Bodyguards in Seirei no Moribito

This is the latest anime I watched. And I must say, despite being categorized as drama-action with no humor at all, I still like this anime very much. The things that outstanded this anime are the animation quality and music (BGMs). The animation is very smooth with beautiful variation of colours, while the music is simply beautiful (I even bought the BGM cd and I didn’t regret it ^_^).

The setting is quite similar with our earth, but it’s not earth. Their ‘earth’ where people live is called Sagu. This world has an alternate universe where spirits live called Nayug. This two world live side by side and support each other. In several places, called ‘knot’, people with ‘trained’ sensibility could communicate with the spirits.

The scene oppened with the return of a Kanbal female bodyguard called Balsa to Yogo empire after 2 years journey. She is very famous for her spear skill that she was called ‘the Spear Wielder Balsa’. She went on a journey to save eight lives in return for the live she had killed (later on we will know that she actually compensate her saviour’s debt). Actually, there’s another reason for her gone on journey. 2 years ago, she had fight with her childhood friend, Tanda, and that’s also the reason why now she doesn’t want to kill anybody in order to save her client’s live.

When she is walking to enter the city (crossing a bridge), she saw a parade of the Emperor’s second prince. As a culture in Yogo, common people may not lift their head when a royal family cross the street. But Balsa claimed that she is not a Yogo people and keep walking. Suddenly the animal that puliing the cart gone one berserk and the cart fell down to the river below. Seing this, Balsa decided to help. And to her surprised, this prince is still a kid (11 years old boy).

She managed to help the prince, and then continue her walking into the town. However, The Emperor’s second queen (the prince’s mother) summon her to the palace. The queen asked Balsa to protect the child (Prince Chagum) and immidiately escape from the city, because The Emperor wants to killed the child. The reason is because Chagum was possesed with a spirit that could bring drought to the country. After several negotiation, Balsa agreed to flee with the kid and it turned out that Chagum is her eighth client. And so the story continue and we could see how Balsa protect Chagum, the truth behind the spirit that posesed him, Balsa and Chagum relationship (mother-son relationship), political issue with ridiculous rules, etc.

When I first read the review made by Animonster, I imediatelly like this anime. And despite it’s said to be a ‘children’ story, I still have difficulties in understanding the plot. Yeah, my simple brain just could not accept difficult stories. But I could be ensured that the ending must be a ‘happy ending’. And it is, eventhough I felt it a bit pussed a little, but a ‘happy end’ nonetheless ^_^

Btw, there’s a little bit of romance problem between Balsa and Tanda. It’s very small that if you didn’t give any attention, you wouldn’t notice it. But Chagum noticed it XD Anyway I really like the fact that finally Balsa accept Tanda’s offer, eventhough, apparently Tanda have to wait another time before she returned XD aww… Tanda is such a handsome, patient, smart man. Don’t dissapoint him will you Balsa?? XD

Cosplay Party at Animonster Sound Aishiteru’08

Animonster Sound Aishiteru is somekind like gathering event for Indonesian anime/manga/game lovers. It is held by Animonster (Indonesian anime/manga magazine) once a year. Eversince the first time they held this kind of gathering, I never been able to attend because of my study. Now, finally I could attend this event. This time, it was held in Jakarta. So, I spared my time, and went to Jakarta. Actually, there were other events such as bento making contest, chocolate making contest, and karaoke (Japanese songs) contest. But, I didn’t have that much time to see all of that, so I just went and see the Cosplay party and contest.

I only attend the 2nd day event. I brought my camera (err… my sis’ camera actually XD), wore my One Piece T-shirt, then along with my sis and cousins, we drove to the place. It was held in Jakarta City Centre (JaCC). After all our effort in surviving those traffic jam (the thing I hate the most when traveling around Jakarta), finally I managed to get to the place. Actually I was quite surprised to see that the stage is very small for such an event. But that’s not a problem, since now I could witness those cosplayers with my very own eyes.

And not wasting more time, I took pictures of those cosplayers. Sadly, with my limited knowledge of anime/manga and especially games, I couldn’t recognize most of them. Anyway, here are some pics I made:

As I’ve guessed before, there were so many Naruto cosplayers. Since I’m not a fan of Naruto, I only took pics of group that have my fav chara cosplayer: Hinata.



Another favourite series is Bleach.



Kyaa!!! Captain Hitsugaya!! >o<



Other than that, I also saw several Death Note cosplayers





Ooh… my fav chara from Fate/Stay Night: Rin Tohsaka and Saber. Actually Saber-chan hasn’t finished with her costume yet, but I pushed her to pose for me =P Sorry Saber-chan!



This Gundam cosplayer really amazed me. He could hardly moved because that costume and even need his friend to guide him when walking. But on the other hand, he was very popular among children ^_^



Finally, after roaming around that place, I could find at least one (just ONE can you imagine it?!) Tenma Tsukamoto from School Rumble.



Sadly, I couldn’t find any One Piece cosplayer. NOT EVEN ONE!! I was so sad… but at least, I could find one guy who also wore OP T-shirt just like me. Actually my sis said that she saw another girl wearing OP T-shirt. But I couldn’t find her to take a pic.



From tokusatsu side, Kamen Rider!! Actually there were 4 or 5 Kamen Rider there. But because of their costumes, I believe they were sweating heavily inside it. So all of them already put off their masks and were drinking or simply cooling themselves. Lucky enough, one of them still want to pose for me. ^_^ Btw, I really like their costume. (Edit: He was cosplaying Faiz Axel Form. Thx anti_snake)



From sentai series. Despite I couldn’t recognize what series this girls cosplaying, I really love their costume details. (Edit: GaoWhite from Gaoranger and MegaYellow from Megaranger. Thx anti_snake)



I think, this guy cosplaying something very familiar to me. But I couldn’t remember what the anime series is. (Edit: apparently he was cosplaying a vilain from 21st century boys. Thx Chain)



From old series, Sailor Jupiter was there.



And Cardcaptor Sakura.



And Saint Saiya.



This Goku cosplayer’s 'hair' must be very heavy, judging by the way he walked ^_^;



Nodame and Chiaki from Nodame Cantabile was performing, while the other wait for their turn.



Look at this, I kept smiling despite a death God stood beside me XD



These are other pics I took that consist of several characters from different series at once, and series I couldn't recognize. But their costumes are amazing!! ^_^

Mm... very cool looking guy with 2 guns. He looked like Vash the stampede, but his hair was not 'standing'. (Edit: he was cosplaying Dante from Devil may cry. Thx Majek)



Pretty cool gothic look.



This one too...



Someone from Vampire Hunter??



The kid from Rurouni Kenshin, Capt. Hitsugaya (ooohh!! >o<), and a very cute gothic lady.

A very beautiful Dark angel.



Cool costume there. From a certain games perhaps?? (Edit: They are Mitsurugi from Soul Calibur, someone from Dead or Alive 4. Thx Neko)



The hairdo was very amazing. Really.



Cute Robo-girl.



Students from a certain School anime??



This one too...



His sword was very heavy that he didn't bother to lift it ^_^;



This one is also very cool. From a certain game??



I was surrounded by gothic ladies!!



A cool girl, Kon, and the Robo-girl.



Cute Kitty ladies. From Tokyo Mew Mew perhaps?



I only recognize Ichigo here. ^_^;



Cool costumes!! Must be from games.



This beautiful gothic lady was very popular amongs photographers ^_^



Well... that's all pic I have. I wonder wheter I could attend the next year event. Seing there's no OP cosplayer this time, My sis and I were burned to wear any OP costume next time. Hahahhaha XD

Value your live in Last Holiday

Being a non worker, I actually have plenty of free time. But usually I help my sis in making her cookies and pastries, not much of a help actually -_-. Then go around here and there. And at night, watch a movie. Yup, I finally can do my hobby to watch movies. The latest movie I watched is titled ‘Last Holiday’. A very good insipire-you-to-value-your-live movie.

Georgia Byrd is a common woman, who live in a small town and does common work as a cooking utensils sales girl. She is a hard-worker, and rarely spent money for shopping unnecessary things. She loves to cook, and always watched certain live-cooking-show. But after she made the food, she never eat it. Instead, she make a photograph and keep the photo in her ‘probability book’. This is a book of her dreams, which she will fulfilled all of it someday in her live, but not nowadays. She also has feeling for another sales boy, who worked in the same store, Sean. But she is too afraid to speak to him. And inspite her friend’s idea to wear more sexy outfit to atract his attention, Georgia stick to her ‘old-fashioned’ clothes.

One day, after she made a cooking demonstration with oldies (and got scolded by her supervisor for a nonsense cause), she accidentally hit her head againts a cupboard, right after Sean asked one of her food. This make her faint, and must see the doctor. Doctor decided to have a CT-scan. And the result really surprising, that this doctor must consult it to other doctor. Apparently, Georgia is infected by a certain deadly virus, and according to her brain image, she will only live for another 3-4 weeks. She, of course, shocked by this fact. And the fact that her insurance can’t help with her operation funding, really make her break down.

Knowing that there’s nothing else she could do, she decided to fulfill her dreams (which listed in her ‘book of probabilities’. Then she took all her money from the bank, and go on vacation. Using a first class flight, and helicopter to go to the very elite hotel, renting a president suit room, buying an expensive and more sexy cloths, and trying every food made by her idolize chef, until trying every adrenalin-pumping sports. And that’s when she knows that live could be chaged if you want to try, and get out from your shell.

Overall, a very good movie to watch. I always like movies who inspiring in meaning of live. Eventhough you could already guess the ending, still I love it. ^_^ Not to forget, the movie has humors slip in here and there. I think, I the message I got is: If you have a dream, don’t just sit there and dreaming, you could gain it if you try.