School Days: A Real Time Saver!

Bland, generic "protagonist" Mokoto Ito goes from not so lovable doofus to
notorious womanizer to total useless a-hole in less than 12 episodes.

School Days: A Real Time Saver!


As Theodore Sturgeon said:

"90% of everything is crap."

Anime is no exception. And, in the case of anime, this is especially true because 90% of anime is of the high school sub-genre and its' many sub-sub-genres. A type I've never been too hot on.

There are exceptions of course. Mine are (Notice I wrote MINE. Your "exceptions" will be different.) The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Azumanga Daioh and Angel Beats among others. For me to want to watch something it would have to  have some kind of "hook" in it that interests me and these shows have them (Theological, intelligent sci-fi, thought provoking, etc.).

As an aside(s), There are other kinds of anime I generally dislike but some shows of their kinds I do like. I hate giant robot shows but Evangelion and Gunbuster have their attractions for me. The "magical girl" krap I definitely not into but Puella Magi Madoka Magica with its' Evangelion-like plot(s) has me liking it.

As for the high school/schoolgirl crap ... well ...

The usual tropes, stereotypes, situations, lame laughs, bad drama ... The list goes on and on.

But wait!

There is one high school anime that I really do "like" ... In a semi-masochistic sort of way, School Days.

And I like it for the very same reasons I dislike most ALL the others of the same sub-genre.

WHAT!?

That's right. For the same reasons I don't like the others.

Huh?

Okay ... there are the usual aforementioned in School Days. The same plots, same characters, romances and other fixtures.

In one show.

That's right. You don't have to watch a bunch (A LOT!) of shows to attain a working knowledge of this sub-genre. They're all there. In-that-one-show.

Think of all the time and money you'll save by just buying/watching this alone.

School Days runs the whole gamut of the various comedy, drama/psycho-drama, horror, romance, mystery and whateverceteras all those shows have. In just less than the cost in time and money of one season alone (Twelve episodes), you will have seen ALL the high school anime ever made.

Just think ... When some fan of whatever of that type anime waxes loud and long about the latest "flavor of the month", you can easily give a knowing smirk and say you've seen it before.

"Been there ... Done that!"

Why should you care about the titles, production values, artwork, and the characters everyone has bonded too?

None of that matters. With School Days, you'll have literally seen them all!

Really ... School Days is more of a commentary and statement than it is a show.

Even the bland generic title of ... School Days ... should be something of a clue.

I'm getting to wonder if that's what the folks who made the show had in mind when they did it.

Could it be that all those reviewers and watchers of the show got it wrong? Did the bizarre, hard hitting finale (It's as if the producers were "killing" the genre as well as the show!) confuse them ?

Could it be that School Days is not only a statement but also a high kind of subtle satire and nobody "got it"?

Heck! I got it!

School Days ... The "Readers Digest" of anime!

Warning ... Shows' ending is not for the faint of heart.

Wikipedia article on the visual novel and show, School Days here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here. You're already there ifn' ya' sees articles under this 'un. 

Evangelion 3.33: Mr. Anno, I Am Disappoint

Aaaaaaaargh!

Evangelion 3.33: Mr. Anno, I Am Disappoint


Oh! Gosh! Golly! ... JUMPIN' JEEKERS! ... Evangelion 3.33 had arrived! Couldn't wait, even WITH baited breath. What with the HUGE delay with the voice over corrections and all ...

Turns out I should have ...

If I had seen it in the theaters a couple years back I could have saved my dough ... as it is ...

I have no idea what the heck I just watched. I'm sure I've lost an IQ point or two as I feel dumber for having viewed it.

I know it had something to do with the Eva franchise ... At least SOME of it looked like it might.

Vague, lotsa' psychobabble ...

Artwork and execution ... Ugly ... either too bright or too dark ... at times could hardly see what the hell was going on. The choppy, stroboscopic editing  ... annoying ... distracting ... adding even more to the confusion. Why go to all that work in character design, artwork and animation only to screw it up by flashing "snips"? You might as well draw still pictures and riffle them in the camera lens.

Character designs ... also ugly. Ritsuko Akagi looked like ... Well ... We now know who's the masculine role in her relationship with Maya. Misato ... Couldn't be sure if that was her with the face being obscured by that collar, glasses and drum majorettes' cap.

And that stupid looking vulture-like plane/airship/spaceship ... whatever the heck it was.

The sound was either too LOUD or too low ... was constantly adjusting volume.

In short ... An exercise in eyestrain, motion sickness and aggravation.

At least Kaworu wasn't allowed to gay it up too much. But then, the rest of the above gives the viewer a bad screwing.

Wasn't much of a story to it either.

Sorry Mr. Anno ... You thought you could dazzle with brilliance but you only ended up baffling with bullshit.

Too bad ... 1.11 and 2.22 were pretty good. If it weren't for those two, I'd be throwing this one out.

Hopefully 4.44 will make up for this mess. Maybe that one will be made in such a way as if 3.33 never happened. That way one can still have a complete trilogy

Maybe ...

Got this from the Rossman blog here.

Go to The Rossman blog main page here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here. Any articles under this 'un means yer already there.

Evangelion 3.33 ... I Smell a Rant

"Yeah ... We're waiting too ..."

Evangelion 3.33 ... I Smell a Rant

When in the H--L is the Evangelion 3.33 DVD release coming out? It's been about two stinking years and well ... nothing.

I can't get anything on the Funimation FAQ though I did get this from using Google.

Okay ... Maybe the perfectionists at Gainax are trying to get Funimation to wring out better performances from Spencer, Grant et al. I don't know (I like them just the way they are.). All I know is the wait has been too dang long.

Hmm ... Release for late 2015 or early 2016? My guess is they're shooting around New Years ... According to the original series that's when Third Impact actually takes place. It would serve Gainax and Funimation right if it actually did.

From what I've seen and heard, the Rebuilds' pretty much jumped a school of goblin sharks and makes me appreciate the original series even more. As a completist  I'll probably buy 3.33 and 404 ... er ... 4.44 but now I can't get excited anymore. Shoot, I'm waiting for Amazon to market it and go for a better deal from any of the smaller distributors Amazon is "piggybacking". Pre-order? Yeah ... RIGHT!

I'm not holding my breath anymore.

Wikipedia article on Evangelion 3.0 here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here. Any other articles under this means you're already there.

LCL Bath Salts!? You Gotta' Be Kidding Me!

LCL Bath Salts!? You Gotta' Be Kidding Me!


Okay, so I'm cruising through the net and thought I'd take in a look at a "friend"s' blog, Aardvarks Plumbline. At the top, I see:

For Jay Agan

LCL Bath Salts

Well that name looked familiar (Thatsa' me!) and ... LCL bath salts?

SAY ... WHAT!?

Before going any further, I'd like to point out that this "friend", a one Mr. Weatherly Hardy, owner/proprietor/haberdasher of Aardvark Tees, has in the past, chided me about some kind of Rei-phobia he thinks I may have.

While it's true the thought of being turned into a puddle of orange yuck and having my soul stolen by a floating, blue haired, emo chick I find to be a bit unsettling, it's no reason to make fun. It's just I'd rather miss out on the Rei-pture and stay the way I am.

In response to one article I'd written, he chided me about "talkin' smack" on "poor soulless Rei". I have to keep reminding myself to take in the book and movie (The Bridge at Poor Soulless Rei by Thornton Wilder.).

He even once, in my regard to his once having been a "brony", dared to compare his choice of entertainment to my worship of Goddess Haruhi!

Hnnngh!

Well! ...

Clicking on the "LCL Bath Salts" link brought me to Rocket News 24 with an article titled:

Official Evangelion bath salts are just as crazy and mentally scarring as the anime itself.

Yup! "Second Impact Bathwater" is now on the market.

That's right kiddies! If you can't wait for New Years' Day 2016 to come around (Most Neon Genesis Evangelion chronologies put the occurrance of Third Impact on or around that date. ) and want to beat the rush, you can sprinkle some 'a them there El See El bath salts in the tub and soak away in a wash of Adams' blood.

Down by the old blood stream ... where I first met youuuuu,

Think of all the serene "fun" you can have pretending you're awash in a sea of LCL, being one with the Instrumentality hive mind.

Think of all the not so serene fun you'll have if someone calls EMS thinking you cut your wrists!

Then again, there's the barrel of laughs you could have with this stuff and a "friend"s' swimming pool!

Hmmm ... Can you ward off sharks with this? Maybe not. It's red after all.

Harold Camping take note! You too Mr. LaHaye!
And all the rest of you rapture bunnies out there!

Aardvark Tees, shirts made of WIN! here.

Aardvarks Plumbline blog here.

Rocket News 24 here.

LCL Bath Salts article here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here. If there are any articles, red, orange or otherwise under this 'un, yer already there!

Lost His Muzak: A Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction Story

"Yeah ... Love that Spike Jones."

Lost His Muzak: A Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction Story

by

C V Ford


"Hmmmph!" Asuka hmmmphed as she came out of the shower and espied Shinji prostrate on his bed. "Just what is it he listens to on that antique anyway?"

It had been a gruelingly long last dance lesson session of the day and he had hardly improved in his co-ordination. Actually it was more the girls' impatience getting the best of her rather than any shortcomings on the young mans' part.

The present living arrangements were no help either. Their being cooped up together in this twin bed "hotel room" on base got on her NERVS the moment she was informed she would be imprisoned with this "animated turnip" for almost a week! Hopefully enough time to work out the unique tactics required to defeat Israfel(s), the seventh angel.

Insisting on "ladies first" when it came to showering, she quickly had taken over the bathroom before he could say even one word in protest and had been in there almost a solid hour. With nothing else but wait, Shinji popped the earbuds in and promptly went to sleep. Now the "obscene" tableau of a very relaxed and sweat grimed young man fast asleep greeted the fiery haired ones' now flashing blue eyes.

"On the verge of the end of the world and what does he do? Kicks back with that STUPID old SDAT, Walkman whatever and drops off the planet! I ... SWEAR ... I just ...! Hnnnngh!"

Ever since they met, she noticed he hardly ever parted with that old portable tape player when at home or on trips and now ... here. He seemed fine without it on missions and daytime functions. He seemed to use it a lot when sleeping or just spacing out. Just what was it about that thing he was so attatched to it? And always that one tape.

"Probably some kind of dorky J-pop or ... something," the girl thought. "These Japanese have no taste in music at all!"

Having already dressed in the bathroom (She'd absolutely DIE before letting the dipwad see HER naked!) she sauntered over to the low console shelves on the wall by her bed and selected a book.

Straightening up she examined her selection and paused.

That SDAT or rather what may be on it had her somehow intrigued.

"NO! I'm NOT gonna' check it out. I'M ABSOTIVELY POSILUTELY NOT ... NOT! .... HNNNNNGH!"

Slowly, Asuka turned ... step by step ... inch by inch ...

"It wouldn't hurt to check it out," the redhead reasoned. "Just find out ... what it is ... he listens to ..."

Reaching over she deftly plucked the earbuds from out the unconscious young mans' ears.

xxxxx

Gaping at the screens in the monitoring room, Misato gasped.

"HO-LEE ... ! NO! ... ASUKA! ... DON'T!"

Launching herself from the monitors, the lilthe form of the NERV tac-ops chief mashed an alarm button before crashing out the door and down the hall.

"Dear God! ... Should have told her! ... Should have told her! ... SHOULD HAVE TOLD HER! OH! GOD!"

xxxxx

On her second door crash of the day, Misato was filled with trepidation at the sight meeting her eyes.

A confused Asuka pressing the earbuds home, alternately staring in dumfounded amazement at Misato and a now twitching, gasping, choking abed Shinji.

"Quick!" Misato shouted, dashing over to the bed. "Help me with him!"

Tearing the earbuds off, Asuka helped prop the wheezing young man upright as Misato held him by the shoulders, shaking him awake.

xxxxx

"You see Asuka," a concerned Dr. Akagi explained, "it's an extremely rare disease affecting the brain, symptoms of breathing difficulty similar to severe COPD. Only a few thousand cases worldwide ... The majority of which are European descent, blonde females."

The redhead turned to the now slumbering Shinji.

"Why didn't he ever say anything? All he had to do was-"

"He didn't want to trouble you with it," Misato put in. "You know how Shinji is. That, I guess, and possible embarrassment."

"Baka Shinji ..."

xxxxx

Asuka lay on the bed opposite, pondering their predicament in general and Shinjis' in particular.

"If only," she thought, "but then ..."

Turning she looked across the rooms' short expanse at the now peaceful form on the bed opposite, earbuds again affixed.

All she could think of at that moment was what she heard on the tape. The soft new age muzak in accompaniment to the looped soundtrack of Misatos' voice:

"Breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... breathe out ... breathe in ... breathe out ... "

END

"Congratulations! You got rid of that stupid SDAT!"

xxxxx

Yeah, I know. Old blonde joke. But it seemed tailor made for Shinji and that
SDAT.

Storyline (only) copyright © 2-28-15 C V Ford

xxxxx

Go to C V Fords' Anime Fan Fiction Page here.

Go to C V Fords' profile page and anime fan fiction list on fanfiction.net here.

Go to Fan Fiction dot net here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here ... unless yer already there which means there are other articles under this 'un.


Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the copyrighted names/characters, places, and events mentioned in this work. They are the sole properties of  their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase and enjoyment of their works.

Beyond Wrong and Wonderful: A REWRITE of an End of Evangelion/Azumanga Daioh Crossover Fanfiction

Beyond Wrong & Wonderful: A REWRITE of an End of Evangelion/Azumanga Daioh Crossover Fanfiction

by

C V Ford



U.S Dept. of Defense disc # 07734XXXXXX

EYES ONLY

Item: Post Third Impact Ground Zero survivor/eyewitness interviews, NERV personnel courtesy of Imperial Japanese Govt.

Additional Transcripts/media courtesy NERV and Japanese Ministry of Defense.


Interview #39

Subject: Professor Chiyo Mihama P.H.D.

Born: XXX-XX-19XX

Age: XX

Edjucation History:

XXXXXX Grammer School Tokyo, Japan 19-- to 20-- left age 10. Advanced five grades.

XXXXXXXX High School Tokyo, Japan 20-- to 20-- graduated, Keiron Award, class valedictorian, age 13.

Pacific Institute of Technology, Los Angeles, Calif. United States 20XX to 20XX. Graduated age 18.

Major: Electrical Engineering/Computer Science

Minor: Astronomy. Received 20XX Clayton Forrester Award of Advanced Achievment in Astronomical Studies.

GPA: 4.5 entire duration of enrollment.

Post graduate studies in residence at Lawrence Livermore Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.: Various joint U.S./Japanese projects (CLASSIFIED).


Professional/Work History:
Asst. Administrator, Tech/Research Dept., Mihama Tech Industries Ltd. XXX-XX-20XX to XXX-XX-20XX.

Administrator, Tech/Research Dept., Mihama Tech Industries Ltd. XXX-XX-20XX to XXX-XX=20XX.

Liason between Mihama Tech Industries Ltd. & UN/GEHIRN XXX-XX-20XX to XXX-XX-20XX. Three months.

Administrator: Maintenance/Systems Analysis Depts. NERV (non-MAGI systems). XXX-XX-20XX to XXX-XX-20XX (3 I Day).

Now part of joint team MAGI Systems Research/Maintenance. XXX-XX-20XX to present.

Interviewer: R. Edward Serling P.H.D., Maj. U.S.A.R.

Contents as follows:

***

ATTENTION

THIRD IMPACT GROUND ZERO EYEWITNESS/SURVIVOR DEBRIEFING/INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS

NO ENTRY TO UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL

***

Intro and preliminaries over, the major looked at the tiny figure sitting opposite him across the table. In spite of her record she did not at the moment, exude the confidence and professionalism one would expect from a leading scientist/engineer. At least in normal times. The AFTERMATH left far too many of the returnees, himself included, in a less than stable frame of mind. Some more so.

Nervous, with a look of apprehension, at times visibly trembing. Yet ... Appearances belied the true character of  the person seated. The Japanese government allowed one of their top brains to be interviewed by him and according to the dossier as well as other sources, she was practically a national asset.

Though long since out of college, with an already impressive professional record, she was still quite young. Though in her mid twenties, she yet had much of the "little girl" about her, even still putting her hair in pigtails. The sharp contrast of the lab coat only emphasized her seeming vulnerability. Such was the plight of the premature genius.

Noticing her eyes wander to the pack of cigarettes on the table, he asked, "care for one?"

"Uh ... no," answering in perfect, accentless English. "I thought of taking it up but ... A habit like that wouldn't help. Not ... this ..."

The voice trailed off.

"If you want to post-pone, we can set it for later this week."

"No ... no ... I'd rather get this done now. Putting it off won't help ... Best to get it out of the way. I've been through this before ... just ... hard to do. No ... I'm as ready when you are ... ready as I'll ever be ...

The interviewer glanced at the sound booth to his right, getting the technicians' OK. The stenotype operator to the left at his machine, also nodding. Two others present, a Japanese Nat. Fed plainclothes leaned with his back in a near corner, arms folded, watching intently and a matronly nurse a couple chairs away, looking on.

Questionaire sheets in one hand he started to scrawl on the legal pad with the other and proceeded.

"What was the general mood at Tokyo 3 NERV before the JSSDF moved on the facility?"

"Relief but tense."

The officer noted a slight lessening of anxiousness in the subject. The start of the interview seemed a needed hurdle to have been jumped.

"Tense ... as in-"

"Everyone was so relieved ... glad. The 'war' was over. No more 'angels'. The enemy was gone." Her tension lessened even more. "At the same time we were going to be, as they say ... out of a job. Rumors were coming from all directions about disbanding NERV, keeping parts of it going, incorporating it into the armed forces/government ... things like that. We had no ... idea ... our own military was coming after us."

"Plans for the future?

"I intended to stay with NERV in some capacity in whatever form it would take after. If totally broken up I was going to try to grab up and take as many people with me to my familys' company."

"Mihama Tech Industries?"

"Yes. Too much talent I didn't want to see wasted."

"What was your position at NERV during this time?"

"I was adminsitrative head of the Maintenance/Systems Analysis Dept. They also had me working with Aquisitions and Communications."

"Anything to do with the MAGI system?"

"No. What we were involved with was organisation/maintenance of all non MAGI systems/communications. IT, LAN, satellite, data, admin, payroll, book keeping, inventory and the like. I was there partly because much of the related technology & software was supplied/designed by my familys' company & affiliates."

"Any interaction with Ritsuko Akagi?"

"Mostly as was needed on a professional basis. While our support was useful to her, the MAGI systems were worlds apart in configuration, makeup and purpose. My department had no access other than what was needed.

"I met with her not only as much as my duties allowed, but also socially, which wasn't that much. She was a heavy workaholic so it was only her very rare breaks, lunch and required social functions I could catch her at."

"Try to pick her brains?"

"Tried ... and that's about it. She was usually tight lipped and even more so toward the end."

"Any inkling of contact after Third Impact?"

"None. Considering what everyone experienced and the trial she would probably face, I don't think we'll ever see her again." The professors' face darkened. "Just as well ..."

"As for what you ... we ... went through, we'll get to that shortly."

"All right." Eyes widened slightly.

The Interviewer went on.

"Any interaction with General (then Major) Katsuragi?"

"Then, about as much as with Dr. Akagi. Now ... lots. Of course I can only speak in broad terms about our present working relationship."

"Of course."

"She's ... a lot more outgoing than Akagi ever was. Has to be considering she's taken over Gendo Ikaris' position."

"About Ikari ... did he-"

"THAT BASTARD CAN STAY IN THAT HELL/NIRVANA
HE TRIED TO PUT EVERYONE ELSE IN!"

"THAT BASTARD CAN STAY IN THAT HELL/NIRVANA HE TRIED TO PUT EVERYONE ELSE IN!"

All in the room stiffened at the sudden outburst, soundman in the booth ripping off his headphones.

All looked at the now not so small figure, hands gripping the table.

"The less said of him ... the better ... ," she spat through clenched teeth. "If he EVER comes back, I hope they ...

"Sorry." Tension drained, the hands relaxed.

"That's quite all right," the major replied. "We all know EXACTLY how you feel."

"Yeah ... " wry chuckle. "I guess you would ... I ... We all ... had a taste of Heaven ... or hell ... The most wonderful yet saddest, messed up experience I ... I ...

"It's OK," the interviewer again reassured. "We've all been through it."

"I'm never going to forget ... ever."

Glancing at the list, the major decided on a new tack.

"What is your present position at NERV?"

"I'm now part of the joint team managing/studying the MAGI supercomputers and related technologies. I'm not at liberty to say much but give the devils their due, the Akagis were nothing short of brilliant beyond belief! ... I've said too much already."

"The Eva pilots?"

"Saw them mostly at a distance. Passing in the halls, things like that. Shinji's the only Ikari I have any sympathy for ... I mean ... ALL THREE of those kids were messed up badly even before they arrived at Tokyo 3. And that father of his ... ," The small face darkened again. "We're only just beginning to decrypt his journals. From what I gather, he ... probably had less regard for his son as he did for humanity in general ... Using him like that. Using everyone ... ALL of us ..."

"We should-"

"It's ... OK ... OK. I'm fine ... ," waving him off. "I DO feel sorry for Shinji. I recently recieved an invitation to his & Asukas' wedding. From what little I've seen of them I can't think of a more unlikely pair."

"About Ayanami."

The professor paused while those about tensed as they inwardly glanced at their own experiences with the pale harbinger.

"From examination of what info we've collected, she
was in a situation WAY beyond her control ... "

"From examination of what info we've collected, she was in a situation WAY beyond her control. As much as I feel sorry about her ... I ... I still get the chills when I think about her. She was ... after all ... the catalyst for Third Impact.

"Damn ... Gendo ... Clones ... of his own wife ... can you believe it? HIS OWN WIFE!" Mihamas' hands waved in emphasis. "There are indications that Yui Ikari not only went along with this insane instrumentality scheme but may have actually thought it up herself."

"Any thoughts on their motives?"

"The idea of attaining Heaven ... without God ... or a heaven of sorts. And that SEELE bunch latching on and going with it, backing it to the hilt ... insane ... No other word to describe it."

"Let's talk about your experience."

"Ye ee ssss?" The professors' eyes widened.

"Describe-"

"As in ...?"

"How about starting with the initial assault."

Looking down at the table, the professor paused a few moments.

"I was in the main admin offices when the attack hit. We just couldn't ... believe it! Our own military attacking us! It was only much later after everything ... EVERY ONE! ... came apart ... then back together. Well ... some of us ...

"All we knew was ... as you Americans say ... 'all hell broke loose'. They had orders to kill ... every one of us ... wether we were armed of not! I now understand why. They were as much pawns in that sick game as we were. But then ... it was total betrayal!

"My fellow countrymen gunning us down ... like diseased animals ... mass murder! Most of us didn't have weapons. We were scientists ... academics ... technicians ... paper pushers ... we ..."

"Your actual transcendance/instrumentality-"

Not heeding the major, she went on, eyes intense.

"Bullets hitting everywhere, I grabbed a letter opener ... crawled under a table. Things happening so fast ... Couldn't think straight ... thoughts were a confused jumble. I could only think of what little I could do with a letter opener against a heavily armed man. I prayed for it to stop ... go away. I wanted to curl up in a ball, shut my eyes tight and wish it gone. I was ... so ..... DAMNED ... scared.

"It wasn't like an Eva unit fighting it out some distance away. It was right there about to kill me! Me ...

"I prayed and prayed for it to stop ..."

Resigned to letting Mihama finish, the major urged, "And ... "

"I don't know how long it lasted. Seemed minutes & hours at the same time. It was then ... it did stop."

"Go on ... "

The professor took in a deep breath.

"The shooting subsided momentarily. I thought the slaughter was over ... it was ... But not the way I ... or anyone else ... wanted.

"So if-"

"What happened next was ... TOTAL ... BIZARRE ... MADNESS!"

Shaking, the tiny figure, eyes wide, looked straight into the interrogators'. The intensity wild and voltaic.

"Ever hear a MAN scream when he's scared? When he's really frightened of something? When it's something so totally out of control and he can't comprehend what it is let alone cope with at all?

"Sounds just like a womans'. Maybe a slightly lower pitch but just like a womans' scream. No manly type of yell ... an unnatural keening wail ... smashing your eardrums to jagged shards ... A rending tear into the soul. That's what men sound like under ABSOLUTE  terror.

"Other sounds too," she added while shaking her head with blinking eyes. "Laughter(?). Cries ... of delight! The kind you hear little children make at Christmas and birthday parties. Squeals ... singing ... hysterical babbling. Some shooting ... some ...

"Are you all right? Can we get you anything?"

"No ... no ..... It's OK! ... ." She shakily reached for the bottle in front of  her. "This ... water's fine."

"If you can't go on, we can stop and pick up on this later."

"It's all right." She gulped the water down. " ... I'm OK. Let's ... finish this ..."

"Very well."

Shaking subsiding, she continued.

"More sounds. People shouting ... screaming things ... things like names of loved ones & such ... like ... 'You're not her!', 'NO!', 'But you're dead!', 'It can't be!' ... 'Stay away!'. 'Oh my God!' ... 'I love you!' (?) ... that kind of thing.

"I chanced a look from under the table ... her ...

The major stiffened, anticipating what the professor would mention next. "Her?"

"The Ayanami girl."

Stillness again descended on the room. All eyes on Professor Mihama again staring down at the table, a look of calm dread on her face. The major, policeman, nurse, steno, engineers, all having their own psychic depths dredged within.

"Yes ... ," the military man thought aloud, heaviness in chest. "The Ayanami girl-"

"She ... She just  ... STOOD there ... With that impassive, expressionless look she always had about her. No regard for the chaos all around. Seemed not to notice at all ... Like she couldn't tell the difference from everyday or the hell we were in the middle of at that moment.

"I motioned for her to get under the table with me, then looked around to see if anyone else was close. It was then I realized ... she had been standing a couple feet ... off the floor! Floating! ... hovering! ...

"Oh yes ... ," sweat on the officers' face forming.

"I turned back quickly and ... there ... HE was ... "

The military man cocked his head to the side in puzzlement. "There WHO was?"

"Mr. Tadakichi!"

"Mr. ... Tadakichi?"

"He was a dog I had as a child," she explained. "A Great Pyranees. Mom and Dad got him for me when I was five. He was a constant companion. Went with me to America when I attended Pacific Tech. Died ... a year after I graduated. I cried for months after ... I've always missed him ..."

"But it wasn't-"

"No ... ," a look of resigned sadness crossed the subjects' face. "He wasn't ... It wasn't ... him."

"But you-"

"I wasn't thinking straight. Between being frightened & all the confusion ... I completely forgot myself. I was just so ... glad ... HAPPY ... to see him! I knew he was dead but I just wanted to hold on to him and hang on ... couldn't help myself.

"So I grabbed ahold of him tight & close. So ... happy ... Not for the longest time had I ever been so happy! Fear ... noise ... confusion. Death all around ... Didn't matter. I was just so WANTING to have him back ... wasn't thinking ... at all. ... then ...

"Yes?" All in the room asked from within though it was the major actually uttering it.

"I felt suddenly ... disembodied ... uh ... separated ... from ... yet feeling ... EVERYTHING! ... The ... rush of ... wind ... around ... through me. Traveling at incredible speed ... upward ... Upward to a vast spherical black mass of energy. I and thousands ... MILLIONS ... of others. Swarming in ... around ... through this mass and into the hands holding it, of a form of a colossal humanoid female entity ...

"Go on ... ," the major himself gripping the table in his own recall.

"Once entering this ...  anomaly ... I was surrounded on all sides. Above and below, by ... vast multitudes of ... people ... floating ... swirling about me. Incredible speeds attained as we all swarmed about one another.

"Millions ... MILLIONS ... of voices laughing, singing ... of ... release ... joy ... Happiness beyond measure. In spite of it ... that chaos and noise ... It felt ... was ... peaceful ... Restful at the same time.

"I didn't feel it in just me but in everyone else. I was not only me ... but ... EVERYBODY! I knew everyone ... and everyone ... knew me. Every name, detail, thought ... emotion of everyone ... all ... at ... once! The very same time!

"At that instant we were all one person. One ... single ... thinking ... breathing ... individual.

"It was then everything changed around me and ... and I saw ... them ..."

"Who?"

"Two friends ... as they were from long ago ... high school. Yomi Mizuhara and ... Osaka!"

"Osaka?" Asked the major. His puzzlement helped quell the ingrained apprehensions from his own experience.

"A wonderfully strange kid. Looked at everything
from angles no one else thought possible."

"Osaka is what we all called her as that's where she's from," the professor explained. "Her actual name was Ayumu Kasuga. A wonderfully strange kid. Looked at everything from angles no one else thought possible. We all thought the world of her. I ... still do ... all of them.

"We all kept in touch after graduation. Yomi became a nurse & dietician while Osaka became a teacher and later an author of childrens' books. The others were ..."

"It seems a lot of care giving and artistic types never returned."

"Never ... re ... turnnnn ... Oh! ... Dear God ... oh ... God I-

"THAT GOD DAMN ... IKARI!" Professor Mihama bolted up standing, fists clenched. Both plainclothes and nurse quickly sidling up.

"That BASTARD turned the whole f-----g universe upside down! ... shook it up ... and ... and dumped it out! Killed billions! If not killed ... what!? Trying to unify humanity into a single gestalt being? An ... oversoul? WHAT THE HELL ... WAS ... HE ... THINKING!? Doing everybody a big favor? MY GOD! Where does someone like that get off doing what he did! Where does ANYONE ... with something like that!? What kind of sick demons were rattling around in that bent skull!? Next evolutionary step? What the ... HELL ... does THAT mean!?

"We thought we were defending humanity. SAVING THE WOOOORLD! Fighting the big bad aliens ... keeping them from wiping us all out.

"And all this time ... it was nothing more than a sick little game between a bunch of super rich would be 'saviors' and a ... " she muttered unintelligably in an effort to down profanity. " ... twisted mind. With us, the 'angels' , and everyone else in the middle as expendable playing pieces. Ikaris' son included. His own son! I ... I ...

"I never thought it possible ... that there could be such a creature ... as a ... a ... a homicidal humanitarian!"

"If you want, we can-"

"NO! ... No! ... ," she replied, sitting down hard. "I'm ... finishing this ..."

"Yes but-"

"BUT ... NOTHING! ... but ... ," the professor calmed slightly. "I ... I ... I'm sorry ..."

"No ... don't be."

"But I am! I've never been sorrier since that day. I ... will ... never ... EVER! ... be the same."

"It's doubtful anyone will."

"I ... I know there's a hell. You ... me ... ," She gave a quick look around at the others. "We ... we all got hit with more than a look at Heaven, albeit a false one... so I KNOW there's a hell. As real as anything. And it's my dearest hope that Gendo Ikari, Ritsuko Akagi, Keele Lorenz ... and the rest of that SEELE bunch ... BURN! What they did was beyond unforgivable!"

"Your friends ... the two you had seen. Did they-"

"We were so happy to see one another. We were there ... in high school ... uniforms & all. I was 10 again! Walking the halls, my dog trotting with us. I expected Sakaki, Kagura, Tomo, Kaorin & Chihiro to show up at any moment!"

"Other friends of yours?"

"Yes ... ones who came back ... Thank God! On talking with them later, I learned they had similar experiences. Yomi and Osaka were trying to get us all back together! My guess is ... one convinced the other ... and they went looking for the rest of us."

"So they-"

"They were on either side of me. Telling me how great
it would be ... how it could be like this forever ... "

"They were on either side of me. Telling me how great it would be ... how it could be like this forever. Reliving our good times when we were young and then some! It wouldn't have to end ... just go on and on non-stop. Even getting around to things we didn't try 'cause we were having too much fun doing what we were doing already.

"I wanted it ... so much ... but ...

"Couldn't ...

"Why?" The major asked himself as much as she.

"Didn't feel right. I wanted it ... not right. It was ... WAY ... beyond wonderful ... but ... not right."

"Right as in ..."

"Total, flawless fun & happiness? With no effort or chance of unfulfillment? No possibility of failure, loss or price? No ... challenge?

"I remember our good times but we had struggles too. Our conflicts ... bad times. Those were what made the good worth it. What good is doing your best when even your worst still makes you come off a winner?

"I don't think I said it right ..."

"I think I get what you mean. So ... "

"I ... had to leave. I had responsibilities. Even if in that dreamworld I was physically that little girl from long ago, mentally ... I could 'never go home again'. I'm different now than what I was then or even ten minutes ago.

"Couldn't stay ...

"... really nothing there for me ...

"I chose to come back."

"How did you know how to return?"

"I didn't KNOW how." Pausing with some exasperation. "I just knew I could and did. I know it's not an adequate explanation. As a scientist I have a responsibility to explain such seeming illogic but I can't."

"So you returned-"

"Yomi, Osaka and even Mr. Tadakichi did what they could to dissuade me but I had to go. It broke my heart to leave ... still ... does," she choked down a sob, pausing. "... But there was no way I could stay. Since then there have been times I wish I did ...

"God help me! At times, I want to go back! I'm scared if the opportunity ever came again I'd just might jump at it! ... And take the others ... ALL OF THEM ... with me! ... God forgive me ... I ...

Mihama, holding her head with one hand, other grasping the water glass, gave a long pause in an effort not to break down, nurse now sitting right next to her.

"I tried ... telling them ... of the real Heaven and the real way to get there as I have in the past but they'd have none of it. I wished them well. Wherever they are ... I hope they're ... happy ...

"I'll NEVER see them ... again ..."

The interviewer waited a moment before urging. "About your return."

His prompt seemed to snap her out of it.

"Next thing I know, I'm back under the table. Stark naked! Got my clothes on fast as I could but still stayed hidden til ... for hours it seemed.

"There was still some shooting ... Most of the combatants were either traumatized to incapacity or just in no mood to fight. A good number of our own security unit rallied. Many of our former attackers took off. Several military units not under SEELE influence were based near Tokyo 3 and not involved in the initial fighting. They managed to pull themselves together and impose a cease fire in the area.

"People who died in the initial assault came back without even a scratch. Others who went unhurt were never seen again. The first shall be last ... the last shall be first ...

"For a while it was pandemonium ... chaos the world over. It was over a week before regular communications were restored. As soon as I could, I tried to get in touch with everyone I knew. Except for a few, I found most still with us ... Yomi and Osaka weren't among them ...

"I first contacted a friend in the Nat. Fed. Police, Tomo Takino. She was way ahead of me. She had already pulled some strings and had investigations going on top of the inevitable flood of missing persons cases."

"This the Tomo you mentioned before?

"Yes. She entered the law enforcement academy while still in college. She's now a liason between the police and ICPO (Interpol).

"I hoped it was only a bad dream somehow and they'd still be found. There hasn't been a trace ... Tomo's still searching. She and Yomi were close ... and Osaka ... those two ... Oh dear God! ..."

"Real Heaven and the real way ... ," the major mused. "It says in your dossier you're a convert to Christianity. Has it helped you cope in any way?"

"Yes. I accepted Jesus Christ as savior and ruler of my life my second year at Pacific Tech ... He ... He's now also the keeper of my sanity. I ... I ... I know I haven't been giving a good behavioral example of what a Christian should be in this interview."

"Quite understandable. Third Impact's taken a HUGE toll on most. We've seen clergymen break down & vent in some interviews like you wouldn't believe. Swearing like sailors! Not to mention the devout in other religions & belief systems.

"You are NOT alone."

"Not ... alone ... " Professor Mihama, face in hands, broke down. "Osaka? ... Yomi? ...  "OH MY GOD! ... Oh ... sweet ... Jesus! ... OH DEAR GOD! ... nooooooo ..."

***

As the plainclothes and nurse escorted the scientist out, the major looked about.

His typing done, the steno, left hand to face and breathing deeply, stared at the floor, mopping at his face with a handkerchief. In the booth, the video tech, arms folded and looking down, stood in a corner, softly crying. The sound man, excriutiatingly stern faced and unblinking, gazed at his panel.

As with the rest of the now less than three billion on Earth, they had their own stories, their own beyond deep, post Third Impact regrets and anguish.

***

Back in his hotel room, the officer lay on the bed, hands behind head and stared at the ceiling. The several months of this assignment, though weighing heavily, was something of a catharsis. One emotions filled interview after another had made him seemingly immune to venting his own. The tears of others helped keep his own to a minimum and he was glad of it. Now was one of the few times he allowed for it.

For the first in a long time, the tears flowed freely ...

END

***

I left some dates Xed in the "dossier" section as to leave room for "expansion" if the Evangelion "rebuild" movies allow for it. Otherwise this relates to the TV series & End of Evangelion.

"Pacific Tech" is a fictional university depicted in George Pals' classic movie War of the Worlds (Paramount Pictures 1953). "Clayton Forrester" (Played by Gene Barry.) is the films' main protagonist.

Storyline (only) copyright © 12-6-2013 C V Ford


Beyond Wrong and Wonderful as originally posted in interview format here.

C V Fords' profile page (And fanfiction stories list.) at fanfiction.net here.

Fanfiction.net website here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Disclaimer: The preceding is a NON-PROFIT work of fan fiction for entertainment purposes only. I make no claim to ownership of the copyrighted names/characters, places, events and artwork mentioned/shown in this work. They are the sole properties of  their respective owners. Please, by all means support the owners of such properties in the purchase & enjoyment of their works.

What Is He Talking About, Again?

Credit: San-ru.

What Is He Talking About, Again?

by

Weatherly Hardy


C.S.Lewis wrote in one of his volumes about the problem of "Christ and...", that is, the tendency to ignore the sufficiency of Jesus and his atonement, and then insisting that something else can/may be added to the mix to improve it, rather like sprinkling a touch of gunpowder onto a nuclear bomb. I have run into this personally when being invited to become a Mason. "It helps you to be a better Christian!"

Glad someone found a way to fix inadequacies in the grace of God! I'm sure the Almighty lost some sleep 'til they bailed 'im out on that one.

Occultists through the ages have found sundry schemes and scams to add nitro to the chugging engine of the Faith Once Delivered, generally Gnostic in nature (the apocryphal, pseudipigraphal bits of first century fanfic like the "Gospel of Thomas). Gnosticism revolves around the idea that to really be (fill in spiritual preference HERE____________), you need to access the Hidden Knowledge that Few Attain. Christian faith is not alone in this problem. Jewish Qabbalism is a magical mystery religion that purports to reveal the gnosis to its followers, what's really going on in the law and the prophets! The gematria, the mystic geometry of words in the Hebrew Scriptures, is a result of this thinking. Add a computer, and an End-Timey-Wimey Rapture bunny attitude, and you get the Bible Code. Hear what Wikipedia saith:

The Bible code (Hebrew: צפנים בתנ"ך‎), also known as the Torah code, is a purported set of secret messages encoded within the Hebrew text of the Torah. This hidden code has been described as a method by which specific letters from the text can be selected to reveal an otherwise obscured message. Although Bible codes have been postulated and studied for centuries, the subject has been popularized in modern times by Michael Drosnin's book The Bible Code and the movie The Omega Code.

Careful, your shopping list may be revealed for all to see in the pages of Torah, if you choose the right skips.

The Japanese fascination with the almost Christian, the Christian Other, is of interest to me. The Santa Claus on a Cross, itself apocryphal, sort of codifies the thing. Anime series like Anno's "Neon Genesis Evangelion" (probably my favorite series. Jay, pass the Tang!) reveal the Vita-mixed understanding Japanese popular culture has of Things Christian. Christ and is the order of the day. An eeee-vil cabal, Seele (say-lay) is wishing to immanentize the Eschaton, much as the irreligious Left was worried that Reagan wanted to do, between his finger on The Button and his support of Israel. They thought that by starting Nuclear War, Pres. Reagan would force Jesus' hand and bring about the Second Coming of Christ. Sweet Hal Lindsay on a stick! But there it was.

Seele wants to bring about a more Nirvana-esque end, where everyone melts into single consciousness, utilising the Qabbalistic Angels that almost destroyed the world years before.

This does not sound like any Chick Tract I've ever heard of.

"Evangelion" includes a roster of the named angels from Jewish mystical tradition, and the Christian symbolism, down to cross-shaped explosions, fills the series, but no Atonement, no Jesus, just Qabbalism with a coat of Christian imagery, and unpleasant people doing unpleasant things. But stylishly.

"OH NO! ... It's ... It's Jack Chick!"

I have been watching "Cyber Team in Akihabara", and it too is rife with cultic pseudo-Christian themes and imagery. The 500-year-old Christian Rosenkreuz (the founder of the Rosicrucian order), disguised as a school principal, seeks to bring about conditions which shall ensure his immortality. The ensuing assemblage of robotic battle suits and mysticism is murkier than "Evangelion's" mix of Jungian psychology and Christian/Qabbala syncretism. And it has middle schoolers as the heroines, because apparently the Japanese believe that only middle school girls are capable of saving the world.

I would wistfully suggest letting the Christian faith and teaching be allowed to be what it is, with healings, works of power, faith, hope, love, forgiveness and such, rather than the freaky-deaky cultic stuff that Japan finds to be so sexiful. I mean, Superbook and Flying House, right? Just not bashing you with a 25-pound King James, but letting the life be lived, contrasted with whatever the baddies are doing. And giant robots, 'cause they're cool!

Giant robots with crosses.


Copyright © 6-23-13 Weatherly Hardy


Go to articles' original blog post at  Aardvarks' Plumbline here.

Go to Aardvarks' Plumbline blog here.

Go to Aardvark Tees (Tee shirts made of WIN!) here.


Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In the Mail here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

RahXephon: WOTTA' LOADA' KRAP!

Pretty much my thoughts on this show.

RahXephon: WOTTA' LOADA' KRAP!

Take:

1.) Episodes 25 and 26 of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

2.) Extend it out to 26 episodes.

3.) Multiply the percentage of mysto/psychobabble by at least a factor of three.

4.) Do the same with the vagueness and ...

5.) Throw in a "giant robot" slug fest as an afterthought.

And you get ...

RahXephon. The umpteenth movement. The world ... Suffused ... With ... Ra ra?

I will NEVER get back the time I wasted watching this garbage. Neon Genesis/End of Evangelion had me looking over my shoulder for God. This clinker had me looking past my shoulder for the remote.

I can't describe the plot as it's a confusing jumble of Evangelion rip off (Not enough though. Otherwise it MIGHT have been good.), fortune cookie philosophy/platitudes, double/triple headers and mind games. At best, I can describe the main protagonists' situation. Spoilers? Sure. Just think of it as my saving you some time from watching it.

Ayato Kamina is 15 years of age. So is his 27 year old wife he is unknowingly married to (You find this out after the end credits of the last episode.) His infant daughter is about to turn 15 ... HUH?

Keep in mind, this is anime.

His mother is an alien who has groomed him to pilot the titular "giant robot" construct that will resynch/retune the world. What the heck does that mean? I haven't a clue. Nor do I think the ones who made this mess. What I do know is that the retuning involves Ayato "finding himself". A process that seems to entail killing most of his friends (Later his wife.) in a rather violent manner. Rei "Lillith" Ayanami was a much better way to go.

Ayato also has trouble figuring out whos' side he's on throughout the series. So much so that about three "filler" episodes have him back in the enemy camp.

And what's up with that weird pop bottle? It's shown prominently in about ten episodes and has no significance to the non-story. It's just ... there. So's this anime it seems.

This weekend, I will be watching the "rehash" movie: RahXephon Pluralitas Concentio. As it's a feature length film, I'm hoping there will be much less crud to wade through and thus be more coherent. Otherwise the anime club at the local college gets another freebie.

Something for those of you who actually liked this show.

Wikipedia RahXephon article here.

RahXephon And Your Tax Dollars On Guard here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion/End of Evangelion In A Nutshell

Neon Genesis Evangelion/End of Evangelion In A Nutshell

by

Jay Agan


This article is on the original Neon Genesis/End of Evangelion saga, NOT the Rebuild series of films.


For those anime fans who have NOT seen this, I strongly urge you do so. There is really none other like it (I'm reserving my opinion on Rah Xephon until after I see it.). Whether or not this show resulted from Mr. Annos' past problems with mental illness is open to conjecture. One thing is for sure ... It has a fascination/weirdness all its' own.

The Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series and its' concluding follow-on film, End of Evangelion is a story of conspiracy. Conspiracy of super rich and powerful individuals trying to attain Heaven (Or what they think is a reasonable facsimile thereof.) without taking God into account. This involves (From their dissatisfaction with human progress/"evolution".) the merging/assimilation of all human souls/consciousness (Including YOURS!) into one gestalt being or "oversoul". To their way of thinking all weaknesses will be cancelled out by all strengths along with pain, suffering and loneliness being eliminated.

This "Human Instrumentality Project" of course, would mean the end of human existence but since when has that ever complicated the dreams of altruists?

The plot is complicated by a joker in the deck. One of the conspirators, an evil genius, uses the situation for his own ends through manipulation of various people including his wife (Who may be the one to have thought up this mad scheme.), several clones of said wife and a host of others including his own son who goes through a "damnation" of sorts.

Between the conspirators and the madman, everyone, along with a perceived extra-terrestrial enemy, are mere pawns in the game. A game ending in worldwide cataclysmic disaster.

This disaster as portrayed in End of Evangelion comes in the form of a "rapture" of sorts. No, not like the blissful delusions of  a Hal Lindsey or Tim LaHaye. The implementation of the Human Instrumentality Project or Third Impact event is a horrendous gathering of all souls. The deepest desire/dread of each individual is realized by Lillith (NOT Jesus!) in setting one up for assimilation.

Warning: End of Evangelion freaked a lot of folks on its' initial release. Still does today.

When watching, prepare yourself for a wild ride. What at first appears to be a giant robot slug fest eventually turns into a multidimensional (Or multidementional.) tale of wheels within wheels "shadow boxing", peppered with Christian and Kabbalistic imagery.

There is also the fact the main protagonist (The madmans' son.) is possibly the whiniest little git in anime history and really gets on ones nerves at times.

The Rebuild series of films seems to be another story entirely. Too many departures from the above (ESPECIALLY the third in the series.) and they don't give one a feeling of "looking over your shoulder for God". My take is that time will show Neon Genesis/End of Evangelion to be the definitive of the franchise.

Article (only) copyright © 9-25-13 Jay Agan


Neon Genesis Evangelion: This About Says It All here.

Evangelion Three Point Whatever here.

Third Impact In Spades! here.

Thoughts On the Evangelion Cast of  Characters here.

End of Evanelion Komm Susser Todd/Come Sweet Death Revised here.

Small Blue Ecstasy: A Tale of Third Impact here.

Beyond Wrong and Wonderful: An End of Evangelion/Azumanga Daioh Crossover Fan Fiction here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: All's Not Right At NERV here.

Komm Susser Todd Complete Lyrics here.

Evangelion: Keel Lorenz and the Face of Evil here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In the Mail! here.

End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing here.

Wikipedia article on Neon Genesis Evangelion here.

Wikipedia article on End of Evangelion here.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

A Little Bigotry

Now if she had been more like this ...

A Little Bigotry

It's about six years back & I'm working at a cut-rate would be Wal-Mart chain as a check out clerk. A lady, late middle age, starts putting her stuff on the belt & we have a conversation. I notice a heavy German accent.

My usual "icebreaker" jokingly is: "I can tell by your accent, you're not from around here. Are you from New Jersey?"

She gets friendly & we get to talking about Germany. She was from Wiesbaden. I mention I have folks in Graz (Austria) & Wurzburg. She then asks if I'm German.

I reply "Irish, English, German, French, Hungarian & Portuguese."

A look comes on her face like she just swallowed something REALLY disagreeable.

"YOU ... Are a mutt!"

I suppressed the urge to tell her she wasn't exactly the "uberfrau" she wanted me to think she was. Not exactly valkyrie material. In fact, there's no cure for the kind of ugly she had. Gas maybe?

Even Hitler loosened up a bit & became inclusive after a while. Became a "pan-Aryanist". Even going so far as to say: "The Russians are as Aryan as we are." Hmm ... A bit late on that one.

My actual reply was not at all to her liking. It even surprised her.

"I don't think of myself as a mutt as much as I think of myself as a 'Super European'."

I must say, her Reinhard Heydrich impression was spot on.

We complete the transaction in silence & she leaves.

People ...

Asuka's NOT evil ... just terminally PMS.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Of Fan Fiction & Canonicity: Evangelion & Otherwise

Of Fan Fiction & Canonicity: Evangelion & Otherwise


Recently I've been posting some of my already "published" (On this blog.) anime fan fiction on the Fan Fiction dot net web site under the nom de plumage of C V Ford. One of the stories was Small Blue Ecstasy: A Tale of Third Impact.

I knew I would get reviews to my stories, some of them possibly "negative". That's the chance you take when you get on a "public forum" of some kind & I even welcome it. So it's not that my nose was bent out of  shape when I recieved these reviews as it is that I need some "filler" for this blog that I write this.

On the above mentioned story I got these:

A. Authors skill aside, this definitely doesn't belong in the Eva section. Blue furred red eyed cats are NOT Evangelion, regardless of how similar they might look to one of the characters.

 
B. ...Props to the author on their technical skills; the story is well written. The story is also slightly depressing...and the explosions/mind games/awesome Eva action I associate with "Third Impact" are surprisingly...absent. All the same, props to the author, though I can't help but feel like this doesn't belong in Eva fan fiction...just my opinion.

These got me to thinking about "canonicity" in anime fan fiction in general & in the Evangelion Franchise in particular.

1. As FAN fiction is not "official", one could doubt the "canonicity" of any of it. Especially with all the pairing, "shipping", what-ifs, unofficial characters, alternate timelines, crossovers, etc. Those Shinji/Kaworu fantasies, eh ... Yaoi fan girls ... Good grief!

2. I don't think an Eva story necessarily has to be about angst, plugsuits, giant robot fights (Yeah, I know ... They're NOT giant robots ... They're giant mommies ... With Rei/Lillith being the biggest MOTHER of them all!) or a redheaded nazi chick beating up on some poor schnook.

My story is about a suffering little girl finding some brief happiness in an apocalyptic situation. That situ being Third Impact/Instrumentality.

3. Owning/seeing the series & End of Evangelion, I understand Rei/Lillith to be able to take the form of ones' deepest desire/dread in order to facillitate assimilation. In the case of the drunken jerk, it was that of a deceased spouse/lover. For the little girl it was that of something very precious & lost to her, the missing kitten.

 The description of the feline (Blue fur, red eyes.) makes clear that this is Rei/Lillith manifesting her/itself to the girl, setting her up for Instrumentality. I did not feel there was a need to describe the kid going SPLAT! when she gloms onto the kitten. That was to be assumed from the outset.

I guess "canonicity" to be rather subjective to many. As we're not talking theology here (Though this IS Evangelion!), I'm not going to get too worked up about it.

Just sayin' ...


Small Blue Ecstasy: A Tale of Third Impact here.

C V Fords' anime fan fiction page here.

Fan Fiction dot net website here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies In the Mail here.

End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing here.

Third Impact (Where everyone goes SPLAT!) scene on You Tube in Japanese with English subtitles here.

Same in English here. Reduced video quality.


Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.

Evangelion 3.Whatever

Yup! That's the jacket!

Evangelion 3.Whatever


I'm sure you've heard by now that Evangelion 3.0 premiered in Japan. Madman Entertainment of Austrailia has already snapped up the rights for marketing it there. Wonder how soon Funimation will pick up on this.

Saw the trailer to it. Looks good, though mostly a montage of Unit 02 in flight. Interesting shot of the Mari character piloting hers (Whatever that may be at the time. Now I know why "Mari Illustrious Makinami kitty smile" comes up in my blog search word stats.).

An interesting shot of Asuka adjusting a light jacket being worn over the plugsuit. Not having seen the flick, I imagine it has something to do with the TEST suit from the previous film. Seems she has a sense of shame & embarassment & doesn't care for walking around with half her posterior hanging out. No doubt the hentai kiddies have had a field day with that since 2.0.

I'll never understand the fetish for eyepatches. A cute trick with it would be to switch it from one to the other in a scene or two. Makes for a little mind messing with the fans.

Yeah ... Fanservice. I understand why it's there. Hope they don't overdo it. If I want that sort of thing I know where to get it. As for a movie ... Tell me a story instead.

Just saw this clip from the film. Looks like 3.0 will be a major departure from the series we know & love/loath. Little too much choppy editing for my taste. Kaouru as always, ... creepy.

I understand Evangelion 3.0 is on the TENTATIVE viewing room schedule at Armageddicon (It says You Can (Not) Redo on the list so I ASSUME that's it.) later this month. If so, I'm already there! Probably in Japanese without subs but I'll endure.

One I'd definitely see! And get the disc ... & the Manga ...
& the light novels ... & the figurines ... & the shirt ...

In unrelated news, I replaced my six disc "non set" of Geneon/Pioneer discs of Haibane Renmei with the two disc set from Funimation. A certain "Alabanian" will get the old ones if he shows up at the aforementioned con.

May the angels all protect us
From fates too vile & horrendous
Cause our country's so stupendous
ALABANIA IS GREAT!



Evangelion 3.0 trailer here.

Evangelion 3.0 film clip here.

Neon Genesis Evangelion: OOOOO! Goodies in the Mail here.

End of Evangelion: This Is (Really) Disturbing here.

Haibane Renmei: One Side of the Equation here.

Haibane Renmei: Awww Rats! here.

Armageddicon main page here.

Go to Jays' Tee Vee blog main page here.