My Goal

I have come to a decision!  After looking at my bookshelf of manga and scrolling the internet of DVD box sets, figurines, wall scrolls, any other merchandise that is anime related, I have decided to buy one or two items per paycheck.  I will treat myself to a "new" book (and I say "new" because I've been buying them used), a DVD or box set, or any other merchandise of my favorite series for the rest of the semester. 

Back in high school, my manga collection grew fairly quick in just two years, but once I came to college, jobless in Rock Hill, my collecting has almost all but stopped!  I know it may sound ridiculous, but when I look at the series I am collecting, I realize how behind I am.  The only one I am up to date on is my beloved Fullmetal Alchemist series.  Those still needing to be completed:

 

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles (and the series has been completed)

Fruits Basket (I just need 7 more...I have the ending of the series)

+ Anima (series is complete only 5 more books to collect)

Inuyasha (but I just started this one, so it can wait)

Mars (one of the first manga brought to the states that is no longer in print, and finding the last 3 online has been a challenge)

For now, Wish, by the infamous group CLAMP is top priority on my list.  It was the first series I collected with a total of only 4 books.  Sadly, this past summer the first 3 met their end.  I'm not even sure what was sprouting from their bottom other than possible mold from something that had spilt. 

Here's to keeping my hobby of collecting this useless junk!  I know one day I may, may, have to part with my babies, but I'm a materialistic girl when it comes to this stuff, so perhaps I can convince my future hubby to let me keep it all!

Plus...I want to get my children into this world of wonder!



My small, humble manga collection. 
It does not compare to others I have seen!
I have anime boxsets as well,
but they're on a different shelf.



It's...It's a--

No!  Don't say it!  If you say Gundam, you die!

My hypothesis on that word has been proven true.  Every time a character screams, "It's a Gundam!" they're killed.  However, since none of the characters shouted those words in the episode I just watched, they all lived.  Funny how that works.

For the past month I have been watching Mobile Suit: Gundam Wing.  Let me just way, what a blast from the past!  As I sit here, watching Gundam Wing, I try to think back to my reactions to the show when I was a child.  Now that I am half way though the show, I can only think that I found the show mesmerizing in its space exploration, and exciting with all the fights.  However, now that I am older, I am finding my reactions are of pure amusement. 

(Pilots L-R: Heero Yui, Duo Maxwell, Trowa Barton, Quatre Raberba Winner, Chang Wufei)

(Gundams L-R: Wing Gundam, Deathscythe, Heavyarms, Sandrock, Shenlong/Nataku)

Where do I even start?  Character design or voice actors?  Don't get me wrong!  I still consider this anime one of my favorites, but I have laughed in almost every episode since I began rewatching it.  If I am not picking at the character design and how much 15 year old boys look like they should be 20 year olds (but then again, that's Japan for you), I'm picking at the horrible voice actors that were cast for some of the main characters and side characters.  It's like the Japanese creator thought if he drew the characters shorter than the adults, they'd appear the right age.  Wrong!  Haha.

Now, as a small rant, every time this one character spoke, I found myself embarassed for him!  It was so sad!  I was so happy his character died.  Thank goodness voice acting has come a long way since the late 1990's and early 2000's (around the time Gundam was voiced and aired).  At the same time, wonderful voice actors were born.  Scott McNeil, voice actor of Duo Maxwell, has continued to be a favorite voice actor of mine.  Kirby Morrow, voice actor of Trowa Barton, is another.  And let's not forget how voice actors voiced for more than one character throughout the show.  Nowadays, main voice actors remain as main VAs, and extras are extras.  For example, Moneca Stori voiced numerous characters throughout the show.  Two played important parts, yet half way through the show, they took her off one of the characters.  There is a distinct difference in the voice actors who voiced this one character.  Once again, I say, thank goodness English voice acting has come a long way since then. 

Now, I want to talk about Gundam Wing and its actual story and characters, but perhaps I'll wait for when I complete the series.  I can only image the length of that post.  Until then.

~~~~~~~~~

PS. Duo Maxwell is my drug for Gundam Wing. 

Order of favorite Gundam pilots:

1) Duo Maxwell

2) Trowa Barton

3) Heero Yui

4) Quatre Raberba Winner

5).........................Zechs Marquise (and he's not even a Gundam pilot)

Wufei can go self detinate for all I care...

Welcome!!

Hello and welcome to Under the Influence With Anime and Manga.  It has been a long time coming, but I have finally ventured to a blogging website where I can freely express my love for the well known phenomenon known as anime, and it's counterpart, manga.  I am not looking for my blog to be a top rating or viewed blog, just one for myself to look back on in the years to come.  It may seem a bit obsessive to want to keep a blog on my opinions about the countless anime I watch and manga I read, but as I have told many of my friends, anime has given me a reason to love writing.  As an aspiring novelist, the extraordinary stories that come from the Japanese culture inspire me to write as much as I can.  Plus, I cannot help but want to keep some sort of record for this form of entertainment.  I am not embarassed to say it is a huge part of my life, and I never want that to change.  Though there are those, my mother being the main person, who do not understand my love for this form of storytelling, I will never freely turn away from it.

So!  The blog I will be keeping will consist of the crazy, serious, sad, happy, frustrated, opinions, facts and love of anything and everything that has to do with anime or manga.  I will not be posting every day, but when I have a thought, I will be here.  Most of my thoughts will probably occur after I watch an episode of any kind of anime, or if there is a thought provoking conversation between my friends and I, or on one of my haunting grounds in forums.  For now, welcome to Under the Influence, and be on the look out for more to come.  This blog will serve as a great stress releaver! 

PS. Sometimes I may veer off course on other tangents, but never fear, anime will always be near.  (And drugs would be cheaper.)