I know it’s been a while since I’ve been really active here. So I’m coming now to announce an experiment I’ll be running about Music. I intend to add musics into the site (mostly by uploading zip files of MP3s).

If you have something to say, feel free to use the comments.

EDIT: note I had to remove the first one hundred episodes of Fairy Tail to the donors section in order to make the download page work. Sorry for the little “bug” that occured before that.

Starfi3ld:

Currently transiting trough Narita Airport.

It only confirmed me the fact I intend to come here

See you space cowboy…

Summary:
The town never knew what hit it. One minute it was just another town…and the next, it was home to Kobato, the most enthusiastically clueless girl to ever walk the earth. She has so little concept of even the basics of life and simple common sense that she may as well have just dropped out of the sky – which, in fact, she has. Her mission: with no memory of what came before, or how or why she came to strike her bargain, she must heal enough hearts to fill a special bottle with the conpeitto like fragments it collects each time she succeeds. If she can do this, her wish will be granted, and she will be able to go…somewhere. Somewhere she wants very badly to be. For a girl who – at least at first – can’t even distinguish between people in need and bored kids looking for a playmate, it might well be impossible, even with the help of Loryogi, the bad tempered blue stuffed dog who is actually her fire-breathing guardian. And yet, the almost inhuman sincerity Kobato possesses has a power all its own…a power that just may be able to heal.

Studio:
Madhouse Studios

Cast:
Hanazawa Kana as Kobato Hanato
Inada Tetsu as Loryogi
Maeno Tomoaki as Fujimoto Kiyokazu
Kuwashima Houko as Mihara Chitose
Orikasa Fumiko as Okiura Sayaka

Genre:
Drama, Romance, Comedy, Supernatural

Episodes:
Twenty Four

DVD Availability:
No.

Review:
When I first watched Naruto, the thing that impressed me the most was its capacity for what I dubbed the emotional sucker punch. Again and again, I watched this show pull incredible emotional power out of situations like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. You’d be sitting through a straight up comedy or action sequence, and – wham! – emotional sucker punch. Kobato, needless to say, has very little in common with Naruto. However, like Naruto, Kobato hides a powerful emotional punch that the premise would never have led you to suspect. I came in expecting a series of one and two, maybe three episode sequences of nice, touching stories with a light sweet conclusion. And for quite a while, that’s exactly what I got, plus some truly rib-busting comedy as a bonus. Quality varied, of course, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself all the same. It wasn’t until thirteen or fourteen that I began to suspect something much stronger was lying in wait. As it turned out, it was much stronger in comparison to my expectations of something stronger. Kobato is a series that starts out three and a half, maybe four if I gave more credit for comedy, and then somehow builds itself into something that can go toe to toe with the likes of Kanon, and delivers an epic romance that I can only compare to Kanon. I cannot give the series a five, since the series as a whole was not on this level. But I can and do give it a four point five for an ending that exceeded my wildest expectations. Even the makers of Naruto would be impressed.

As always, characters first. Because I think about them a lot – I’m character focused. First, of course, is Kobato. The usual clumsy and helpless, but sweet and enthusiastic type is given a whole new level of hysterical cluelessness by the fact that part of how her manifestation – for lack of a better word – works is that all the basic common sense that comes of living has been erased from her: it’s almost like a fifteen year old was created out of nowhere with none of the experience of getting there. As such, her innocence surpasses innocence – she’s more or less a baby with the mobility, body, and comprehension (sort of) of a teenager. This does slowly moderate over the course of the story as passing time replaces this lost experience (the story takes place over the course of a year). Which is a good thing, because even really good handling could only stretch the lead character acting the way she does in the earlier episodes so far. While it lasts, however, her antics are to die for, as are Loryogi’s responses. As mentioned, he at least appears to be a blue stuffed dog with a spiked collar. When others are looking, he plays ‘dead’. When they aren’t, his expression goes cranky, his mouth opens and gains some impressive teeth, and he talks in a deep, growling voice that seems distinctly too big for him. Of course, he isn’t really a stuffed animal, and didn’t always look that way, so most likely it fit his original size. Why he is the way he is and why he was chosen for the job actually forms an effective sub-plot: while not intense, it is quietly intriguing and satisfying. The usual ‘grumpy guy softened by cheerful innocent’ is given subtle new nuance by his past, as any quality piece of storytelling will manage to do. In the meantime, Kobato rarely fails to get several furious outbursts out of him per episode, even after she improves. They make a great comedy duo. Next most significant would be Fujimoto, a tall thin college goer with long brown hair in a ponytail. While not in the least ‘street’, he does possess a certain lank ‘tough’ air about him, and is quite strong. Wearing an eternally angry face, he actually resembles Loryogi in some ways. Yes, he’s an ‘acts mean but has a heart of gold type’, but really, he’s handled very well: the realism and subtlety with which these conflicting traits of his are portrayed have nothing of cliché in them. His interactions with Kobato are also amusing, for similar reasons to Loryogi, even though he never breathes fire at her. One big part of his story is his devotion to Sayaka, his adoptive older sister who runs Yomogi Nursery, an old daycare with a dedicated clientele of people who attended it themselves before they grew up and acquired children of their own to send. Pretty, black haired, and bearing glasses, the children are no less devoted to her than Fujimoto is. Kobato ends up working there as well via the typical series of clumsy coincidence that often conspire to keep her sort alive, probably for our entertainment (actually, in the anime world, we know it’s for our entertainment). There are several other characters that make regular appearances but I don’t think they require exposition here.

Kobato’s premise, as I said in the intro, suggests a long series of warm hearted one and two episode shots, similar to, say, the Aria shows, except with a goal and conclusion. And at first, that is essentially what we get – with a hearty helping of spanking good comedy. Kobato’s initial innocence-fueled blunders simply can’t be compared to other shows. And that same innocence manages to fuel some very sweet moments as she racks up her first few conpeitto. It takes quite some time to realize something rather larger is building up. As time goes on and Kobato regains enough sense to become a more serious character – relatively – we also learn more and more about the people around her, some of whom have problems she just can’t heal. The nature of her guardian and the reason he’s there is smoothly developed on the side until his personal investment in Kobato’s future is a warm and touching thing indeed. The daycare center is in real trouble, and many people are devoted to it. But it isn’t something Kobato can heal, and the pain it is causing to her and the people around her slowly but surely gains strength and momentum. We see her becoming closely tied to those people, becoming personally invested and enmeshed in their lives as someone who plans to go soon really shouldn’t be doing – except Kobato isn’t someone who can live like that. By the time we reach about episode sixteen, we have a well established permanent cast of surprising size for a show whose storyline seemed nearly episodic at first, all with personalities and roles established. And then…with the startling smoothness of well planned but subtle storytelling we find ourselves in a true, heart wrenching drama that is anything but a short shot. In fact, suddenly, we realize we have a fully fledged emotional web with multiple sub-plots just like any story so driven from the beginning. And one by one, those sub-plots are resolved in an admirable fashion worthy of the best. The resolutions are even surprisingly realistic, ultimately happy but mixed with losses, rather than the simple happily ever after the first episodes would also have led you to expect. And then the primary plot line, Kobato herself, takes center stage, and it is epic. Slowly, carefully, and exquisitely executed, the last four episodes of Kobato are not easily forgotten, and are one of the few examples of any entertainment medium I have wanted to re-watch or read as soon as I’d finished. Normally I am distinctly not a re-watch person. It takes a while after I’ve finished something, no matter how good it was, before I’ll look at it again. The exceptions are few and far between. The last two episodes of Kobato are the first examples I have encountered in anime. Believe in love conquers all? Even if most attempts at this idea bother you, I think you’re going to like this. And if most attempts don’t…you will dearly regret missing this.

Kobato started good in its own way, and ended with amazing power in epic fashion. In a way it deserves higher than a four point five. But then, it’s those little things that make fives such a statement. Don’t miss this anime.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

This review was 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.

Summary:
Takasu Ryuji is an unnaturally domestic guy with unnaturally intimidating eyes, courtesy of his father, who really was a street man and probably liked it. Ryuji, on the other hand, could have done without everyone who first meets him assuming he’s after their wallet. On the first day of high school, two things go right, and one thing goes…weird. The two things that go right is that his best friend and his long standing though as yet un-confessed-to crush are in his class. The thing that goes weird is that, somehow, he becomes inextricably entangled in the affairs of one Aisaka Taiga, otherwise known as the Palmtop Tiger for being roughly four foot five and fierce enough for eight. She’s got a crush on said best friend, which he accidentally finds out about, which ordinarily would mean death. A ceasefire is achieved via compromise: he will help her to get his friends attention and affection, and she will help him with his crush, who happens to be her best friend. At first this is a relationship founded on mutual benefit, no more. In time, concern for each other’s welfare becomes more personal. And then things really get complicated…

Studio:
J.C. Staff

Cast:
Majima Jimji as Takasu Ryuji
Kugimiya Rie as Aisaka Taiga
Kitamura Eri as Kawashima Ami
Nojima Hirofumi as Kitamura Yusaku
Horie Yui as Kushieda Minori

Genre:
School, Drama, Romance, Comedy

Episodes:
Twenty Six.

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Review:
Once upon a time, a family was on a trip to a city. The city was in the middle of some rather dangerous wilderness, but like any real city in the twenty first century it had a perfectly serviceable road leading straight to it, so this really didn’t matter unless you liked hardcore camping. This family, driving along in their family sized car, reached the place where the wilderness began around the road – and then proceeded to drive straight off the road and initiate a harrowing trial of survival, adventure, and solidarity to reach the city. They survived, emerging intact and even, impossibly, with the car. And of course they had all kinds of incredible stories to tell but sooner or later, everyone who listened had the same question: why didn’t you just stay on the road? And the family had no answer. And after that, everything that had happened to them just seemed…stupid. End of parable.

This, I am sorry to say, more or less captures the essence of the drama in Toradora. The ingredients are excellent: characters, interactions, needs, and some scenes that are simply indescribable…but when it was climax time? The characters would just hare off down the road of difficulty and tragic sacrifice without ever explaining why they couldn’t have simply, to make further use of my analogy, stayed on the road. Oh, they did try to justify it occasionally, but the explanations made no sense (the class president’s speech about why she ‘can’t become an idiot’ was so much teary babble, literally nonsense). In the end, Toradora’s high points in plot are about people taking the hard road apparently for the hell of it. And there is just nothing sympathetic about that. Because Toradora contains scenes so potent no fan of romance should miss them, and there are large tracts of airtime that are simply fun, I give it a three instead of a two. It does manage to justify the time spent. But the plot, unfortunately, lacks those critical ‘road out ahead’ signs that would have given it validity.

First, the characters. Like always. We start with Ryuji, the most genuinely likeable male lead for this genre I’ve seen since Kanon. The characters were never the problem in Toradora, let me tell you. He’s utterly domesticated, but he’s not meek. He’s kind in an extremely natural way I approved of deeply, rather than that artificial ‘I’m too much of a wuss to be mean’ style the romance, harem, and high school genres are so cursed with (don’t even get me started on the syrupy bishounen style kindness, that’s even worse). He’s the sort that finds the most satisfaction in simple accomplishment and being needed, in a real, solid, everyday way – and boy does that adorable basketcase of nerves and violence named Taiga need the balance. She never gets any taller throughout the series: her head doesn’t get far past Ryuji’s waist. And if you step wrong, she’ll go straight for said waist – above the belt, not below, a fact worth noting. She also gets rapidly less violent with people she’s actually friendly with. The combination goes a long way towards removing her from her lesser counterparts. Tiny, strong, and easily flustered, she’s the tsundere poster child, but she is pulled off with great verve and freshness and is an on screen delight whether she’s being comical or serious. Next would be Minorin, I suppose. With short red hair and limitless energy, she’s the Miss Bonzai who is always screaming, cheering, or running. Like Taiga, she’s a stereotype done right: it is used not as the bio entire, but the base from which various quirks and an eventual true individual is grown. The way we are shown her strange hyperactivity covering or expressing various very personal emotions sets her worlds away from her counterparts, and her randomness is genuinely amusing. She’s also the one Ryuji likes and Taiga is friends with. Moving along, we get to Yusaku, the friend of Ryuji and crush of Taiga, who at first glance appears to be the ‘high school nice guy’ that Ryuji isn’t, complete with high popularity. With girls. Is it a cultural thing that in Japan, nice smart guys like that are popular, but in America, it’s all about who’s on the football team or something? Well in any case, if he were really that flat he wouldn’t be in Toradora: he’s got a wacky sense of humor and drama that lets him periodically rap right along with Minorin, and the very genuine drive that makes him an ideal Class President and school council member is also all his own. I’ve saved the most difficult for last: ‘Ami-chan’, the model. I’m not sure just how to handle this…the fact of the matter is that I quickly developed a deeply rooted hatred of Ami that never died throughout the series. Since this is neither the intended impression nor the popular one, I think it would be best that I do not attempt to describe her at all. Of the main supporting characters, she is the least prominent anyway. Thank G-d.

Plot time. Toradora is composed of three major arcs, if you count the first set that introduces and goes through various shorter scenarios an arc, in that it is a section geared towards one ‘stage’ of the set-up. In the first episode, the premise and characters are established. Taiga accidentally puts her love letter to Kitamura Yusaku in Ryuji’s bag. She visits him in the night with a wooden katana to shut him up – yes, it’s just as over the top as it sounds. Over the course of the visit their shared love tangle is revealed, and they agree to work together on this. Of course, as a tsundere, Taiga insists on more servile terms for him at first. After that we have about three or so one shots, during which we become familiar with the nature and dynamics of the characters, where they are, and a decent amount of backstory and less visible layers are brought out. We also have more clean-hearted untainted fun than we ever do again. Ami-chan’s entrance provoked a bit of an upset, and a new set of two or three episodes are required to settle her in. The final episodes of this stage of the storytelling take place in Ami-chan’s vacation home on a beach. She just wanted Ryuji there, but Taiga isn’t easy to get rid of, and then the rest of the gang sort of snuck in via the resulting loopholes. Throughout these times, the details and immediacy of Taiga and Ryuji’s feelings for their crushes are nicely fleshed out. However, even now, the signs of the series eventual Achilles Heel – unregulated drama – show, as several scenes get carried away and get well ahead of themselves in ways that really made me wonder at the time. But it’s nothing that will slow you down much yet. After that, interestingly enough, our focus is Ryuji’s friend, Yusaku, as he goes through an emotional crisis. It was all very good and enjoyable until we started learning details, and it slowly dawns on you that he is seriously over-reacting, and that the whole thing could have been solved quite simply, and that everyone is either making mountains out of molehills or making mountain out of sheer perversity. You can explain why it would make sense for them to do what they do as the other shoe drops all you like (though to be frank, I’d love to hear you try), but if to the watcher it’s still obvious they are just driving off a good road, it still doesn’t work. It really isn’t possible to really explain without spoilers. Let’s just say that even though it is supposed to be a tragedy, to me it stank strongly of farce. In any case, this arc is concluded with much ado, mostly incomprehensible but all very intense and tearful, and now we’re into the final arc. Like the previous one, this started well, and began to deteriorate as it tried to get to the meat of it. We start being regaled with introspection that seems made up on the spot, intense character reactions that seem entirely out of left field, and basically everyone gets more and more irrational, all the while clearly being very serious, albeit for no reason the watcher can comprehend. There’s a little bit in the middle that was good, mostly because it bore no direct connection to events before or after. The rest of the time, you’re basically twiddling your thumbs waiting for everyone to come back to their senses and take the perfectly normal and happy route that was right there the whole time. Except they still don’t, and every fact we know from earlier in the series that has a bearing on the situation suggests there is no good reason for this whatsoever. And so we end, handed a lot of tragic wailing for no reason and a ‘do your best’ resolution when there was nothing to fight against or do your best about in the first place, and you’re still not sure why they’re bothering. The only good part was the last thirty seconds or so, which alleviated some of the fabricated bittersweet flavor, but really didn’t make up for any of it.

And there we have it. Toradora: a bundle of potential train-wrecked by incomprehensible plot twists. By rights this should be a two, or even a one…and yet…I just can’t do it. There are so many fun bits, quite a few good serious moments despite all, and one scene that was simply indescribable. In end, I just can’t give this series a failing grade. Lower than three means it wasn’t worth the time taken to watch, and there are parts of this series I can’t regret getting to. So, a three it is. But make your call carefully.

Final Rating: 3/5

This review was 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.

1-Anyone who registered himself on boontan can use them (I’ll try to keep them spam clean from now on);
2-I’ll no longer take in consideration requests within the comments, as you may use the boards for that from now on.

Except that, I have published the Remastered Version of Macross (yes, the old show) within the donors. So much history in that series…

EDIT: donors update:

-AA! Megami-sama OVA 2 Together Forever – 01 (added, OVA Dir);
-Air Gear OVA 2 (added);
-Angel Beats Special (added);
-Black Lagoon OVA 04 (added);
-Bungaku Shoujo (added);
-FLCL BD version + Extra (added) note that I’m keeping the original version because I need to check something but ultimately it’s gonna be removed;
-Fortune Arterial OVA (added);
-Hidamari Sketch Hoshimittsu SP2 (updated);
-History’s Stronger Boonator Kenichi 01 to 50 (added);
-Hoshi Ni Negai Wo Fantastic Cat (added);
-Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou SP 04 to 06 (added);
-Jigoku Shoujo (added);
-Jigoku Shoujo Futakomori (added);
-K-ON!! S2 – 27 Extra (added);
-Kurenai OVA 02 (added);
-Kuroshitsuji II – OVA1 (added);
-Laputa Castle in the Sky (updated);
-Maria Holic 01 to 12 (added);
-Peace Maker Kurogane (completed – yeah first request in the boards XD);
-Tales Of Symphonia OVA – Tethealla Bonus 02, episode 04 (added);
-Tatami Galaxy SP 02 (added);
-The Melancholy of Haruhi 00 to 03 updated;
-Working – 12 Shin-gx version (added);
-Yumeria (added);

I hope everything’s fine for you all. Regards

After learning basics from Miu, Boonichi is able to beat a high ranking member of the school’s karate club, and becomes a target for all the delinquents in the school. Boonichi’s reason for training is to fulfill the promise he made to protect Miu. Subsequently, Boonichi’s daily routine is divided between hellish training under the six masters of Hamudizanpaku, and his fights against the members of Rioginarok, a gang that views him as either a possible ally or an impending threat to their plans.

After defeating Rioginarok, he faces a new enemy called YOMI, a group of disciples who are each personally trained by a master of an even bigger organization rivaling Boonzanpaku, Yami. He realized that he wanted to be the Znsingest in order to protect everyone without killing anyone. Along with former members of Rioginarok who joined the Shinpaku Alliance, a group created by Boonichi’s schoolmate Waltzuro Black-Niijima, Boonichi now fights Yami to prove his ideals and protect those in need.

Except this useless stuff, here are some donors (yes, all the kind guys who are paying for this site to run) news:

-AA! Megami-Sama season 1 & 2 updated to Dual Audio;
-Break Blade 03 & 04 (decided to keep only the GG version);
-Card Captor Sakura Movie 2 added;
-Chrno Crusade Extra Goodie Pack added;
-Gundam 00 The Movie (inside season 2 dir.);
-Inuyasha Movies 01 to 04 (inside kanketsu hen dir);
-Kaichou Wa Maid Sama 18,19,20 Upgraded;
-Katanagatari 11 Upgraded;
-Kara no Kyoukai 01 to 07 Upgraded to BD version;
-Kiddy Grade OVA 1 & 3 added, 2 updated;
-Mitsudomoe 11,12 Upgraded;
-Rainbow 23 to 26 Updated;
-Shin Kohime Musou Otome Tairan 09 (updated BD) 10 (added);
-Turn A Gundam 41 to 50 added;
-Valkyria Chronicles OVA 1,2,4,7 added;
-Working 01 (Uguu) 10,11 (Shin-GX) added;

I hope that everything’s going fine for the anime lovers around the world. ALL HAIL BOONTANIA!

Rio’s life soon changes when he learns that he is a “Gate Disk Holder”, a dealer who holds one of the 13 legendary disks called “Gates”, and whoever collects them all will be named “Most Valuable Web Dealer” (MVWD). To collect all 13 Gates, Rio must take part in special matches called “Gate Battles” with other Gate Holders and gain their Gates to become the most popular dealer in the world…

Yes. I know. We have past half of the anime season, and I wasn’t here… So I had to run another little joke, didn’t I?

More seriously, after having burnt my motherboard (no, I did not simply “burn” it… I physically burnt the damn thing, too much downloads I guess lawl – the good thing being the fact the house didn’t burn as well as the computer), and after having bought a new one who did not support the same RAMs  (so, two weeks after ordering the motherboard, I had to order mems and to wait another two weeks), I’m back.

I have a lot to catch up on the animes running, and once it’s done, I should help again with the uploads (and bring you good luck, yeah XD). So far, I’ve seen Infinite Stratos (if the guys reads those lines, thanks), and for the boys who like mechas and harems, so far, it’s good (except maybe the last bishonen pop up).

See you, space cowboy!

Thanks to all of you users and supporters who followed Boontan.net so far! We are really grateful for your help and consideration!

See you space cowboy!

A Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope everyone has a good year. Lastly, as a christmas present lets pray that we’ll get better anime next year.

Summary:
In a village surrounded by high walls that the residents are forbidden to touch or pass, a girl is born from a cocoon after a dream of falling from the sky. Named for her dream, as all born such are, Rakka soon finds herself sprouting wings and sporting a halo as the other members of the Old Home. None of them remember anything but smidgens of a past, but all know they had one. Such are the Haibane, for whose sake the town isolates itself from the outside world. Here they live, working their jobs, accepting no pay and using only things that have been used before. It all seems so peaceful – but no thing in this world is without purpose. There is a reason they became Haibane, and something every Haibane must someday do. And finding what that is – both for her sake and her friends – is soon the most important thing of all.

Cast:
Noda Junko as Reki
Hirohashi Ryou as Rakka
Yajima Akiko as Kuu
Miyajima Eri as Kana
Orikasa Fumiko as Hikari
Murai Kazusa as Nemu

Genre:
Fantasy, Drama, Psychological, Mystery,

Episodes:
Thirteen. There is no sequel of any sort.

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Review:
There are some experiences that are beyond comparison or explanation. You want to try, because something like that begs to be shared, but in the end all you can say is ‘you had to have been there’, or ‘you just have to see it for yourself’. Watching Haibane Renmei, for me, was such an experience: Enchanting, mesmerizing, spell binding, haunting, beautiful beyond words…and none of those are really enough. As a reviewer, I am bound to try and explain the unexplainable, and so I will try to describe the experience of watching this anime. But in the end, you’ll just have to watch it for yourself. It is simply something else.

From the beginning, Haibane Renmei snares the mind with an understated sense of pure magic. Its characters work the same: a soft air of sweetness belies the underlying trials of the heart that are the core of this story. Rakka, the lead, is simply a pleasant, honest, gentle young girl of fifteen or so: somewhat uncertain at first, she spends the first several episodes following the lead of the others as she comes to understand the life expected of her – something that only sounds boring because you have not experienced what simple conversation is like in Haibane Renmei. Life itself, from moment to moment, fascinates and entrances, with gentle beauty that makes you smile and, when the time comes, makes you feel their pain with exquisite directness. The leader of the group is Rekki – tall, black haired, and a smoker, she gives an impression that somehow seamlessly blends biker mom and gentle, nurturing older sister into someone who casually supports almost everything and everyone, especially Rakka, as the newest and least secure member. I suppose the next most noticeable one is Kuu, the youngest. Cute and endearing, with that constant enthusiastic delight in life that characterizes so many children of that age, she shares a special place in the hearts of all who live in Old Home – and before long, an especially close place in Rakka’s. Hikari is blond, blue eyed, and sweet – with a rather rascally curious and irrepressible side that saves her from unholy moe-hood and elevates her to the level of a Haibane character. Kana is black haired, black eyed, and spunky, a tomboyish sort with a cheerful attitude and a quick friendly-cocky grin. Mechanically inclined and gung-ho about it, her complaints about hard work are generally a facade. Last, and oddly suited to it, is Nemu. She is actually the oldest resident of Old Home – Rekki is second. But her quiet, unemphatic nature means that Rekki is the one who takes the lead. Slow, plump, and inclined to sleepiness, she works in the library, where everything is quiet, and she can read and steal naps. Haibane Renmei does not have villains – it is the sort of story where all the enemies are internal. A few outside characters do bear mention though – The Communicator, an old man who wears a mask and communicates with the outside world, is in a way the one who polices the Haibane, but the wellbeing of the Haibane is clearly of real personal importance to him. Old Home is only one of the places in town where Haibane Renmei live – the inhabitants of the Abandoned Factory are a bit rowdier than those of Old Home, a bit street like and tough with a sprinkling of boys in their ranks. Still they’re good hearted, and some have a personal link to Reki – one that plays an important role as time goes on.

The first episodes are pure slice of life – or they would be, if the world we have been plunged into did not softly scream of mystery. Even as we walk, dreamlike, through this new world, seen through Rakka’s eyes, guided by kind, engaging, supportive friends, the fact that something essential remains to be understood about the town and its winged inhabitants – something not quite sinister, but something that, once known, cannot help but bring change – is very clear. And the most important changes in our lives are often, initially, painful. The Haibane are born with no notion of what came before, but they all know that there was something – that they all had once lived lives beyond the wall. The wall that cannot – not should not – be crossed. The truth about the Haibane Renmei – what they are, where they come from, and what they have come for – is the question that drives this story, and there are several layers to the answer. Answers that are both bittersweet and beautiful – and meant to be found. The stories revealed within the story, the truths upon truths, and the redemption hidden within sin, paint in time a world so painfully beautiful as to forever mark the soul. This is the kind of story that leaves a mark on those who see it – you do not forget. And for all that there were tears, you hope that it is real.

Wondrous, fascinating, heartfelt, and sometimes sorrowful – I’m afraid this is one anime for which I am unable to maintain my usual level of distance when reviewing. For a perfectly told story that carves its name in your soul, I can only give it that rare perfect score of five out of five. If you are allergic to slow paces or character focused plots, stay away. Otherwise, see this before you die, or regret it all your remaining days.

Final Rating: 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.

Summary:
In a world containing both humans and Yokai – beings of inhuman power – friction, and even hatred, between the two is all too common. Standing tall against this trend is the town of Sakurashin. Formed in-between five great sakura trees, it contains the only gateway to the Yokai realm. Originally formed as a place where Yokai could return, it has also become a town filled with Yokai who didn’t want to go, and were willing to live peacefully by human terms. For them, Sakurashin is a refuge, the only place where they are not persecuted for what they are. Fully half the town are Yokai. However, it attracts all sorts in the end, and some are less benevolent than others. Kyousuke the Oni, Ao the Mind Reader, Kotoha the Word User, Hime, Mayor and Dragon Incarnate, and last but not least, Akina, the Hizumi successor, are all members of the Town. Most of the time their duties are relatively peaceful, but when a Yokai runs amok, everyone depends on them. And this time, everything may depend on them.

Studio:
Studio Gong

Cast:
Fukuen Misato as Yarisakura Hime
Kaji Yuuki as Hiizumi Akina
Sawashiro Miyuki as Isone Kotoha
Fujita Saki as Nanami Ao
Ono Daisuke as Kishi Kyousuke
Seki Tomokazu as Hiizumi Enjin

Genre:
Fantasy, Supernatural.

Episodes:
Twelve. There is an OAV, but it is a remake that follows the manga exactly rather than a sequel.

DVD Availability:
Yes.

Review:
There are reviewers in the world of anime who appear to be eternally tormented by the existence of stereotypes and formulas. “Argh, a moe girl with glasses!” They howl in dismay. ‘Oh my g-d, not another tsundere with a too nice love interest,’ they’ll groan later. ‘Why, why?’ Those same people would no doubt take one look at Yozakura Quartet’s premise and break down in frustrated tears screaming ‘not another ‘group of high schoolers with power save the world’ anime! Gouge out my eyes, why don’t you?’ But you know, I’m less cynical about it. Stereotypes and formulas are only horrors when utilized by incompetent people. No point in focusing on them. Yes, Yozakura Quartet is ‘another group of high schoolers with powers save the world’ – or in this case their town – anime. But it is a bunch of likeable, entertaining, sympathetic high schoolers with powers save their town anime. It is a bunch of high schoolers with real, compelling dilemmas and emotional ties and quandaries save their town anime. And it is a bunch of high schoolers who form a tightly knit group and are as delightful to watch interacting as they are fighting or struggling with dilemmas with powers save their town anime. Yes, the premise is formulaic, and I’m sure you’ve all seen it before. So have I. I give it a four anyway.

Akina is – technically, probably – the main character, though he really shares this role equally with Hime. He is the heir to the Hizumi ability to ‘tune’ Yokai, forcing them back to their realm, and as such has quite a bit of responsibility – and heartache. Pleasant, kind, and good natured, his inescapable duty to deal with rebellious Yokai isn’t always easy for him. As a rule, it’s something he lives with, but for this opponent, things might not be so easy…. The Mayor, Hime, is a close friend of his from childhood, along with a third Yokai who seems to have tragically departed. Energetic, confidant, forward, and possessed of inhuman speed and agility (she tracks bullets and bats them aside), she puts her all into her work, as well as everything else. She also has an all consuming passion for pastas of all sorts, and even her perfectionist assistant’s regular accompanying calorie counts can’t put her off (he does not seem to buy her belief that it will all be burned off by exercise). Kyousuke the Oni is, as mentioned, something of a perfectionist. Detail oriented? Maybe even a little obsessive? You bet. Stiff and exacting, and devoted to Hime (not in a romantic sense), he is clearly less than happy with Akina and company as support, considering them far too carefree and unreliable. Despite his constant protests however, Hime overrules him every time. It probably is not helping that Kyousuke’s younger sister has a crush on Akina of the worst kind. Ao the mind reader is the youngest of the group by a long shot, and highly endearing. Young, perky, and cute, her ability to mind-read via her cat ears (she has no tail) has many uses, both social and martial (in addition to being able to find an enemy anywhere in the city, she’s a whiz with children). The missing Yokai who was part of Akina and Hime’s original trio is her older brother. Assigned with making the city’s announcements, her voice is well known to the town. Kotoha the Word User is a fairly unusual being – a half breed. Half human and half Yokai, her personality could also be considered to be half human and half demonic – in an endearing, socially acceptable way. Most of the time. She has chosen to be human, and she cares for her friends – but she sure can get an evil look. Her power could easily have been much too much but manages to limit itself – she makes things by naming them. If she says ‘machine gun’, she gets one – and, apparently, she can then control what she makes by speaking as well, allowing her too – to use one example – summon about fifteen machine guns and set them all off at once. That’s when that evil look comes out. The only other supporting cast really worth mentioning are the local gods – a trio consisting of one shota and two mid-twenties appearing women. Of course, they are all immortals, and their appearance is for kicks, or so one assumes – certainly their real age does not match. The shota is a bit of a perv, but he’s so old fashioned about it it’s more quaint and comic than anything else. One of the women I’m blanking on so she must not have done much…but the third is interesting all right. Dressed as a nun and carrying two magical katanas, she has a very hard time following the ‘hands off’ rule, constantly chafing at bit, enraged by being forced to observe as things go to hell without doing something. As for the villain…ah, this is delicate. He’s a powerful Yokai named Enjin who wants to unleash the Yokai world onto the town. Apparently the Yokai realm isn’t a very fun place – he doesn’t want to go back, but he’s such a very bad Yokai that there is no question of being allowed citizenhood. So he’s gonna do it the hard way. It’s far more complex than that of course, but you’ll have to find out the rest.

The first five episodes or so switch off between laying grounds for faster paced conflict later on and filler-like one shots that establish and flesh things and people out. As the more patient among us know, these early starts are indeed crucial: they are why you care when all goes to hell. And done skillfully enough, the line is harder to draw – seemingly innocent things interconnect and overlap with sinister suggestion, leaving the point where establishment ends and the plot begins much harder to pin down. Yozakura Quartet achieves this higher level, smoothly intermixing the two from episode one, and the one shot aspects themselves are honestly enjoyable and appealing, achieving their goal of making you care about the characters. Even later on, when the plot is fully in motion, there are moments that unquestionably exist simply for their own sake – and I would change or remove none of them. It is the seamless way in which the cast blends and interacts that is this anime’s most unique and compelling feature. Things hit the point of no return at the end of episode seven: everything is not non-stop battle but the carefree moments are over. The tensions and dilemmas mentioned earlier are brought into focus, highlighted and propelled by events as the efforts of Enjin cause turmoil, and the town itself grapples to find the best approach. Hime, especially, is interesting here, and ends up becoming even more of a focus than Akina – she’s so young and inexperienced, but she is the Mayor, and this is her town. Her emotional journey as she learns what is and is not required of her, and what she truly can and cannot do, versus what she would like to be able to do, is played simple but true, and so is a genuine, if not particularly mind-blowing, success. It bears mentioning that we are given some amount of explanation as to why someone like her is Mayor, which helps things enormously. The unity of the cast shows throughout: they are all, always, in the action, each one essential and playing their role. There is at least one sub-thread that concludes nicely, if predictably – the capitulation of the villain strains credulity a bit. Overall, however, I was very satisfied with the climax and the aftermath. This, in the end, despite all, a ‘feel good’ anime, with a feel good ending, despite not taking the soft route at the end.

Characters that would not be very special alone but together are a pleasure to be with, quite decent action when it comes to it, and a plot and emotional storylines that take the uncluttered route to success, make this anime good enough to go out of your way to try. And that’s my idea of a four out of five.

Final Rating: 4/5

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.

EDITx2 by Riogi!

-Detroit Metal City (last 2 episodes),
-Hetalia Axis Powers (second season and missing season 1);
-Kanamemo (11 to 13);

Fixed into the donors section ^_^

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