Friday, November 28, 2014

Friday Update #16

Howdy, everyone! And happy holidays! This week has been pretty lax for me outside of writing. However, managed to get to chapter 5 of Volume 2 for Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles done and posted a new part of the Misadventures in Training series up: Why Can't I Do This Right. I am hoping this weekend to begin hitting Persona: Parallel Paradox and Digimon: Sinned Tamers, but I will at least probably keep working on Alien Chronicles if I can get onto them. Chapter 3, 4, 5, 6 of Log Horizon: Alien Chronciles Volume 1 is up on FFNet and Chapter 4, 5, 6, 7 is now live on Wattpad. However, hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving and survived Black Friday! Auto out!

Monday, November 24, 2014

Wattpad Upload: "Why Can't I Do This Right" Part 3 of the Misadventures in Training series

Howdy, everyone! The misadventures continue between tomboyish Sasuke and one reluctant Naruto with the newest part of the Misadventures in Training series: Why Can't I Do This Right. I have decided to make Why Me?, You're Gonna Kill Me, and Why Can't I Do This Right along with future short fanfiction continuing this story into a series called Misadventures in Training. This series will update randomly, but each part will be a short fanfiction that is complete at posting to make up for the random updates. The summary, tags, and link for Why Can't I Do This Right are below. Auto out!

Why Can't I Do This Right

Summary: Sasuke refuses to believe she cannot cook even with Naruto refusing to try any of her cooking. Wanting to keep another food poisoning incident from happening, Iruka offers both students a cooking lesson on bento that Sasuke jumps on. However, the more she tries to be like a true girl, the more she keeps failing. Can Iruka help Sasuke out before she ruins her relationship with Naruto? And why is Hinata spying on the whole cooking lesson to the point Naruto caught her in the act? Let the cooking disaster begin...

Wattpad Tags: fanfiction, comedy, cooking, funny, genderbending, yaoifangirl, misadventures, naruto, narutoxsasuke, sasuke, iruka, misadventureintraining, silly

Friday, November 21, 2014

Friday Update #15

Howdy, everyone! Yesssss! I finally pay off my debt-Crap! Wrong reference! Sorry, Animal Crossing! However, Volume 1 of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles is done! Sorry for all the exclamation marks, but that basically means outside of proofing chapters, all chapters of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1 are ready for posting. There is 40 chapters in all for Volume 1 including what is already posted. I even gotten the first chapter of Volume 2 typed up(it was burning in my skull). If I can get my buffer of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles up high enough, I am seriously considering posting Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles twice a week. However, at this moment, I am keeping it once a week as the current amount easily gives me time to keep working without major stress. Especially preparing the chapters for the coming holidays to ensure I can post with all the mayhem coming. Chapter 2 is now on FFNet and Wattpad has just got Chapter 3.

However, as mentioned, I am working on the next part of a series I started on Wattpad that I am calling "Misadventures in Training." It's a series of short fanfiction that started from a one-shot and I have the next part almost done. My rule with that series even though I randomly will update this series is I have to complete the short fanfiction part before I can post it. Hence the random updates for that series as it's not my main focus. My main focus are Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles and the other main stories I my plate. As mentioned in other posts, I will be trying to start typing out Persona: Parallel Paradox and Digimon: Sinned Tamers as well, but at this moment, I am trying to get Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles are very good buffer so I can take a break from it to work on those two stories. Though, I also have been getting the itch for the Monster Hunter Ninja story and a new crossover, though I will be instead hit Monster Hunter Ninja and writing down the crossover idea for future reference for later on as I won't be able to touch it till the big 6 planned fanfiction are done. Well, Auto out!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Auto's Anime Reviews: English Dubbed Log Horizon Episodes 1-13

Howdy, every! Auto here with another review, this time on the English dubbed episodes of Log Horizon. Specifically 1-13 since the first DVD release is just the first half of the season and the other half does not come out till January next year. And I binged watch them online, if that says anything. I realized I forgot to post this review on my blog after putting it on DeviantArt for the fangroup I am in who were wondering how the dub was like and posting it now. Like my small review of the first four episodes of the English dubbed episodes on DeviantArt for same fan group, I am planning to keep this review short and as spoiler free as possible… Okay, short maybe not, but I will try to keep this as spoiler free as possible. Mostly because if this studio doing the English dub gets Log Horizon on a major television network or streaming line, well, I will not be surprised if the Log Horizon fanbase easily goes up with just the English dubbed version.

Now, with reading what I wrote above, I will flat out say Log Horizon’s English dub is one of the best English dubs I seen in a long time. Not the best in history, but it still was a great surprise for someone who usually watches on subtitled anime like myself. However, if you a fan of the subtitle anime, this dub is not straight out translation, which is part of the reason I been seeing other people give this dub bad review without really going deeper. There’s a reason there is a 3-4 episode watch rule a lot of reviewers use before sometimes even putting a first impression on anything for a reason. For any fan of the Japanese dub Log Horizon, the English dub gives you one hell of an uncanny valley(that area where something seems similar, but is off and gives you a creepy feeling, which the horror genre uses a lot) when you watch the first episode: the tone is different, characters’ traits are different, and you can tell the pacing of the first episode(an issue many experienced anime watchers noticed)is rushing a lot more than in the subtitled version because of the changes.

Is this bad? Usually, that would be a yes. However, with Log Horizon, it’s the opposite. It’s actually because the English dub actually focuses on the source material more than the Japanese dub is the reason for the uncanny valley. It’s not a direct translation of the original anime as I mentioned, but a proper adaptation of the light novel in anime form. And the studio did this on purpose to mess with the subtitle watchers’ heads. Even dub watchers or new anime watchers will get this uncanny vibe, but it actually works to bring the tone the original Japanese dub was missing for the first few episode. That missing tone gave the Japanese version a more light hearted feel compared to the light novel. The English dub allows the watcher to jump into the first part of Log Horizon’s story that the Japanese dub failed to hit on the mark. A mistake of the Japanese dub that made it felt the first few episodes of a small adventure before we ended up getting into the meat that is Log Horizon. Though, still a slow start up, the English dub uses this to help build up the coming events compared to the original.

This first part of the Log Horizon story, which I will slightly spoil, is where everyone is trying to find what they are going to do. You see how the characters are desperately trying to find what the hell they are suppose to do any means whatsoever just to relieve the fear and stress their new found situation has put them in. Be it clinging to other people to keep your sanity, thinking their reality is still the game, or killing other players just to keep the mind numbing boredom away, we have a better building up of the morals questions various characters of the side and main cast being challenged with and forcing these characters to think hard of their situation and trying to find solutions to the ever growing problems they are facing. Even with the English dub avoiding the same questions of the old world as the Japanese dub that was in the light novel, the English dub managed to give us the unsteady feelings the characters and light novel had, hence we are actually put right in their shoes instead of watching their adventures before getting to the good stuff.

Another issue I see other reviewers are complaining about is the fact several character’s traits and personalities seemed to change in the English dub. Now, yes, this is the case, but before you simply deny these versions, you might want to see what light novel readers who watched the Japanese dub with subtitles say about the anime. The English dubbing studio listened to the light novel readers, hence characters like Naotsugu seem to changed a lot in the English dub, but in fact, he’s now closer to his light novel character traits than the Japanese version. Other characters like Nyanta and Maryelle also seem very different, but they actually still match their actual personalities set in the light novel even though the voice acting using a different route compared to the Japanese dub to get it across. In fact, Nyanta’s voice acting is quite brilliant as it still allows his “cool cat gentlemen” personality to show even though he’s not saying “nya” all the time like in the Japanese version and allows for a better connection with the American audience with this version of a gentlemen. This new voice acting is actually purposely planned for later parts Nyanta deals with to allow better connection to him with the English speaking audience.  The new witty dialogue added with the story also helps bring these characters to life and give more depth to theses characters as well, giving a deeper sense of connection with the many character’s of Log Horizon. Extra bits of character development are even sneak into the English dub as well, hence adding goodies to this version of Log Horizon. The reason for all these changes to go closer to the light novel is due to the dubbed anime is coming out before the light novel in the USA and will be a driver to bring new people into the Log Horizon light novel series outside those who watch the subtitled version or read the light novels and manga online.

In fact,the characters and how they are perceived are not the only changes. The dub is more of a proper translation of the light novel compared to the Japanese anime. The Japanese anime did a lot of references to it’s spin-offs and fan related projects as parts of it is actually fan made, hence for anime only watcher, it really threw some people for a loop with areas in the anime making no sense until you read the spin-off material like Honey Moon Logs and such like I did. There is still a few shout outs in the English version, but much of these have been toned down greatly and serve more as an awesome treat for really big fans looking for said Easter eggs than hindering the story. The confusing references have also been removed and replaced with dialogue that is actually more understandable to the point I will not be surprised if the Japanese fans get the English version subtitle for hardcore light novel fans and confused fans as it basically runs the whole first 13 episodes very cleanly storytelling wise compared to the original Japanese dub and even the derp moments in animation and voice acting are very minor compared to what I was expecting, almost to the point it is just the same issues the Japanese version has due to same animation. In fact, once you past the first few episodes, there is almost no animation mistakes outside what the anime already had from the Japanese dub.

Hence where I get to the actual storytelling of the English dub. Even though both use the same animation, the English dub does a whole lot better getting the story across compared to the original Japanese anime. This is pretty damn impressive considering they managed to do this with only minor editing and good voice acting. With the tone better established in the beginning, the later parts parts of Log Horizon has more impact and even deeper meaning from the original Japanese dub. Heck, even by episode two, I was getting goosebumps with uneasy air and anxiety the characters were having and the feeling of being lost and alone like when I read the light novel. Some of the lines in the English dub almost match the online translation of Log Horizon to a T to the point it’s scary and it works a whole lot better than them just doing the translated dub of the Japanese anime. The English dub used the source material to help build a better anime that makes it actually just as good as an anime as the Japanese version. Hence making them both compliment each other instead of one being glaringly better than the other like many dubs usually do and the DVD sets coming out a worth a lot more as you get two good versions of Log Horizon. In fact, I am wanting the second half of the season to be leaked early online even though I am planning to buy the whole first season of Log Horizon on DVD(watched the English dub episodes online out of curiosity of what I was getting). They had to split the first season into two DVD collections and it is so unfair! They had to stop right on one of the good cliffhangers of Log Horizon and its driving me nuts. If an anime dub is able to get me wanting more, especially on a cliffhanger like this, then it’s really good! Especially with just introducing one of my most beloved characters of the series and his voice acting is freaking perfect. Sorry, let that nerdgasm slip.

So, my final verdict for the first half of season 1 of the English dub Log Horizon? Again, it is one of the best anime dubs I have seen in a long while, but it will also be one awesome jumping off point for dub only watchers and hardcore anime fans alike into the Log Horizon series. Light novel fans also got their original characterizations back even if more suited to the English speakers, so it’s an almost overall win for everyone with this dub. The dub is even still mostly family friendly with no fanservice and minor cussing, which makes it actually pretty enjoyable for a lot of people. Yes, there is some cussing, but it is mostly all in the beginning where it’s actually understandable compared to other dubs I watched where they swear like sailors the whole series. Even the characters who keep it up actually use it sparingly  and its done at the proper times instead of them just swearing all the time. In fact, I can wholeheartedly recommend this to teenagers with no problems with watching all 13 episodes and seeing its still quite damn family friendly. Though, knowing how the USA is, they might not see it that way. However. I highly recommend buying the DVD of Log Horizon if you love the anime or you want a good anime to watch over and over again to always find something new you might of missed the first time around watching it… Though, if you are like me and like to binge watch good anime and hate being left hanging on a damn good cliffhanger, I recommend holding off on buying both DVD sets till the other half of Season 1 comes out. I have pre-ordered my DVD set and planning to pre-order the other set soon as I am not passing up having both the English dub and Japanese dub with English subtitles in my hands. Well, hope this was helpful, Auto out!          

Friday, November 14, 2014

Friday Update #14

Howdy, everyone! I am quite psyched as I am just a few chapters away from finishing Volume 1 of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles! Well, the writing part since I am only now just posting the story online with FFNet getting the first chapter and Wattpad getting chapter 2 today. I just finished the climax and now writing the resolution chapters to finish the volume. I will be taking the chance to write a short fanfiction for the little series I started on Wattpad before jumping fully into Volume 2. However, I will also be finalizing Persona:Parallel Paradox and Digimon: Sinned Tamers planning so I can start working on them when not focused on Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles. I won't be posting those two for a while mostly due to I want to get a buffer going like I did for Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles. However, hope you all are having a great Friday! Auto out!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Friday Update #13

Howdy, everyone! And thirteen weeks later and it is finally time to get back to work posting. Today, Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1 has started back up on Wattpad. The chapter will appear on FFNet next week at this time and will be updating every Friday. To keep up my buffer, I will be aiming to get chapters set up and ready to go every week along with writing new chapters each weekend, hence will still be giving updates on my progress. I hit the 26 chapter buffer this week and have three chapters ready to post after posting the first chapter. I want to try and keep on top of this to make sure I can keep up before adding anything else to post for now outside maybe a small fanfiction. However, I will be trying to get the buffers for Persona: Parallel Paradox going as I will be doing that slowly.

Oh, on a side note outside of fanfiction, I also watched some of the English dubbed episodes of Log Horizon and pre-ordered the first half of the season on DVD. Amazingly, Log Horizon is the first English dubbed anime I enjoy, mostly due to they stick even closer to the light novel than the anime and try to fix a few issues that was in the Japanese dub. Hence they are kind of two versions of an anime, but both very enjoyable. I will be probably doing a full review of the English dubbed Log Horizon once I finish it. Well, hope you all enjoy this weekend! Auto out!

Wattpad Upload: Log Horizon:Alien Chronicles Volume 1

Howdy, everyone! Time to dive into the database! Chapter 1 of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1 is live on Wattpad! FFnet also got a teaser in the old version and the first chapter will appear in a new story of Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles in a week. The summary, tags, and link are below. Hope you all enjoy it, Auto out!

Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles Volume 1

Summary:Summary: On the day the twelve expansion of Elder Tales: Homesteading in the Noosphere launched, 700,000 hundred people found themselves trapped in a world just like Elder Tales. Hence many come to call this event the Catastrophe, but Las Boss, a Game Master Druid, sees this as a chance to truly be free of the shit game he saw his old reality was. Sure, he lost his voice and his memories seem a bit off, but Las Boss is perfectly fine with that. He is now with the very friends he made through the game, Shiroe and Naotsugu, as they explore their new world to figure out how to live and thrive in it. However, the more they explore and even gain another comrades along the way, they begin to find out the world they are in isn't so much a game as they thought. Worse, Las Boss finds out he was not the only one from his old place transported to Elder Tales and there is more to the Catastrophe than simply teleporting gamers into the lives of Adventurers they played as. Something that could easily turn the paradise Las Boss finds this new reality into a brand new hell of a shit game he never expected.

Tags: videogamefanfic, loghorizon, shiroe, akatsuki, naruto, naruko, trappedingame, mmorpg, fanfic, crossoverfic, fantasy, gamer, rookie9, lasboss

Monday, November 3, 2014

Wattpad Tag Post/Quick, but Important Announcement!

Howdy everyone! Just a quick update post. As I mention in my past Friday Updates, Wattpad is shifting their search engine to focus on using tags instead of categories with how big their selection of stories(both original and fanfiction) has gotten. Hence, along with upload alerts, I will also be including the tags I use for the fanfiction. That way, if you can use the link in the post, you can use the tags to find the stories on Wattpad. Hence here are the tags my Naruto fanfiction one-shot Why Me? and short fanfiction You're Gonna Kill Me along with the titles being links:

Why Me? - Tags: awkward, comedy, fanficfriday, genderstudies, moe, naruto, narutofanfic, narutouzumaki, narutoxsasuke, one-shot, sasuke, sasukeuchiha, sasukexnaruto, teen

You're Gonna Kill Me -Tags: academy, akward, akwardness, backtoschool, comedy, date, dating, fanficfriday, hilarious, issues, misadventure, moe, naruto, romance, sasuke, school, silly. trouble

However, along with putting the tags here, I have made a page on my blog called "Fanfiction Archive."  It is where I am putting links, tags, and summaries of fanfiction that is my main ones along with popular ones like Why Me? and You're Gonna Kill Me in one easy place. The fanfiction is divided out in sections depending on type of fanfiction, hence making it easy to come through it as the list grows. However, on the Fanfiction Archive, I have made two sort of announcements which I am clearing up here.

One is the Ninja Misadventures of Love(title pending) series. I've decided I will be continuing Sasuke and Naruto's misadventures from Why Me? and You're Gonna Kill Me. However, as mentioned in the Fanfiction Archive, this is a side project and I plan to this series in various short fanfictions instead of one big one to see how that works for me. However, since this is a side project, I will only post up a new part of the series once it is completely done and edited real well. These fanfiction from this series will be only for Wattpad, hence don't expect them on FFNet.

However, the really big part of this announcement and also seen on Fanfiction Archive is Log Horizon: Alien Chronicles will be launching soon. I am working on Chapter 26 and once I finished that chapter, I will be going through the first four and proofing them to ready them for posting on a weekly schedule. The cover for this fanfiction is also ready for use on both FFNet and Wattpad. As I mentioned before, Wattpad will be getting the first chapter and a week later I will be posting on FFNet, giving a chapter difference between the two. The reason for this is it is easier for me to edit on Wattpad, so if I get any readers at Wattpad find mistakes before I post the chapter on FFNet, I can fix it without much hassle. It is looking I might make it for starting to post this week for Wattpad, but no promises as I rather not jinx it. However, I will be announcing on FFNet through the old version of Alien Chronicles with a short authornote and a special preview piece that is not part of the new fanfiction on FFNet the day I release the first chapter on Wattpad to let those who are still on FFNet know what is going on. Well, thanks for dropping by! Auto out!