First Reaction: Wārudo Torigā aka World Trigger

Osamu Mikumo (far right of the picture) is a high school kid who has joined an agency called Border. This agency protects Mikado City and stops any attacks by Neighbors. Neighbors are what they call monsters that come through portals from an alternate dimension to attack the city for unknown reasons. To fight these monsters, Border agents use something called a Trigger. The origin of Triggers are somewhat secret. Each Trigger is different and of varying strengths depending on the person's inborn Trion level (my first thought was midi-chlorians from star wars). Could be guns, swords, any weapon really. Osamu meets a new transfer student named Yūma Kuga (next to Osamu on the right in the picture). Yuma doesn't know much about how the world works, for a spoiler-ish reason,  and Osamu starts teaching him his view on right and wrong.

A giant silk worm? RUN!

Now, that was quite a bit of jargon they throw at you fairly quick. All of it boils down into your basic shonen. So far through 5 episodes, the show is alright. The characters lack depth and the story isn't very interesting, but I can't really say it's bad. I'd just say it can be boring since the show is highly predictable. Each character takes a role and there is no development from that role. I do have some hope it will get better. I like the fights and am curious about how the show will deal with Yuma when Border learns of his existence. I don't like the use of CGI, since it looks incredibly out of place (I've seen much worse though. 'Tegami Bachi" anyone?), and the characters personalities are incredibly predictable.

I'm ready for my close up

and that face... what does that even mean? Smug? Secretive? I'm a boss? That expression is used everywhere so you have been warned. The op is what I call a "dance party" opening. Something like "A Certain Scientific Railgun" openings. It is techno beats designed to get you pumped for the show. I think it's fine and anytime I hear whoa in an opening I now think of "Log Horizon". That's a good thing...I guess. Take a look for yourself, and thanks for reading.

Best of the Rest: Anime of 2013

A lot of good anime came out in 2013, but what about the rest? Well, that is what I'm here to talk about one last time. Once again I'll look through all of the series' from 2013 and choose one title. This title will be one I think is worth watching, even if it does have major flaws, that you may have missed. That means I won't think it should be considered as one of the best, just the best of the rest. Hard to choose for this particular year...but I'll give it a try. What did I choose for this series finale? Well...

My choice for Best of the Rest  '13 is....

 

Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi aka Sunday Without God

 

Made by Madhouse and directed by Yūji Kumazawa. Past works include "Oda Nobuna no Yabou" aka "The Ambition of Oda Nobuna".

The story is set in a world without death. That means a special person known as a "Gravekeeper" would have to bury you with their fancy shovel. If that didn't happen you would go on "living" no matter how much time went by or what happens to your body. There were also no more births, so the world was in this stagnant state. The story follows the journey of Ai Astin, a young gravekeeper, and Hampnie Hambart, an immortal (not just unburied immortal, but can regenerate injuries kind of immortal) gunslinger. They meet new people along the way as they travel the world with the goal of fulfilling her dream; saving the world from this deathless existence. She gets sidetracked though...a lot.

Now let me just say first, the show has a lot of plot holes and doesn't have a real conclusion. It is a "read the manga" ending to be sure. If I was rating the show on how good it was overall, it would be average at best. So, why did I choose it as something you should see as a "best of the rest"? Well. I'll explain.... First, it has a unique message along with interesting characters. The premise is wonderfully dark and is taken in surprising directions. The direction isn't always the best, and is sometimes needlessly confusing, but it IS interesting. The show covers a few arcs, most of which have a satisfying conclusion, but don't expect any kind of conclusion to Ai's main quest. They do cover why the world got to this point and the origin of Gatekeepers, so that's something. As I said earlier, the plot gets sidetracked often by whatever she comes across. It could be said the journey itself is the plot, like "Kino's Journey", but I think it would have been better to have more sense of progression than a completely new stand-alone arc to follow.
  

This show tries to be different, and succeeds for the most part. It can come off as a bit Moe, okay a lot Moe, at times, and the plot holes are large and obvious. If you can look past those faults, you'll find a memorable anime that can make you think. It has some beautiful artwork and a certain charm that even the best anime sometimes lack. For those reasons, I name it the Best of the Rest 2013...

...Just for the fun of it, I'll mention the other three choices I considered for 2013: Arata: The Legend, Samurai Flamenco, and Outbreak Company. Questions? Comments? Did I pick the wrong anime? Let me know in the comments if you'd like and thanks for reading. Here is the opening if you're interested.

Bad Anime! Top Five Worst Series

Bad anime... often talked about, sometimes ignored, yet rarely forgotten. This list was a tough one to make, but I think I came up with a solid list of awful. The problem was when I find a bad anime, call me crazy, I stop watching it. I've seen every episode of three of my choices, but the last two choices... I just couldn't force myself to keep watching them. Now, there were a few self-imposed rules I set for myself when making this worst anime list. First, I only looked back to series' (at least 10 episodes) made after the year 2000. Anime before that are judged by a different standard, or should be, so I left them off the list. Had to have a cut off point somewhere, so that's mine. Second, I tried to pick a variety of genres. It wouldn't be as fun to make a list of five similar anime I dislike because I dislike their genre. Lastly, I know I'll change my mind given time. I haven't seen everything, not by a long shot, so the chances of my finding an older anime worse than those mentioned is possible. I may even add a widget with my current best and worst anime compared to the general public...hm, not a bad idea...I'll have to add that to the "to do list". Anyways, now that the explanation is out of the way, let's begin with #5.

Worst Anime #5

Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle

This show was a fairly popular Shonen at the time of its release (2005-2007) and still has a decent following today, so it may be a surprise for the list. The manga is still ongoing by the well known artists of Clamp and the animation was done by Bee Train, which split off from Production I.G. The director, Kōichi Mashimo, is best known for his work on ".hack//Sign"

This show is about Syaoran, pronounced Shh-ow-ron, who travels to different parallel worlds in search for feathers. Each feather represents a lost memory from princess Sakura, his love interest, which were scattered at the beginning of the show. Sounds fine right?

Well, if those names sound familiar to you, there is a good reason for that. They both appeared in Cardcaptor Sakura, another clamp offering, with the same names and similar appearances. They get around this by saying all universes are connected, but it just comes off as an excuse to throw all their various characters into the same setting, which they do...shamelessly. It doesn't help that the series is probably 75% filler, and I'm being generous, and don't even get me started on the minute long pauses where they just show a couple characters looking at each other. Every episode has it, and it is ridiculous every time. It's like someone just hit the pause button. The characters are mildly interesting, and I've always liked the Clamp art style, but the overall story... is for lack of a better word, boring. There are some plot twists, but by the time I got through the boring and random story lines of 50+ episodes, I didn't even care. The one thing this Anime has going for it is the music. Yuki Kajura did a great job on the music, as she does with everything she works on honestly, and it is the shows only high point.

Worst Anime #4

Hagure yuusha no estetica aka Aesthetica of a Rogue Hero

The manga is still ongoing. It was made by Arms Corporation, created by people from Studio Pierrot, and directed by Rion Kujô.

The show is about people who are mysteriously and without warning shifted to a fantasy world named Alayzard. Normally, the show would take place in that fantasy world full of swords, magic, and whatnot. No, this is about what happens after they get back to reality, still possessing whatever magic and/or skills learned in Alayzard. The main character Akatsuki Ousawa has just arrived back in reality after beating the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord requested he take care of his daughter as he laid dying, so he brought her with him to his reality. They then proceed to go to school for people who returned from Alayzard, because that's just what you'd expect in an Anime.

Now, where to begin. The show is a harem with mild to extreme ecchi tendencies. That means I am already predisposed to not like it. Doesn't mean I dislike the entire genre, I thought Rosario+Vampire was alright for example, but the ones I like are far and few between. If I had to describe the main character, a Rogue does kind of fit. If that rogue was overpowered and sexually harassed every girl around him. Not uncommon for him to strip clothes or to take undergarments just because he can. It comes off as incredibly creepy, especially since it seems malicious. He likes causing trouble and that, plus the connections between worlds, is what the show mostly deals with. The character personalities aren't unique in the least, and the story is just there to get you to his next "prank". The premise was decent, it reminded me a bit of Maoyu from my first review, but it didn't do anything worth while with it. I remember a lot of talk about the show being overly cruel at times. I even saw someone call him, and I quote, a "maladjusted misogynistic rapist" on ANN(anime news network). I don't think he is as bad as that, this is an anime after all, but certainly worthy of being #4 on my list.

First Reaction: Grisaia no Kajitsu aka The fruit of Grisaia

Well... it's an anime...unfortunately. The premise of the show is Kazami Yuuji, who is the mysterious and stoic protagonist of the story, has a certain issue that can mean trouble for those around him. This issue means he can't have the "normal high school life" he wants. He enrolls in Mihama Academy and tries to be and act normal. The school itself is not your average school. There is only one teacher and five other students, all girls with their own issues, attending the school. The show then proceeds to give backstory about each girl and presumably have the protagonist "save them".

I have seen the first five episodes, and this show is extremely ecchi. Seems like it was probably based off of an eroge to be honest. Main character wins over various girls and that is about it. The show tries to add something psychological to it, and that was why I gave it a shot, but it doesn't work... at all. I can't think of one redeeming quality of the show, since it is just a weak narrative combined with panty shots and censored nudity. While fun for some, it's a complete waste of time for others. It was one of the worst anime I've had the displeasure to see in a while, which is an appropriate segue to my plans for this Saturday.

A picture is worth a thousand words

On Saturday, I will be doing a special post. I will be going through my entire library of anime I've seen and choosing the five worst anime. That's right, "Bad Anime!: Top Five All-time Worst" will be my new post on Saturday... what makes it a special post you ask? Well, I'm not the only one making a top five worst list! A fellow blogger and Anime fan, Salome D at "Tales of a Chocolate Brit"(parental discretion advised), has asked me to join her in making our respective top five worst anime lists. Will our lists be similar or completely different? Whose list will you agree with more? Will you agree with any of our choices at all? Find out this Saturday... and thanks for reading.

Best of the Rest: Anime of 2012

Well, this best of the rest series is coming to a close soon. With the next one being 2013, it will be the last until the 2014 season finishes up. I usually don't get personal in my posts, even though this is technically a blog, but I thought there is a first time for everything. I'll take a moment to explain why I made this particular series of posts, and also to a lesser extent the entire site.

The main reason I decided to try this best of the rest series is simply because I've seen, and enjoy, a wide range of shows. That gives me some perspective when judging if an anime is worth the watch. When I make posts, I usually have no idea if the anime in question is popular or even generally well liked. I would like to think that gives me more objectivity than most, but probably not... let's just say I am objective and leave it at that. Anime fans in general seem to gravitate towards a specific genre or two, like shonen (some popular examples would be Naruto, Bleach, Onepiece, Hunter x Hunter, etc.) for example, and that is perfectly fine. That just isn't me. I didn't start out that way of course. Like most people in my age group, I started with DBZ and Sailor Moon, being the only airing anime in the US, and later Toonami around the age of ten. I've always had a strong imagination, so when I saw anime for the first time it was like someone's imagination in motion. It wasn't life changing, but it was influential in giving me the desire to create something from my own imagination... now that's enough about me... I just realized I'm a person who dislikes talking about themselves who has a blog. Oh the irony lol... anyways,  let's get to the reason for this post. So without further adieu.

My choice for Best of the Rest '12 is...

Kokoro Connect

 

This anime, out of many of the anime I've seen, is one of the more unique series. The story is about five high school friends -Taichi, Iori, Himeko, Yoshifumi, and Yuri- who are all members of the Student Cultural Research Club. So, it seemed like your normal slice of life with the standard beach and festival episodes in its future. This is where they throw a curve ball. One day, they begin experiencing a phenomenon in which they randomly swap personalities, essentially body swaps,  amongst themselves. Throughout the series they have to work through and overcome various phenomena placed on them by an entity called "Heartseed". The show covers the first four phenomena they experience from the light novel it's based off of.

When I saw the first "body swap", I figured there would be some comedy, but not much substance to the show. I was wrong. The show avoids the archetypes we are accustomed to in anime, and created characters that felt real. Real feeling, real reactions, and real emotional baggage. There is some good comedy to be had, but this show can get surprisingly dark at times. Not as dark as "Bokurano: ours", another decent anime about a group of people affected by an unknown entity, or "Puella Magi Madoka Magica" but still surprisingly dark for its start. The show doesn't care about the larger issues, just the everyday lives and tragedies of five friends. I liked how the opening was light and cheerful when the show can be dark and disturbing. The show is also fine for a younger audience, but does deal with some mature topics. Ages 13 and up should be fine.

The show is a great show, but it doesn't have a true ending, the animation, music, and backgrounds are all decent but unremarkable, and they reused many locations, probably to save time and/or money. This is a classic "read the manga" or in this case, since the manga is currently ongoing, "read the light novel" ending. They try to wrap it up as best as they can, but there are more phenomena they leave out that happens later in the series. If there was a second season, this anime could become one of the best in its genre. Right now it feels good but just  incomplete, so I name it the Best of the Rest '12.

Now, here is the opening. Keep in mind that the anime gets dark, much darker than the opening would suggest. I had no knowledge about the show before I started, so the opening did make the show's content a bit more surprising. As always, thanks for reading.

First Reaction: Parasyte -the maxim-

After four episodes, I am seeing quite a few similarities between Tokyo Ghoul, an anime from last season. The show is summed up fairly simply. Parasites of unknown origin infect random humans and take control of their brain, with the main character being the exception. He is infected, but only in the right hand and arm. The parasite can think for itself and often disagrees with the main character on their next move. In general, the show can be gross. Really gross. I wouldn't suggest watching it while you eat, that's for sure. There are even some decent moments of comedy, but they are far and few between.



If this happened to you, what would you do?

"Google" it of course

So, the show is pretty much what I expected. Not a must watch so far, but depending on how the story develops it could become a good show. The animation is great in the fight scenes, but average elsewhere. Right now the show isn't good or bad, just meh. It tries too hard to be edgy and is barely interesting enough to watch. I wouldn't recommend it, yet, but that could change. The first four episodes definitely weren't very impressive. Nice opening though. Here, have a look.

Best of the Rest: Anime of 2011

It is once again time for me to pick the Best of the Rest. This year had some amazing, must watch anime... but what about the rest? Is there anything you might not of heard of that is worth the watch? I meticulously look through all the anime released in 2011 and narrowed it down to a few choices. In the end I picked something so terrifying, so unsettling, so unnerving you might not want to watch it with the lights off. Are you ready?

 

 

My choice for the Best of the Rest 2011 is...

Kore wa Zombie Desu ka? Aka Is This a Zombie?

Scary right? It is Halloween after all I guess.

The picture above you shows a guy, who has the outfit and powers of a magical girl, and uses a chainsaw as his main weapon. Oh, he is also a zombie. Yes, this show actually exists and yes, it is magical (pun intended). The premise of the show, such as it is, is the main character Ayumu gets murdered out of the blue. He is then later resurrected by a necromancer girl named Eu. She is unable or unwilling to speak and writes down commands for her new zombie, like make my dinner or other household chores. Other than the zombie thing, Ayumu still goes to school and leads a normal "life". One night, as he is out searching for his murderer, he runs into a magical girl fighting evil... and comedy ensues. As the story progresses he gets himself into further trouble, as if turning into a magical girl wasn't enough, with various women with powers. Yes, the show does have some harem traits, has some fan service but nothing too bad, and can get violent and bloody, so be aware. All that said, I still thought it was good, but there are reasons this is a Best of the Rest and not just one of the best. This isn't for the kids either folks, but for an entirely different reason than my Best of the Rest 2010 pick, Shiki.

A lot of the comedy comes from puns, innuendos, and the fact a zombie Ayumu can't really get hurt. This is also one of the few anime that I'd say the dub is better than the sub. It really adds more to the show with added lines and inflection you won't get in the sub. This might be an out there pick, but if you like funny, strange, unique shows, this is the show for you... as long as you can look past its faults I mentioned earlier. It is one of my favorite really. You see that gif on the "about us" page of this site? That is from this anime :) In conclusion, I name "Is This a Zombie" the Best of the Rest '11...just ignore the fact the dub technically came out in '12...okay?

http://youtu.be/epyxjXd6O5w is the link to the first episode dubbed to try it out, courtesy of Funimation, Kadokawa, and studio Deen. If it doesn't work in your region, the sub is available as well elsewhere, it's just not as good. Until next time, thanks for reading.

Best of the Rest: Anime of 2010

Ah, 2010...I remember it as the year of the Haruhi movie and good times were had. As I get closer and closer to 2013, it will be harder to pick an anime that is good and yet not on everyone's radar. Should I pick Arakawa under the bridge for its pure absurdity? Katanagatari for its uniqueness? Durarara because it's fun to say Durarara? These were difficult questions that kept me up at night... but the show I picked could also keep you up at night if you aren't careful. Often overlooked, and fitting in well with Halloween in a couple days...

 I give you my choice for Best of the Rest '10.

 

 

 

Shiki

Shiki was made by Daume. It was one of the last series' made by the studio on its own.

The series' is set in a small rural town in the 1990's. It starts off innocently enough with a new family moving into a mansion on the hill. You meet some characters that would be in your typical romance anime and everything is right as rain. Just when you think you have the premise down... the murder starts happening. That's right, murder. This is not one for the kids folks. Is the cause of death an epidemic run wild in this idyllic secluded village, or is it something more sinister? What will they do? Who is behind it? From that point on the game is, as they say, afoot.

Why pick Shiki, especially over the other perfectly respectable choices I listed before? Well, this show is one that is rarely talked about or mentioned and should be mentioned more often. Today, when psychological/horror anime just get weaker and weaker, it stands as an example of something than can get really... creepy. The music sets the mood well, the animation is just good enough without looking dated, and some of the scenes can and will give you chills. It was one of the first anime I saw where I had no idea what would happen next, and that was refreshing. Even though the show has its share of faults, it literally, and I do mean literally, screams Halloween. Because of those reasons, it is worth a watch and I name it the Best of the Rest '10...

...Durarara...yep, still fun to say.

Best of the Rest: Anime of 2009

Time for a new series on the best of the rest. I have taken a look at anime from the past five years and chosen a singular title from each year. This anime will not be the best of that year, that is a whole other can of worms. No, this will be about the best anime that are overlooked. Often not because they are particularly bad, but because there are better, more exciting anime out around the same time. I'm not saying the anime I choose are must watch material and you should see it immediately. Just if you don't see much that interests you right now, go and give it a try.

So, my pick for Best of the Rest '09 is...

Toaru Kagaku no Railgun aka A Certain Scientific Railgun

This series is a spin-off of the "A Certain Magical Index" series and by J.C. Staff.

The show is set in Academy City. A City where there is a high population of "Espers". An Esper is someone who has a special ability ranking from level 0-5. The main character Makoto Misaka is a level 5 and has control over electricity. Espers only have the one ability, but that one ability can be used in creative ways depending on the person. It feels like a slice of life, just with the Esper thing for some drama and action throughout. They imply they develop their powers at the school they attend, but never(or rarely) show them actually going to class.

 

 

Why choose this? Well, I considered Bakemonogatari but I think most know about it by now, if not go see it. Seriously, this can wait...

 

 

...Now where was I... ah, I remember. I also considered Corpse Princess, but the show is hard to recommend. Good fights and good ideas, but bad execution and some in your face fan service kill it. Since Railgun is a spin-off some might write it off as not worth the watch. Perhaps even watch the main series instead and skip this. I'd say that would be a mistake. Railgun is better than the main series and it's not even close. The characters and the plot are well balanced between action, comedy, and emotion. I name it the Best of the Rest '09.

Upcoming Posts for Oct.27 and Onward

Hello everyone. Bleu here with a quick update. I decided to go through my plans for the upcoming week. It is quite a lot honestly, perhaps too much even...Regardless, I will put out content at a decent pace because I would expect it of any site. Mine is no exception. If you like it, be sure to +1 it. If you don't, hopefully my next effort will be more to your liking. I want to earn your +1 and I will continue to work towards the best site I can make. Okay, lets get started.

I am currently working on a new five part anime series. It will showcase the best anime in each of the past five years that you might have missed. I will be choosing from lesser known titles and the results should be surprising. One part will be out every two days starting Monday.

I am going to review one game a week and the game this week hasn't been decided yet. I have a few options, but I think something horror might be appropriate for this time of year. It will be out Thursday though, which will become the day I release a game reviews from now on. I am not great at this yet, but at least I can be consistent. So keep an eye out for that.

Lastly, I will be giving my first reactions to some of the new anime of this season. Most are at episode 3 or 4 now, and that is plenty to go on for an impression. I will put them out periodically with the first one being posted on Tuesday.

 



And that is all I have planned at the moment. Until next time remember, anime can teach you important life lessons. For example, sometimes big eyebrows are just pickles... 

A Look Ahead: Fall 2014 Anime Predictions

It is still early in the Fall #Anime season, but that won't stop me from making some fearless #predictions! I make these predictions without seeing any of them in action, just from what I know about the studio, director, and/or pictures I've seen. It will be interesting to see how many I get right. What will be the most popular? What will be the anime that disappoints? Let's find out! The first prediction is for best animation. And the winner is...

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade works(2014)

This was a pretty easy pick. Knowing Ufotable, it will look amazing. I am not so sure about the quality of the story, but it should look pretty and that is where it counts... Next up, The show everyone will watch and be talking about is...

Log Horizon 2

The first season was popular and it will appeal to a lot of different people. It has some one of the more compelling stories. I am hoping for some more development for the secondary characters, but being good would just be icing on the cake. Next I'll guess the best slice of life. The winner is...

Question Time: Why I Watch Fairy Tail (and why you should as well)

I recently got asked the question, "Why do you watch Fairy Tail" and I thought, "Why do I watch it?" The show is admittedly average in just about every way, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't watch it. Why is it worth a watch for some of us... let me explain:

When I get finished watching something amazing, emotionally draining, or something just plain awful, I need a mindless anime to hit the reset button. It is almost like a anime palate cleanser. It helps me get ready for the next amazing, emotionally draining, or terrible anime I'm about to watch. The fact it is made by Hiro Mashima, the creator of Rave Master which was one of my favorites when I was younger, certainly doesn't hurt...

...okay, apparently it can hurt.

A Look Back: Summer 2014 Anime (Part 3*)

It's a day late, but I had to start over because I am an idiot lol. Anyways, here is the third and final part of my "Look Back" series. The Anime of summer 2014 edition.


17. Majimoji Rurumo

Made by J.C. Staff and directed by Chikara Sakurai. Original creator is Wataru Watanabe.

This show is a romantic comedy. Itis in the same vein as "Heaven's Lost Property". A main character harasses girls for comedic effect and then gets beaten up by said girl. It is one of the tropes in anime that give it a bad name. Unlike most of the shows like this however, this show actually develops some heart. It is a good watch to see if you like this kind of comedy.

Anime you may also like: The "Hentai" Prince and the Stony Cat, Baka toTest, Ixion Saga DT (if you want the same kind of humor without the perv element.)
Should you watch? No, but it is close.


    *18-23 I've seen none of them so can't give much of opinion about them. Psycho-Pass is yes for should watch, but no idea how different the "NewEdit" is from the original. These are the names of the shows in order just for the sake of completeness: Minarai Diva, Momo Kyun Sword, Nobunga Concerto, Persona 4 The Golden Animation, Psycho-Pass New Edit Version, PuriPara.

    24. RAIL WARS!

Made by Passione and directed by Yoshifumi Matsuda. His only credit is being a supervisor for "Dog Days"

This show is a bad show. Terrible. It looks to be a harem but might just be a general slice of life... about train school. I only made it to ep.2 before I tapped out. Everything about it is bad, including the animation. I saw no reason why anyone should watch this... ever. Easily the worst thing I've seen this season.

Anime you may also like: I'm hesitant to suggest anything here because I have no idea what a person who likes Rail Wars! would like. I'll just go with Rosario + Vampire and Oreshura. They are better at least.

Should you watch? Nooooooo...ooooooo *takes a breath* oooooo.



    25. Re. Hamatora

Made by Naz and Lerche and directed by Seiji Kishi. He has worked on "Angel Beats!" and "Seton no Hanayome" aka "My Bride is a Mermaid".

The show is a detective show with added super powers. The detective agency, named Hamatora, solves various crimes. Some of them felt like filler, but it was entertaining filler for the most part. The show has some interesting twists, nice fights, and good character development. It is all around good anime. It also has one of the catchiest opening songs I've heard in a while

Anime you may also like: Tokyo ESP,  K Project, Gokukoku no Brynhilder aka Brynhilder in the Darkness
Should you watch? Yes

A Look Back: Summer 2014 Anime (Part 2)

   
    10. Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun aka Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun

Made by Dogakoba and directed by Mitsue Yamazaki. She has worked on "Mawaru Penguindrum" sometimes shortened to "Penguindrum" and "Kämpfer".

 

The show is a romantic comedy about a girl with a crush and a dense guy. Yep, one of those again. The guy is the artist of a girls manga and she starts to help after a botched love confession. Comedy ensues, mostly due to the guys thickhead. It is a good entry for the genre.

 

Anime you may also like: Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions, Toradora!

Should you watch? Yes

 

    11. Glasslip

 





Made by P.A. Works and directed by Junji Nishimura. He has been in the business since the '80s and worked on things like "Ranma1/2" and "Samurai Deeper Kyo"

 

This is a slice of life with a twist. Reminded me of clannad without the soul crushing sadness. The characters aren't unique at all and the show is mediocre. The "seeing into the future" thing doesn't save it. It wasn't bad, just meh. 

 

Anime you may also like: Clannad, Little Busters 

Should you watch? No

A Look Back: Summer 2014 Anime (Part 1)

         Okay... this #Anime #review was a much bigger task then I originally thought so I'm splitting #summer2014 into multiple parts. I will be going through each title in alphabetical order. My impressions here will be much shorter than my previous reviews, but hopefully it tells you something. I may decide to do a more in depth review about the more popular titles later, but for now this will be a good "should you watch" guide. I haven't seen everything, nor would I want to, but I've seen a good amount of them. If you'd like to know how much I've seen of a particular series, my hummingbird account is linked in the "about me" section. I try to keep it up to date. Alright, enough with the explanation. Let's get to it!

1. Akame ga Kill!

By White Fox and directed by Tomoki Kobayashi who worked on things like "Katanagatari" and "Monster"

 

It is basically a shonen with some harem influences. The show is bloody and brutal. In fact, I think the show tries too hard to be that way. The fights are great, but the story is a bit lacking. The art style is good for the most part. There are times when they try to show extreme emotion that looks awful. I think perhaps they were going for a manga feel, but it just came off as strange. If you can look past the lack of story, and characters being killed off, you may like it for the fights.

 

Anime you may also like: Berserk, Brave 10, Attack on Titan
Should you watch? Yes.

 

 

    2 Aldnoah.Zero

 

 

This was by A1- Pictures and directed by Gen Urobuchi. He is one of the better known directors and was the main guy behind "Fate/Zero" and "Psycho-Pass".

 

This is a mech political anime. There is a lot of back story they just gloss over. The characters aren't great. Other than the aloof main character, none really stood out. The music by Hiroyuki Sawano gets a mention for being amazing. It is truly the best thing about the show. It has great music and it seemed like the animation budget went to massive destruction. There is some heavy CGI use in parts. Unless you are a major fan of Gen, I would skip the show and get the sound track.

 

Anime you may also like: Code Geass, IS: Infinite Stratus

Should you watch? No 

 

 

Wagnaria!!/Working!! Series Review

This is a comedy/slice of life type of #Anime. It was released in 2010 and 2011 by A1-pictures (who made "Fairy Tail", "SAO", and many other popular series'). It was directed by Yoshimasa Hiraike, who hasn't done anything famous that readily comes to mind. I think he did something on "Excel Saga" awhile ago. There may be a third season, but this review is on seasons one and two. Let's get to it.

Maoyu Review

Girl meets boy, boy meets girl, and then the magic happens... right?

The series starts with the Hero(none of the characters have actual names) making it to the evil lair of the demon king. He charges valiantly, as one would expect of a character whose name is Hero, and discovers *shock* the demon king is a girl. Being the slightly sexist hero he is, he stops mid swing to ogle her. The demon king( her name) then convinces the Hero to help bring an end to the war of humans versus demons. How? Well, by joining forces(and hearts) of course. They use economics and education to try to get everyone to get along and hold hands. That is the basic premise of the show. If you are familiar with Spice and Wolf, you'll fit right in here.

Now, the question. Is it shit?