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Reviews from me are rare, but I felt that this show was greatly underappreciated and thus deserved a positive review from me.
First off, I went into this show for reasons beyond the norm. Usually I choose what to watch in a season based on the seiyuu involved (typically male) and then gravitate to a couple more when a friend of mine says it's good. Grimgar however I picked up for the simple reason that it was pretty. I was drawn to the watercolor backdrops and the simplistic character designs that weren't flashy and remained down to earth, especially for a fantasy ... anime.
Secondly, I'm a fantasy fan, and usually I find most fantasy anime lacking in something. Yes we all know how much the world loves SAO but to be honest, I wasn't that keen on it. So when we get dropped into Grimgar, I'm praying that it doesn't turn out to be some sort of parallel world where you die in the game, you die in life.
Third... I actually gave up this anime after episode four because I was... attached. Those who see the series will understand what I mean without spoiling it... but let's just say I was ticked off and put off by the series. A few months went by, I cooled off, and I started watching it again.
To be honest, by the time I had finished the series, I felt refreshed. This wasn't a show about a group of kids saving the whole entire world (like so many anime are) and this wasn't a show about unraveling a fantasy world's mysteries and how it connects to the real world (like SAO).
This was a story with very deep themes including how to deal with loss, survival at it's base level, how to communicate and understand those around you, and about growing to find yourself through adversary and tragedy. Now, maybe some people don't like deep stories... but I did. By the time you're towards the end of the series, you too have forgotten that these people are from somewhere else and you really no longer care how they got there, much like the characters themselves. This series was about the small struggles of day to day life set with a backdrop of fantasy and magic. Tragedy and Triumph go hand in hand with Grimgar and the stark gravity of reality in that we are all destined, one day, to be but ash, resonates to the heart and soul.
So if you're looking for something thought provoking with a dunk in the deep end of the pool... watch Grimgar. I don't think you'll be disappointed. I wasn't.

I've only read "Shouryuuden" which is the "Fushigi Yuugi" lite novel that deals with Chichiri's backstory SO my review will be about that novel itself.
To be honest, I wish MAL had each novel as a stand alone because of the simple fact that yes they do all form a series, but they are also able to be enjoyed without reading another of the set.
ANYWAY...
I read "Shouryuuden" for a class in Adaptive Screenplays in college... and as my assignment was to write a feature film screenplay of a novel or story that I liked... I chose "Shouryuuden". As I delved into it deeper, I began ... to realize that the story was much more complex than what I'd read here and there on the internet in relation to Chichiri's background or from what the anime OVAs portrayed. The art, while obviously just a page here and there between chapters of text, was in true Yuu Watase fashion and helped to cement the idea that she was trying to convey.
Anyone who loves "Fushigi Yuugi" in any capacity should try their hand at reading the lite novels. There are even a few sites out there that have translated some of them (if they still exist) and while I used a translation for my screenplay basis... I also referenced the novel itself to draw more direct translations (like Chichiri's use of 'no da' constantly). After all, some quirks just don't translate well into English, ne?
In this novel you get to learn who this man was before his life was so tragically altered, and you come to know why he fiercely wishes to protect the innocent from the likes of Nakago (because yes he is in the story as well oddly enough). You get to hear about his training and even the adorable Nyan Nyan are present!
It's a sad and tragic tale that becomes a sweeping prologue to the zany character who eventually, in "Fushigi Yuugi" itself, sweeps in only to get bitten by the heroine he's trying desperately to save!
Of course I may be a little biased because Chichiri is one of my all time favorite characters... and it was his seiyuu Seki Tomokazu who got me into watching subtitled anime... but I think fans of the franchise in general will enjoy the story.
One day... I hope to have a copy of Tasuki's novel and delve into that one as well! -wink- After all, reading a translation is one thing... but having the actual book in your hands and feeling it's pages, seeing the real printed art and not a scanned copy and being able to learn new words and kana that you didn't know before... well that's just half the fun of a lite novel!

Okay so... at first I thought this was a joke. I mean, it starts out with a guy speaking English who's half the time got a British accent going on. There was kana when he talks so that made me start thinking it might not be a joke. I ended up looking on the net and found that it really is real soooo here's my review!
Hilarious.
First off, Blue Rose's hair is freakin' awesome. I love the long look more than the short personally. Bunny and Tiger don't have any logos on their suits (I didn't notice if BR had them ... or not) but they pose in ways that are actually meant to show off those logos. I'm guess the pilot was done before they had sponsors hehe.
The absolute best part was when they introduced Bunny and Tiger as "The Rookie with Glasses" (megane no ruukii / メガネのルーキー) and "The Veteran with a Beard" (hige no betaran / ヒゲのベタラン).
I mean, this little 2min 13sec spot is only going to appeal to fans of the show, but it gave me a laugh while I drank my morning coffee, hehe.

Mini-spoilers for Season 1.
Okay so, I know that this story should have been more sad than anything, but it really made me giggle.
"Wanderer" is rather confusing at first because you think it's going to be about Setsuna and yet starts out with Saji leaving Earth to work in space.
When you get to Setsuna, it really IS sad because it's raining and he's leaving flowers at Neil's grave.
Apparently, Setsuna is having a debate with himself on whether or not to recruit Lyle at this point. Well, true to form (oddly enough), Setsuna gets lost in Ireland...
Eventually he stumbles into a ... pub and THIS was why I started giggling, and he finds Lyle getting drunk with a friend. A small mishap ensues wherein Setsuna and Lyle meet (Setsuna is drinking milk, which is a throwback to Neil in Season 1) and after Lyle leaves, we get Setsuna's own thoughts again.
Basically, the story switches between Saji and Setsuna, and with what I've begun to think is a bit stereotypical for Lyle (him getting drunk).
The story helps explain a TINY bit between Season 1 and 2, but other than a quick drabble, it doesn't ring out as nicely as the other two side stories ("The Beginning Man" or "I'm Home").
The art is however, once again, beautiful as always, and keeps the pilots as bishounen as they were in the anime.
This side story is a must read for any Gundam 00 fan, but really recommended for fans of Setsuna, Lockon, or Saji.

It is impossible NOT to write SPOILERS for this since it is post Season 2, so forgive me.
"The Beginning Man" dealt with Lyle's feelings after everything was over. He apparently found a video from Haro of his twin, and this stirred up a lot of feelings that he probably shouldn't have explored so soon after battle.
Of course, Lyle's getting drunk and Setsuna steps in, agreeing to go with Lyle so he can get even more drunk. Setsuna refuses to drink, which could be seen as a cultural refusal (I would say religious but Setsuna isn't religious anymore), and they get into a conversation ... about Neil and Anew.
You get to see Neil and Lyle as kids, which is adorable, and you learn that not only did Neil become a sniper before joining Celestial Being, but he even took marksmanship in school as a kid (a sport that Lyle dropped out of).
Basically, Lyle as the same problem as the Hitachiin twins from "Ouran High School Host Club"... he hates that no one can tell him apart from his twin. Neil doesn't even notice it, which is an obvious throwback to Neil's more laid back nature.
The story is cute, but turns into a rather sad story as Lyle tries to figure out what to do with his life now.
In an amazing twist, Setsuna says some really cute and nice stuff, which seemed a bit out of character for him but, then again, fit nicely with the moment.
The art is, like the two other side stories ("Wanderer" and "I'm Home") gorgeous as always, bringing out the bishounen aspects of the character design that I love (and that sets Gundam 00 apart from any other Gundam series).
It's a must read for any Gundam 00 fan since it could be seen as a mini-bridge across the gap between the series and the upcoming movie, but also an absolute must for fans of Setsuna, Lyle, Neil, or Anew.

This was actually the first Gundam 00 side story that I had read, and it had originally been from RAW with someone's summary.
When I found it to read with a full translation, I realized that I liked this side story best of the three main ones ("I'm Home", "Wanderer", and "The Beginning Man").
Now, I'll admit that the portion with Ribbons and Regene at the beginning was a bit confusion, and in truth these side stories do tend to have a few confusing transitions in them, but once you got to Tieria and Feldt, things became more clear.
From my own fandom of Gundam 00, there's no ... denying the bond between Lockon and Tieria in the first season. This side story helps to cement that Tieria really had a hard time dealing with the events at the end of Season 1.
Just like in Season 2 when Lockon appeared to Setsuna, he does the same thing here and tells him pretty much the same speech to "change the world".
Another plus of this side story is the interaction between Tieria, Feldt, and Ian. I think it helps to better grasp the changes in Tieria's character as well.
The art is amazingly bishounen (which is an uber plus in my opinion) and brings out the character design of the series better than the US serialized manga.
I definitely recommend this read to any Gundam 00 fan, and it is a must for any fan of Tieria or Lockon.

This is perhaps one of the funniest things I've ever seen in anime.
It's a giant history lesson... on CRACK!
I mean, I'm only on episode 2, but just listening to Daisuke Namikawa run around as Italy and go "pasta this" and "pasta that" (not to mention him singing the theme song), is just brilliant!
It's catchy, it's bright, it's fun... and it's kinda educational in some ways...
Though... don't know how educational a Tomato Box Fairy is... but hey, it's fun!
The episodes are only about 4 and a half minutes long, including "Chibitalia" wherein you get a tiny bit more history, but it's still funny and... has CHIBIS!
I ... highly recommend this show.
I mean, it'll only take 5 minutes of your time, and it's so hilarious!
I can't stop laughing through most of the episode. One thing leads to another and then it just gets funnier and funnier.
And the scary thing is... the stereotypes of the countries... are kinda true in some ways.
So!
I recommend this show. I've recommended it to my friends as well. It's wonderfully done, it's entertaining, engaging, educational, and enlightening (look at all the E words!).
I give Axis Powers Hetalia a 10 on my scale.

So... I hate fanservice and ecchi...
But this was kinda weird.

I mean, aside from the fact that Jun Fukuyama is staring, and aside from the fact that the perverted old guy is Okiayu Ryoutarou (who played Shigure in Fruits Basket)... it's not half bad.

Actually, the concept of a girl in a can is hilarious... and I really like the idea of someone who doesn't want to just be used and thrown away. It's a very human conception... packed in a can!

Now, I will admit, it gave me some "Saber Marionette J" vibes (what with brightly colored girls and a perverted guy in love with the ... main male character)... but who knows. I liked SMJ alright, so this is worth a watch to me.

It has terrific seiyuu (which is always my first reason to watch something) and a far more interesting plot-line than alien girls or random chicks falling in love with the same guy. I mean... they come from a can! And they need carbon dioxide! It's so random and yet... perfect for this type of comedy.

If the first episode doesn't leave you thinking, "This is one of the most random animes I've ever seen..." then it may not be for you... but I sure said that about five times before the ending credits rolled.

As a plus... it's got a great OP and ED song...

So yeah, I recommend this... even to people who don't go for the genre. I know I don't.