their alcohol down well… here’s a perfect example.

I don’t know what happened at the end of episode 2 but I think Saito and Shinpachi got into a fight. They returned to the base covered in blood whilst Souji and Ryunosuke could only look on in shock. Their beautiful faces and bodies are stained with blood. That’s pretty symbolic in a way. Also, Souji has changed in many ways. All he wants to do is kill rogue samurai. Obviously everyone is shocked and they’re like “what the hell is going on with you man?!” but Souji, being the badass he is, just walks out of the room without explaining. This is probably because of Serizawa’s presence and influence. Seriously, what is this man doing to my precious Souji?! (ノ`д´)ノ〃┻━┻ if my English teacher saw me typing this, she would be like “you have to think about the social and historical context at the time.” How about no thankyou? This is a series that kind of throws stuff in at random y’know.

Midway Impressions

Harada and Ryunosuke are quite close. They’re really good friends and Ryunosuke talks to Harada about everything even love problems! I like their friendship though because it’s as though those two are naturally comfortable around each other and they’re not afraid that the other will spread their secrets etc. Ryunosuke also has a good friendship with Heisuke which is nice since they’re around the same age. It’s good to see Ryunosuke settling and enjoying himself; he looked uncomfortable there at the beginning of the series.

Souji had a really sad past. His sister took him to the dojo where Isami was an instructor and left him there because she could no longer afford to look after him. He was 9 years old. Souji was a live in student but he was treated more like a servant. Then the students at the dojo kept beating him up because they think the instructors favour him but Souji continued to stay strong and refused Isami’s help. One day, a tournament was held and Souji continued fighting despite having blood streaming down his face from a cut caused by his opponent. Souji’s skills showed through with the brutal defeat of his opponent; Souji was discovered as a prodigy swordsman. Gosh, I really love Souji. He’s such a sweet character and doesn’t want people to worry about him but he’s become more warped thanks to Serizawa. What happened to make Souji act like this? I hope that Isami can bring some sense back to Souji, I want him back!

Work it fellas! xD

Speaking of Serizawa, I actually despise him now. He looks down on people and treats Ryunosuke like crap. He acts on his own because in episode 6, he strikes down some unarmed sumo wrestlers with Souji. Maybe it was on impulse but that alone caused the Roshigumi’s reputation to go down. What is that man thinking? He’s also supporting the use of ochimizu – the medicine that can increase physical and healing abilities at the cost of the person’s sanity and turning them into a Rasetsu. Sick people. You people make me sick! And here I was thinking that I would be free of those unnatural creatures…

I’ve never seen Toshi so pissed off. He went all out this time I swear! When he heard about the incident where Serizawa and Souji cut down some unarmed sumos, he couldn’t stop yelling at Souji. Man, Toshi needs some anger management classes I reckon xD maybe I could sign him up for some before Christmas? I can understand why he was so angry though, they cut down UNARMED men. Toshi tells Souji that even if those men started to fight, they didn’t have to fight back. Especially if they’re unarmed. Even I agreed with Toshi on that one, that’s going too far. Serizawa has crossed the line. Could somebody kill him already?

Overall Opinion

Hakuouki Reimeiroku was a beautifully depicted story that kept me watching without any complaints. Although it was a prequel, this in my opinion was the best out of the three seasons.

A new character – Ryunosuke Ibuki – is introduced as a samurai hating man who was born into a warrior family but was disowned by his mother for being a failure as a samurai therefore he left. Whilst walking on the road, he is beaten up and left to die on the pathway until Serizawa stumbles across and saves him. Thus Ryunosuke lives with the Roshigumi and is Serizawa’s personal slave in order to repay the debt. Although Ryunosuke is unable to fight, I still like him as a character. It doesn’t matter if you’re strong or weak physically but he grows stronger mentally as the series progresses thanks to the help of Harada, Heisuke and co. I think he shares Heisuke’s and Shinpachi’s childishness too as he also fights over food ﾌﾟｯ(※థэథ)∵.*. Ryunosuke attempts to steal Saito’s food but the latter evil glares him…THE DEMON HAS BEEN UNLEASHED! Hehe, just like me and my food. We’re best friends so you can’t separate us! He also had a nice little romance thing going on with a maiko (geisha in training) named Kosuzu (*´ω`*) but it’s a shame that Studio DEEN never continued to develop this relationship further. It’s only implied that Ryunosuke cared for her.

Saito looks like a good teacher! And I think Ryunosuke’s enjoying himself (^^)

Serizawa was not as bad as I originally thought. He had a reason behind his actions which was mainly for the Roshigumi. Also, he simply wanted Ryunosuke to live. Even though he treated him badly, it was for Ryunosuke to find a resolve. I’ve been misunderstanding his motives all along and now I feel terrible. It doesn’t help that he’d been fighting a serious disease which took the life of the woman he first loved. Now I feel even more terrible! I apologise Serizawa! *Bows head low*

The use of flashbacks helped the story move along. Through them, more is learnt about how the characters became who they are now. The character development was the best by far but I was a little surprised by Souji’s attitude, especially at the end of the final episode. He corners Ryunosuke on a bridge and pushes him into the river below. Then he claims that Ryunosuke died from the fast flow of the river. Great. Souji pretty much returns to normal in the last few episodes and then BAM! He goes ahead and does that. I don’t know what to believe anymore 。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。well too bad Souji, Ryunosuke is alive and well no thanks to you! I-I’m sorry Souji…don’t look at me with those puppy eyes! You know I can’t win if you do that to me. See what I have to deal with guys? The adorableness that is Souji Okita ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ

I have no complaints about the animation whatsoever. It maintained the good standard from its predecessors and once again I praise Studio DEEN for their work! Every moment was flawless and fluid. The best had to be when Saito fights; you barely see him strike. It was so quick that even Souji – one of the best swordsmen – didn’t notice. Saito has got skills! Bam! Hehe, you never disappoint me Saito (๑´ლ`๑) overall, the animation was unique and dynamic. Studio DEEN rarely fail when it comes to animation!

Saito is so small! How cute…

SPOILER: The Roshigumi are given a new name: ‘Shinsengumi’. However Isami, Toshi, Souji, Harada and Sannan are ordered to kill Serizawa as he has tarnished the Shinsengumi’s reputation with his antics and behaviour. But when they arrive, Serizawa drinks the ochimizu and becomes a Rasetsu. A difficult battle ensues as Ryunosuke tries to stop them but to no avail as Toshi stabs Serizawa through the heart. Serizawa says some words to Ryunosuke before he dies. Ryunosuke runs away but Souji finds him and pushes him into the river below. Ryunosuke is now on his own journey when he passes a girl otherwise known as Chizuru, thus a new story begins to unravel as Ryunosuke looks up to the sky and sees Serizawa’s face.

Hakuouki Reimeiroku was the perfect prequel and I couldn’t ask for anything better. Everything was in the package: beautiful animation, a good plot, fantastic character development and wonderful music. The Hakuouki series has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I laughed, cried, smiled; this series stirred a lot of emotions within me and it’s quite rare for an anime series to do that. I’m upset that the series have ended but it finished on a high note which I’m proud of. I normally don’t praise a series like this but honestly I have so much love for Hakuouki. Well at least I have two Hakuouki movies to look forward too in 2013! A real jewel, I recommend Hakuouki to everyone regardless of your gender. You’ll love it as much as I do!

Hakuouki Sekkaroku

Here is the review for the Hakuouki OVAs! This post will be longer than my other posts because this has less episodes, I’m giving a summary of each episode, giving my thoughts on each episode and then my overall opinion on the OVA series.

Name: Hakuouki Sekkaroku

Japanese Name: 薄桜鬼 雪華録

Air Date: August 5 2011 – July 27 2012

Studio: Studio DEEN

Episodes: 6

Episode 1 – Souji Okita (CV: Showtaro Morikubo)

Chizuru Yukimura is goaded by Souji Okita to be an undercover geisha again. Souji’s tuberculosis starts to plague him. Commander Isami Kondou becomes worried and orders Souji to be grounded. Chizuru goes out with the gang to celebrate her successful undercover mission and Shinpachi Nagakura gets into a drunken brawl on the way back. Isami personally dices spring onion into the porridge he asks Chizuru to cook for Souji and the latter finishes it all despite his distaste for the plant.

~My Thoughts~

Souji, why are you so adorable? If I counted how many times I giggled or fawned over you in that episode, it would probably be over ten times. That’s how much I love this man. Souji appears to be more manipulative and playful in this OVA than the anime. He’s obviously torn over his illness but he still tries to live life to the full by fighting. That’s the only thing he can do. He wants to be by Chizuru’s side but he doesn’t know how much longer he’ll be around for 。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。Souji’s true personality begins to shine through here; it’s obvious that he’s devoted to Isami and he’s such a joker especially towards Chizuru. He also hates being kept behind during missions because of his health so he gets bored easily but he should realise that Toshi and Isami are only doing this because they care about him. They don’t want his condition to worsen because it was really difficult to cure tuberculosis in those days. Yes Souji, you are loved! Mainly by me (*´ω`*) I really enjoyed this episode as Souji’s personality cheered me up instantly and his facial expressions were adorable yet gentle. There was a hint of sadness and fondness in his eyes which made me realise that he’s suffering so much. I would wrap my arms around him and stay like that forever if that would comfort him. Souji is not the person I originally imagined at the start, he’s a strong character but he’s also weak. My only problem was that Saito appeared in this episode… too bad he did! His smile was so cute that I blushed; it was completely unexpected that I was taken back by surprise. Damn you Saito! I was praising my love for Souji and then you turned up *grumble* YOU’RE IN THE NEXT EPISODE SO WAIT PATIENTLY! Be a good boy please? This episode instantly cheered me up from my bad mood because I saw my beloved Souji, Saito and Harada again. And also the LOLs that came with it! Anyways, moving onto episode 2…

Episode 2 – Hajime Saito (CV: Kousuke Toriumi)

Hajime Saito is attracted by a fine sword in a display case and rattles on about the importance of a good sword to Chizuru, who starts laughing at his passionate outburst. Flashback at the Shinsengumi, Chizuru is asked to be an undercover geisha by Isami and Toshizo Hijikata. Chizuru becomes extremely uncomfortable at the thought of the dangerous mission, but Saito immediately proffers himself and Susumu Yamazaki as bodyguards for Chizuru. Two lecherous men try to get fresh with Chizuru and are grounded by Susumu and Saito respectively. Upon seeing the beautifully dolled up Chizuru, Saito becomes oblivious to the surroundings and prepares to stutter a declaration of love, but is rudely interrupted by his attacker’s allies. The next day, Saito and Chizuru converse on the road about what Saito wanted to say to Chizuru, but Chizuru wanders off to the topic of whether Toshizo suits having a beard. At night, Toshizo apologises to Saito for sending him off on a long and dangerous reconnaissance mission. The next morning, Saito admires the snow together with Chizuru, who gives him a snow rabbit.

~My Thoughts~

Saito is unbelievably cute isn’t he? Unbelievably cute. He’s passionate about katanas and knows so much about them it actually baffles me, it must be because he is a fantastic swordsman himself! Here in the OVA, Saito is more relaxed and true to his feelings than the anime where he’s cold and pretty much keeps to himself. He smiles more frequently and I love that face when he does; it truly makes me happy! Who doesn’t fangirl when Saito smiles? When Saito, Susumu and Chizuru run into some trouble on their mission, Saito comes to Chizuru’s rescue however he gets caught in the moment and is blushing like the cutie he is (๑´ლ`๑) d’aww!! How can you resist that gorgeous face with one of the most adorable blushes ever? I found it hilarious when he was trying to confess to Chizuru because he punches the guy creeping up behind him as he continues his attempt to declare his love. Then the guy gets up again whilst Saito elbows him in the stomach as he tries to confess to Chizuru again xD Saito is a bit of clutz ❤ the guy’s allies arrive and Saito is obviously pissed off that they’re interrupting his ‘important’ conversation so he beats the crap out of them ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ you should never interrupt Saito when he’s talking… it’s a death sentence. The journey home was even funnier because Saito tries to confess to Chizuru again but being the dope she is, she rambles on about Toshi having a beard ( ಠ_ಠ) really? How did the conversation change from love to beards? Poor Saito…give up on the girl and settle with me. She’s clearly not interested if she steers the topic! Apart from the rudeness of a certain heroine *evil eye Chizuru* I really loved this episode! It is definitely my favourite one because Saito is friendly and warms up to the others; the complete opposite of his serious demeanor and hostile attitude which makes me love him even more! Also, he accepted the snow bunny from Chizuru which is so kind of him; a real gentleman who doesn’t care if it looks stupid… I LOVE YOU SAITO!!!

Episode 3 – Sanosuke Harada (CV: Kouji Yusa)

Sanosuke Harada takes Chizuru out shopping for groceries and meet Bakufu inspectors on the way back ripping apart the belongings of civilians during checks and roughing them up. Chizuru becomes affected and so does Harada. When a man loses his letter for home, he is stopped by the inspectors and accused of treason. The incensed Harada attacks the officers trying to arrest the hapless man and vouches on seppuku that he will bring the letter back. Kyou Shiranui sees the commotion while on a watchtower and helps a flustered Chizuru overcome the man who stole the letter. The letter is brought back and satisfies the gruntled inspectors, who lodge a complaint to Toshizo. Harada takes a half-year pay cut as punishment, but keeps mumbling about the incident. Shinpachi takes Harada out for drinks.

~My Thoughts~

Pwahaha! Now that was funny! Harada and Shinpachi are having a drink when a geisha comes in and talks to Harada. When she leaves, Shinpachi is very annoyed at how Harada is popular with the ladies… well of course he is, he’s a ladies man! Women always flock to him! The two talk about how they shouldn’t say the Shinsengumi name so loudly as it could put Chizuru in danger. That’s right, she’s on an undercover mission to collect information. Harada then dismisses it saying that Heisuke is with her and that they shouldn’t worry, suddenly that said person opens the sliding doors and screams “where’s Chizuru?!” ﾌﾟｯ(※థэథ)∵.*.∵ LOL. The two were dumbfounded and ashamed at the same time! Harada is pretty much the same in the OVA; he’s still the lovable and gentle man I love! However, his determination stands out the most in this episode. A man wants to travel to see his sick mother but the inspectors say that he doesn’t have an official document. Harada gets really angry so he steps in front of the man and tells him to look for the document which had been stolen by a suspicious man earlier. The man and one of the Shinsengumi members dash off to search for the guy who stole it. The head inspector asks Harada what he will do if the man doesn’t return so Harada boldly declares that he will commit seppuku. So Chizuru runs off to help find the stolen document keeping in mind that Harada’s life is on the line. When they find the guy who stole it, they chase him only to lose him. Then Kyou Shiranui comes to the rescue and beats the crap out of the guy claiming that he “bumped into him without apologising”. Kyou’s not being honest! Again, I really loved this episode because Harada is a true gentleman and he’s always helping others even if his life is at risk (๑´ლ`๑) I will never tire of you Harada! You’re the perfect example of a man!

Episode 4 – Heisuke Toudou (CV: Hiroyuki Yoshino)

Heisuke Toudou gets into a brawl on the street while out with Chizuru. Chizuru tries to stop him, but Harada holds her back. Heisuke later catches a duck for dinner and Chizuru makes stew with it. While snatching a piece of duck with Shinpachi, the meat flies onto Toshizo Hijikata’s forehead. Shinpachi quickly moves to another table while Heisuke makes things worse by rattling non-stop and ultimately blaming Toshizo for it. Toshizo gives Heisuke a thrashing. Flashback to the geisha episode, where Heisuke barges into Chizuru’s room in the geisha house and is overcome by her beauty. He dashes off to demand Isami and Toshizo take Chizuru off this dangerous mission. In his absence, Chikage Kazama arrives and tries to kiss Chizuru, but is whacked by an abrupt entrance by Osen on the head. Chizuru flees. Meanwhile, back at Shinsengumi headquarters, Heisuke complains loudly to Isami and Toshizo the inappropriateness of Chizuru’s mission. Isami gives his go ahead to terminate the mission, and Heisuke runs back to Chizuru. Finding her not there, he hears the voice of Susumu Yamazaki upstairs and joins him in the fight with the drunken lechers. Next morning, Heisuke has a snowball fight with Chizuru, Shinpachi and Harada, but the latter two grab Chizuru and hide behind a tree when Toshizo appears demanding to know what happened to that the tattered screen doors.

~My Thoughts~

Heisuke sure likes to pick fights doesn’t he? *Sigh* and it’s no help that Harada and Shinpachi don’t do anything to stop him. Toshi scolds Heisuke for being reckless. Later on Chizuru wants to cook duck stew for the others so she and Heisuke go to catch some ducks. Heisuke’s way of getting ducks is quite…extraordinary if not a bit strange! When everyone is eating the stew, Heisuke and Shinpachi grab the same piece of duck with their chopsticks and a fight between men ensues! Heisuke and Shinpachi are as childish as each other since a normal person would get another piece… but not these two ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ this is where it gets funny because the duck slips out of the chopsticks as Toshi opens the door. And guess who gets hit? Toshi. Haha! He was not pleased at all xD Heisuke tries to explain himself and starts to blame Shinpachi who’s now sitting with Harada acting civilised unlike a certain person! I like Heisuke, not just because he’s funny but also for the fact that he never backs down. He goes into things head on without thinking about the situation which gets him into trouble but even though he does that, I like his resolve and determination. I also love his bond with Harada and Shinpachi! They’re like brothers as the older two constantly tease and mess with Heisuke, real brotherly love there! Heisuke is a child at heart as he puts his own feelings above everything else but sometimes it can be for the best especially regarding to Chizuru dressing up as a geisha and infiltrating the geisha house. This makes him pure which is what appealed to me about Heisuke. My favourite part of the episode was the snowball fight at the end where Shinpachi boasts about his muscles being able to cope with the cold weather only to have a snowball thrown at his chest by Heisuke as he shivers from the coldness xD another good episode! Let’s hope it continues…

Episode 5 – Toshizo Hijikata (CV: Shinichiro Miki)

Toshizo Hijikata wakes up to first snow and sees Isami inviting his comrades leaving their first foot imprint in the snow. He composes a haiku and is overheard by Chizuru and Souji, and Souji teases him about it while asking Chizuru to compliment on his poetry. Toshizo becomes embarrassed and covers it up with angry words. Chizuru and Souji leave for breakfast. At night, Isami and Toshizo discuss about the defecting Edo, and Toshizo tells Isami about his plan to ask Saito to defect. Heisuke barges into their room and Toshizo leaves to take care of things. He arrives at the geisha house to be greeted by chaos. Saito tells Toshizo to take Chizuru away, and her dressing causes a commotion when Toshizo is walking with her towards the door. A man demands money from Toshizo for taking away a geisha, and Toshizo flares up, declaring his status as Shinsengumi vice-captain and yanking Chizuru away. Upon return, Souji teases them at the door, and Hijikata hurriedly asks Chizuru to hide away. The next day, Souji catches Toshizo hiding in a back alley observing Harada on his gate duty with the Bakufu inspectors. Saito and Shinpachi are invited for a drink with Itou, and Shinpachi is highly irritated. Toshizo meets Chikage Kazama on the streets and draws his katana when Sannan appears and stops him. Next morning, Kondou brings dangos to Toshizo’s room and everyone suddenly appears to share them. Souji grabs Toshizo’s haiku book on the table and starts reading the haiku of the snow from that one morning. He then compares it to the dango he has in his hand and Toshizo becomes embarrassed and tries to grab his book back from Souji, much to the amusement of everyone.

~My Thoughts~

My my! Toshi, what is there to be embarrassed about? He is so easy to embarrass, just like me (๑´ლ`๑) I think that he’s a romantic person in general although he doesn’t look it. I say that because he writes haikus and in my opinion, poems are ways of communicating your love of someone or something. I sounded very old fashioned there! No wonder though, poems are indeed romantic and Toshi’s voice perfectly suited the haikus well. It’s rare to see him smile so I was glad to see him do something that made him happy. Ah, the wonders of poetry! When Toshi sneezes and shivered because of the cold weather, I randomly said “aww” out loud. What? It was a cute sneeze. Toshi is a considerate man but he too rushes into action as he walks back to headquarters, he draws his sword when he sees Chikage Kazama. He is also the type of person who doesn’t deal with popularity well especially with women because he was hiding to keep an eye on Saito when some women spot him and gossip about him resulting in Toshi hating his new found popularity. This all happened because he was walking Chizuru home whilst she was still dressed as a geisha causing rumours to go round. Thanks a lot Chizuru for troubling poor Toshi At the end of the episode, everyone barges into Toshi’s room to eat dango that Isami brought back and the former appears very annoyed. However, I think he’s hiding that he’s glad to have company! Then Souji takes his haiku book and reads it aloud for everyone to hear ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ Toshi pulls a really attractive face here xD it was amusing to see Toshi getting flustered and chasing Souji around to get his precious book back ﾌﾟｯ(※థэథ)∵.*. he acts like a child here which I thought was really sweet. I love Toshi as a character and I was glad to see many sides of him in this episode. From kindness to bluntness, this man is definitely in my top 3. If only Souji, Saito and Harada didn’t appear and take the spotlight… THIS IS TOSHI’S EPISODE! YOU HAD YOUR OWN!

Episode 6 – Chikage Kazama (CV: Kenjiro Tsuda)

Chikage Kazama stumbles across Chizuru at the geisha house where she’s working undercover. The two are alone in a room and Chikage tells Chizuru that she can’t fool his eyes. He says she’s beautiful enough to be his wife as he draws closer to kiss her. Osen interrupts and hits Chikage on the head telling Chizuru to run. Osen then talks to Chikage telling him what a woman wants as he dismisses it saying he doesn’t need her advice. Ignoring what Chikage says, Osen continues talking about Chizuru to which Chikage responds with how Chizuru is from the original bloodline and how the birth rate of female Oni is very low. Their conversation is stopped by the disruption of Chizuru escaping. Osen leaves the room to see what is happening, telling Chikage to wait as their talk is not over. Chikage leaves afterwards. Next morning, Chikage announces to Kyuujyu Amagiri that he will not support the Satsuma clan. The next day, Chikage meets Osen in the forest where they are overheard by Kaoru Nagumo. After a tense confrontation Kaoru demands that Chikage, Kyuujyu and Kyou leave Chizuru alone. Kaoru flees. Chikage then says the snow will fall and in his mind asks Chizuru what she will do once Oni cut off relations with humans. Next day, Heisuke and Chizuru go to the temple to pray on New Years. Heisuke goes off to fight whilst Chizuru bumps into Chikage. Chikage walks Chizuru back to headquarters but Chizuru thinks he’s acting weird. Ideals clash as both have different views on humans. They reach headquarters and Chizuru thanks him. As Chikage leaves, he talks about destiny as he walks towards Toshizo.

~My Thoughts~

Chikage has a deep, sexy voice. Enough said. My body temperature has risen, not because I have a heated blanket on my lap – which I must say is very lovely – but because of Chikage. I loved him in the first two seasons but now I love him even more! Is it a crime to be so hot? Let me love you baby! Ahem, sorry about that. Shall I continue properly? This episode mainly continues from the previous OVA episodes and one episode from the anime. Chikage may seem coldhearted but he’s also kind at the strangest times. Honestly, I never saw that coming. I’m used to seeing him being a complete jerk towards Chizuru and the Shinsengumi so it was an absolute shock to see him being so nice. I prefer that side of him rather than the coldhearted persona. From this OVA, he is very different than the anime; his intentions are revealed unlike the anime where it was shrouded in mystery. In fact, he cares about his own race and is willing to use anyone to help him reach that goal. There are so many things that I want to say about Chikage but the list is practically endless! I often wonder what he’s really like personality wise and my conclusion is that he’s lonely. What? Does that sound extremely weird? I shall explain… have any of you guys noticed how he never smiles around anyone? Or that he always speaks in a cold manner even to his subordinates? Well that’s what I mean. He only smiles at Chizuru and geninely shows her his gentle side through the smallest things. Like how he walked her back to headquarters because it was dangerous for a woman to be walking around on her own. I may be looking into this too much but that’s how I see it. I really love Chikage and I’m surprised at how many people like him; he’s a popular character. His looks are intriguing too, especially his red eyes. They’re captivating ❤

Overall Opinion

My overall opinion will be quite short as I’ve written quite a lot already!

Hakuouki Sekkaroku was an astounding OVA series complete with gorgeous bishounens, wonderful animation and fantastic music. I loved every single bit of it!

Every episode never failed to make me smile, giggle or laugh out loud. I honestly have to say that for an OVA series, this has done me proud. It was unique too as each OVA episode was based on the dateable characters from the otome game complete with their own ending theme song at the end of each episode. The songs suited the characters well and fit with their personality etc. Character development was good this time round! In the anime series, there was practically none at all really so it was nice to see the characters letting loose and having a breather here. We all need it sometimes! Studio DEEN have really made the effort this time round!

Hakuouki Sekkaroku is an OVA series that I would recommend for all! It’s light and not too heavy compared to the anime which is good when switching in between the second season and the third season. Of course you’d need to get the serious stuff out of your mind before moving on and you just want to relax a bit. Definitely give this a try, you won’t regret it at all! The characters alone are good enough to make you watch this (^^) I will watch this over and over again… that’s how much I love these OVAs!

Hakuouki Hekketsuroku

“You’re Hakuouki.”

Name: Hakuouki Hekketsuroku

Japanese Name: 薄桜鬼 碧血録

Air Date: October 4 2010 – December 6 2010

Studio: Studio DEEN

Episodes: 10

PLOT

The continuation of Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan.

The Edo Era has ended after 260 years of history and the Meiji Era begins. However, bitter strife still continues between the soldiers of the new government and former Tokugawa retainers. This is the stage in which the surviving members of the Shinsengumi find themselves upon their return to Edo following their defeat at Tobafushimi.

[via ANN]

It’s getting closer and closer to Christmas so naturally I’m excited! I love this time of year because I get loads of presents…I feel like a kid again. After the holidays, I’ll only have 22 weeks of secondary school left before moving on to college… how weird is that? It feels weird growing up. I still can’t grasp the fact that I’m 16 let alone college! Man time flies.

I’ve been mentally preparing myself before watching this mainly because I know that loads of my favourite characters will die; the probability of me crying my eyes out is very high. I swore to myself that I won’t cry but I doubt I’ll be able to. One of my friends gave me some major spoilers and I’m angry at her for telling me. Now I know who dies which is not a good start, I’d rather be caught by surprise than go through every episode waiting for those fateful moments! Enough of the depressing thoughts, here’s my review for Hakuouki Hekketsuroku!

First Impressions

Goodness me, has anyone else noticed how handsome the guys are in western clothes? Harada, Shinpachi, Heisuke, Toshi and Saito now wear western clothes because they’re fighting a western battle but they all look really good! I’m a bit sad they cut their hair but I like this new look! It’s out with the old, and in with the new. Saito was adorable when he realised he buttoned his top wrong (๑´ლ`๑) Harada complained about the amount of buttons xD he felt like he was being strangled. I can tell, it does look a bit tight! Chizuru was gaping at them because THEY LOOKED THAT GORGEOUS. Haha! Good reaction! I did the same thing! The little girl is growing up (^^)

Aww! Are you a bit shy Saito? (๑´ლ`๑) STAY AWAY FROM HIM CHIZURU. HE’S MINE!!

Chizuru’s twin brother – Kaoru – wants to revive the Yukimura family by using Rasetsu to destroy all humans with help from Koudou. However, Kaoru’s plans are thwarted by Chikage who kills him in front of Chizuru before he could kill Souji. It was quite a sad death actually because Kaoru had tears in his eyes as he reached out to Chizuru as she remembered their childhood together. Gosh, he had a strong love for her. He loved her so much but that was most likely because they were separated for a long time. A tragic beginning and a tragic ending. How could Chizuru forget about her own brother? I would love to do the same to my brother but I can’t; even though they’re annoying as hell, we’re still related. Poor Kaoru, he must have suffered a lot. I feel for the guy but I can’t forgive him for using Rasetsu to gain his goals. I feel like crying…

Kaoru’s death…

What, what, WHAT?! Harada and Shinpachi left?! I don’t even know why but they just left! Great. Harada, you’ve just broken my heart. You know how much I love you and yet you leave without saying anything. My darling Harada, I just pray that you will come back. Come back and make me happy! If you don’t, then I’ll hunt you down *mischievous grin*

Toshi becomes more open about his emotions, he’s not as closed as he used to be but he’s still a bit reserved. The poor soul has many conflicts with himself and can’t seem to put his mind at ease even if Chizuru tries to comfort him. He feels guilty about everything, I wish there was something that can help him *ignores Chizuru in the background* I think that Toshi is the most fragile character out of all of them. I know that sounds weird as he’s one of the strongest, but that’s how I feel. He has a bigger burden to carry than any other character so it’s not surprising if he becomes stressed and bothered. After all, he’s second in command of the Shinsengumi and a lieutenant, that’s a lot of pressure.

Midway Impressions

Rasetsu get their powers from their life force. Therefore if a person turns into a Rasetsu, they would be shortening their lifespan. Once they use up their lifespan, they crumble to dust. I thought they researched this properly? That is why you should never become a Rasetsu. You’ll waste your life quicker. No thanks, I’d rather live a normal life until I’m 90 years old.

Harada! You’ve appeared again! I’m so glad I get to see your beautiful face and hear your wonderful voice again o(≧▽≦)o it was only for one episode though because after he and Kyou Shiranui fought against Koudou’s army of Rasetsu, they were both never heard of again… wait. Does he die?! NOO!!! My life is over. I never expected that at all. I’m so upset 。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。you’ll be sadly missed Harada.

Souji! You’ve finally come! I haven’t see you for a while! Now it’s episode 6… you’ve kept me waiting! He’s still as adorable as ever but he was torn after hearing that the person he admired – Kondou – was beheaded. He starts to blame Toshi for not being able to save him and then leaves after talking to Chizuru. Later on in the episode, Souji overhears a conversation where some people were planning to assassinate Toshi so he waits until the time has come to prevent it. Before he fights, he coughs up a load of blood and then turns into a Rasetsu knowing that he is going to die anyway. Toshi and Chizuru rush to the scene but realise they were too late as Souji had already crumbled into dust with only his sword left stuck in the ground. Now they’ve really done it. Studio DEEN have really done it. When Toshi turned around and spoke, there was sadness in his voice. I knew something bad happened and I realised too late as well. That’s what set off the waterworks for me. I couldn’t believe Souji was gone. I cried buckets! Also, they put Harada’s in the same epsiode… it’s too much for me to bear 。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。

Goodbye my love ❤

Not Saito too! After losing Souji and Sanosuke, I don’t think I’d be able to cope with Saito gone as well. Well, we all know that he’s my favourite! At the end of episode 7, Saito is seen charging towards the enemy on his own. His fate is unknown but I have a horrible feeling that he died. I think that’s proven true as he doesn’t appear throughout the rest of the series except in flashbacks. I’m awfully sad now, what else do they want to do to me?! I’m a wreck already. 。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。don’t you just hate it when directors kill off your favourite characters? You feel like your heart is teared out and it feels painful. Then you’re stuck with that feeling of loneliness. This is why I hate watching anime series with tragedy, the waterworks will never end. It’s Lockon Stratos all over again! All my feels, ALL OF THEM!

Overall Opinion

It feels really weird that I’ve finished Hakuouki Hekketsuroku. Really, really weird.

I found the story very interesting. I never thought the anime was boring whilst watching it. I like the way that they make the series last over a couple of years, rather than in a short amount of time like other anime. Part of the reason why I enjoyed Hakuouki so much is because it’s more serious and realistic; if you’re the type of person that likes something silly and fun than this is definitely not for you. I think that is another reason why some people found Hakuouki boring. Most anime nowadays are filled with silly little moments (that are also rather unrealistic) which are supposed to amuse the audience. Hakuouki doesn’t have any of that so once again I suggest that you should only watch this anime if you enjoy serious story plots. Hakuouki Hekketsuroku contains a lot of sad moments which aren’t suitable for those who don’t like depressing anime.

The animation continues to look beautiful in every single way. Of course our main Shinsengumi guys were as hot as ever but there was a lot more blood in this season. I’ve probably grown sick from the sight. Never in my life have I seen as much blood as I have in this series. Lots and lots of it. Yum. It’s going to be incredibly hard to get those images out of my head…I’m scarred for life.

The theme music was absolutely beautiful and moving. They were perfect choices for Hakuouki since this series is filled with tragedy and despair. Both songs had a hint of sadness, especially the ending ‘Akane Sora ni Negau’ by Mao. I bawled my eyes out watching the sequence that accompanied the song; the characters come and go hinting their tragic fates  which really got me going with the waterworks.

Personally, I really like the characters in Hakuouki. I love how everyone acts realistically and they have a strong bond between each other. What I see a lot of is people hating the main female character; Chizuru. True, she’s not as likable as the other main characters but she was stronger here than in Shinsengumi Kitan. She’s definitely grown after seeing the horrors of battle. Sometimes I found myself saying “Come on Chizuru! Try to protect yourself!” but I thought it was realistic at the same time since back then women were treated as inferior to men. And since Hakuouki is pretty realistic as far as the way they make the characters act and the way they stick to history, I had nothing against Chizuru for being like that. I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I’ve gained some respect for the girl. Who knew right? However, she still says “eh?” a lot which really annoys me. Don’t you have any other vocabulary to use? More sophistication y’know Chizuru!

SPOILER: In the final episode, Toshi and Chikage confront each other. During the face-off Chikage recognises Toshi as a real Oni, not a Rasetsu and gives him the demon name ‘Hakuouki’. The fierce battle between them begins and results in Chikage’s death. Toshi collapses afterwards and lies unconscious on Chizuru’s lap as she reminisces the past.

Now what really bugs me is the ending. I mean seriously, why end it like that? ( ಠ_ಠ) I have so many questions left like “does Toshi die or survive?”. It is left unclear and I’m sat in my room pondering the problem over and over again. My brain hurts from thinking too much! I hate cliffhangers like that so my only dislike of Hakuouki Hekketsuroku is the ending. Endings are lacking in most anime so I was very disappointed. Also, this season only had 10 episodes whilst the first had 12…what’s going on? If Hakuouki Hekketsuroku had 12 episodes, I would of been much happier; a proper ending could of been done. I demand an answer Studio DEEN…does Toshi die or not?! I heard that there are two films scheduled for 2013 and I’m curious about the plot. Will it be a continuation or a prequel? If it’s a live-action then I won’t be watching them. Sorry guys, I only do anime!

Alive or dead? Keep on living Toshi! For my sake please ❤

Hakuouki is definitely one of my favourite anime series ever so the main question is…who are my top 5 guys? The answer is quite simple really:

1. (tie) Hajime Saito and Souji Okita ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ
2. Sanosuke Harada
3. Toshi Hijikata
4. Chikage Kazama
5. Kyou Shiranui <– even I didn’t see it coming xD

I wonder if that order will change after the OVAs and Hakuouki Reimeiroku… highly doubt it. My opinions rarely change unless something makes a REALLY big impact on me. I wonder if Heisuke can change my mind? He did make me LOL most of the time and he’s a great guy.

After watching the first two seasons, I’m moving onto the OVAs and prequel. I can tell that the OVAs will be super cute! I have a hunch! I just need something to get my mind off the sadness I endured watching this and a distraction from all the blood that’s been engraved in my brain… oh how we all love Studio DEEN.

On a lighter note, I know what I’m getting for Christmas! The complete series boxset 1-5 of The Big Bang Theory… BAZINGA!

Much love for Sheldon Cooper.

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

I know I said that I’ll be watching Campione! but… I can’t resist those handsome men (^_^;) damn you sexy bishies!

Name: Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan

Japanese Name: 薄桜鬼

Air Date: April 4 2010 – June 20 2010

Studio: Studio DEEN

Episodes: 12

PLOT

The protagonist – Chizuru Yukimura – is the daughter of a doctor who works in Edo. Her father leaves Edo to work as a volunteer doctor and moves to Kyoto without his daughter. As time passes by, Chizuru starts worrying about losing contact with her father so she decides to go to Kyoto in search of him. On the way Chizuru is attacked by some criminals and witnesses a fight between an Oni and the Shinsengumi. Taking her into custody and saving her, the Shinsengumi debate on what to do with Chizuru when they discover that she is the daughter of the doctor they are also looking for. So they decide to become Chizuru’s protectors and help her look for her father (the doctor). Lots of events happen whilst she stays with the Shinsengumi, as they discover mysterious secrets and also fight against the Bakumatsu group. The story is overall romantic with a historical and political background.

[via Hakuouki Official Website]

This is the first season of Hakuouki. I-I’m so sorry! It’s just that these men were calling for me and I couldn’t help it! They tempted me and I gave in to them… *scolds myself* I need more willpower. WILLPOWER!

First Impressions

God Saito is hot. And he kicks ass! Perfect o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o he is really beautiful though, his long hair suits him very well but imagine if his hair was short *nosebleed* holy crap! I’ll be right back, I must dash off to the bathroom immediately! I’m back. I ran so fast that my brother was spinning around in circles xD bless him. Saito’s long hair and serious attitude reminds me of someone…HAYATE FROM PRÉTEAR! That’s why his voice sounded so familiar! Saito is voiced by Kousuke Toriumi who also voiced Hayate I take it that Saito is my favourite? Yeah, definitely.

I love how the whole group ganged up on Toshizo in episode 1. Let the poor guy think a little alright? It’s not everyday that you stumble across a girl and decide to let her live in the same house as you ＼(^o^)／ I can’t be bothered to call him by his name so I’ll just call him Toshi like the other guys do. He seems cold and distant but who cares? I love him regardless though. All my love goes towards you Toshi! Well, not all of it exactly… maybe part of it? I still need to give some to Souji Okita, Sanosuke Harada, Shinpachi Nagakura…

The cavalry have arrived!

Chizuru winds me up already. She’s such a bitch! Please excuse my foul language but that is the best way to describe her. You know who she reminds me of? Tamaki from Hiiro no Kakera… a defenceless, good for nothing who relies on people’s protection too much. Honestly, something called grow a pair and whoop their asses? All she does is go “eh?” like the bumbling idiot she is. I really despise heroines like that ( ಠ_ಠ) why are most heroines like this? It’s very rare that you get one that can actually stand up for herself and do something for others e.g. Misaki Ayuzawa from Kaichou wa Maid-sama! She was an awesome girl who stood her ground and had so much determination it was unbelievable. The girl had no fear.

The animation is gorgeous, as expected of Studio DEEN. The cherry blossoms in the opening were really pretty, I almost reached out my hand to grab them xD you know when you watch a film in 3D and everything comes flying at you? I have this habit of reaching out and trying to grab things before I realise what a complete and utter idiot I am!

Midway Impressions

The plot is now slowly unravelling as more is revealed about the ‘medicine’ that Chizuru’s father was working on. It can enhance a person’s strength and healing abilities but can result in them going mad and turn into a Rasetsu. This is proven true when Sannan-san drinks it to heal his left arm and goes insane before strangling Chizuru. How frightening does that sound? Losing your humanity for the sake of incredible abilities. That’s mental! Why would you want to do that?!

In episode 7, Saito smiles for the first time ever and the Shinsengumi have a physical exam which was definitely nosebleed worthy. Shirtless… \(//∇//)\ Saito looked yummy whilst Harada and Shinpachi had a muscle flexing contest xD I wonder who won? Of course, Chizuru takes the opportunity to spy talk to the doctor doing the exams because he knows her father. However she overhears a conversation between the doctor and Souji. The doctor then confirms his diagnosis… Souji has tuberculosis.

There’s a hint of sadness in his eyes..

I want to cry because that means he won’t live much longer 。・°°・(＞_＜)・°°・。I love him so much to the point of curling up into a ball of depression. It’s strangely odd how he sounds like Izaya Orihara though. I’m a bit creeped out, did anyone else notice this? Or is it just my imagination? Izaya randomly pops up in my head when I hear Souji so I naturally think “the sadist is back!” except without the furry coat and black hair. It’s not the same voice actor, phew. In any case, Souji is really adorable! He makes me giggle everyone I see him (๑´ლ`๑)

I’ve fallen for Toshi. Enough said. I don’t know what it is about him but I’m drawn to him. Maybe because he does sweet things when you least expect it. It’s quite romantic and makes my heartbeat go all over the place! The same goes with Harada, he’s so gentle and caring when you don’t expect it. I thought that he would be like Toshi because of his serious demeanour but I stand corrected… he’s a not so obvious flirt with a good sense of humour ヽ(*´ー`*)ﾉ I am deeply in love.

Mmm… look at that hotness ❤

Overall Opinion

Hakuouki is an otome game series developed by Idea Factory which spans many platforms – PSP, PS2, Nintendo DS. It is very popular in Japan and is beginning to get translated into English. The first game to hit the U.S was Hakuouki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom.

The plot was absolutely fascinating with the historical background which was influenced by the actual Shinsengumi and the events which occurred at that period however, the story was completely fictional. This sparked an interest within me as I am a huge fan of history so this series was a hit for me the moment I started watching the first episode. There was nothing wrong with the plot but at times it left me confused and… bothered about a few things. The thing that left me thinking was Rasetsu. I’m bothered at the idea of using ordinary humans and transforming them into these unnatural creatures. Now there’s some food for thought.

Where do I begin with animation? Studio DEEN never fails to amaze me. They succeeded with the use of lighting to create mood and atmosphere. From the hazy moonlight to the orange glow in the daytime to a bloody red sunset, the light always seemed to shine from one direction and matched the atmosphere they were trying to create. The characters were animated beautifully and they never made me say “that looks weird”. None of them looked out of place and they fitted together perfectly with the scenery and locations. Plus, they made the main male characters look gorgeous so they’re definitely eye candy for the female audience! That alone satisfied me because y’know, I’m a girl xD

My imagination the moment I saw this scene:

Saito: “I know I’m good looking so will you stop gawking at me?”

Music in slice-of-life scenes had a serene, calming flow that worked very nicely in the background which intensified in plot twists or confrontations, enhancing drama in every occasion. Powerful drum beats are added in action scenes, which not only fit the era well, but also made them all the more exciting. I love excitement!

The theme songs were good choices for this series. The opening song had an extremely catchy tune, elegant lyrics, and great vocals. The ending was pretty good, the somber song worked nicely for this series since many episodes ended with a tragedy. I wasn’t a fan of the opening but it will do since it suited the series’ image.

What I loved about Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan the most was the characters. I grew to love every single one of them – apart from Chizuru… I will never like that girl – but there was barely any development or depth. Throughout the entire series, I often wondered to myself their reasons to fight. It sounds silly but in retrospect, everyone must of thought this at least once after watching this, right? Putting that aside, Studio DEEN know when to make a girl really emotional. Deaths of people close to the main characters tear at your heartstrings such as Yamazaki-kun at the end of episode 12.

SPOILER: Chizuru is a pureblood Oni from the prestigious Yukimura family. The entire family was annihilated and only a small amount of purebloods exist therefore Chikage Kazama – the strongest Oni of the west – is after Chizuru so they can mate and have strong Oni babies. His reasons are unknown. Chizuru also has an older twin brother named Kaoru.

No matter how many times I plan to watch this, I will never like Chizuru. She is literally helpless and can barely fend for herself without relying on the Shinsengumi; that’s what infuriates me the most (ノ`д´)ノ〃┻━┻ at least make their jobs easier by learning how to wield a katana and fight with it! I never imagined that I would get this annoyed at a herione but it was upsetting when she cried over her fallen comrades. That was the only time I felt sympathetic towards her. Other than that, she’s rather dense and doesn’t think of situations rationally like Saito. I really love this dude. Nothing will ever change that.

These Shinsengumi have no sense do they? Sannan-san, Heisuke, Souji and Toshi have all drunk the ‘medicine’ which resulted in them turning into Rasetsu. Why was such a twisted thing created anyway? It’s sickening if you ask me.

Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan was the definition of a bishounen fest with elements of tragedy, history and drama. Although slow at the start, the plot begins to build only to be rushed and mashed together towards the last few episodes which could only mean a second season. There were too many sudden story developments in between events which can get awfully confusing at times! Along the way, girls are instantly pleased with the fanservice the show presents as well as the charming looks of the main male characters. Personally, I loved this series and I can’t wait to watch the second season! I’ve just realised that I’m a huge history boffin; I actually searched up all of the Shinsengumi and the events that occured… I’m a weirdo.

After watching season 1 I’m desperate to buy the game now but before I do that, I’ll have to get my PSP working. The game will have to be imported from America and has to work with my PSP which is going to take a lot of effort and time. Maybe I could persuade my dad to fork out over £45 to buy the game? That’s likely (-_-)

If I remember correctly, my friend has a costume party in January 2013 and the theme is ‘Film and Cartoon characters’. I have the urge to dress up as a Shinsengumi, walk in casually and be like “yo”. But I might be going as Lara Croft from Tomb Raider… we may have to see! I was chatting to my friend about this because I didn’t know who to dress up as and this was what happened: ( T_T)＼(^-^ ) what a great friend she is.

Don’t like my opinion? Well too bad. I ain’t changing my mind for no one. Fact.