Loop: A Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle manga and anime news blog.

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Region 1 Tsubasa DVD #8 on Sale 30th September 2009.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle #19 on Sale 19th November 2008.

Thursday, November 24, 2005
Sugar Sugar Rune #1 Review

Sugar Sugar Rune #1

Having seen this series advertised in almosy every volume of the Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles manga I decided to give it a go. The art looked good, and the manga witch idea always seems pretty interesting (I wish Naoko Takeuchi would finish Love Witch!) but man, the story and overall concept of the series is downright insulting on almost every level! I'd go so far as to say that it's Japanese cultural propoganda!

The basic concept of the series is that two young female witches are sent to our world in a kind of competetition to.... win boys' hearts. (how empowering!) Nevermind that the boys are around the age of eight and seem to be feeling "love" very easily for several people. It's just so unrealistic and fake. What's more the reader is constantly told that in this world only shy, quiet girls attract boys and noisy ones scare them away. This whole idea is just so extreme. It's one thing to teach manners in a series, but it's another thing entirely to blatantly say that "If you're not like this, noone will like you!".

I've never thrown away a manga before but just had to do it with this rubbish. What I mentioned is just the tip of the iceburg. Sugar Sugar Rune also endourses mas junk food eating, a Japanese stereotypical view of French culture (because it's so cool! *rolls eyes*).... arg!

I have to admit, I stopped short of the last chapter, so who knows. Maybe it redeemed itself.... but I seriously doubt it.

posted by Brad # 3:35 PM
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Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Tsubasa / xxxHolic Movie DVD Release Date

The Tsubasa and xxxHolic movie will be released on the 25th of Febuary 2006! Can't wait!

posted by Brad # 12:47 PM
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Monday, November 14, 2005
Card Captor Sakura Box Set 2 Released Today!

The second and final box set for Card Captor Sakura is being released today!

Amazon has a great deal for those that grab it now. 10% Off!!! You save US$10!

Check it out now while supplies last!

posted by Brad # 12:43 AM
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Thursday, November 10, 2005
Card Captor Sakura Box Set 2 Cover Art

Amazon has revealed the cover art for the inner cover HERE for the second (and final) season box set. This will slip into a Sakura Book slipcase similar to the Clow Book design of the first set (as you can see in the picture to the right).

The second "Sakura" set will be released on the 15th of this month. Preorder now!

posted by Brad # 12:12 PM
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Sunday, November 06, 2005
CLAMP 2006 Calendars for Sale!

YesAsia now has the latest CLAMP 2006 calendars up for sale and instant delivery! Here are the links to some of the coolest ones worth checking out. The Naruto ones, and several other series have already sold out so it's definitly worth preordering before the release date, November 10th.

Tsubasa Chronicle (B 2006 Calendar)

Tsubasa Chronicle (A) 2006 Calendar

Tsubasa & xxxHolic 2006 Calendar

If you're after another anime series like Bleach your can find them on
YesAsia's Calendar Page. Some great ones there too! Hamasaki Ayumi anyone?

posted by Brad # 10:35 PM
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Newsletter News

Just made some graphical updates to the Newsletter. You won't really be able to see them unless you've signed up for the newsletter. Those that have will probably agree that the new graphic looks MUCH better than the old orange one. ;)

posted by Brad # 10:09 PM
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Saturday, November 05, 2005
xxxHolic Anime News

A certain member of the forums reminded me of something that I had forgotten to post! Production I.G. will be animating the xxxHolic anime! This is great news for those that didn't like Bee Train on Tsubasa!

Note; Production I.G. animated the Tsubasa movie AND the xxxHolic movie. And they rocked!

posted by Brad # 10:14 PM
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Thursday, November 03, 2005
Manga Reviews

As you may have noticed, I've really gotten into the reviewing bug since I got my Amazon.com shipment the other day. I'll also be reviewing other manga series that I think you might be interested about (though mostly CLAMP) in the future. If you'd like these reviews delivered right to your inbox, don't hesitate to join our Newsletter! Updates to Loop are sent to the list within 24 hours of the site updating so you can stay in the know even when you're busy!

p.s. Also, if you'd like to help me out with some site related costs, i.e. server costs etc, making a purchase through an Amazon.com link on this site really does go a long way! It's appreciated. Really.

Thanks!

posted by Brad # 11:31 PM
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Legal Drug #3 Review

Legal Drug #3

US$9.99!

Buy Now From Amazon.com!

Crossover Info: As far as I can tell, there is no crossover items or events within this volume of Legal Drug (or "Gohou Drug" or "Lawful Drug" as it is sometimes known) as far as storyline go though several characters do appear within another CLAMP manga series; Suki which is a highly rated little secret of CLAMP's that is well worth a look.

Misc Info: For now, Legal Drug #3 looks like the last volume in the series even though TokyoPop currently has a forth volume listed as "Coming Soon". As of now, CLAMP and the Japanese publishing house are in a standoff over further releases of this hot series so it has been put on hold for the moment.

And the review... talk about fanservice! You couldn't swing a Clow Card without hitting a homoerotic inuendo! Those that love Yaoi and especially CLAMP Yaoi will love this volume. The story follows the two leads on an undercover assignment to retrieve a ring from an all boys school... well, if you've been reading the series you won't need me to tell you what the rest of the story is like. i.e. lots of innocent misunderstandings, chemistry, the supernatural, chemistry... and , oh, yeah! Chemistry!

As a bonus, there is a short story that takes us back to the begining of the series when Rikuo brought Kazahaya to the Green Drugstore (as seen in Volume 1). A very interesting flashback and a very Yuko like statement suggesting that Kazahaya was destined to meet Rikuo.

Oh, and we get TokyoPop's first class printing with translucent innner pages and colour openings scenes! Just like the Japanese edition and you've got to love that!

posted by Brad # 10:48 PM
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Tuesday, November 01, 2005
xxxHolic #6 Review

xxxHolic #6

Was US$10.95 NOW US$8.76!

Buy Now From Amazon.com!

Crossover Info: As far as I could tell, there were no crossover events with Tsubasa reservoir Chronicles or Legal Drug within this volume, though lots of references to previous xxxHolic volumes. If you catch a crossover link, make sure to let me know!

xxxHolic just keeps getting better and better. While last volume we saw a major progression with the plot with Yuko battling a mysterious villian's quest, here we get some BIG personal development between Watanuki and Domeki with heaps of romantic suggestions and Watanuki actually being forced to ponder what Domeki means to him.

It also becomes apparent that Yuko "hired" Watanuki for a much greater reason that simply to repay a fee. Several characters mention or speculate on Watanuki's destiny and where he's headed with in becoming obvious that big changes are instore for him in future volumes (having seen the next volume in Japanese I can say this is definitly the case!).

The art is of course first class and I simply loved the translation notes in the back (5 pages!). This manga continues to educate me in the Japanese language and culture.

5+ stars for this baby!

posted by Brad # 4:19 PM
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Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles #7 Review

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles #7

Was US$10.95 NOW US$8.76!

Buy Now From Amazon.com!

Crossover Info: Events in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles #7 crossover with events happening in xxxHolic #5 via Yuko sending the gang a reminder about their White Day present!

Just got my copy which I preordered months ago from Amazon.com and found this volume a very interesting read. Why? Because this is the first volume of Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicles that I've read where I have seen the story accur in the anime first. With all the others, the manga was my first look at many of the worlds and while the first half of the Outo arc I had read in the manga, the second half aired in Japan before the English release of the manga with the conclusion was even released.

While most of the story remains the same, I was actually disapointed that Kurogane didn't fight Seishiro in Outo. Funny since I think that if I had read this before I saw the anime arc I would have accused the anime of adding filler and slowing down the pace. Interesting how that works.

On it's own the manga is still better than the anime. Simply stunning artwork with the characters being drawn from every imaginable angle and with a whole range of emotions shown (something that is regularily lacking in the anime counterpart). Loved the Miyuki reference and also a splash more of Yuko which was great to see.

I simply loved this volume and this arc in general. So much is revealed about the characters themselves and a very captivating villian is introduced that is guarenteed to cause mayhem down the line.

Well worth purchasing, not just for the art and story, but also for the facinating translation notes within the back of the book by the English translator William Flanagan.

5 stars!