Pretty Cure Review #1

Hi all and salutations! I know, I know, I'm already starting another anime without finishing up Mermaid Melody. Yet, it's not as flaky as you may think (even though it probably is -.-). This one has been preying on my mind for the past few years and I have just gotten the opportunity to watch it, so I just couldn't pass it up.

Pretty Cure (or Futari wa Pretty Cure) is the first in a long line of series and spin offs. The series focuses on two girls named Nagisa Misumi and Honoka Yukishiro who are chosen by fairies of the Garden of Light, Mipple and Mepple, to defend their world against the Dark Zone as the Emmisaries of Light: Cure Black and Cure White.
So far, I've watched five episodes and still am on pretty neutral ground when it comes to continuing the series. It's different, though I'm finding it very hard to see why it got so many spin offs and sequels.
I enjoy the fact that the series incoprates more shonen-like fight scenes instead of the normal pretty twirly flips (not that I mind them of course). Mascots Mipple and Mepple have to be the cutest things to date in the mahou shoujo biz. Yet, Mepple comes off as a bit bossy and somewhat of a brat, kinda like a certain Cyberian we all know and love (*eyes Alto*). I also found it enjoyable and different that there was no knight in shining armor waiting for either of them with a safety net. Hopefully I can still say that toward the end of the series. It's also convenient and very strategic that neither girl has a weapon, just a finishing attack. So, no tripping and fumbling that scepter in a pinch.
Some of the things that I did not enjoy about the series was that the magic the girls possessed seemed a little haphazard to me. So far, I think I'm catching onto the theme of duality, yet I felt there could have been more done than just using black and white thunder. Maybe I'm a little old school and enjoy the organization Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, and Tokyo MewMew bring with the elements and each individual possessing a different strength. As long as we're on the subject of powers, I felt the henshin was quite lackluster and, anyone that knows me personally knows, I'm a stickler for henshin. If I don't get goose-pimply from your phrase or battle cry, I'm not gonna have too much of a reason to stay and watch the rest of the series.

This seems to be another series that might be on my "watch later" list, because it's just not sending me. I'll try to watch a few more episodes and see where my attentions go after that. It's the weekend, so I should have ample time! If you've watched the series, let me know what you thought. I'd love to hear from you!

~DJ Melody

Space Channel 5 Space Reporter Ulala: Patron Saint of Dance

Hey folks, it's me Melody! Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but lots have been going on. I managed to get into high school now and have high hopes for this new year! So many events to party at, so much kandi to collect, and so many video games to collect and play.

Speaking of video games, I just recently got hooked on this super old, but still super cute game called Space Channel 5 Part 2. Maybe you old school gamers remember playing the first one and remember the awesome fun you had. It's basically a music video game where you play as Ulala, a space reporter, and have to copy a sequence of moves in time to music. A similar game is Parappa the Rapper if you guys remember playing that game as well. Think of a high intensity battle of Simon-Says where "the entire universe depends on your funky moves" (Fuse, Ep. 3).
In Part 2, the fun doesn't stop and you get to meet some old friends as well as play different instruments and sing karaoke, sorta.

I've spent over 10 hours on this game and am absolutely in LOVE with it. And, after careful deliberating, I have come to a conclusion the Ulala is definitely a magical girl and super cool one at that. Reasons?:

• Her magical weapon is a microphone that changes into a ray gun
• Her catchphrase "Super Successful Rescue" is, well, catchy
• While without a henshin sequence, she does have an ample wardrobe that allows her to work undercover in awesome style
• She saves the universe with a flare that only so few possess.
  

Bass says those are very flimsy reasons to dub her an official mahou shoujo and says that she's a normal heroine all her own. I think she's avoiding the obvious. Alto says that she reminds him of SwiChaCha, the Patron Cyber Muse of Dance back in Eternia, which is totally off subject, though I've seen a picture of her and they do look fairly similar. Er... well, I digress (big word from Harmony). What do you guys think? For those that have played the game, do you think she's awesome enough to be deemed a magical girl or am I looking too far into it? I'd totally love to hear your thoughts!

~DJ Melody