I blog about video games, hardware and whatever else I happen to feel like blogging about. I also happen to like drinking Coffee and eating some Chocolate while I'm at it.
While I'm not really into Genshin Impact, and only peripherally aware of the characters in the game I really found this fan made anime really interesting. The creator is Dillon Gu and a team of creators that used to be part of the RWBY. This really shows in the animation in the action scenes which is really over the top and really made may say wow that reminds me of early RWBY.
Anyway, below is the opening/sizzle reel for the animation.
This anime season, I’m hooked on some anime that are awesome sauce. The Apothecary Diaries and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End both have epic stories and cool characters who grow a lot during the show. They also have amazing animation, with eye-candy backgrounds and character art.
The Apothecary Diaries
The Apothecary Diaries is a historical mystery series that follows the adventures of Maomao, a smart and sassy pharmacist who works as a maid in the imperial palace. She uses her skills of medicine and mischief to solve various cases involving the emperor’s harem, heirs, and henchmen, while trying to avoid getting into trouble. Along the way, she becomes friends with Jinshi, the head eunuch who is secretly the emperor’s half-brother and has a crush on her. The series mixes drama, romance, and comedy with a realistic portrayal of ancient Chinese culture and society.
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a series that follows the adventures of Frieren, an elf mage who has a lot of time on her hands. After defeating the Demon King with her human friends, she decides to travel the world and learn more magic, while also keeping in touch with her old pals. Along the way, she meets a cute orphan girl named Fern, who becomes her apprentice and companion. The series is a mix of drama, comedy, and fantasy, with a touch of romance between Frieren and Jinshi, the head eunuch who is secretly the emperor’s half-brother. The series also explores the themes of mortality, friendship, and legacy, as Frieren witnesses the changes in the world and the people she cares about.
Also worth mentioning...
Here are some other anime this season that I would recommend as well.
Shangri-la Frontier
Shangri-la Frontier is a series about Sunraku, a gamer who loves playing buggy “trash games”. He tries out Shangri-la Frontier, a popular "God Tier" VRMMO game, and finds it a much better and deeper game than expected for a game played by casual players. So far the story and characters has been interesting and the visuals are above average.
Tearmoon Empire
Tearmoon Empire is similar to villainess otome game anime, but with a twist that the protagonist is the original villainess, not a reincarnated Japanese girl. This is a comedy-fantasy anime that follows Mia Luna, the princess of the Tearmoon Empire, who was executed by guillotine after a revolution. She gets a second chance at life when she wakes up as her 12-year-old self, eight years before her death, with her memories and diary from the future. She tries to change her fate by rebuilding the empire and preventing the rebellion, but her actions are often misinterpreted as noble and wise by the people around her. The anime is full of humor and charm, thanks to Mia’s character and her interactions with others.
Goblin Slayer is a hilarious anime that follows the misadventures of a clueless warrior who has a strange obsession with killing goblins. He is joined by a ragtag team of adventurers who have to put up with his antics and help him save the world from the goblin menace.
The main character is Goblin Slayer, a man who wears a rusty helmet and a dirty cloak. He never reveals his face or his name, and he only cares about one thing: slaying goblins. He has no social skills, no sense of humor, and no regard for anyone else’s feelings. He is always serious, stoic, and stubborn. He thinks that goblins are the evillest creatures in existence, and he will stop at nothing to exterminate them.
The other characters are:
Priestess, a naive and innocent girl who joins Goblin Slayer on his first quest. She is the only one who can tolerate his personality and tries to be his friend. She uses her holy miracles to heal and protect her allies, but she often gets scared and overwhelmed by the dangers they face.
High Elf Archer, a cheerful and energetic elf who loves nature and adventure. She is annoyed by Goblin Slayer’s obsession with goblins and his lack of interest in anything else. She tries to make him more fun and sociable, but she usually fails. She uses her elven bow and arrows to shoot at enemies from a distance, but she sometimes misses or hits the wrong target.
Dwarf Shaman, a grumpy and sarcastic dwarf who likes to drink and cast spells. He is amused by Goblin Slayer’s stupidity and often makes fun of him. He uses his runes and magic to manipulate the elements, but he sometimes causes more trouble than he solves.
Lizard Priest, a calm and wise lizardman who likes to eat cheese and pray to his ancestors. He respects Goblin Slayer’s dedication and skill, but he also tries to teach him some manners and wisdom. He uses his tail and teeth to slash at enemies in close combat, but he sometimes gets distracted by food or shiny objects.
The anime is full of hilarious moments, such as:
Goblin Slayer using ridiculous methods to kill goblins, such as setting them on fire, drowning them, poisoning them, crushing them, or exploding them.
Goblin Slayer ignoring or rejecting any quest that does not involve goblins, such as fighting dragons, demons, or undead.
Goblin Slayer being oblivious or indifferent to the feelings of the girls who like him, such as Priestess, High Elf Archer, Cow Girl, Guild Girl, or Sword Maiden.
Goblin Slayer being surprised or confused by anything that is not related to goblins, such as festivals, games, jokes, or romance.
Goblin Slayer having awkward or funny interactions with other characters, such as the Heroine, the Spearman, the Witch, the Noble Fencer, or the Wizard Boy.
Goblin Slayer is a comedy anime that will make you laugh out loud with its absurd and hilarious situations. If you are looking for an anime that will brighten up your day with its humor and fun, you should definitely watch Goblin Slayer. Just be warned that this anime is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, as it contains scenes of graphic violence, bloodshed, torture, rape, and death. If you can handle that, then you are in for a treat.
What do you think of Goblin Slayer? Have you watched it yet? What are your favorite scenes or characters? Let me know in the comments below. And don’t forget to share this post with your friends who might be interested in this anime. Thank you for reading!
Edit: ok this was technically a movie that takes place between season 1 and 2.
I am very excited about the new season of Goblin Slayer, which started with a long and thrilling episode. The episode lasted for almost an hour and a half, and it had two parts. The first part was a summary of the previous season, which refreshed my memory of the characters and the plot. The second part was a new story arc, where Goblin Slayer and his party embarked on a dangerous mission to rescue a noble girl who along with her party had taken a quest to eliminate goblins attacking a village and has gone missing. I enjoyed watching both parts of the episode, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Looking at the trailers and gameplay I can't help but feel but get Soulworker + Bayonetta vibes from Zenless Zone Zero. It looks like it has the typical Muhoyo gatcha character with a in battle character swapping mechanic of Honkai Impact with a more combo centric battle of many PlatinumGames titles.
Looking to be worth a try at the very least once the beta is out.
Back on the topic of "Reign of the Seven Spellblades" looking like we are seeing a bit of a redemption arc for the one student that picked a fight with Nanao and Oliver after they fought against a demi-god magical beast.
Looking at the ending credits there appears to be some foreshadowing.
There is some foreshadowing about what is to come it seems like in the ending credits of the anime.
It's basically just an image sequence it starts with a single candle burning then transitions to an imager where you see a woman with blonde hair and golden eyes reflected in someone's eye. The image then switches to someone holding what looks to be a young Oliver's hand. This transitions to a serious looking Oliver staring out the window. A woman with blond hair and golden eyes wearing a witch outfit who looks to be the same one that was reflected in someone's eye (Oliver?) before. You then get an image of someone holding a watch that is running backwards. You then get a black & white image of Oliver with one amber eye that is bleeding (taken from the Woman like the student that had a basilisk eye?) with a disturbing smile. The final image is the candle again being blown out.
One of the new shows this season that I'm looking forward to is "Reign of the Seven Spellblades", which is written by Bokuto Uno, the same author of "Alderamin on the Sky". I loved the anime adaptation of that book and watched it several times.
The story is set in Kimberly Magic Academy, a school where the elite and the staff are ruthless and violent. The protagonist, Oliver Horn, joins the school with a hidden agenda. He befriends other students who get caught up in a tragic incident on their first day, including Nanao Hibiya, a samurai girl from Yamatsu who came with a teacher's recommendation. The group reminds me of Alderamin's cast, with a balanced gender ratio and no harem clichés.
So far, I've seen three episodes and the story has been dark and intense. I expect more grim scenes in the future. Some characters are very stereotypical, like a mean teacher who insults the students and a rival student who challenges Oliver for no reason. I think they will die soon as they seem to be there for drama's sake. The animation is good, and the main characters have a nice chemistry with some of the staff and seniors.
Anyway, below is the opening by Warner Bros. Japan Anime.
Don't have much to post, it looks like Blue Protocol will get a global beta is September at this point, but no official announcement has been made with an actual date.
On the anime front, other than continuations of some anime I've watched there isn't much to rave about other than possibility "Reign of the Seven Spellblades" the author of which is also the author of "Alderamin on the Sky" which I've really enjoyed and re-watched several times.
I’m not sure if Apple is trying to prank us or what, but their new AR headset looks like a dumpster fire on your face.
Oh boy, Steve Jobs must be dancing with joy in his grave right now, this is the pinnacle of Apple’s innovation and elegance. It looks like something that only the genius minds at Apple could come up with, not like those boring and ugly products from Facebook, Google or some PC manufacturer. I bet the Apple loyalists are camping outside the stores to get a glimpse of this magnificent device. And what a bargain at $3500! Apple is clearly dominating the business sector with this offer, they have no competition from Microsoft’s pathetic and cheap imitation.
It's been some time since I watched Re:Creators and looking for something to watch I decided to watch it again and it's aged fairly well. It's an original Anime produced by studio Troyca produced the animation and with music by Hiroyuki Sawano so the animation and music are top notch.
A bit of the opening to sample both, the tune is Gravity Wall.
The story basically breaks down to what would happen if characters from anime and manga were transported to our world and engaged in a battle royal with the fate of the world being dependent on the outcome.
I'm finding the anime Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke's Mansion a more and more satisfying romance story. While it's not groundbreaking in the least, but I'm really enjoying the interactions between Noah and Raeliana as well as other characters. I'm a sucker for a story where the characters get together out of self-interest and come to care about each other over the course of events.
The latest episode had them go though some humous situations and for the duke to start to open up Raeliana and she herself has started to suspect that she has feelings for him as well.
Generally, I feel it's a well-paced romance with humor, action and intrigue.
Really love the sound of this music video for Nana Wo Akari's tune "Kien Romance", this tune is also used as the ending theme for the Anime Oktaku Elf.
Personally I can't wait till these generative AI tools get better they really seem to me like they offer the possibility to allow anyone to create decent content with the assistance of AI tools.
Say I want to create an image of a woman with silver hair, wolf ears and amber eyes wearing glasses and a sleeveless cheongsam dress at a Japanese festival at night with people in the background in anime style.
Or an anime girl in a pilot's outfit with goggles in the style of a soviet propaganda poster?
Or a blonde haired blue eyed anime girl in the style of a WWII Uncle Sam propaganda poster?
The results are not perfect, especially the hands and trying to get it to create images with the character holding things. Still they are things I could imagine but would never have the skill to create myself and while it can be argued that I'm not really creating anything, I would disagree in that I'm just using a tool to assist in the process.
I just watched the first three episodes of the anime A Galaxy Next Door and found it an engaging and heartwarming story.
The anime is about a manga artist who lives with his two siblings and hires a new assistant who turns out to be an alien princess who wants to marry him. As they live together, they face various challenges and learn more about each other's worlds. The anime is based on a manga by Gido Amagakure and is produced by Asahi Production. The anime has a charming and colorful animation style, lovable and relatable characters, catchy and soothing music, and a delightful mix of romance, comedy, and supernatural elements. It also explores themes such as family, friendship, dreams, and cultural differences in a respectful and humorous manner. You can stream it on Crunchyroll or Ani-One Asia with English subtitles or dubbing. The anime currently has three episodes aired, with nine more to go. If you are looking for an anime that will brighten up your day, you should definitely watch A Galaxy Next Door.
After six years of loyal service, my PC that I built in 2015 was finally showing signs of aging. It couldn’t keep up with the latest games and it was begging for an upgrade. The i7-5930K was a beast of a CPU in it's day, but it had limits on over-clocking, which was common for the Haswell-E server-based processors, even with water cooling.
I was eager to start a new build with the following components:
LG WH16NS40 Super Multi Blue Internal SATA 16x Blu-ray Disc Rewriter
GIGABYTE WINDFORCE GeForce RTX 4070 12GB video card
Misc hardware (Cables, ARGB hub other hardware)
The case specifications said it could fit a 319mm video card, but I failed to account for the space eaten by the front mounted radiator and fans, which stole about 25mm of that. That left me with only about 292mm for the video card. I had to ditch my plan of buying the RTX 4070 Ti card I had drooled over and decided to stick with the GTX 1070 Superclock I had from the old system until I find something that meets my performance standards and fits in the space available.
The video card industry is as fairly reliable in releasing new products and variations on existing products every few months. But I was in for a surprise, when only two weeks after I decided to wait for something better than the RTX 3070 cards that fit my case but did not wow me at all, rumors started to spread like wildfire about the upcoming release of the RTX 4070. The leaked information on paper looked amazing with performance that matched the RTX 3080 and was pretty close to the RTX 4070 Ti in terms of performance. The leaked information also had photos of dual fan cards that would fit my case and a fair price point of $600, which is a bargain compared to the next level up. Another week later, the embargo lifted, and I devoured the benchmarks like a hungry wolf to find the best card for my needs and settled on the GIGABYTE WINDFORCE card. The card has a slight overclock and the somewhat more aggressive fan arrangement makes it a cooler running card and was still under 290mm in length. Which is good, because I don’t have room for anything bigger in my tiny case.
I recently started watching this anime called “Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion” and I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was.
The anime is based on a popular webtoon of the same name, which is a fantasy romance comedy with a twist. The main character is Rinko, a modern-day woman who dies in an accident and gets reincarnated as Raeliana McMillan, a minor character in a novel she read. Raeliana is supposed to die by poisoning at her engagement party, which triggers a series of events that lead to the main plot of the novel. However, Rinko is not willing to accept this fate and decides to use her knowledge of the novel and her wits to change her destiny. She ends up getting involved with Noah Wynknight, the handsome and mysterious duke who is one of the main characters of the novel. Together, they uncover secrets and mysteries that will shake their world. The anime is similar to “Reincarnated as the villainess”, which I also enjoyed, but it has its own unique charm and humor. The animation is beautiful and colorful, the characters are likable and funny, and the story is intriguing and engaging. I’m looking forward to seeing how Rinko/Raeliana will survive and find love in this new world. If you are a fan of fantasy romance comedy with a twist, you should definitely check out this anime.
Looking forward to season 2 of Tonikawa, I rather enjoyed the romance story of our protagonist Nasa (not the space agency), and his wife Tsukasa who has a very mysterious past. Judging from the scenes portrayed in the opening that Warerbrothers Anime has released we may finally find out about her past.
It's being streamed by Crunchyroll 🙄 starting in April.
Well, that gaming system that I built in 2015 and then upgraded in 2019 is finally showing its age. I may get some more life out of it with a new video card and an SSD upgrade, but seeing how I've got over 7 years out of the hardware I'm more than happy with the value I've received from it.
I'm trying to decide if I should go for a more "value-oriented" build or a "performance-oriented" build for the system.
Shared Components
Case - Cooler Master Silencio S400 Micro-ATX Tower ~$90
Power - Seasonic FOCUS GX-1000, 1000W 80+ Gold ~$200
Value-oriented build:
CPU - Intel Core i5-13400 ~$240
MB - ASRock B760M PG Riptide ~$150
RAM - G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 Series 32GB DDR5 6400 (2 x 16GB) ~$120
So the total cost for the value build would be $1300 or so and the performance money is almost no object is almost $2400 for all the components. I think I'll end up going with a blend between the two, but the card I was looking for using, in that case, is the 3070 TI are hard to find and getting close to the price of the 4070 TI.
Maybe I'll go with an i5-13600K and just use my existing card (1070 OC) for the time being and plan for an upgrade sometime not long after I build the system.
It's finally looking like Blue Protocol will be releasing soon in Japan and it will be released later this year by Amazon Games in the west. According to last developer livestream the network test with 50K participants will be later this month and after that the final Japanese release date will be announced.
There is also a Japanese benchmark/character creator that has been released. I've downloaded it and while it doesn't offer as much character appearance customization, there will be a beauty shop in the game to allow additional modifications your character.
