Persona 3 The Movie: 1 Spring of Birth

CREDITS: 2013 Atlus, AIC ASTA, Aniplex
DIRECTOR: Noriaki Akitaya
WRITER: Jun Kumagai
MUSIC: Shōji Meguro
PRODUCERS: Akira Ishida, Megumi Toyoguchi, Kōsuke Toriumi, Rie Tanaka, Hikaru Midorikawa, Mamiko Noto, Kazuya Nakai, Isamu Tanonaka, Miyuki Sawashiro

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Amazon.com Description:
"If I told you that there's more than 24 hours in a day, would you believe me?"

"The Dark Hour:" the time which exists between each day. During those hours, the town stands still, the people are transformed into mere objects, and countless monsters called "Shadows" run rampant through the town. Only the Personas, beings with special powers, are able to combat these creatures. Makoto Yuki, a transfer student at Gekkoukan High School, is suddenly awakened with the powers to control a Persona. Yuki is recruited to join other Persona summoners of his school in the "Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad." As they continue to investigate the situations surrounding the Dark Hours, they all come face to face with their shocking fate...

Running Time: 91 minutes

Better if you've played the game. >>> by skysenshi

I have to admit that of all the Persona games I've played, Persona 3 is what I liked least. I saw the game as a transition from the darkness of the first three titles in the series and into the fun lightheartedness of the fourth.

But if there's one thing you will remember from Persona 3, it will always be the supporting characters. For me, specifically, it would be sophisticated and intelligent Mitsuru Kirijo and the boxer Akihiko Sanada.



I had no love for the silent protagonist, Makoto Yuki, so I was very detached from him when I finished the game. Heck, I even forgot the game's ending. To this movie's credit, Makoto's development as a character could actually be felt. He starts off seeming like a sociopath but then gradually develops a personality as he interacts with the other characters.



The women, Mitsuru and Yukari Takeba, are as fierce as they had been portrayed in the game. And Akihiko...well, I wish I could see more of him. The problem I noticed while watching Spring of Birth was that the events flow too fast. I appreciated that it reminded me of many game scenarios that I had forgotten but there were also some really fun aspects of the game that weren't shown due to the limited time. I wish they had turned this into a series, like Persona 4: The Animation, but I can also see that they might have problems keeping it as accurate as possible.



As usual, I have no complaints about the music. Yay for Shōji Meguro! If there's one thing that's constant throughout the Persona games, it would always be my appreciation for their soundtracks. I'm glad to see that they're utilizing the music to its fullest in the movies as well.

The visuals are also beautiful! Without so many words, the film visually conveyed the darkness that surrounded Makoto's environment and Makoto himself.



I haven't seen the second movie and I'm wondering how they're going to pull off the entire story with just three installations. I hope they slow down the pace a bit. (Which was exactly the opposite of my complaint about Persona: Trinity Soul, a spin-off non-canon series based on Persona 3, but that's for another review.) I was also disappointed that Makoto was the protagonist, actually. Yes, he is the canon main character, but his female version, for me, had better gameplay and story experience. She has a personality, too, and it showed despite her silence. It would have been more interesting to have her as the protagonist.

I can't say much else, except that it's a good addition to your gameplay experience. Again, a rarity in movie/TV adaptations of video games. That's the thing, though. I felt that the Spring of Birth would be incoherent to someone who has not played the game. It's just too fast-paced and have little time for character development. So game first, movie after.

Individual Rating: Art 10; Story 7; Characters 10; Sounds 10

Persona 4: The Animation

GENRE: Mystery, Comedy, Adventure, Slice of Life
CREDITS: 2011 Madman Entertainment, Sentai Filmworks, Kazé
DIRECTOR: Seiji Kishi
WRITERS: Yūko Kakihara, Mitsutaka Hirota, Jun Kumagai
MUSIC: Shōji Meguro

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Game Cover Description:
A rumor is going around school that by looking at a TV screen at 12:00AM on a rainy night, the face of your soulmate will be revealed. But is that all? A chain of murders appears to be connected to the rumor, and you and your team of Persona users must brave the mysterious TV world before another schoolmate dies.
25 episodes + 1 OVA (true ending)

Great addition to your gaming experience. >>> by skysenshi
I started watching this series when I embarked on my second run through Persona 4 on the PS2 (New Game+), so I was watching it every time I needed my mind to rest from all the excitement of playing. There were times when I'd get confused about where I was in the anime because of where I was in the game, but I found that the anime enhanced much of my gaming experience. They were in complete parallel.

For one thing, your protagonist in the game is a silent character. In the anime, he has this deadpan expression while still making the most hilarious choices. I found myself laughing at the hilarity of the situations, much more than I did in the game. Without giving away spoilers for those who haven't played the game or seen the anime, let's just say that this is one protagonist who has no gender issues. Persona 4 the game is known for handling many gender identity issues and these were addressed pretty well in the anime, too. Especially when the protagonist here seems to have chosen the queer and quirky options that were presented in the game.

Yu Narukami and starting persona Izanagi

The protagonist, whose name here is Yu Narukami, appears to be an extrovert who is afraid of being alone. If it weren't for the gameplay, which forces you to make friends with all sorts of people, I wouldn't have pegged him for one. But here is where I thought the anime was better: the amount of time it took for him to max social link (relationship) levels. I also think that in some way, the situations and complex relationships were explained more clearly in the anime.

The art isn't as pretty as the game's (this is VERY noticeable), however, the range of emotions displayed by the animated characters more than made up for it. The scenes that made me cry in the game, they were heavier for me in the anime. Ditto for the comical situations. I also appreciated seeing the sides of many of the other characters that I didn't see in the game because I never got to max their social links. Well, actually, I only didn't max one because I ran out of time, and that was the spoiled brat Ai Ebihara's, whom I find more endearing in this series. I did notice something that wasn't too defined in the game for me: Chie and Yukiko are best friends but they're too attached to each other here...and Yosuke and Yu look like they have some sort of a bromance going on. I'm happy to see Kanji spending more time with the person of his affections.

Oh, one other thing I noticed is how un-narcissistic the battle scenes here are. In many shoujo anime I've seen, specifically Sailormoon, it's like the focus is solely on the protagonist. Not so with this. Yu takes a backseat many times even if his friends are willing to lay down their lives for him. Come to think of it, many scenes that the protagonist did in the game alone were actually shared or even done by other characters in this anime.

The best part is that the music was done by Shōji Meguro, the same person responsible for the game music. Many of our beloved Persona 4 tracks can be found here (like Never More), as well as new ones specifically made for the anime, of course. I can't believe that this is the only Persona title that has made me feel so good about finishing a game. Incidentally, I finished the True Ending of the game and the last two episodes of this series (including OVA) on the same day. I think it's the reason why I feel that I've accomplished a lot even though I was only rewarding myself after a hard day's work.

To be honest, it's rare for me to see satisfying anime adaptations of video game titles. More often than not, they don't capture the spirit of the games they were based on. Not so with this. Persona 4 is an role-playing/social simulation game, which I think made it ripe for an adaptation. It's usually the story-driven visual novels, like Kanon, that successfully crossover into another medium.

Good job, Team Persona!

Looking forward to seeing the Persona 3 anime movie after the positive experience I've had with this! =^.^=

Individual Rating: Art 7; Story 10; Characters 10; Sounds 10

Psycho-Pass

Genre: Cyberpunk, Sci-Fi, Mystery
2012 Naoyoshi Shiotani (director), Takeshi Wada (producer), Production I.G

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skysenshi's Description:
In a futuristic world, everyone's psychological well-being is recorded and managed by a computerized entity known as the Sybil System. People are evaluated based on their psycho-pass, which indicates their mental states. Careers are decided this way. Criminals are also judged this way. The protagonist, Akane Tsunemori, is a newbie Inspector of the Public Safety Bureau's Criminal Investigation Division. This anime series follows her team's exploits as they uncover one murder case after another.

(22 episodes)

Spin-off please!!! >>> by skysenshi
I don't even know where to begin when it comes to an amazing anime title like Psycho-Pass. At first, I had misgivings, thinking that this could be Minority Report meets Death Note. Thank goodness it didn't become as convoluted as the latter. I remember wishing that Death Note would end by the 13th or so episode and I thought I'd be wishing the same thing for Psycho-Pass but by gawd! Twenty-two episodes is not nearly enough to give me closure.

The characters are interesting: You have Akane Tsunemori, who has a very stable mental state that she'd still have the perfect hue (color measurement of her psycho-pass) even when she's stressed. Then there are her "enforcers", the most astute of them is Shinya Kogami, who uncovers the patterns that connect their murder cases. Enforcers are an inspector's assistants. They have clouded psycho-passes and are already considered latent criminals even though they haven't done anything wrong yet (much like in Minority Report). The only reason enforcers aren't judged is that they understand criminal thinking and they implement tasks that are deemed too harmful to an inspector's mental condition.

In a society that is deemed perfect by the Sibyl System, it is noticeable how fragile the characters are. This is what gives this anime its flavor. The world woven in this anime is a world unused to stress and yet relationships are explored in such a way that makes stress mismanagement an inevitable outcome.

It is also a world where a viewer can question his/her own goals in life and the amount of free will he/she exerts over them. At a certain point, there are discussions of existentialism and theories of identity abound. Heck, a criminal mastermind even cites Foucault!

If there is one thing that I have consistently felt while viewing the entire series, it's that I probably would not go out of the house if I lived in this reality. The psycho-pass scanners would go berserk upon reading my possibly very cloudy mental state. I also cannot find myself living with regulated art, no university professors to explore new innovations with (my guess is that people join the work force directly after high school because the Sybil System already picked the perfect careers to match their aptitudes), genetically modified food, and complete isolation from the rest of Earth. Yoikes.

If a medium makes one think about the meaning of one's life choices and the purpose of one's existence, then that medium is worth experiencing. Because of this, I highly recommend Psycho-Pass.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 10; Characters 9; Sounds 9

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

GENRE: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
CREDITS: 2011 Hiroyuki Imaishi, Aniplex, GAINAX, Konami

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Cover Description:
In his sky-less cavern of a village Simon toils daily, drilling holes to expand his stifling little world until one day he makes an extraordinary discovery, a small glowing drill-bit and the man-sized mecha it activates. Before he can give it a second thought Simon is dragged into a plot to break through to the surface by the local gang leader Kamina, only to have the ceiling come crashing down on top of them under the weight of a giant monster! It somehow falls onto the boisterous Kamina and the cowardly Simon to defend their village but once they defeat the monster what awaits the duo on the surface world? Get ready for buxom babes, beastmen, and giant mecha as only GAINAX can provide them! BUST THROUGH THE HEAVENS WITH YOUR SOUL, GURREN LAGANN!

Who Knew That Drills Could Be So Cool?. >>> by Razaele (originally written and uploaded 11.21.2011 18.25)

I remember the first time I heard about this anime. A friend had recommended it to me, and while I do enjoy mecha-themed anime as much as next guy, the chibi mecha with the exposed brain featured on the front cover told me that this probably wouldn’t have been my cup of tea.
I had faith though, so I sat down, ordered some food from a well-known fast food establishment that features a creepy clown as its primary mascot, and prepared myself for some good ol’ fashioned giant robot action. The first three episodes were a pleasant surprise, as I found myself liking where the story was going. In typical Gainax fashion, the story features a young boy named Simon, who is suddenly forced to pilot the strange mecha featured in the picture above. Also in typical Gainax fashion, a well-endowed, scantily-clad young lady named Yoko joins in.

All this is pretty standard stuff, but the character who really got my attention was the loud-mouthed leader of the Gurren-Dan named Kamina. I swear this guy can inspire the pants off of anyone.

Then I hit episode 4, wherein the anime suddenly took a turn for the comedic. I was massively turned off by this as the first few episodes had me thinking that the anime was going to become an epic of immeasurable proportions. I mean come on, the first few seconds of the show featured a gigantic robot-battleship blasting away at masses of unknown enemies. Still, at the urging of my friend I trudged on. A few more episodes of light-hearted laughs later, the story punched me in the face with one of the most unexpected events that I have ever encountered in anime. The show had shifted gears so fast that I was left reeling in my seat. After that, I was completely hooked.

From episode 8 onwards, the show becomes a fast-paced adrenaline rush filled with copious amounts of passion, explosions, and testosterone. For the first time in my life, I found myself brought to tears (manly ones) because of sheer AWESOME and the occasional bit of drama.

Rest assured that I am not exaggerating. This anime had moments SO INCREDIBLY MIND-BLOWING THAT I FELT THAT I WAS GOING TO EXPLODE BECAUSE OF THE MINIATURE SUN THAT HAD BECOME MY SOUL. OK, IM GOING TO STOP TYPING IN ALL CAPS NOW.

The growth of the scope and proportion of the series boggles the mind as well, with an arms race that puts everything that I've encountered up to this point to shame. I don’t want to spoil anything about the anime, so let me just say that the space battle in the beginning of the show is nothing compared to what you’ll find near the ending.

And it’s not just the over-the-top action and manliness that made this anime to be what I deem as one of the best out there. The story that unfolds during the course of the series is top-notch, rife with character development and rich back stories. The story mainly focuses on Simon and his exploits, but if you pay close enough attention you’ll find that all the characters around him grow along with him.

Even the baddies that they encounter throughout the series were thoroughly researched and well-thought of. (Although seriously, don’t Google anything that concerns this anime until you finish it. The Internet is full of spoilers that will absolutely ruin your experience.) Their angle has a bit of science tied in with the Gurren Lagann mythos, but I highly recommend reading up on them.

The soundtrack is also a large part of the experience. Throughout the series, the big events are all accompanied by songs that set the tempo of the events, all of which made every moment perfect. The OST of this series remains as one of my absolute favorites mainly because the feelings conveyed by the show can be found in the songs as well.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an adrenaline-pumping, tear-jerking show filled with soul. I cannot fully express with words what this anime made me feel, but I can safely say that after watching it, everything else that I have experienced afterwards pales in comparison. If you still think I’m exaggerating, you can look up the meaning of the title of the show. (Again, don’t Google anything about the show before finishing it. I mean it. You’ll thank me for it later.)

Literally translated, the title means Heaven-Piercing Crimson Face. Holy crap.
Why aren’t you watching Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann yet? Go!!

The Wallflower (Perfect Girl Evolution - Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge)

2000 Tomoko Hayakawa, Kodansha
Shinichi Watanabe (director), Nippon Animation, TV Tokyo, TV Aichi

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Cover Description:
After years of sponging off a fabulously wealthy older woman, four ridiculously beautiful boys are confronted with the most horrifying challenge ever: use their bishi skills to turn their benefactor's socially challenged niece into a beautiful young lady or start paying rent! And this isn't just any ugly duckling they're facing; she's a psycho, paranoid, neurotic horror movie obsessed goth chick with a fetish for anatomical dummies, bad skin and a total ignorance of all things feminine! (And those are her better points!) But hey, rent's expensive and job openings for pretty boys are scarce, so our poor heroes are going to have to suck it up and attempt the ultimate combined exorcism/spa/makeover from hell! It's a Queer Eye FTSG of doom as the infamous Nabeshin unleashes The Wallflower!

Takes a while to get used to. >>> by skysenshi
I'm currently reading the manga and since that isn't finished yet, I opted to see the anime and review it first. For manga fans out there, I must warn you that the anime takes some getting used to. One of my former students wanted to cover my eyes when she found out that I was about to plop the anime into the DVD. She cried, "Noooooo! You mustn't see those fish lips!!"

Actually, the artwork, despite its crude animation, is very faithful to the manga. I think what nearly destroyed the atmosphere in the anime is the coloring. I suppose the men's lips shouldn't have been colored pink. It made them look gay and destroyed every fangirl's fantasy. (On the other hand, yaoi fans would probably enjoy making alternate universe fanfics outta these.) What's important to me, however, is that it managed to capture the heroine's creepiness perfectly well.

I did wonder how the anime would be able to catch the essence of the manga, seeing as the comic book version is taking quite some time to end while the animated version only has 25 episodes. They had to make a few adjustments, like who said or did what and what events triggered another series of disasters. I kept noticing slight differences, although the main storyline hasn't been drastically altered.

Halfway through the series, this version begins to veer away from the manga. It's a little bit more organized chronologically, since the manga's timeline seems to loop (i.e. celebrating Halloween and Christmas three times while the characters remain to be 15 years of age). New scenarios are introduced halfway through and I actually appreciated that.

Anyway, I've been yakking all this time about the difference between the anime and the manga when I haven't even begun to discuss what The Wallflower is all about.

You have a creepy girl named Sunako, who becomes the personal project of four gorgeous boys. Sunako's aunt orders them to turn her into a lady and in return, they get free rent. Unfortunately, Sunako would rather spend time in the "dark", with her horror movies and horror paraphernalia, and she finds herself annoyed with the boys' "brightness". She calls them "Creatures of the Light" and tries (but fails) to keep away from them. The results are simply hilarious.

One would expect this to be typically shoujo but it's not. In the manga, I keep expecting things to turn out one way, in accordance with shoujo formula, but things end up completely in the opposite direction. The anime is no different, although I noticed they romanticized many aspects somewhat.

Here is one of the instances wherein the boys try to dress the house up so that Sunako would be forced to wear a dress. (In the manga, she frequently wears a gothic Lolita outfit so that wasn't a problem.)

The thing about Sunako that got me really interested is that despite failing at being a "lady", she makes the perfect housewife. She cooks and cleans so meticulously; the boys shortly realize that they cannot survive without her.

As for relationships, the anime seems to have gone through them in such a swift manner. I don't know, I didn't feel the development at all. For instance, I've actually rooted for pretty girl Noi, who initially harbored unrequited feelings for the bookish Takenaga (the black haired shounen in the first huge screenshot). Their relationship was carefully developed in the manga, which is somewhat taken for granted in the anime. Cute Yuki's own love life, on the other hand, has been completely scrapped in this version.

Then there's the issue of Sunako and Kyouhei's complex love-hate-indifferent attitude towards each other.

There were episodes here that displayed Sunako's possibly romantic feelings for Kyouhei when in the manga, those feelings are largely unexplored. I have no idea if that's good or bad because I actually like the manga Sunako's indifference towards anything that didn't look like it came from a suspense thriller.

Still, it was a good idea to create a fork that delineates the difference between the two mediums. That helped me deal with my initial disapproval.

As for the music? Author Tomoko Hayakawa is reportedly a fan of J-Rock idol Kiyoharu, which is why his songs are featured as opening and closing themes. I enjoy the opening and ending animations, especially since they feature Sunako's "dark" friends (which can be kinda creepy, depending on your mood).

Overall, I think the creators did a good job, but I wish this had been longer. I know there were many times that I complained about some titles going beyond 13 episodes, but this is not one of those. The Wallflower actually deserves a longer series, complete with seasons and specials. The mangaka's original characterizations seriously need to be fleshed out in this format.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 7; Story 7; Characters 9; Sounds 9

Gokusen Anime

Genre: Shoujo, Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life
2004 Kozueko Morimoto (mangaka), Yasuko Kobayashi (screenplay), Masami Sato (director), Madhouse Studios, NTV, VAP.

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Amazon.com Product Description:
Kumiko Yamaguchi is the heir of the Oedo Yakuza family, but it's her dream to teach the youth of Japan. She puts aside her yakuza cunning and takes up the role of a normal air-headed graduate, landing a high-school teaching job. Now Kumiko is determined to understand the teen-age mind, teach higher math and maybe carry on a little romance. Of course, there’s always the danger of her slavishly loyal army of brutal hit men murdering the students who misbehave.

(13 episodes)

More! More! More!>>> by skysenshi
Everything I wrote in my review of Gokusen's manga version still rings true with this one. Needless to say, I have a long-standing love affair with this series, whether it be with the comics, live-action (only for the first season) and now with this.

I actually had to check how old the anime TV version was, just to see how far into the manga this would go. I'd say it's halfway through. What I like about the animated version is that it highlighted many of the manga's interesting parts without needing to be 100% faithful. There are slight alterations in terms of plot -- some episodes intertwine instances that were not even close to each other when it comes to manga chronology -- but I actually liked how these are done because they still somehow remain true to how the original story runs. It even hints at the Shin-Kumiko-Shinohara love angle, which had only been touched at the end credits of the live-action series. Great storytelling job right there!

I'd like to watch more of this, onegai!

I really hope they animate the last half of the manga, including the specials, because those were the parts that have really accelerated in terms of entertainment value. I wouldn't mind seeing anime movies done for Gokusen. Really.

Please?

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 8; Story 10; Characters 10; Sounds 10

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

GENRE: Adventure, Romance, Drama
Parental Guidance Recommended
2006 Yasutaka Tsutsui (author), Mamoru Hosoda (director), Satoko Okudera (screenplay), Kiyoshi Yoshida (scoring), Madhouse Studios, Fuji TV, Kadokawa Shoten

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Amazon.Com Description:
Something strange has happened to Makoto Konno. Time has suddenly stopped and moved her backwards. With her newly discovered ability to literally leap backwards in time Makoto finds that tests become a piece of cake, embarrassing situations are corrected and she can have her favorite food anytime she wants. Unfortunately her carefree time traveling has adverse effects on the people she cares for. With every successful leap Makoto somehow alters the fate of those around her. This was not supposed to happen and as she races back in time to fix everything, she notices that her abilities are not limitless but with every successful jump she is one step closer to discovering the most wonderful secret in her young adult life.

Time travel stories are tricky. >>> by skysenshi
For a high school thing, the pacing is really slow. I wonder if this would appeal to our information desensitized teenagers who are so used to getting everything instantly.

As the story progresses, Makoto's life gets interesting. Although I don't really want to be in her shoes. It's hella confusing, not to mention, she always ends up getting physically hurt since she just pops in the middle of things. It later becomes evident, however, how an impulsive teenage girl can abuse the ability to leap through time. There are a lot of situations to undo. But you cannot actually have a reset button without repercussions, neh?

I like the way the mystery unravels near the end of the anime despite my problems with plot holes. Like many time travel stories, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time opens so many paradoxes that plot holes can hardly be avoided. I appreciate the storytelling though. Despite having only three pivotal characters, these three are very effective in delivering highly inspiring scenarios. Furthermore, it weaves a good moral lesson without getting preachy.

I wish someone from my circle of friends had watched this. I so want to discuss the paradoxes herein. Truly, this is an interesting piece for long conversations.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 8; Characters 9; Sounds 9

Blade of the Immortal

Genre: Martial Arts/Jidai Geki
Parental Guidance Recommended
2008 Hiroaki Samura (author), Koichi Mashimo (director), Asano Dojo Fukkokai, Bee Train, Production I.G

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Edited Manga Cover Description:
Manji was a master swordsman who assassinated his own corrupted lord. Granted immortality by the 800-year old traveler Yaobikuni, Manji made a deal: he will slay one thousand evil men in exchange for the release of death...

He stumbles upon Rin, the daughter of Asano, head of the Mutenichi-ryu dojo. Both of her parents were murdered by Anotsu and his followers. Now Rin has enlisted Manji's aid to avenge her parents' death...

(13 episodes)

Assassin of the Day. >>> by skysenshi
I have never read the manga, but my siblings -- both Thundersenshi and Darth Paul -- gave it rave reviews. I can imagine that translating it from one medium to another, considering the differences in both the conceptual and design process involved, would entail a lot of modifications. But I'm not going to delve too deeply into that since I haven't encountered it in its original form.

Blade of the Immortal is very violent. As in, blood-out-of-everyone's-guts-and-brains kind of violent. Nevertheless, like many interesting samurai tales out there, the telling is very rich in history. The kind that would keep you watching because you want to find out more about the characters' backgrounds. That's the thing. The manga version is more intricate, more detailed, and obviously more substantial. How they managed to slap all that into a 13-episode series brought up a lot of questions in my head. True enough, my sister confirmed that they cut off many of the interesting subplots.

All these resulted in an anime that featured monster-of-the-day themes. In this case, it's assassin-of-the-day. Manji deals with one killer after another in an almost random fashion even though his only purpose for the entire run is helping Rin get her hands on her parents' murderer. I don't necessarily get why Anotsu's followers keep wanting the duo's heads when Anotsu himself appears to be apathetic. The ending also doesn't seem to be able to bring any closure, though strangely enough, I felt that it was apt. The only thing missing is closure for Manji himself.

I had just read my sister's old review of the manga and it seems like her complaint about the women looking too much alike has been solved. The women in this anime are very distinct. The artwork and animation are likewise still beautifully done.

The Blade of the Immortal series is not so bad but I'm guessing many of the die-hard manga fans might not be too happy about this.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 10; Story 7; Characters 8; Sounds 9

Bleach Movie 2: The Diamond Dust Rebellion

Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Supernatural
Parental Guidance Recommended
2007 Kubotite (mangaka), Noriyuki Abe (director), Aniplex, Bandai Co., Ltd., Dentsu Inc., Sega, Shueisha, Sony Computer Entertainment, Studio Pierrot, TOHO, TV Tokyo

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Cover Description:
When a caravan transporting the King’s Seal is attacked, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Squad 10 are on the ready. As they prepare to protect the treasure that holds immeasurable power, Hitsugaya suddenly abandons the scene alongside the thieves and becomes one of the accused. In response, the Soul Society calls for his capture and execution. Upon hearing the edict, Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki is immediately suspicious and determined to uncover the facts. But when Hitsugaya refuses to defend his actions and fights against his comrades, it seems his fate is all but sealed. Can Ichigo uncover Hitsugaya’s motives before they destroy his honor, his life, and the Soul Society?

Finally! The captains take action and Hitsugaya is at the helm! >>> by skysenshi
I don't know if the Gods of Bleach were listening because I complained about Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody (when everyone else was raving about it), but I sure as heck am happy with this.

Here, Hitsugaya takes center stage -- without Ichigo relinquishing the protagonist role -- as he deals with his past. I'm particularly fond of Hitsugaya. I always find myself feeling sorry for him whenever he's made to look like a sissy in some of the episodes (bankai too easily beaten). I thought I was the only one who noticed (since I do have a soft spot for underdogs), but it looks like the makers did, too. This is a reprieve from all that.

Ahhh...I missed the goosebumps-inducing action. I had forgotten how well this anime reels you in with copious amounts of these. There's also an RPG-esque moment wherein everyone literally adventures his or her way into the heart of the main antagonist. Sure, everyone is all fired up and totally giving his or her all into the battle but that's what a popular animated series' movie should be all about. In my case, at least, I don't want an extended filler episode. Everything in a Bleach movie should be of epic proportions. The Diamond Dust Rebellion did not disappoint.

As with all Soul Society foci, the theme here is: "Obey. You cannot defy the law." Moral issues abound and it's interesting how this little package wraps things up. Although...it makes me wonder how come the Soul Society doesn't seem to learn its lesson from the multiple times their illogical rules have consistently resulted in tragedies. I think, as with may religious organizations, it needs reforms.

Hm. That's quite a thought to ponder on. I have said it before and I'll say it again, all these things make Bleach an interesting topic over a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 9; Characters 10; Sounds 8

Ocean Waves

Genre: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
General Audience
1993 Saeko Himuro (novelist), Tomomi Mochizuki (director), Atsushi Okui (director of photography) Studio Ghibli

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A wonderful story from Japanese novelist Saeko Himuro and Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli, this is the painful story of growing up in a rural high school in Kochi Prefecture, on the Japanese island of Shikoku. In the summer of his 17th year, Taku Morisaki is making preparations for college when Rikako Muto transfers into his class. A mysterious and sometimes difficult city girl who has trouble getting along with others in the school, Rikako nevertheless slowly captures the interest of Taku. A beautiful movie based on a Japanese novel that captures a painful and melancholy moment in the lives of two people growing up in modern Japan.

The DVD release features two discs, one with the full feature in wide screen format, with optional English subtitles. The second disc features the film told through the original storyboards, a real treat for fans of Japanese animation, as well as a 50 minute feature looking back on the creation of the movie, and promotional trailers. Directed by Here is Greenwood and Orange Road Movie director Tomomi Mochizuki.

Nostalgic. >>> by skysenshi
Note that the novelist, Saeko Himuro, died of lung cancer on June 6, 2008. She was an essayist and playwright, but was best known for Ocean Waves (the Japanese title of her novel is Umi Ga Kikoeru or I Can Hear The Sea). This feature, considered as one of Studio Ghibli's more obscure anime, is rarely seen outside of Japan and it was never before released in the UK. The credits are pretty impressive, as director Tomomi Mochizuki is also known for his work in Princess Nine.

Like all other Ghibli presentations, I've encountered problems when choosing screenshots from so many wonderful frames. With Ocean Waves, I had a hard time picking one that is appropriate to the standard Otaku Fridge screenshot size. Many of the frames are rife with beautiful wide shots. Wide high angle frame shots, to be exact.

This title is setting heavy and environment-driven, making me wonder how the novel was written. Did these frames come from how Himuro visualized her characters' environment, the way Victor Hugo would take pains describing the Cathedral of Notré Dame? Or were these the idea of the director or director of photography? I'm taking note of the DOP, Atsushi Okui. Beautiful work! The composition is top notch. Of course, this is a Studio Ghibli production so you can be assured of painstaking labor when it comes to artistry. (Because it's really so much cheaper to do close-ups and just make the lips or eyes move instead of exquisitely detailing every aspect of the setting.)

In terms of story, Ocean Waves had a slow beginning. I even got confused in the middle of it, mistaking it for some sort of a bizarre love triangle. The boys Yutaka and Taku seem to care for each other so deeply that I wasn't too sure if they were going to end up fighting for the same girl or have that girl, Rikako, come between them. This, however, is a very simple story about adolescent turmoil. The plot is pretty common -- no complex, blow-your-brains-out twists to be expected here -- but the treatment is signature Ghibli.

The character designs are really how I remember old Ghibli characters to look like...not very pretty but packed with a whole lot of substance. (Rikako stood out because she's the only one with long black hair, though.) While I couldn't relate at first -- majority of it was about the characters' high school story, anyway -- it reminded me of the times I had been young, misunderstood and isolated. Ocean Waves came out in the ninenties...I was in the pre-adolescent stage at that time. Had I seen this back then, the ironies herein would just have flown over my head, so self-absorbed was I in my angst (kids call it "emo" these days).

Even though Taku narrates, there's not much dialogue going on. Everything's implied. I haven't been encountering these types of anime lately, subtlety from the script down to the visual components. Recent anime titles are now all about flash (I'm not talking about the Adobe product) and visual pizazz. Watching Ocean Waves is a reminder of how animation used to have concepts that effectively balanced visual art and literature. This makes every element in the movie -- and the resulting whole -- rich in symbolism. I miss that.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 9; Characters 9; Sounds 8

Bleach Movie 1: Memories of Nobody

Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Supernatural
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 2006 Kubotite, Noriyuki Abe

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After unidentified beings known as "Blanks" start popping up, they are soon followed by a Soul Reaper named Senna who makes them disappear. Puzzled by these unknown beings and the even more mysterious girl, Ichigo and Rukia set out to learn more, but uncover an evil plot when a menacing clan tries to kidnap Senna. Banished from the Soul Society long ago, the clan's leader is sending the World of the Living and the Soul Society on a collision course, and Senna seems to be the key to his diabolical plot for revenge. Can Ichigo and his fellow Soul Reapers save the two worlds from annihilation?

Disc 2 Special Features Include:
* Inside Bleach The Movie
* Japanese Production Interviews
* US Theatrical Trailer
* Original Japanese Trailers
Also included: Original Japanese Movie Booklet (translated version)


Would sometimes feel like a filler episode. >>> by skysenshi
Fair warning for those who want an introduction to Bleach: this is not a movie you pick up without watching the series first. So I'll go ahead and assume that if you're reading this, you've already been immersed in the series and I don't have to copy-paste from my review of it.

I think there is something seriously wrong with me when a character that everybody seems to love (as evident in at least 16 out of 19 reviews I've read) isn't really doing much for me entertainment-wise. I'm talking about Senna, this movie's female protagonist. Senna is everything nice and sweet in a shoujo heroine: charming, talented, beautiful, bewildered and embodies the love-hope-courage triangle. Except this isn't shoujo. Bleach is a shounen title. It's made for -- you nailed it -- people that want lots and lots and lots of action and adventure. Or maybe that's just me, since a lot of guys/boys/men seemed to love Memories of Nobody despite the sap.

I want to see Ichigo and Rukia in battle, not weep with a girl I have not established a connection with. I have tons of shoujo and yaoi manga for those kinds of things so I don't think I need more in my shounen anime as well. Sure, Senna is this highly skilled mysterious Soul Reaper who can chase away aimlessly walking blank souls while walking nearly aimlessly herself. So what? Honestly, if the creators of Bleach wanted to make a really great movie, they could focus on some of the existing characters. You know, the ones that actually appear regularly on the show but we know very little of? This way, they could add value to the existing arcs without messing up the storyline (which, fortunately, Memories of Nobody did not taint).

I also wanted to watch the rest of the Soul Society captains in action. Unfortunately, like many popular series' OAV's and movies, this one suffers from too many character exposure with very little plot to go around. Well, there's a lot of plot, but it only made room for Ichigo and Senna. The rest became virtual handmaidens; again with the shoujo-esque arrangements...

Memories of Nobody isn't such a total waste, however. It's perfect for those who are after new fight sequences, Bankai showcases, and some lovely art and animation -- they get really much more detailed and fluid here. In addition, the music is wonderfully compelling, doing such a good job of highlighting goosebumps-inducing scenes. I suppose the team still did a good job (hey, animation is NOT EASY), even though this has the feel of a long filler episode.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 6; Characters 7; Sounds 9

Nodame Cantabile

Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
General Audience
Credits: 2007 Tomoko Ninomiya, Kenichi Kasai, Asmik-Ace Entertainment, Dentsu Inc., Fuji TV, GENCO, Kodansha, Nodame Cantabile Production Team, Sony Music Entertainment

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Amazon.com Editorial/Product Description:
The son of a famous pianist, music student Shinichi Chiaki dreams of studying abroad and becoming a conductor like his mentor. Unfortunately, his fear of flying grounds his lofty plans! As he watches other classmates achieve what he has always wanted, Shinichi wonders if he should quit music altogether.

Then one day he meets fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame. This oddball girl cannot cook, clean, or even read a music score, but she can play the piano in incomparable Cantabile style. And she teaches Chiaki something that he has forgotten: to enjoy his music, no matter where he is.

(24 episodes as of this writing. Still ongoing.)


This is like the Initial D for Music Enthusiasts >>> by skysenshi (09.08.2009)
I wasn't much impressed with Nodame Cantabile's artwork so I didn't know what to expect when I first started watching it. I was happy, however, with how easy it was to relate to the characters, not just because I came from a family of musicians but also because they were funny, quirky and can generally make fun of themselves.

Like any good anime, the characters are the driving force behind Nodame. The protagonist, Nodame, is...well, filthy. Hehe. I have never seen a character as deliberately unhygienic as her. Who would have thought that she was actually based on a real human being of the same name? Nodame embodies every insecurity and uncertainty that many college students seem to go through when they're not sure about their future. Male protagonist Shinichi Chiaki, on the other hand, is confident, dashing, brilliant. Though it is shoujo manga formula to put these two together in a title, I was actually looking forward to how things would play out for their wacky love-hate relationship (Nodame does all the loving, Chiaki does all the hating even though he ends up looking after her at the end of every episode). There are many other notable supporting characters in Nodame but I wasn't really that keen on remembering their names. I was really just focused on the two leads, which was a surprise since I usually have a favorite in the supporting players.

I suppose we can thank the mangaka, Tomoko Ninomiya, for making sure that Nodame and Chiaki are a balanced set. Shoujo stories are usually just focused on the female hero, but it's not the case here. While Nodame, accustomed to her roguish piano-playing ways, struggles to bridge her unpolished talent and the conventions of classical music, Shinichi is torn between continuing his piano studies -- where he already excels -- and pursuing his dream of becoming a conductor.

What I liked best about this is the research that the mangaka poured into it. I thought that she had an extensive musical background! My sister (who plays the violin) and I (used to do vocals) couldn't get enough of the story, especially since the technical stuff are closely intertwined with the characters' hilarious antics. My sister saw the live-action version, though.

I find the ending a bit anti-climactic, so I went ahead and looked for the manga. I'm still currently reading it and have not even reached the part where the anime ends.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 7; Story 10; Characters 9; Sounds 10

Bleach

Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Supernatural
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 2004 Kubotite, Noriyuki Abe, Dentsu Inc., Studio Pierrot, TV Tokyo

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For as long as he can remember Ichigo Kurosaki has been able to see ghosts. But when he meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who battles evil spirits known as Hollows, he finds his life is changed forever. Now with a newfound wealth of spiritual energy, Ichigo discovers his true calling: to protect the living and the dead from evil.

(190 episodes as of this writing. Still ongoing.)


Bleach is good for bonding moments... >>> by skysenshi (07.19.2008)
Nobody knows exactly why people find Bleach addictive, but it really has become a favorite topic over lunch and coffee breaks. My friends and I usually find ourselves huddled in some remote corner of a café, trying to dissect the inner workings of each of Bleach's numerous characters.

An older colleague would compare this with Dragon Ball: the battles, the cliffhangers, the ever-shifting sides from good to bad and back, the never-ending power increases, the rocks and mountains and hard places. If I were to over-analyze this anime, I would probably say that it has too many characters, too many fillers (sometimes illogically ordered), very little character development, too predictable and formulaic.

Yet I lose sleep because I keep telling myself that it'll be the last episode then it's off to bed...only to violate that promise by plopping the next DVD into the player anyway. The huge circles under my eyes can attest to this fact. Despite all its flaws, the characters are all unique and it's hard not to relate to at least one or two of them. My personal favorites include Yoruichi the black cat, Rukiya the willful but duty-bound Shinigami (Death God) and Urahara the supernatural shopkeeper.

Besides the characters, the action scenes keep you riveted and glued to your seat. At least, that's what it felt like to me. Every season gets more intense as they progress, with the exception of the boring Bounto Arc, which is an entire season of fillers and is in no way related to the manga. It's always exciting to see how Ichigo, the protagonist, would improve. There are so many questions left unanswered, though, which is probably why the anime looks far from over. Since the anime is dealing with death and the transference of souls to Soul Society, one wonders what happens to the souls that die in the other world. Again, another aspect for discussions over coffee.

Fanfiction writers would have a field day over situations, especially when it comes to the cute Omake Scenes. Bleach always provides one after the end credits roll. Sometimes they'd feature the different Shinigami and their shenanigans, sometimes it would be about Urahara's kiddie squad. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), Bleach is thoroughly shounen, so love angles are up to the viewers to decide.

Death Note

Genre: Suspense / Drama / Supernatural
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 2003 Tetsuro Araki, Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ooba, Madhouse Studios, NTV, Shueisha, VAP

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Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail!

(37 episodes)


Death Note and Sailormoon have something in common… >>> by skysenshi (06.04.2008)
Both are addictive despite the gargantuan plot holes.

The story begins with a seemingly innocent straight A student in a seemingly ordinary environment. Light Yagami, 16 years old, picks up a Death God's (Shinigami) notebook lying on the school lawn. Written on it are rules about how to kill people: write their name on any page and they will die of a heart attack in 40 seconds. If the death note owner manages to write a method of death within 40 seconds, he is then given an additional 6 minutes and 40 seconds to discuss the details. At first Light believes that a prank is being pulled. Upon testing it on a petty criminal, however, he quickly fits himself into the role of judge and executioner. He begins murdering high profile criminals, disguised by the moniker Kira, in order to rid the world of evil...

In comes a renowned investigator, who goes by the name of L. At all the world's leaders' behest, he forms a team of investigators intent on uncovering who the mysterious mass murderer is. This hide-and-seek scenario is the entire life of Death Note's premise.

When I first got hold of this title, I wasn't so sure how it could be stretched into over thirty episodes. The rules seemed pretty simple at first. They get complicated with every arc that's added to the series. I found myself engrossed with Light Yagami's obsession -- his creative ways of killing and hiding his tracks. L, however, seriously pursues Light Yagami as he becomes hell bent on proving that Light is Kira. This is when Death Note starts to get ridiculous. There's a vicious damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't cycle that develops so no matter what Light does, L thinks that this proves that he is Kira. (L's thoughts are always filled with, "Ah, if he opens this door, he is Kira because... If he doesn't open this door, he is Kira because..." Or something to that effect.)

Plot holes the size of Jupiter also abound, which is typical of an anime that tries to be overly profound. I don't know if these were just oversights or the creators actually thought we viewers were idiots. It's a shame, though, because Death Note really has very interesting characters. I think this is the reason why it's hard not to do a Death Note marathon. Most of us end up wanting to see how L and Light's symbiotic relationship will progress. We also wait in anticipation for Light to eventually fall in love with his admirer, the gothic Misa Amane. Or watch if he will choose the smart and sexy ex-flame Kiyomi Takada. The Shinigami are even more entertaining than the humans. Devoid as they are of emotional attachments, they still have a lot of eccentricities that walk the thin line between cute and creepy. Ryuk, the main Shinigami, is a manipulative and curious creature that obsesses about apples.

Death Note is actually a great watch. I just wish they had stopped production somewhere around 20-25 or before the inconsistencies became too obvious.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 8; Story 6; Characters 10; Sounds 8

Witchblade

Genre: Action / Supernatural
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: Marc Silvestri, Michael Turner, Yoshimitsu Ohashi, Top Cow Productions Inc., Gonzo, SKY Perfect Well Think Co., Ltd.

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To Kill, To Live, To Love, To Die...

The destiny of the Witchblade continues...

Based on the popular comic book by Top Cow Productions.

Masane Amaha is a woman on the fringe of society, but her strange destiny was written ages past. She has been chosen from the anonymous depths of history, a fresh host for the coveted artifact known as the Witchblade.

The raw power of conquering armies courses through her veins, the taste of death sweet on her lips. Naked aggression with brutal birth in the fires of eternal lust for battle.

Struggling to build a life her daughter, with no memory of the past and no clue as to her future, Masane Amaha will be forever scarred by her salvation...

And many will step forward to see it.

(24 episodes)


Bewitched by the blade… >>> by skysenshi (11.25.2007)
I first saw Witchblade on an online banner advertisement that boasted of an American TV series based on a comic book. I never did get to read the comic book, nor did I get the chance to actually see the TV series. It was a shame because I'm fond of supernatural action flicks. Somebody told me that the TV series sucked, though.

I was quite surprised to find that Gonzo picked it up for animation. I had misgivings at first, thinking that this would be yet another angst-ridden teen vehicle and I've long since outgrown that phase. I am from an older generation of anime fans that often wonder when animators will realize that there's a more mature demographic (READ: the ones with actual money to spend for this hobby) out there. I was not disappointed.

As can be expected of Gonzo, the production values are top notch. One look at the DVD covers is enough to make you gasp in awe. The artwork is nothing short of exquisite and the animation is flawless. A lot can be said of great choreography and fight scenes, too. Witchblade will never let you down when it comes to that aspect.

The true power of this anime, however, is in its character development. Sure, the plot is quite predictable. I had been guessing every step of the way and my guesses have always been correct. (Of course, that can be attributed to the fact that I've seen over a thousand animated titles and nothing these days can be considered original.) Nevertheless, Witchblade has brought me to many various kinds of highs and lows. The mother-daughter tandem of Amaha and Rihoko draw people (and monster machines) from different walks of life. On one hand, they have outrageously merry neighbors that border on eccentric. Watch out for the customary Gonzo swimsuit episode as this is where most of the fun is. On the other hand, they're surrounded by political intrigues and power struggles by vainglorious organizations that wish to seize the infamous Witchblade for their own selfish purposes. Whatever angle the camera is aiming at, whichever company or division you're rooting for, you're bound to find a character that inspires you. You just might find yourself laughing uproariously in one moment, then stifling an anguished sob the next. I, for one, shed buckets of tears over one character, Reina, whose screenshot I wasn't able to take.

The ending is elegantly bittersweet. I don't quite know if it's positive or negative. I'm feeling kind of sad that I've finished the series, the same kind of sadness I've felt over Berserk's conclusion. It does, however, leave a lot of material for fan fiction writers to tinker with.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 9; Story 9; Characters 10; Sounds 8

Cat Returns, The

Genre: Fantasy, All Ages
Credits: 2002 Hiroyuki Morita (director), Aoi Hiiragi (manga author), Studio Ghibli
Executive Producers: Hayao Miyazaki, Hideyuki Takai, Hironori Aihara, Koji Hoshino, Seiichiro Ujiie, Takeyoshi Matsushita, Toshio Miyagawa
Producer: Toshio Suzuki

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From the creators of the Academy Award(R) winning SPIRITED AWAY (Best Animated Feature Film, 2002) comes the visually stunning THE CAT RETURNS, a spectacular animated journey to a world of magic and adventure. Haru, a schoolgirl bored by her ordinary routine, saves the life of an unusual cat, and suddenly her world is transformed beyond anything she ever imagined. The Cat King rewards her good deed with a flurry of presents, including a very shocking proposal of marriage to his son! Haru embarks on an unexpected journey to the Kingdom of Cats where her eyes are opened to a whole other world and her destiny is uncertain. To change her fate, she'll need to learn to believe in herself and appreciate her everyday life. Featuring the sensational voice talents of Anne Hathaway, Cary Elwes, Tim Curry, and Elliot Gould, THE CAT RETURNS is a magical animated adventure that will delight and inspire everyone.


A-meow-zing! >>> by skysenshi (10.27.2007)
Since I just rented this title, I had no idea what The Cat Returns had in store for me...other than that it's another Studio Ghibli production. So it came as a surprise when I found out that this is actually related to Whisper of the Heart. No wonder Muta and Baron looked awfully familiar!

The Cat Returns, however, had a very different feel from all the previous Miyazaki or Ghibli productions that I've seen, which was why I forgave myself for not seeing the connection between this and Whisper of the Heart. The artwork isn't as bright and shiny as Howl's Moving Castle or Spirited Away and the not-so-cute-but-cute-in-a-way heroine is nowhere to be seen. How shall I put it? The colors are lighter, more subdued, and Haru, our protagonist, has a sharper, goofier edge to her. Plus, I've never seen a Ghibli male character -- with the possible exception of Howl -- look as beautiful as Haru's crush.

Now the story's pacing is another thing altogether. Things are fast and slow at the same time. What I mean by this is that, I've been so used to so many events happening in every Ghibli title that you feel like you've really been whisked away. The Cat Returns didn't have the same action-packed turn of events that its predecessors did, but I feel like it all happened so abruptly. You hop from one world to the next, totaling three different worlds, in a snap. In other words: it felt short.

This is not to say that I didn't enjoy this movie. On the contrary, I find it completely fun and entertaining. English dubbing is pretty good. Kudos to the Disney team for making it so. More than that, the characters are a hoot. Haru is a klutz and is always confused. Her mother is playful enough to tease her in the mornings, when Haru wakes up too late to savor breakfast. I remember laughing uproariously as Muta gets into scrapes because of his uncontrollable love for food. His light banter with the crow Toto can be hilarious as well, as these two can utter the most quotable of quotes. The Cat King, on the other hand, is so whacked one would think that he dove into a vat of ionized water. So is that assistant of his, who just handles everything with a permanent smile plastered on his chubby face, disasters notwithstanding.

Ah, but who can forget the Baron von Gikkingen? Is it possible to develop a huge infatuation for a statue that turned into a real, talking cat? Halfway through the anime, I was already crushing on him. He masters the art of coolness. Completely unruffled in the face of danger, he generally makes things look easy. What female heart would not skip a beat? I'm pretty sure some other girls would feel the same way once they see him in action.

Truth be told, though, what got me engrossed is the fact that there are lots of cats here. I love cats, in all shapes and sizes. That the mangaka was able to draw out their many quirks, in many forms, impressed me. Even with a low score of 8 -- since I usually give Ghibli productions 9s or 10s -- I would definitely recommend The Cat Returns. It's just the right amount of absurdity and silliness. We definitely need these once in a while. I only wish the adventure could have gone on a little bit longer.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 8; Story 8; Characters 10; Sounds 7

Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (OAV)

Genre: Action / Mecha
Parental Guidance Recommended
Credits: 1989 Sotsu Agency / Sunrise Inc. / Bandai Entertainment / Takayama Fumihiko

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Shunichi Sakurai's Description (written October 29, 2006):
It is late into the year UC 0079, and the historic One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon is in its closing stages. For 11-year-old Alfred "Al" Izuruha, a resident of the neutral Side 6 colony of Libot, his days at school are filled with him and his friends acting out war games and imagining mobile suit battles. All of a sudden the games become real as a skirmish sparks in their city streets. For Al, a crashed Zeon mobile suit found in the forest brings him closer to his wildest dreams. Little does he know that he embarks on a journey of realization that war isn't all fun and games...

(6 episodes)


The un-Gundam >>> by Shunichi Sakurai (10.29.2006)
This is the very first Gundam OAV mini-series, and it brings us to the unfamiliar premise of watching a schoolboy who isn't even a mobile suit pilot, let alone a Gundam pilot. Running parallel to the final few episodes of the original "Mobile Suit Gundam," "War in the Pocket" places less emphasis on the warring EFSF and Zeon, opting to look at war instead from a civilian point of view -- and what better way to see it than through a child's eyes.

Al's fateful meeting and adventures with rookie Zeon MS pilot Bernie Wiseman are the meat of this series. Like Aina Sahalin of "Gundam: The 08th MS Team," Bernie gives the Zeon people a human quality, even after the brutal attacks that color their history as bad guys. He is a sincere fellow who shows humanity as a brother figure to Al. In the events and people that transpire around them -- Bernie's elite and battle-hardened Cyclops Team; Al's friend and Gundam 'Alex' test pilot Christina Mackenzie; Al's parents and classmates -- it is the bond between Bernie and Al that ultimately brings the soldier out of the young man and an adult out of the schoolboy.

I call this the "un-Gundam" because of two things: its brevity and its almost total disregard for the glamour of robot battles. A typical Gundam TV series will run anywhere from 39-51 episodes and hype the fights to the maximum. "War in the Pocket" is effective precisely because of the absence of these. With all its short airtime, this anime has no problem showing just how brutal war is, and it's convincing in how it states that it's never a simple matter of black vs. white, good vs. bad.

For once, the esoteric Gundam impresario Yoshiyuki Tomino doesn't direct this series. Instead the reins are passed to Takayama Fumihiko, with character designs by Haruhiko Mikimoto of "Macross" and mecha designs by longtime Gundam artist Yutaka Izubuchi. Given that this was aired in 1989, the animation is top-notch. The characters are sketched in a generally softer manner that suits the civilian vibe well. The music matches this too; there are no toe-tapping pop songs here as they make way for what I'd call "muzak" relative to the soundtracks of, say, "Gundam SEED DESTINY." Izubuchi cranks out some pretty nice designs here, such as the MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ, RX-78NT1 Gundam NT-1 'Alex' and the famous MS-18E Kämpfer.

The next time you begin to feel jaded about Gundam, pick up "War in the Pocket." Compared to all its action-packed sister series, it's something slower, more poignant and truly left-field.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 10; Story 9; Characters 8; Sounds 9

Grenadier - The Smiling Senshi

Action, Adventure
Parental Guidance Recommended
2004 Hiroshi Koujina, Grenadier Production Project, Group TAC, Kadokawa Shoten, Toshiba Entertainment

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During the age of Japanese Civil War, the faithful samurai Yajiro Torajima is surrounded by an enemy army. At the last moment, the bountiful Rushuna appears and saves him with a smile... and a high -caliber revolver. She is traveling across Japan in search of a way to bring an end to war. Yajiro and Rushuna challenge countless opponents with his sword and her talent for reloading on the bounce.


Service with a smile! >>> by skysenshi
I'm the type of person who never reads covers when it comes to choosing her anime (I just pick a title from a list then rent immediately), mostly because many cover writers tend to spoil everything. So the first thought that came into my head when I saw the opening credits were, "Blond. Pink dress. Huge breasts. Oh, gawd, I'm going to spend the next twelve episodes with a candy-coated airhead!"

When the protagonist, Rushuna Tendo, whipped out her gun, however, I was hooked. I love the idea of a gun-toting heroine (which was why, despite my complaints about FFX-2, I still loved its battle system). Furthermore, the girl is a master at looking stupid when she's actually not, effectively reminding me of myself. She would smile and try to settle things peacefully -- her mantra being to disarm the enemy's will to fight -- but she turns into this badass strategist when encountering particularly stubborn opponents.

With Rushuna are the samurai Yajiro and the balloon specialist Mikan. Their goal is to spread love, hope and courage throughout the land. Heh. Almost. The Empress sent Rushuna out on a mission to unite the borders by using non-violent methods, a task that a lot of those who believed in power begrudged. Every episode is light-hearted, as Rushuna and the gang meet up with one weirdo after another in their quest to fulfill this. Even with the added tinge of drama in the last few episodes, Grenadier still maintains the feel-good atmosphere that leaves one sated in goofy love-love feelings.

There's one thing that a viewer would notice in this series, though. That would be the amount of fan service. Rushuna has a big...chest, and it's almost always the focus of the camera. Since she wants to look sweet and cheerful, she's always hugging someone -- that involves a lot of scenes with heads placed snugly atop you-know-where. She loves baths and when she's not bathing, her clothes get torn off in battle. I suppose you can already imagine how often fan boys will drool over this one.

I know that there have been issues regarding scantily-clad women in anime, but this title is actually a lot of fun. Yes, the shoujo-esque spiels about hopes and dreams may seem cheesy at times. I would, however, like to congratulate its creators for making it entertaining enough. Heck, I did a marathon on this and this is the first anime in year that I've seen. Not bad for a refresher drive into the fandom.

Individual Rating: Art/Animation 8; Story 8; Characters 9; Sounds 7