tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67888995644713988712024-03-13T08:46:17.452-07:00Anime Reviews by AdrianAdrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-58925244117236774722012-08-10T12:41:00.001-07:002012-08-10T12:41:51.349-07:00Pandora Hearts Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://download.minitokyo.net/Pandora.Hearts.412520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="640" width="451" src="http://download.minitokyo.net/Pandora.Hearts.412520.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Pandora Hearts Plot:</b><br />
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<blockquote>Oz Vessalius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he's cast into the prison known as the "Abyss", only to be saved by a "chain" known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. Why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as "Pandora" want with him...</blockquote><br />
<b>Pandora Hearts review:</b><br />
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What gives people the strength to go on after they have fallen? What makes them strive for the perspective of a bright future? Seeking to answer those questions, “Pandora Hearts” gives the impression of a charming, unique series that differs from its counterparts through adapting a popular scheme, but not entirely living off it. Why, then, is it nothing amazing in particular?<br />
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STORY (7)<br />
Good beginning. This series starts with really nicely developed foundations. It seems very promising; we get to know Oz Vessalius, your typical young hero-wannabe, but as soon as Alice shows up, things start getting interesting. Oz ends up in the twisted realm of “Abyss”, only to be saved by the mad rabbit, however nothing comes free of charge. And nothing is the same when he goes back to his world.<br />
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And here I ask: when and why did it go downhill? What happened to the fascinating, dark mood this show kept in the beginning? When did it become a cliché-filled shônen adventure with hardly any development overall? I had high hopes for the series and kept watching, expecting it to, I don’t know, improve? It does, actually, get better right in the middle, where we finally receive some character development, the story progresses and most importantly – some of the most important questions are answered. But then it worsens yet again. The rest feels forced and the series stops at such a moment that it leaves you with huge disappointment. Why is it over so suddenly? It desperately calls for a continuation, it does.<br />
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Setting, though, is where the series excels. True, this whole “Alice in Wonderland”-hype might be getting a tad annoying, however “Pandora Hearts” adapts the theme perfectly. It is a warped world, nevertheless it doesn’t feel that sickly abstract. The “Chains” are yet another embodiment of human fears – and so is the “Abyss” itself. It doesn’t feel like the kind of place you would want to end up in, precisely. Watching a fantasy series set in such scenery feels just refreshing. The references to the original “Alice” are subtle and often misleading, which is also accomplished very well.<br />
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ART (7)<br />
Something is missing. The characters look wonderfully colourful and detailed at first, the surroundings are promising, but then the quality becomes an issue. With each episode, more and more flaws can be noticed. Even fight scenes tend to become dull, since those often follow the pattern of slashing, cutting, slashing and a little bit more of slashing. The worst thing is, though, how the vividness and energy of characters is lost through a dull palette. Who, in the world, robbed those poor guys of their colours, making them look just boring? What appears pretty – the hair does, oh, and Sharon’s dresses. Good job, but that’s it. Why does Oz look even more boring than he actually is, I ask? The series has a completely washed-out look which pains me a lot, since I was really looking forward to enjoying the graphics. (Apparently, the quality in the few special episodes outruns the TV animation a lot. Too bad it was rushed, too bad.)<br />
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SOUND (9)<br />
Yuki Kajiura does an outstanding job capturing the magic of the setting in “Pandora Hearts”. The music itself is simply excellent and stands out in the series’ overall look. It is charming, at other times has a mysterious tone to it, or dramatic, fitting well with what is going on the screen. Never exaggerated. Although the score might not appear anything exceptional in the beginning, the viewer soon begins to realise that it without it, the Victorian atmosphere couldn’t be captured as good. The soundtrack is equally pleasant to the ear while not watching the show, too.<br />
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Voice-acting is quite well-done. Junko Minagawa does a good job playing the part of Oz, Ayako Kawasumi is a fine Alice, and Ishida Akira excels as always in his role (even though the character himself is not very likable). The seiyû operate their voices perfectly, creating very emotionally-convincing cast and pretty much making up for the flaws of the characters themselves. Here, I can’t complain.<br />
The opening and ending sequences are nothing special in this case. Cute songs go along with the animation (the first ending, in particular, is full of annoying spoilers, so watch out), however they are not notable enough to make one feel like spending that additional time watching both OP and ED. They simply don’t get in the way.<br />
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CHARACTER (5)<br />
This is exactly where the series’ biggest weakness lies – its character cast which is particularly weak, boring and cliché. Starting from the main character, aforementioned Oz, it becomes extremely tiresome and the characters don’t develop much. Oz is a good definition of a typical shônen main lead. He is brave, adventurous, protective of his friends and clumsy when it comes to love. He also has family issues to make him more of a dramatic rebel, and a whiner for a side-kick. Oz’s actions throughout the series are easily predictable and more than often he falls into banal traumas, being the kind of person who wants to save the day, become a hero and protect his princess. Sorry, this might be going well with the story, but as a character Oz is a failure.<br />
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Gilbert is, fortunately, a different story. He changes a lot – his personality becomes completely unlike, save for a few specific features that are necessary for some progress in the story (no, his loyalty to Oz is NOT a plot device for fangirl issues). Contrary to the first male lead, he keeps calm and generally stays rather dependable, when it comes to satisfying the fans. His actions certainly aren’t very surprising, as it all revolves around Oz anyway; but at least he did not make me want to murder someone whenever he appeared on the screen. Alas, one more thing must be brought up here as well, namely – Gilbert being a magnet for fans. No-one can deny his typically attractive traits (cold and introverted chain-smoker, sorry), but hey, haven’t I already said something about stereotypes in this series?<br />
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The creation of Alice turns out to be a disappointment after a few episodes. She starts off as a madwoman, a crazy sadist who cares little about who or what she might destroy while immersing herself in bloody, vicious fights. But Alice is a tsundere character – and being a genuine tsundere in “Pandora Hearts”, she can’t possibly stay this way throughout the series. An attractive, moody glutton - which she ends as – obviously arouses the interest of others, and soon the relationship between her and Oz becomes a major problem in the story. Yes. Alice, the wild Chain who only has any regard for herself, is a crying little girl inside. I can’t deny the charm of tsundere characters, but this just doesn’t seem right.<br />
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No other character really deserves any special words of praise here, sadly. There’s the hyped “Mad Hatter” Break, a particularly annoying it’s-a-secret type of pretty boy; a cast of supposedly evil manifestations of malevolence; and others who exist merely for the purpose of creating a background for the main leads. There are also Sharon and Jack who have the potential to make great characters, but are mostly neglected or idealised; there is a representative of the rare male tsundere specimen, Elliot. And there’s Vincent who is much creepier than he would normally be supposed to. They all might seem colourful at first, however inside they are not as interesting as they appear.<br />
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ENJOYMENT (7)<br />
To be honest, this series is quite boring. All the big talk about how different and remarkable it is, and what I see is an average fantasy adventure with mediocre art and particularly annoying character cast. But it has potential – which had been wasted, unfortunately. If only the series developed in a different manner, maybe I would have been able to enjoy it more. For now, I can’t say anything special about it. Felt as if I was rewatching something else, just another episode of already known series, and it really does not bring much into the genre. It certainly isn’t bad, not at all, yet it’s still nothing extraordinary.<br />
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OVERALL (7)<br />
Having complained a lot about the flaws in “Pandora Hearts”, I still can’t criticise the series as a whole. It has its drawbacks, just like any other show, and pluses; most notably the incredible atmosphere of a well-designed, interesting world. The one thing I simply don’t understand is how overrated it is becoming – all because of the fuss made over new adaptations of “Alice in Wonderland” which are now apparently inspiring people all over the world, while years ago it was still an eerie fairytale, more of a madman’s dream. The new versions, however, go well with the tastes of nowadays’ viewers who know what they want to see, but expect the shows to demonstrate a certain level of creativity and innovation as well. It kills those shows. “Pandora Hearts” is such a series with much power and weak realisation - a great concept trapped in a mediocre, cliché-filled box.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-33450124675882419342012-08-10T12:29:00.001-07:002012-08-10T12:30:33.173-07:00Blade of the Immortal review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSDYYgZ9sLfR38tyfZoWIoWtkWy53z0SZTtLbAtvN_1QfWImX_jZYtuh0ErIN8d1z_u0RbS8gvArquoqhaqgA71D1eV8PoPlhV2YHt2ezlamqKZRfBcbG7fSAT2XSiYqEJOfdZuwQumIn/s1600/Blade+of+the+Immortal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSDYYgZ9sLfR38tyfZoWIoWtkWy53z0SZTtLbAtvN_1QfWImX_jZYtuh0ErIN8d1z_u0RbS8gvArquoqhaqgA71D1eV8PoPlhV2YHt2ezlamqKZRfBcbG7fSAT2XSiYqEJOfdZuwQumIn/s320/Blade+of+the+Immortal.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Blade of the Immortal Plot:</b><br />
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<blockquote>Manji is an amoral swordsman, who has been cursed with eternal life. He has grown tired of living with all the death he has created. He has no skills other then those of killing, thus he forms a plan to regain his mortality: he shall kill one hundred evil men for each good one he has killed. The old witch who afflicted Manji with immortality agrees to Manji's proposition and Manji is set on his path to kill one thousand evil men. On his journey he meets a young girl, Rin, who has her own vengeance to seek against the sword school whose members slaughtered Rin's family. Rin and Manji journey together, each hoping to find some kind of peace. In their way are many varied enemies. Rin and Manji are almost constantly under attack and must learn to live their lives, avoiding being consumed by revenge.</blockquote><br />
<b>Blade of the Immortal review:</b><br />
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I will start by saying that, having read the manga, I was very excited when I heard that there was going to be an anime adaptation, and I had high hopes/expectations for it. It is possible that my review will be biased in that regard. That being said, I'll begin my review.<br />
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Art: The art was, in my opinion, not bad. The character designs were true to the manga, I didn't notice any particularly huge problems with inappropriate scenery or just general sloppiness. However, this anime was based on a very violent, sword-fight laden manga, but there were few fights scenes to get overly excited about. The fight scenes that were shown were brief and unsatisfying. For example, if Manji is fighting someone, the beginning of the fight will be shown, then they'll either switch to another character who is watching the battle or even to someone completed unrelated to the current battle. Then suddenly, oh! there's the end of the battle. It was completely unsatisfying. The gore was toned down tenfold.<br />
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Sound: This was by far the worst part of the anime. If you like the opening theme, you'll love the sound. But whoever sings this song, her voice just grinds the gears in my head. And you'll hear her pipe up at the most random and inappropriate times. Sad? You'll hear her. Happy? Sounds the same as sad.<br />
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Character: Overall character development, I'd say was average. Despite reading the manga, I didn't leave this show feeling super connected to any of the characters. There was room for improvement, but it really could have been worse too. I noticed a couple moments that were glaringly out of character from the manga, but I tried to give some leeway.<br />
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Enjoyment: It was slow. There were times when I could have easily fast-forwarded several parts and not have missed any plot. One would think that by the twelfth episode, the penultimate episode, some sense of suspense would be building, or at least some problem that could feasibly end the series and/or set up a second season. Nooooope. Episode twelve left me with little desire to see the last episode. The slowness combined with the hideously poor sound and mediocre characters left me with little satisfaction at the end of this series.<br />
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Overall: If you haven't read the manga, you may enjoy this series. It is my opinion that if you were a fan of the manga, you should avoid this entirely. Seriously, you won't laugh at how bad it is--it'll just make you sad. It made me sad. So very sad.Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-23111905975732113502011-06-05T00:06:00.004-07:002012-08-10T10:20:29.045-07:00Toradora! [review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mikeolotaku.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/toradora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://mikeolotaku.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/toradora.jpg" width="576" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b>Toradora Plot:</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>Toradora!'s story begins with the male protagonist Takasu Ryuuji who is frustrated at trying to improve his look as he enters his second year of high school. Despite his gentle personality, he has a natural outer-appearance which makes him look like an intimidating delinquent so he is utterly hopeless about his chances of getting a girlfriend anytime soon, and does not have many close friends either. After being greeted by his hungover mother in the morning, Ryuuji goes to school and finds out that he is in the same class as his best friend Kitamura Yuusaku. But what makes him extremely happy is that he gets to be in the same class as his crush Kushieda Minori. However, it is then that he unexpectedly knocks into "the creature ranked most dangerous in the school" — Aisaka Taiga —, who goes by the nickname "Palmtop Tiger" and who just happens to also be in his class.<br />
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Taiga has a negative attitude towards others and will not hesitate to snap at people. After a series of misunderstandings between Ryuuji and Taiga, Ryuuji is taken in by Taiga as her personal servant. Taiga had moved out to live on her own due to family issues and isn't able to do any housechores. After discovering the state of her apartment Ryuuji, who has a real talent at domestic chores, decided to do all of her housechores. Taiga spends a lot of her time over at his house, so much so that she could almost be considered a member of his family. Since Ryuuji spends a lot of time with Taiga, he is opened up to her world and to a side of her that most people do not see. The two also attempt to help each other in order to improve their relationship with their crush (Taiga has a crush on Ryuuji's best friend, Yuusaku, and Ryuuji has a crush on Taiga's best friend, Minori). Unknown to them, however, people they know from school start to become curious about their strange relationship together and rumors begin to spread about them.</i></div><br />
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Alternative Titles<br />
English: Toradora!<br />
Synonyms: Tiger X Dragon<br />
Japanese: とらドラ!<br />
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Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 25<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 1, 2008 to Mar 25, 2009<br />
Producers: J.C. Staff, Genco, NIS America, Inc.<br />
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Slice of Life<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
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<b>Toradora Review</b> <br />
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Animation: 8/10<br />
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Though technically not the greatest, it's J.C. Staff (Shakugan no Shana, Zero no Tsukaima) after all, animation of Toradora! possesses undeniable charm, similar to that of Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Some facial deformation and awkward movements during "action" scenes only add up to the style and likability of the show, though I must admit I didn't particularly like how hair moved in big chunks as opposed, to well, how hair really moves. Anyway, the most important part for the genre - character designs are cute and adorable, furthermore they really work well with the personalities of the characters and even the plot of the show. I mean, the show would have lost half of its novelty if Taiga had looked different than she does now, right? Anyway, though not as finely detailed as in most modern anime, all characters have their own style and "moe" qualities which make this show even better to watch. Backgrounds, the same way as characters, don't particularly exhibit a high level of detail, but work nonetheless. Slightly grainy color palette makes the show look realistic and it's good since it really happens in a reasonably realistic world for a change. Fluidity is lacking and character movement is slightly choppy when compared to today's standards, but as I have mentioned before, for some reason, it doesn't disturb, it just adds to the overall charm anyway. Perfection is boring and imperfections are attractive because there are times when they look better than usual, thus making them more memorable. Also, unlike most of the shows which run out of budget near the end, Toradora! actually improves its animations in last episodes.<br />
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Sound: 7/10<br />
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Toradora! has one of the best OP/ED combinations I have ever seen in anime before. First OP Pre-Parade by the three main female seiyuu of the show is an awesome upbeat piece of music which wonderfully blends with the comedic and cute atmosphere of the first half of the show. It's funny how the first frame of the first OP is the only scene in the whole show which looks relatively like fanservice. However, the way it is carried out feels more like a satyric attempt to make fun out of erotic innuendos so popular in the genre, I mean, the look in her eyes is deadly. Anyway, the OP not only contributes to the atmosphere, it also gives some depth to characters, whose actions, while perfectly timed with the music, actually reveal their personality traits rather than useless and random imaginary found in virtually all anime around. First ED Vanilla Salt by Horie Yui is also a pretty good song perfect for the atmosphere of the show, though on the contrary to the first OP I didn't listen to it for hundreds of times, that Pre-Parade is damn addicting. Anyway, once the anime finally jumps into its serious stage new OP and ED are introduced, and they are as good as the ones before, also more fitting since they cut down on upbeat nature, but never go as down as to sound gloomy or emo-like. Anyway, both the second OP silky heart by Horie Yui and the second ED Orange by the three main seiyuu of the show are good pieces of music to listen to. Now that I think about it, they are not that special as stand alone, only when combined with the show they give off that great feeling, as even the lyrics fit. Anyway, it only proves that making seiyuu sing for their own shows makes it all better because they know what they are singing about by heart.<br />
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Background music doesn't exceed as OPs/EDs do, but is still satisfactory to listen to. It's actually not the quality of compositions by Hashimoto Yukari, but their timing what makes them so acoustically pleasing. Most of the music disperses into the background the moment it ends playing, but there are some scenes when some above average music pieces are timed so well they work perfectly with both character voices and their actions, giving the scene an epic feel. I remember seeing many such scenes in Gundam Seed which wouldn't feel half as epic without their perfectly timed music. Anyway, I think you'll easily notice what I am talking about, as though I wouldn't listen to the OST, I would definitely like (and actually did) to re-listen to some scenes again. BGM does not shock, but is satisfying nonetheless.<br />
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Finally voice-work in Toradora is as top-notch as it gets. Tsundere master Kugimiya Rie (Shakugan no Shana as Shana, Hayate no Gotoku as Nagi) yet again offers a magnificent performance as Taiga, sounding considerably different from her other roles this time around. I didn't know she could produce such low-pitched voice and growl. Kushieda Minori is voiced by Horie Yui (Love Hina as Narusegawa, School Rumble as Sawachika Eri) and Kawashima Ami has the voice of Kitamura Eri (Chaos;Head as Sakihata Rimi, Seto no Hanayome as Shinarui Akeno). Needless to say that both veterans sound great. This show combines some of the best female seiyuu in the anime industry and I must say it works well in its favor. You can even hear Tanaka Rie in the background.<br />
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Story: 8/10<br />
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Though the show takes place in the real world, which I usually find boring, it turns its setting into one of its main strengths. The setup is quite simple - main character and heroine meet up by chance, have some comedic and hilarious misunderstandings and finally stick up together to help each other with their love, since both of them are best friends of the other's love interest. I must say I wasn't particularly amazed by the first episode, indeed I noticed the good pace and great potential outright, but I expected it to fall apart once the fanservice kicked in... but it never did. Nor did it ever fall apart. To the contrary, the further the show goes, the better in becomes. For that I must commend great director of this show since he made an almost revolutionary step and decided to ignore all the factors which make romantic comedies turn into crap. He never did any "anime original" fillers, he never did any fanservice, he never used idiotic deus-ex machina and he managed to turn each second of every episode into a meaningful tribute to the anime's plot. Though it's not completely clear at the beginning, all the episodes in the first, more light-hearted half of the show, are meant to give depth and develop characters all the while guiding them to the high quality drama which awaits them near the end. There is not a boring moment in the show, when the cute tsundere romance feeling is about to burn out you get a good joke and once the high-spirits from comedy run out you get some important drama to spice things up. The show keeps great balance between healthy angst and comedy, benefiting from them both. Even when the serious side kicks in, the show doesn't rely on blind romantic fanservice, but actually builds up mature and realistic relationships suiting the anime's real world setting.<br />
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What's even better is that the plot becomes better with every episode and never degrades. By having spent couple of years watching anime I have noticed that most of the shows tend to have good beginnings and fucked-up endings, especially in the genre Toradora! belongs to. It's truly a miracle that Toradora!'s conclusive ending is not only better than its beginning, it also has parallels with it, thus proving that the show was planned out solid before it even started airing, unlike most of the random crap around. Anyway, I must say Toradora! starts getting epic little by little since kicking into the second half and the last five or so episodes are pure brilliance. All the build-up and character depth given in the beginning finally blows up and you get the chance to finally taste a ripe fruit of romance so rare in anime media. Not only it's the best harem/romantic comedy around, it's one of the best romance shows in anime industry as well. Though it doesn't offer enough novelty to remain classic among people forever, I will never forget Toradora! as the best crafted tribute to romantic comedies ever.<br />
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Characters: 9/10<br />
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Obviously, most of Toradora's quality comes from its characters. The main lead, Takasu Ryuuji, though a normal high school student living a relatively normal life (that would be an insult to the genre if he wasn't anyway), is much more interesting and nowhere near as generic as I have originally thought. Though his obsession with cleaning and assorting stuff is not the most innovative, his stubborn feelings for Kushieda and surprisingly strong spine makes him rise above most of the generic leads in the genre. His "evil" eyes also add some needed spice to the comedy. He is still a perfectly normal human being, nonetheless, he is interesting, mostly due to the fact that most of his personality traits completely contrast with Taiga's thus creating a really entertaining relationship.<br />
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Anyway, the real star of the show is Aisaka Taiga, who is also known as Tenori Taiga (palmtop tiger). She is there on a fine line between man and a beast, as I wouldn't be surprised if she would beat someone to death one day. I mean, she doesn't even mind raiding classrooms and hitting other girls with fists to let the steam off. I must say her existence itself is a really heavy blow to the whole tried and true tsundere stereotype industry. Hell, is she even a tsundere? Now that I think about it, tsundere's defining trait is that she masks embarrassment with violence and is never honest, that doesn't add up to Taiga, because she is almost always honest. Actually Taiga is naturally violent and stubborn, she hits people because she wants to, not because she is embarrassed about something. Furthermore, she rarely acts violent in regard to those she loves, she'd rather go all red and be unable to piece a sentence together. Her relationship with Kushieda also shows that she is completely honest concerning feelings to people she likes or doesn't. Then again, if you would have to describe her personality, tsundere is probably the closest word to it. Either way, Taiga is an awesome character who literally shatters all stereotypes (and their skulls) and becomes one of the best leading heroines in romantic comedy genre and anime industry as a whole. I'm buying her figure, because there is definitely no other character like her elsewhere and if there ever will be, it will be guys copying THIS show.<br />
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There are only three other characters who are in the center of attention, but as I say, quality beats quantity any day. Other heroines include Kushieda Minori who usually behaves like a wacky entity from another planet or something, doing incomprehensible things, walking with "bald" wig sometimes and generally appearing very hyperactive and high-spirited (or just insane if you are a doctor). Obviously, that wouldn't account for the awesome character she is, hence all that is just a facade to mask her true feelings which are hard to perceive even for the most experienced of viewers. The other heroine in question is Kawashima Ami who is a two-faced narcissistic model appearing innocent and "clumsy" to the masses and majority of people around her. Her acting cracks up once Taiga decides to beat the hell out of her, thus revealing a surprisingly mature and experienced character who, though standing at sidelines, is the only one who perceives the situation in a crystal like view and is the wisest of the bunch. Her meaningful yet ambiguous one-liners is one of the highlights of the show. Finally, the third one is Kitamura Yuusaku who is Taiga's love interest and, again, isn't really honest to others. Despite appearing cheerful and wacky all the time he never really tells anyone his inner feelings and usually plays stupid, even though he realizes the complex relationships going around him. His worth both as a comedic relief and plot device exceeds the complexity of his personality, but he is, as all the characters in this show, interesting and deep.<br />
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All characters in this show, even the background ones, are very realistic and resemble real world human beings very much in the sense that they are rarely honest to others or even themselves. Despite posing as exaggerated anime stereotypes, all of them are very realistic inside. Even miscellaneous things, like Ami's tendency to sit in a short gap between two vending machines, give characters great depth and brings them even closer to full fleshed human beings. I wonder if it is the influence of Honey & Clover since I have never seen such complex characters in other romantic comedies.<br />
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Value and Enjoyment 8.5/10<br />
<br />
This series was highly regarded and anticipated, and rightly so: it's an excellent investment of time (and money, if you buy the DVDs). When I've had a chance to view the discs, I will comment on their value, but the series is well worth your time, and is recommended without qualification. I enjoyed the series enough to wish someone would put together another season with the same characters, and give them a chance to do some soap-opera dramatic turns. 8 points for value, and 9 for enjoyment.<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-25605757607936755072011-05-28T00:43:00.005-07:002012-08-10T10:18:32.875-07:00Hunter x Hunter review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8VqPNOo7YoY4L-1OUjK5rSs5Nk6_7DBFlvXE4cXUYEbagU68n4kEru7AKLNYw2iAuYTKT_50YXwRw_HWDwO7CuHWL-vs-mJs7Lfx78KVMPvO192QpnzcwG_otg0smGkTYTd87zgTYVP/s1600/hunterxhunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT8VqPNOo7YoY4L-1OUjK5rSs5Nk6_7DBFlvXE4cXUYEbagU68n4kEru7AKLNYw2iAuYTKT_50YXwRw_HWDwO7CuHWL-vs-mJs7Lfx78KVMPvO192QpnzcwG_otg0smGkTYTd87zgTYVP/s320/hunterxhunter.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b><br />
Hunter x Hunter Plot:<br />
</b> <br />
<blockquote>Gon's father, long believed to be dead, is still alive and was once one of the greatest Hunters in existence. Gon believes he will be able to meet his father once he himself becomes a Hunter. However, before he can become one, he has to pass the Hunter Exam first, an exam made of numerous tasks and dangerous trials. Persevering and refusing to give up, Gon manages to reach the Hunter Exam, all the while keeping his innocent attitude. Throughout many of the tasks and trials of the Hunter Exam, Gon manages to make many unique friends. Kurapica, a sole survivor of his clan seeking revenge, Leorio, who wants to become a doctor, and Killua, a member of an infamous assassin family, all eventually join up with Gon in hopes of passing the exam together. Each of them have their own reasons for taking the exam, but will they manage to pass it alive? It will be no easy task, as the tasks and trials in the exam are not easy. Aside from worrying about dying from the exam itself, Gon and his friends also have to watch out for killers participating in the exam... </blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
Japanese: ハンターxハンター<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 62<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 16, 1999 to Mar 31, 2001<br />
Producers: TV Tokyo, Nippon Animation, Viz Media<br />
Genres: Action, Adventure, Shounen, Super Power<br />
Duration: 23 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b> <br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Alright, all 10's for this one...then again...maybe not. But with animation being the only non perfect factor in this anime, it dosn't really matter.<br />
This is the best combination of adventure-action-comedy I have ever seen. At first it seemed a little boring, but it was because I had no idea that the story would evolve into something so interesting and intense. It didn't take long until I became really rapturous about this anime. I seriously recommend getting all the episodes and then make a "marathon", that way you won't get the feeling of anxiety to see the next episodes that you havn't yet downloaded...believe me, that feeling is almost unbearable.<br />
Predictable? Hunter X Hunter? In my opinion it's on the contrary, it's unpredictable. At least all my auguries went completely off the track, or maybe I'm just dumb, or maybe I was blinded by the extremely advanced-simple storyline of this anime. Yes, this anime is so simple and straighforward, yet really advanced and full of twists and they are all combined so naturally which makes HXH very unique.<br />
<br />
About the animation part, I must confess that I have seen many animes that are better in animation, but I did consider the fact that this anime is from the year 1997 and that I really loved the drawing style of the characters, but even that had its own flaws. Not that any of the characters was badly drawn but some were kinda silly and really weird. The silly faces(in the comedy part I mean) on the other hand were really hilarious, especially Killuas transformation into a cat(don't worry, he dosn't really tranform into a cat, watch and you'll find out what I mean ).<br />
<br />
The sound...it's perfect, the first opening really gets to your head, soon, without even noticing it, you may be humming the melody while taking a walk. The second opening...it gave me the chills, not that it was scary, it was just so good. Dark, slow and mysterious, just like bman already said, it puts you just into the right mood for the last episodes starting from 49. The endings, again I agree with bman, I didn't pay much attention to them, hell, I don't even remember them very clearly even though I just watched nearly all the episodes today, but I do remember the second ending which was the best. The background music perfectly synchronized with the different situations in the story and with the action, it's so good that you don't listen to it as a background music but as something obvious that really should be heard in that certain moment of the story.<br />
<br />
Characters...there are so many of them, and they are so different, sometimes you even have trouble figuring out who the main character is. In this series however, the main character still remains Gon. There really aren't evil-taking-over-the-world characters, but some are prett bad. Not Hisoka though, that guy is very funny...and a little weird<br />
Anyway, most of the characters backgrounds and intentions will be explained so nothing will remain in shadows, unless you didn't pay attention.<br />
Explanations are also the strong point of the story. Everything will be expounded, how some certain things work, what do certain things mean etc. That makes Hunter X Hunter one of the most logical animes out there, I'm not saying that it dosn't have any unlogical stuff, actually it has a lot of them. But even the unlogical things become logical...in a certain way...am I making any sense here?<br />
Probably not, so it's best if you check HXH out yourself, I assure that you won't regret it</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-14585246793366839902011-05-25T07:09:00.003-07:002012-08-10T10:19:28.443-07:00Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora review<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuu8kzQeawlisiG72nBS0cucsPRpPt-8jgt41tmCp4UuMbxBQZWZ70T5UkvXWlWl2JpRvbkAY6D3Cfh8j3aooqRmMTQxnd5v2z7Q_lu_FXg0b1dhy7OMVVpKnU1iTvxspqaZrG07DfOK8/s1600/Hanbun+no+Tsuki+ga+Noboru+Sora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCuu8kzQeawlisiG72nBS0cucsPRpPt-8jgt41tmCp4UuMbxBQZWZ70T5UkvXWlWl2JpRvbkAY6D3Cfh8j3aooqRmMTQxnd5v2z7Q_lu_FXg0b1dhy7OMVVpKnU1iTvxspqaZrG07DfOK8/s320/Hanbun+no+Tsuki+ga+Noboru+Sora.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>In a winter when he was in the second grade of the high school, Yuuichi was hospitalized because of hepatitis. Soon, he became so good as to be scolded by the nurse for going out of the hospital. One day, he happened to meet Rika, a girl of his age, in the next building. He was fascinated by her beauty, but she was very selfish girl. Although she led him by the nose, he began to be attracted by her. However, when Rika told him about her illness, he knew why she acted so selfish; she couldn't live long.</blockquote><br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Looking up at the Half-Moon<br />
Synonyms: Hantsuki<br />
Japanese: 半分の月がのぼる空<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 6<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Jan 13, 2006 to Feb 24, 2006<br />
Producers: Group TAC, Pony Canyon<br />
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora review</b> <b></b> <br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i><i>Story 8/10<br />
Yuichi is a guy that's hospitalised when a girl named Rika arrives to the hospital. She as a seriously weak heart and she doesn't have much time to live if she don't gets a surgery really soon. The nurse that take care of Yuichi asked him to visit Rika and so he did. Yuichi and Rika became good friends and one night Rika tells Yuichi that she want to get to the top of a nearby mountain. Yuichi takes her there and at the top, he suddenly faints...<br />
<br />
The very next day he wakes up at the hospital and he's back at square one.<br />
<br />
And then, the real story begins.<br />
<br />
<br />
Characters 9/10<br />
Interest: Who can't help but be interested in Rika? She may be a little selfish, but she's absolutely charming. Yuuchi is one of the classical good guys, someone that we all wish we were a little more like. The secondary characters are all interesting as well - Dr. Natsume has his inner demons and Nurse Akiko has a rather interesting personality. Most of the other characters are so minor, they are pretty much stereotypical filler, but that is their purpose in the show. Hantsuki is primarily about Yuuchi and Rika, and it does an excellent job of making you interested in them.<br />
<br />
Growth: Oh hell yes. Both Yuuchi and Rika. It's impossible to talk about it without giving away the crux of the plot, but...let me just say that neither one of them are unchanged by the time the credits roll. Even Dr. Natsume has changed a little by the end. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Animation 10/10<br />
Character Design: The characters in Hantsuki are drawn very, very well. All are proportional, all are different, except there's a pronounced similarity between Yuuchi and Dr. Natsume - but I think that's deliberate. The animation and movement is very smooth.<br />
<br />
Op/Ed: Very high quality. There's just a touch of softness to both opening and ending sequence that makes them both a little dreamlike. Some people may not like that style; I love it.<br />
<br />
Artwork: Great artwork. Backgrounds are usually fairly simple, since the majority of the show takes place in a hospital. There are very very few still shots or reused sequences, possibly none. The only complaint is that maybe it's a little too simple, but the focus of the show is on the story, not the artwork.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sound 10/10<br />
Op/Ed: The opening and ending music are two of the best songs I have ever heard for an anime series. Perhaps even THE best. The opening is paced just right for the series, and the ending flows so perfectly with the sequence, it brings tears to my eyes.<br />
<br />
Music: There's a few points where instrumental music comes out and really adds to the scenes, especially in the final episode. Otherwise, the music is unobtrusive.<br />
<br />
Voices: I have to say that the voice acting was solid. Yuuchi has a good voice for a 17 year old who hasn't really completely grown up yet, and Rika has just the right inflection for her personality: selfish, teasing, reckless, caring. The voices for the secondary characters are fitting as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
Conclusion: I feel that Hantsuki would be an excellent gateway series to watch with someone new to anime - it highlights a lot of the very best points of the genre without going too overboard with any. I cannot recommend this series enough. A tiny bit more polish, a little longer, and it would have gotten a perfect score from me. I <3 hantsuki.="hantsuki." span="span"></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-81038073884874183962011-05-25T06:56:00.003-07:002012-08-10T10:20:52.703-07:00Ef - A tale of melodies review<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwltglV_ttTUl98LL417xwh_6q-MBMmEpEBCRgsba9ZMQpVIl-nhWaF94K9Z4axgcpng3lcIc8ttmB36rgpg-08K5ZmHMNuYKDfKXDSQaIpJWdAbqeEuyWebbAHDeUVK6rFjHzhRyBgoJ/s1600/Ef+-+A+tale+of+melodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikwltglV_ttTUl98LL417xwh_6q-MBMmEpEBCRgsba9ZMQpVIl-nhWaF94K9Z4axgcpng3lcIc8ttmB36rgpg-08K5ZmHMNuYKDfKXDSQaIpJWdAbqeEuyWebbAHDeUVK6rFjHzhRyBgoJ/s320/Ef+-+A+tale+of+melodies.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
<b>Ef - A tale of melodies Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>The anime once again tells two stories.<br />
<br />
The first story takes place in the past. Himura Yuu meets a girl, Amamiya Yuuko who seems to know him, but he doesn't know her. However, he soon remembers that she was a girl whom he knew from long ago. Yuuko then tells him something which he never knew. He was her first love since then, and her first love has not ended yet.<br />
<br />
The second story takes place in the present, just after the events of Ef - A Tale of Memories.. Kuze Shuuichi meets the cousin of Asou Renji, Hayama Mizuki and spends a lot of time with her. Unknown to Mizuki, Kuze had contracted a fatal illness and has little time left to live. Kuze had decided to break all romantic ties, but things go bad when Mizuki tells him that she loves him.</blockquote><br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: ef - a tale of melodies<br />
Synonyms: ef - a tale of memories second season<br />
Japanese: エフ ア テイル オブ メロディーズ<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 12<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 6, 2008 to Dec 22, 2008<br />
Producers: Shaft<br />
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Romance, Seinen<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
<b>Ef - A tale of melodies review</b> <b></b> <br />
<br />
<i>Story 10/10<br />
For a drama/romance I was surprised how well they linked the first and second season. Really it left me quite speechless but I think this was because the actual novel was written well and meant for it to be connected in this way. However the case the plot flows quite well and coherently. I think the only downside of both seasons was that every story always ended happy. They would always led up to very unfortunate and painful events but somehow make it happy again. I guess in a sense it was also the magic of the story, but if I had to compare this to real life I couldn't kid myself and think that any of this would actually happen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Art 10/10<br />
The art of this series is so rich and detailed, I would expect nothing less from the "ef" series, in fact just watching the opening scene with the paper airplane gliding along the sunset sky, is truly appealing for the eyes, as is the entire series. The character design (while nothing particularly new) is well distinct. I especially liked the eyes of the characters. The water effects that come from the ocean will seem to just glide across your screen so fluently. And the character animation and backgrounds are truly superb!<br />
<br />
<br />
Characters 9/10<br />
I really liked each and everyone of the characters, nobody ever came off as annoying, or would make you feel that they tossed one in just for the sake of doing so. I was especially captivated with the character "Kuze, " he is a musician with a quite interesting past, and the turmoil he goes through is quite sad--yet exciting at times. The character chemistry was a bit rushed for one of the couples, but seemed to be pulled off appropriately at the end. Since half of this title is all about back story, you get a pretty in depth look into the character’s lives and can really connect with just who they are, and will feel what they feel!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sound 10/10<br />
The first season featured some top notch Ost and theme songs and fortunately this season followed suit. The only thing I can say is the opening song was really similar to the original one and that didn't appeal to me as much. Other then that the music definitely kept me going. Throughout the series you hear this one specific violin tune that stands and it really sticks in your head. Its not very complicated but it definitely captured my heart and pulled me into the anime. The voices and sound effects were also just as good if not better then the first season. All the voices were kept the same and it was well done.<br />
<br />
<br />
Value and Enjoyment 10/10<br />
The complete anime together came as a package and watching the entire thing does give you a nice message. it really tries show the watchers that hope can be found no matter how bad a situation can get and push the watcher to continue to struggle for what they dream of no matter what. I think that it is an important thing and from watching the series it does leave some impact. I will probably consider rewatching this in the future to see if I have still find the story and characters so unbelievable. With all that being said I did enjoy this series. It was a really refreshing watch since I've been mainly watching love comedies and action animes lately. I really needed a serious one to change up my mood. I would recommend this to fans who like serious romance and dramas. So if you watch it hope you enjoy it as much as I did.</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-39166016498938742792011-05-25T06:46:00.002-07:002012-08-10T10:21:16.835-07:00Ef - A tale of memories review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmrMVwYMj2mSlv4YZjtFS0rMt_-yBR7WElOubKOtSL8vXiH12ZpH5-hiL-C_busoty4wR5eeU8ewfs0EB0zEZZbCJUn_PdAJMAjPBwKTBX8vlfN9qBA-1nHuUL_1Vsmr_8pMeZIoFyS8z/s1600/Ef+-+A+tale+of+memories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmrMVwYMj2mSlv4YZjtFS0rMt_-yBR7WElOubKOtSL8vXiH12ZpH5-hiL-C_busoty4wR5eeU8ewfs0EB0zEZZbCJUn_PdAJMAjPBwKTBX8vlfN9qBA-1nHuUL_1Vsmr_8pMeZIoFyS8z/s320/Ef+-+A+tale+of+memories.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<b>Ef - A tale of memories Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>The story revolves around the protagonist Hirono Hiro, a poor high school boy who draws shoujo manga for his living. One cold Christmas night after meeting a very strange woman in a church, who tells him that he's going to meet someone he has to meet, his bike gets stolen by another strange girl. He runs after her and finds her collapsed on the street. Her name is Miyamura Miyako and her bag got stolen by a man on a motorbike. Soon after, they start hanging out together, enjoying highschool life. Miyako falls for Hiro pretty quickly but naturally finds a rival in his childhood friend, Shindou Kei, who has been dictating Hiro's life since ever.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: ef - a tale of memories<br />
Japanese: エフ ア テイル オブ メモリーズ<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 12<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 6, 2007 to Dec 23, 2007<br />
Producers: Shaft, Rondo Robe<br />
Genres: Mystery, Drama, Romance, Seinen<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ef - A tale of memories review</b> <br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Story 10/10</span><br />
And just like that I became a hypocrite. Though SHAFT stands out really well in the technical aspects for this series, let us not forget that the main driving force for any anime is not in technicalities alone - it is the story it is telling. Technicalities are there to help tell the story, but the story itself should be superb to be deserving of a 10. However cliché some people might say, I think minori invested very well (took almost all of their profits from the past and put them into this game) into writing a breathtaking story and its individually excellent scenarios that mingle well with the others. [Though I have not played Wind yet, I'm sure they exceeded it here.] ef makes use of many metaphors and symbols to emphasize its main theme of finding goals and its secondary theme of art (manga artist, filming enthusiast, and novel writer). Though the story is VERY tedious with its long dialogues, do not avert your eyes or ears! Though you don't need most of these lines to understand the story, it is necessary to get them all in other to fully enjoy what the writers intended you to feel. Some of the more easily grasped metaphors include the sheep in a circle and finding colours, but the harder but more rewarding ones come from Chihiro's novel and possibly Kyosuke's movie. It may be like they are writing along with some flow, but behind that is an amazing web full of connections with each route's elements and deeper meaning behind something that seems obvious.<br />
<br />
The course of the routes are more typical, though. Kei's and Miyako's routes are part of the same story, as they make a love triangle in the presence of a stereotypical setup. The more original and serious one comes from Chihiro's route which deals with anterograde amnesia, and is the "main" story of the series. Though it is sort of predictable what happens in the end, is it not how to get there that is the most entertaining part? ef certainly has the script to tell such a tale, evoking tears and pulling heartstrings as if they were bathroom taps and harp strings.<br />
<br />
What would have been the fourth route, is substituted by giving those characters the supporting role. Throughout the story, a mysterious nun descends from time to time giving helpful advice when the main characters are in distress. Just a friendly note not to expect anything from this element that is the closest thing to being supernatural in this series.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Art 10/10</span><br />
The art of Ef - A Tale Of Memories is a very big pluspoint! This anime has a very unique art that's well made. In some scenes something changes, I don't really know how to explain this because I'm dutch, just watch it for yourself. But I never seen something like this before, like I said, it's just unique. Maybe I'll see this as the anime with the best art from 2007, maybe also the best story.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Sound 10/10</span><br />
It's hard to say something about this. The songs are awesome, the sound is how it needs to be, and that's everything I can say. But I'm sure that the sound isn't the most important thing for watching a anime.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Character 10/10</span><br />
I am getting VERY tired out by now. I have been on a roll of not describing this category enough, so bare with me.<br />
<br />
The characters in ef have some of the most developed personalities I have seen in a long time. Actually, the male leads are some of the most promising and likable in this genre filled with wimps and soft-spoken nice guys (although Renji comes close to this archetype). While I initially liked the Kyosuke and Hirono pair for being "side characters brought into the main spotlight", I really grew on Renji as it becomes apparent that he has the hardest time out of all the guys going through Chihiro's route. Like the usual protagonist played by the player, Renji has to grasp hold on his situation and find a solution to his never-ending problem of trying to hold on. While retrospectively he plays out like a visual novel protagonist, he still grows into his own person through his individualism of his actions to avert his ultimate tragedy. On the other side, Kyosuke stays mostly pretty cool throughout the series; Hirono sort of turns into your typical male archetype later on, which lessened the impacts of his route when it came. Funny how that turned out...<br />
<br />
As for the girls, two are the usual archetypes and one is unique, but they all grow into their own individual category. Miyako suffers a bit from this, but I really commend her character for the mask she puts on everyday just to go on in the world (no, no yanderes here; no Nice Boats either, just to note). Kei has the most pitied role of all as being the childhood friend with a crush. They both have the best "to root for" stories in the series, but that does not stop them from making a good tale themselves. However, the spotlight stealer here is Chihiro, the most featured main heroine. Complete with a cute voice and character design, her route is the most captivating and cathartic of all three, dealing with an issue that seems so rare so seriously. Her together with Renji make up one of the most "equally good main path" routes in the love/romance genre.<br />
<br />
Character designs courtesy of the guy who did ones for the Da Capo series and sola. While I don't find Da Capo's designs very good (especially considering all the negative hype around it), the ones in sola were really good and attractive. Here, the designs are still good considering the males. Chihiro wins extra points for her eyepatch.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Value 10/10</span><br />
Not only is the tale good, but the presentation pushes new levels in anime as a form of art. Truly can there be more gems like ef ~a tale of memories~ out there? Highly rewatchable, especially for those who missed the dialogues the first time around (it is VERY tedious I know) and for the animation. Highly collectible, too. Which is why I give ef a 10 in value (I only give 10's to stuff I think are classics or should be classics) - a stunning experiment of telling a love/romance story that should become better known when future seasons come.</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-72831557457685882832011-05-25T00:44:00.003-07:002012-08-10T10:21:56.648-07:00Ouran High School Host Club review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFK2jG2vWNtzk2Z6ZflF6ijEMxSKSGKhs_EX1e-IKIBbudrqy5ktWGTwkzamTp1JdMe2msfptQAMeMpqargQipWsIDVk-1Mdy-ETLeSGOHBYMqaDc2sxttFs0LAJYERnqBa4orJ-xYnsL/s1600/Ouran-High-School-Host-Club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="500" width="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVFK2jG2vWNtzk2Z6ZflF6ijEMxSKSGKhs_EX1e-IKIBbudrqy5ktWGTwkzamTp1JdMe2msfptQAMeMpqargQipWsIDVk-1Mdy-ETLeSGOHBYMqaDc2sxttFs0LAJYERnqBa4orJ-xYnsL/s1600/Ouran-High-School-Host-Club.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Ouran High School Host Club Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Ouran High School is a school for the extremely wealthy or talented. Haruhi just happens to be more talented than wealthy. Since she had a hair mishap the week before school started and could not afford the school uniform, she was mistaken for a boy.<br />
<br />
Wandering into the Third Music Room looking for a quiet place to study, she encounters the school's Host Club — a group of attractive young men who give their time and affections to females, for a fee. After she breaks an ¥8,000,000 vase belonging to the host club, the leader demands that she work off the money by becoming a host. And when they find out Haruhi is not actually a boy, humour ensues.</blockquote><br />
Alternative Titles<br />
Synonyms: Ouran Koukou Host Club, Ohran Koko Host Club, Ouran Koukou Hosutobu<br />
Japanese: 桜蘭高校ホスト部<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 26<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Apr 5, 2006 to Sep 27, 2006<br />
Producers: Bones, VAP, Nomad, FUNimation Entertainment<br />
Genres: Comedy, Parody, School, Shoujo<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Ouran High School Host Club review</b> <br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: red;">Story 10/10</span><br />
"It's like Fruits Basket," said the friend who recommended Ouran to me a few months ago. "You'll like it." After watching the first three episodes, I promptly proceeded to tell said friend that I thought she was nuts. While I enjoyed the first three episodes of Ouran, arguably even more than I did those of Fruits Basket, I couldn't see even the slightest resemblance between them. Now, having finished Ouran, I think I need to apologise to her, and concede that maybe she was right after all. Though the two shows could not be further from one another in terms of subject matter, they do cover remarkably similar ground in many regards.<br />
<br />
The desire for acceptance, the triumph of naivety and kindness over bitter cynicism, and the notion of a 'family' of friends are all ideas that are prevalent within both shows. Equally, both focus on a group of very separate people that are united by someone who looks at the world in a slightly different way: while Tooru and Tamaki are almost polar opposites, they share an enthusiasm for life, and an appreciation of the individuality in those around them. Finally, like Fruits Basket, Ouran has very little story to speak of until its latter sections, and relies instead upon its characters to draw viewers in.<br />
<br />
Ouran, though, is rarely as dramatic or heavy as Fruits Basket. Nor does it want to be. The story is often pushed aside to make way for more comedic moments. Which is by no means a bad thing, as Ouran does comedy extremely well. While sometimes a little predictable, it is consistently funny, striking, for me, a good midway point between too predictable (a la Love Hina) and too weird (a la Excel Saga), and offering more laugh out loud moments than many anime intended as straight comedies. While the setup of the show could easily cause it to collapse into a harem-esque mess, the author, Hatori Bisuko, seems well aware of this, and the show is full of wry self-parody; Ouran very skilfully dances a fine line between being a satirical take on the shoujo genre, and being a shoujo anime itself.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Conclusion 10/10</span><br />
I almost feel guilty for voting Ouran Koukou Host Club a '10', and for allocating it as high a score as I have in this review. Its jokes do not always hit the mark, its story is largely non-existent, and its lead characters, while unanimously interesting and endearing, get very little screen time as anything but instruments of comedy.<br />
<br />
However, thinking back over the series, I find that it has left me with nothing but fond memories. It has been no more than two days since I finished watching it, and already I find myself missing it, and wishing there was more. Though I have done my best in this review to look at the series objectively, the truth of the matter is that there are very few things that I disliked about it, that I enjoyed every minute of it thoroughly, and that I will probably rewatch it within no more than a month. To write an objective review is, in this situation, probably more or less impossible, so I shall simply say that Ouran Koukou Host Club is quite simply the most enjoyable anime I have seen in a long, long time, and that it comes with my very highest recommendations. <br />
<br />
When the comedy eventually departs to make way for more serious moments, they are handled surprisingly well. Several of the latter episodes are almost entirely devoid of comedy, yet I found them just as captivating as those in the earlier half of the series; a surprising achievement for an anime that sells its characters to the viewer as being nothing more than one-dimensional stereotypes. Perhaps the best example of this is the story of the twins, Hikaru and Kaoru, that is gradually revealed to the viewer throughout the series, that carries their relationship far beyond the bounds of 'pointless shounen ai fanservice' and that made them, for me, two of the most interesting characters in the series.<br />
<br />
My complaint about the story, if I had to make one, would simply be that there is not enough of it. Many episodes are almost entirely devoid of character development, dedicating time instead to general silliness. Is this a bad thing? Maybe. While Ouran certainly works well as a comedy, I actually found myself even more entertained by its more serious moments, and longing for the series to lend more screen time to drama, and less to comedy. However, that is more a matter of my own tastes than it is a shortcoming of the series. Ouran never really claims to be anything but a comedy; it just happens to be a comedy that also handles drama alluringly well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Characters 10/10</span><br />
Ah. The characters... Well, I found all the main characters likable, and they all managed to leave very distinct impressions of who they were in my mind. Their actions, Tamaki especially, are very fun to watch, and some of them are very easy to picture in my mind, while I know that I haven't gotten them all covered... It is hard to tell if certain characters actually grow and change a bit, which is why I wish it was longer, however, I suppose that it's more realistic that way, since people don't change that fast. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Animation 9/10</span><br />
Ouran doesn't feature anything aesthetic that will cause your jaw to hit the floor. It does, however, boast consistently good animation that is never painful on the eyes, along with some lovely character designs, a rather sweet opening animation that is well suited to the opening theme, and some very pretty artwork during the closing credits. Due to the nature of the show, everything is very bright, with an emphasis on various shades of pink. Equally, each member of the main cast is, understandably, very aesthetically pleasing, from Kyouya's icy, calculating glare to Haruhi's gender crossing charm.<br />
<br />
It's also worth mentioning the incredibly over-the-top animation during moments of comedy, as well as the creative use of pop-up boxes explaining various elements of the show (such as Tamaki's recurring 'inner mind theatre'). While neither of these devices are anything particularly new, both are put to good use throughout the series, provoking more than a few laughs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Sound 9/10</span><br />
"Kiss kiss fall in love!" proclaims Ouran's opening song, 'Sakura Kiss', by Chieko Kawabe of Elfen Lied fame. It's a bouncy, Engrish-y J-Pop song with a nice melody, and it suits the show rather well. I liked it, but it's not really exceptional enough to sway the hearts of those opposed to pop songs about kissing and falling in love. The ending theme, Last Alliance's 'Shissou', is of much the same quality. It's not outstanding, but it's a pretty likeable J-Rock song, and I never felt particularly obliged to skip it.<br />
<br />
Outside of the opening and closing themes, I'd describe Ouran's soundtrack as 'nice'. It's perfectly pleasant to listen to for the duration of the show, and it never feels out of place, but I don't think I'd consider buying, or even downloading it. I'd hesitate to call it background noise, as it certainly does more than just fill a gap, but, besides the various instrumental versions of the two theme songs, very few of the pieces remained with me beyond the bounds of each episode. It's 'good' music, but not much more.<br />
<br />
The voice acting, however, is a notch higher; an important requirement, as even well scripted comedy can fall flat due to poor acting. Each character seems to have been cast with a great deal of care, and each does an excellent job of bringing their character to life. However, for me, the show was stolen by the twins' voice actors. The two actors were so good at mimicking one another that, before spotting their names listed separately in the closing credits, I had assumed that they were being voiced by the same person.</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-13370949330757427212011-05-25T00:25:00.002-07:002012-08-10T10:22:31.595-07:00The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs39/i/2008/365/b/4/Suzumiya_Haruhi_No_Yuutsu_by_nintendo_jr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs39/i/2008/365/b/4/Suzumiya_Haruhi_No_Yuutsu_by_nintendo_jr.jpg" width="600" /></a></div><br />
<b>The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>A far from ordinary school story begins here!<br />
<br />
This is a story of Suzumiya Haruhi, who upon enrolling at school announces: "I have no interest in ordinary humans. If there are any aliens, beings from the future, or espers, come see me. That is all!"<br />
<br />
Naturally, any normal person would think "What the...?", but Haruhi is dead serious. Things get crazy when everyone realizes just how serious she is about it all and establishes the SOS Dan.<br />
<br />
Suzumiya Haruhi is a good-looking high school girl with a clear head, naughty personality and a very egocentric way of thinking. She has the unimaginable power to change the world, but is completely unaware of this power, and so she is also unaware of the effect her power has on the outside world.<br />
<br />
A delightfully strange, yet marvellously interesting story!</blockquote><br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (2009)<br />
Japanese: 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 14<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: May 21, 2009 to Sep 10, 2009<br />
Producers: Kyoto Animation, Kadokawa Shoten, Bandai EntertainmentL<br />
Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Parody, Romance, School, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 review</b><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span> <i><span style="color: red;">Story 6/10</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i><i>Haruhi is a character-driven show. Interesting stuff happening to Haruhi and her inner circle is it's story. In fact, it is explicitly being told by one of the characters that, even though there are various organisations fighting their own passionate battles around Haruhi, all of it has no meaning to Haruhi herself.However, when the character development is as sad as it is, this line sounds less like a good story element and more like a cop-out.<br />
The remaining two arcs had very little interesting stuff happening to the characters. Sure, the basic story elemets are there, but the space between them is filled with nothing but boredom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Character Development 2/10</span><br />
Pretty much every minute or two of episode 8 signifies some sort of development, for at least one of the main characters. That's how it should be for a Haruhi show.During the other 13 episodes i only seem to recall two such events - one with Kyon standing up to Haruhi in episode 19 (Endless Eight arc final), and one with Kyon / Koizumi in episode 24 (Sighs arc final). Everything else was just every character doing their usual routines, which we have already seen so many times in season one episodes - which were actually reaired as well.That kind of character development strikes me as seriously lame. Where is further development of Nagato's human emotions? Where is Mikuru dealing with being torn between secrecy and obvious affection for Kyon? Why the hell it took Kyon 8 episodes of absolutely nothing happening to grow a friggin' backbone? I guess we do get to see high-and-mighty Koizumi in a broken crying-for-help state, but why in the world did they decide for the actual breaking to happen off-screen? And what's the point of the side characters? Just to be there and look pretty for the camera? The ultimate ruling looks like this. There were no new characters introduced, and there were virtually no new developments for existing ones for the majority of the new content. That's a fail. The only upside is a good in-character implementation of original character designs.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Sound 7/10</span><br />
The sound is average, which means highly disappointing. In 2006, we got Hare Hare Yukai, Bouken Desho Desho?, God Knows, and Lost My Music. All excellent pieces of J-pop. Even the background pieces are memorable. But in 2009, all we get are Tomare!, Super Driver, and a couple new background pieces that are extremely meh. Tomare! and Super Driver are still fairly good J-pop songs, but when you think of how Hare Hare Yukai, Bouken Desho Desho?, God Knows, and Lost My Music were done so well three years before, they don’t stand a candle.<br />
<br />
<br />
Animation 6/10<br />
The execution of visual side of things is on a very professional level. The pictures are flowing, the attention to detail is on a good level. From backgrounds to facial expressions - everything is polished to a good degree. The technical side of things is beyond reproach. The characters are drawn with great care. The moods of every single shot are all captured perfectly.<br />
Seriously, the animators did a bloody good job.<br />
The problem is, the task they were given was incredibly simple.They were animating a series of talking heads, which default to a maximum of two facial expressions. The amount of action was even less than in Haruhi season one, where it was next to none to begin with. In fact, looking back at it, i realise that they drew everything so well because they didn't really have a whole lot to draw.<br />
It can be argued that it's the horrible story holding back the animators, but that's simply not true. Because there are shows out there with stories even more horrible, which are still pretty awesome to watch ( *cough* Lucky Star *cough* ). Why are they awesome to watch? Well, because the guy, who was telling the animators what to do, actually stopped for a bit and considered how the picture stands on it's own.<br />
You see, the picture needs to entice, to inspire, to draw you in and to keep you entertained. An ideal animation does not need sound or plot to hold your attention and interest. Most of Haruhi s2's animation does not even begin to approach that.In short, the pictures were moving and pretty, but they also were boring as hell. So 100% marks for technical execution, 20% marks for artistic vision. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Enjoyment 2/10</span><br />
I had my hopes up very high as i saw Kyon and Mikuru emerge from their 3 year stassis, as Kyon pondered the meaning of him stepping on some past butterflies.<br />
At this point, i expected season two to be at least as good as season one was.Boy, was I in for a disappointment.</i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-67888764505475321852011-05-24T23:57:00.002-07:002012-08-10T10:22:51.810-07:00The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSzv8vaTKE0_6v1YWuI6hnLLMMOcisWFCRb8cCN08SGdVH2qR7ip43DZGOSGI3IBnl5qe56nf373aZyZqmHdK5vLmvDrEWfbqJalWwJ-mFxVX84JnlxtwxH3V5GfG_5pg85bEHzIEaAG3/s1600/The-Melancholy-of-Haruhi-Suzumiya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSzv8vaTKE0_6v1YWuI6hnLLMMOcisWFCRb8cCN08SGdVH2qR7ip43DZGOSGI3IBnl5qe56nf373aZyZqmHdK5vLmvDrEWfbqJalWwJ-mFxVX84JnlxtwxH3V5GfG_5pg85bEHzIEaAG3/s320/The-Melancholy-of-Haruhi-Suzumiya.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<b>The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>A far from ordinary school story starts here!<br />
<br />
This is a story of Suzumiya Haruhi, who upon enrolment at school announced: "I have no interest in ordinary humans. If there are any aliens, beings from the future, or super-humans, come see me. That is all!"<br />
<br />
Naturally, any normal person would think "What the... ?" but Haruhi is dead serious. Things get crazy when everyone realises just how serious she is about it all and establishes the SOS Dan.<br />
<br />
Suzumiya Haruhi is a good-looking high school girl who has a clear head, naughty personality, and very egocentric thought. She has an unimaginably tremendous power to change the world, but she is totally unaware of her own power and so she is also unaware of the affect of her power on the outside world.<br />
<br />
A delightfully strange, yet marvellously interesting story!</blockquote><br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya<br />
Japanese: 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 14<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Apr 3, 2006 to Jul 3, 2006<br />
Producers: Kyoto Animation, Lantis, Bandai EntertainmentL, Kadokawa Pictures USAL<br />
Genres: Comedy, Mystery, Parody, School, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life<br />
Duration: 23 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya review</b> <br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i><i><span style="color: red;">Story 10/10</span></i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br />
</span></i><i>We’ve seen the plotline for this series before, but not so much that it gets old or boring or unoriginal or etc. A general formula for the story would be: Person A lives in world => A gets bored with world => A drags B, C, D, and E in to her world and it gets better (for all of them) as they go.<br />
<br />
Suzumiya Haruhi, East Junior High’s famous girl of ambiguous intentions, comes onto the stage of her namesake show as a mildly depressed and bored… person. Enter Kyon, the sarcastic protagonist to stand alongside Haruhi on her many dubious quests to find abnormal creatures. Following him will be a trio, to be saved for the “Characters” section of this thing of a review. Anyway, she (Haruhi) hopes and wants desperately for the existence of aliens, time travelers, espers, and dimensional sliders to put her world on the edge of its seat.<br />
<br />
There are hints, or hardly even traces, of drama and romance in Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu. Kyon holds in his heart feelings for the female trio, but they’re all different and unique (his feelings are).<br />
<br />
As for the episode order, there are those out there who didn’t like it (probably because it made them confused and feel bad), but I loved it. It somewhat emphasized on the queerness of the main characters Haruhi and Kyon. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Animation 9/10</span><br />
Can't really say anything bad about the animations but they could still be better...<br />
Drawings/artwrok are avarage and could have been done alot better... It aslo felt rather blurry, but maybe it was the fansubed version that was bad... Anyway... On to the sound...<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Sound 10/10</span><br />
Probably the most memorable thing in the whole series... Especially the preformace during the school festival. OP/ED is just a matter of taste as always, not everyone likes the same kind of music.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Characters 9/10</span><br />
Strange how things turned out, but Haruhi got called on to be the main character to her own show, and she’s not an average every day main character. Haruhi is openly selfish, has convenient bouts of deafness (or just refuses to listen to others while she’s in monologue), and is also (considered by her peers) to be a superfreak. Many series before have used such a character, but, what, you ask, makes Haruhi different from all others? The people standing by to support her (though are main characters themselves) bring her eccentricities to light and life better than they could have been without them.<br />
<br />
Kyon is, without a doubt, the voice of reason. He grew up glued to such thing as UFO specials on TV, and even secretly hopes that such extraterrestrial things exist. Sadly, however, as he puts it, the laws of physics were too well written.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">Value / Enjoyment 8/10 and 9/10 respectively</span><br />
When I first started watching Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, it was already on episode 10. That episode, which definitely is NOT the best point to start at, was strange for a clueless newb such as myself. After waiting a week to watch episode 11's first scene, I thought "Ah, finally we get to what the series is about." Soon after, I watched the series in as strange an order as it was already released in (meaning I watched the broadcast releases in the order I downloaded them, which was also abnormal).<br />
<br />
After getting the whole series (alongside a few episodes of Ouran High School Host Club), my family and I took a vacation to the Philippines, where I had 0 home access to the internet whatsoever. Luckily, I had a laptop, a portable hard drive, and all 14 episodes of SHnY to keep me company. I watched and rewatched the episodes every day that I could, simply because I couldn't find anything else to do. Between Ouran and SHnY, I chose SHnY day in and day out simply because it was what I enjoyed more.<br />
<br />
Because of all the small things done in such large manners (fully animating the concert performances, making people in the background move, the abnormal episode order), this quickly and suddenly became a series worth the time to watch and rewatch, no matter how many times you've watched it. In my case, with each new viewing, something got clearer and pulled more questions up with it.<br />
<br />
After watching this series, I fell in love with Hirano Aya's music. She's very talented, as were those working both behind and in front of the scenes in "Haruhi". <br />
<br />
Nagato Yuki, the super silent bookworm rooted to the SOS Brigade’s headquarters, is (without a doubt) an homage to Ayanami Rei from Shin Seiki Evangelion (for proof, look to Google). She will change as the series goes on, as evidenced in the book version of SHnY, but enjoyment of such knowledge as Nagato’s development I leave to your own discovery.<br />
<br />
Next up is Koizumi Itsuki. Haruhi has a talent for “kissing her own ass,” as Kyon phrased it, and Koizumi just happens to be the one in the SOS Brigade stuck to wipe it beforehand. He is, as described in one of the other reviews, the Yes Man, who goes along with anything and everything that his leader whims.<br />
<br />
Last, and definitely not least, would be Kyon’s lust interest Asahina Mikuru. As the big “moe” factor and mascot girl in SHnY, this submissive redhead is doomed to face Haruhi’s wrath… or at least, to jump into any getup Haruhi presents her with.<br />
<br />
The supporting characters are unique as well. These people aren’t like the supporting characters in other series… not very much alike, at least. What makes them different? Who they are. Gracing the stage for the first time in Haruhi's mockery of a film were the Taniguchi and Kunikida duo, a social joke and lineless nice guy respectively, and Tsuruya-san, one of Asahina's friends whose energy is matched only by Haruhi. If they aren’t being laughed at, they’re the ones laughing, and even as supporting characters have their own roles to play.</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-2785524781249587982011-05-24T23:31:00.002-07:002012-08-10T10:23:15.635-07:00School Rumble review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDdQActKN_EMXBpzWgMycSNl6LRZil-EU_CJw248TcyQ2rEp89jcDeXxT9F71_s0hyphenhyphenDCbtaeR4SULXryuahIKnm_EF5e1-QUqmdKAY0xjvRs1p6OJNciYB-X-4RXWUOSI3QcCozWDI_aK/s1600/School-Rumble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDdQActKN_EMXBpzWgMycSNl6LRZil-EU_CJw248TcyQ2rEp89jcDeXxT9F71_s0hyphenhyphenDCbtaeR4SULXryuahIKnm_EF5e1-QUqmdKAY0xjvRs1p6OJNciYB-X-4RXWUOSI3QcCozWDI_aK/s320/School-Rumble.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br />
<b>School Rumble Plot:</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Tsukamoto Tenma is always chasing after the rather unusual Karasuma Ooji, to no avail. Her over-the-top methods don't even seem to register, but she keeps trying. Harima Kenji, the class rebel, is desperately trying to confess his feelings to Tenma, also with no luck. It's a comedy love-triangle, with humour that comes in from left field!</blockquote><br />
<b><br />
</b>Alternative Titles<br />
Japanese: スクールランブル<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 26<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 5, 2004 to Mar 29, 2005<br />
Producers: TV Tokyo, Starchild Records, FUNimation EntertainmentL, Studio Comet<br />
Genres: Comedy, Romance, School, Shounen<br />
Duration: 23 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<b><br />
</b><br />
<br />
<b>School Rumble review:</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <i>Story:<br />
Okay... This will depend highly on your tastes. As for a continual progressive storyline, you won't find one. Well, there is one, but it's not all that important in the grand scheme of things. The storyline is more like a collction of random events glued to this thin string of a storyline that's running in the background. And of course there's a bunch of running gags throughout the series. They've also used a generous number of parodies, which was a definite plus to the series. But one thing that I'd like to note, is the ending. (I'll try not to spoil anything for you people.) Like most series, the ending is incomplete, and leaves you with questions unanswered and a need to know what happens afterwards to all the characters. But, unlike most other series, this one was done REALLY well and I just have to give it props for it's originality and ingenuity. Anyway though, amist the collection of humorous gags, they did also spend some time developing mini-plots within the series. They didn't last too long, but it aided in some character development.<br />
<br />
Characters:<br />
There are no ugly or annoying characters, they were all attractive and likable in their own way. Sometimes I get confused when it comes to shows with a lot of school girls, because I can't tell if it's for the purpose of it being shoujo or to attract a lot of male viewership. Either way all the girls were very cute and each had their own unique traits so you won't get confused, I liked all 5 of the main girls: Tenma, Yakumo, Akira, Eri and Miko [I also love Lala...she was so aggressive]. <br />
<br />
Animation:<br />
Okay, so the animation style was all across the map in this series. You've got some 3D CG, some chibi stuff, overdramatized freeze-frames, etc. The style of animation that's used throughout most of the series, I'd consider to be about average. There are several scenes where the animators went all out, sharp color, good shading, smooth animation. And others where... well, mostly for humorous purposes, were shakey, washed out, and slide-show-ish. The animation style is all over the place, and I really mean, all over the place. But given this kind of series, it fit well.<br />
<br />
Sound:<br />
I found the OP and ED to be really catchy. They're really silly too which fits in with the series as whole. BGM is alright. Nothing too noticible there. Also, throughout the series, there are musical pieces that are sung. (And depending on the fansubbers, they're translated as well.) In the most part, these particular songs are really nice, and very good at conveying emotion during those scenes. It's commendable.<br />
<br />
<br />
Value + Enjoyment:<br />
Overall, I really enjoyed this series. I was in the mood for a light, fun series and I was very satisfied with this. (Also to note, I might have inflated scores because of that.) All the jokes and anecdotes throughout the series were very clean and well thought-out. (They didn't resort to ecchi when they had ample opportunites to do so, so I commend them for that.) If you're looking for clean comedy, I'd definitely recommend SR. School Rumble is definitely going to be on my list of anime to buy if it becomes licensed in the US.</i><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-75835908707563858352011-05-24T11:01:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:25:47.044-07:00Spice and Wolf [review]<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bPLcXPBJpjU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Spice and Wolf<br />
Synonyms: Ookami to Koushinryou<br />
Japanese: 狼と香辛料<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 13<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Jan 8, 2008 to May 30, 2008<br />
Producers: Imagin, FUNimation EntertainmentL, Kadokawa Pictures USAL<br />
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b> <br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Story 9/10<br />
<br />
Craft Lawrence, a 25 year old peddler travelling from town to town makes his living by trade during a period much like Europe in the Middle Ages. One night he finds in his wagon a 250-year-old pagan wolf-goddess named Holo. She appears to be a 15 year old girl, except for a wolf tail and ears. Her backstory is that she became the town's goddess of harvest (a Japanese element) who has kept it blessed with good harvests of wheat for many years. However, with the coming of the Catholic church (european element), she has lost followers, and she wants to go back to her homeland in the north called Yoitsu. She makes a deal with Lawrence to take her with him. As they travel, her wisdom helps increase his profits, but at the same time, her true nature brings adventure.<br />
<br />
<br />
Character 10/10<br />
<br />
The Characters for Spice and Wolf are GREAT. Even the side-characters are all likable in some way or another. Holo is the one that stands out mostly for this series. She is in no way weak in any way. She is Strong, Wise, Crafty, and Amusing all at the same time. She can be happy one second and then angry another, she is cunning at in both words and action, and she is very smart when it comes to things such as Craft Laurence's business and the ways people's minds work. She also shows great development in the beginning and throughout the story. She is overall a great character who's original, fun and interesting to watch, and nice to relate to.<br />
<br />
But that doesn't mean she's the only reason why you should watch this. Craft Lawrence, the merchant in the story, is also a great character in many ways. Most male characters in these types of stories do not often have much spot-light or they do not develop well enough. Craft Lawrence is a exception ( I also like Tomoya Okazaki from Clannad). He is done just about as well as Holo. He is very smart when i comes to business,people, and what they are thinking and doing (almost as well as Holo,making him pretty smart). He is also very considerate to others, helping Holo with her woe's and concerns and vice-versa. Of course, his character also develops more as the story goes, in a way that keeps you interested, and after a while, lets you accept the character (and vice-versa with Holo). He is an original character and an interesting character as well, and as a person i would like to meet if i had the chance(Same with Holo).<br />
<br />
That is the thing that really keeps this series going. The relationship between Craft Lawrence and Holo. It is interesting most of the time, and funny at others. It is indeed unique, and one that grows over time, so that they become more and more dependent on each other. Their relationship starts out simple and slow, but quickly turns into a close friendship...maybe even more. It is one that does not drag itself or push itself too much. It is a wonderful thing, with both pros and cons. One with many different circumstances to test thier bond between them, some that even change thier choices and disitions(sorry if i spelled that wrong)), and possibly almost break their bond( this is actually more prominent in the second season). Both have everything to lose and everything to gain.<br />
<br />
The side characters also contribute to the story well. They do not drag the story down in any way, and sometimes even make the story more interesting or funny to watch. Most of them are actually important at times, unlike a lot of side-characters in stories.Some might even leave the same impact on you that Craft or Holo might leave. Overall, every character is worth watching.<br />
<br />
<br />
Sound 10/10<br />
<br />
Voiced with both flair and inventiveness by Ami Koshimizu (Claes in Gunslinger Girl, Anemone in Eureka Seven, Yumi in Kimikiss pure rouge), she shows a veteran's command of her voice, unusual in one so young (born in 1986). She has to sell flirtation, anger, frustration, lonliness, and above all command of her situation, and she does it magnificently. Matching her effort is Jun Fukuyama (Watanuki in xxxHOLIC, among many others) as Craft Lawrence, and he shows a campaigner's ability to create a "romantic" character that is both strong and sensitive (and without frenetic verbal excesses). I rather enjoyed this vocal pairing, there's huge chemistry, and it's worth repeating. Seiyuu get an 8 based on chemistry and performance alone.<br />
<br />
Enjoyment 10/10<br />
<br />
- So far, i have enjoyed Spice and Wolf very very much. Everything about it fascinates me, including the Renaissance-Europe setting, which for some reason is a time in history i've been fascinated with for a long time. I enjoy watching Craft and Holo's relationship grow, along with the many conflicts that come their way and they conquer.<br />
<br />
Overall 10/10<br />
<br />
Overall- This is a great anime(it is originally a bunch of light-novels, and now a manga, and its on-going), and i look forward to watching the second season very soon and eventually more. I highly recommend it to anyone who's interested in this genre or just wants to watch an anime thats original...or just to anyone who's interested.Just to let you know, the series does have a dub, and its GREAT. Unlike most dubs,each voice for each character fits perfectly and does not ruin the anime. Even if your someone who only watches subs, try it out. You will not be dissapointed.</span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-5756648719700343962011-05-24T10:48:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:25:58.796-07:00NHK ni Youkoso! [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QYLsjJ8RThQ" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Welcome to the N.H.K.<br />
Synonyms: NHK ni Youkoso!<br />
Japanese: N・H・Kにようこそ!<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 24<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Jul 10, 2006 to Dec 18, 2006<br />
Producers: Gonzo, FUNimation EntertainmentL<br />
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, Psychological<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Story 10/10<br />
<br />
The main plot is about Tatsuhiro Satou who is living for a few years already as a so-called NEET (Not engaged in Education, Employment or Training) and hikikomori (someone who barely leaves his house and locks himself in his own room, hiding from society or even from the own family) in his apartment in Tokyo. One day he comes to the conclusion that he must be the victim of the evil NHK (Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai),an association existing in Tatsuhiro's mind, with has the purpose of making normal people to hikikomoris in order to look down on them. One day he makes the acquaintance of a young lady named Misaki Nakahara. Tatsuhiro thinks that she's part of the NHK. The fact that she seems to help him selflessly, encourages his thoughts about that evil organization and her membership. With his apartment neighbour and former schoolfriend Kaoru Yamazaki, he's producing a dating computer game for the time being which ends up in a lot of verbally violent conflicts. Further on Misaki tries to cure Tatsuhiro of his hikikomori-behaviour by giving him numerous lessons in the evenings on a bench in a nearby park.<br />
The story lacks complexity making it easy and relaxing to watch. Although the story is not breathtaking and may become a little bit boring at some points, I'd still say that all in all it's still pretty good. Being a slice-of-life anime, the progression is moderate and action sequences are practical non-existing. The whole plot brings us nearer to the Japanese society and its many hardships which is an interesting topic in fact.<br />
<br />
<br />
Characters 9/10<br />
<br />
Satou is clearly the most important character. Maybe I'm missing the point and he isn't even supposed to be a hikkikomori. Maybe that's just his excuse for being so lazy or how he rationalises his lack of social zeal. Whichever way you look at him, he's incredibly interesting. Other characters remain excellent varied creations riffing on the ideas of loneliness, troubled pasts and awkward life-situations. Interestingly the most grounded character, Yamazaki-kun, is the one with the biggest obstacle to overcome - the impossible to over-play pull of Japanese familial responsibilities.<br />
<br />
<br />
Animation 7/10<br />
<br />
To add to what I mentioned about the palate and setting, the animation is sometimes very poor. Whether that is deliberate stylisation, or I just had the raw TV version, I don't know.<br />
<br />
However, the character designs are nice, and the backgrounds and locations are well rendered and believable.<br />
<br />
Sound 7/10<br />
<br />
Nothing particularly special here (other than the mighty Odoru Dame Ningen): familiar voices which do a decent job (Japanese), and fairly standard OP and ED. I did like the OP's pleasant balance between Belle and Sebastian and BoA, but it was nothing to skype home about.<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoyment 10/10<br />
<br />
I enjoyed every second of the approximately 8 hours long story and it seemed to me like one long-lasting movie (in a positive way).<br />
Apart from the touching drama, the comedy is hilariously funny.<br />
This series has definitely exceeded all my expectations and i could watch it over and over again!<br />
Gonzo has demonstrated that it is in fact capable of producing magnificient masterpieces despite its numerous average shows. </i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-55752811891331702932011-05-24T10:41:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:26:10.425-07:00Kanon (2006) [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mCTsRsBLvwU" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Kanon<br />
Synonyms: Kanon Remake, Kanon 2006<br />
Japanese: カノン (2006)<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 24<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 5, 2006 to Mar 15, 2007<br />
Producers: Kyoto Animation, ADV FilmsL, FUNimation EntertainmentL<br />
Genres: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<b>Review:</b><br />
<br />
<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Story: 8/10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The story can start out a bit slow pace for some people (if you're used to faster pace shows), but know this, a rushed story is a rushed ending and nobody likes a rushed ending. The pacing does get better, just the first 2 episodes is mainly introduction for what's to come. The story doesn't detract from the main plot, as it faithfully follow closely on Yuuichi's daily life back in Northern Town, and how the girls he meets again slowly and indirectly help him recollect his past memories. Most of the events occuring requires an open mind and a broad comprehension level to understand what's going on. Kanon isn't trying to mimic real life events directly, but metaphorically, and thus it can be a challenging thought-process of understanding what exactly is going on or what does it all mean. Does this mean casual viewers might find the story a bit too deep to understand and might not be able to enjoy the story? Yes, it can. This can also mean those casual viewers aren't ready for this type of show. Tho, don't be discourage by the depth of the sub-stories, since on the surface, it's not hard to grasp. It's just when you start to look for a different interpretation behind the meanings is when things can get a little messy and complicated, but when untangled, it can be a very rewarding understanding experience (Your WIS/INT went up +1!).</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Yes, this series require you to think a little.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> While the story isn't very innovating or outstanding, but the experience through it all, the storytelling was enjoyable, even with a few occasional abrupt pacing. It still manage to fill in the blanks while leaving plenty of room for after thoughts.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> This series isn't really about "Sad Girl in Snow" but rather, it's more about "Sad Boy in Snow" more accurately fit the meme.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Art: 8/10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> There is not much to say about the art and animation when it is done by Kyoto Animations because most of it is a regurgitation of what other fans have already said: absolutely amazing, gorgeous, and stunning. The setting and season of winter are extremely well drawn so that it puts the viewers into that setting. Falling snow has never look so good in an anime until now. It does not just fall; it falls in a way that I could watch it forever. The art style, though it's very clear, colorful and crisp, is a bit generic. The designs are of the eyes, a staple in these types of stories, were a bit too large and I did not like.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Characters: 9/10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> At first glance and their impressions, the casting characters will look superficial and presented with a stereotypical persona. Stereotyping character's personalities are common in many stories and shows. These type of characters never change the way they are, thus they're always known as 2-Dimensional characters; aka the main character is shown as a loser at the begining of the story and still remain a loser at the end. Where is the character developement or progression in that story? None. As the story develops in Kanon, you should be able to see and understand their personality traits shift for better or for worst, as it does get explained thru various of events, and they will slowly become more 3-Dimensional as the outcome affects their behavior; thus Kanon characters can achieve a well rounded personality, breaking the characteristic stereotypes we often see in popular anime series. As character progression is very evident in this series. Giving an example of the changes or progression in character's personality would be quite a big spoiler to the series, so you'll have to watch it and see it for yourself.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Enjoyment:</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> I enjoyed this anime all right; enjoyed it to the point I cried through episodes nonstop. It might have also been the fact that I marathoned three or four episode at once, so the water works just seemed to never stop. There were times where I laughed out loud, times where I cheered (the ending), and many times where I bawled my eyes out.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Overall, I enjoyed this series immensely. It has a touch of everything: drama, comedy, supernatural elements and so forth. I thought it was a very enjoyable series despite its flaws. 8/10</span><br />
</i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-88858782121540384162011-05-24T10:35:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:26:25.282-07:00Bakemonogatari [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_oQ6PGEeQzw" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
Synonyms: Ghostory, Monstory<br />
Japanese: 化物語<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 15<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Jul 3, 2009 to Jun 25, 2010<br />
Producers: Aniplex, Shaft<br />
Genres: Mystery, Romance, Supernatural<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Story: 6/10<br />
<br />
The plot of the show sure adopts some innovative ideas. I must say I was quite impressed when I realized that what I had thought to be an opening in the first episode was actually a flashback. The problem with the overall story, however, is that it doesn't seem to lead anywhere. If you take awesome presentation away, all you are left with are some ghost stories at the level of Natsume Yuujinchou. I found it cool that some of them tie mysteries with word play, but I kind of doubt anyone without Japanese proficiency would care. Anyway one story ends, another starts and you are left wondering if something is really happening or not. Be it not for the awesome character wordy exchanges and linguistic inspired jokes, Bakemonogatari wouldn't have escaped boredom even with that awesome animation. Though I must say even the subbing group didn't seem to catch some of the jokes (I wonder how many I've missed, watched every episode twice though). Kanji expressions are also used from time to time to express the joke, or even to tie a plot point in one particular case, so I kind of believe people who know Japanese would certainly get more out of this show than the ones who don't. Maybe that's one of the reasons behind Bakemonogatari being labeled as the best show of 2009 in Japan (and I agree).<br />
<br />
Anyway, unless the three following episodes will tie the plot up like in a real ending, the only really worthwhile plot point in this show which actually advances will be the romantic relationship between the two main characters. The greatness of their relationship is, of course, attributable to their original characteristics and clever dialogue. This might also be the vaguest romantic relationship I have ever seen as they cleverly center on a Tsundere, at least self-proclaimed, who never, even once, goes into extroverted mode. Freshness of the love story comes from the fact that it's so weird you are usually unsure if it even exists, as Senjougahara is unpredictable enough to make you unable to tell if she will confess next or stab someone in the face. However, it is certainly there, and the last episode finally proves that. You can at best guess what Senjougahara thinks, and I found that the most rewarding point of the plot.<br />
<br />
<br />
Art: 10/10<br />
<br />
Once again, SHAFT saves the day! SHAFT is well known for their artistic techniques to portray abstract scenes. Their other works, such as Ef - A Fairy Tale of the Two, are very much similiar. Bakemonogatari utilizes many, unique camera angles that are relevant or not relevant to what is being said. Such scenes could be the sky, cars, the character's hair, etc. Additionally, multiple screens and walls of text pop up to give the viewer a sense of abstract understanding.<br />
<br />
<br />
Characters: 9/10<br />
<br />
I must say that the mentally imbalanced cast of characters was the last thing I expected in the show from "ghost stories" genre. While Araragi comes off as perfectly normal most of the time, even able to pull out some common sense slapstick, his tendency to save anyone involved with the supernatural no matter what's the cost is certainly not very healthy. Though it took me a lot of insanity from other characters to account for that. The show, like no other ghost story I have watched, ties its paranormal side stories with the mental condition of the characters, usually with perversive themes even. There is an obsessive lesbian, older brother complex having loli, stressed out family abuse undertaking girl and so on. On the other hand, however interesting they are and however brilliant their dialogue is, side cast is still one step away from being fully fleshed out, mainly due to the series' short length. That hardly matters though, as the main heroine of Bakemonogatari is one of the best mentally imbalanced characters I have seen.<br />
<br />
Even if you wouldn't account for some vague flashbacks relating to Senjougahara's past, you would still soon notice that she is, well, weird. Not eccentric weird, but like, dangerously weird. The fact that show at best hints at her condition and her real feelings doesn't stop her to come off as a living and charismatic character. There are certainly many characteristics which can make one fall for her, be it her extremely clever insults or eccentric behavior similar, but somehow different from usual tsundere archetype. However, I myself found her almost manic inability to speak her true feelings and those sparks of obsessive insanity the most attractive. She sure isn't your everyday tsundere, and her head is sure not normal, but damn, is she interesting. Anyway, I was really pleasantly amazed at how Bakemonogatari never let's the viewers unto their characters feelings easily, you have to interpret a lot to even guess what's going on in their weird heads. The only real complaint about Senjougahara would be that there isn't enough of her, she sure holds much more potential than she has used and hopefully the following three episodes will mark my words true.<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoyment/Overall: 9/10<br />
<br />
Beside the story and character development-in-15-episodes, Bakemonogatari deserves a good two thumbs up. Also, for a anime having a tsundere female, I'd say it REALLY stands out from Shakugan no Shana or Zero no Tsukaima. Albeit the many interesting anime coming in 2009, Bakemonogatari is certainly something else. It's unique because it stands out from your traditional anime. It is as if Bakemonogatari is wearing a green shirt while the other anime series wear white.To put it bluntly, Bakemonogatari offers this sense of upmost perfect surrealism that is damn near addicting. </i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-12211820363821698172011-05-24T10:17:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:26:47.509-07:00Death Note [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="380" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KIG_v-1JEpI" width="490"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Death Note<br />
Japanese: デスノート<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 37<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 4, 2006 to Jun 27, 2007<br />
Producers: Madhouse Studios, VAP, Konami, Viz MediaL, Ashi Productions<br />
Genres: Mystery, Supernatural, Police, Psychological, Thriller<br />
Duration: 23 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<i><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;">Story (10): The story of this anime is a masterpiece. The concept itself - the Shinigami's notebook which grants the person who has it the power to kill anyone by simply writing the person's name while picturing the face in his mind - is already brilliant to begin with as it presents the viewer questions like "What would I do if I had that power?" The way it is developed brings us yet more questions and defies our morals.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Light Yagami, the main character, is a brilliant high school student who's angry at all the injustice in the world. One day, he finds the notebook and he tries it out. At first, he's not sure about if what he did is correct but he ends up loving the power he got and trying to use it to build a new and better world. He's nicknamed as Kira by the citizens. Of course that would simply be boring if it wasn't for L, a detective that tries to discover Kira's identity. Both of them are simply genius and their counter clock run to find out each other's identity is full of intelligent moves and suspense which kept me trying to guess what each one of them would do next.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Really, the simple ingredient that's so great about this story is that it manages to keep you thinking. But at several levels. Let me explain that to you.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> First, it makes you think about if what Light's doing is right or wrong. "Is it right to be the judge and executer simultaneously?" "Don't the circumstances of each crime matter as well and is it right to judge without knowing all the facts?" "Can't the criminals be reformed?" "Is a world where people don't commit crimes because they're simply afraid really desirable? Isn't what Light aims to achieve theoretically similar to a dictatorship?" Those are questions that ran through my mind. At one point, I was totally rooting for him. But as the story develops and his actions begin to change, you'll start to wonder...</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Second, it makes you think about what's going to happen next. Trying to follow Light's and L's line of though is both challenging and entertaining. Their move will surprise you and you'll keep trying to guess what they're gonna do next. This show will keep you on the edge of your sit through its entirety.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Third, it changes the way you see the world and the people in it. With each kill and each action Light takes you can't help but wonder: "It may be wrong but what would I do if I were in his place?". People change, situations make us change. One different thing in your life and you could be going from a dedicated doctor to a serial killer (just an example).</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Besides that, the lack of flaws plot wise and the amazingly conceived connection of the events are also a great bonus and grants this story a rating of 10/10.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Art (9): The art is clean, the character designs are both unique and somewhat similar to reality. The backgrounds are detailed enough and the animation is really good. Even though there are few action scenes throughout the show, the car chasing scenes for example are really well done. Also, I've never seen writing so well and fluidly animated as here. It seemed so cool. A little exaggerated, yes, but nevertheless amazing.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> But were the art really shines is in the coloring schemes. The dark and dull tones totally fit the anime. And Light's monologues, with the red hair also add a nice touch.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Sound (9): First, let's talk about the openings and endings. Well, I dislike both openings and love both endings. Quite wired isn't it? Because you know, the 1st opening and the 1st ending are both by the band "Nightmare" (they're a really good band by the way) and the 2nd ones are both by "Maximum the Hormone". Still, it's just my personal preference though some people may be turned of by the heavy metal sound of the last opening and respective ending.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The ending song from episode 37 is really beautiful and fits the last scenes awesomely well.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> But that's not all. The opera-like songs that pass in the episodes really add to the scenes and were, with they're somewhat religious tune, the best choice to set the mood.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> I can't say much about the voice acting. I watched the english dubbed version and I thought it was really good but I'm no expert on that matter.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Characters (10): The characters are amazingly portrayed. Let me put it this way. When I see an anime, there's always a character that stands out the most for me, that has characteristics that make me root for him/her. When that doesn't happen, I usually don't enjoy an anime. In Death Note, no character stood out. But somehow, I still loved it. I think no one stood out because they were all equally great. There was no one with fantasy-like characteristics. They all seemed like real people with real problems. No unneeded and exaggerated tragedies but no totally sweet lives either.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The character development is also brilliant, specially that of Light Yagami, the main character. Starting of as a genius, calm and collected high school student with a strong sense of morals and justice, he undergoes a slow but drastic change of character. The more he uses the Death Note, the more he slowly drops his morals because he finds it is needed to continue his work. He ends up an arrogant person with no consideration by the people who surround him. He starts trying to create a new and better world for people to live him but ends up obsessed with power and with being the "God of the New World".</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> I love it when Light loses his memories about the Death Note. He turns back to his old self, refuses to use people as tools (what he had been doing all the time) and he even thinks Kira is wrong and wants to catch him. At that point, I also thought Kira's actions were going way too far but so did Light. And Light WAS Kira. So what if the notebook was real, what if I had pick it up? Wouldn't I do the same and end up like that?</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Moving on to L. He may seem like a plain character, but he is not. He tried his best to capture Kira risking himself a bit more in each attempt. He seems cold but deep inside I think he really didn't want Light to be Kira because he had never met anyone so similar to him in his ways of thinking and he saw Light as a friend, even though he was almost sure that Light was, in fact, Kira.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The support characters are surprisingly also well developed. I'm talking about the task force. At first, we didn't know much about them and they're development is not much noticeable but then at some point you realize you already know how they feel about Kira, what their line of thought is. The truth is, we subtly get introduced to their problems and internal struggles. This anime has a great cast of supporting characters.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> My least favorite character was Near. Even Mello was better developed than him. Near wanted to catch Light, sure. But it seemed like he was barely concerned about anything else that was happening as long as he could catch him. He was too cold and underwent none changes.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> But that doesn't take away from the fact that character wise, this show is a masterpiece.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Enjoyment (10): This review is getting way too long... Anyway, I really enjoyed this anime. Each episode got me craving for more. It made me think, it made me feel bad for some characters, it made me hate some situations... It was truly a great viewing experience. I enjoyed it a lot. Even now, one month after watching, I still think about Death Note and its moral changing story whenever I see some hostage situation on the news. Sometimes I'm just like "Damn, I wish I had one notebook like that! I could prevent so many bad stuff from happening...". And then, on those nights, as I'm in my bed the same questions I had when I was watching the show come once again to my mind. "If the notebook was real, wouldn't it bring even more bad things that it could prevent? Would it be right to use it? What would guarantee that I would not get corrupted by its power?" I loved this show and I still do.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Overall (10): I recommend this to anyone. Whatever genre of anime you like, you should watch this. It is a really intelligent story and even though you may not love it as much as I did, the chances are, you will. Even for people who never enjoyed anime, I would still recommend it. In fact, I am now in the process of making Portuguese subtitles so I can get my mom to watch it. Death Note defies your morals and enables deep discussions with yourself and others. It truly is a masterpiece. </span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-13470568939554409932011-05-24T10:16:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:27:00.558-07:00Naruto Shippuuden [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bfqDdXgpZoA" width="480"></iframe><br />
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The second incarnation of the very popular NARUTO anime. It covers Part II of the manga storyline which takes place two years after Part I (which ends with the Sasuke Retrieval arc, episodes 107-135 of the first TV series). The anime chronology differs from the manga as the Shippuuden series happens two and a half years after the end of the first Naruto series.<br />
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The story revolves mainly around Uzumaki Naruto's and Haruno Sakura's new adventures and their search for Uchiha Sasuke after he left Konoha-gakure (Leaf Village) to gain Orochimaru's power. The plot also shows a more active Akatsuki in their quest for obtaining all the tailed beasts.<br />
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After his failed attempt to retrieve Sasuke, Naruto learns that circumstances have granted him slightly less than three years to prepare for a confrontation with Orochimaru, who has to wait that much time before he can transfer into Sasuke's body. Naruto also must prepare for his eventual confrontation with Akatsuki, who are after the demon sealed within him. To prepare, Naruto leaves the village and undergoes intensive training under Jiraiya. At the same time, Sakura becomes Tsunade's apprentice, and Sasuke trains under Orochimaru. Thus, all three members of the original Team 7 are now training under one of the Legendary Sannin. <br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
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<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Story: Main 9, Filler 7, total 8<br />
Ok, the story is definitely a major strong point with the new series. The plot has tons of unexpected twists and is emotionally powerful. It made me, a pretty tough cookie, cry (Kakashi, Gaiden, watch it, if you aren't touched in the heart you don't have one). Problem is that you need to be able to survive the first season (ep. 1-32). Episodes 1-10 and 26-32 are fairly well paced, but it is slow in between. Thankfully none of the other seasons are that long or as slow. But beware, Shippuden has a lot of character death, yes a lot and many a soul has lost some of their favourite characters... including me ;_;. This said the series is written for a more mature audience, there is a little more blood and thematic elements are far stronger than the original series. Furthermore there are fewer stupid things like Sexy no Jutsu and all the characters act more logically, except those two... yeah I hate them.<br />
Another bonus is the after episode shorts that start some time in season five and show up roughly every other episode and are hilarious (poor Yamato). The reason for this is that the series got an extra 1:05 of run time per ep.<br />
The story line reaches it's greatest height in season six, it's simply breath taking and by itself I would give it a score of ten out of ten. This is one of the few shows that can keep me at the edge of my seat in anticipation waiting for the next ep. to air.<br />
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Now the bad news, filler (seasons 3 and 5). The filler is incredibly better than the original series, even having some very touching and enjoyable moments in them. However it still was not as good as the main series. It at times is repetetive and boring, but there were occasional sections of excellent writing. The filler may be skipped and you will not loose the plot, but it does have some very good moments to enjoy if you have the patience watch it.<br />
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Art: 9<br />
The art is quite spectacular. Even the parts where they are leaping through the tree canopy are more interesting and better made. The character designs are a major step up. However I don't really like Sakura's new look personally. But it was immediately when I saw Naruto's new face that I knew it was going to be a very different series.<br />
The backdrops are fantastic making the whole world seem to come alive. Especially when it delves into lands where the previous series didn't tread.<br />
The actual animation is also better, you may not notice it but it's much better. Some episodes are better than others, there was even one episode where the animation was as good as a very well made feature film. Think Haruhi Suzumiya just better. You'll know it cause it's right after _______ dies.<br />
In the sixth season something happens, I don't know what but I think they got new artists or something, because suddenly the art is noticely better, and I hope it maintains that into season 7.<br />
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Sound: 8<br />
Now I know this is a matter of opinion, but I found the music in Shippuden much better than that of the original series. The reason it changed was that the old composer died (requiescat in pace). I do miss the old Orochimaru theme, a lot. The intro and ending music came from amazing to just good, nothing aweful though. But I wasn't too keen on Sha La La.<br />
The voice acting improved as well, I love how the actors (in the sub) changed their voices a bit accounting for that these characters are passing through what's call hell on earth (aka puberty). I was especially impressed with the new members of the cast.<br />
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Character: 10<br />
Yet again character won through as the strong point of the series. The original characters took a big step up and even the filler cast were enjoyable. The villians gained far more attention in this series than in the last. This show continued it's reputation of making me hate a character for 100+ episodes and then turn my opinion entirely around in ten minutes. The main seller of the new series was if it could produce a new character that fit the rest of the cast. And it did.<br />
Yamato joins the cast in season two, and I liked him very quickly. He has a dark past that is still yet to be developed further. What has been told so far is fascinating and I really really REALLY want it to get covered. And he serves as an excellent punching bag in the shorts.<br />
Background gets covered much more and flashbacks are faster paced and more compelling. Kakashi and Jiraiya both get two episodes solely on their past!<br />
Best thing yet though? Naruto's not as much of an idiot, he's still an idiot, just not as much of one. But after season 4, he changes, and if far more intelligent.<br />
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Overall: 9<br />
If you never watched the original series, or if you dropped it, try picking up on Shippuden and give it a chance. It does take a specific type of person to like this show, it's love it or hate it. I may be one of the few reviewers highly recommending this show, but it is really this good. Loveable characters, plot twists, tears, and laughter, it's got it all. </i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-86899305798559217722011-05-24T10:15:00.001-07:002011-05-25T01:27:19.835-07:00Naruto Shippuuden Movie 4 The Lost Tower [review]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://doramax264.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/NARUTO_Shippuuden_Movie_4_-_The_Lost_Tower_Original_Soundtrack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://doramax264.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/NARUTO_Shippuuden_Movie_4_-_The_Lost_Tower_Original_Soundtrack.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />
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Assigned on a mission to capture Mukade, a missing-nin, Naruto Uzumaki sets out for <br />
the once glorious historic ruins of "Ouran", where he pursues and corners the rogue ninja. Mukade's goal is revealed to be a dormant leyline within the ruins; he unleashes the power of the leyline, causing a light to envelop Naruto, sending him into the past, 20 years before the series began. When Naruto awakens, he comes into contact with the Fourth Hokage, His father, Minato Namikaze.<br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
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<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Trailer looks amazing, movie fails to deliver? That's pretty much the case with Naruto: Shippuuden Movie 4 - The Lost Tower.<br />
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I'm pretty amazed with the early rating scores this movie has recieved here on MAL so I guess it's my turn to share this review with you all. I wasn't planning on doing a review on this but it really really was a huge let down so here goes.<br />
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Story: 5/10<br />
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Why? Because it's average at best. Ok, time travel and Naruto getting the chance to meet a young Kakashi/Minato etc. This, in itself was enough to get me to watch the movie. This ain't the focus of the movie at all, in fact you didn't even get the feeling of "Time travel" at all. So don't expect any decent character interaction and the main story is so predictable and corny.<br />
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Art: 7/10<br />
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The art was pretty good as always, however I was expecting it to be slightly superior to past Naruto movies but meh it's not a huge deal.<br />
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Sound:5/10<br />
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Sound was ok but there are a few scenes where it is almost unbearable. Example<br />
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Fight scene "Wth is this.....?" I actually put a battle theme on youtube during one of the fight scenes, it was that bad.<br />
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Character: 5/10<br />
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This was a disaster. You have young Kakashi, Minato.<br />
Kakashi, barely any screen time and is potrayed in a very fustrating manner. Almost no character interaction between him and Naruto (Maybe one line)<br />
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Minato and Naruto have a few convo's which help advance the plot but nothing to get excited over.<br />
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Princess=typical and no depth to all the character's, yes all of them in this movie.<br />
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Bad guy: Why is he in this?<br />
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Worst Naruto movie by far, I'm in a good mood so gave it a 5.</i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-71787962379850098052011-05-24T10:14:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:27:37.894-07:00Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/K5tgCgskXys" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<b>Review:</b><br />
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<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>I was incredibly skeptical about Code Geass at first, but I'm very pleased to say that I was greatly surprised.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>STORY - Before I saw this series, it was described to me on multiple occasions as "Death Note with mechas." After seeing it, however, I am inclined to disagree. The similarities between the two series are superficial at best, and though I can see why people would draw the comparison, I don't really think that dis/liking one means that you'll dis/like the other. But anyway, unlike Death Note, I wouldn't say that the story in Code Geass is particularly notable or unique. It's actually rather straightforward and even a little cliche, but that's exactly why this is such a well done series -- the barebones storyline is handled in a refreshing and new way that grabs the viewer's attention. There are enough twists and turns involved to keep you on the edge of your seat. The pacing is excellent and nothing feels rushed or drawn out. Indeed, the progression up to the conclusion is especially brilliant. (It's a cliffhanger "ending," but oh, it's just a fantastic cliffhanger.)</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>The series is also appealing in its uncanny ability to mix genres. Yes, this is a mecha series, but it really doesn't have to be. Yes, CLAMP did the character designs and there are some very shoujo elements (read: homolust), but there are very shounen rivalries and some pretty epic battle scenes too. Everybody wins! Additionally, because of the number of characters, the story allows for a number of small subplots. I was very happy with how this was handled in particular because all of the subplots relate and affect the main plot directly, whether by revealing some bit of information to both the characters and the viewer or by pushing forward interesting character development. Everything is well thought out and wonderfully executed, so despite the fact that "strong-willed person with plans to change the world receives mysterious power that helps facilitate his goals" isn't a very unique storyline... Code Geass makes it work.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Also. Code Geass utilizes the "best friends trying to kill each other" plotline, and I'm a sucker for that plotline.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>CHARACTER - The characters in this series are rather varied. Some are very plain and one-dimensional, while others have an amazing complexity to them that makes them very life-like. I'll be honest. I've become somewhat infatuated with Lelouch as a character (and am rather biased as a result). To me, he is very much a human character -- he has emotions, opinions, a unique point of view, and some very serious flaws, all of which make him incredibly easy to relate to and to sympathize with. He is easily the most complex character in the series, and he feels real to me, even with his supernatural powers and his genius-level intellect. This ability to make the audience relate to him is also probably the series' greatest strength and the main reason why the story is able to remain relevant and interesting despite the fact that there aren't too many new ideas plotwise.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Suzaku would probably be second in line for complexity after Lelouch, though his sense of justice might be called cliche at first (along with Nunnally's and Euphemia's), and his hax-level physical prowess is somehow harder to accept than Lelouch's genius-level intelligence. It's harder to appreciate Suzaku's depth at first, partially because he is presented as Lelouch's main obstacle and the audience's sympathies are with Lelouch, but a great deal is revealed about his character throughout the course of the series, and he becomes an amazing foil to his rival. Their conflicting ideologies and philosophies are fascinating if you really look into it, and gay as it sounds, they really do compliment each other very well.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Much of the rest of the cast seems to fall into typical archetypes -- there's your adorable little sister, your mad scientist and his assistant, your cheerful schoolgirls, your best friend, your most loyal soldier, your second-in-command, your village idiot, your... really creepy lesbian girl? Despite the generic-sounding descriptions, most of the characters are actually pretty fun, or at the very least, interesting. C.C. provides snarky commentary. Shirley spreads innocent schoolgirl love. Nunnally is so moe you'll die. Jeremiah is a good butt of all jokes. Little bits of backstory are tossed in here and there to separate them from the crowd, but it's never enough to actually intrude, and the wide range of characters lets you settle into the world pretty well too; after all, what universe is complete without an animal mascot that shows up now and again?</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>ARTWORK & ANIMATION - I wasn't too impressed with CLAMP's character designs at first (noodleboys!), but as always seems to be the case, they gradually grew on me, and I remembered just how pretty X was. CLAMP just knows how to make everyone look amazingly sexy, male or female. I really loved how they did all of the facial expressions in the series though, especially for Lelouch. Seriously, that guy had some of the most awesome crazy expressions, some of the most amazingly touching sadface expressions, and of course, some of the most amusing WTF expressions. The mecha designs for the Knightmare Frames were also pretty awesome. I dig the whole rollar blade thing, and some of the technologies they come up with are neat, if a little over-the-top. The animation is fluid and smooth for the most part and very few things stood out as being bad.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>MUSIC - Initially, I wasn't particularly fond of any of the OP/EDs for Code Geass except the first ending by ALI PROJECT because 1) they're awesome, and 2) Yuki Kajiura's style seemed to suit the series very well. The screaming violins both convey the high status of Britannia and the intensity of the emotions in the series. The rest of the themes seemed lackluster in comparison, but though I was never a huge fan of FLOW, "COLORS" kind of grew on me after a while. The final insert song, "Innocent Days" by Hitomi is pretty nice as well. Very thoughtful, very poignant, very fitting. The background music during the series was negligible for the most part; there is some pretty generic battle build-up type music and other appropriate, but rather typical, themes. Still, there's some neat classical/opera stuff, and the "All hail Brittania!" theme is definitely awesome.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>VOICE ACTING - I've seen all of Code Geass subbed and most of it dubbed. Although I was incredibly turned off by Johnny Yong Bosch's role as Lelouch initially, it kind of grew on me, and now I think it fits well enough, though I do wish he'd change his voice a little more when Lelouch is Zero (make it a little deeper?). Suzaku's dub voice surprised me with how appropriate it was too. One of the things I really wish we could replicate in English though, is the subtle differences in manners between characters, between Lelouch and Suzaku at various stages of their lives, and between Lelouch and Zero. In Japanese, when Lelouch and Suzaku are children, they refer to themselves with "boku" and "ore" respectively. As teenagers, the pronouns are swapped, with Lelouch using "ore" (Zero uses "watashi") and Suzaku using "boku." Euphemia uses "watakushi." I'll skip the grammar lesson (go wiki "Japanese pronouns"), but suffice to say that these differences provide a lot of very interesting insight into each of the characters. It's really too bad English isn't nearly as interesting.</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>The rest of the voices in the dub are pretty average, perhaps the low end of average, with a stereotypically high-pitched girly voice for Nunnally that is amazingly annoying, and very forgettable voices for virtually all the female characters (Milly, Shirley, and Kallen all kind of sound the same). I was very impressed with Lloyd's dub voice though, even if nothing will ever amount to his amazing original voice, which is uh, amazing! Seriously. One of the most amusing voices I've ever heard. Jun Fukuyama's voice for Lelouch I found to be a bit too deep/old sounding initially, but that grew on me as well, and I really love the badassity of his voice for Zero. Suzaku's original voice sounds a little generic at first, but it grows with his character. There's a good bit of Engrish in the Japanese version as well, which is always fun. I don't think you can ever get tired of their "Yes, my lord(o)!" or their "All hail Britannia!"</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Overall, I'd say the original is damn awesome, and the dub is pretty watchable -- always a plus, right?</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>OVERALL - I really love this series, and I definitely did not see that happening. Honestly, I found the first episode incredibly underwhelming: the opening sequence made it look like a series I wouldn't be interested in watching at all, and all of the expository really turned me off...but the second episode? That was so much more epic than I could have ever predicted, and I was pretty much won over after that. I'm just a sucker for chess analogies, I guess! Seriously though, good story, good characters, good animation, and good music! Mechas, politics, rivalry and comradery, strained friendships, love and hate, complex ideologies, and blowing shit up! What more could you want? :D</i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-22155061778304586902011-05-24T10:13:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:27:56.307-07:00Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/yWHcPBpKMHQ" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Synopsis<br />
One year after the incidents of the first season and the failure of the Black Rebellion (ブラックリベリオン, Burakku Riberion), headed by Zero's Black Knights, Area 11 has been demoted by the Emperor of Britannia to the rank of a Remedial Area territory. This has resulted in the Empire enforcing harsher rulings and punishments on Area 11 and beginning a thorough crackdown on the Black Knights, arresting several of its members and shutting down its operations. The Empire is also at serious tensions with two of the other major world superpowers, the EEU, that has been fighting a lengthy war against it, and the Chinese Federation, which itself seeks to conquer Area 11 without fighting a war.<br />
Source: Wikipedia<br />
<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 25<br />
Status: Ended<br />
Aired: Apr 6, 2008 to 28.09.2008<br />
Producers: Sunrise, CLAMP<br />
Genres: Sci-Fi, Mecha, Drama, Action<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)<br />
<br />
Fan-Subber Team: Eclipse<br />
Language: Japanese<br />
Subtitles: English<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Code Geass R2 has provoked conflicting reactions among the fan base, just like the original series did. Viewers still loved or hated it outright, even as many others laughed, and once again it's not hard to see why.<br />
<br />
I think R2 was a disappointment but not without redeeming qualities. It is an enjoyable sequel that could have used more foresight and additional planning. Maybe a little less ambition, a smaller cast of characters or better pacing would have been very welcome improvements. In the end, I appreciated Code Geass as a whole in spite of its flaws. Not the best show out there, but then again it doesn't need to be.<br />
<br />
Story:<br />
<br />
After having to go through strangely familiar territory, Code Geass R2 finally reaches a grander scale. What began as a local rebellion ends up having larger repercussions, both directly and indirectly. And that is just the big picture. The protagonist, Lelouch, continues to keep everything together here. What remains at the core of Code Geass and its themes is his development as a character. But it is, admittedly, the kind of development that tends to take him in a far more destructive than constructive direction and this can be hard to watch, let alone swallow. Nevertheless, I believe the main plot was brought to a rather fitting, if not absolutely satisfying, conclusion as far as those terms are concerned. Unfortunately, this central focus on Lelouch was a little too dominant in the long run, at the expense of other elements.<br />
<br />
We are taken through many more twists and turns this time around, which is both good and bad. From the exciting to the absolutely ridiculous, from the dramatic to the cheap, most are at least amusing. Yet there are clear pacing problems, especially towards the second half of R2, and that did affect the overall flow. I never felt really lost, but certain events were dealt with too quickly, including one climatic confrontation in particular. In retrospect, several early episodes were ultimately unnecessary and wasted valuable screen time that later developments could have used. As things stand, the show is rather messy and certain ideas received uneven amounts of attention.<br />
<br />
The writing and direction are competent, at heart, but evidently suffer from trying to do too much, too quickly and thus may have shot themselves in the foot more than once. The first half of the series has increased fanservice, which can be occasionally distracting. Some mysteries were resolved but, unfortunately, a few unanswered questions of varying importance were also left behind and this can be annoying if not actually crippling. The show's mecha action is acceptable but lost some of its appeal due to accelerated technological progression. It's still not as much of a factor here as it would be in other series though, from my point of view, since it isn't really meant to be the main focus.<br />
<br />
Finally, the last story arc seemed out of place at first and its very existence remains quite controversial in light of other possibilities. The ending itself, on the other hand, benefits from markedly increased attention to detail by the production staff and packs a strong emotional and thematic punch, even if the epilogue that followed it was probably too short. The final episode of Code Geass R2 gives the viewer the ability to make up his or her own mind, which is a double-edged sword. I can say the resolution worked for me, but there are different opinions.<br />
<br />
Animation:<br />
<br />
Production values are still well above the average. The animation was generally alright and, in specific places, even great. Some background frames did lack quality, but not to a bothersome extent unless you know where to look. Even then, it must be pointed out that some of the worst sequences were reanimated or redrawn in time for the DVD release. The original character designs by CLAMP continue to be fairly effective and the mechanical side of things was also quite competent overall.<br />
<br />
Sound:<br />
<br />
Code Geass R2 had good music and, for the most part, it was used well within the show itself. Some pieces are bombastic, no doubt, as one would probably expect from a tale so intrinsically linked to having a flair for the dramatic. Several tracks from the first season make a comeback here, but there is plenty of new material. The insert songs, in particular, were very nice even if a little more elusive. The opening and ending themes are a little less memorable but certainly not bad. With one exception, maybe, as opinions may easily vary here.<br />
<br />
Character:<br />
<br />
Lelouch is what drives Code Geass and he was still fairly successful in this regard as long as you can tolerate the story's overall direction, but he wouldn't be nearly as interesting without the ongoing dynamic between him and Suzaku, who once again played the most important supporting role. Kallen and C.C. got some attention and closure in their own right when they were given enough screen time, even if certain expectations were not met. Overall, these four characters received some development, though not without problems here and there. I suppose Rolo, Shirley and Nunnally also had their moments too, all things considered, but just barely.<br />
<br />
That sounds fine, so what lowered the score then? An old issue which wasn't helped by rushed pacing: the huge cast was often misused and certain plot threads were left unresolved. Too many minor characters were introduced without giving them enough weight to stand on. Many of them didn't require much attention in the first place -I can see that the story works regardless- but others did seem to demand either more screen time or more convincing motivations. The show's antagonists, some more than others, were noticeably lacking. In the end, the picture is definitely mixed here and I can't help but feel that a lot more could have been done with a smaller number of characters.<br />
<br />
Enjoyment:<br />
<br />
Code Geass R2 was an entertaining show, in many different ways, and I do not regret watching it. From the serious to the absurd, from cliffhanger to cliffhanger, the series succeeded in making me anticipate almost every upcoming episode. There are specific events which can't be taken seriously, at all, and the staff must surely be aware of this. But there are also some genuinely effective moments in the mix, depending on what the viewer is willing to put up with, and while the series can be rightfully accused of being emotionally manipulative it isn't nearly as senseless as it appears to be on the surface.<br />
<br />
In short, R2 benefits from simply being fun to watch, even though it is very true that there were problematic issues along the way. Many of the show's flaws could have been avoided with a tighter narrative, more explanations and a far more reasonable pace. As a sequel, Code Geass R2 feels appropriate yet also disappointing. Not everyone will be happy with the end result and I have my own complaints, but Code Geass, as a whole, was a worthwhile experience. </i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-54832401361696406952011-05-24T10:11:00.001-07:002011-05-25T01:28:10.839-07:00One outs [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nalYQDsQhgo" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: One Outs<br />
Synonyms: ONE OUTS Nobody wins, but I!<br />
Japanese: ワンナウツ<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 25<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 7, 2008 to Mar 31, 2009<br />
Producers: Madhouse Studios<br />
Genres: Sports, Psychological, Seinen<br />
Duration: 23 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
Synopsis<br />
The story begins when Hiromichi Kojima, the star batter of the fictional Lycaons in Japan's Pacific League, heads to the southern Japanese island of Okinawa to train and bring himself out of a slump. There, he meet Tōa Tokuchi, a 134-kmph (83 miles per hour) pitcher and the undisputed king of a gambling form of baseball called "One Out." At Kojima's urging, Tokuchi signs up with the Lycaons under an unusual contract: he gets 5,000,000 yen (about US$46,000) for every out he pitches, but loses 50,000,000 yen (US$460,000) for every point he gives up.<br />
@Taken from MyAnimeList<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<i><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;">[Story: 10]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The story revolves around a man named Toua Tokuchi, whose background is effectively unknown. All we know is that he excels in a form of gambling through baseball called "One Outs." This seems to be a theme in madhouse animes, such as Kaiji and Akagi, where the character's past remains a mystery and unknown throughout the story. Anyways, Toua is finally defeated in One Outs by a man nicknamed the "unlucky prodigy batter" Hiromichi Kojima, and due to the stakes of the gamble, Toua leaves the gambling world to lend his prowess to the weakest team in the Japanese Pacific League: the Saitama Lycaons. I won't post any spoilers, but basically the story from here on out is Toua's "conquests" of one team after another, using his sharp wit and gambling instincts to overcome star players, intelligent strategists, and even cheating on the opposing team's part to emerge victorious all while making a pretty penny off his special "One Outs" contract. A great addition is the current tally of Toua's salary due to the contract at the end of every few episodes and by near the end of the series, that number is scary huge.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> [Art: 9]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Not outstanding but gets the job done. The way every character is drawn beautifully reflects their personality (i.e. Toua looks almost sinister at times) and as such really enhances the cinematic effect of the anime. It is also fairly realistic, unlike the weird style used in Kaiji and Akagi (although I found that style appropriate for those animes). Since, the story and character are so great, however, I'm not giving art much weight toward the final rating.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> [Sound: 8]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> OP and ED are decent (nothing special) and sound effects are accurate and well-executed. BGM is fairly limited but it does a good job setting the right mood. Like art, it's pretty overshadowed by the story and as such won't factor much into the final rating.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> [Character: 10]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> There are several "round" characters in the anime (characters that develop in terms of character and maturity), though surpirsingly one of them is not the protagonist (Toua Tokuchi). I'm referring to the Lycaons team as a whole. Throughout the course of the anime, they change for the better. But Toua, the protagonist, does not. So then, why do I still award a 10 for character? The answer is that Toua's character still works beautifully. He remains the cool, calculating, canniving SOB from begininning to end and while this personality doesn't change within him, it changes his teammates for the better. Through watching him win games with his cunning, you will see the Lycaons as a whole evolve from a downtrodden team that's last in the pennant race to one that is much more positive and has a better outlook on things by the end of the series. So what's amazing is not Toua's ability to change and become a better man himself, but rather his undeniable ability to lead and change every man on his team.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> [Enjoyment: 10]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> After everything I've said before, the 10 I awarded in enjoyment should be self-explanatory. If you don't care for baseball, or even dislike baseball, but have an appreciation of strategy and psychology among other things, I think this anime will still blow your socks off. This anime is easily addicting enough to make you want to watch the whole thing in one eight hour sitting.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> [Overall: 10]</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> An outstanding anime and one of my favorites overall.</span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-90808719577756588872011-05-24T10:07:00.001-07:002011-05-25T01:29:26.532-07:00Night Wizard [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7ZNvCVKZFM" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 13<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 2, 2007 to Dec 25, 2007<br />
Producers: Hal Film Maker<br />
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen<br />
Duration: 25 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
Synopsis<br />
Night Wizard. A term given to those whose mission is to protect the world from impending darkness. Renji Hiiragi is one such Night Wizard, who is constantly called on missions, even though all he wants is to be able to go to school and graduate.<br />
<br />
However, his latest order was to protect Elis Shiho, who is a new transfer student at his academy. Being dragged into the Astronomy Club by Renji's childhood friend, Kureha Akabane on her first day at school, Elis soon realises that she too, has the power to become a night wizard, after possessing one of seven secret Jewels, the Jewel of Kindness.<br />
<br />
Along with Renji and Kureha, Elis now begins her fight and her new life, as a Night Wizard.<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>ART SECTION: 7<br />
<br />
I must say I was surprised. Most fantasy anime really suck in battles but this one had some basic strategy in it. It was not just people screaming and throwing fireballs. Well… most of it was… But several important battles were based on some sort of revelation or sideway trick. Some may call this Deus Ex Machina but I personally expected much less from such a series and thus I liked it. In fact, the battles are the best thing I noticed.<br />
<br />
Beyond that, the depiction of the world is a very nice blend of our normal one with that of epic phantasy. Modern day cities and schools, packed with wizards, monsters, flying fortresses and the like; wow I was amazed again. To be honest, most monsters were carbon copies of one another and most uniforms were more fetishes than practical; but hey, I am a sucker for fantasy.<br />
<br />
Going further, the visual effects were generally pleasing. Lots of neon glow, hovering runes and magic missiles filled the screen and gave me a funny Jrpg feeling (not a surprise, the series really is based on a game). The only thing I didn’t really liked was how everything seemed to pop out of nowhere. “No kidding Einstein, that’s why they call it magic” you may say. Well, yes, truly magic self excuses everything. But the series does not implement total magic devises. Many things feel like science fiction, as many characters use laser canons, bazookas and the sort of weapons that don’t count as magical by default. And yet, look, the battle starts and the characters summon huge Claymores, rocket launchers (including their ammo!), and steel shields, literally out of thin air. That kinda felt lame.<br />
<br />
In all, as far as animation goes, the blend of normal with fantasy was done in a generally pleasing way, so seeing high-schoolers turning into male barbarians carrying neon glow Claymores and girls turning in black-clad, mini skirt, perky witches felt more pleasing than stupid.<br />
<br />
Points are lost for the simple reason that there wasn’t that much battle choreography (much less realism) during the fights and because the series lacked cinematic optical tricks I am so fond of.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SOUND SECTION: 6<br />
Unlike the animation, the music didn’t have much to back things up. Besides some beatty music themes here and there, the rest of it (voice acting, sound effects) didn’t strike me as much. So, I only give a bit above average.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
STORY - CHARACTER - OVERALL SECTIONS: 4<br />
Here comes the nasty part. Take the most cliched school-life story and mix it with the most cliched epic fantasy story. The result is Night Wizard. It would be a lot more interesting if it had some REAL plot twists or surprises but it didn’t. Even the cast is nothing more than a typical blend of romance archetypes with D&D character classes. Not bad by itself but none evolved or did things I haven’t already seen in a thousand Jrpgs. In all, Story and Characters serve less than an anime of such a blend should deliver. That is the only reason Value gets dragged down along with the other two.<br />
<br />
ENJOYMENT SECTION: 5<br />
If it weren’t for the weird blend of normal with fantasy, this section would also be a 4. But, since I am a sucker for Jrpgs, I just gave a bit more. That is all.<br />
<br />
VERDICT<br />
Just skip the story parts and stare at the pretty lights during battles.</i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-12211519699822147142011-05-24T10:06:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:29:40.223-07:00Tytania [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jCmOUfoPhis" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Tytania<br />
Synonyms: Titania, Taitania<br />
Japanese: タイタニア<br />
<br />
Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 26<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 9, 2008 to Mar 26, 2009<br />
Producers: Artland, Sentai FilmworksL<br />
Genres: Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi, Space, Military, Psychological<br />
Duration: 24 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>Story: 8<br />
I like the theme of the story and its whole concept -- Tytania ruling the whole space empire and rebels. Well, at least that was the beginning episodes... Which is why i gave it an 8, instead of a 10. The second half utterly ruined it... especially the last few episodes.... it got me totally pissed. I would explain more on this in Enjoyment(below).<br />
<br />
Art: 9<br />
The art is obviously great. The space setting and the character designs are fitting for the story --- the character design is actually better than that poster on this site. I also like the fact that the 5 Tytania family branches wears different colored clothings. However, it is unknown why Bal'ami and his father wore a different colored clothing than Ajuman, of the same family. Also, Bal'ami's clothing color actually changed in the course of the anime and that too, is unknown why. Another thing i like is the military clothing wore by the Tytanias. I am unknown why the heck all the laser beams ought be different colors in almost all those laser beam included stories, including Tytania --- I guess thats to make it clear thats theres 2 different factions at war but its kinda lame... Had there been major no cons, which i would start listing, I would certainly give the Art a 10.<br />
There is a major con that bothered me. First, almost all the characters, including Fan Hyulick, never changed their clothings. It is understandable that the Tytania military clothings would look the same, hence no change. However, I mean wtf!, Fan Hyulick wears the same clothings as what his picture on the wanted poster. WTF! Also, now this isnt about Fan Hyulick, the nobilities that arent militaristic (ex. Teresa, Lydia, and Francia) wears the same clothing throughout the series... WTF! ok, i guess its a pain to draw new clothing everytime, but hell, this is a major con in the art! Hence the reason for the 9.<br />
<br />
Sound: 10<br />
The sound is absolutely outstanding. I love the op, it fits the theme of the Tytania completely. The ed is okay but well, not that much of my taste but its okay. The bgms are though not super fancy, its fitting. The character voicings (including the narrator) are great. All the choices were very correctly made and very fitting.<br />
<br />
Characters: 5<br />
The reason why i gave the character 5 is because first, there is barely any character development within the rebels --- it is utterly unknown why the hell they even exists and get along. I wouldve given that a 1 for characters had there not been the great character development within the Tytanias. Some might disagree but i must say, the Tytanias are greatly developed through their actions and dialogues. However, the rebels ,on the other hand, barely have anything interesting going out and their dialogues are not of intelligent or even serving a purpose. There are often random casts of characters being thrown in for the sake of the few episodes.<br />
<br />
ps. I certainly hate that Fan Hyulick person. I am not against the fact that he declared his own personal war on the Tytanias due to revenge, but what I am against is at the beginning, he told Lira that even if Tytania were gone, it wont change anything. Yet, in ep 26 he tells Jouslain that he wants to see a universe without Tytania. What hypocrisy!<br />
<br />
Enjoyment: 6<br />
The first half of the series is very enjoyable. The second half, not --- it just gets me more and more pissed.<br />
It is understandable why Ariabert lost his war in the first episode. As given by his characteristic stated by Idris --- "a coward that cannot think outside of the box." However, what is not understandable is how the hell Idris and Zarlisch lose their wars. Idris in ep 13, (spoiler warning) decided to flee from the trick that was played on him --- those fake signals by spraying something to the asteroids. Okay, this is totally wtf to me. He have a whole fleet under his control! and it is obvious enough that he should know that its a trick and that since they do not move, he can easily know which is that Honest Old Man and their fleet by seeking out the signals that moved away from the rest. I was totally wtf-ing at that scene. On to my next scene, in ep 25, honest old man was crushed by like 30 shots. Yet, miraculously, it did not explode and actually one hit and crashed the Typhoon. WTF! Typhoon is a flagship! How the hell can a single hit from some junk merchant ship do that much damage?! Not to mention how the fuck did that junk even survived all the way till ep 25?!! Ok, moving on, I was wtfing again in ep 25-26 where Zarlisch beat the crap out of like 20 rebels while lacking oxygen. I mean hell, they were wearing those oxygen masks. You can obviously see it! Why the fck dont he just grab a mask and wear it?!! It just dont make sense! It is also unknown why the hell they cant just kill Fan Hyulick! I mean sure, Zarlisch wants to please his mother. But hell, what about the other characters?! And didnt she say to bring him back the corpse when she found out that he died?! WTF?! Also, almost forgotten, on the scene where Miranda beat the crap out of that officer and eventually killing him with her whole gang escaping while being surrounded by soldiers and the soldiers didnt do a thing! and the how the hell Dr.Lee were able to hack into the impregnable jail is totally WTF to me.<br />
<br />
Overall: I gave this an 8 because i highly enjoyed the dialogues between the Tytanias and well Lydia and etc., the music, and the art. The pacing of the story is great and all. However, the fighting is not. The rebels are overrated and the Tytanias underrated. The concept of the story is great, however, the story have gone haywire as it became non practical and non realistic at all. They are trying to make the rebels the good guys and the Tytanias bad. However, they certainly failed on that -- as it became senseless and illogical.</i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-38772210111246967772011-05-24T10:04:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:30:10.859-07:00One piece [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="310" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8_XnW_uc2VM" width="520"></iframe><br />
It was a time when pirates ruled the seas. Several bands of pirates were battling over the great hidden treasure, One Piece, which was left by the now legendary pirate captain, Gold Roger. There was a young boy who admired the pirates, his name was Monkey D. Luffy. One day, he mistakenly eats the devil's fruit and turns himself into a rubber human being.<br />
<br />
Ten years have passed since that incident. Luffy sets out to sail all alone. He sets out to become a great pirate captain and that's when his great adventure begins. "I'm going to be the Pirate King! I'm going to get One Piece!". <br />
<br />
<b>Review</b><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #93c47d;"><i>In my personal opinion, One Piece is one of those animes that is easy to love and is just as easy to hate. Funnily enough, those who love One Piece love it for exactly the same reasons that others hate it; the extreme characters, zany abilities, and classic artstyle all contribute to both sides. This review's goal is neither to covince you to love One Piece, nor is it the opposite. The review merely expresses my own personal views of the series.<br />
<br />
And by the way, this review is based upon the original Japanese version. If you have had the bad luck of viewing the 4Kids dubbed version, you have my heartfelt condolences. Right, well, anyway, moving on...<br />
<br />
PLOT: The story of One Piece mostly consists of the Straw Hat Pirates traveling from island to island and having crazy adventures. Although each crewmember has a different reason for this, they all share the same goal: to reach the end of the treacherous Grand Line. Bound by this promise, they pass through unbelievable adventures. Given this pattern, you would think the plot would get boring and predictable, right? Amazingly enough, unlike shonen anime with similar plot devices, One Piece manages to become less and less predictable as its plot advances. As it advances, it also delves into serious situations. There is actually much tragedy involved with One Piece, but the show maintains a balance of comic relief as well. I've actually been driven to tears many times while watching this show, but I've laughed out loud just as many times, if not more.<br />
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ART: One Piece's art style is one of the elements that turns many people off to the series. The style is fairly old-school, remniscent of 90's shows like Dragonball Z. Then again, I guess One Piece started out in the late 90's, too, so that's to be expected. Either way, the quality of the animation steadily improves as the show moves along. The show is now broadcast in HD, and the quality simply blows me away with every new episode. But the show's animation style remains the same, just greatly improved in terms of quality. After all, with a show as crazy as One Piece, modern animation styles just wouldn't fit. I simply cannot imagine Monkey D. Luffy with eyes like Uzumaki Naruto; it simply does not work.<br />
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SOUND: I absolutely adore the music of One Piece. There are so many different kinds of situations in One Piece: happy, sad, angry, confused, funny, sleepy, scared, epic, cryptic, foreboding, intense, etcetera, etcetera. For each of these situations, there is a unique musical piece which plays in the background. What's more is that each character has their own style of music and their own theme. Whenever I hear a background song, I immediately know what's going on, and fall into the according state of mind. It happens subconsciously, and it adds to both the predictability and spontaneity of the show. If Zoro's 'epic' music begins to play, he may still lose his current battle. However, whenever I hear that music, I immediately know, "Zoro is going to dominate in this scene," regardless of whether or not he actually does.<br />
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CHARACTERS: I cannot think of enough synonyms for "incredible" to sufficiently describe One Piece's character development, so I'll just say that it's definitely SUPER!!! Ahahaha...yeah, that was a reference to the show...anyway, the characters of One Piece are one of its major selling points. In fact, it was the characters, not the story, that hooked me to this show. Each character has their own personal reason for sailing the Grand Line and for joining the Straw Hat Pirates, and this goal pushes them to new heights with each passing adventure. This goal is backed by an emotionally engrossing backstory which usually can encompass more than two episodes. I have been moved to tears by so many touching flashbacks I no longer possess enough fingers to count them all. The characters are all very personable as well, and are the one aspect of One Piece you can nearly always predict. You always know Luffy will be Luffy, and Usopp will be Usopp. Never would you expect Sanji to suddenly lash out at Nami, but you would certainly expect Nami to lash out at everyone else. Do not misunderstand me; I am not implying that the characters of One Piece are static. They are all decidedly not static. By comparing the current Luffy with the Luffy of the first few episodes, you can discern an obvious difference. The same holds true for all of the crewmembers. Yet the changes take place gradually over time, not all at once. That is my favorite part of this anime. Just like actual humans, the One Piece characters develop new traits and discard old traits, but always remain the same person they were when first introduced.<br />
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ENJOYMENT: When trying to convince my friends that they should watch One Piece (mostly so I can discuss the latest episodes with them), I inevitably have to ask myself why I personally enjoy the series. And then I am stumped. I mean, I could say all the above and people still wouldn't be satisfied. There would be people asking, "Well, why do you like that kind of plot? I saw this one show that had a different kind and I liked it." How am I supposed to respond to that!? That's the equivalent of saying, "Why do you like chocolate ice cream? I like vanilla, and it's way better." Whether you enjoy something or not all depends on how your brain is wired and your attitude when you try it. Just because I love One Piece doesn't mean you will, and just because someone hates One Piece doesn't mean I have to. Erm...I kind of got on a rant. Ehehehe...uh, yeah. So, I enjoy One Piece because of the above reasons. Is...that all I'm supposed to put here? It seems inadequate for some reason...<br />
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OVERALL: In conclusion, I find One Piece to be epic! Whether you do or don't, please don't discount it for any reason until you've actually begun watching it. While I can attest to the fact that the story doesn't really become exciting until the crew reaches the Grand Line, the material before that is still crucial to the rest of the story, and is still very enjoyable. Oh, and as a matter of precaution, DO NOT WATCH THE 4KIDS DUB! If you do, then you may very well suffer severe damage to your cerebral cortex. If you must watch the show in English, I recommend the FUNimation dub. Their DVDs contain about 13 episodes each, and are available wherever you buy your anime. I forget how much they cost...well, you can Google it if you really want to.</i></div>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6788899564471398871.post-73258613200774833312011-05-24T10:03:00.000-07:002011-05-25T01:30:25.298-07:00Fullmetal Alchemist [review]<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jXCcbMbimW4" width="425"></iframe><br />
<br />
Alternative Titles<br />
English: Fullmetal Alchemist<br />
Synonyms: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi, FMA, Full Metal Alchemist<br />
Japanese: 鋼の錬金術師<br />
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Information<br />
Type: TV<br />
Episodes: 51<br />
Status: Finished Airing<br />
Aired: Oct 4, 2003 to Oct 2, 2004<br />
Producers: Bones, Aniplex, Square Enix, FUNimation EntertainmentL, Mainichi Broadcasting<br />
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Magic, Shounen, Military<br />
Duration: 25 min. per episode<br />
Rating: PG-13 - Teens 13 or older<br />
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<b>Review</b><br />
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<i><br />
<span style="color: #93c47d;">STORY</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 10/ 10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Fullmetal Alchemist takes place in a world that seems similar to our own, but not as technologically advanced. Trains and steam powered engines are used a great deal, and the science of alchemy is far more prevalent than machines of our time. In alchemy, there is the rule of equivalent trade: you must give something of equal value in order to get something. And above all else, human transmutation is against all rules of alchemy, and does not work... or so it seems. Rumors have it that the Philosopher's Stone can give the alchemist the ability to even raise the dead, but it is long since sought after and never found. Enter Al and Edward, two young boys who attempted this heinous act once their beloved mother died. The act failed, causing Ed to lose his arm and leg, and Al to lose his body, trapping his soul in the body of a machine. Full Metal Alchemist follows Ed and Al as they search for the Philosopher's Stone to get their bodies and lives back... and that's just the beginning.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> Full Metal Alchemist is, in a word, brilliant. It's hard to explain exactly why it was so good, so you'd probably just have to see it for yourself. There is a perfect blend of comedy, action, intrigue and excitement all in one. Filler episodes are wonderful and fly by quicker than a bullet train. I never at any point in the series was bored, even for a second. In the beginning, there are a great deal of mini-arcs that deal with events in a certain town or location, but all are still somewhat involved with the main plot. Once the end of the series rolls around, you realize that all of these seemingly unconnected events or places really ARE connected, or come back into play somehow. This comes down to FMA's epic nature at heart, and maybe that's why it was so good, who knows.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ANIMATION</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 9 / 10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> The animation style for FMA was superb, and held a perfect balance of serious scenes and comedic chibis. Let's face it, the comedy played a big part in the series, and comic relief was badly needed in harsh scenes. The longest running joke was Ed being called short, and his irritation always manifested itself by him turning chibified for a few minutes. Whereas this would annoy me in most series, it seemed totally appropriate in FMA. Colors used were incredibly bright and vibrant, and character designs looked, well, normal for a series in this time period. The alchemy was definitely the most impressive part, showing us beautiful special effects and sequences. I believe a bit of CG was used, and was seamless, but I could be wrong on that point. Backgrounds were gorgeous, monsters were creepy, and the violence and disturbing parts were animated in a very... well... disturbing fashion as well.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> SOUND</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 10 / 10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> There are barely any series that I see that make me want to get the soundtrack, and this is one of them. There was a piano tune in the later half of the series that was haunting and gave me chills every time it was played. Every piece fit the series in some way, from the upbeat lighthearted tracks to the moody depressing ones. Orchestral music dominated the series, mostly piano and violins.Even the intros and outros (except the last two outros, which were pretty terrible) shone. I don't usually rate the music score on the intro/outro, which is why this still gets a 10. Flawless music all the way around, and enchanting enough to make me want to buy the soundtrack, which is a really big deal in itself.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> CHARACTERS</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 10 / 10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> I honestly can't see how anyone could think the characters score should be lower than a 10. All the characters, even the secondary ones, were developed extremely well. Al and Ed, obviously, had the most revealed about their pasts and motivations for the future, but even the bad guys and non-important folk seemed to have twists and depth attached to them in some way. We see characters grow close and drift apart. We see characters born, and characters die unexpectedly. We see masks cast aside from familiar faces, showing us that what the people we thought we knew, we really didn't at all. Everyone has layers that are peeled back and shown to us slowly... and in general, it was done in the most effective way possible.</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> </span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> ENJOYMENT</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> 10 / 10</span><br style="color: #93c47d;" /><span style="color: #93c47d;"> I can't say enough good things about this series, but I feel like watching it for yourself would make you understand why I gave it a perfect score. Everything about the series is flawless, from the epic and involved story to the pacing and mood, to the music and animation and depth of characters. It really is rare for a series like this to come along that not only succeeds at keeping your attention for 26 episodes, but for 51. Whether you like action, adventure, comedy, a good story, interesting and multi-dimensional characters, etc. you’re bound to find something you like. And that’s part of what makes Fullmetal Alchemist such a great series. So what are you waiting for? Check this out as soon as you can!</span></i>Adrianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12211077764733593499noreply@blogger.com0