I must say, anime fans ought to look to Makoto Shinkai for any short stories in the anime medium. His latest work, released just last month, is magnificent.

...

Although I kind of feel somewhat mixed, having just watched the last of the three episodes. Not that I feel ripped off or anything.

It's the direction. And I learned something new. There's a genre called "Slice of Life"... and my goodness, that's a damn accurate way of putting this latest work. Because it was definitely different, the way I felt at the end, compared to say, The Place Promised in Our Early Days.

But in fairness, there's no doubting Shinkai is excellent with short film productions, with the chronological manner of this latest short film trilogy of his, it was without a doubt interesting to see how the life of one figures in two others.

Fact of life huh, that you won't always get what you want in life. That the future holds uncertainty. Perhaps this is why I loved living a life with a certain future in my tender age. Now that I am oft faced with adversity and uncertainty, I find myself either slacking or ruining myself, or I can, on occasion, rise up and keep my cool to take care of things.

There are many that I would know, who would have liked someone else when they were younger. I am no exception. I have had a variety of likings for various people, which have prompted things like nicknames, to gifts.

This latest work showed just that in the first episode. In how that, though as time flies, we never seem to keep the same, constant change is abound within and around us, and that the only thing that ever kept us in touch was the fact that we'd have shared something together in common in the old days.

It applies to me too, having realised it from watching the whole thing.

I'd say you were with someone special if you negotiated the treacherous bounds of time and distance to be able to still love that special one to this day, for several years at that. It's a reality check for the majority of us to get over an emotion we call "love" before it is too late, for once it is too late, it might just result in our own downfall early in life.

Then again, the anime is subject to one's own interpretation so...

If the first episode is about youthful care and liking for one another, the second episode is about the female crush on the main protagonist. In the 2nd episode, the girl is unable to express her love for her classmate, and despite having an uncertain future, not being the smartest girl, nor being excellent either academically or in sports, she still holds to the feeling of loving and care for the main fella, who has settled into the new locality. The main protagonist however, always seems to have a burden in his heart, a yearning for something, probably love, and from the one in his past, which happens to be the first episode. Probably. But that's something I guess you'd have to ask Shinkai yourself. I think it is really interesting how there's a sense of perseverance about achieving success, and in that, accomplishing a goal you set. But from the protagonist's point of view, I'd say he longed for his childhood friend that he still cared for, but would no longer be able to remember the same face, both having aged since those days as an early teen.

I suppose I can never say I've been in that category, but I have to admit that if the roles were opposite, I'd have to definitely say I was once in that position. But I'm rather resilient, or so I'd like to think, having stopped all form of crushes I have within a 2 year time limit. So yes, technically if I was on a crush, I initially would take 2 years to get over it, and thus was something of a timebomb. Crikey.

The final episode is basically how the main protagonist, his childhood friend, and a third character whom I am unsure of (I think might be the girl who had the crush, but I can't really tell... the hair's somewhat different, has glasses, etc.), have moved on in their respective lives. The main protagonist has basically sucked up the meaning of love, which most likely is a result of it being overused, and has since, in his mid-age crisis, gone about searching the meaning to his living. That's how I saw it. Although I have to say, it is directly related to his past. As for his female childhood friend, she's about to get married, and the 3rd character is working for a company which I'm unsure of, but it certainly makes for a somewhat weird ending, in my opinion.

I don't know what to say, honestly. Still don't.

I know the first two episodes were great, but for the last episode, perhaps I expected more of Shinkai, but still, I shouldn't complain. It was still an awesome mini-series.

It definitely moved my huge bulk of a heart, and I can guess it would move many of you who are passionate about anime as I am.

We might not live in an anime world, but the world that Shinkai created is so realistic, with all the emotion of pain, joy and the many many other things in life, that our dimension might be swapped for a Shinkai world and we'd not notice nor flinch one bit. It is that realistic.

I recommend anyone to find an English DVD which should come out in the next few months or year, hopefully. Because I think this is truly a work of art within a somewhat real-life based storyline. I know I'll be looking for it.

Facts I learned today that are true:-

Love is indeed an overused word today. Perhaps it has seriously lost its meaning? I'll learn to value the number of times I say that word, because right now, I see that I've used it on too many people whom I shouldn't have, and indeed, the first people whom I utter the word "Love" should be first and foremostly my family. Then we'll seriously consider anyone else.

Hangovers, if left for long periods, can indeed destroy the life in you. The joy, the smile and what makes you the best, it can be destroyed by an emotion, or a feeling, or just plain ol' taken away from you. I've been in that position before, but I've bounced back from heavier pains, so I'm not gonna complain.

Life is uncertain, and whatever holds in the future, we make our own, so don't rely on the world to do anything for you. We have to realise how precious time is, and how precious each and every thing we hold dearly, our memories, our childhood, and just our history, is so very important. Make the most of now. Don't look to tomorrow, see today, live today, do today.

*edit*
Been spending a good half hour wasting it on a forum about this short film series. And I find myself aligned with the many who are in the forum about the ending. And as one put it, "One of the best shows that I wish I never saw, and try to forget it altogether."

I just realised something from reading all the forum posts... I want a sequel. Crap. I shouldn't say it, but I really like it.. And just that faint hope that the childhood friends would get back together...

Ah, the first day of seriously serious studying.

Went a bit slower than anticipated, but I managed to cover 20 to 25 questions with full answers... Have to increase tomorrow to 30. Was sidetracked by a few important parts today.. Am truly exhausted.

What in the world can I do now? Pray, and work 100% for 3 weeks. It's gonna be a rough ride. Hang on.

When I receive comments, be it via MSN, or just comments on my posts, it intrigues me to find that I have this innate ability to perceive a viewpoint that actually makes sense.

Those who have known me for a long time know that I'm no stranger to being illogical, and I admit it often comes as a surprise when people find my posts an interesting read.

To be honest though, I've always been a fan of creativity. I hate reading novels, only savouring the moments I get to read my Archie comics, those Spiderman, Superman, Batman, Punisher comics that have been gradually handed down as time passes. And yet, I find my typing, and the structure of my posts, emails and so forth still pretty much intact as it would be 5 years ago.

Though, I do have a problem actually writing out a proper paragraph of material on things I learn... It's an anomaly in my style, although I have to admit, it is slowly improving.

I'm no Michael Crichton, nor am I a Tom Clancy. I'm me, and I write my own story, my own opinions, and my own life.

And although this blogging is a phenomenon that hit the world before I caught on to it, I have to admit, it is a pleasure to just sit and write, and to just share what my 2 cents are on the world, with family, friends and even those who don't seem to know me yet find me.

It's scary in a sense too... I have always believed you can perceive the personality of one who writes on a public domain. And so I have a multiple personality-complex that acts as my defense mechanism against such incidences of predictability.

I suppose my experiences with various friends and "friends" have helped form and moulded the person I am now.

It's interesting to note too, that many bloggers form their own opinion, making their blogs, in a sense, rather political. It's not to put them down, but I noticed that people who are inhibited by a conservative society, find themselves lashing out on their "creativity" on a post, thus streaking it with their biased opinions, criticisms, and hence, in some countries, breaking the law.

It is true that some laws are ridiculous.

But if you live in a country that has "ridiculous" laws, then why don't you migrate to one which doesn't have that tag on it? Or maybe, just write it in a journal? It's not a necessity, after all, to create anything political, or to share something that perhaps should not be said in public. After all, the opinions of one won't change a population of 20 million overnight via a blog.

There are many outlets to creativity. Drawing, writing, creating a home video (sounds wrong, I know, but it's true), typing on a blog, and so forth. But just because an outlet is closed off, doesn't mean it is a time to make a statement of intent to challenge it. Instead, get on with it and place it in a journal or something.

Sometimes, after all, some things aren't made to be said in public.

A blog is merely an outlet. Maybe if you have a problem expressing yourself here, try the journal. Or draw. Or just go for a long walk.

[A 12 minute blogpost production]

Oh. My. Goodness.

Nothing can surely be more sucky than this bloody lousy extraordinary stupid "Post an entry" page.

Because I just wrote an extension of what I had written yesterday on that same private post, and I accidentally pressed the wrong button. And in an instant, I've lost everything I had just thought of.

ARGH.

Nothing can be more stupid than the damn thing which didn't save the post. Sigh.

What a waste of my time.

Aih.... yeah.. things otherwise... Shite. I had such a well-structured post on the damn topic too.

*frustrated*

Anyway, nothing too much to report otherwise, had a lovely strongly worded post that criticised the majority of society that would've been good reading for many. Yet, for now, I have to keep it private because I have to edit it... AGAIN!

Sigh. Just has not been my day, I guess.

I'll post up what I wanted to post later.. albeit it won't seems as good as the one before... Sigh.

Frankly, I have never really touched upon the fact that I've had my own fair share of emotional rollercoasters. And sorry to disappoint many, but that didn't even have to involve the ladies.

Yes, I've mentally and emotionally struggled with the fact that we are mere mortals made with a lifespan of what seems like an eternity, but certainly flies as fast as it comes.

Approaching my 21st birthday, I lie back often every evening, wondering what my life would've been like had I done things differently - if I didn't go to uni in UNSW, would I be this talkative, both to girls and guys? if I had not been so laid back, would I have had a greater success? Had I taken sport more seriously, would I have been possibly a success at it?

But success is not measured by how well you do in the rat race of society.

Far from it, my belief lies in the fact that a person does not need to be competitive, yet requires a self-determination of success, that we can indeed be as great as our predecessors had made themselves.

We all know how that for every Einstein, we've had a couple of say, boo boos.

I've realised that my generation, whilst part of the big population boom, has a greater ratio of boo boos than geniuses.

And besides, just being a boo boo person doesn't mean you're a failure. Not a failure as a person, anyway. I've had the personal experience of being down and out. Yet, do I seem like a failure? Far from it. In every passing moment, I enjoy life far more than before. The enduring journey.

Life is a journey. Many people today take it for granted. We often see ourselves place faith in a deity, in which, Christianity for instance, will see the afterlife being in the Kingdom of God.

Whilst I am a Catholic, I am by no means an optimist of such views. Rather, I look at it, and being the realist, I like to wonder what REALLY holds in that afterlife.

I love the fact that I'm another guy on this Earth, blessed with the oppurtunity to live as a result of my parents. I have loving parents, and three elder siblings to look up to. That's the joy of being the youngest. You seem to have to learn from the mistakes made from your generation of siblings.

Yet, I feel sad that I am bound in a world of uncertainty. If there's anything I fear more than anything else, it is loss. Loss of my immediate family. Loss of anything ever so dear to me. Though emotions in me are kept in check away from the many eyes around, I have to admit, there are times I truly wish to just be in the arms of another just as a world of reassurance that things will be alright.

i know that this is reality, and what I hope for, and possibly, what EVERYONE hopes for, is impossible.

We are merely journeying through the passage of time, advancing generation to generation, living a life that can be somewhat thought of as mysterious.

And you know what, we're afraid of death, despite it being at our doorstep constantly.

Me? I don't know. All I know is that I love my family so very much, that despite the disagreements, that I love them all.

Time is ever so precious. We can never take back what has passed.

We can continue wishing for things. But wishing has got to stop, for it is only action that will push humanity forward.

Live the moment, without regrets, without anger, without looking back. Embrace one another, be kind, look at each other in the eye without malice.

That's the world I seek.