Jigoku Series

Somewhere in the vast sea of the Internet, there's a website that can only be accessed at the stroke of midnight. Known as the Jigoku Tsushin, rumor has it that if you post a grudge there, the Jigoku Shoujo will appear and drag whoever torments you into the inferno. Very little is known about the girl - all we know for sure is that she lives with her equally enigmatic grandmother, that three magical straw dolls accompany and serve her, and that whenever a posting on the Jigoku Tsushin moves her, she becomes the Jigoku Shoujo.

I first encountered this anime in the year 2007. I only heard it in because of my classmate. We immediately concluded that this anime would be a counterpart for Death Note but to our surprise, it has this different plot that got me yearning for more. It was only in our semestral break of the year 2008 when I had the chance to watch the series. I borrowed my friend's anime DVD collection and unluckily, the first one that I've watched in this series is the second season (Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori). After watching the series, I got curious about the first one so I asked my senior and she let me borrow her DVD of the first series.

It was terribly disturbing and I really loved it. I am hooked to it that I actually asked my mother to make me a straw doll similar to Ai. Then I began researching for more Jigoku Shoujo until I learned that there would be a third season entitled Mitsuganae. This story is about Enma Ai's rebirth and how she possessed a girl named Yuzuki.

Over-all rating, it's really, really disturbing but I loved the fact they dwell on human nature and how the psychological effect of the series go weird. The characters are mysterious and some of them are very dense and shallow that you can't help being irritated with them.

Magic Knight Rayearth

This is actually the first CLAMP made anime that I have seen. I wasn't aware of CLAMP during that time because for the world's sake, I am only seven when I first watched it on local television.
Here is the synopsis:

Three young girls, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu, are transported to a magical world called Cephiro during a field trip to Tokyo Tower. They are soon greeted by Master Mage Clef, who explains to them that they have been summoned to become the Legendary Magic Knights and save Cephiro. The girls are less than enthusiastic about this idea, and only want to return home. Clef further explains that they must seek out the three Rune Gods to help them fight. He bestows armor and magical powers to each of them. They learn from Clef that High Priest Zagato has kidnapped the Pillar of Cephiro, Princess Emeraude. The Pillar of Cephiro has the sole responsibility of keeping Cephiro alive and in balance with her prayers. Without Princess Emeraude, Cephiro would fall into ruin. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu must fight off Zagato's henchman and find the Rune Gods if they ever want to get back home. They soon learn that friendship and loyalty are the only things they can rely on in the crumbling Cephiro. (Source: ANN)

Umi Ryuuzaki is the silliest character for me but she has the most handsome love interest -- Master Mage Clef. Fuu Huouji has the most obvious love interest that is in Ferio. Well, Ferio is handsome and I think he and Fuu can establish a strong relationship even though she's back in her world.

CLAMP fever

Well obviously, I am addicted to anime and right now I have a CLAMP flu. Hell yeah, a CLAMP flu which I think, worsens every now and then. First and foremost, what I love about them is their style in drawing... I love how they draw the details and it always left me with jaw dropped to the floor. Secondly, the characters. They are more than eye candies and they are so real, so alive that I usually stop on whatever it is that I am doing just to look at them with awe and wish that I am one of them. Well, I can't help it. They're the source of my addiction. They are my universe. CLAMP really rocks my world and they have become my universe. Without them, I'll surely lose hope in improving my drawing skills.

Here is a sample of their magnificent work.On the left side are Kimihiro Watanuki (Ichihara Yuuko on the silhouette), Arashi Kishu from the series X and Ashura from RG Veda. They also appeared in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle.