Favourite drama:
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e
Stand up!!
Favourite games:
Baldur's Gate II
The Curse of Monkey Island
Plundered Hearts
Seiken Densetsu III
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VIII
Prince of Persia Sands of Time
Favourite books:
Juliet Marillier 'Daughter of the Forest'
Maria V. Snyder 'Poison Study'
Jules Watson 'The White Mare'
Favourite comedians:
Bill Bailey
Danny Bhoy
Brian Regan
Mitch Hedburg
Jim Gaffigan
Post modern 'fidgy widgy' breakdown of my taste in anime/manga:
What originally drew me to anime was Neon Genesis Evangelion - though prior to that I had seen some other titles which I do not particularly care to mention - but what really started my obsession at 14 years old was Ranma1/2. But it was not to last. After watching a variety of Shounen anime my dissatisfaction became apparent. While the main protagonist is thrust into an adequate amount of bizarre and hilarious situations with alarming concentration the fact that so many new characters come out of the woodwork - prolonging the main plot line until the fiftieth episode (If you're lucky!) and bringing with them every single cultural theme from Ancient bowels-of-the-earth-dwelling monster slaying to ultra posh French dining - caused the integral characters' development to lose out somewhat.
This is where I started to find interest in shoujo. Not only are the protagonists well antagonised for my pleasure, but a situation which makes me giggle is always just around the corner. Of course, all genres have their failings. Many critisise shoujo stories for following one basic plot line and contains the stereotyped shoujo character lineup, which is fair enough really. But, you see, since the appeal of it from the beginning was not that it was innovative, rather that it was a series of gripping scenarios which don't just make you laugh and don't just make you cry, but somehow clutch at your heartstrings and make you feel all good inside. ...or maybe that's just me?
The only thing I think it is left wanting of is some more cultural experimentation and imagination. That is why I want to try a gradual expanse in this direction with my writing. Catching a Common Fox is my first attempt at a professional standard manga (though I already feel like I want to refine the first few pages -_-). I chose it from a plethora of story ideas I had floating around in my head at the time because it was somewhat modern and doesn't challenge my artistic skills with period costumes, architecture or horse riding for the time being.
