I Am Not Pleased

I enjoy my holidays now more than I ever did as a student. They represent a chance to break away from the "work, work, work, work, die" mindset that being an employee can put you in. The monotony, the occasional burst of idiocy, and various other things just make the life of an employee that much more...tiring. No matter how much you love what you do. So yeah, I kind of look forward to being able to relax and stay at home, even on a day that isn't a weekend. It is, ultimately, one of the few things left in life that make actually showing up for a job that rots the brain worth the effort day in and day out. Yes, it is a very odd mentality, but it works.

So, tomorrow is a holiday. Theoretically, that means no work. However, being that I am working for a US-based company with an odd situation, which holidays are honored are handled differently. Local holidays are largely ignored since the US does not observe a whole host of them. This is understandable, and I got used to it from my days in call centers. Due to the nature of the company, US holidays aren't honored either, because our workload is not tied to them directly. It is confusing and I don't feel like getting into the specifics of it.

Thing is, for a while now, the division I'm in has been tied to another division as a sort of support unit. Think of us as being kind of like an auxiliary force in the military. This is all well and good, and it has never really come into play. It does, however, put in a procedure for how to handle whether or not we have to show up for work on a holiday. A legally acknowledged one, anyway. Prior to holidays, we basically ask the other division's head to see if our division needs to show up or not, or if only a certain number of us need to be there. This is fine, and perfectly acceptable and reasonable.

However, something's come up. See, tomorrow is a holiday. Original word from the other division head is that my division does not need to show up. We're a support unit, but they don't see the need to have us constantly be around, and from what I'm told, only a skeleton presence of the other division is coming in tomorrow. So far, so good, right? Then along comes a monkey wrench.

See, the boss of the place decides that one of us has to be present, even if the division we're designated to be supporting says that we aren't required to show up tomorrow. I see two problems with this, with a third lying in the back, just out of my peripheral vision.

First, it goes completely against what has already been established as how things work, and it undermines the other division head's authority. She's given the decision on whether or not we need to show up, and it is her call if our support is needed on a given holiday or not. Why place that kind of authority in her hands if her decisions on the matter don't actually carry any weight? This brings me to my second problem.

If he can undermine the division head's authority and basically require at least one writer to remain, then why bother have us asking the other division if we need to show up or not? Why not just outright say so, in clear and simple language, that one of us needs to show up on a holiday where we should not be showing up and instead be doing things that normal people do when on a holiday? There's no point in the established procedure if it has no actual bearing on how things work, is there?

And don't give me the "this is how things have always been" bullshit, because I remember it isn't. The last holiday, there was no undermining. We asked if we needed to show up, and were told that we didn't need to. No further questions, no "Word of GOD" telling us that "it has always been procedure for at least one writer to remain." That bit of protocol has never really been established as protocol, and has not been invoked in a relevant situation...ever. So no, you don't get to use the excuse that it's how things work. Then again, that hasn't stopped the higher-ups from doing it before, so I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised they're doing it now.

Finally, it is a thrice-damned legal holiday. By all rights, none of us should be showing up for work tomorrow. Not one of us. From any division. At the worst, showing up for work should be entirely optional, with double pay mandatory for those who show up. We should not be required to come to the office on a day that is legally mandated to be a "no work" day.

So yeah, I'm not happy about this. Not in the least. Then again, arguably, a good chunk of me has not been happy with this job for a long, long time now. But I'll show up tomorrow. Sure. I'll come in, act like nothing's wrong, and do what I do day in and day out, suffering the endless monotony of corporate employment.

One of these days...

Yowza.

That is one impressive sand castle.

A List

I believe I've pointed out before how ridiculous it was to make an "All-time" list. Largely because things change, tastes change, and something is only the best until the next "best" comes along. Still, that doesn't mean one can't make a lost that applies to the current time. With that in mind, I began to ponder. Seeing as how I don't think I've ever written about my Top Ten Anime before, I might as well do so now. If only to make comparisons to the contents of the list the next time I write one.

10. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
A depressed teacher with a tendency to cry out "I'M IN DESPAIR" for ridiculous reasons and a class of very, very strange students. Funny, particularly if you get all the references. Though the newest material feels a touch stale.

9. Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni
This is one of those shows that words will fail to adequately explain due to the sheer mind-boggling nature of the thing. However, I will say this: it is a show that needs to be watched from start to finish to fully understand the story and its meaning.

8. School Days
I have said a lot about School Days. It is worth watching if you just sit back and take it as it is, rather than trying to find some sort of deeper meaning to it all.

7. Candy Boy
Cute. Just too damn cute.

6. Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!
Two words: Forward GO!

5. Suzumiya Haruhi No Yuutsu
Girl who may be a god? Check. Crazy girl? Check. Odd but surprisingly good combination of philosophy, theoretical temporal physics, comedy, and pure anime insanity? Check.

4. Hidamari Sketch
What can I say about this series that I haven't said before? The show is just wonderfully relaxing, and has a nice does of heart-warming moments as well.

3. Toradora!
The single, best example of romantic comedy in anime that I can think of, with one of the strongest cast of characters I've seen in the genre, if not in the whole industry. Definitely worth the time it takes to watch, even if you're only in it for Ami-chan and Minorin.

2. Cardcaptor Sakura
The single, finest example of the Magical Girl genre out there, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Sakura is the original good girl of anime, and is among the most enduringly lovable characters ever created. Warning: avoid the dub at all costs.

1. Maria-sama Ga Miteru
Drama. A wonderful cast. A near-perfect, idyllic setting. Characters that you can feel for, relate to, and sympathize with. Yes, I am well aware this is a girl's show, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy it.

Completed

So I'm done with Toradora! and here are my thoughts on the whole thing.

The Show Itself: It is, in many ways, typical of the harem genre, wherein all the females show interest in one shape or form for the lead male. There are some nice touches that help make it different, but the whole thing is structured to adhere to the principles of harem anime plots. However, it is a strong, cohesive, believable, and fun plot.

It manages to avoid the most common pitfalls of the harem genre by providing a lot of growth and personality to the girls, rather than only focusing on the lead female. The amount and the quality of growth is also very impressive, with all the females and event he male lead being given good opportunities to evolve as people, and giving the viewers insight into who they are and what makes them tick.

Overall, this is probably one of the best anime of 2009, and arguably one of the best examples of the genre. It is also one of the better novel-to-anime conversions out there.

The Domesticated Dragon, Takasu Ryuuji: As previously stated, Ryuuji is not a loser. He is not a moron. He is not a delinquent jerk. He is, for most purposes, perfectly normal. Sure, he is good at housework and eerily obsessed with cleaning things, but they add quirks that are both entertaining and set him just a little bit apart from the completely average, faceless, nameless Joe Schmoe. He's likable enough, but he'd be otherwise dull without the rest of the cast.

The Palmtop Tiger, Aisaka Taiga: Ah, Taiga. I will be honest here and admit I despise the character archetype Taiga is modeled on. I can't stand them. However, there are rare exceptions, and Taiga is one of them. For a while, she seemed like the typical annoying tsundere. However, she doesn't so much grow out of it as she does make you realize that she's more than just abuse and occasional moments of warmth. She's a deep character, with troubles, motivations, and yes, even a healthy dose of likability.

The Shining Sun, Kushieda Minori: Ah, what can I say about Minorin (that's her nickname, folks)? She's bright, she's cheerful, she's energetic, she's happy, and she's fun. She's got enough weirdness and airheadedness to entertain, but also has an interesting level of awareness and perceptiveness that can truly surprise you. She's not the moron she may seem to be, nor is she the girl who acts strong and happy to hide some horrible scarring. With Minorin, the shining sun is really the shining sun, and isn't a cover for anything else. Minorin is also a good friend and someone who genuinely cares about those important to her, though explaining that would probably spoil a good chunk of some of the later episodes' most dramatic moments.

Incidentally, Minorin is also one of the most fluid, invigorating elements of the show. Her antics, her songs, her energy are...infectious. Plus, when she finally admits her feelings for Ryuuji...the whole scene, the music, the running, Minorin herself...it just comes together rather beautifully, because you know that even as she pours her heart out, she's making the biggest sacrifice out of those involved, possibly the biggest one in the whole show.

Minorin is easily one of the best reasons to watch the show.

The Spider, Kawashima Ami: Ami is...complex. That much is certain. She can be quite childish at times. She's definitely capable of being coy, teasing, and playful. She's also surprisingly mature in some respects, being able to understand and see certain things that others don't catch on to. She easily figures out early on what Minori's feelings are, and perhaps even sees clues as to what Taiga really feels, as opposed to what Taiga thinks she feels.

Ami is a genuine, true character, but that doesn't mean she doesn't play a role in the plot. She's a well-rounded human being, and a lot of her meddling, poking, and prodding gets a lot of people worked up and, consequently, gets some things rolling in the storyline. Ami ultimately pushes the plot forward because the others can't; without her, the story would be trapped in a mire of boredom and inaction. On top of that, Ami is also an incredible friend, despite her tendency to be a complete and total bitch. That, and nobody but Minorin seems to ever listen to her advice. Even that was only near the end.

All in all, Ami is my biggest reason for watching the show, and one of the biggest reasons to love it.


Ami-chan and Minorin: (Pictured above) I think this bears special mention. The last few episodes seem to dance around the friendship between these two, and how they rapidly become closer to one another because of certain events near the end. I think it wouldn't be too much to ask for a short OVA or something on the friendship between the two. The closeness and comfort that they seem to be in around each other is startling, particularly because Ami has never shown that kind of ease around anyone but Ryuuji, and Minori seems to only be comfortable enough to cry in Ami's presence, not even in her best friend Taiga's. There's a story to be told there, I think.

The Good:
A well-done harem show, easily one of the finest.
Minori's confession scene is just...I can't describe it.
Ami-chan! Oh, Ami-chan, where would Toradora! be without you?
Very beautiful, very real drama.
Perhaps the best-written tsundere I've ever seen since Tohsaka Rin, from Fate/Stay Night.

The Bad:
Show can be a bit dull without Ami or Minori in the early episodes.
Taiga's voice can be just a tiny bit annoying.
It feels like some material was cut to fit it all into the 25-episode limit.
I find it odd that, despite Ryuuji and Taiga being the lead characters, it is the other character's confessions of their feelings that are more moving.
Expanding on the previous point, Ryuuji and Taiga can only be watched for so long before it gets real old, real fast.

I think that's all. So here's to Toradora!, perhaps one of the finest anime of last year.

P.S.
I need more Ami-chan.

Toradora!

I usually don't write about an anime I'm in the middle of watching, but this show is just too good to pass up. Even if it is of the harem genre.

Any sane anime fan will likely know about the harem genre. For those who need a crash course, I will be happy to provide. The harem genre is based on an age-old formula believed to have been initially established by the Tenchi Muyo franchise. The premise behind each show in the genre varies, but the core is thus: male lead, usually a hapless loser, finds himself in a situation where a female lead has his attention, and said female lead may have feelings for him already or may develop them as time goes on. To complicate matters, the show throws in monkey wrenches in the form of rivals. These rivals invariably end up being female, attractive, and interested in the male lead. As with all anime genres, there are certain archetypes and staples that are to be expected.

Examples of this genre include:
Love Hina
Midori Days
Hand Maid May

Toradora!, by initial design and appearance, is no different from a few thousand others of this genre. But there are some differences.

The male lead, Ryuuji, is not a complete jerk, nor is he a loser. In fact, he's very much the male equivalent of a housewife. Dependable, reliable, responsible, and generally a nice human being. However, he looks like a delinquent (by virtue of his father's looks), and many of his fellow students treat him as such.

Another key difference I've spotted so far is that the show is, minus a few things like one of the girls being a model on sabbatical, rather more realistic than I'd expected. There's no reaction or emotion displayed that, in context, would not have been impossible to see in the real world. In fact, a lot of the character's interactions, motivations, and actions aren't that far-fetched, and would likely be observable in a real high school setting.

It isn't just what makes Toradora! different from others of its genre that catches my eye, though. Like many shows of this genre, I am not too fond of the female lead. In this case, the so-called "Palmtop Tiger." She is, actually, the one character in the show I honestly dislike. That she's the female lead should just make it harder for me to watch the show, if I bother with it at all.

However, that's not the case.

The other two females, you see, are much, much more likable. Lovable, even.

The first one, Kushieda Minori, is what one might describe as odd. She's energetic, tends to sing baseball songs to herself, and seems just a tiny bit out there. However, pretty early on, we get to see a facet of her that's very human. It seems that she is, like any human being, afraid of things, and perhaps even insecure about some stuff. She also seems to sing baseball songs and do all manner of odd part-time jobs to brush away that fear. Seeing as how I've not finished the show yet, I can only assume that is the case. Still, Minori is a likable, lively figure. The slightly nusty friend you hang out with and genuinely enjoy having around.

The other one, the one I consider the real gem of the show, is Kawashima Ami. Ami is a model on sabbatical, for reasons that I will not divulge. It's a fun event I won't want to spoil. Ami is...well, to go into detail about what Ami is like is to spoil half the fun of watching her in the show. Suffice it to say that, out of all the girls in Toradora! and most of the girls I've seen in this genre of anime, Ami is perhaps the most cunning and the most...human.

I'll write in more detail the more I watch this show.

For now, I must continue watching each episode twice. Once to watch it, and the second time to make pretty screencaps to add to my expanding collection of pictures. Because if I don't...



So yeah, gogo Mistress Ami.

Kawashima Ami

Minorin (the redhead) got me watching Toradora!. Ami got me to see it through to the end.

A Thought.

This is the cross.

A thought occurred to me. Would the Christian messiah figure, Jesus Christ, really want to see the cross - you know, that thing that he got crucified and died on - all over the place in that supposed "Second Coming?"

I'm not religious, mind you, but it does bear some thought. Would you want to see the instrument of your death when you come back to life?

And that is about as close to actual devotion as you'll ever get out of me, as I think all religions are equal: they're all bullcrap.

Epic

Maybe it is the science fiction and science fantasy fan in me, but this is just So. Damn. Cool.

And yes, the picture is real.