Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~ - First Impressions

Trial and error!

It’s only bee 2 episodes, but  Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto ~Natsu no Sora~ has me grinning like no other. Someday’s Dreamers didn’t exactly inspire me to start this series for a number of reasons, but through the first couple episodes there is a lot more to get excited over and a lot less dead time to sit through. Having Hal Film Maker in charge has me that much more confident about this series knowing that they did wonders with Aria and Sketchbook.

First off, I’ve already been yanked in by the characters. As adorable as Yume was in Someday’s Dreamers, she was fell on the negative end of the boring spectrum. Although she was supposed to be one of those slow rural types of characters, there were times when struggled to keep an episodes moving forward. Sora is another one of those “My Pace” kind of characters, but like another Sora (who also shares the same seiyuu), her relaxed pace works well with this show. She also has a touch of the Akari personality where she takes her time to enjoy all the nuances of life and sees the world as a glass half full. Sora really pushes things along at her own pace, which fits the tone of this series nicely. It was like taking things 1 event at a time and 1 day at a time. Never once did anything feel rushed, and never once did anything feel too slow, which is what I thought caused Someday’s Dreamers to suffer at times. The sample size is still incredibly small, but the first 2 episodes felt just right–characters have been introduced, locations have been shown, and the story is moving.

With Someday’s Dreamers, magic was very two-faced in the story. At time it was thrown in your face in a “Look! Magic is good/bad/useful/harmful” way, while at other times it was like it didn’t exist at all. In Natsu no Sora, I am liking how magic is unobtrusively integrated into the story, especially starting with episode 2. In terms of the story, I like how they have approached magic training with some competition and some apprehension about its use. It adds depth to the concept compared to the all-or-nothing Someday’s Dreamers. Sora is a mage in training, and with that comes learning how to live with people who also use it, with people who can’t use it, and with magic itself. I can’t think of a better way to flesh all that out than by having rivals and differences in opinions within the magic community.

The animation is probably hit or miss for some people, but I think it’s beautifully done. With Hal Film Maker is mixing up the use of rotoscoping with the use of more traditional and realistic animation, the look might take some getting used to, but it was hard not to pause parts during the first couple episodes just to admire the scenery. More importantly, the animation really added to the relaxed tone of the series. Natsu no Sora is definitely a slower-paced, laid back kind of series, but showing off homely looking scenery and using familiar looking locations makes you feel like part of the action. The familiarity and relaxed feel essentially make you feel at home. Also, the added realism further emphasized how “everyday” magic is in the story. It’s a natural part of the character’s everyday life, and thus, we too see it like that. It’s a style that just works. Perhaps if this were a different series with a different story, the style wouldn’t look as good, but it works here.

I’m a bit less enthused about the character design though. It does pair well with the backgrounds and scenery, but Yoshizuki Kumichi’s character designs from the manga looked a lot better in my opinion. It’s not at all bad, and I would guess it was done to go with the backgrounds better, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m watching some mash up of FLCL, Tekkon Kinkreet, and Lupin the III.

One area that I was most taken aback by was the music. I enjoyed Haketa Takefumi’s work in Someday’s Dreamers, so it was great to hear that Irish/European Middle Ages sound again.Something else I liked about the music was how when it was used. Often times background music gets used nearly every minute of an episode, and we forget that it’s even there. Natsu no Sora instead uses music sparingly during key moments, like when Sora first arrives in Tokyo or when she creates snow for Michiru and Toyama. The series itself doesn’t necessarily need background music to keep your attention or to set any moods (the animation and characters do it extremely well already); however, when present, the music gives a scene extra oomph.

The songs used in the show so far have also been quite good. Both THYME’s fly away and micc’s Kawaita Hana are enjoyable, especially the ED. Over the last couple days, I have been watching the ED sequence just for the song. The insert song in episode 2 though, Kugatsu no Umi wa Kurage no Umi (also sung by micc), really stood out for me and paired beautifully with scenes of Sora exploring her new neighborhood. I really hope that song makes it onto the Kawaita Hana single when it gets released (in early September…).

One last thing that really impressed me was Hanazawa Kana voicing Sora. I’m not too familiar with her work because most of the series she’s been in are ones that I haven’t yet watched (e.g., Sekirei, Mushiuta, Zegapain) or have no desire to watch (i.e., ToLoveRu, Getsumen to Heiki Mina). However I have heard her in Sketchbook, Potemayo, and Kyouran Kazoku Nikki. Although it has only been 2 episode, I’ve been quite impressed with what she has done with Sora. I thought she did a great job with another Sora in Sketchbook, but she’s taking up another notch here. Hanazawa Kana fits Sora like Hazuki Erino fits Akari in Aria. It is in no way an overpowering voice, or even a voice that projects a lot, yet Sora possesses an energetic voice. She gives Sora an enthusiastic and awestruck voice, with hints of nativity and determination. She’s the perfect voice for Sora’s character and so far she’s been impressive.

Through 2 episodes, I have little to complain about this series. True, it has only been 2 episodes, but those 2 episodes really left an impression with me. What really reamins to be seen is how the story plays and how the characters interact out over the next 10 or so episodes. A lot can change still, but with Hal Film Maker’s success with Sketchbook and Aria, I feel pretty good about going forward.

I haven’t been too high on Hirano Aya’s music career, but I’ll admit, I really enjoyed this album. Definitely not as bad as I thought it would be!

I was hoping for more new material on this album. Out of the 14 tracks, half of them can be found on previously released singles. The songs that are new are pretty good for the most part, with more of a straight rock sound instead of the pop and pop punk sound that was going on during the 3 singles in 3 months last fall (Love★Gun, NEOPHILIA, MonStAR).My opinions of those 3 songs haven’t changed in the last 8-10 months, but I don’t listen to any of them that much honestly. One thing I had wished for was a full cover of Sora ga Ai Deshou without all the Konata flare in it. What was released on the Aruhi no Karaoke Box album was great, but I would have loved to hear even more refined version. Oh well.

I’m happy that both Ashita no Prism and Yorokobi no Uta made it onto this album. Ashita no Prism was probably my favorite of her non-anime releases, so it was a bonus that the other track from that single also was included. One of the new tracks is actually a new version of her 2006 song, Breakthrough. The Riot Girl take on the song is a definite improvement over the original, especially with the vocals. I still prefer her deeper voice more overall, and  you can hear growth as a singer listening to the two versions. Something that did surprise me a bit was the inclusion of Maybe I can’t good-bye instead of Unnamed World. Both are really good songs, but I figured Unnamed World would get the nod because of Nijuu-Mensou no Musume.

The rest of the new material is actually pretty good and is much more listenable compared to the the 3 releases from last fall. For you, Harmonia vita, and Hoshi no Kakera are keepers. For you really stood out for me. It doesn’t do anything spectacular, but it’s a completely solid track. Like NEOPHILIA, this song doesn’t get in your face or overuse any gimmicks. It’s consistency and straightforwardness, musically and vocally, are what really appeal to me with this song. Harmonia vita is a slow, but powerful track that gets your head bobbing a bit. The vocals could have been better and some might be turned off by its monsterous feel, but I thought it was a nice listen. But, the one track I was surprised by and impressed with was the album’s ballad, Hoshi no Kakera. I haven’t really heard Hirano Aya break out a ballad like this, so I had to take a step back when I first listened to it. The song’s music is probably better than the vocals, but the two compliment each other well. Her voice isn’t bad at all in this track, but they weren’t as smooth as other songs we’ve heard in the past. The song itself is a treat, bringing in plenty of energy, while staying ballad-y at the same time.

Overall, I definitely give the album a thumbs up. Back in the fall, I was pretty down on Hirano Aya’s musical career and its lack of direction, but with this album, it looks like she’s grown since then (or really, since Unnamed World was released a couple months ago). Some of the pop punk is still present (i.e., RIOT GIRL, HERO), but there is much more of a straight rock feel with a hint of pop in there. And most importantly, you can hear her music evolving and improving.

Tracklist
01. LOVE★GUN
02. HERO
03. MonStAR
04. Ashita no Prism
05. Breakthrough (Album Ver.)
06. Bouken Desho Desho?
07. Aimai Scream
08. Yorokobi no Uta
09. Maybe I can’t good-bye
10. NEOPHILIA
11. Harmonia vita
12. For you
13. Hoshi no Kakera
14. RIOT GIRL

I really want to like this series, but can’t, but really want to, but…

At first glance, Someday’s Dreamers was a series that should have appealed to me a lot more. It’s a slow/relaxed slice-of-life and mahou shoujo hybrid with a great soundtrack. Yet, after spending a few days watching it, I’m shrugging my shoulders. I really want to like Someday’s Dreamers a lot more, but cannot. It was in no way a bad series or even below average, and it had its problems, but I cannot figure out why I am feeling so ambivalent about it.

Someday’s Dreamers (aka, Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto) is the story of Kikuchi Yume’s mage training. For a month, she will be learning more about her powers and will be putting them into practice away from home with her teacher. The series is essentially the ups and downs of Yume’s life during her month in Tokyo.

Being a fan of the slice-of-life genre, I’m used to shows that don’t rely on big booming plots and an abundance of intensity. Put simply, I’m used to the minimal plot and relaxed pace. However, in the case of Someday’s Dreamers, I was bored more times than not. My biggest problem with the series was that the pacing, even for a series of this kind, dragged too much. All too often there would be scenes with Yume dwelling on her use of magic or more plot-driven scenes that were extended beyond their usefulness. Did searching for Runa or Angela dwelling on her romantic feelings have to be as drawn out as they were? In some cases, dragging things out to either emphasize emotions or add some drama did the opposite.

Really the worst offense was the last 2 1/2 episodes of the series. Having Yume suddenly doubt herself and her powers was a good turn of events, but did it need to last over 2 episodes? It was almost like J.C. Staff needed to pound into out minds that Yume was confused over (house on fire) and over (ballon popping) and over (not being able to visit the old lady) and over (depressing lunch with Angela) and over (Masami’s past) and over (visiting the Chief) and over (the cat dying) again… Yeah, life wasn’t all dolphins and snowflakes, but they needed to hammer that into our minds continuously. All of that was a burden to watch, and I got to a point where I wanted the series to end immediately.

With other slice-of-life-like series, the slower moving plot can be offset by other aspects of the show. With Aria we get the gorgeous scenery or with Ai Yori Aoshi we get some quirky characters. With Someday’s Dreamers there was little else to latch on to. So for all 12 episodes you’re stuck with the characters and the story at hand.

Luckily, Someday’s Dreamers did have a nice cast of characters. Pretty much all the characters worked well with each other and all of them played off one another. Take out one or two of the characters and the series probably isn’t as enjoyable as it was. Yet despite the cast clicking well, other than Yume, Masami (who are the main characters), and Kera, all the characters were pretty shallow. Enough back story was given to them, but only the bare minimum–we know enough to care, but not enough to remember. It’s unfortunate because series like these rely on characters. For example, we knew Milinda had feelings for Masami and that she works two jobs, but nothing is said about how those feeling developed or what her relationship to Masami’s ex-lover was. All that could be fleshed out in just a few minutes, adding a lot of depth to her character, but it never happened. I’m not asking for half-episode long flashbacks, but really little was given. Considering all the time that was wasted dragging things out, it’s disappointing that some of the characters couldn’t have been give more depth.

Someday’s Dreamers probably would have worked better as an OVA instead of a 12-episode series. I do wonder why it was this long, and why anime-only characters were included, and the plot changed around, when they could have just stuck to the 2-volume manga (which I’ve had laying around for a couple years unread…). In the end, I have more complaints than praise for the series, yet part of me still wants to embrace it, which is leaving me with these mixed sentiments towards it. I truly did like Yume as a character. She was a slow-paced character (though, not like Sora in Sketchbook), but her personality was cheerful, realistic, and level. But other than Yume and the awesome soundtrack (Props to Haketa Takefumi and the Indigo), there isn’t much else for me. Perhaps I’m just reaching with this… thinking that a show like this has be redeeming. I don’t know. I am glad I spent the time watching it, but I doubt I will ever watch it again.

Now on to Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora, which has Haketa Takefumi on board for the music and Hal Film Maker taking control.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu - First Impressions

Shh!! She’s an otaku!

Admittedly, I blew off this show at first glance. Yet another harem, Nabatame Hitomi voicing a drunk, an uninspired and indifferent male lead with his groups of canon fodder lackeys, and a seemingly perfect School Idol/Ms. Perfect/Ojousama/Princess/Miss Macross/Queen female lead. Same old, same old… Noto Mamiko, Ueda Kana, and Matsuki Miyu were voicing characters, and 53rg10 had some positive to say about it, so why not. Test driving doesn’t mean I have to make a down payment. Plus, what better way to waste kill time than to watch supposed generic harem shows?

Damn guilty pleasures.

Luckily I did find it quite amusing, at least the first episode, and I attribute that completely to Nogizaka Haruka and Noto Mamiko.

Nogizaka Haruka = [(Toudou Shimako - gokigenyo/2) + Kusugawa Sasara + (Ogiue Chika/3)] * (Noto kawaii yo Noto + Kanon seifuku)

Haruka really could have been a dry character. Even hiding her otaku-ness Densha Otoko style, upon first impression, she comes across as pretty generic. However, there is something pretty damn intoxicating about her. It could very well be the pantyhose, the headband, or her love for Clumsy Aki-chan, but it’s all about Noto Mamiko for me. It has been awhile since I’ve heard her in this kind of role, and it has been awhile since I’ve heard her use her breathy, but not-so-breathy voice (think Kimikiss vs. MariMite). As much as I love hearing her voice, it’s a voice that I can get burned on quite, especially if it’s too many stuffy Shimako roles or too many quite Clannd roles. Thankfully Haruka falls under a third group. Hopefully there will be plenty of shy otaku Haruka goodness to come.

As for the rest of the series, I’m less enthused. I’m waiting for the token loli, the token transfer student, the token meganekko, the token iincho, and the token maid(s) to appear. I think my gripe with harem shows recently has been because of the peripheral cast of characters. I’m content with the main 2 or 3 characters, but the supporting cast usually has me wanting to fast forward. Sure they can be riot funny and sure they can provide hours worth of danbooru search fun, but in the end they’re usually cut-n-paste characters that posses some random quirk. Random character type + random character quirk… that’s what I am expecting from the rest of Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu’s cast. While the same can be said of Haruka (School idol + otaku), she gets a pass for being the main character, and thus won’t suffer from the lack of depth and plot device tag that side characters get.

It’s only 1 episode, so a lot can change because a lot hinges on what becomes of the rest of the cast. Right now, I’m watching this for Haruka and Haruka alone. I have my fingers crossed that this series will improve and that in the end I’ll be watching for more than just Haruka and the story.

Itazura na Kiss - 14

Naoki and Kotoko sitting in a tree… w-e-d-d-i-n-g!

I’m at the disadvantage having not read the manga, but at least according to the Wiki, the Naoki’s proposal happened around volume 10 (not sure about the actual wedding though). Regardless of the pacing this version is going at, I am still enjoying it a lot.

Where episode 14 ends is pretty much where most romantic comedies end entirely. And while it may be anticlimactic for some people, I am actually looking forward to this half of the story much more. Most romance anime should be called “courting” series instead because more times that not, the story is about falling in love and achieving/obtaining love, instead about being in love and maintaining that relationship. Itazura na Kiss is giving us both sides.

“Hi, I am Kotoko Irie desu~”

Looking back on a couple of my favorite romance stories, both Love Hina and I”s really got interesting once the main couple got together. The cat and mouse aspect is out of the way and you can really get into the characters. It’s less situational and less focused on “I wonder what is going to happen at this moment.” There are times when I can get burned out on series focused built on harems with Girl A going up against Girl B and Girl C. Sure there are plenty of series like this that are great series (i.e., Kanon), but they remain formulaic with a handful of episodes devoted to a certain character and then another handful for another, ultimately ending with some sort of conflict that leads a certain girl to the finish line.. It becomes more about rooting for certain characters and not really about a relationship developing. There can be plot twists in there (motorcycle accidents, comas, boxcutters, childhood rivals, etc), but it’s ultimately the same deal. There are time when I would prefer seeing a relationship develop and grow instead of it coming into being. Maison Ikkoku is a good example of this. True, it did take 14 volumes (or about 90 episodes) for Yusaku and Kyoko to officially become a couple, watching their relationship flourish during that time was what made them two extraordinarily memorable characters. Even though we had to wait to find out the actual outcome, I don’t think anyone questioned how it would end, but instead enjoyed getting to that end. And that’s where stories like Maison Ikkoku, Love Hina, and Itazura na Kiss stand apart from other more recent romantic stories like a Shuffle, a Da Capo, or a Kimikiss. It’s less about what the end will be, but more about what happens until then.

I am actually looking forward to watching this half of Itazura na Kiss more than I did the first half. This time, hopefully there will be more of a balance between Naoki and Kotoko. With the exception of episode 14, the first half was incredibly Kotoko-centric. Although it was implied that Naoki had feelings for her and he showed his affection a few time, it was fairly ambiguous until recent episodes. We all assumed he did, but it was rarely shown, so hopefully with the second half there is more of a balance. With 12 episodes remaining, there is little else I can ask for from Itazura na Kiss. It has remained pleasantly entertaining and remarkably relaxing. Getting to witness how the remainder of the story unfolds and seeing the originally intended ending animated sure will be a treat.

Zero no Tsukaima: Princess no Rondo - First Impressions

Henrietta? Check. Siesta? Check.Good to go.

To say my expectations are drastically lowered compared to last summer (which were already somewhat low) would be an understatement. It actually slipped my mind that Princess no Rondo was airing this season. With Futatsuki no Kishi’s disappointing downward skid and choppy feel, I had little enthusiasm when this season was first announced. But alas, it’s summer time and Zero and Saito are back.

Similar to Futatsuki no Kishi, I do commend Princess no Rondo for starting up and getting right to the point. Season 1 started off slow and took its merry time getting to the point, and although it ended well, the dragging start was a big minus for me. Conversely, Futatsuki no Kishi started out strong, but began falling on its face halfway through (the anticlimactic ending was the summation; the fall started well before). It’s still way too early to say which way Princess no Rondo will go, but I am glad J.C. Staff jumped into the story right where we left off last summer. Also, the “bad guys” are a bit more concrete instead of basically fighting off all of Albion and being focused on the war. Things can stick to good guy vs. bad guy and the Louse-Saito relationship. And hopefully with less new characters getting introduced the plot stays more focused and less jumpy.

With the characters, we know what we’re going to get from them at this point. Thankfully, both Louise and Saito have maintained their charm from season 2. Both of them became a whole lot more likable during Futatsuki no Kishi, with Louise becoming less bitchy and more accepting of her feelings, and with Saito becoming more of a badass. Hopefully the two of them and their relationship continue to develop and evolve. If there is one thing I have to give the Zero no Tsukaima franchise a lot of credit for it would be the way Louise and Saito have grown into an intriguing pair since the first season back in 2006.

Again, I have a very low expectation level with Princess no Rondo, and so long as it doesn’t fall on its face like season 2 did I’ll be content. Hopefully this plays out well. It has Noto Mamiko as Tiffania, so that’s already a plus.

Where is this series going?

I’m completely torn when it comes to Kyouran Kazoku Nikki. On one hand it’s laugh after laugh after laugh. Every single episode has been a chuckle fest with one of the craziest motley crew of a cast I’ve seen in a long time. However, on the other hand, with each episode I keep asking myself, “where is this going” and “what is the point of all of this nonsense?” Kyouran Kazoku Nikki is random nonsensical comedy at its best. With a cast that includes a talking lion, a biological weapon, a masked shinigami, a sushi-loving jellyfish, and a loli you’d think this was anime-original episode of Hayate no Gotoku. The series is complete wackiness that works incredibly well. The absurdity and randomness shown throughout seem nonsensical, but they are written so well that it doesn’t seem out of this world. Often times zany jokes can go overboard and thus lose their effect. If someone told me about a short story arc involving bipolar monkeys, floating castles, and loli kidnappings, or about a character who was an assassin chef at a Chinese restaurant, I’d watch just to see how badly it would screw up. In the case of Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, it works.

What really keeps this series from completely derailing are the characters. At first, the cast really seems like it was pulled out of someone’s ass. Where else would you find a brash nekomimi loli god as the main character? Nevertheless, stick all the weirdos in the same room and you’ve got a solid cast that compliment each others’ personalities. Other than Kyouka, who is extremely eccentric to begin with, none of the characters’ personalities or quirks ever seem overwhelming or excessive. Even the side characters, such as Shinigami-san or Muiyakey the pirate, flow well with each episode’s general theme and play off the rest of the cast.

Yet, even with the wackiness working out, the characters remaining entertaining, and the laughs continuing, there is still lack of direction and an overarching storyline–and this is through 10 episodes. At first I thought the short 1- or 2-episode story arcs were just to introduce the characters and to get us acquainted with them. Unfortunately, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki has been nothing but unrelated short stories. As much as I enjoy the zaniness, it’s hard to keep my level of interest high when there isn’t anything of substance to look forward to. I was hoping the introduction of Odessa Ei and Kyouka’s past would finally get a story going, but that ended abruptly after only 2 episodes. I’m still trying to stay optimistic considering I have only seen 10 episodes so far, but there has been zero mention of saving the world from the Child of Enka and the Cozy Family Operation (the story’s apparent main story). Instead, it’s been the adventures of the Midarezaki family.

When I first tried out Kyouran Kazoku Nikki, I was really attracted to the zaniness; however, the lack of a main story and any direction has slowly dulled my interest. Zaniness and nonsense are great, and more times than not, I welcome it, but some order and direction is needed. Cheap giggles and Kyouka goodness can only carry a series so far.

Moron arrested…

You really have to just scratch your head in confusion and disgust when someone does something like this just to see how people would react. Glad it’s resolved, and no one was actually physically hurt.

Man Arrested for Threatening Nana Mizuki Online

21-year-old allegedly wrote on 2ch online forums that he would kill voice actress, her fans

A 21-year-old Japanese man was arrested on Thursday for posting a message on the 2ch online message board in which he allegedly threatened to kill voice actress and singer Nana Mizuki and her fans. According to the authorities, the suspect Masaki Hori wrote on June 19 at around 4:46 a.m., “I’ll use a dagger knife and a two-ton truck to commit a massacre” upon Mizuki and her devotees at Yoyogi, the Tokyo site of her planned concert on July 5. The weapons described in the message echo the weapons used in the June 8 massacre in Akihabara that left seven people dead.

Hori is a part-time worker at a shop for the Yomiuri Shimbun paper in Kawasaki City in central Japan. According to the police investigation, Hori wrote the message to see what reaction it would cause. The authorities did not find a dagger knife or a two-ton truck at Hori’s home or its surroundings. They believe that it is highly possible that Hori was motivated by his desire to see people’s reactions to threats, but they intend to continue investigating for other alleged crimes.

Mizuki went ahead and performed her concert before a full house of 12,000 attendees on the evening of July 5 at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium arena. Before singing her final song, she briefly touched upon the arrest by mentioning her surprise and feelings of regret at the recent news. She said the experience reminded her that there would be trouble and stress in a long life, but it is important to be light-hearted and spur-of-the-moment. She added, “I want all of you to take more care of yourselves.” Mizuki has performed dozens of vocal roles in her decade-long career, including Naruto’s Hinata Hyuga, Fullmetal Alchemist’s Wrath, and Rosario + Vampire’s Moka Akashiya.

Seven hours before the Akihabara massacre on June 8, a person posted a mobile phone bulletin board message in which he claimed he would kill people with a vehicle and a knife. The police are attempting to link this message and others to the suspect in the Akihabara case, Tomohiro Katō. Kyoto’s High-Tech Crime Task Force began monitoring online forums for predictions of crimes in the wake of the Akihabara massacre, and their investigation on the threat against Mizuki led police to Hori.

Can it be winter already? I came again…

Now this was a pleasant little surprise.

Digital Manga Publishing announced at Anime Expo yesterday (7/4) that they have picked up the StrikerS manga. The last few days have been good to us North American Nanoha fans with the StrikerS manga getting picked up and FUNimation set to distribute the first 2 seasons. Interestingly enough, it was the StrikerS manga that was licensed, but I haven’t seen any mention about Nanoha A’s the Comics. Furthermore, StrikerS hasn’t been licensed yet. Strange… I can understand StrikerS not yet being licensed because it was still airing when Geneon USA announced the license for the first 2 seasons. Can someone clarify any of this for me (the manga in particular)? Did A’s the Comics run immediately before StrikerS the Comics, or was there some time in between them?

Whatever… I’m just super excited that I can get my hands on my own localized Nanoha manga and DVDs, and that the series is finally getting some exposure in the US aside from fansubs.