Summary:
It has been six months since Takamachi Nanoha fought to seal the Jewels and freed Fate to be herself. Now she continues with her old life while continuing to train her new skills – and to keep up a lively long distance relationship with her new friend by mail. The trail is nearly over, and soon Fate will be officially cleared and return…but their reunion is cruelly twisted by the arrival of new enemies, and a new threat: the Book of Darkness. A tome of old magic gone awry, it seeks to eat the power of mages until it reaches a certain point: then it causes terrible destruction, and disappears to repeat the process elsewhere. Now they find themselves fighting four people – including their familiar – of formidable strength, strong enough collectively to overpower even Fate and Nanoha together. They are sure that these people are no more evil that Fate was – but the cause they endorse is irredeemable, and in order to make things clear, they are going to have to fight – both these soldiers, and their unknown master: the Master of the Book of Darkness. In the end, whoever it is will decide all…

Genre:
Magical girl, fantasy, drama.

Studio:
Seven Arcs

Cast:
Ueda Kana as Yagami Hayate
Mizuki Nana as Fate Testarossa
Tamura Yukari as Takamachi Nanoha
Sanada Asami as Vita
Mizuhashi Kaori as Yuuno Scrya
Shimizu Kaori as Signum
Ichijou Kazuya as Zafira
Kuwatani Natsuko as Arf
Yuzuki Ryoka as Shamal

Episodes:
Thirteen. There is one more anime sequel after this, Nanoha Strikers. Plus two manga series after that.

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Review:
One of the most common wishes at the end of a really good anything is: I wish it wasn’t over. So there is always a huge call for a sequel to any well loved book, movie, or anime. However, in the anime and movie world at least, sequels are dangerous things with a regrettable tendency to backfire, throwing mud over the image of its predecessor instead of continuing what it began. Which is why Nanoha A’s is truly a rare pleasure: a successful sequel is special in and of itself. A sequel that actually exceeds the first is truly special, and I take a great deal of pleasure in putting down in my own review what many others have said before me: Nanoha A’s is everything that made the first great, but one better. Or two. Or three. It’s that good.

When writing a review on a sequel, I generally assume that if you are reading this then you have either watched the first already or read some review, whether mine or someone else’s, on it. So I will describe the old characters only in comparison to their first appearance. At six months, neither Nanoha nor Fate have changed very distinctly, though there is overall a slight dimming of the ‘cutesy-ness’ that I mentioned in the first. This actually an improvement, and one of those ‘but one better’ bits. There are still plenty of those charming moments, but they are turned down just so – neatly ducking below the threshold they toed so closely in the first. Many males, myself included, were surprised to be so enthused of a show like Nanoha. One such friend described it as having ‘enough sugar to give a dentist a heart attack’. Nanoha A’s tunes those down just enough to make the whole experience that much easier to appreciate. Getting back on subject, this is basically the formula for all the old characters: slightly and subtly older (to varying degrees of slight), but otherwise the same. Possibly Arf is an exception. Getting to the ‘villains’. Those watchers of Nanoha have already seen the pattern, but believe me when I say this sequel takes it to the next level. The three Velka Knights are extremely sympathetic, diverse, and powerful in well conceived ways. Signum, their leader, is tall, long haired, and has a quiet but powerful aura: of them all, she is most truly a Knight. Disciplined but well aware of her feelings, her relationship with her subordinates is very close, reinforced by long years of cooperation. Shamal is their backup and healer: nearly as tall as Signum with short blond hair, gentle and caring, she spends the most time with their master Hayate, and covers for them the most when they are out. Vita, the last of them, appears even younger than Nanoha, thought it’s clear she’s been around as long as the others. Spirited and volatile, but in the end quite sincere and honest, she wields quite a heavy hit: If Signum, with her sword shaped device, is the skill on the team, then she’s the brute force, a fact highlighted by her own device, which takes the form of a two handed war hammer. The fact that none of them fall into the warrior women stereotype of being in denial of themselves is a key point, one that drives their utterly sincere love for, and perhaps misguided actions for the sake of, their newest master, the owner of the Book of Darkness: Yagami Hayate. The same age as Fate and Nanoha, and confined to a wheelchair for most of her life, she acquired the book unwittingly, and despite her conformity, is not tempted by what it has to offer. To her, the Book is happiness because it brought her the Knights – she who had lived alone for so long, now had family. Her love is now shared by the Knights, and the resulting tangles of wants, hopes, wishes, and actions drive the emotional plot of the story.

Right. The story. I kept digressing into it up there. At this point you already know the plot. All that’s left is to discuss its handling. Which is: wonderful. Nanoha was simple but true. Nanoha A’s is much less simple, but equally true, and proportionally more powerful. All the plot and character devices of the previous series are brought to whole new levels in a truly mind boggling way. At a certain point, every battle is an exercise in pained empathy – knowing both sides, you could almost cry for the Knights as they fight, even as you pray that Nanoha and the others can win, because nothing else will save them. The pace and style of revelation is much like the first, except much tighter – the first fight begins in episode one. So it’s all more intense as it goes. Like Nanoha, by episode six you know far more about the antagonists than the protagonists. Which, like Nanoha, lends far richer levels of empathy to what follows. Except that these revelations have so many more layers, are so much deeper, more powerful and painful, that to compare them does not seem entirely correct. Rather than a copy of what made the first series work, it is an evolution of it, a new, superior form. If you enjoyed the first one at all, you will enjoy this one, even more. I can give a sequel no higher praise than that.

Nanoha A’s surpassed all expectations raised by its predecessor, telling a tale with such effect I am deeply tempted to give it a five. In the end, I don’t think I can quite give it that…but it unquestionably passes the limits of mere fourdom. For its admirably bid for greatness, I give this series a four point five out of five. It is well worth seeing.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Information such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia entry. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

Summary: In a dark world of dust and rust, a strange being wanders across the land. A powerful killing machine that is not human, and yet not truly robot, he suffers from the very human trait of amnesia. Unable to remember even how things came to be as they are, he knows his own name only by virtue of the hordes of robots that seem to seek him out wherever he goes, crying for his blood, for his flesh, for the immunity to the death overtaking the world they believe only his life can grant. He does not even know if it is true: knows nothing of their claims that it was his hand that destroyed their world. He knows only the need to understand: who he is, why he is, and why the world is as he sees it. Only then can he give his own life. And so the being Casshern wanders the world, searching for his past – however sinful it may be.

Studio:
Madhouse Studios

Cast:
Furuya Tohru as Casshern
Yajima Akiko as Luna
Cho as Ohji
Utsumi Kenji as Braiking Boss
Koyama Mami as Leda
Miyahara Nami as Lyuze
Morikawa Toshiyuki as Dio
Minaguchi Yuko as Ringo

Genre:
Sci-fi, Psychological, Drama.

Episodes:
Twenty four.

DVD Availability:
Not yet, but it has been licensed.

Review:
At the end of the day, no matter how good the action, how awesome the power exhibited, what makes a story for me is the characters, emotions, and themes. When powerful motivations and emotions are what drive the action and plot, that is when I am most happy. When the motivations and emotions are the plot…then if they are sufficiently powerful, that anime will stick in my mind as a kind of special great work rarely touched on. Haibane Renmei is one. Kino no Tabi another. And, right along with them, this anime: Casshern Sins. I find it impossible to compare this to any other: it simply stands alone. It had its flaws – or at least one near the end – and certainly its peers, but to describe it alone, all I can say is that most others are simply not in its weight class. This anime is the ultimate treatise on the philosophy of yin and yang, of finding light in darkness, and how the most precious things are those that can be broken. And there are very few out there I would care to match with it.

The characters are quite strong in their way, though it’s really the philosophies driving them all that make their roles powerful. Casshern is quiet and soft spoken, with a face that seems very vulnerable – until he is attacked. Then his collar closes about his face, his eyes change, and until the threat is gone, he suddenly resembled little more than a perfect, inhuman killer. And yet, when the foes are vanquished and his cover retracts, always the same face emerges again: someone who simply, desperately wants to know what he did, and how he can atone for it. Lyuze, a beautiful, tragic female robot who follows him, begins as simply the sanest and most rational of those who hate him: having already lost her sister to the Ruin he began, she hunts him, but finds no satisfaction in slaying him while ignorant. Accompanying him through his journeys, first at a distance, then as a companion proper, she adds a potent angle to the stories of very human emotion through which the message of the world of Casshern Sins is delivered. Ringo, a young, endearing child robot, is his purest hope of redemption: the first to pity him, the first always to tell him it’s all right. There are no true antagonists in this anime, but Dio and Leda serve something quite close: the only beings who seem able to match Casshern, they in fact appear to be the very same manner of being. They even know him. And yet they seem set to destroy him as well, for reasons perhaps far less acceptable than the desperate robots seeking to save their own lives. Everything in Casshern Sins is simple – and yet, none of it is simple at all.

The ‘plot’ is centered nearly entirely around Casshern’s quest to discover the truth, and his determination to do something about it. Everything, in the end, unravels from that. Who he was, what he is, why and how he came to be, what he did, why it had the effect it did, and what the rights and wrongs were about it all – this, spiced with some beautifully choreographed action sequences, makes the meat of Casshern Sins. The result is a fascinating, introspective, powerfully resonant journey the likes of which I have never been treated before to see, and very likely won’t again. In the end, there was only one thing – one niggling little mistake – that keeps it from being the most deserved perfect score show I’ve ever seen. If you think you’ve heard something like that refrain before, in a few of my other reviews rated four point five, it’s because, quite simply, it is very hard not to make some such mistake somewhere, and this is exactly what makes perfect scores rare. In this case, the mistake was in an ending more downbeat than it was mean to be. The final note was meant to be hopeful – perhaps even ideal. Unfortunately the revelation that made it so was given too little time, and in the end, it was the feelings of the scenes before, far less satisfying as an ending note, that dominated. Two minutes – no, just thirty seconds – more time spent on those last scenes, and this would go down in my book as a stunningly perfect anime. And while it may have failed that, it still occupies a golden niche in my list of all time special watches. I heartily recommend this to anyone.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Information such as cast and airtime are taken from the ANN encyclopedia. Everything else is and always will be the creation of the author.

It is my great regret as your beloved ruler…what? Quiet! Off with his head! No, not here you imbecile, clean that up this instant! Now where was I…oh yes, it my great regret as your beloved ruler to inform you that the Archives cannot support our present needs, and must be purged. We must find those cancerous series that are taking up precious space better suited to others more worthy, and eliminate them, to better make room for our latest and far more splendid specimens such as Guin Saga and Bakemonogatari. However, your emperor is not insensitive to the needs and wishes of his citizens: We realize that these Archives are of great importance to you. As such, we have created a system by which you may all equally participate in identifying these unwanted anime, that those deleted might be those that you will least regret, that you shall be able celebrate the entrance of newer, better anime with un-shadowed joy. As such, an initial list is now posted; those of you who believe these candidates are in error are invited to say so, in proper detail, that we might make the best decision for all of you members of our new, glorious Boontanian Empire. New additions to this list may also be proposed; they will be duly considered and added to the list for others to judge. This decree, as all decrees, has been made with your happiness in mind, existing solely for the purpose of bettering your lives . All Hail Boontania!

LIST EDITED: PLEASE REREAD AND COMMENT

Blue Dragon

Jubei Chan the Ninja Girl

Green Green TV

Hand Maid Mai

Shining Tears x Wind

Hyper Police

Kanoken DVD Specials

Mnemosyne

Twin Angel OAV

Teizokurei Daydream

Rocket Girls

Ninku

Landlock OAV

One Piece
(the older episodes; present proposal is to keep the latest fifty)

The following series, that I was under the impression were popular, are being considered for deletion by the admins. If you wish to object, do so now, or forever hold your peace.

Berserk

Baccano

(if I’ve overstepped by putting these here, just hack the post Black)

All Hail the Emperor! All Hail Boontania!

(note: I’ve never watched Code Geass, I just parodied the concept Riogi put forward)

Summary:
Rokujou’s sole aim in life is simple: to be carefree, free of all cares, and in general, carefree. And he is very good at it. Anything that he is not interested in, does not want involving him, or he just likes better out of sight, he can ignore or avoid with uncanny ease. And then a world that specializes in the arts of stalking and avoiding takes over, and even he can’t run anymore. The world of Ninjas – of Nabari – has for centuries been obsessed with the existence of The Secret Art – an existence than contains all the wisdom of mankind, and that grants that knowledge to its holder, making anything and everything possible. And Rokujou Miharu has it. You cannot ignore, run, or hide from the ninja world – no one knows that art better than they. The only choice is to face them, and rise to the top. His teacher, a skilled ninja of the Banten village, tells him the name – Nabari no Ou – the King of Nabari. Nothing else will bring him peace. Which is no less complicated than it should be…

Studio:
J.C. Staff

Cast:
Saiga Mitsuki as Yoite
Kugimiya Rie as Miharu Rokujou
Fujimura Ayumi as Raimei Shimizu
Namikawa Daisuke as Durandal Tobari Kumohira
Nakata Jouji as Toujuurou Hattori
Okiayu Ryotaro as Kotarou Fuuma
Hino Satoshi as Kouichi Aizawa

Genre:
Action, Comedy, Supernatural, Drama

Episodes:
Twenty-six

Review:
Ninja style anime have taken a beating with the fall of Naruto, first glorified by it and then dragged down along with. And now, right at the point when nearly all the former fans have begun to agree that it won’t come back, a new ninja anime comes on the scene. No, this will not be an eternally running marathon series – twenty six episodes, over and done. And the style is not much like Naruto, though a few things bring it to mind – the opening song makes me think of it, and one or two plot elements did in the beginning – but that ended quickly. But we have the action, we have the techniques, and we have an independently excellent story. Scarred ex-Naruto watchers, give this one a try. It’s not much like it, and that’s the best part about it.

Which is not an insult to Naruto, of course, but the first bad sign in an anime is leaning too hard on unassociated successes in the genre, and Nabari no Ou avoids that well. Characters don’t bear much resemblance at all – in fact the entire art style is different, and takes some getting used to – a world of stick figures, it sometimes seems. Main character, Rokujou Miharu. A gentle looking kid who stares into space unless someone is talking to him – and sometimes then too. Some of the most humorous moments in the show are associated with his ability to tune out anything, to disappear at the most inappropriate times without a care, and his devious tendency to twist almost anyone around his finger. Raimei -”Miharu, you understand my feelings, right?” Miharu – (points at sky) “Ah, look, a vapor trail.” Right. Thobari, his teacher in school, is a ninja who does not like traditional ninja – apparently he was made a part of the Nabari world against his will by his grandfather. Now with too many ties to leave, he tries to practice a more gentle way of life than most shinobi would preach – however, it may well be too gentle, as he cannot even kill people who must be killed. Even for Miharu, who he has sworn to protect and teach to destroy the Secret Art for eternity. Also part of the original team is Aizawa, a white haired classmate who is also a skilled member of Nabari. He is with the village of Banten, unquestionably trustworthy, but also capable of the kind of ruthlessness that Thobari is not. If not for him, people who needed to die never would. Falling into place – literally – in episode two is Raimei, a Samurai, member of a family who has regulated Nabari from the sidelines for generations. Charged with maintaining order and the balance, and more recently with ensuring that no one abuses the power of Shinra Banshou, she has come to fulfill that ancient role. She’s an ally, all right, but her motivations and willpower are her own, at least at first. Energetic, enthusiastic, and with a tendency to talk to the wrong person when she gets excited, she is a very easy character to like. All fun, that girl. Strong too. Her katana is no ornament. For antagonists we have Kairoushu, a rival ninja village that wants the power of Shinra Banshou. However, here is where the depth of the story really begins to show. Because there is really no line dividing up ‘good’ and ‘bad’ sides here. The total count of people you could actually hate as enemies and bad guys are…two. Among primary characters, anyway. And even they are pretty ambiguous at times. Despite what they do, it’s often hard to be sure they are ‘bad’, at least until pretty deep in. All the other members either clearly believe in what they are doing or are clearly not evil, or even both, though they are going along with orders for now. Because, unlike most anime containing a power that can rule the world, no one is actually planning to do it. There are, for a wonder, no megalomaniacs. The camps are those who believe it should be destroyed, and those who believe it’s power should be used to save the world, to make it better. The only way to make evil of anyone is by looking at how they would try to save it. Which lends a dark and twisting strength to the anime, as we find ourselves wondering who to cheer for. Who is right? Would using Shinra Banshou only bring misery regardless of what you intended, or is it indeed a power that can redeem all, one it would be a crime to destroy? Neither view has that redeeming flavor of ‘bad’, that tells us where to go. And so the plot develops…

And in the end, it all comes down to Rokujou. The Shinra Banshou is all powerful, and the one who holds it is he; no one can really control him. And so, throughout the various struggles as Banten and Kairoushu try to collect the five villages Secret Arts, the only things that can possibly give a clue how to control or destroy the Shinra Banshou, the one constant note is Rokujou’s struggles, mostly emotional, as he slowly stops being carefree and chooses just what it is he cares for most – and what he will do about it. The action is excellent, but in the end, it is the character plots that make this series great. The profoundness and strength that we are shown over and over throughout have few rivals indeed. Naruto might have had more punch sometimes, but never more depth. What drives the characters, what that means, and how it affects the outcome, all are superbly orchestrated, astounding me more than once. And in the end we have two separate climax – the action climax, where those who should die are finally labeled and finished, and the last mysteries revealed – and the characters climax, as Rokujou make his final decision, and life returns for all – and for most, in a better way. The ending was potent, satisfying, and a little sad – but in a good way, they did it well. Not the way some do (What is Important to Mages, Summer Sky, to name the most recent example I’ve encountered. Absolutely depressing).

Many good series achieve this level at the end, and rate a four. Nabari no Ou achieved this height several times throughout the series, making it a four point five. It was a pleasure to watch, and I hope you agree. Those of you who have become rather sarcastic when it comes to ninja anime, here is your anti-dote. Unlike most medicine, you will not need to hold your nose.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Facts such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia entries. All else is and always will be the original creation of the author.

]]> http://www.boontan.net/nabari-no-ou/feed/ 3 http://www.boontan.net/devil-may-cry/ http://www.boontan.net/devil-may-cry/#comments Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:01:04 +0000 znsinger http://www.boontan.net/?p=1234

Summary:
He’s faster, stronger, and deadlier than any devil he’s ever met. He’s laconic, laid back and confident, with good reason: he’s never lost. Oh, and he loves strawberry sundaes. Meet Dante, the entirety of the devil extermination company Devil May Cry. There’s no may about it. He’s the best, and not just because he’s the best at it. There’s some might say his love of strawberry sundaes is a truer sign of his character than his twin guns or his skull carved sword. Do you kill things because you hate them…or because you understand their true nature? He is powerful, deadly, and a romantic. He is Devil May Cry, and there is no may about it. Not least because he himself still remembers how.

Studio:
Madhouse

Cast:
Toshiyuki Morikawa as Dante
Akio Ohtsuka as Morrison
Atsuko Tanaka as Trish
Fumiko Orikasa as Lady
Misato Fukuen as Patty

Genre:
Action, Drama, Supernatural

Episodes:
Twelve total, no extras to my knowledge.

Review:
To me, strong action means strong character motives behind it. And to be perfectly frank, I can stand a lot of idiocy in the battle if they’ve got the motivation right. Perhaps that’s why I disagree so emphatically with all of the people who have such a low opinion of this series. I can only guess; to me, it was fantastic, very nearly an ideal. With very strong, cool action headed by a wonderfully charismatic figure, I enjoyed this series to the fullest as a series of excellent one shots that combined the action of Claymore with a contemplative edge reminiscent of Kino no Tabi. It’s detractors are welcome to their opinion, but mine is that Devil May Cry rates four point five, for a series that reaches beyond ordinary four-dom though not quite ranking a five. This one is a must for all character watchers who appreciate strong, dark action.

As a one shot type series, there are not a lot of constant characters to describe. Even among the ones that are constant, most don’t rate an in depth character probe. Dante’s charisma makes up for this. There is something about a tall, white haired, seriously cool guy walking into a dark and dingy bar, sitting down…and ordering a strawberry sundae. He does this every time. He knows those kind of places won’t have it, but he tries anyway. He is laconic, laid back, and incredibly strong, and yet under it all, he’s a romantic. When he’s told to guard a child, he says no…but when Morrison makes it a bet on a coin toss, he doesn’t argue, even though he never, ever wins at games of chance. When it comes to debating semantics, he talks hard bitten – but in the end, he’s anything but. The girl he protects in episode one is a character throughout, and worth mentioning, as she just radiates personality. Devil May Cry would just not be the anime it is without Patty Rowell, a ten year old (roughly) blonde without a dumb bone or a hint of pushover in her body. Whether it’s beating him at cards with ice cream and new clothes as the stakes, badgering him to stop eating pizza and clean up, or just being there in the background, she makes every moment she’s on screen worth seeing. Aside from them, there are two or three other constant characters, but they are good in a 2D way – not meant to rivet or lead, which is appropriate to their roles and screen time. Devil May Cry is an episodic type, and in that, it excels.

Which is why the plot paragraph is the telling one (though my brother, enchanted with ‘metal’ macho, has now declared Dante his ideal, possibly minus the strawberry sundaes). Devil May Cry epitomizes the philosophical fighting series, giving you ten – well, nine really – shots of great one episode stories containing both fantastic action and great character plot, though the proportions of the mix varies. Episode one manages to give a taste of all the best elements to show up throughout the series, though each one is represented better in at least one other episode. However, it makes a great intro in that it tells you all the series is capable of. We then get one that is mostly action but has some good, serious characters, and like even the worst of the Devil May Cry shots, ends with a nice, thoughtful revelation or statement. Number three is just fantastic. Then we get four, the one and only dud. Don’t let it put you off, and don’t worry about skipping through it. Five is much better though mostly amusing – still we have that nice ending sentiment. And that’s the end of the downhill – it’s just one great one after another. Rock Queen, Wishes Come True, Death Poker, the Last Promise – it’s nothing but top of the line stories. Dante himself is a great character who lends flavor to it all, but every single one appearance character is excellent in their own way, carrying their parts with ease. Think Kino no Tabi. It’s not really that kind of introspective, of course, but the resemblance remains. A demon with a human’s heart, a singer who wanted to enchant her audience so badly a demon uses it to infiltrate her soul, a demon that offers three wishes but grants only death, even a demon of poker, who takes the lives of the losers – there is an undeniable philosophical edge to this anime, something that offsets the action in a perfect blend that is rarely achieved anywhere. When the climax does occur, it’s the character aspects that come off best – the action is sort of anti-climatic.  If you are the sort to demand a proper, pounding cool showdown, then it may disappoint. But if you can be happy with just character, than all the right things happen and are said, and are said and done well, superbly well. In my anime collection there is a ‘hall of fame’ folder, where the fives and four point fives go. And this one is now there. There is no such thing as being able to say ‘I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed’…but if you love strong character combined with dark action and introspection, the odds of you being disappointed are, I feel, very, very low.

One more paragraph to emphasize what is,  increasingly clearly, an important point. The thing about Devil May Cry is, it looks like a raw adrenaline pumper – blood and guts and action (and more blood) – but it’s not. Or rather, those elements are there but people who are focused on that are pretty much guaranteed to be disappointed. Few people who gravitate to a guy with a huge sword and two monstrous handguns are going to appreciate the atmosphere of the episode Death Poker, the fascinatingly dark character plays as the players go down one by one. Most people who want to watch someone decapitate and dismember monsters are not interested in the character complexes of two demon swordsmen brothers trained by the same master – Dante’s father. Devil May Cry looks like an action guru, but is in fact more suited to intellectual introspectives, and this deception has cost it dearly. It looks like it’s for people who watch Berserker and Elfen Lied, but is actually for  people who watch Kino no Tabi or Noir or other character focused stuff. It’s a point that cannot be emphasized too heavily, so be sure to take it into account (and if you’d take it into account before you commented, I’d appreciate it – if I’ve already allowed for your likely point of view, it’s tiresome to get piles of comments saying it).

The anime world is made of every sort of series and opinion. Despite what many others, and most notably ANN (who also put down Utawarerumono, if this gives you any perspective), I give this anime the highest rating but one. I hope this review leads to more people, put off by other opinions, to give what I consider a most note-worthy series a try. Devil May Cry is four point five. Go find it.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Information such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia listings. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

First of all, a recap of all the choosen teams for the new series:

-Akikan: coalguys;
-Asu no Yoichi: coalguys+doremi;
-Birdy the Mighty Decode Second Season: aoshen (sorry for the nuke supporters, I’ve taken my veto option on this show but I’ll try to keep the nuke releases as well for a while to see the difference as they’re three week late due to the raw selection they’re making);
-Druaga no Tou – The Sword of Uruk: OL;
-Hajime no Ippo – New Challenger: animebreaker;
-Kemono no Souma Erin: SS;
-Koukaku no Regios: whatever;
-Kurokami: nuke-bandaia;
-Maria-Holic: gg;
-Maria Sama ga Miteru 4th Season: doremi;
-Minami-Ke Okaeri: nekomimi;
-Rideback: frostii;
-Sora o Kakeru Shoujo: strickes;
-Zoku Natsume Yuujinchu: BSS.

Now, here are the news (and, if you understood how things works for me, until further notice the announced release shall be the ones from the aforementionned teams – usually when it’s not I say that the episode will be updated):

-Asu no Yoichi – 04;
-Birdy the Mighty Decode Second Season – 03;
-Bleach – 202 & 203 HQ version;
-Casshern Sins – 17;
-Clannad After Story – 16;
-Gundam 00 S2 – 17 (will be updated, gSS version);
-Kara no Kyoukai – 05;
-Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn – 116v2;
-Kemono no Souja Erin – 02 (*Updated*),
-Kirarin Revolution – 93;
-Koukakou no Regios – 04 (will be updated, AoShen version);
-Kurogane no Linebarrels – 16 (will be updated, Subdesu version) and 17 & updated 12 to 16;
-Kurokami – 04 (will be updated, AoT version);
-Kyou Kara Maou 3rd Season – 28;
-Maria Holic – 04;
-Maria Sama Ga Miteru 4th Season – 04 (*Updated to HD*) & 05 (SD);
-Michiko to Hatchin – 14;
-One Outs – 16;
-One Piece – 385 & 386;
-Saiunkoku Monogatari S2 – 33;
-Shikabane Hime Kuro – 04;
-Sora Wo Kakeru Shoujo – 04 (will be updated, Anon version);
-Soul Eater – 42 (what a mess for this series, four releasing teams lol);
-ToAru Majutsu no Index – 17 (will be updated, AoShen version);
-Tytania – 16;
-White Album – 05 (will be updated, DR version);
-Zettai Karen Children – 42;
-Zoku Natsume Yuujinchu – 04.

Donors section (the updates will be posted after I have finished watching the two first episodes of the XIII series. For people who don’t know this show, it’s a TV series based upon a french “comic” (altought our comics are slightly different from the US ones) in fact I’ve done everything at the same time:

-Card Captor Sakura – 10 (added);
-Ef A Tale of Melodies – 07 to 10 (menclave, edited);
-Gundam Seed Destiny – 1 to 50 (added);
-Gunslinger Girl – Il Teatrino – 13 (added);
-Himawari – 06 (DVD, added);
-Kiba – 01 to 51 (added);
-Mai Hime – 01 to 26 (added);
-Seirei no Moribito – 01 to 09 and 12 to 26 (added);
-Seto no Hayanome – 20 (added);
-Zeta Gundam 22 to 24 & OP2 (added).

Moved from Anime to Donors:

Summary:
Shirahama Kenichi is popular with the big shots – as a punching bag. Nicknamed ‘weak legs’ (a pun on his name in Japanese), he’s pretty much bottom of the barrel. And now he is entering high school – which from some perspectives more closely resembles a school of piranhas. Attempts to change his image in the school’s Karate Club are a disastrous failure…and then a new friend tells him a secret. There is a special dojo in town called Ryouzanpaku, and if he is willing to do what they say, he cannot fail to become stronger. The catch? ‘I can’t guarantee you’ll survive it.’ And thus begins a lesson in human nature – and the dividing line between talent and determination. Kenichi’s body may be weak, but he has depths of willpower that few would expect. And the dojo knows just what to do with it. They are history’s strongest masters. And if he lets them, they will make him history’s strongest disciple.

Studio:
TMS Entertainment

Cast:
Seki Tomokazu as Shirahama Kenichi
Kawakami Tomoko as Furinji Miu
Ishimaru Hiroya as Apachai Hophachai
Futamata Issei as Ma Kensei
Kosugi Juurouta as Koetsuji Akisame
Noto Mamiko as Kosaka Shigure
Ishizuka Unshou as Sakaki Shio
Arikawa Hiroshi as Furinji Hayato (The Elder)
Yamazaki Takumi as Haruo Niijima

Genre:
Action, Comedy, Romance.

Episodes:
Fifty. There is a strong possibility of a sequel when the manga is completed.

Review:
Ah, the fighting shounen series. Young boys will discover unsuspected extraordinary powers within themselves, be trained by the equally unsuspected neighbor, and go on to vanquish a sequence of opponents with unlikely signature moves more reminiscent of x-men powers. Well…not here. Firstly, Kenichi does not have superb untapped talent. He’s just stubborn. Secondly, he’s never heard of the guys who train him before, and would have run like the dickens if he had: there’s no mistaking these fellas for harmless garden hobbyists. And most of all, there are no ‘powers’ here. The level of strength does begin to stretch the definition of human, but not the type. This, combined with a few other things, such as a buxom lead female whose screen shots focus on the head, and comedic moments that manage not to undermine the characters serious sides, make this series a four, and I am very strongly hoping for that sequel.

Kenichi actually doesn’t fit any cookie cutter type. He’s kind and protective, and he isn’t inherently strong or fast. But he really isn’t anti-macho either. He’s someone who at first is inclined to run away – but suddenly finds that he can’t stand that anymore. He wants to be able to protect, and he wants to respect himself. In short, he wants to change, and Ryouzanpaku gives him a way – the hard way. Though it takes a while, he becomes someone you can really respect, as his training and experience change and mature him. The transformation is suitably satisfying. Miu is similar, in that she isn’t a type – she’s Furinji Miu, both one of the nicest, kindest, friendliest females you could hope to find, and one of the best martial artists you could have misfortune to encounter. As expected of the girl whose grandfather is both the founder and undisputed master of the Ryouzanpaku dojo. Her character as a desirable female is in wonderful good taste, something hard enough to find in and of itself. In lots of little way, using little things, the kind of things most series forget altogether, this anime quickly puts her above your average shonen action love interest, showing her as a kind and loyal friend, someone really worth knowing – and possibly loving. She’s also endearing and occasionally silly. Gotta love that girl, though for me it was more fondness than fawning. Third of the original trio: Nijima, who cannot seem to decide whether he is an alien or a demon but is either way definitely evil, and the world’s worst best friend. Originally one of Kenichi’s bullies, he quickly catches on to the change and attaches himself for the benefits his cunning, manipulative intellect can extract. The masters at the dojo make an interesting group. There are five masters, each with their own chosen field of specialty. There’s Apachai, the Muay Thai master. A simplistic giant who loves children, talks to birds, and doesn’t understand the meaning of the words ‘take it easy on him’. Shigure, the weapons master. A dark haired woman with a tendency to hang from the rafters and speak syllable by syllable, she hangs out quite a bit with Apachai. There’s a certain quaintness to the couple I liked, though ‘quaint’ might seem the wrong word when one can fell trees by kicking them and one could give you a shave and a haircut with a katana. Shio is the karate master. One of those big, gruff guys that seem a lot meaner than they actually are – though he’s good at fooling you sometimes. He actually isn’t interested in training anyone at first, but he can’t seem to resist hanging around while the other masters are teaching him. Hmmm. Ma Kensai, the Chinese martial artist, master of all it’s forms. Also know around the dojo as the master of H-type picture taking – though since all the females in Ryouzanpaku are martial artists, this could also be thought of as a kind of training. His skills are undeniable however, and he is actually one of the more patient and dependable of the masters. Finally, Akisame, the philosophical Judo master. His official teacher and primary instructor, though he also seems to have a suspicious affinity for sculpture and almost everything else culture. Oh, and he’s a doctor. Lucky for Kenichi. For villains, we have the local power gang: Ragnarok, whose strongest fighters are known as the Fists and, with a few exceptions, take their names from the Norse gods, whose mythos contains the origin of Ragnarok. We go through quite a sequence with them, as Kenichi works his way from the local thugs to the Fists and then through them, but suffice to say they are all as individual and interesting as their screen time demands, encompassing an interesting range of individual fighting styles, once again without ever slipping into ‘powers’ or, g-d help us, Abilities.

Plot is mostly guided by Kenichi’s progress. We are introduced to him and given a sense of his life and present status while he meets Miu. He’s introduced to the dojo and begins to train, at first with only one fight in mind…only to discover that the strong seek the strong, and now that he has ‘come out’, he can only continue to do so. His growth from pathetic weakling to formidable disciple is conveniently paced by the progressively stronger, higher ranked Ragnarok members that come after him. All of this is, in essence, typical, but it’s execution is not. I have never seen anime so reliably turn staple anime situations that normally make me wince into something worth seeing. All the usual types of scenes and behaviors are here – but they cannot be compared to other examples. They consistently change their approach just enough to make them enjoyable, or more honest, or just better. Every time I thought I was going to groan, they suddenly pulled some shift and proved me wrong. It was an enjoyable and refreshing experience. It takes a while for the comedy to really become second to the plot, but at least the comedy is funny and, most of all, does not undermine the characters in serious mode. You know how anime often seem to have this thing that if it happened while the animation went blocky then it doesn’t count? Not this one. There are limits, of course, but all in all I felt the comedy managed both to amuse and to be true to character. Kenichi’s growth in strength is also more real than many examples I could think of, by showing what he goes through to get it. To get faster results, you do more brutal training, and after seeing what his masters have him do, his power-ups make perfect sense. And that kind of training takes guts. Sure, he screams a lot at first – and at intervals throughout – but in the end, he never really quits, and he could have if he’d really wanted. Miu was even more refreshing than the plot handling. Somewhere in the making of this some director made an unprecedented and rejuvenating decision. Okay, he said, we’ve made a character with incredibly large ‘attributes’ and a cute face, so now we can just leave it to the audience to notice them by themselves, without tasteless close ups, boing boing scenes, pointed ogling, or panty flashes. Hormones will do it without our help. Thank you, whoever you are, you have made my watching experience. He was right of course; guys don’t need the help and I personally enjoyed her much more for the tactful handling. In fact, it may be the first time I have enjoyed watching an over endowed character. The only time the screen focuses on ‘them’ is through the eyes of girls ‘sizing up’ the competition. Even the training itself, when we are shown lessons, are real. They work; they can be done, if you practiced you could actually learn the lessons they teach him. Through and through, this anime manages to be both extreme and grounded in reality, if you’ll excuse what sounds like patent self-contradiction.

This particular anime, as far as strength of story went, took time to build. At first it was more funny than anything else, though you could see potential coming. I decided to continue watching because something about the delivery of the first few made me think that when they got serious, they’d do a damn good job, and I was right. It takes a while, but the strength of the anime could definitely be said to be a constant uphill slope. By twenty, I was really enjoying it (the serious parts, not the anime as a whole – you’re always entertained). By thirty, I was amazed, and the series had actually managed to pull a tear or two from me. I’m not that hard to make cry – I don’t have this macho thing against it – but I’m no fountain either. It has to be good. The ending is an ideal of the genre. Once again, they took something many anime of its type do and did it best. You see, Kenichi, like many other anime, was based on part of an ongoing manga. Timed right, this works well for the companies. If it doesn’t sell, well that’s always a risk anyway and they only invested in half. If it does though, then they can count on a turnout producing the rest of it eventually. But of course they need to end it right: it must both satisfy and entice. Once again I say, Kenichi pulled this perfectly, giving you closure with a strong taste of what could come, if more were to be made. I walked away satisfied…and remain fully prepared to walk eagerly back if and when they animate the rest. The anime covered about one hundred thirty chapters of the manga; it is now up to the hundred eighties or so. In other words, if they were going to make a sequel, it wouldn’t be yet. So, I hold out hope – but there’s no call to push seeing this part off. It really is perfectly gauged.

Kenichi rates a four for simply being an enjoyable, tasteful, and refreshing watch in a genre often none of the three. Hope you feel the same.

Final Rating: 4/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author

wagaya no Oinari-sama

Summary:
When Noboru and Tooru Takagami arrive at their grandmother’s shrine, they are under the impression they are coming to attend her deathbed. Instead they are introduced to a dizzying sequence of surprises. One: their grandmother, apparently, is just fine. Two: the deathbed bit was a ruse to get them to the shrine where they could be protected from a wood aligned specter that was after Tooru. Three: their family is from a long line of water priests, capable of strong water ki casting, and while a lack of females has meant an end of priestesses in this generation, the power in their blood is still quite attractive to those that feed on water-wood. Thus the danger. Finally, lack of priestesses or not, the present head of the family is Noboru, and some things cannot be done without him. Like releasing the seal on the family’s ancient guardian spirit, an astral fox, imprisoned for centuries for gross misconduct and abuse of her power. She doesn’t seem very reliable at first…but something about the name of their deceased mother seems to soften her. Defeating the wood sprite doesn’t take much effort on her part, but a debt is still owed: can they really simply seal her back for another several centuries? And if they don’t, then what? She’s gluttonous, fun loving, and fey, not to mention having little regard for finesse of gender; ‘she’ is a he as often as not. And yet, inhuman though she undoubtedly is, she does have a heart…and as she once loved their mother, she seems willing to love them as well. And woe betide the specter that wants their blood now…

Genre:
Fantasy, Supernatural, Comedy.

Studio:
ZEXCS

Episodes:
Twenty-four, plus three short short specials. It feels like there could be a sequel, but there are no guarantees.

Cast:
Yukana(female) and Nakamura Yuuichi(male) as Tenko Kuugen
Miyamoto Mitsuru as Haruki Takagami
Hayami Saori as Kou
Mizushima Takahiro as Takagami Noboru
Shimamura Yu as Takagami Tooru
Ono Daisuke as Ebisu

Review:
Fox spirits seems to be something of a fad of late in anime. Thing is, few of them are really presented as the traditional inhuman trickster. Standard approach to non-human animal spirit in the house is, give it a cute girl form, some inhuman abilities and powers, and start talking about human bias and ‘exploring’ whether they are really so inhuman, all the while fostering a romance. Which is a big part of why Wagaya no Oinari-sama impressed me. With the traditional Japanese mythos so faithfully revived in so many areas in the anime, in pure pre-Buddhism style, Tenko Kuugen the Astral Fox is no exception. A true depiction of the classic endearing trickster, she is sympathetic and humane – but never, ever human. With an opening depicting her fox form, her female form, and her male form in equal proportions, the series never strays from this precept, representing the kind of thinking that makes the whole thing work. A small but noticeable crop of fillers mixed among the excellent true arcs keeps this series from a four, but as a three, it is still worth watching. Bear in mind, however, that three is the average entire-certain significant chunks of it are definitely four level.

Characters first, as always. Leading male, though one could argue he shares that title with Tooru, is Noboru, the oldest in the family. What seems like the stereotype anti-macho lead is subtly altered and redeemed by the fact that, with their true mother dead, he’s basically been filling in for her, both in general household maintenance and where his little brother is concerned. The attitudes that make his type, put against the role he plays at home as the substitute mother, especially towards Tooru, and the fact that he is truly good at it (we see later he has an affinity for children in general), become proper parts of his own personality. His brother, Tooru, is a very endearing child of about eight or ten, young enough to be appealing, old enough to think. His sincerity is his strongest point, and while someone meaning harm to Noboru is still playing dice with a nasty death, it’s Tooru who seems to attract the good will of all he meets, human or not. Tenko Kuugen, or Kuu-chan as Tooru calls her, seems especially fond of him, though it could just seem that way since it’s he who gets into trouble the most. His older brother seems to take after his father more, but the water ki in Tooru’s blood is much stronger. So, Kuugen herself. Though himself is equally accurate about a third of the time. According to her explanation, ‘after a couple hundred years, you forget which gender you were born as, and it doesn’t really matter much to you anyway.’ This seems to be a feature of all spirits of her class, we meet at least one other who is the same. Despite all her time as a captive at the Miduchi clan’s hands, she doesn’t seem to bear a grudge, preferring to leave it all behind and live blissfully in the moment. A true trickster type, loving fun and a dash of trouble, she certainly causes enough-until something threatens the family. At which point she is liable to morph half fox right on her still human shoulders. Apparently if she gets excited or otherwise distracted, she loses control of the transformation to some degree. Anger does the most, but if something catches her interest suddenly enough her ears are liable to pop out (causing no small consternation). She is both fun and sympathetic, not to mention awe-inspiring when her blood is up. Kou, the Miduchi shrine’s present guardian maiden, is the quiet type, in tone and demeanor. Beautiful, determined, and roughly Noboru’s age, she is asked by their grandmother to accompany them, to keep an eye on Kuugen, whom she doesn’t seem to trust much. Her take on this requires some adjusting. Nearly as clueless as someone brought in from the previous century, she is not too sure how the fridge works, how to cook, or what is considered normal behavior in the city; but she is certain that her duty requires her to brave all of these uncertainties daily. Clumsy but well meaning, she responds to every request with ‘yes, even if it costs me my life’, a response that brings sweat to the brow as you realize that not only is she serious (however low the odds of death occurring) but that in the process she will probably accidentally break at least two household items. Quite a bit of fun, but like Kuugen, not to be underestimated. There are no villains in this anime; it’s ‘that’ sort.

There is no overall plot. We have the setting, and stuff happens inside it. The first seven are establishers mixed with one episode fills; we meet people and watch what the basics of life here are going to be like, complete with a few examples of Kuugen’s battle prowess and bond with her human family, both present and past. They are actually a fair bit of fun, sometimes even touching, and it isn’t until near the end of it that it starts to feel like fillers. Which is right about where it switches to an excellent three or four episode arc (hard to say just where it started) that takes a theme I’ve almost never seen done convincingly and, well, does it convincingly. It was quite wonderful, and encouraged me not to give up yet.  A good thing, because there’s another three like the first set before the next good arc starts. Again, the actual arc was excellent, it was getting there that sometimes got annoying. Once that arc ends (eighteen) we never see another like it; some of the fillers were enjoyable and there was one two episode arc that really didn’t compare with the others. Which left me with an interesting conflict of opinion. Most of the arcs and some of the fillers were excellent, but there’s just a little too many of the not-so-good fillers floating around. So in the end I’ve averaged it out to a three, saying that the series as a whole is worth the time to see. But some parts are more worthwhile than others.

Good characters, enjoyable interaction, and some very well told stories give this series plenty of appeal, but the overall watching experience averages out somewhat lower than the value of it’s better parts. But in the end, anything three and higher is a recommendation. I do believe it should be watched.

Final Rating: 3/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credit:
Information such as airtime and cast are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia entries: all else is and always will be the origination of the author.

Summary:
Tomoya is a delinquent. His class attendance is lackadaisical, and his approach to life in general is not much different; he gets most of his thrills from teasing everyone around him. However, he does have a kind side, and it turns out to be his lifeline, as he finds himself trying, ever more energetically, to encourage a lonely girl to make her dream of acting in the school drama club a reality before she graduates. One thing leads to another: whether he knows it or not, a new life has just begun.

Genre:
Drama, Romance, Supernatural, Comdey.

Episodes:
Clannad’s first season consisted of twenty-two episodes, plus two specials; a second season, Clannad After Story, has now partially aired (Dec 17, 2008).

Studio:
Kyoto Animation

Cast:
Nakahara Mai as Furukawa Nagisa
Nakamura Yuuichi as Okazaki Tomoya
Nonaka Ai as Ibuki Fuuko
Kuwashima Houko as Sakagami Tomoyo
Noto Mamiko as Ichinose Kotomi
Hirohashi Ryou as Kyoiu Fujibayashi
Kanda Akemi as Ryou Fujibayashi
Sakaguchi Daisuke as Youhei Sunohara

Review:
One man’s favorite novel is another man’s gag-fest…or something like that. I’ve been on the receiving end of a disapproving review of a favorite anime more than once. I’ve never forgotten what it felt like when I saw a seventy percent rating on Anime Library for Sola, my personal all time star…so I guess I feel just a little guilty about this one. Still, I can’t change my opinion-but I do know your pain, I really do. I am aware that Clannad is the darling of thousands of anime fans, all of whom were enthralled by it’s-well, truthfully, I have no notion what it is they found so enthralling. My overall reaction, as a watcher, is that it is an utterly-and sadly-unsuccessful attempt by the team that made Kanon 06 to ‘do it again’. Kanon was a masterpiece: this is not. Ranging from reasonably touching (the first arc) to absolute rock bottom (the second arc), Clannad rates, by my judgment, a one-barely. I will do my best to explain myself objectively, but no matter what, I can only judge an anime from one viewpoint, and that is my own. So if I am tearing apart an image that means a great deal to you, I am sorry…but only because I’ve been there. The series itself, I feel, does not deserve my pity.

As always, characters first – though in some cases, I could just refer to Kanon counterparts. Tomoya, the main character, is given many features directly opposite to his predecessor, Yuuichi, no doubt to prevent what happened anyway: he reminded me of Yuuichi. Despite all the technical differences, when watching him I just thought, ‘he reminds me of Yuuichi.’ And that only gets worse as time goes on and his kind side becomes more dominant. Nagisa, the female lead, does not have a close enough counterpart plot-wise to suffer the same fate. However, her design (appearance) is no more or less than a mature sized Ayu. Picture our uguu girl at the proper height for her age and properly developed all around, and you know what Nagisa looks like. She’s also easily the most bland of the cast, far and away outshined by just about everyone else, including her parents. Sweet, but flat, that’s her. Despite numerous attempts to make her something more like, well…Ayu? Tomoya’s best friend, Sunohara, is Kitagawa, Kaori’s best friend in Kanon. That’s it. Just a carbon copy with a couple situational differences. He even looks like him. Fuuko, a little girl who looks and acts elementary age but is actually high school age – another Kanon carryover – is actually a bright light in this litany: she is absolutely hysterical, and in a style utterly her own. Makes Ayu look like a lecture on agricultural statistics. Her arc is the only one of worth in this anime (more on that in it’s place), and I’d gladly have watched the full twenty-two episodes as focused on her just wandering about, and rated it high too. That doesn’t happen, of course, but if Clannad succeeded at anything it attempted, it was the comedy. I shall keep the first ten episodes for nothing more than the gut-busting fun, and begrudge not a megabyte of the space.  Then there’s Tomoyo, a long silver haired girl with a gentle manner and The Kick of Justice. Forget the long hand of the law – worry about her feet. She’s actually quite a good, interesting character, and my easy favorite. Unfortunately she doesn’t get nearly enough screen time, and her role for most of the series is to add bulk to the crowd of enamored girls who all want Tomoya (g-d knows why).  Actually, most of the girls serve this role more than anything else, because there are simply too many of them to give them proper arcs of their own. Even the ones that do get short ones, besides of course for Nagisa. There is something intrinsically wrong with the taste of any drama that tries to have more than three girls interested in a guy at one time. You just can’t give it proper weight, and the whole situation is incredulous, to say the least. Clannad gives him five. Right. Someone get me the name of his aftershave. Two more of the five are the twins, Kyou and Ryou Fujibayashi. Kyou is loud, long haired, and violent; Ryou is quiet, soft voiced, and short both in hair and self confidence. The usual Yin and Yang thing that producers seem to see as a shortcut to interesting. Not that it’s a tactic with no hope; Kyou is actually a lot of fun, and my second favorite character. Ryou fades out as your typical moe shoujo, but this is enlivened by the fact that anytime she is particularly overwhelmed, Kyou is sure to show up to give the perpetrator hell, something she excels at. These two never have their own arc but simply add their presence alongside all the others; truly purposeless but for flavor and to bring the number of ‘candidates’ to a gratuitous five. Last and possibly least, depending on the angle, is Ichinose Kotomi, the series’ monosyllabic, an introverted genius girl who somehow was once a friend of Tomoya’s and who he has now forgotten; all in all, she completes the list of characters who are factually nothing like Kanon characters, but remind me of them anyway. Kotomi-chan, while an excellent comedic character, reminded me of Mai somehow, and so does her arc, which is also quite short. In that she has one, she takes precedence to the twins; in how much her own affections are presented, she loses by such an extant I have no idea why they bothered at all. Amount of screen time in which her feelings (romantically speaking) are a factor? Total well under ten minutes, possibly even five. I thought she was just a friend till near the end. Or rather, hoped, since there were too many in that category already. I’ll end the character bashing here; disgust seems to have made me wordy(er).

Plot and delivery time. For the first eight or so episodes, Clannad actually did very well. I was honestly interested, and eight ended strongly. These plus nine made the first arc, Fuuko’s arc, minus the first two and a half or so which are general introduction, with the seeds of the arc to come dropped casually in the midst. The humor was great, the emotions of Fuuko’s dilemma were strong-and to be honest (aren’t I always?), that was the last time I thought favorably of the series. It is a little hard to describe what was wrong with the arc’s conclusion. Here’s my best attempt: while fan-service by default means ‘privileged angles’ (cough*panties*cough), it can actually refer to any element of an anime made for the watchers rather than for the story itself. Those who prowl fanfiction.net have probably seen more badly spelled examples of ‘fiction for fans’ (rather than by fans, a critical distinction) than they care to remember. This was by professionals, but it still felt like it was designed to fulfill the fantasies of the greatest number of watchers – just instead of hormonal fantasies, the ones they were fulfilling were plot based. It was made to tug the maximum number of heartstrings, not to best conclude the story they were telling, and this is always a turn for the worse. Though I didn’t have the words at the time, I knew that it had disappointed me. And it only went downhill from there. Kotomi’s arc starts out as a return to the top notch comedy (starfish FTW!), but after two or so episodes it starts to become serious; only, somehow, it failed entirely to get me serious. And then we got to the conclusion…okay, look. I have standards when I write. I believe strongly in making the story you tell as strong as possible. I also feel the truer the tale, the more it will touch. And I have never, ever, ever watched a worse conceived scene in all my experience in anime, and I pray never to again. It’s very hard to explain my absolute abhorrence without spoilers. I’ll try by saying that once again it tried to pull every single heartstring they could, pulling out revelation after revelation-except this time, not a single one had the slightest ounce of plausibility. I snorted in disgust at the first three, and then proceeded to skip my way through in hopes of some redeeming moment later on. That’s right, I skipped my way through most of the high point of the arc. And I never found that redeeming point either. I stopped watching cold for months. I have never stopped, without intention of continuing, so deep into an anime before (G Gundam was a fifty episode series, so it’s different). The only reason I kept it on my hard drive was because I have a friend who has trouble downloading, and he was interested in it. Eventually I decided that having gotten that far, I should finish, and review it. You may not be grateful, but too bad. I did.

There is a short arc on Tomoyo after that, which was nice but not nearly as in depth as I would have liked. She was an intriguing character, but after they were through she was not much more than part of the ‘Unrequited Lovers of Tomoya’ club. It takes three to form a club in their school; at five members, they honestly qualified. After that we go back to full time ‘revive the drama club’ mode, focusing on Nagisa and Tomoya. We have one or two fairly stupid ‘problems’, solved in equally stupid or implausible fashion, and then the kicker. The whole issue with his dad, instead of being dealt with (it deserved to be, it wasn’t bad at all as a premise), is used as a gimmick to put Tomoya in Nagisa’s house. That’s it. It’s the last time the series acknowledges it. It’s also rather hentai-esque, and I find it rather ironic that of the three, Clannad, Kanon, and Air, only Clannad was not adults only as a game, but only Clannad as an anime suggest hentai roots. There’s really not much more to say; this deep in, explaining things in detail is pretty much impossible, and none of it made much of an impression in any case. Right up till the much awaited confession. The series never managed to move me again. Flat, mundane failure. Some moments were enjoyable, but that was it.

I mentioned that the series seemed to suggest hentai roots, right? It’s a statement demanding a bit of explanation, I know. The scenes I’m referring to range from a questionable scene involving Tomoya locked in the gym storage shed with Kyou to various scene shots that emphasize girl’s ‘endowments’ a bit too deliberately to ignore. And one or two inbetween. Perhaps not, in itself, a flaw, but it is reminiscent of what is missing throughout Clannad: a lack of taste or sense of proportion. Even the traditional definition of fan-service makes some form of appearance.

What can I say? No matter what anyone else thought of it, only the comedy and the first eight episodes keep this at anything more than zero. I did warn you not to read this if you were already a fan. However, for the record, I’ve always been conscious of the lack of counter-opinions in the review selection here. I’m the only one for now, so it can’t be helped, but if you want to make a sort of ‘mini-review’ in response in the comments section below, that is more than fine: just make sure that it is detailed and specific. It should be able to help someone who is wondering whether they would agree with me or others more. Don’t say ‘I loved it’, say why. That’s all. But by my account, Clannad is a one.

Final Rating: 1/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Facts such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia entries. All else is and always will be the original creation of the author.

Plot Summary:
Rikugou Tokidoki is a high schooler going through the motions. School, life, they’re all the same: take them as they come, and whatever. His is the way of total apathy-until it’s shattered. What started as a virtual tour of the Bakumatsu Era becomes something terrible and inexplicable, as detachedness and half hearted feelings won’t do: now is one of them.
he is attacked by a monster that is all to clearly real and saved by a swordswoman wielding a katana, in the process of which the virtual goggles shatter, revealing that the sky and horizon are no longer projections. There are two worlds, not one, and for reasons unknown to any but it, the Yue has brought him to the second. Forced to take his adaptive ideology to the limit, he finds himself steadily more involved and steadily more alive. Which is good, because someone who comes from one world to the other cannot help but be different-in ways far from insignificant. There are times and places were

Studio:
Studio Deen

Cast:
Fukuyama Jun as Rikugou Tokidoki
Yusa Koji as Shinonome Kon
Paku Romi as Kuchiha
Nakata Jouji as Shamon
Suwabe Junichi as Bonten

Genre:
Historic, Fantasy, Adventure

Airtime:
Amatsuki aired from April 04, 2008 till June 27, 2008

Episodes:
Amatsuki has thirteen episodes. Judging by the ending, a sequel is almost guaranteed.

Review:
There are a thousand types of feelings an anime can try to evoke, and about the only thing they all have in common is that they are trying to create some kind of effect. Somehow, however, the one emotion I never expected to see was indifference. I doubt it was deliberate. Amatsuki managed to be somewhat interesting in the end, mildly intriguing, and the characters became just passingly real. However, that took until the end of the anime; by and large, Amatsuki scores a constant, steady impression of ‘ho hum’. Not really good enough to get excited, not really missing anything enough to irritate you, most of the first half of the series spectacularly does not create any reaction at all. It did go up, so the sequel is probably worth seeing, just in case, but overall-ho hum. Take your time.

The male lead, Rikugou, is kinda-nothing. He’s the quiet timid type that, barring a harem situation, will seem useless but win the compassion of some emotionally malnourished female warrior, usually tsundere, by being a nice guy. Usually they’ll turn out to be incredibly powerful later, and we’ll go through a toughening(haha) period. Check all those, and his power actually is very interesting, blends well with the explanation of the world and even fits with his character-and yet, response is still half-hearted. The female lead, Kuchiha, is tsundere-that’s about all there is to say. Someone born with a powerful wolf spirit(they call it a dog, but the only thing that monster will fetch for you is your head), she’s been subject to a lot of abuse and ostracism; perfect material to fall for the un-judgmental lead male. The only one she shows her care for openly is Shamon-sama, the exorcist/monk who accepted her possession and raised her. Your typical atypical monk build(ironic how predictable that one is), he’s a drunk, is always ready to enjoy good food, and is known to fall asleep during meditation. However, his spiritual power is great, he’s open minded and kind, all the usual. None of which, as per all, manages to break the tone much. Finally, Shinonome Kon, also from Rikugou’s world, from his school in fact. He was taken to the same world minutes before him, but there’s a time inconsistency involved: from the second world, Kon was there two years before Rikugou showed up. Originally a delinquent who skipped classes and had a tendency to brawl, he’s still something of a troublemaker, though dependable for his friends. Until nearly the end of the series, there is no clearly defined adversary, though full of ‘might be’s', those shadowy types that could be on anybody’s side, assuming you know what the sides are yet. An old and favorite tactic. But whatever.

Yawwn…oh? Hmmm..not bad. I guess. Huh, interesting. Heh. She would say that. Mmm, kinda cute. Hey, who’s that guy? Weird. Whatever. No, I’m not sleeptyping, I’m describing watching the first six or so episodes. How they achieved it I don’t know, but they managed, no matter what the material, to register overall, as ‘mildly interesting’. After that things begin to get a little better, and smoothly upgrade to a somewhat more energetic version of the above routine. Somewhat. Judging by the flow, and the fact that it is probably more accurate to think of this as the first part of a three(or so) sectioned story than as any complete telling of its own, it and it’s sequel are probably worth seeing. If the pattern continues in the next set, this could get quite good before its through. It’s more that the anime takes its leisure than that it lacks the right material. I actually do recommend watching Amatsuki, since there’s a strong chance it will continue to improve come next season, but I also do not recommend rushing. It’s not worth it; take your time. It’s only thirteen episodes, you finish it when you finish it. So long as you’re ready when the next set is, it’s fine.

For now, all I can say is that Amatsuki is a two point five, and that the sequel will probably be better. Watch it at your own pace to be ready when it comes, and we’ll all find out together.

Final Rating: 2.5/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and airtime were taken from ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

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Summary:
In the Rune-Midgard Kingdom, Roan, a young swordsman, travels with Yuufa, a childhood friend and an Acolyte. Adventuring together after some tragedy befell their old party, they search about for adventures and monsters. Over the course of a few recent travels, they acquire a few new friends, and meet some old ones. And learn of disturbing things. The land is changing. Some shadow grows over it. Dead friends reappear, same in face, horribly changed in soul. And in time it becomes clear that there is a grand journey to be made, the adventure to trump all adventures to be had, the monster of all monsters to stop. Neither Roan nor Yuufa can be allowed to cling to their childishness anymore. Both must grow, and discover strength of the body and mind-and heart. The Dark Lord is pulling strings again, and any darkness, any weakness within, can become an enemy.

Studio:
G&G Entertainment

Cast:
Sakaguchi Daisuke as Roan
Mizuki Nana as Yuufa
Hisakawa Aya as Takius
Momoi Halko as Maya
Nakai Kazuya as Illuga
Arakawa Minako as Judia
Koyasu Takehito as Keough

Genre:
Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Romance, Drama

Airtime:
Ragnarok aired from April 06, 2004 till September 28, 2004

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Episodes:
Ragnarok has twenty-six episodes. A sequel is unlikely.

Review:
Everyone has their own opinions on what makes an anime good. Action, romance, fan-service, strong characters-there are as many opinions as there are people. I’ve always preferred to answer from a more general angle. I say nothing matters more than the story. Tell the right one, tell it well, and everything else-voice acting, color, animation, etc-will cease to be important. Tell it wrong, and a multi-billion dollar budget won’t change anything. I recently had two anime stage an allegory of this on my computer. One was Kaze no Stigma, a slick 2007 production from Gonzo. The other was Ragnarok, a low budget, antiquely animated, square screened blatant RPG rip-off. Ragnarok kicked Kaze no Stigma’s rear all the way to the end, falling only just short of that rarest of accolades, a five out of five. I take great pleasure in telling you why.

Lead male, Roan: a swordsman whose love for his childhood friend is still immature, just like he is. Good hearted, talented, protective, and yet slightly pathetic, he is the seed of a great warrior-but only a seed. For now. Lead female: Yuufa. Light hearted, cheerful, and even more childish than Roan, the only thing that seems to bring a true shadow to her face is the memory of her dead brother. Seemingly oblivious to Roan’s devotion, she blissfully follows behind eating bananas, when someone doesn’t need her healing abilities. It’s a luxury with a time limit. Sidekick one, Maya the Merchant. A manipulative little thing with a bouncy pink teardrop for a pet, at first she’s only along for the ride, and to collect profitable items she herself isn’t strong enough to reach. However, she isn’t as selfish as she might seem, and establishes herself as a dependable member of the party in time. Takius, the mage. A woman of power, her senses are sharp enough to allow her to navigate the world blindfolded, as she literally does, for reasons known only to her. She is dedicated to the ideal of truth and eradication of evil, as well as her teacher, Zephel-sensei. Later to join are Illuga and Judia. Illuga is an assassin, though he rarely seems it; he is tall, silent, and superbly skilled. Fighting with two blades worn over the backs of his hand, he was once part of a party that included Roan, Yuufa, and Yuufa’s older brother. Playing the part of the imperturbable, he is apparently impossible to affect or move unless he decides to care, a valuable trait when dealing with his partner, Judia. A Hunter(thanks BW) who fights with her falcon and a bow, she’s energetic, direct, has a healthy appetite, and lives largely and blissfully in the moment. She makes strong backup though. On the opposing side are three figures who are somehow connected to the dark force emerging. A demon who’s bitter hate of humankind knows no reason, a mage whose losses have driven him to a mad search of a truth that will save the world, which the dark lord has promised him. And finally, a man everyone in the party knows, but who no longer resembles him; his antipathy is his driving force, believing in hate and cleansing the world of humans, from whom all troubles come. Seemingly invincible, he comes and goes, leaving chaos in his wake, despite the best efforts of the heroes. Until all comes to a head…

Ragnarok’s strength takes a while to see. Until about episode seven or eight, there’s only sporadic hints of the story’s potential, as the group is assembled and some background provided. This is the sole reason for the four point five, instead of a five; I can’t really give a masterpiece mark to an anime who’s first seven or eight are so not, however strong it becomes. Besides for a glimpse of the tip of the plot, it’s mostly so so, and sometimes trying. Hints of the quality they might be capable of are a little more common. Then episode nine happens, then ten, then eleven, and by then, everything has turned around. Plot, whether involving the nemesis or the characters, kicks in like a rocket booster, and everything is level five from there on out. All the most frustrating aspects of the characters become demons to exorcise as the stakes expand and engulf them, leaving no room for immaturity, for weakness, for being coddled, for being selfish, for being blind. Every minute of the ‘trying’ moments I mentioned become fuel for the fire as those faults are faced, made real by all the time we spent wincing through them. Watching growth is most satisfying when you first learn to care about them as they used to be, and the old ‘trial by facing weaknesses in an inner world’ has rarely rung so true. One by one, every character is brought face to face with their mistakes, weaknesses, pasts, and cleansed in fire. Action settles in to stay, as characters learn greater strengths, only in time to match the increased efforts of the enemy. And when the climax comes, it is everything a character strong action climax should be, as everyone’s efforts converge on victory, and even one or two that you never expected to be significant somehow manage, by complete accident, to help save the world. The rising triumph, the screamed refusal to bow to the odds, the final efforts of everyone they’ve fought beside so long, all come together with all the impact you could wish for. One of the most powerful feelings a story like this can tap is the fierce pride in the indomitable spirit of humankind, and Ragnarok does: magnificently. And in the end, though there have been losses, the closing is definitely upbeat-the sun is out. Life continues. And the party moves on.

I was completely taken by surprise by this anime, I could have sworn that kind of power wasn’t there, but at some point it suddenly managed to grip me and never let go. This is the sort of anime where reviews are most useful: where without someone who finished it to tell you, you might not realize its worth. I’m glad to be here to tell you otherwise. Don’t judge this one until ten or eleven, or you could miss something fantastic. Don’t let the blatant RPG elements fool you(character power-ups come in the form of class changes, you don’t get any more obvious than that). Once you get used to them enough to ignore them, this thing is incredible. Remember, this was almost a five.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and info are taken from ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

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Summary:
Takamachi Nanoha, a third grader, is just a little girl with two close friends…until Yuuno arrives. A boy from another world with a heavy responsibility, he doesn’t like to get anyone else involved in what he sees as a problem he has to solve himself. But his magical skills are relatively slight, and when he is wounded, he has no choice but to send a call to whomever in the vicinity has the magical power to hear him. Nanoha hears him. All in rush, she is the possessor of a magical computer orb called Raging Heart, she is attacked by a fierce creature that becomes a small gem when sealed, and she has been introduced to Yuuno, the shape-shifting ferret. An honest, empathetic girl, she quickly adopts the cause, determined to seal them all before they cause more trouble…and the entrance of Fate only encourages her. A powerful mage, long haired and beautiful, and Nanoha’s own age, despite fighting her again and again, Nanoha can’t help but notice the girls eyes: the most beautifully sad, tragic eyes she has ever seen. She isn’t just doing it for the town anymore. There’s a story behind those eyes, and Nanoha wants to know it-and comfort the one she knows, whatever she might say, is suffering.

Studio:
Seven Arcs

Cast:
Tamura Yukari as Takamachi Nanoha
Mizuki Nana as Fate Testarossa
Mizuhashi Kaori as Yuuno Scrya
Kuwatani Natsuko as Arf
Donna Burke as Raging Heart
Kevin J. England as Bardiche

Genre:
Magical Girl, Fantasy, Action, Sci-fi, Drama

Airtime:
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha aired from October 01, 2004 till December 29, 2004

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Episodes:
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha has thirteen episodes, with two sequels to date.

Review:
Magical girl type animes, mostly thanks to Sailor Moon, have a reputation for over-cutesifying, improbable attacks, and earnestly shouted simplistic ideals that are just constantly recycled truisms. I’m glad to say I’m reviewing no such anime: that would indicate I’d watched one. Nanoha actually does come close to OD-ing me in terms of cutesy-ness(ironically, when describing too much cute, you invent words a lot by adding suffixes, which is also associated with too-cute children). BUT-it really does tell a true and sweet story, even a deep one, and the characters are very enjoyable. Without ever being heavy, the plot line is strong and touching, and even though the first time I watched it was in my early years of anime watching, when I re-watched it recently, I found my opinion had only slightly changed. I, a twenty-one year old male, do recommend this series, recommend the sequel, Nanoha A’s, even higher, and rate it a four, my ‘very good’ number.

Nanoha, the lead, is not what I’d call unique-but she is endearing. So very normal, and so very determined. Adoring and adored by her family, she still feels some distance, which makes her all the more determined to reach Fate. Her way of being a ‘do your best’ sort works well-it’s made by showing, not shouting. By and large, the series succeeds by simplifying. The emotions, of her and most of the other characters, are true and uncluttered by complicated inter-relationships or sub-plots, and so they come across well no matter who it is. Fate is your quiet-through tragedy type, and shares a deep bond with her familiar, Arf. You can tell from the beginning that she herself isn’t evil, and it isn’t hard to feel as Nanoha does-especially since the show doesn’t restrict you to what she knows. We do see her life, and get a clear sight of who she is, who her familiar is, and why. It doesn’t take much from there to praying for her to find release. Arf, her familiar, is very protective of Fate, and will do anything for her, gladly. Someone who is clearly inclined to be ‘dog happy’, as her familiar form makes appropriate, seeing her pain on Fate’s behalf becomes no slight presence in the story. Chrono, a talented mage on board the patrol ship Asura, is conscious of his dignity, or tries to be, but his mother, the captain, and Amy, the navigator(I think, hard to tell what her official role is) make this very difficult for him. The captain, Lindy Harlaown, seems a bit of a lightweight, but she knows her duty and she knows command. Amy is similar, but younger and more energetic. As for the antagonists-yes, it’s very good. Evil and pitiable at the same time, you pray for her redemption almost as much as you pray for her demise. I’m not telling which it is. Just watch it.

Plot flow is slow, subtle, but always enjoyable. While the nature of the search means that at first each episode is a stand alone, it becomes one piece as the characters are built though them, and we come to see the bigger picture, and how much more is really at stake. The climax is meant to be a climax of emotion, and climax it is: perhaps not the ideal ending, but a good one all the same. Fate does find peace, I’ll promise you that. That’s not spoiling, that’s assuring against a nasty surprise. Oh, and it’s not just emotions that shine: the magical battles are excellent. The attacks, defense, and how they’re done, all of them are great. Proper spell casting battles are very cool, and Nanoha does it well-there is some very serious paranormal pounding here too.

An anime that dodges all the worst things attributed to ‘mahou shoujo’ titles, the only thing that could have made this better was a series of equally good sequels-which we have. Good strong characters, equally strong plot lines involving them, and quite excellent magical action make this a success that bears continuing-here’s to the Lyrical Nanoha family: this is just the first one. Thumbs up!

Final Rating: 4/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and airtime are taken from ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

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Summary:
The Triad vanquished for the moment, Sakai Yuji and Shana go back to living from day to day, waiting for the next Tomogara to come. Yuji’s training proceeds, and unexpected results of the past encounter make that training far more serious, with far greater potential. However, nothing stays peaceful for a Flame Haze, and the same goes for the mistes of the Raiji Maigo. There will continue to be battles, continue to be strife, continue to be conflict. Yuji will continue to gain strength and learn about his new companions, and Shana will continue to rediscover the heart she once tried to throw away. And in time, of course, the Triad must be faced again. Because a being that lives for centuries does not stop pursuing it’s goal so easily. It will only truly end when they are dead-or he is.

Studio:
J.C. Staff

Cast:
Kugimiya Rie as Shana
Hino Satoshi as Sakai Yuuji
Kawasumi Ayako as Yoshida Kazumi
Nabatame Hitomi as Margery Doe
Ebara Masashi as Alastor
Iwata Mitsuo as Marchosias(marco)
Itou Shizuka as Wilhelmina Carmel
Kondou Takayuki as Tanaka Eita
Nojima Kenji as Sato Keisaku

Genre:
Fantasy, Action, Romance

Airtime:
Shakugan no Shana II aired from October 04, 2007 till March 27, 2008

Episodes:
Shakugan no Shana II has twenty-four episodes, and a third is very likely, though as yet unannounced.

Review:
Sequels are finicky things. We tend to have high expectations, but that just makes it more likely to disappoint. I enjoyed Shakugan no Shana, and was more than willing to see things taken at their pace. Unfortunately, the sequel is not nearly as good. Rehashed emotional runs that worked the first time but feel repetitive twice, lack of consistency, and general lack of satisfaction, compared to it’s predecessor, force me to give this anime a low ranking despite what I would like. If the third makes good enough use of the ground laid, I may change it, but for now, Shakugan no Shana II is a two point five.

I’ll assume you’ve either watched the first or read the review, and describe the characters according to their advancement and development in the sequel. Shana, who we all enjoyed watching come to terms with herself and confess before, gets cruelly cheated. Yuuji didn’t hear her, it turns out, and she and Yoshida end up largely re-enacting the same emotional lines of conflict that they did in the final third or so of Shakugan I. What held up fine in the spotlight once doesn’t necessarily have another twenty-four episodes of wear in it: in this case, it was largely repetitive, not to mention frustrating, and sometimes even boring. The one who should have been the focus was Yuuji, who despite it all seems unaware of the battle lines drawn about him, but instead he also plays largely the same role in the girls drama: being clueless . For himself, Yuuji’s biggest role is powering up, as he becomes more and more important in each battle. This should have been more entertaining than it was, but again, it got repetitive. We already know how good his senses and his tactics are, we expect him to excel there. His spell casting, however, is new, and as an established gifted person, what we get isn’t quite what we thought we would. He does go through a few character troubles, especially as Shana and Yoshida’s competition finally begins to break through his bubble, but frankly, those are even worse than the girls. Margery Doe also gets more focused treatment, with somewhat better results, but not that much better. Her two cohorts, as well as Ogata-chan, take a stronger role as well, and do better than all the others, as Tanaka at last faces the fact that he truly is not cut out for this world, and Sato reveals a deep running determination to remain in it, and affect it, somehow. Ogata-chan is a delight to get to know better, with a bouncy charm that, it’s true, I’ve seen before, but to me at least it never gets old. Her relationship with Tanaka is sweetly clumsy. I think that’s everything.

Plot, handling, flow, all that stuff…I really wish I could say otherwise, but it stunk. The structure that should have been fragmented in the first but somehow worked, did not come over whole; what magic ingredient was forgotten I cannot say, but it felt very inconsistent, like a broken vcr or lagging video where things speed up and slow down at random. Actual material, in concept, was fine by and large, but it just didn’t get delivered as well as the first. More accurately, unlike the first, which managed to deliver well, the sequel does not. Arcs and character stretches seem interspersed at random, and the lengths of each and where, if at all, they intermesh, all feel mad-dash and off balance. Again, I hate to say it, but as a viewer and a fan of the first, I was very disappointed.

The thing about sequels is, we’re twice as pleased when they work and twice as mad when they don’t. As a fan, I am definitely twice as mad that Shakugan no Shana II doesn’t measure up to number one. The one bright side is, while it may not have satisfied very well, all lot of ground was laid. A whole series of ground laying doesn’t make for fun watching-and would explain the feel of the anime-however, if there is a third, and the third does make good enough use of it, I might well forgive them for it. If it does work that way, I will edit this review accordingly, so if the third does air, check it when it finishes. For now, however, even giving it a two point five instead of a two is a concession. Let’s pray for a better finale.

Final Rating: 2.5/5

This review is brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and airtime are courtesy of ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

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Plot Summary:
On an ordinary day, an ordinary boy, Sakai Yuji, discovers that he is not ordinary. Suddenly finding himself in a frozen slice of existence with a monster, he is saved by a flaming girl with a burning sword-the contractor of Alastor the Flame of Heaven, a Flame Haze. Discovering that such attacks happen regularly and that the girl’s purpose is to stop them comes with another discovery-he himself is dead. A mere temporary replacement, to ease the disruption to the worlds balance caused by his being devoured in some earlier attack. However, Yuji is something special-rather than going into shock, he accepts it, determining to make the most of his time. It is a more significant meeting than they think. Yuji is not any Torch, but a mistes, and the treasure he holds is something any King of Guze would kill for. Yuji is going to have to learn many things, strength and hardship and battle, from Shana. But Shana, who has devoted herself to her cause at the exclusion of all emotion for many years, may have something to learn as well. Humans were not meant to be empty or alone, and life is full of strange, painful, but wonderful surprises.

Studio:
J.C. Staff

Cast:
Kugimiya Rie as Shana
Hino Satoshi as Sakai Yuuji
Kawasumi Ayako as Yoshida Kazumi
Nabatame Hitomi as Margery Doe

Genre:
Fantasy, Action, Romance

Airtime:
Shakugan no Shana aired from October 05, 2005 till March 22, 2006

Episodes:
Shakugan no Shana runs twenty four episodes, with one completed sequel and a third to follow.

Review:
There are two ways to make a successful story: to invent something new, or to somehow enliven and enrich a know theme. Shakugan no Shana falls into the second category. With a big breasted character who never gets goggled, a female lead who goes through a very real and meaningful transformation of persona, and a powerless male lead who actually has real guts and manages to find a way to influence every battle, it’s a success that safely steers around all the potholes. Unfortunately, impact went down a bit in the second half, so a four I cannot call it, but I can call it a three point five, for standing out quality wise and giving us a satisfying ending even while building towards a sequel.

Characters are strongest in the lead roles. Side characters shine much less than in some, but at least that’s the right order of priority: I’ve known some where every other character was more interesting than the leads. Shana, the Flame Haze and the fighter, starts out a very cold fish. The fighting girl who’s out of touch with her feelings is an old one. However, it’s done to perfection here. You can see the mask made by duty, and you can see Yuji’s nature cracking it. The path from denial so absolute she’s forgotten what she’s denying, to full bloom, is both real seeming and touching, and achieves just what it’s supposed to. Sakai Yuji, the male lead, is, for the moment, powerless, and seems like he is going to be one of those ‘gentle, weak, but compassionate’ types that become the focus of increasingly complicated love geometry. While I’m all for getting away from the macho image(this has nothing to do with my not being macho, got that?), a soft hearted dishrag isn’t really a good substitute. However, Yuji does better than that: in addition to the fact that his compassionate view really is something Shana needs to be reminded of, his empathy does not equal weakness-his strength of mind is equal to Shana’s fighting strength. Someone who will not turn his back on the truth, he first embraces the nature of his existence, and then manages to consistently find ways to make real differences, both to the astonishment of Shana and Alastor. Lacking attack power, he discovers an incredible intuition and grasp of tactics, and no victory is won without his thumbprint. Though I happen to hate love geometry-operative word being geometry-there is also Yoshida Kazumi, an ordinary girl in the school with a crush on Yuji. Though the series would like you to take her more seriously, her feelings never seemed quite as authentic to me. Still, she’s sympathetic, and the manner in which she and Shana collide is in better taste then many. For further interest and a dash of madness, add Margery Doe to the mix. Also know as the Interpreter of Condolences, Flame Haze of the Fang of Devastation, Marcosius. A battle freak whose contracted Tomogara paints a glaring contrast to Alastor’s dignity, she is a drunk, a bimbo, and a powerful Flame Haze. She has her issues too, and occasionally becomes an advisor as well-once she and Shana settle things. Moving on to the villains, that’s a little complicated. The real ones don’t show up in person for introduction until too late in the series; it would come out as a spoiler if I described them here. The earlier stand-ins are interesting, and in the case of the Seeking Researcher, quite, quite weird, in an enjoyable way. However, none really warrant individual description. I’ll leave it that they are well done and not all of them are simply evil, always an important touch for more introspective style anime.

Plot flow, handling, type, choice-it’s a little haphazard, if you think about it, but in the end, it does flow well. The first two episodes are a bit confusing chronology wise, but they straighten out. The first villain’s arc, which plays from one through six, stretches to encompass Margery’s entrance and the early ground breaking between Shana and Yuji. Once resolved, some references dropped during the previous arc are unraveled into the next arc, which lays the ground for two episodes of character, which make the next arc more interesting as the antagonists test Shana’s new thoughts(mercifully, not by lecture, as all too many do-just by being themselves), which leads into more character, plus some detailed flashbacks…you see what I mean? It seems jumpy I know, but the seeds of each arc are laid in the previous, so despite all that, the flow feels natural. And in the end, both character and plot lines are resolved satisfactorily for the moment, even though you can tell a sequel’s coming to pick things back up.

Tells a good character story, has characters you like, and even sincerely respect, and doesn’t leave you hanging-I was very pleased with this one. I hate waiting for sequels-but that can’t be helped. The anime is based on an ongoing sequence of novels, so I’m assuming they’re timed to come out as the next book is released. Trilogies are common; the third will probably finish things this fall. In any case, any series that rates three point five should be followed on, so see the reviews of the sequels, when I make them.

Final Rating: 3.5/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Info such as cast and airtime are taken from ANN’s encyclopedia listing. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.

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Plot Summary:
Four years ago, Kazuma was the greatest failure of the Kannagi family. An ancient house of fire masters, the strongest in the world, he alone cannot manipulate it at all. In the end, unable to uphold the Kannagi name, he was shamefully evicted. But now he has come back, and things have changed. Having discovered an affinity for wind within himself, he is now stronger than everyone who once stood over him. It’s hard to tell what scars he bears and what grudges he holds, though both clearly must exist. What is clear is that power of his level cannot hold aloof. Now that he is back, he is a player, as the Kannagi’s have always been. There is always work for the strong.

Studio:
Gonzo

Cast:
Fujimura Ayumi as Kannagi Ayano
Ono Daisuke as Kazuma Yagami
Morinaga Rika as Kannagi Ren
Ohara Sayaka as Tachibana Kirika
Takahashi Chiaki as Katherine McDonald
Itou Shizuka as Kudou Nanase
Inokuchi Yuka as Shinomiya Yukari

Genre:
Fantasy, Action, Comedy.

Airtime:
Kaze no Stigma aired from April 11, 2007 till September 20, 2007

Episodes:
Kaze no Stigma has twenty four episodes, and the ending suggests a sequel.

Review:
There are all kinds of taste in anime. Some people really don’t care what kind of action there is or about any suspenseful plot so long as the right boy and girl become a happy couple. Some practically couldn’t care less who’s on what side so long as there’s enough action. I’ve given two level ratings before for anime that others would probably rate much higher. My job is to make sure people can tell if they’ll like it, not to like it myself. However, you can pretty much always tell what an anime is trying to do-and Kaze no Stigma fails. Lacking impact in almost every way, Kaze no Stigma makes the dubious honor of being my first one rating by being not a case of missed taste, but of just plain missing.

First, characters: So much potential-what is actually done with them is almost painful. The male lead, Kazuma, at first seems to be a rightfully wronged member of the family come home to prove it. His attitude, his power, and his use of it, all suggest someone who isn’t quite immature enough to pound on the Kannagi gates and beat them up, but who is all too willing to do so the moment opportunity crosses his path. However, introspection into the shame he suffered in the past ends within four episodes, and what started out an intriguing and understandable figure becomes just an irritating, supercilious, high and mighty character that is wildly incompatible with the female lead, Ayano. Ayano started out equally promising. The thing was, I assumed character flaws presented in the beginning were there to be exorcised, not as their permanent description. To me, the signs were that the series would be about her maturing, growing, and learning about what the Kannagi family’s power really means, what it is for, and when their pride becomes their downfall. Instead, they threw her straight into the ‘insists she hates him while going nuts whenever he belittles her or pays attention to another girl’ stereotype, from episode five on, and that is where development ends. And they make multiple filler episodes focusing on it too. Ren, male side-kick, is both Ayano’s cousin and Kazuma’s younger brother. He hero-worships his brother, and clearly has a close relationship to him-he alone views Kazuma’s leaving only in terms of not having his brother for four years. He is also the only one to have any real character development; the only worthwhile arc in the series actually focuses on him. Oh well. A fiercely in denial love interest must come with ‘wiser’ friends to stand in the background and tease them about it. Ayano’s come in the form of two friends, Nanase and Yukari. Nanase is more tomboyish than Yukari, with short black hair to Yukari’s long blond. Yukari also has a disturbing lean towards being a nosy journalist; this ranges from knowing the oddest school gossip to getting in disguise to follow Ayano and Kazuma and take pictures of ‘the hundred faces of Ayano in love’. Until the climax, however, they are primarily there to giggle whenever Ayano and Kazuma are together, and make remarks about dates and love when he’s mentioned, so that Ayano will yell and freak and clue in any particularly wooden headed watchers. Last and unfortunately not least: Katherine McDonald, a truly horrible ‘rival’ for Ayano that appears in episode fourteen. A fire master from America, big breasted with long curly blond hair(Japanese apparently consider this the only proper representation of a foreigner), she comes to challenge the Kannagi title of strongest fire user family, and stays to make eyes at Kazuma and basically be a forthright Ayano. May I mention that she has this laugh like a third tier actress trying out for the Witch of the West? Thanks.

Okay, plot, general flow, handling, delivery-all royally flops. The series consists of two to four episode arcs sandwiched by somewhat amusing to just plain stupid fillers until seventeen, where the final arc kicks in. The first four are actually quite good, mostly because you assume they are hints of arcs and developments to come. Unfortunately, however, that is the one thing they are not. After that comes a two ep. arc, and then a mildly amusing filler that actually introduces a subject of the next four episode arc: a wind fairy who is by far the most amusing character of the series. Actually, that arc is the only truly good part of the whole anime. It actually brought tears to my eyes, and the comedic interaction between Kazuma and the little sprite is honestly, truly funny. Of course, the tear jerker part all focused on Ren and a character that does not appear again, and the fairy doesn’t appear either, so all the things that made it good stay there. It even managed to redeem the Kazuma x Ayano bit for a while…but once they took the spotlight again, that quickly wore off. It’s nonstop fillers, mostly groan worthy, until seventeen. The final climax, in concept, is actually quite interesting, as is the psychology involved, but that took a back seat to focusing on how it tied to Kazuma’s past, attempts at which came across as unbelievably banal. The facts of a scene are meaningless. You can portray increasingly impressive, dark, portent filled skies with glowing red moons and what all till the budget runs dry, but if you can’t tell the story right, it’s just a lot of colorful high rez pixels. That’s what happens here. Gonzo is known as the top dog of animated eye candy – but they are also known for lousy character, and this is a prime example. All their focus and time spent on it only emphasized that it had no punch. It’s actually pretty hard to produce the climax without a rise of some kind. In this case, I was almost not bored. And there were several almost touching scenes too. It was a step up. If the whole thing had been like that, it would have rated a two instead. As is, one four episode arc that was good can’t really be allowed to change things.

I have always said that neither animation nor voice actors really mattered. What really matters is the story you tell. Do it right, and the watchers will forget everything else. Do it wrong, and nothing can save you. The fact that even as I was watching this, I was enthusiastically enjoying a 640 rez low budget RPG rip-off just illustrates the point further. Gonzo should be ashamed to see it’s competition. Kaze no Stigma is a one. As always, the rest is your call.

P.S. There is actually a bit of what you might call fan service in this anime. Since the animation quality is very high, this might well be considered the best done part of the series. Level ranges from Ayano’s clothes getting torn a bit to seeing her in underwear choosing a dress. I don’t go for this, but like I always say, it’s your call.

Final Rating: 1/5

This review was brought to you by Z.N. Singer

Credits:
Most info such as cast was taken from ANN’s encyclopedia listing. In this case, the airtime is courtesy of wikipedia. All else is and always will be the origination of the author.