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Michiko is a gun crazed, foul mouth badass who might not actually be as awful as she seems at first. She rescues Hatchin, an orphan with a horrible foster home and takes her with her on her journey. To find a man named Hiroshi. Hiroshi is Michiko's long lost love and the birth dad of Hatchin. As they venture from town to town in a Latin based world. Like Mexico or Peru. Michiko is so hell bent on finding Hiroshi that she puts Hatchin in danger in almost every episode. But that seems to make Hatchin grow as a character. She goes from this little ... innocent girl in the first episode, to this powerful female character and almost takes over the last third of the show. Stealing it from Michiko who becomes a second breath.

The show is episodic, meaning it has this underlining story that gets sidetracked by little stories. You see this a lot in anime. Where there is a all around theme and goal the characters try and accomplish, but little side missions get in the way. Think like Cowboy Beebop. Spikes overall mission was to find Lucious, the man from his past and see his long lost love. But was sidetracked by mushrooms and floating fat men. Anyway, this is the same with Michiko and Hatchin. They stop in town after town meeting various characters that have nothing to do with the actual plot, but are interesting enough to keep you fully engaged and liking that each character has their own personality and are flushed out. Characters like Satoshi Batista to the circus girl who befriends Hatchin are all really good characters I had fun watching.

The show all around wasn't that great for me though. It didn't have anything that made it stand out from the crowd, just another comedy/action anime with a big boobed girl and cursing and to be honest, the animation was kinda ugly. Even though it had one of the best last episodes of any anime I've seen that was so gut wrenching and beautifully told. That was enough for me to give it eight stars. Because watching a really good show makes you feel like you've gone on this incredible journey with its characters. I 100% felt that with Michiko and Hatchin.

Another bad ass entry. Seriously, I could live on Golgo 13 films, this time the quiet sharpshooter Duke Togo is out to stop the assassination of a presidential candidate by the ruthless Sonia, or Queen Bee as she is known for birthing many children. With a rockin pistol hand and body, this red hair plays by her own rules. So naturally she bangs Togo, but he knows his mission. But once certain things are reviled about Sonia, and the candidate's sinister second hand hires a ex army solider with an eye patch to finish the job, things get bonkers.

Perfect 90's anime cheese wrapped in ... a steaming, sexy tortilla. What I love about this is the maturity that goes into the product. This isn't about big boobed aline girls (okay sure there are boobs) but the story takes itself and the characters seriously. The blood is harsh and real, just like the sex. And the music....my god. Right out of a Street Fighter arcade game. Probably the best part of the entire film.

The main problems with Queen Bee though is the lack of Queen Bee being a fully fleshed out villain. Sure, we learn a lot about her, her past and present state. But for me she posed no real threat, just some woman with a gun and who likes to bang. The psycho ex army solider was far more interesting and he had way less scenes than her. Also constantly playing back those frames multiple times was cool, but way over used too the point of irritating. I know that's the style you're going for Osamu Dezaki and maybe that was what the manga represented, but damn too much is too much. Not as good as the 80's movie, that one had more interesting villains and a more complete feeling story. But it's Golgo 13 and I love the guy.

For the first ten minutes of INTERSTELLA 5555 I really didn't know what to think. The animation by Kazuhisa Takenôchi is really cool. Mixing old school formulas of 70's and early 80's art styles. With more realistic looking people while still giving it that goofy, anime feel. But the fact that it pretty much was a long ass Daft Punk music video wasn't helping much. I have nothing against Daft Punk, but rather that this film felt like it had no conventional story and the fact that there was no dialog hindered it a lot too. But after awhile I started finding a story within ... the music, Daft Punk songs that where synced almost rheumatically to the imagines and the story unfolding. And soon, INTERSTELLA 5555 became a fun, emotional and almost spiritual ride.

I think though, that Kazuhisa Takenôchi and more so Daft Punk are giving us an inside scoop to the life of a rock star. The film is about blue aliens that are taken away from their home planet by a mad record label producer who makes them over into humans and turns them into the biggest band out there. But they are being mind controlled and this life is not what they were born into and it starts to take a toll on them. But when a pilot from their home world looks to rescue them a whole bunch of crazy stuff happens of course, set to the techno beats of Daft Punk. But the actual story is about the impact of fame. I'm sure every band wishes they didn't write that one song that become a hit and are remembered for. This film is about the impact of that one song and the constant repetitiveness of singing autographs and recording and singing autographs and so on.

This is all wrapped up in a glorious lights and sound act that spans an entire hour, and I really did enjoy it. And the ending kind of has it all make sense. A sweet film with pure heart, and synthesizers.

A beautiful masterpiece that explores the world of two young girls. There names are Satsuka and Mae, they have just moved to the country side with their dad while their mom, who is ill is in the hospital. Underneath the stress and playfulness of these two girls lies a world all their own. it just happens to be inhabited by totoro's and cat buses.

"My Neighbor Totoro" is Miyazaki's fourth feature film and just like his others it is beautiful to look at and has a charming story, a bit more melancholy then his other works though. Not a whole lot happens in this film ... but that's why it works. The country home feeling, the large trees and tall grass. Miyazaki explores nature like always and this is defiantly his best forte into it.

The Fannings do a good job in the dubbed version I think. This is for sure a kid friendly film full of cool looking creatures, harmless jokes and amazing animation. Roger Ebert said this is one of the 10 best films for kids ever made. Can't argue with that logic.

I had the fortune of getting to see "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind" on the big screen (for the first time ever!) in stark, 35mm film. It looked unbelievably beautiful, especially for a cartoon made in the 80's. Sure, it still had that 80's anime look to it and the soundtrack was totally 80's, but up there on the big screen, I don't know, it kinda took my breathe away.

The story of "Valley of the Wind" is pretty much like all his stories, which is the films strongest feature. Miyazaki knows how to tell a story. He creates these worlds, that he ... has complete control over, he can do whatever he wants too with these characters, creatures his heart desires. He could make them epics like Peter Jackson with the LOTR trilogy. But that's not how Miyazaki in visions these places. His fascination with airplanes and the world of the sky plays the biggest part in how he presents his films. I mean, it pretty much says it in the title, "Valley of the Wind" so you know it will have something to do with the sky and it does.

This film is almost like a model for his later films like "Howel's Moving Castle" and "Porco Rosso" that you have awesome air battles and cool looking air ships of all different kinds. Miyazaki's love of nature is also the prototype for this story and may be his best take on keeping our world clean. the "Toxic Forrest" represents what humans have done to the planet. Not only killing most of the wildlife with the exception of insects, but also set the world back a hundred years in terms of technology. This film is set in the far future, but people use swords as main weapons. So not only is it a solid and entertainingly beautiful anime, but its also dark and at times a bloody take on what humans will do to each other and the world around them in order to gain power.

For me, what lies at the heart of this film, just like in all Miyazaki films, is that melancholy urge for adventure. This is represented through travel through sky, something that all his characters in later films would use as their main transportation. It's a world I can get lost in for days, and this was the beginning of the beautiful collaboration, between Miyazaki and the love of flying.

It is very hard to deal with the death of a loved one. It's even harder to watch a child loose a parent at such a young age and the spouse, even though they must move on. Knows now that the person they married, they dedicated their love to is gone. This painful reminder sets up our story for the young Momo and her mother. Leaving Tokyo after the sudden death of her father, Momo and mom move out to a big island where the grandparents live. Now they must adjust to a new life, as Momo has difficulties with this, her mother fits in ... pretty quick, looking for job and even meeting an old friend. But it's harder for Momo. Losing her father so suddenly and him leaving a mysterious letter that only reads: "Dear Momo" she is trying to find her place in this new home. But things suddenly change drastically when she believes her new home is haunted. After hearing strange noises, food mysteriously disappearing and voices coming from the attic. Momo ventures up there to find three goblins have made it their home. There names are Mama, Iwa and Kawa and they have no intentions of leaving.

Much like the environmental, action packed films of studio Ghibli, this film is more family based and has a slice of life feeling to it. From the opening credits of the ship sailing a beautiful crested blue sea to large fielded mountains surrounded by the ocean I knew I was in love right away. For I love Japanese culture and their agricultural ways of living. I am just a snobby American, living in my four sided box which I leave in my box on wheels to my job and then come home and eat TV dinners. I would love to live on an island, grow my own fruits and vegetables, walk every where and swim in the ocean. So whenever I watch anime that deals with this kind of setting, it puts me in a nostalgic mood to just get up and leave. But of course there are other reasons to like A LETTER TO MOMO. Being an anime of course it has spiritual elements to it and the goblins come into play here. I liked them a lot and their character designs, especially Mame who looks like a naked green gremlin. They have all their own unique characteristics and its fun to watch them interact with Momo, as she gradually gets more use to them. Even when she teaches them things like not to steal, they pay her back with teaching her how to overcome fears and open up and ultimately that develops Momo into a fully fleshed out character. As she learns more about the goblins, we learn more about Momo and even her last days with her father.

I've always liked Production I.G. and they do a good job with the characters here. Making the humans look very realistic (no big boobs here) and the goblins all stand out as their own. The film was written and directed by Hiroyuki Okiura who does a great job with telling his story and pacing it. Hardly dwendling, except for maybe the beginning of act 3 where things kind of slow down and become slightly tedious. But he, like a lot of Japanese filmmakers can make the simplest things special. Where else would you find people talking about a clock or being chased by wild boars entertaining in the same aspects. Because the dialog is good and the story is fun. It's one of the kidder anime out there, but A LETTER TO MOMO is a beautiful little film and might even be a hidden gem. If you love anime see it for sure.

Tenchi Muyo was one of my favorite shows to watch as a kid on Toonami every weekday when I would come home from school. It had everything. Action, romance, comedy and fantasy all combined into a half hour of greatness. IN LOVE is the first feature film of the Tenchi franchise, released in the golden years of anime, the 1990's. A space being known only as Kain has escaped space police custody and plans on traveling back to 1970 to kill Tenchi's mother, and destroy her and Tenchi's royal bloodline. After viewing some old videos Tenchi's mother mysteriously disappears from the film and Tenchi himself ... starts to dissipate. Now he and his friends must travel to Tokyo, 1970 top stop Kain from killing his mother thus preventing him from ever existing. In an ultimate showdown in a alternate dimension.

If you loved Tenchi and 90's anime as much as I do, there is a lot to take from this film. The artwork is drawn in the certain old fashion style and the music is charming. The actual film starts out like a slice of life as everyone adopts to their new lifestyle while trying to protect Tenchi's mom. There is laughter, Ryoko and Ayeka share some their classic banter and other great characters return like Washu, Sasami and co. The third act of the film is a bit slow, going more into the fantasy aspects of Tenchi, where as I was more enjoying the casual school life with a little bit of mystery as to Kain's appearance. But the ending was beautiful because it was your classic anime ending. I don't know why, but endings to anime films, usually from the 90's always get to me. If you love Tenchi Muyo, you will love this film. A classic in 90's anime culture.

Haru is your average, ordinary high school girl. Until she saves a black cat from getting hit by a truck, it all seems normal, until the cat stands on tow legs and speaks to her. Too make matters even crazier, that cat she saved is a prince from the cat kingdom, and his father the king wants Haru to marry his son, and become the princess of the cat kingdom. Of course, Haru doesn't want to and enlists the help of a suave, sophisticated Baron cat with his gargantuan cat sidekick Muto, as they must rescue Haru from the clutches of the cat king.

THE ... CAT RETURNS is one of the few Studio Ghibli films I've actually not seen. The animation, story and all around feel are very Ghibli-esc. With its melancholy soundtrack the film is beautiful to watch and listen too. Especially since the sub is actually really well done. It's a little silly and childish sometimes, when you compare to the more mature films like PRINCESS MONONOKE and GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES. But this little film is very cute and very well made. I' not much of a cat person, but I really enjoyed THE CAT RETURNS.

SWORD OF THE STRANGER made by Bandi and BONES starts off rather slow, but builds up to a very satisfying ending if you like gruesome battles. We follow a young boy named Kotaro and his trusty dog in fudel era Japan as they are being chased by the Chinese Ming empire for unknown reasons. Upon almost being captured, Kotaro meets a ronin with no name who saves him. Kotaro doesn't trust him, like he doesn't trust many people, but no name is here to stay as he saves the kids dog and keeps him out of the hands of the Chinese. But as a feuding ... empire tries to take out the Ming, all hell will break loose as Kotaro and No Names pasts are finally revealed.

This film started out pretty slow, sort of like the falling snow around it, the film takes its time to reach its climax. Which sucks, cause the opening is exciting with some beautiful sword play during a rain storm, mixed with a huge, bloody battle at the Ming stronghold. Where the blanket white snow blends with the blood in a nice way when you look at it from an animation stand point. But the middle part is really just No Name and Kotaro getting to know one another while the two other empires prepare to attack each other.

But I did enjoy the film a whole lot. It's bloody, with great sword action, an epic soundtrack and stylistic animation. The character of No Name was a lazy badass, reminiscent of Spike Spegial or Mu from Samurai Champloo. If you like samurai action and anime, check out SWORD OF THE STRANGER.

What a huge surprise! I went into this movie completely blind as to what the You're Under Arrest! franchise was about. I hadn't watched the anime or read the manga, I didn't know who any of the characters were or their relationships to one another. But honestly, you don't really need to know anything to enjoy YOU'RE UNDER ARREST! THE MOTION PICTURE. It just jumps right into its own story, providing necessary background to all its characters, enough to know who is who and then gets right into its story, which I believe is a stand alone story that has nothing to do with the ... anime. What is the story you ask?

Two policewomen are assigned a spot on the Boku Police Patrolwomen. Meaning they deal with speedy and reckless drivers on the big streets of Tokyo. The skilled and badass Miyuki is teamed up with the sometimes lazy Natsumi as they and a bunch of other pretty ladies make sure the streets are safe. But when they encounter a car full of guns, suspicions rise as to what is going on, are they dealing with the mafia? Or a possible drug cartel? It's all up in the air until one of the bridges in Tokyo is blown up, the girls race to secure the area, only to find out it was a decoy and the real target, was the Boku Police Station. What is happening? Who is behind this? And what is the secret behind Bee One? A computer system that may have the ability to completely shut down Tokyo.

This film could be a staple for action anime of the 90's. There are crazy gun battles and slick car chases (and boat) that make up most of the one hour thirty minute running time. But its so worth it, I loved all the characters, you had a wide variety from the cold and calculated Kinoshita Kaoruko to the totally ditzy Nikaido Yoriko and of course the two leads. It's funny, cool and mean. The music was rad, totally complementary to the 90's action genre. I dug everything about YOU'RE UNDER ARREST THE MOTION PICTURE, maybe I seek out the anime and give that a try and I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the DVD of this one of the best on this list so far.