Nana MarfoA student with a passion for game development and all things Japan. Archives
September 2020
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Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid: Review26/1/2018 So I just finished Dragon Maid this week, and if we recall my first impressions post of it, I liked it. However, as we go through the show, does it get better or worse? Rules are the same as the first look, but please also note this is my opinion, not an unbiased review: 1.Spoilers are abounding here folks. If you want to watch it blindly... go watch it. Spoilers are here. 2. Depending on the Anime, this can get NSFW. 3. I am watching the subbed version. So, how good is a Dragon's antics? This is my review of Miss Kobayshi's Dragon maid. The story focuses more on an episodic structure, but for this shows it very much focuses on the character relationships, which is what makes this so heartwarming to watch. It's about Dragons trying to live in a human world, and humans who have had their lives flipped upside down. That being said, the human characters are a bit bland, and while they are meant to represent the viewer, that is not an excuse to be bland. Some of the dragons are underdeveloped as, and this leads me into a bit of a rant. Lucoa is the worst character in the show. She doesn't change at all in the course of the show, and her skit her trying to be accepted by a mage named Shouta. While it is funny, she doesn't really change at all, and if that is the case, then what's the point? She has no real reason to be there. Also the secret about how she was exiled(She is not a dragon, but an "Ex-Goddess") is not revealed. Disappointing! Anyway, Elma also lacks in character development, but I dismiss that to the fact she showed up at the halfway point. She gets 1 episode to herself, but that is more of a Thoru episode, in something that had been hinted at a few episodes before, but we'll get to that. She does act cute as a representation of the lone female worker(basiclicy a more lively Kobashchi). Fafinr is my favourate charater in the show, he doesn't get a lot of devlopment, but what he does get is heartwarming. He starts off very hostile, but he gets a place with Makoto. He is then transform into an gaming otaku that says "Maybe humans are not so bad". This line shows how far he has come as a character. He uses games to warm up to humans. Sure, a it's only one episode, but it's enjoyable. He also tries to sell curses in the fan service ... I am not kidding. Kanna is cute(No, I am not making the joke, I don't get it), but her character developmeny is a bit strange. She has a sort of relationship with Sayaka and their bonding is adorable, but I she doesn't really change as a character at all. However, I can forgive it, as I can tell her role was to have a good relationship with Sayaka, and act as Kobayashi's and Thoru's child. It feels nice to have a sort lesbian nuclear family. No, I don't watch yuri, I just got into anime! Speaking of, Thoru is Best Girl! She changes the most out of everybody in the show. At the start, she is a want to be human who falls into what she sees as a forbidden romance, as humans dragons are not really allowed to interfere with the afairs of humans. However, by the end she is a fun, bubbly young women, who has a real heart on for Miss Kobyashi. Looking at how she reacted when Georgie and Kobyashi were talking about maids(I won't spoil the story there for you), or when she was teaching Elma about how to be a human. Her wide range of emotions really help me get a grip on the character, and how she changes vastly. The ending theme is amazing. Ishukan Communication sums up the show perfectly. It's also up for an anime award, so VOTE FOR IT! The animation is a bit flatter in colour than some anime, but it looks cute, something which the flatter colour helps with.
Overall, I think this is an anime that everyone should check out. Decent story, Amazing characters, and catchy music. In other news, we are close to 250+ views in a week! Thank you guys sooo much! Thanks for reading, have a great night/day and take care. Written by Nana Marfo Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid(C)Seven Seas Entertainment
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So, I have been testing renders with HDR lighting. I did 2 this past week, one of a Custom Tifa Model: (I copied a pose by Katuya Moonfox). This one I was not too happy with, as the lighting sort of failed in what it was suppose st to do, which was make a realistic setting. The light is over-exposed(though that may be because I had to move the HDR plane behind the focus, meaning it had to show), taking away from the model in focus. The Rig wasn't great either. I forgot to do the thumbs. That is someting you should never, ever do. Anyway, my big question is what is the best set-up for HDR lighting in Blender? My current setup is this: I have also been testing some ideas for a fighting game prototypes. I have been using a model of Yuffie from KH1(KH2 models don't like to work with my rigs for some odd reason). So far a few animation and technical scripting has been done, but it is no where ready to show to you guys yet. Anyways, that is it for now! I have exams at the start of the month next month, so I will be a little less active for a few days from then! Either way, thanks for reading, have yourselves a great day/night, share if it's not to much trouble for you, and take care. Written by Nana Marfo Models used from Games: Lightning Reterns :Final Fantasy XIII Kingdom Hearts Cosplayer Credits: Katyuska Moonfox(She also does game design, check out her other twitter for that)
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Aho Girl: Quick Look19/1/2018 So.. Thanks to a Youtube Clip, I learned about this show. However, the reason this is Under "Quick Look" is because there is no real story, and I feel it suits a quick look format better. As always, rules: 1.Spoilers are abounding here folks. If you want to watch it blindly... go watch it. 2. Depending on the Anime, this can get NSFW. This one has a lot of those moments, so be warned. 3. I am watching the subbed version. That being said, lets go Crazy. This is a quick look at Aho Girl. Story This is the main reason I want to make this a quick look, instead of a full on review. There is no real story, just a basic outline. Hanabatake Yoshiko is an idiot or as I like to call her, the women an iron skull, chases best friend(or best acquaintance, more on that in a bit) since childhood Akusu Akuriu, or A-kun. Along the way Yoshiko meets Sumino Sayaka, the voice of reason, The school President, who has a crush on A-kun after helping her fend off Yoshiko, Ruri, the not Yoshiko who does not want to be an idiot, Ryuuichi, a delinquent that Yoshiko befriends and few gal types have no real memorable interaction with Yoshiko. The exception to this rule is episode 12, which gives us some insight on how a lot what came to be happened. And to be honest, I kinda of blame A-kun. Don't get me wrong, Yoshiko read signals that she shouldn't have, but at the same time, you don't send those signals to an idiot!(Warning:The Image below may not be safe for work.) Still, I do think the treads they have for each episode is nice, and I do like the fact it focuses more on the Random Humour, which for a show like this, is it's biggest strength. Characters This is where the show shines through. Yoshiko is my favourite, because while she is an Idiot, she has just wants to have fun, and there are moments where she knows more than anyone around her. Moments where you could say: "Yoshiko said that." A-kun is a smart boy who ends up accidentally befriends Yoshiko, but he is an introvert/shut-in that really want to keep working harder. However, he has girls breathing down his neck all the time between Yoshiko, Sayaka(she just acts as moral support, she even says she is not ready for relationships) and the president. Not help things is the Yoshiko's mother, who is determed on having Yoshiko be with A-kun. Still, I like him. It's intesting to see how 10 years changed this guy, helping him to really speak up for himself. The last noteworthy character is Sayaka. She ends up befriending A-kun after finding out he has no friends(outside of Yoshiko). She is my second favorate, besides Yoshiko, because of the fact that she is so sweet and very forgiveing. How she puts up with all of them, I have no clue. Besides that, I don't really any of the others noteworthy. They are memorable, but not noteworthy. Looks, Music and Final Thoughts.
The anime looks good, but it's the first anime I have watched that looks like a typical anime. Not that is a bad thing mind you. The intro is great, Zenryoku Summer is a really nice and upbeat theme to start the show. The intro visual change every episode, so keep an eye out for that. The ending theme is also really nice. Odoro really feel likes a theme to carry me into the next episode. Overall, I can't recommend this to new anime fans, or as your first anime, just because I think that you need to know the craziness anime gets up to in order to understand it fully. However, as a new anime watcher, I can say I enjoyed it. That's it for now! Thanks for reading, have a great day/night, share if it's not to much trouble for you, and take care. Written by Nana Marfo AHO GIRL!(C)ADK
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Hey everyone! I have a few small things to share with you share. Firstly, I have a gamedev.net account! I will also be sharing some design things I have been doing for my personal brand, something which I want to expand in 2018. The plan is to have an OC, and a logo by the summer, something I am not comfortable with showing yet, because these are very early steps. I have also started taking work, in order to expand my skillset! Working on Models(even though I am not really comftable with modeling full yet) has really been satisfying! I will speaking about it more when I start to finish the models. I also will be entering the Fig Jam from the GDN network, so I hope to do even better than last time! I also have a new demo reel, and THE CHARACTER CONTROLLER IS FINISHED!!! Again, I will redo it for a better physics system, but I might use these scripts for the Fig Jam(need to know what the theme is). I also uploaded the Final Fantasy XIII traller I did! It's unfinished(Shortened and missing the end shot, which would have the cover art and the would say pre-order now), but I love the editing I did. The plan is in the description(as well as here), and once I render the box art, I will upload it! The wallpapers/key visuals are already in my works. Finally, last week on Sunday, we broke 200+ views in a week on the website. Thanks to everyone who read anything I posted, shared the site with their friends, anything like that. I am currently working on a special Photoshop.
Anyways, that is it for now! I have a few anime reviews lined up, and I will review Ex-Aid True ending when it comes out(Probably sometime next month). For now, thanks for reading, have a great day/night, share if it's not to much trouble for you, and take care. Written by Nana Marfo Models from: Lightning Reterns :Final Fantasy XIII Final Fantasy X Kingdom Hearts II Megaman X8 All content used(C) Their Respective Owners. |