.:: FuTaKoi // TWiN LoVe...? VS SiSTeR PRiNCeSS::.

Mood: Happy after finishing yet another beautifully done anime.

Okay, I simply translated the title from instinct,

and it appears that I was right. Cool.

Anyway, judging by the graphics, the characters and the non-bombastic storyline, I'm guessing the creator must be the same as Sister Princess or close to it...

Apparently, after searching Wikipedia,

It was created by Sasaki Muzumi...

Looks like I was wrong this time.

Sister Princess was created by Sakurako Kimino

And as I have nothing but time on my hands...

I'm going to do a not-very-detailed comparison between these two as I couldn't help it while watching the show.

SOME VERY NOTICEABLE SIMILARITIES

Futakoi has a total of 13 episodes while Sister Princess has 26. (13 X 2)

Both series have a sequel, Futakoi Alternative and Sister Princess RePure.

In Futakoi, Nozomu encounters 6 pairs of twins, in other words, 12 girls while in Sister Princess, Wataru has 12 sisters. (not counting in the pretend one)

In both series, the main character's mother is gone and the dad is someplace else.

Both series takes place at their hometowns, although different places, and they both return from Tokyo.

In both series, Wataru and Nozomu each has a "best friend" that envies them A LOT for being sorrounded by girls.

THE DIFFERENCE?

Wataru is rich and Nozomu is so-so.

Wataru is good in studies and helps out his sisters. Nozomu needs help from his twin friends.

Wataru's not THAT interested in girls. Nozomu clearly IS.

And the OP songs?

Sister Princess' OP is LOVE DESTINY has a catchy tune, sounds a little sad and yet, is a beautiful song, symbolically representing the sister's love for their ONLY brother.

On the other hand, Futakoi's OP is HABATAKU MIRAI. If I were to translate that, it would mean soaring future... or something like that. This one is a truly encouraging song.

SUMMARY

FUTAKOI - Nozomu Futami returns to the town where he was born and raised as a child. He moves in near a shrine which houses a legendary stone that was rumoured to have been the place where twin girls turned into birds. The stone is rumoured to be the cause of an abundance of twin girls who are born in the town. The twins who turned into birds did so because of their love for a man whom couldn't choose between them. Shortly after Nozomu enters town he begins to run into the same problems as five pairs of twins fight for his love.

SISTER PRINCESS - Wataru is forced to transfer to a school at an island that he roughly remembers being in when he was young. There, staying in a mansion, he finds out he has 12 loving, adorable sisters with all-different personalities.

Futakoi

(From top left) Ichijou sisters (Kaoruko & Sumireiko), Sakurazuki sisters (Kira & Yura), Hinagiku sisters (Lala & Lulu), Futami Nozomu, Chigusa sisters (Ui & Koi), Shirogane sisters (Sojyu & Sara) and the Momoi sisters (Mai & Ai)

Sister Princess

(From top left) Kaho (花穂), Shirayuki (白雪), Chikage (千影), Marie (鞠絵), Haruka (春歌), Yotsuba (四葉), Rinrin (鈴凛), Hinako (雛子), Mamoru (衛), Aria (亞里亞) and Sakuya (咲耶)

And...the main character, Minakami Wataru (海神 航)

And since I'm mentioning names... Well, Kaho is a gardener, Shirayuki's a cook, Chikage's great at Tarot and the supernatural, Marie's weak at health but great in books, Haruka's your perfect traditional Japanese, Yotsuba's a detective, Rinrin's the ultimate mechanic and technology whiz, Hinako's a small child..?, Mamoru's an athlete, Aria's a well-mannered, timid and shy English-styled lady and Sakuya's great at fashion. That's like having 12 careers in one family.

And if I were to compare the two animes in terms on rating,

Sister Princess is better. However, I don't know about the sequels, I hear that Sister Princess Repure isn't as nice... After watching, I'll put it on another VS post.

And now... on to watch Yakitate Ja-Pan!

And after that Nagasarete Airatou...

.:: Koi Wa NaNi? ai Ga eieN...? // MY ReFLeCTioN ::.

Koi wa nani? Ai ga eien?

When I first started to key in my thoughts for this post, these few words suddenly popped in my mind, thus making it the tittle for today's post.

I know its my 2nd post for today, but the 1st one was for Romeo X Juliet, so it doesn't count.

Back to the few words.

It means, "What is love? Is it eternal?"

These were spoken by Syouta, Kagome's brother in the anime series, InuYasha.

Yes, everything I think of has an origin, which is mostly anime.

Please do not jump to conclusions that I am falling in love.

Perhaps I am just moved by Romeo X Juliet.

Okay. So today, I'm clearing my thoughts.

It might sound like a lot of meaningless crap, so either skip it, or deal with it.

I quote the song LOVE CHRONICLE from FULL MOON WO SAGASHITE.

Aisaretai kara Aishitai wake jyanai...

Just because I want to be loved, doesn't mean I want to fall in love...

How true.

But when we fall in love, we don't always realize it, do we?

And sometimes when we think we do, we find out we're wrong.

Up till now, my friends have been saying I really like this guy...

And now I can be assured that they were wrong.

Because what I really liked wasn't him.

It was the memories.

I loved being together with everyone.

It feels like finding a family, one different than the one I already have and cherish.

Perhaps it was because it was awhile since I last felt like that.

Ever since primary school, leaving my first school, it was hard to find a place to belong.

I felt like I was alone, most of the time.

But come to think of it, I was NEVER alone.

And I am thankful for that.

The world is a funny place isn't it?

We are all like onigiri-s.

We can see the good qualities of someone else's but its hard to see our own.

Just like an onigiri, whose umeboshi is always on its back.

Maybe that's why...

But this isn't my theory as well, it's Honda Tohru's. (Fruits Basket)

Have you ever had the feeling of sadness that comes all-too-suddenly?

Like, you're having a happy moment and suddenly, time pauses for a second, only just a second and then, you feel this excruciating sadness in your chest, a pang of guilt, knowing that the happiness you're having is not going to last long?

Because that's what I'm feeling right now. And if I don't express myself, I'll probably still feel that way. And I don't want to.

Ahh... I feel much better now.

Now I can tell myself,

"So what if happiness is only temporary?"

I'll learn to make the most of it while it lasts.

And no matter what, i won't regret.

No matter how sad I might ever feel... I won't cry anymore.

Because, yappari... A smile suits me best, doesn't it?

And besides, if I were to surrender to regret, I have tons of things to regret on. But since I've looked on the bright side of them, there's not that many for me to regret upon now.

Mirai... The Future.

Such an amazing word. Such a nice thing to look forward to.

I've always been afraid to grow up, because I know as time passes, some people we love might just dissapear.

But now, I know.

They won't dissapear.

They'll live for eternity, embedded in the many fragments of my memories.

Datte, sore ga koi nan deshou?

.:: iNoRi // PRaYeR ::.

Mood: A bit sad after watching the last episode of Romeo X Juliet.

Today's post is going to be all about Romeo X Juliet.

And, NO, I am NOT talking about a William Shakespeare original play...
Not exactly anyway...

I'm talking about the anime Romeo X Juliet.

screenshot from opening...

Romeo Candorebanto Montague & Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet

Still Romeo X Juliet...

Tybalt

Francisco (Blonde), Red Whirlwind (middle), Romeo (upper right) and Curio (Lower right)

And from all the comments posted, I agree that this one is SO MUCH BETTER than Shakespeare's original work... (No offence to Shakespeare's fans) It ended much more nicely.

The opening song is Inori / Prayer, explaining the tittle of today's post. Some of you might know it as YOU RAISE ME UP, except this is the Japanese version.

Although the ending was expected, (Romeo & Juliet doesn't 'LIVE' happily ever after) I never expected it to make me cry so much. It's been quite awhile since I last cried watching an anime this good.

I give it a 5/5 rating... so YOU should watch it too ^^

Here's a brief summary just to capture your attention:

This series takes place in Neo Verona, a continent floating in mid air. It is attacked and you see Juliet's parents get murdered by the not-so-sane Montague, who takes over the throne. A Pegasus knight, Sir Conrad, manages to rescue Juliet and her best friend, Cordelia and flees from the Keep.

Now, 13 years later, (if I'm not mistaken) they're still searching for the lost Capulet girl, Juliet Fiammata Asto Capulet (I LOVE her name, it sounds so grand) They've captured a girl with red hair and are about to capture her for execution but a mysterious character in red robes comes to the rescue. His name is Red Whirlwind (Akai Kaze).

He gets the guards attention and they start chasing after him. As he is making his escape, he drags a girl, Cordelia, with him and soon reaches a dead end. Romeo, who is having tea at the Keep nearby with his best friend, Benvolio rescues Red Whirlwind and Cordelia on the Pegasi. Cordelia and Red Whirlwind, reluctantly thanked the two for their help and goes back to their hideout.

Turns out, they live in a some sort of ruin with their comrades, Francisco (handsome and charmingly reminds me of Legolas from LOTR), Curio, Conrad, Willy / William (who is actually a caricature of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE in this show as he writes down Romeo and Juliet's story), Emilia and Antonio.

Alone in his room, Red Whirlwind takes of his costume and later, his WIG, revealing long, red hair. Turns out, Red Whirlwind is JULIET. (No big surprise there...) But it seems like few know of this, not even Antonio knows. Apparently, Juliet will only be told of the reason why she has to pretend to be a guy ONLY on her seventeenth birthday.

Anyway, she fell in love with Romeo (his full name's Romeo Candorebanto Montague... Beautiful name!!) after attending the Montague Rose Ball dressed as a girl in place of her friend Emilia, only managing to introduce herself when they meet again in a field of irises.

(NOTE: The flower of the Capulets is the iris, while the flower of the Montagues is the rose)

If you find it interesting so far, you should probably watch it...

And to all BLEACH FANS out there,

on 22 DEC 2007

the second BLEACH movie will be airing in Japan.

BLEACH; THE DIAMOND DUST REBELLION, ANOTHER HYOURINMARU

Till then...

BENEATH THE IRIS BANNER!