Ristorante Paradiso

It's been a while.
Just finished watching this.
Great, short anime.
An unexpected gem of a find.

Best New Anime This Year -- Cross Game

I watched this anime just on a whim. To be honest, I didn't really give a lot of attention to this anime with its old-style art. A lot more anime looked more interesting, like Shangri-la and Valkyria Chronicles. However, after episode 1, I was hooked.
I laughed, I cried. I can't recommend this anime enough to everyone, even those who don't like baseball.
GO WATCH IT!

Bleach 350 - The New ichigo

I say, finally, finally, finally. Finally, after getting beat up all the time, Ichigo gets a power up. And what a power up it is. Meet the new Ichigo!

Kurogane no LINEBARRELS

I've been following the series which just ended with its 24th episode. While I don't care much about the main character (who I think is pathetic), I like the other character designs especially Emi.
Also, I finally find out why that giant robot is called LINEBARRELS.
The ending song is also quite good.

Double Manga Cliffhangers!

Double cliffhangers this week in the world of manga!
In Naruto 439, the seal on Naruto is about to break as he reaches the 8-tailed form. Just as he's about to break the seal himself, the 4th Hokage appears! What's going to happen?
In Bleach 349, Ichigo lies dead with a giant hole in his chest. As he lies dead, his hair suddenly grows long! Is he still alive?

New Prince of Tennis

Just giving people the heads up.
There's a new Prince of Tennis manga series aptly titled "The New Prince of Tennis."
Scanslations are already on the Net.

Naruto -- Six-Tailed Form

Just this week in Naruto -- Naruto's six-tailed form.
Image from SleepyFans scanlation.

The Scott Pilgrim Series

There are already five volumes out for this quirky series.
I've just read books 1 and 2. What I've read is good enough for me to look for the other volumes of this series.
It's sort of a westernized manga, with the author trying to put in weird situations, kind of like what happens in Japanese mangas. However, it comes across as just that -- weird.
Also, I don't like the main character. He's a ***, but the other characters in the story are interesting and the author's writing is good.

Auroras are the earth's dreams -- Pastel Chapter 92

"What are auroras?"
"They're the earth's dreams."

This is a page from Chapter 92 of Pastel by Toshihiko Kobayashi.
The chapter was one of the most touching stories I've read recently.
Pastel is basically a teenage love story manga. The art is great and so is the storytelling, though the pacing is a bit slow and relaxed. It took the characters way too long to admit their feelings to each other.
However, I think the relaxed pacing also gives character to the story, making it unique from all the other love story mangas.
And even though there's a lot of fan service in the manga, the author always manages to make the story pull your heartstrings.

Mysterious Girlfriend X

Also known as Nazo no Kanojo X, this manga caught my eye because of its mysterious title. :)

It's about this high school student Akira Tsubaki and this mysterious girl Mikoto Urabe who begin a strange romance between them when Akira tasted her drool.
Drool? Yup, her DROOL. Weird as the premise may sound, this manga is warm and funny at the same time as it shows the trials and joys of a couple as they learn about love and sex. There's some nudity so it is not for kids.
I'd recommend this manga and look forward to new chapters as only four volumes are out. This manga is very reminiscent of I's which is one of the best manga I've read.

Skip Beat -- Surprisingly Funny

I've started watching this anime on a whim -- and got hooked. It's a shoujo-type anime, which means it is typically aimed at female audiences. The anime is surprisingly funny and heart-warming at the same time. It kind of reminds me of Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances) in some ways.
I really recommend this anime.
Currently, there are 15 episodes out.
I'll be checking out the manga soon.