Monday, February 23, 2015
Monday Chapter Uploads
Howdy, everyone. My schedule still is a bloody mess, but another Monday update more due to the weather coming into my area tonight. No idea considering how off the weatherman has been the last few days, hence 50/50 chance of nothing happening or getting a lot of ice considering my area. I'm betting on the latter. Hence I have posted up Alien Chronicles on FFNet and Wattpad and also have a new chapter of Duet Worlds today. However, depending on my schedule and the weather, I may have the next chapter of Trickster Fae up later this week or next week.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Chapter Updates and Announcement
Howdy, everyone. Doing another Monday up with Alien Chronicles uploaded on FFNet and Wattpad, a new chapter of Duet Worlds and Trickster Fae. My work schedule is still unsure at the moment, though I noticed a pattern it's shifting to night shift. Hence I am trying to change my sleep schedule to better adjust to the changes. But, this also means once my schedule is finalized, when I do posting might change, especially if I sleep later into the day than before. Hence, I will be focusing on writing and such instead of doing any reviews. Instead, I will wait till March to begin doing anymore reviews on anime, manga, and light novels. However, upside, I been getting a lot more writing done and getting buffers for Duet Worlds and Trickster Fae built up. I took a break from working on Volume 2 of Alien Chronicles to not just work on the other two fanfiction, but finish some research for Volume 2 to make sure I do this story arc right with how I am doing it. However, as soon as I learn of my schedule finally settled, I will let you all know here. Auto out!
Monday, February 9, 2015
Chapter Update
Howdy, everyone! Just going to keep this blog update short. My schedule is still a mess and, worse, the funny feeling my family had with seeing the internet issues fixed so easily was right. Internet is down again for me and hence using the library for this update. Hoping next week to post a new chapter of Trickster Fae, but today I have have posted chapters for Alien Chronicles on Wattpad and FFNet and Duet Worlds. Hope you all enjoy these chapters.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Auto's Anime Reviews: English Dubbed Log Horizon Episodes 14-25
Howdy, everyone! Finally got around finishing this review on the second half of Log Horizon's Season 1 English Dub. Now, I will be keeping this review as short and spoiler free as possible. But, I give applause for the English Dub of this series. Not many dubs can give you a great feeling with watching it, especially since some scenes I had to pause due to giggling from the comedy improving compared to the Japanese version. That's pretty damn hard to pull off, especially with the Log Horizon's comedy moments is a common complaint among others.
Now, I will say, the English dub nailed the story and characters spot on considering what little they had to go with. Characters seem to be alive and even more fleshed out compared to the original anime version. I even noticed some changes to the episodes, or it could be simply the fix up for DVD release, but it really strengthen Log Horizon's anime. However, I will say, the issue ending many of us have before with Log Horizon's Season 1 has been fixed a little, even if it is still too slice of life away from the MMORPG world. It oddly works better in English seeing Shiroe's girl troubles. A lot of character building has been sneaked into the English dub, managing to keep Log Horizon's love of foreshadowing and hidden clues in top condition. In fact, I spotted new details I missed before. Also, we get the good action Log Horizon gives us even with the little more action than the first half. Sure, not battle every episode of action pack anime, but still pretty good action when it appears.
Animation still as some issues here and there, but I noticed some improvements compared to the online streaming version. Most voice acting lip syncs are spot on, making it almost seem Log Horizon is actually an English made anime instead of Japanese at times. I mean, seriously, the edited lip scenes for the new dialogue is pretty damn impressive. Now I see why they had no room for a lot of extras with all they put into making sure the English dub matching up with the Japanese anime in quality. I haven't watched all the English subtitled episodes, but the DVD seamlessly shifts between subtitles and dub even though it's clear you got a total of 50 episodes in both disk sets instead of just a change in voice acting. The good animation from the original is also still there with still some hiccups and such, but a lot more clean compared to before with the streaming episodes. Again, Log Horizon definitely didn't have the best animation budget, but I actually like seeing project like this come out with meager budgets and great stories than the other way around as Hollywood usually has.
Now, to the final verdict for the whole first season of Log Horizon, not just the second part of it. As a whole, I have to give Sentei Filmworks kudos. They did an awesome job with Log Horizon's English Dub. I am usually hesitant on English dubs, understanding well translations are never usually as good as the original. This is one of the few English dubs that can stand next to it's Japanese original. However, I do have to voice some negatives, especially considering I am also seeing this in Season 2, though this is still a pretty damn good series. It's relates to the common complains of too many characters and seeming to lack a focus. The problem with the anime is it is only scratches the surface of Log Horizon's world. A lot of information is left out from the light novels and not in a good way even if its different mediums.
Log Horizon is actually more than just a story. It's a breathing representation of what a MMORPG story should be and why Mamore-sensei actually supports spin-off and fanfiction. He designed the whole world to be just that, a RPG. Log Horizon itself is just one fraction of a big world and sadly the anime failed to realize this. It would have probably helped with adapting it to the anime format since it could have added these details to better foreshadow and set the focus of the story like the light novels as it makes the reader dig for the bigger, overarching storylines as the big reward. The English Dub has tried to make amends to this, but it sort of actually shows more of the original anime's issues in this regard. It actually made the English Dub more enjoyable and gave it a little more direction, but still couldn't keep the same focus you have in the light novel due to still leaving out too many details that really help drive the whole Log Horizon world. Many of them for anime could have been easy to put in as simply very good foreshadowing, almost Easter eggs, and very slight details. However, English dub did a pretty damn good job trying to sneak all they could in with what they got.
Yet, Season 2 is also sadly not keeping a better eye on the source material as even with Mamore-sensei has public a note sheet of the Log Horizon world. There are several common errors that got the more informed fans rolling their eyes, especially with the misinterpretation less experienced fans are having from the anime. It's a bit worse than the first season, but makes me kind of glad seeing Sentei Filmworks is doing Season 2. If they did the same as they did with Season 1, then they might actually give Log Horizon the better focus it needs with giving a proper translation from the light novels and clearing up issues Season 2 is dealing with as many people feel the arcs are just arcs and its really hard to tie the pieces of the larger arcs together. Ah, oops, gotten a bit ahead since I am still working on completing Season 2 for a review.
Bottom line, Log Horizon is a very good anime in both Japanese and English. The English Dub of it actually answered to the fans and actually gave a more enjoyable ride for those willing to look deeper into this anime than just an adventure story with battles and magic. Even with the issues, the English Dub actually managed to come out with a better focus than the original anime and bring the tone and feel of the light novel. If you love political and economic anime that really take the time to do a good story, I can't recommend Log Horizon. Especially considering the anime, both English and Japanese, takes the time to build a complex, but very engaging story even if the anime only gives us a sliver compared to the light novels and other parts.
Now, I will say, the English dub nailed the story and characters spot on considering what little they had to go with. Characters seem to be alive and even more fleshed out compared to the original anime version. I even noticed some changes to the episodes, or it could be simply the fix up for DVD release, but it really strengthen Log Horizon's anime. However, I will say, the issue ending many of us have before with Log Horizon's Season 1 has been fixed a little, even if it is still too slice of life away from the MMORPG world. It oddly works better in English seeing Shiroe's girl troubles. A lot of character building has been sneaked into the English dub, managing to keep Log Horizon's love of foreshadowing and hidden clues in top condition. In fact, I spotted new details I missed before. Also, we get the good action Log Horizon gives us even with the little more action than the first half. Sure, not battle every episode of action pack anime, but still pretty good action when it appears.
Animation still as some issues here and there, but I noticed some improvements compared to the online streaming version. Most voice acting lip syncs are spot on, making it almost seem Log Horizon is actually an English made anime instead of Japanese at times. I mean, seriously, the edited lip scenes for the new dialogue is pretty damn impressive. Now I see why they had no room for a lot of extras with all they put into making sure the English dub matching up with the Japanese anime in quality. I haven't watched all the English subtitled episodes, but the DVD seamlessly shifts between subtitles and dub even though it's clear you got a total of 50 episodes in both disk sets instead of just a change in voice acting. The good animation from the original is also still there with still some hiccups and such, but a lot more clean compared to before with the streaming episodes. Again, Log Horizon definitely didn't have the best animation budget, but I actually like seeing project like this come out with meager budgets and great stories than the other way around as Hollywood usually has.
Now, to the final verdict for the whole first season of Log Horizon, not just the second part of it. As a whole, I have to give Sentei Filmworks kudos. They did an awesome job with Log Horizon's English Dub. I am usually hesitant on English dubs, understanding well translations are never usually as good as the original. This is one of the few English dubs that can stand next to it's Japanese original. However, I do have to voice some negatives, especially considering I am also seeing this in Season 2, though this is still a pretty damn good series. It's relates to the common complains of too many characters and seeming to lack a focus. The problem with the anime is it is only scratches the surface of Log Horizon's world. A lot of information is left out from the light novels and not in a good way even if its different mediums.
Log Horizon is actually more than just a story. It's a breathing representation of what a MMORPG story should be and why Mamore-sensei actually supports spin-off and fanfiction. He designed the whole world to be just that, a RPG. Log Horizon itself is just one fraction of a big world and sadly the anime failed to realize this. It would have probably helped with adapting it to the anime format since it could have added these details to better foreshadow and set the focus of the story like the light novels as it makes the reader dig for the bigger, overarching storylines as the big reward. The English Dub has tried to make amends to this, but it sort of actually shows more of the original anime's issues in this regard. It actually made the English Dub more enjoyable and gave it a little more direction, but still couldn't keep the same focus you have in the light novel due to still leaving out too many details that really help drive the whole Log Horizon world. Many of them for anime could have been easy to put in as simply very good foreshadowing, almost Easter eggs, and very slight details. However, English dub did a pretty damn good job trying to sneak all they could in with what they got.
Yet, Season 2 is also sadly not keeping a better eye on the source material as even with Mamore-sensei has public a note sheet of the Log Horizon world. There are several common errors that got the more informed fans rolling their eyes, especially with the misinterpretation less experienced fans are having from the anime. It's a bit worse than the first season, but makes me kind of glad seeing Sentei Filmworks is doing Season 2. If they did the same as they did with Season 1, then they might actually give Log Horizon the better focus it needs with giving a proper translation from the light novels and clearing up issues Season 2 is dealing with as many people feel the arcs are just arcs and its really hard to tie the pieces of the larger arcs together. Ah, oops, gotten a bit ahead since I am still working on completing Season 2 for a review.
Bottom line, Log Horizon is a very good anime in both Japanese and English. The English Dub of it actually answered to the fans and actually gave a more enjoyable ride for those willing to look deeper into this anime than just an adventure story with battles and magic. Even with the issues, the English Dub actually managed to come out with a better focus than the original anime and bring the tone and feel of the light novel. If you love political and economic anime that really take the time to do a good story, I can't recommend Log Horizon. Especially considering the anime, both English and Japanese, takes the time to build a complex, but very engaging story even if the anime only gives us a sliver compared to the light novels and other parts.
3 Chapter Upload and Update
Howdy, everyone! Much to my shock, my internet provider's customer service is 5 stars this week. After my router croak this weekend, my family just got a new one from the service guy who came to check out the router and try to fix it. We are all wary of it due to knowing our internet provider well, but thankful for the quick fix to our situation. However, my update schedule is still not set due to the lovely issue of work. My work schedule is scattered to put it bluntly. However, still keeping the weekly updates. The newest chapters for Alien Chronicles are up on Wattpad and FFNet. As well as the latest chapter of Duet Worlds and Trickster Fae. Probably still have the schedule up in the air for next week, but hoping for it to settle later this week or next. However, I will be starting to put up reviews on my blog more, starting off with reviewing the second half of the English dub for Season 1 of Log Horizon. Since all three of the categories are tied, I guess I will work with what I got and start off with a manga: Black Apple Vol.1. It's from the online manga magazine Saturday A.M., though I bought the physical copy of it. I am hoping to do the review in the next few weeks. Well, then, I hope you all have a great week. Auto out!
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