Quick fic rec

For a Fullmetal Alchemist fanfic. I don't really read a lot of FMA fics, but I really love what this one does:

gen-o-cide by a_white_rain
Ten stories about the Ishval genocide.

Anime review

Rental Magica



In contemporary Japan, Itsuki is a teenage boy who at the disappearance of his father inherit the position of president to the Rent-a-Mage association Astral; Itsuki isn't even a Mage though he does have one magical sight power, Glam Sight, in his usuly covered left eye, and is remarkably inexperienced in magical matters and unsuited for such a job. The members of Astral, Honami a Celtic witch and childhood friend of Itsuki, Mikan a very young Shinto priestess, Nekoyashiki a cat-themed Onmyouji and Kuroha the resident ghost, along with Itsuki will have to solve cases and deal with various creatures and rival mages, plus the meddling of Adelicia, a cabbalistic witch of the powerful magical association Goetia, while trying to keep Astral from being dissolved. (In case you wonder, yes, the esoteric Buddhist monk does show up later so we have the typical Japanese magical tradition all present as usual in those shows :p)

Adapted from a series of light novels, Rental Magica isn't a show with any glaring, offensive flaw which I can point out and say : this is what makes it bad; it's just mostly dull through out.

The things I wouldn't watch for a good magical system - and Rental Magica does have some excellent conceptions of magic, with references to real world mythologies and esotericism; which are used in a consistent and logical way. It's got very much the ambiance of a modern day Ars Magica, or perhaps WitchCraft.

The rest ranges from mediocre to average. The plots are mostly episodic (there's a couple of stories which stretch through two or three episodes), and are okay if not particularly intriguing, with a few here and there that are more successful. The animation is neither particularly bad nor particularly good. And the characters totally failed to interest me though I wouldn't either say they're horrible either.

Itsuki is on of those overly kind and self-sacrificing male lead, though he knows nothing and totally lacks competence, until he removes his eye-patch and his voice drops three octaves as a way to tell us "now I'm going to channel Lelouch" (same voice actor, natch) and solves whatever was the situation at this point - though you can see that part progresses and becomes less of a one solution matches all as Itsuki is developped. While the rest of the cast is somewhat structured as a harem series, it never really goes beyond the pale with those dynamics, without offensive fanservice, and only two of the girls really after Itsuki, Honami (bossy Tsundere) and Adelicia (prissy Tsundere) in a way that is almost as much about the rivalry that's between both girls (and very femslashy). Nekoyashiki was probably my favourite character on account of being the Eyes Always Shut playful mysterious male character... but really none of them grabbed me.

So this remains a watchable show though it was sometimes just barely entertaining, but i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a special interest in fancy magical systems.

meem

I was tagged by bronze_ribbon

1. What songs are you currently addicted to?

12 Kingdoms OP, Pandora Heart Melody, Back on my feet, Kiseki no Umi... as often, I'm kind of in an anime soundtrack period ;) oh, and Eppure Sentire.

2. What are you currently reading?
I, errr, started the Persian Boy a few months ago... when was it, February, March? I haven't read much since. Unless you count manga and a few fics.

3. What was the last movie you saw?

The Empress and the Warriors. It was okay, but not great

4. What makes you angriest/most frustrated right now?

Right now? Dunno. I'm pretty chill. Most recently, myself.

5. Favourite book and why?

I hate when meme asked this question. How could I name only one favourite book x_x Especially right now, with how little reading I've done in the last months.

6. What are your current addictions?

the internets, anime series, the internets.

7. What is your favourite t-shirt?

Errr. I have this red-pink one on I rather like.

8. Something about you that most people don't know? Extra points if it is interesting.

I wrote for a supplement for a roleplaying games back when I was around 20. I'm pretty sure I only got that job because a guy who was already working on a supplement wanted to get into my pants and convinced his friend of hiring me. It was fun writing it though.

9. What was the last thing you bought?

I bought a bunch of manga today : Vol1 of Shiki, Vol 1&2 of The Day of the Revolution, vol1-3 of Tsuru

10. Do you have more friends online or off?

Online! Most of my offline friends are also online friends of course.

11. Something that made you laugh today?

it was something like... "the younger Summer gets no love" on that WIW Buffy thread at rpg.net

12. Favourite non-alcoholic beverage?

tea

13. What was the last thing you ate?

A biscuit.

14. What are your current favourite pairings?

Right now it's Oz/Alice/Gilbert, in so far as a threesome counts as a pairing :p

15. Favourite website(s)?

Livejournal, RPG.net, Shadowforum

16. What are your plans for tomorrow?

Get myself a phone and a shower curtain-thingy, get to meet friends in a bar and get drunk.

17. What kind of music is contained in your hard drive?
errr, most of them?

18. Favourite colour?
Green and red.

19. Pet peeve?
I've got a bunch but I never remember them until they irk me.

20. Guilty pleasure(s)?
Stupid BL manga.