Mahjong-holic

Posted by Neko Kyou in CLAMP, Thoughts on June 14th, 2008

After watching xxxHolic episode 6, I found myself wondering this: Why hasn’t there been any anime or manga solely on the topic of Mahjong?

We’ve had anime and manga based on food, bread, Go, chess, Tamiya, tennis, gambling, card games, etc but none on Mahjong. While I’m no expert, I do play the game for fun every once in a while and there’s really a lot of depth to the game. You need to plan a strategy based on your initial hand, predict your opponent’s hands and adapt accordingly.

While it’s possible to get a very good hand right at the start (I once won the round on the very first tile discarded) there really isn’t such a thing as a bad hand. It’s how you play that determines whether you have good or bad tiles.

Yuuko's OMGWTFBBQ Mahjong hand

Something I’ve been trying to get since forever. Pity the last pair isn’t a dragon.

The lighthearted and comedic episode around mahjong proved that mahjong can be a fun and interesting focus in a series. One might think that mahjong is also a form of gambling and that it might be a bad influence, but there’s already Kaiji. Mahjong is also a rather healthy game as it has already been proven that the game keeps your mind sharp.

Hatsune Miku's Guide to Mahjong

Hatsune Miku, the Mahjong Girl.

This was one of the more memorable and interesting episodes in xxxHolic & Kei so far. Watanuki’s royal beating and zashiki-warashi’s open comment about his full green tiles were definitely the best parts of the ep. Even everyone’s favourite vocaloid leek wielding girl makes a cameo appearance on a Mahjong guide book cover.

Watanuki Nyan~

Unlike Kaaya‘s cat impression, Watanuki just looks wrong like this…

So, when are we getting an entire series about Mahjong? Or perhaps xxxHolic should change its focus towards the game instead of the paranormal.

 

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Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations (OAV)

Posted by Neko Kyou in CLAMP, Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle on November 16th, 2007

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Tokyo Revelations

The shocking revelation…

For those still in the dark, Tsubasa Tokyo Revelations is an OAV series for Tsubasa Chronicle, which starts airing in Japan today. From the description, it sounds as though the OAV series will be based on the 16th volume of the manga, Tsubasa RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE.

The story will be focused on the existence of not one, but two Syaoran. If you haven’t read the manga and you’re a fan of Tsubasa Chronicle, you definitely do not want to miss this OAV as it reveals the shocking truth (that’s probably why it’s called Tokyo’s Revelations) behind the other Syaoran as well as revealing more of Fei Wong Reed’s true motive.

According to AnimeNewsNetwork, the OAV will be 3 episodes long but at the same time it will run all the way until March, 2008. Either there will be more than just 3 episodes, or the time between each episode’s release will be far in between, hopefully its the latter. Never a bad thing to have more TRC episodes even if they’re usually not as good as the manga :)

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle

Finally, a continuation for Tsubasa Chronicle (anime)

Update 18th November 2007:

Thanks to Unknown Voice who left a comment below with some additional info:

The OVA episodes are released together with manga volumes. OVA1 came out today(raws already available). OVA2 will come out January,2008 and OVA3 – March,2008

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CLAMP in Wonderland 1&2

Posted by Neko Kyou in CLAMP on November 3rd, 2007

CLAMP in Wonderland 2

It’s finally here! CLAMP in Wonderland 2 has finally arrived! And for the first time ever, both versions of CLAMP in Wonderland had been released in DVD and CD format. A definite must-get for CLAMP stalkers nuts fans like myself 😀 (Screenshots below)

If you’re unfamiliar with the original CLAMP in Wonderland, it was a short music video featuring loads of CLAMP’s characters from their various works. I would have to say that this is strictly for CLAMP fans, although anyone who enjoys CLAMP’s works would probably like it as well.

CLAMP in Wonderland 1

CLAMP School Detectives meets the Magic Knights

The first CLAMP in Wonderland was really fun to watch, having characters from different series interact directly with each other and there’s even minor parodies. Anata Dake no Wonderland fitted the theme of the video really well and adds to the overall fantasy and magical feeling.

CLAMP in Wonderland 2 features a song by Sakamoto Maaya – Action. Compared to the first song, Action is more upbeat and catchy. The new video also takes a different approach to showcasing the now even larger cast in CLAMP’s gallery (especially those within 1995-2006). This time, we’re actually treated to a short story on how the Mokona Modoki duo went on a journey in the world of books with Yuuko’s help.

The two Mokona’s journeyed from one world to another, each world being a different story by CLAMP. Because of this, there really isn’t any direct interaction between characters from the different worlds like there was on the first video. However, I was pleased to see that Cardcaptor Sakura and Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle was linked together somewhat, being 2 of my favourite.

Here are some screenshots from CLAMP in Wonderland 2:

CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2
CLAMP in Wonderland 2

The graphics, character design and animation is a huge improvement and I think it even looks better than the Tsubasa Chronicle/xxxHolic Movie. And of course,there’s plenty of fun!Now I can’t wait for CLAMP in Wonderland 3, which we would probably see between 2015-2020 😀

CLAMP in Wonderland 2

Maybe one day I’ll have a shelf exactly like this… Hopefully…

If you’re interested, you can get the CLAMP in Wonderland 1 & 2 DVD here or CLAMP in Wonderland 1 & 2 OST here.

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CLAMP Chronicle IV – Tsubasa Chronicle & xxxHolic

Posted by Neko Kyou in CLAMP, Reviews on July 30th, 2007

Note: A list of links for the entire CLAMP Chronicle series can be found at the end of this post.

Recap –

  1. Magic Knight Rayearth (Released 1994)
  2. CLAMP School Detectives (Released 1995)
  3. Cardcaptor Sakura (Released 1998)
  4. Angelic Layer (Released 2001)
  5. X (2001)
  6. Chobits (2002)

In this final part of the CLAMP Chronicle series, let’s look into the 2 most current and presumably still on-going since the manga is far from over.

Tsubasa Chronicle (Released 2005)

Tsubasa Chronicle

This is one of my favourite, mostly because it features every character that CLAMP had introduced in their previous works before along with new ones such as Kurogane and Fye. The 2 main characters are of course, Syaoran and Sakura.

The story begins with Syaoran and Sakura from an alternate dimension. Sakura is the Clow Country’s princess while Syaoran is the adopted son of an archaeologist. A mysterious power lured Sakura into the ruins just right outside the Clow Country one night and through some events, Sakura’s memories were turned into feathers that scattered across the dimensions. In order to restore Sakura to her old self, King Touya had High Priest Yukito sent Syaoran, with Sakura’s unconscious body in his arms, to meet with Yuuko, the dimensional witch.

Tsubasa Chronicle

At the same time, Kurogane of an alternate Japan was sent by Princess Tomoyo to meet with Yuuko as well, in hopes that Kurogane will learn the true meaning of strength, at the same time placing a curse on him, making him lose a bit of his power whenever he takes a life. In the country of Celes, Fye had just imprisoned King Ashura and decides to flee his world. He transformed Chii into a device that covered King Ashura’s prison and asked that she alert Fye if King Ashura were to escape. He then uses his magical powers to send himself to meet the dimensional witch.

Tsubasa Chronicle

Yuuko runs a shop in Japan (of the Cardcaptor Sakura world) that grants wishes in exchange of something in equal value. Nothing less, and nothing more. The group of 4 who appeared at the same time in front of Yuuko; Syaoran with Sakura, Kurogane and Fye, all had wishes which requires the same thing – to be able to traverse to different worlds and dimensions.

The dimensional witch presented the group with Mokona, a fluffy white bunny like creature, which would aid them in their quests. But in exchange, each of them must give up something of value for the trade.

With that, the party of 4 began traveling across different worlds and meeting different people, sometimes stumbling across familiar faces. Each world they land in presents a different problem which they need to overcome as they go in search of Sakura’s missing feathers. Kurogane, who was reluctant to help at first, began to soften up and even taught Syaoran how to use a weapon.

Tsubasa Chronicle

There are also many cross-references with xxxHolic, with Yuuko playing a key role in the group’s travel. And what’s even more interesting is how the Clow Reed from Cardcaptor Sakura has a hand in all this, and the fact that another Reed is the mastermind behind all Syaoran and Sakura’s struggle. The mystery here gets pretty deep as the story goes on.

It’s really fun to watch the different CLAMP characters making appearances in the series and I’ve actually went back to find and read many of CLAMP’s other works because of Tsubasa Chronicle. It is like the Kingdom Hearts of CLAMP.

I actually prefer the manga over the anime, but the first episode and some of the fillers in the anime were quite nicely done. The Kero-chan episode was really fun to watch. They even got the original seiyuu for Kero-chan which is a major plus.

Grab Tsubasa Chronicle

xxxHolic (Released 2006)

XXXHolic

xxxHolic, simply means something-holic. The xxx is meant as a variable, and the -holic represents the addiction or attachment. For example, alco-holic and worka-holic. That is the basis of the story for most of the episodes in this series.

The story kicks off with Watanuki Kimihiro, a high school boy who can see spirits. While being chased by the spirits one day, he comes across a strange looking house in between city sky scrappers which he had never noticed before and for some reason, his feet start moving on their own and drags him inside the house.

XXXHolic

Inside he meets with Yuuko, the wish granter, and discovers that the house is really a wish-granting shop. After being manipulated by Yuuko, Watanuki founds himself a new part-time job as the shop’s assistant.

Each episode presents someone who visits the shop in order to have their wish granted, and more often than not, the problem they face has something to do with something-holic, such as the tendency to lie. More often than not, Watanuki tries to aid the victims but would usually end up putting himself in danger and not being able to do anything to save the victim. As Yuuko would put it, there’s no such thing as coincidence, only the inevitable. The law of “hitsuzen“, which was first described by Clow Reed in Cardcaptor, is now often repeated by Yuuko as well.

XXXHolic

The anime version isn’t as dark and heavy as its manga counterpart. Some deaths in the manga did not occur in the anime and the victims often escaped with minor consequences. However, death is still an important part of XXXHolic’s theme and shows up every so often, sometimes obvious and other times subtle.

While Tsubasa Chronicle had plenty of cross-reference back to xxxHolic, the link isn’t as obvious from this side. However, there are many subtle hints such as the various times when we see items that Syaoran and co. collected appeared at the most unexpected places at the corners of Yuuko’s shop. The only real direct reference from xxxHolic to Tsubasa Chronicle is during the movie, where Yuuko is shown to exchange the key with Tomoyo’s bell at the end of xxxHolic the Movie – A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Grab xxxHolic

Linking them all…

Tsubasa Chronicle & xxxHolic

The mangas directly linked both Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHolic together. Every other CLAMP story also became instantly linked with one another through xxxHolic. We also know that the xxxHolic world is the same as the Cardcaptor world, where Clow Reed was originally introduced. And it seems that it all began when Clow Reed and Yuuko met with the Creator Mokona from the Magic Knight series. Based on that, both Clow and Yuuko created the 2 Mokona Modoki, specifically for Syaoran, Sakura, Kurogane and Fye. The link between Clow Reed, Yuuko and Fei Wong Reed is still a mystery, as well as the true identity the Syaoran we know in Tsubasa Chronicle.

Both Tsubasa Chronicle and xxxHolic are still on-going series in its manga version, and hopefully more new seasons will released for the anime. There hasn’t been any news about a new season for either one yet, but it shouldn’t be too long now :)

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CLAMP Chronicle III – X & Chobits

Posted by Neko Kyou in CLAMP, Reviews on July 28th, 2007

Note: A list of links for the entire CLAMP Chronicle series can be found at the end of this post.

Recap –

  1. Magic Knight Rayearth (Released 1994)
  2. CLAMP School Detectives (Released 1995)
  3. Cardcaptor Sakura (Released 1998)
  4. Angelic Layer (Released 2001)

X (Released 2001)

X (CLAMP) Probably CLAMP’s most violent work to date, there are plenty of gore and deaths in the series. The original manga series was put on hold due to the nature of the ending and the natural disasters that had hit Japan at the time.

This happens to be one of CLAMP’s work which I did not read or watch, partly due to the incompleteness of the original story. However, I’ve heard that the story is really great despite the level of blood and violence shown, especially in the manga version.

The story is about a boy, Shiro Kamui, who must choose whether he would join one of the two factions; Dragons of Heaven, to protect humanity or Dragons of Earth, to destroy humanity so that the Earth could be reborn. Kamui chose to join the Dragons of Heaven in order to protect his 2 best friends, but fate had decided that one of them would join the opposing force to go against himself.

While the manga was put on hiatus and had not ended, the anime ended with its own conclusion of the series and only time will tell the accuracy of this ending compared to the manga version.

Grab X/1999

Chobits (Released 2002)

Chobits

One of CLAMP’s funniest so far (it made top 10 in my list of funniest anime), Chobits became a quick hit, especially among the guys. Having such a cute and adorable Persocom like Chii is somewhat a dream come true. And there’s loads of panty jokes too.

Chobits share the same world as Angelic Layer. Set a few years after the end of Angelic Layer, Mihara Ichiro used the technology he had used to create Angels to come up with something much larger, Persocoms. Minoru’s older sister appears to be Kaede from Angelic Layer as well, the user of Blanche.

Chobits
Hideki’s perverted yet innocent ways along with Chii’s naivety makes an excellent duo in this series. The fact that Hideki was a farm boy made it even more hilarious as he is clueless about city life and high-tech gadgets such as Persocoms, often making an idiot of himself in public.

While wishing to own a Persocom, he stumbled upon one which was left near a lamp post along with other thrown out rubbish. Elated with his good luck, he managed to bring the thrown out Persocom home after much effort and spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to activate it.

When he finally managed to do so, he realized that the only thing the Persocom could say was “Chii”, and he decided to call her just that. Since Chii’s memory were lost (or rather, dropped…) Hideki had to teach Chii from the very beginning, including speech. This makes up a major part of the story in the first half of Chobits. The 2nd half of the story revolves around Chii’s mysterious past, who strangely resembles the legendary Chobits 01.

Chobits

Hideki began to pick up clues scattered around regarding Chii’s true identity and finally managed to discover the hidden truth behind the Chobits legend.

Overall a great anime to watch. Interesting and funny plot, it’s quite engaging and anyone who likes anime would probably end up liking Chobits as well.

Grab Chobits

Coming Next…

The final part of CLAMP Chronicle, featuring 2 of CLAMP’s current works which are still on-going, one of which inspired the title of this article series…

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