I think he meant Umineko not being a direct sequel to Higurashi, since it's new people.
I'm an editor of The Witch Hunt (the group doing the novels), so trust me, don't think that it doesn't have ANYTHING to do with Higurashi... it actually has quite a lot to do with it. I don't want to spoil anything, but imagine that Higurashi is a series in a box... and your view point was from inside that box. Umineko is the viewpoint from outside the box.
Ryuukishi07 is building his own myths, world, and history in the When They Cry series, and Umineko only helps flesh it all out. You won't get anything direct, but Umineko will help you better understand Higurashi.

The anime just started too, so make sure to pick it up :D Though I'd advise against watching GG/Coal's subs... they're pretty inaccurate when it comes to names and important points. Wait for the "Sea Cats" group, who should be releasing episode one soon (their main translator was away on vacation this week)

(These are all in Japanese)
Manga far view:
http://i33.tinypic.com/153aghy.jpg

YuYu Hakusho fullset, Emma 1, Minami-ke 1-2, Slayers 1-6
http://i38.tinypic.com/34pc13q.jpg

Busou Renkin fullset, Eyeshield 21 1-5, Naruto (20)
http://i35.tinypic.com/34i61q9.jpg

Rurouni Kenshin fullset
http://i36.tinypic.com/211trbr.jpg

Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Onikakushi, Watanagashi, Tatarigoroshi, Onisarashi full) (Meakakshi 3), Higurashi Kizuna, Umineko no Naku 1, Hoozuki no Shima 1
http://i38.tinypic.com/140jcd5.jpg

Seto no Hanayome 1-3, Soul Eater 1-7, Tozasareta Nerugaru 1, Kami nomi Zo Shiru Sekai 1, Sketchbook 1-5, Excel Saga 1-3, Holy Brownie 1-3. Shakugan no Shana 1-2
http://i35.tinypic.com/fk8px5.jpg

I bought Ichigo 100% off of Ebay, but it hasn't arrived yet... so add those 19 to this too  :ehail:

I tried to organize them best I could by alphabetical/series/magazine. The top row is mostly Gangan Monthly, Gangan Wing, GFantasy, Young Gangan, and Gangan Powered with Young King Ours at the end, and Dengeki Daioh to round out the Seinen-ness of those titles, though there's one Shonen Sunday in there as well.
Second row begins the Shounen Jump in alphabetical order.
Third row completes the Shonen Jump, then goes onto Kadokawa series (To be fair, Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni Onisarashi is a Kadokawa manga, but I wanted to keep it with the Higurashi series)

English ones are just Excel Saga and Death Note  :il_hahaha:

It seems that Rikudou is only drawing, the actual story is by Inoue Toshiki (a filmwriter famous for working on various animes and the Kamen Rider live action series)

I loved Baccano, and everything about it :P
Claire was terrifying

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-07-17/adv-voice-actor-mike-kleinhenz-passes-away

It's sad to say, but Mike Kleinhenz, the voice of Kabapu in the English Excel Saga, has passed away recently :(

He shall be missed

I just got my limited edition Higurashi Kizuna in the mail today :D
*is happy squirrel*

Quote from: randamonian on June 16, 2008, 09:44:38 PM

oh, i found a great bookstore in sydney, called kuniyo kunikada or something

Kinokuniya? Great place to get Japanese manga, and try their sites if you don't live near one (like me ;_;). I ordered both volumes of Higurashi: Tatarigoroshi-hen from there, as well as Soul Eater (1-2) and Seto no Hanayome (1-2), all in Japanese of course ;D.
Ebay can be a good place too lol. Got Busou Renkin 1-9 (Japanese) for 9 dollars, and 9 shipping. Can't beat that!

Friend coaxed me into watching Kaiji. I've been marathoning it just to get it over with (It's not bad by any means, it's just not my cup of tea lol).
Plus, Soul Eater, Kurenai, and Nabari no Ou as they get released. All three are epic (though, Nabari is just a Naruto rehash with Shikamaru on downers as the main character)

Ah, yeah, ADV lost the licensing to the show, and now Bandi has it. Could be a good thing, considering how HORRIFIC the ADV dub was, at least from the previews I saw. And the movie comes out this September!

Foggle sent me this link earlier today:
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-04-30/3rd-higurashi-tentatively-slated-as-rei-video-series

Basically, Higurashi season 3 is going to be an OVA! I've always said Higurashi would be better as an OVA anyway.
Also, I found this earlier today:
http://www.oyashirosama.com/web/umineko/index.htm

What's this what's this? The announcement of Frontier Works (Higurashi Kai animator) working on an Umineko project? HELL YEAH. It doesn't specifically announce an anime, just "media", but the possibility is pretty darn great!

Quote from: exckilla on April 26, 2008, 12:34:52 PM
That higurashi one, I thought the first 4 episodes made no sense, becasue how the hell are they alive in episode 5 when rena and her mate are beaten to death by keiitic (don't ask) who in turn dies in the phone box of an overdose, bloody weird

Just keep watching. It'll all make sense eventually ;D
I had the same experience. My friend told me it was good, I watched the first 4 episodes and went ".... Dude, what?" He simply said "Keep watching". Though Ironically, I've seen Kai, and he hasn't yet >_>; So the roles reversed, and I know more than he does lol

Code Geass, season 1.
Think Death Note meets Full Metal Panic. Quite awesome

You know, this is one of the best versions of God Knows I've heard (It has nothing to do with the Higurashi/Haruhi collaboration for it  :il_hahaha:)
http://www.esnips.com/doc/cd427e52-52f0-48fa-985a-222cff1eef5d/HaruHigurashi---God-knows...

Just started Seto no Hanayome. I have to say, it is probably one of the funniest anime series I've ever seen, without crossing over into the inane parody genre! Everyone should see it, even if the synopsis sounds like crap (Mermaids)
Plus, I started Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori
Aaaaand the new series have started for spring, namely Kure-nai (epic anime), and To-Love-Ru (Generic but fun)

Ghost Hound is kind of mind-bendy-ish. It's not the greatest, but it's something worth looking into.
Also, if you like X-files, check out Mushishi. It's like a Japanese X-files, but about bug spirit things instead of aliens.