What I love about this figure: her hat is removable and the silver strap SPARKLES! All in all, she’s just really cute  and a great reference for whenever I get around to making Ryuuguu Komachi outfits with my cosplay trio.

Overall Rating: 9/10 because they could’ve done alot more than a clear plastic base.

Also, I snagged a few goods when I was in Sapporo 10 days ago for the Snow Festival! Nope, I didn’t bother standing in line for a Snow Miku Nendoroid since I don’t really collect her. I did, however, stumble across an Animate store and Melon Books, even though I wasn’t even looking for them. The Animate was significantly less congested than the ones in Kyoto and Osaka I’ve been to, but of course it didn’t compare in size to the one in Ikebukuro. Still, I came across some lovely things I couldn’t pass up!

Clear files and a #3 plush.

Lately I’ve been watching anime less and reading more, but I’m still watching a lot more than I did last year. I’ll probably do another anime post next. Currently I’m enjoying Zero no Tsukaima F for what it is, and for the most part, it’s much better than Princess no Rondo at the very least. Mouretsu Pirates is also one of the better series for this season, but I have to admit I’ve fallen behind~

Favorite Character from Start to Finish:

Iori Minase

What can I say? I adore Kugimiya Rie, tsundere, and any combination of the two. I actually got into The IdolM@ster (before this series aired) because of Iorin. Needless to say, her character didn’t disappoint. She’s a delightful ojou-sama with a cute sense of style, and not as extreme in the tsun department as other Kugyu counterparts. The first few episodes Iori got lots of screen time, but I feel that as the show focused more on Miki / Chihaya / Haruka, she faded into the background. Because of her, I fully stand behind Ryuuguu Komachi as a unit!!! I hope to cosplay Iori with my friends at some point, and most of her outfits look quite fun to make.

Favorite Character as the Series Went On:
Haruka Amami

I honestly didn’t take much notice of Haruka until the later episodes. She’s just kind of always there, cheering everyone on and keeping the peace. I think her character really does hold the group together, and I enjoyed her story arc the most. It was quite heartbreaking to see her fall apart, especially in blaming herself for what happened to Producer-san. The part where she reunited with her childhood self was extra cute, and I kind of started to lose it with the tears at that point. ^_^; I think all of the girls experienced a lot of personal growth throughout the series, but Haruka’s determination and dedication stood out the most to me! I would also consider cosplaying Haruka, if the need ever arised for a group.

Character I didn’t initially like, but grew on me:
Chihaya Tsurugi

I didn’t initially enjoy Chihaya early on, and felt like they were overdoing it with the ~OMG she’s so *mysterious* and *serious* about her work!~, but when her story arc finally came, all of her backstory pieced together. After seeing all that, I don’t see how you can be human and not cheer for Chihaya’s happiness! Ironically, even when I wasn’t a fan of her, I still thought she had the best singing voice. It’s so strong and full, especially in Aoi Tori.

Character I initially liked, but annoyed me later:
Miki

She’s bubbly, cute, and blonde… normally I tend to gravitate to characters like her! Hands down, she has some of the cutest designs in the entire show. I just couldn’t help but feel annoyed at her selfishness for most of the episodes. She does have redeeming qualities though, and really pulled through for the group during their first big live, when they needed her the most.

As for everyone else, I enjoyed pretty much every character on the show, these are just the ones that stood out the most. I thought it would be overwhelming keeping up with so many, but it really wasn’t. Of course, IdolM@ster is also extremely enjoyable for the music as well. I really need to listen to more of it, considering how fun and uplifting it can be! Currently I also envy all of my friends with PS3 and PSP consoles that can play the games! I’d like to snag a game or two before leaving Japan, and play them when I get back to the States since I plan to get one of those eventually.

And while we’re on the subject of IM@S, I’m so stoked that WAVE is making a Ryuuguu Komachi Azusa figure to go along with Iori! Of course I pre-ordered, though she won’t release until the end of September. Now all that’s left to wait for is Ami!

I can confidently say that this is one of the nicest figures I own. The amount of detail put into this work is incredible. The ruffles on the petticoat are flawless, and I love how Kyuubey hangs off Madoka’s arm. A lot of people have been complaining that her hair color looks “faded,” but I really don’t think it does. The pose isn’t the most dynamic I’ve seen in a figure, but I do like how it’s based on official artwork. All in all I’m very satisfied with this purchase – you really do get what you pay for when it comes to Good Smile Company’s figures.

I’m a little too busy to give a full breakdown of this, but I will say GSC Madoka is a solid 9/10 rating in my opinion! If you were on the fence about ordering this figure (like I was at one time), I definitely recommend it!

A few months ago I stated that I wouldn’t be ordering the set, but… now I’m eating my words. I was really excited when Madoka came in, and instantly wished I had the other girls once she was all set up on my shelf. Then I noticed Homura and Mami were still up for pre-orders on amazon.co.jp, so I just went for ‘em! Might as well while I’m getting paid in yen. Hopefully Sayaka will be up for orders soon as well. I’m a little bummed that Kyoko won’t be part of the group (unless GSC decides to make her anyway!) since she’s my favorite Puella Magi in terms of character design, but at least I still have the Petit Nendoroid set coming in next month.

EDIT: Looks like there will be a Kyoko figure after all!!! I’m so excited! ◕ ◡ ◕

Only large cities seem to have movie theaters here, and fortunately I happened to be in Kyoto City for a business trip that week. Even though I had a terrible cold at the time, I will always look back on this experience with fond memories. ♡♡♡ I even managed without English subtitles, thanks to the small amount of 日本語 I’ve picked up over the past few months.

Plot: The movie happens in the winter, before Yui, Mio, Ricchan, and Mugi graduate high school. It goes along with the final episode (#24) of the series, in that Yui is trying to write a song for Azusa. The girls decide that they want to go abroad for winter vacation, and London ends up being their destination based on what their club pet, Ton-chan, “chooses.”

In a previously released bonus episode, the girls had already obtained passports. They call their parents for permission, who all willingly agree. (Man, as a high schooler, I wish I could have gone abroad with my best friends and no adult supervision! Ahhh, anime.) And of course, it wouldn’t be K-ON! without their beloved instruments along for the ride.

The girls speak adorable broken English at customs & immigration, have an adventure finding their correct hotel, and even stumble upon an opportunity to perform at a restaurant. The rest of their trip involves sight-seeing, more live performances, and general fluffy K-ON! goodness.

At the end of the film, the girls are back at school and they perform their song for Azu-nyan, just like in the final episode.

Animation: I found it consistent with that of the series, only taken up a notch for notable scenes. Nothing over-the-top, but it was lovely all the same.

Music: The movie features the following Ho-kago Tea Time songs: “Unmei wa Endless!,” “Ichiban Ippai” and a few older ones from the series. The ending theme is “Singing!” While the title doesn’t sound impressive, it’s just as powerful as all the other ED themes and features a music video as well. And yes, the outfits are cute.

My Thoughts: As an extreme K-ON! fan, I was very happy with how this film turned out, and I think other fans will enjoy it just as much. I saw it with my friend who hasn’t seen the series and he thought it was fun. There were several points in the film where my heartstrings were pulled. I think what I love most about K-ON! is the strong bond between a group of girls. I can relate to this not only to my lovely cosplay partners, but also my group of besties from high school.

Overall Rating: 10/10 for sure, because it’s K-ON!

I was also very impressed with the marketing and merchandise of the movie. Really, K-ON! was popular enough on its on before it, but the Lawson campaign a month ago was heavily pushing the merchandise at the combini. I’m happy to say I was able to obtain all 6 folders (see previous post) and all the drink cups.

There is even a K-ON! train in my sleepy little town! I think this is notable to mention because I live 3 hours from the Kyoto/Osaka/Kobe metro area and the trains here aren’t even part of a JR Line. It’s kind of a big deal.

Last, but not least, TOHO Cinemas had some lovely swag in their store and the arcade below the theaters. I have a nice friend to thank for these gifts.

Hopefully the DVD/Blu-Ray will release soon enough so everyone else can share in the joy! Thanks for reading~

01. Usatsuka Eiji – My favorite artist ♥♥♥. I adore his works for Zero no Tsukaima, and other creations as well. Usatsuka-san’s style has inspired most of my Louise costumes! I currently own 2 of his books and can’t wait to find more.

02. Rapunzel (Disney’s Tangled) – Favorite movie, favorite princess, dream costume. Whenever I’m feeling sad, this movie picks me right back up!

03. Janie Bryant & Mad Men – Mad Men is by far the classiest show on TV right now. I’m starting to get hyped up for season 5, and even the short hiatus hasn’t made me lose interest in the least bit. There’s so much inspiration to be had in the fashions of the 1960′s. Janie Bryant also plays a huge part, since she is the lady that makes it happen with each episode. She also published a book “The Fashion Files” last year, which is full of classic styles for every day looks.

04. January Jones – I know a lot of people dislike January, but I can’t fathom why. I think it takes a lot of guts and talent to play a character like Betty Draper. Betty is my favorite character on Mad Men, even though she’s incredibly complex and often painted as the villain. January Jones is so flawless, and I look to her as a fitness inspiration.

05. LIGHTS – One of my newer musical discoveries. I started listening to her stuff last summer and the lyrics really spoke to me! Her new album “Siberia” is also amazing, but my favorite is still “The Listening.” A lot of her songs sum of my feelings for the recent changes in my life.

06. Taylor Swift – I just love this girl. I listen to her music for hours on end when sewing or working out. She’s so beautiful and has accomplished many things at such a young age.

07. Tanemura Arina – My favorite shoujo mangaka. Not only are her series touching, but the artwork is just gorgeous. Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne is pretty old now, but it’s still one of my top 5 favorites of all time! Kusakabe Maron is my favorite Tanemura heroine, and I hope to make more costumes of her besides Jeanne. Someday, someday…

08. Nezumi & Japan365 – Nezumi is my precious pink-nose princess. Yes, I know that her name means “mouse.” I love this little girl so much, and she always inspires me to try my best. My good friend J. drew this picture of her for me, and it happens to be part of his project, Japan365. In 2011, he made pen-sketch drawings every single day, with the focus on Japan. After the Tohoku Earthquake, J’s project became even bigger in that the profits for his book would be given to earthquake victims. He’s such an amazing person and artist <3 You can read more about it here!

09. Sweet Lolita – I’ve only gotten my feet wet with a few purchases from Angelic Pretty, but the aesthetics of this style are so girly & cute. It sums up my love for pink, ribbons, and pearls.

10. Noizi Ito – I just love the way she draws cute girls! Another one of my favorite artists. I still really want to cosplay Flyable Heart with my best friends~

11. Sakura & Spring – Spring is my season. When April comes around, I always wake up from my winter sleep and get inspired to make new costumes and dramatic changes to my life. My birthday and wedding anniversary also fall during this month, so it’s like one big party. I think sakura are a great visual for spring, and I look forward to hanami in a few months.

12. Tokidoki – This sums up my need for everything in my life to be cute. Rilakkuma and Hello Kitty also fall into this category. I love collecting little things like this, as they provide cute inspiration for my sewing room and general daily life!

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So everyone, what inspires you? Make your own Influence Map to share!

First off, 2011 wasn’t super amazing in terms of cosplay for me. Resetting my life and moving to Japan was a major aspect of this year, and it takes a lot to settle into a new country, let alone cosplay in it. I made a handful of new costumes earlier in the year, but none of them were super impressive / up to my standards, really. There’s many things I would like to fix up and revamp completely — Naru, Saki, and Fluttershy especially. I did have some amazing photoshoots with my favorite photographers though, so it wasn’t a total loss! I traveled to California for FanimeCon and had a great time with friends! And I made 2 costumes that have been in the planning stages forever, which I’m really proud of at that!

(( I’m sure everyone’s tired of seeing these photos, haha. ))

Other things I would like to address:

• K-ON! The Movie Review
• Final thoughts on Mawaru Penguindrum
• Final thoughts on IdolM@ster
• New Figures
• My trip to Osaka (Nipponbashi specifically)

But since it’s the last day of the year, those will have to wait. ^_^ I watched several new series this year, although maybe not as many as I wanted or as much as others can manage. Still, I wanted to reflect on some of the better (and worse) series that I watched for the year of 2011.

♥♥♥ Meru’s Anime Awards 2011 ♥♥♥

Best Series: Mawaru Penguindrum

I think I’ve made it obvious how much I adored this series from start to finish. I won’t get into it  here since I want to make a separate post, but Penguindrum was definitely my #1 choice anime for 2011!

Best Series Runner-up: Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Honestly, considering how much I adored Madoka, I feel bad giving it the runner-up slot! I loved it so much I watched it twice within one week. It’s definitely an emotional series and like everyone else says, it breaks down the barriers of the frilly mahou shoujo genre and gives it a darker element. I think it falls short to Penguindrum in terms of character development though, so it’s at #2 — still equally amazing!

Best Slice of Life: K-ON! Season 2

K-ON! seems to be hit or miss for anime fans — you either LOVE it or HATE it. I personally adore this moeblob slice of life show, as it brings back fond memories of high school and spending time with good friends. The second season had twice as many episodes of the first, and Mugi finally got some spotlight so I was really happy about that!

Best Moe: The IdolM@ster

Cute girls in cute outfits singing cute music! I was extremely excited that IdolM@ster was made into a newer, better anime adaption (as opposed to Xenoglossia). Although I’m interested in playing the games, I don’t have the consoles so this was the next best thing. I’ve been through some difficult times this year, and this lighthearted series brought up my spirits more than once. It also surprised me with a bit of drama and decent character development, although I wanted more Iori screentime :3

Best Movie Sequel: K-ON!

…have I mentioned I adore K-ON? I feel extremely lucky that I got to see this in theaters within the first week of it’s debut! It’s more adorable adventures with Ho-kago Tea Time and I don’t think fans will be disappointed.

Best Original Movie: Summer Wars

Honestly, I can’t think of a better movie I could have watched when moving to Japan in the summer. This film was brilliant in terms of art and story. The themes on social networking and family were also pretty interesting.

Best Suspense/Romance: Higashi no Eden Movies

The double-feature conclusion to Eden of the East was nice. I think it still left many questions unanswered, but it having a “happily ever after” also wouldn’t quite fit with the tone of the series. Be sure to watch these movies if you haven’t already!

Best Remake: Evangelion 1.0 & 2.0

The husband and I watched 1.0 You Are Not Alone and 2.0 You Can Not Advance this fall. There’s still 2 more films to come, but so far it’s a nice remake of the original series. The creators now have the budget and animation capabilities they wanted all along, and it really shows. From a cosplayer’s standpoint, I appreciate the new character designs, such as Asuka’s test plugsuit. If possible, I’d love to see the third film in theaters next year!

There were a few things I watched that didn’t live up to my expectations for various reasons, such as Oreimo and Angel Beats. And then there’s series that I put on hold (Mayoi Neko Overrun, Working!, Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai) for more interesting things, but I still want to give them a chance. At the very least, I have much more free time to watch anime so I’ll probably watch even more in 2012.

In other news, the CURE Maid Cafe in Akiba will be having a special event soon! It only lasts for a week though, so I won’t be able to attend. I was really hoping Zero no Tsukaima would be the next event at Good Smile Cafe (which lasts for months), but that’s super crazy wishful thinking, I know. I’m especially interested in how the Louise drink and “Cookberry Pie” taste! I think I’ll try duplicating them at home for fun.

There’s also going to be an official event held in Akiba on Sunday, 12/18. It includes a stamp rally (whatever that means), speech by Yamaguchi-san, and live performance by ICHIKO. I’m really anxious to hear the new opening and ending themes. Why don’t I live closer to Tokyo again…? :3

And I basically got sucked into the show VERY quickly, catching up on all the episodes within the span of a few days, etc. Episode 9 was very heartfelt to me, and cemented the idea to cosplay Triple-H with Yashuntafun and Tham (if they’re willing). Also, I adore Princess of the Crystal want to make that too, since I’ll already have the wig and boots.

Honestly, it’s kind of a silly design, but I love the flowy-ness of the skirt and feel I could get creative with the red lining fabric. I would really like to start working on this soon by purchasing the wig and materials to make the hat, at least!  I don’t think my workplace would be opposed to me borrowing a sewing machine after hours.

The latest issue of COSMODE also has patterns and instructions for making the penguin hat and plushes for #1, #2, and #3, which pretty much seals the deal. I honestly haven’t been impressed with the fabric selection here so far, but at the very least, I’m sure I can find some decent fleece to get a head start!

Anyway, I really recommend this series. It’s already quite popular, and will probably become even more so as it gets licensed in the U.S.

Even so, the combini gods have blessed me with a Lawson right next to my apartment. I like how the convenient stores in Japan are actually convenient. You can get whatever you need in a pinch, from hot coffee and snacks to panty hose and fried chicken. But my favorite part about Lawson is their role in marketing! I’m a sucker for promotional goods.

A few months ago they were really pushing Evangelion 3.0 goods, which was nice. I had fun collecting plastic coffee cups featuring Asuka, Rei, Mari, Shinji, and Kaworu. It’s been pretty bleak the last few weeks (with the exception of some cute Rilakkuma merchandise), but now things are back into full swing with the upcoming K-On! movie in a few weeks.

If you buy certain products, you get a free collectible folder! Here’s what I’ve accomplished after only 2 days. I’m hoping to obtain all of the folders, hehe~ I was also more than happy to purchase some Mugi chapstick and strawberry milk!

Aside from character drinks and snacks, there’s also K-On! pan!! I’m really anxious to try this soon, just for the novelty. To be honest, I don’t like to eat combini food often because of the calories, but sometimes I just can’t resist the cute!

And yes, I’m really looking forward to the K-On! movie ◕ ◡ ◕ I will be in the city right after it releases & hoping to see it then with a friend!

It’s not all as bad as it seems. I have decided to take advantage of my current location by continuing to collect figures — hey, a girl’s gotta have SOMETHING in life, right? I save a little bit of money just for myself each month, so I’m really looking forward to several releases in the upcoming weeks! The benefits of ordering them here are…

• No dealing with the horrible exchange rates! I can’t rejoice enough.
• I can pay COD = no credit card bill, thus better budgeting. Yay, Japan!
• Free shipping if I play my cards right. Don’t mind if I do!

As with everyone else in this hobby, I really have to prioritize, pick, and choose. I was originally planning to collect all the Madoka Magica Figmas like I did with K-On!, but now I’m not really impressed with them. Madoka was a little disappointing when she arrived in the mail, so I cancelled all other Figma pre-orders. It’s for the best, I think. She’s still pretty cute, but not what I’m looking for in a series of figures.

This kind of opened up the opportunity to collect other Madoka figures, without feeling burdened by the costs of the other Figmas. At some point, I’d like to track down the Madoka Nendoroid to keep the Figma company And to go along with this that I just caved in and pre-ordered with no regrets…

I’ve been agonizing about ordering her for a little while now, and glad I finally did. When it comes to quality, you really can’t get any better than Good Smile. ( Hey guys! Please make Louise~! ) I only wish I had the money to collect the rest of the girls from the series, but hey… I’m more of a character-specific collector anyway. I really do adore Mami (for personality & fighting style) and Kyoko (for cosplay) as well, but Madoka herself is so iconic for my love of the series!

To top it off, I also discovered that pre-orders were still up for the Petit Nendoroid set, so I snagged those as well. I think this will satisfy my need to have some sort of collection with all the girls, and will make for some adorable photo-ops!

Winter is already starting to look a little brighter thanks to these! <3 I have more I want to post about ( IdolM@ster and Mawaru Penguindrum especially ) but I’ll save that until next time.