Friday, August 5, 2005

Random gushing.
Finally got my hands on the first volume of Saiyuki Reload. I'm so happy their outfits have changed. Hakkai looks much better with the longer shirt, untucked. It's much more relaxed..very him. And Gojyo. Thank GOD he doesn't he doesn't have those weird pants anymore. They bothered me...He looks better with regular pants and a nice jacket. Sanzo and Goku weren't changed much, which is fine.

Right now it's hard to tell which is my favorite manga series...Mars or Saiyuki. They're incredibly different, but I've read through both of them several times and I don't get tired of them.

I prefer the style in Mars, because it's so simplistic...There isn't a lot to distract, but there's enough to convey a lot of feeling. I'm always impressed with Fuyumi Soryo's ability to draw such dead-on expressions. You almost don't have to read the dialogue. The characters are really well-developed too. It isn't one of those shoujo manga where the guy and girl are thrown together because of circumstance for the purpose of pretty pictures and sappy self-indulgence. Rei and Kira's relationship really develops throughout the story, and they have rough spots, and nothing is perfect. The characters and their chemistry are really believable.

And Saiyuki...Well, it just plain kicks ass. The art fits the story perfectly (though at times some of the proportions bother me..the necks look too skinny >_< but anyway!). Each of the characters represents different personalities, which has been done before...but it doesn't take away from the story. There's the angry violent guy, the "annoying" kid, the flirtatious rebel, and the calm nanny type. Something for everyone! Not to mention they're all very pretty in their own way...though I find it hard to be attracted to Goku, just because he seems so young, despite being over five hundred years old lol. I love the humor in Saiyuki. All the characters play off of each other so well. Especially Gojyo and Sanzo..those two cracked me up in volume 7. I can't wait until the next volume..! >_<

I refuse to watch the anime anymore...because it sucks so much compared to the manga. They tried to fit all the elements of the manga into the animation, including some extra images seen throughout the manga to divide chapters. And what's with the youkai dissolving whenever they're killed? Oy. >_< If anybody is ever considering looking into Saiyuki, read the manga first!

Okay, I'm done!
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