Good news: AniBroad is now open for testing! But with myself being a rookie coder, there will be a few imperfections. All the important features will be implemented at a later time until AniBroad is worn out a bit from the initial launch. Of course, the site will be in beta for a while (but not as long as Gmail, that’s for sure ).

As I mentioned before, AniBroad is a social bookmarking/voting application made with Ruby on Rails. I built the site in mind of the basic features that makes the site work as it should as an social voting site for Otaku, with the intent of adding other goodies in the future. But for now, the theme of the site is “Broadcasting”. For example: Articles are called “Broadcasts”, which are submitted by “Broadcasters”, the users, who submit the content. Note that the “Articles” model is saved from the earlier versions of the application. It does not mean that it should be text articles: it can be an article of multimedia instead of text.

After signing up, the Broadcaster can submit a Broadcast to be seen by the entire world. When a user submits a Broadcast, a vote is automatically appended to the Broadcast (note: a Broadcast can only be voted on once). If other Broadcasters like the Broadcast, it can be voted on. The highest voted submission goes to the Popular Broadcasts page, whereas the recently submitted Broadcasts are shown on the Upcoming Broadcasts and are eventually promoted to the Popular page when enough votes are cast. If the user wants to see all Broadcasts including Upcoming ones, there is a section for All Broadcasts.

With AniBroad running in beta mode, there will be limited registrations. Right now, registrations are open to everyone. Simply register and submit as many Broadcasts as you want. But depending on how many users sign up or if something goes awry, new registrations will be discontinued until further notice. This is to prevent things from getting out of hand and to get initial feedback from the first batch of testers. As I said before, this is the first time being serious about coding a site from scratch that I will want to see how things turn out. I’m very anxious of how this will go.

If you’re ready, become a test Broadcaster right now and submit a Broadcast! Stay tuned for further updates!

Here is another series that our anime club, S.C.A.M., is watching at the moment from the Fall 2011 lineup, and it’s a series that has been deeply recommended to me for my manga reading comeback. It’s Future Diary, which has been said it’s a lot like Death Note, but more complicated–or more fun to watch than Death Note. The second comment is holding true already.

Impressions

A student, Yukiteru, finds that his cell phone acts as a diary of the future: a “Future Diary”, where events written it actually occur. Him and 11 others have the same diaries, which drags Yukiteru into a game of survival. The losers run into a DEAD END, while the winner is elected as a god.

Thoughts

Yukiteru's victorious life is about to get interesting...

Going back to when I watched–or rather read–Death Note for the first time, I was sceptical of how it would go. The first chapter got me hooked from beginning to end. This is how I felt about Future Diary. But with Future Diary, the pace is a little faster, because there are more characters than the previous series in question. And I have to admit that it made more sense.

Deus Ex Machina oversees the events of the diary holders.

Yukiteru is picked on for keeping to himself. Maybe that's a good thing, in his opinion...

The first episode matches the first chapter very well, but with some changes being set in place for the second episode. Having read only one chapter of the manga (yes, I need to change that), it would be fun to see what happens here and there. With Death Note, I read the manga from beginning to end, and the anime slowed it down for me. Watching the anime for Future Diary first, it’s a challenge of stomaching both changes from anime and manga changes. It’s for the better, of course. But there is one thing that sets Future Diary apart from Death Note at all: humor.

Yukiteru meets Yuno, another diary holder and an obsessed fan of his. This familiar to another series...

In the second episode, things get crazy when another user of the diary is revealed. I’ll only give you this–spoilers, obviously: a school is taken hostage; a girl announces her intentions as if this were a sporting event, and someone gets hurt. Who will it be? In the third episode, we find out more about Yukiteru’s new friend, Yuno, and the other diary keepers with their impending demise. I wish I could have read the manga first, but let’s see how this goes before I decide to finish reading.

- Future Diary is currently streaming on FUNimation and Hulu.

S.C.A.M.’s Greatest Anime Character Ever Tournament has come to an end. A little over a few weeks ago, 22 characters were nominated: one character has been selected. A returning champion from the Off-Season Saimoe Tournament in December met head-to-head with three characters from three popular series, with two of them favorites to win during the S.C.A.M. Tournament. Below is the full report from the Quarter and Semifinal rounds, along with Sunday’s winner of the first Anime Character Tournament. To view the preliminary rounds report, check out Update #1.

Quarterfinal: Round 5: Groups 1 & 3

Note: Winners in bold advance to the Quarterfinals.

• Alucard (Hellsing) [11 Votes]
• Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin) [19 Votes]
• Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist) [23 Votes]
• Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass) [18 Votes]

Quarterfinal: Round 6: Groups 2 & 4

• Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) [15 Votes]
• Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler) [6 Votes]
• Sousuke Sagara (Full Metal Panic!) [16 Votes]
• Vegeta (Dragonball Z) [14 Votes]

Semifinal: Round 7

• Kenshin Himura [45 Votes]
• Sousuke Sagara [44 Votes]

Semifinal: Round 8

• Haruhi Suzumiya [42 Votes]
• Roy Mustang [41 Votes]

Final: Round 9

• Haruhi Suzumiya [22 Votes]
• Kenshin Himura [33 Votes]

The winner of the S.C.A.M. Character Tournament is Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin! It was a great fight to the end going up against leading Saimoe champ Lelouch Lamperouge of Code Geass and Sousuke Sagara from Full Metal Panic. In the end, it was both Haruhi Suzumiya and Kenshin to the finish. A predictable end to a first successful run of the tournament. Many congratulations go out to the winner and his supporters! ^_^

Greatest Video Game Character Ever

Now that the tournament is over for the anime characters, it’s time for the Greatest Video Game Ever Tournament. The game character tournament is larger than the anime character event. However, instead of 48 hour rounds, it will be 24 hours with 31 rounds total until the end of February. The tournament is currently in its 4th round, with each round ending at midnight. The full roster and tournament status can be viewed via BracketMaker.com. To vote, visit and like Scenic City Anime & More on Facebook to cheer on your character!

I don’t get the chance to talk about politics on the blog. Probably because this isn’t the place to discuss it, unless it was (wait for it) related to the subject of the blog and it was so outrageous that it has to be discussed. Well, it has nothing to do with anime at all… and it’s IS outrageous enough to talk about it, so please hold your protests until you read this.

CEN.TAKU.ME is currently equipped with the Stop SOPA ribbon at the top right corner of the site. What’s SOPA? It’s a very dangerous bill that will destroy the way of life on the Internet for millions of us Americans. The Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act (PIPA) is intended to censor anything on the web that the government sees as “copyright infringement”. This means that anything used, including original text, such as this blog containing “copyrighted material” that’s used fairly to support the purchase of these products, is in danger of being wrongly shutdown. It’s supported by many mainstream companies, including networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. It’s also important to note that none of the networks’ news programs has talked about the effects of SOPA, which is another problem: if no one knows about it, it will be too late if the bill is voted on January 24th.

This is what you will see if SOPA and PIPA is passed. Don't let this happen.

The SOPA bill, when dissected, will actually Stop Online Freedom. The bill is poorly written that thousands are protesting against the bill, mimicking the effects of what would happen if the bill is passed as of today (January 18th). It will also run social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, including free media organizations such as Wikipedia and Reddit, which have blacked out in protest, out of business. This also means your favorite websites operating in the US will disappear. Even CEN.TAKU.ME would cease to exist, including AniBroad which I’m trying so hard to make perfect before launch. If this bill is passed, it will never be launched this month. Or ever.

Look: I don’t want my Internet censored. You don’t want it censored. You’ve come along way to getting what you want. I’ve come along way to contribute to the choices. Before I started this blog, I’ve been censored because of something helpful I said years ago on a forum because some fanboy with 10,000 posts decided to become a moderator through quantity over quality. Then I found this blog, only to be rejected unfairly because of “not having enough content” to appease them, though there are other blogs like this right in front of their faces. This blog has been a way for me to express my thoughts and share it with others when I couldn’t or can’t even now due to the possibility of an unscrupulous user having their way, even if the rules require someone to help out with their unique knowledge. Even though there are those that don’t appreciate what I write, I try not to let elitism get the best of me and keep going. I’m not going to let a group of people who don’t know how the Internet works, including those that know very damn well how it works–and think they’re the only one online, TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CAN’T SHARE!!!

The SOPA bill is designed to stop piracy. That I understand. Piracy needs to be curbed, but there are better ways to stop it instead of silencing others. There are better ways instead of putting legitimate outlets at risk of going out of business–losing thousands of jobs that this bill promises to save. If you’ve read this, even if you don’t relate to it, then you know how important the Internet is to you… everyone.

If you want to continue reading what you see–not just this site, but millions of other sites operated in the US, please visit Stop American Censorship to voice your concerns. If you’re not in the US, you can petition the US state department against the bill. I suggest reading the site for a better explanation of what would happen, which includes tools to fight against SOPA. Don’t let SOPA pass!

Normally, Interesting Find is a series where I discuss the interesting Otaku merchandise I obtained that you would never expect to find laying on the shelf at your local anime store. With my warehouse a little cluttered right now to show anything else, and the lack of funds to buy anything else at the moment, here is something interesting that I found while watching a documentary of a South Korean celebrity.

If you haven’t read it, the latest Ni-Ongaku Spotlight featured Korean actor Jang Geun Suk who is currently the top Hallyu star in Japan. In the post, I mentioned that Geun-chan was possibly a fan of One Piece, along with his puppy, as reported by allkpop. On New Year’s Day, KBS2 aired a documentary, “25 Years Old: I Am Jang Geun Suk“, chronicling his November CRI Show: The Beginning tour in Japan at the Tokyo Dome, Osaka, and Saitama, as well as a look into his career and personal life when he’s not in front of a camera.

Towards the end of the documentary, I couldn’t help but notice the obvious devotion to One Piece, and from the looks of it… Bleach, in his room.

From the left, it looks like a figure of Luffy (not to ignore what looks like a stack of manga to the left). On the middle-right, it appears to be another figure of Luffy… and to the very far right in the shadows, it appears to be a figure of Bleach’s Ichigo. Of course, he’s surrounded by the two Choppers on the couch.

What’s so special about this? Well, considering he makes a good Tsundere archetype (see Hwang Tae Kyung in You’re Beautiful), this puts a smile on my face. Though I don’t know too much about One Piece to find an example character that would fit him. If he’s a Bleach fan as much as he is of One Piece, then I hope to see him make references to this character. With his image, I doubt that would happen. But all he needs to do is channel Tae Kyung.

Here’s an update of Scenic City Anime & More’s Anime Character Tournament. Since the nominees were selected on January 4th, the characters have tried their hardest to make it to the Top 2 of their group, some rounds very close with the runner-up tied with the same number of votes for a possible tie-breaker. Of course, there’s the heartbreaking conflict of a favorite in the same match of another.

Out of 22 Characters, only one can be the best. With the tournament in the Quarterfinals, it’s coming down to the wire. Check out the standings below to see if your favorite character made it, including an announcement of another character tournament coming soon!

Round 1: Group 1

Note: Winners in bold advance to the Quarterfinals.

• Alucard (Hellsing) [31 Votes]
• Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin) [28 Votes]
• Luffy (One Piece) [6 Votes]
• Touya (Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicles/Cardcaptor Sakura) [4 Votes]
• Rainbow Brite (Rainbow Brite) [3 Votes]

Round 2: Group 2

• Haruhi Suzumiya (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya) [18 Votes]
• Ciel Phantomhive (Black Butler) [12 Votes]
• Lina Inverse (Slayers) [11 Votes]
• Yuuko Ichihara (xxxHolic) [11 Votes]
• Lucy (Elfen Lied) [7 Votes]
• Orihime Inoue (Bleach) [3 Votes]

Round 3: Group 3

• Roy Mustang (Fullmetal Alchemist) [15 Votes]
• Lelouch Lamperouge (Code Geass) [10 Votes]
• Sebastian Michaelis (Black Butler) [9 Votes]
• Shion Sonosaki (When They Cry) [3 Votes]
• Hello Kitty (Hello Kitty) [1 Vote]

Round 4: Group 4

• Sousuke Sagara (Full Metal Panic!) [16 Votes]
• Vegeta (Dragonball Z) [9 Votes]
• Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach) [6 Votes]
• Keiichi Maebara (When They Cry) [4 Votes]
• Saeko Busujima (High School of the Dead) [3 Votes]
• Sanosuke Sagara (Rurouni Kenshin) [3 Votes]

Comment: Such a coincidence that FMP Sousuke and RK Sanosuke have the same last name.

Quarterfinal: Round 5: Groups 1 & 3

Begins 1/15 | Ends 1/16 @ Midnight US EST

• Alucard
• Kenshin Himura
• Roy Mustang
• Lelouch Lamperouge

Quarterfinal: Round 6: Groups 2 & 4

Begins 1/17 | Ends 1/18 @ Midnight US EST

• Haruhi Suzumiya
• Ciel Phantomhive
• Sousuke Sagara
• Vegeta

Like the previous rounds, voting lasts 48 hours with the Top 2 of the Quarterfinals rounds advancing to the Semifinals. There’s less than 36 hours remaining on Round 5. Visit and like S.C.A.M.’s Facebook page to support your character!

Announcement: We will be taking nominations for the Video Game Character Tournament at this week’s meeting on the 18th. Stay tuned to see who made the cut!

It’s about time I got around to reviewing this, though I’m sure you, the reader, is saying there was no need to. Well, consider this another entry into the opinion pot of the “controversial” Dragonball GT. If you don’t know a lot about Dragonball GT already, I’ll tell you about it, but be warned: you may or may not like where it goes. Of course, you should read this review if you’ve watched Dragonball Z all the way to the end.

No one likes Dragonball GT for many reasons. The main reason is that it breaks away from tradition of the original Dragonball Z story: Goku’s job is done on Earth, now his new job is to train Uub, the human reincarnation of the fat Majin Buu. Alright, maybe that was a odd way to end the story, but it was–or was not–a happy ending, right?

Goku and Uub after a rigorous training session.

Former adversaries Emperor Pilaf, Shuu, and Mai return in GT.

GT’s story begins with Goku in an intense training battle with Uub on Kami’s Tower. Tearing the tower the shreds, as usual, the two stop for a break. Around the tower, three familiar characters are re-introduced in GT. It’s Emperor Pilaf and his henchmen, Shuu and Mai. They’re Dragonball characters! And we thought it was a lost cause for the original characters when the end of DBZ rolled around–until that one episode with the Genki Dama (Spirit Bomb).

Pilaf is still determined to collect the Dragonballs and wish for immortality. Well, they find the Dragonballs… only to be faced by Goku. The Emperor is furious after all these years that he’s the sole reason he doesn’t have the power of immortality. So, what does an aging Pilaf do? Wishes that Goku was a kid again so he can crush him.

The wish comes true, thus creating the worst squeal to a long running anime series, joining ZZ Gundam.

A chibi-fied Goku with his granddaughter, Pan.

Goku is now a kid again, which ruins Pilaf’s plans as the wishes are used up. But that’s not all: it also ruins Earth’s plans to stick around for years to come. Due to the dragon balls being used so much, including on Namek (since Dende is now linked to the dragon balls on Earth), Earth’s natural resources are depleting.

And to make matters worse: the dragon balls are scattered as far as space! Oh yeah, and they have to find it within a year, or else…

This woman is Trunks, by the way...

The search team is made up of Trunks, Pan, and Goku, in his Chibi form, of course. He stays like this throughout the entire series–except in the important parts of GT when Super Saiyan 4 is involved. The team travels space to find the dragon balls, where their adventures include Trunks being pressured to crossdress for a village (for a good cause), and the rest run into odd characters along the way: Para Para Bros., for example. The part of the series is actually exciting–only when their plans are foiled by the Z Search Team and the enemies turn into friends. By the way, if you remember the original releases of GT, you know now why these are the “Lost Episodes”–because they’re this boring. Good idea, FUNimation!

The dragon balls are eventually found. But… there is a new problem. Before the team heads back to Earth, a creature by the name of “Baby”, responsible by a scientist of the name Myuu, arrives before they do after a previous encounter. He claims himself as a Tsufuru (Tuffle): a race that was obliterated by the Saiya-jins years ago after being cheated out of their fortunes, or so the story goes… as would any elite space race would do. Baby arrives on Earth and eventually meets his target, Vegeta–who is now “moose-stache”-free–though only appearing a few times earlier in the series after his Daughter, Bulla Bra, confess that it makes him look unkewl. We thank you, Bra.

Probably the best part of GT, for some: Vegeta's epic 'I'm Fine' smile (when he should angry at seeing a SSJ4 Goku).

Android 17 returns in Dragonball GT on the side of hell, thanks to the support of two scientists--one being a returning Z villain.

This begins the second part of GT until when the fights and other random silliness until everyone is back to normal, and the possibility of Super Saiyan 4 is heavily discussed. This isn’t the worst part of the show, if not better than the space adventures, but expect to find Baby to be a bit overpowered, and annoying because of him being pre-occupied with Vegeta, taking away the trash talking.

Thoughts

That’s Dragonball GT for you: Goku is a kid again, Vegeta gets a “moose-stache” with mid-late 90s wardrobe, a wacky road-trip, a crossdressing son of a Saiyan Prince–this is what gives GT, which means Grand Tour, a bad name. “It’s like watching a bad fanfic unfold before your eyes,” some might say. I personally have a fond appreciation for the series for a couple reasons: it continues the story as promised, though it has been argued that Akira Toriyama has little to nothing to do with the series, with Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru the character designer. Well… at least some effort was put into it, right?

There has never been a traditional manga release for this, which also tells you that it’s not cannon at all and should not even exist. There are parts of Dragonball GT that would make you cry… in frustration: like the fact that in order to transform into a Super Saiyan 4 for a certain character, you have to use a machine hacked from Baby’s original plans. It was not meant to be in the first place, but it’s like taking steroids! And you skip a step! But if you’ve failed on your own to get there in the first place, this is the only thing you can do at an “old” age. It’s also nice that they’ve kept the Saiyan tradition that they keep their youthfulness in their senior years (Goku is 51; Vegeta is 64)… but how do they explain Vegeta’s haircut when Saiyan hair stops growing…?

This show is also an excuse to revive useless characters: as in Freezer and Cell. Even the movie characters. Android 17 returns in GT and has an arc centered around him, which is actually worth watching if you have found memories of the Android saga, before Cell’s appearance. Yamcha and Tien are just about non-existent… but did they need to exist in the first place? GT It has just about the same slapstick, if not a little less, as ZZ Gundam. Although, like ZZ Gundam, it does get serious again–until a character does something that shouldn’t be done to ruin the flow of drama to follow towards the final episode. (By the way, I think ZZ Gundam wins when it comes to pulling together in such situations. Too bad it’s that horrible in reality.)

In conclusion: Dragonball GT is somewhat bad and somewhat good, depending on how you like the way a story is told: do you want it to end or do you want to continue, just for the heck of it? Just a theory: if you enjoy reading (quality) fanfiction and you like it, buy it. If you can’t tolerate any fanfiction, don’t bother. Or just borrow it to see if it’s worth your time, like reading if a fanfic is any good or not before getting too involved.

Rating:

Pros: Continuation of a long running series by demand.
Cons: Non-canon material; drags on at the beginning with unnecessary plots.

- Purchase Dragonball GT: The Complete Series (DVD) from The Right Stuf (aff)