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Ginban Kaleidoscope is a sports anime series about Tazusa Sakurano, a sixteen year old Japanese figure skater with an attitude problem and Pete Pumps, a Canadian stunt pilot of the same age. Since they're both from other sides of the earth, how are these two related? They share the same body, that's how. Well, not exactly. Concidentally, at the beginning Tazusa and Pete have a competition in the same place, at the same time, and, at the same time they both mess up. While Tazusa's mistake was minor, Pete's cost him his life. However, due to unknown circumstances, Pete is unable to go to heaven ... and falls back to earth landing in Tazusa's body, trapt there for one hundred days...

Story

I'm not really one for sports anime, but the fact that Ginban Kaleidoscope is a romance, or something of a romance pulled me in. The plot focuses on Tazusa, who is trying to get an Olympic spot in the 2006 Winter Olymics in Torino. However, due to her past failures and an apparent knack for being picked on by the media, this journey of hers isn't easy, especially with a ghost posessing her.

Since it's a twelve episode series, Ginban Kaleidoscope doesn't have nor make the time for little unimportant side-stories and is right to the point. This can be a good or bad thing since it doesn't really leave room for character exploration, but it also doesn't make you yell, "Get on with it already!" Ginban also likes to use two main conflicts and alternate between the two, those conflicts being, Tazusa's dealing with the media and Tazusa's success and failures as a figure skater. After a while, that kind of method can get bland, but luckily, the series is short.

Though the story is more or less pretty straight forward the end can leave something with an unsatisfied feeling, but maybe that's just me.

Characters

As I mentioned before, the main characters of this series are Tazusa and Pete. They seem to be polar opposites, but as they say, opposites attract, right? Ha, but the two share one characteristic in common, and that's determination. Tazusa, according to another character, has a "clay/stone mask," I find this hard to believe since most of the time Tazusa is yelling at someone, usually Pete. She's loud, short-tempered, and quite childish, but I guess that's what's likable about her. But, I think, personally, there wasn't anything about her that made her truly memorable as a character.

Pete, in contrast to his host, is a bit more contemplative, and well, most things that Tazusa isn't, especially optimistic, despite the fact that he's dead. I liked Pete because he was sort of funny, in the silly kind of way. Or it could've been because of all the Engrish he randomly spews. As a pair, I think Tazusa and Pete are a good duo, while not as good as other anime duos, they're pretty good.

The other characters in the series, well, the reoccuring ones, are all right, there isn't anything particularly special about them... Well, one of them looks a little like Yuki Nagato from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, but that's it really.

Art, Sound, and Some Other Stuff

The sound was good, I think, everyone's voice was well suited to their character and the acting was more or less convincing. Also, one thing about Ginban, it uses a few English phrases, and, while normally, Engrish sounds a bit weird, it wasn't as bad as some I've heard.

To be completely honest, I neverwatched all of the opening or ending songs, so I can't make a comment about them, however the former was a bit pop sounding.

Animation was okay.... Sometimes the color was weird, and there was a bit of reused animation... Also, during the last episode there was a bit of a continuity problem in which they weren't sure for a second about what was in Tazusa's hair.

Overall

Overall, Ginban Kaleidoscope was a pretty good series. It's not one that I would recommend since, there are some things in it that are confusing, and it wasn't really addictive when watching. But it is different than other things I've seen since it's a pretty upbeat series with a sad ending (depending on your preference with the characters). It had it's funny moments, and I think that's what I enjoyed most about it, and maybe that's how it'll be for you.

Cardcaptor Sakura, or better known as Card Captors in the U.S., is probably one of the anime series that comes to mind when you think about what series you started with. The story of the animated series is about a young girl named Sakura Kinomoto/Avalon who captures these cards known as Clow (and later, Sakura) Cards which possess magical powers. in her adventures she is joined by and followed by her friend Tomoyo/Madison, Syaoran Li, and Li's cousin Meilin Rae/Li.

The movie takes place after the anime TV series, where Sakura is still reflecting on Li's confession from before he moved... Yeah. One day Sakura ... notices a presence while walking around with Tomoyo at an amusment park which was being built where a character of the series previously lived, and there she meets Li, who is visting from Hong Kong with Meilin. As the movie goes on, Sakura makes several attempts to tell Li how she really feels about him, and during this time she notices that her Sakura Cards are starting to disappear, and that a 53th card is behind it all....


Story -

As I watched the plot of the movie unfold, I had a serious case of deja vu. Why I don't know, it could possibly be that the plot had something of an inkling to the previous movie where the antagonist of the story was taking things away from Sakura, actually, I think that's what it was. Anyway, that aside, the plot was alright, it was good enough to keep my attention, though I was also watching to see if there was any real advances in Sakura's and Li's relationship...

Score: 8


Animation -

Well, this is probably the part of the review that I dislike the most, since I always say the same thing. But anyway, the animation was the same as the TV series, so I didn't feel like I was watching something totally different, though I wasn't sure if I was looking at the same Yue. The coloring of the backgrounds fitted their respective scenes (does that make sense?), though some parts did seem dark and... yeah.

Score: 8


Sound -

Background music was okay, though I don't really remember any of it (despite the fact I just watched it) except for the dramatic parts, which were good. I absolutely loathed the vocal insert songs and I didn't really pay attention to them.

...I watched the dub to this, and I sort of regret doing so, not because I thought they were bad, but because I simply wasn't really used to them, which happened with another series that I watched. I also thought that Sakura's voice could've been a little... lower... But I loved Eriol/Eli's voice, which is some proof of me not being used to the voices since I haven't heard his voice in the series. However, I do have to note that the pronouncations of the names in this movie were accuate, or more so than the series, though I'm not sure what Eriol's name is anymore...

Score: 6

Character -

Erm. The characters do remain true to their TV series and manga counterparts, Sakura being a bit dense, and Tomoyo being... well, Tomoyo. Their interations, especially Li and Sakura's are very cute, since it's young love, and you know that you have to go "Aw...." when you see it, or you're like me and you giggle, especially with the movie's closing line.

The antagonist, the Nothing/Nameless/Whatever Her Name Is Card is probably my favorite character because she does seem rather human, she's not being evil for the sake of being evil, it's because she wants her friends back, and yeah... You can't really help but feel sorry for her.

Score: 8

Enjoyment -

I can't really say that I really really loved this, but I think that it was okay. The sound really brought it down for me, and at times I did want to stop watching, but I kept on watching because I didn't want to drop it...


Score: 7

Overall -

The Good: Ah... Probably characters. They are just cute and lovable!

The Bad: ...But I didn't enjoy their voices all that much, nor any of the background music...

Score: 8

I had heard about Ouran High School Host Club, I'm guess around last summer. A friend of mine was rabid about it, however, for some reason or another, I didn't read the manga... Later that summer my other friend also went rabid for it, and again I ignored it.... It wasn't until I read Kanashimi's review for it when I decided to watch the seemingly popular show.

The story is basically about a student by the name of Haruhi Fujioka who gets into a prestigious school for rich kids, and how she stumbles in on the school's "Host Club" and ends up having to become a ... host (and cross-dress) to repay the club for breaking the vase. After this the anime's story line follows the activities of the club and it's members.

Story -

I can't really think of any really good words for Ouran's story. However, I found that the first episode had managed to suck me in and I was watching it like a rabid crazy person, just to see what would happen to the characters. Some of the episodes, especially episodes six and thirteen, seemed rather... unimportant, and while I did enjoy them I was ready to go on to the next episode. Also, I found myself slightly unsatisfied with the end, after all when you end something you like a lot, you're going to want more of it right?

Score: 8

Animation -

Ouran High School Host Club has got some nice animation, and while it's rare for me to say that any anime has bad animation, I have to say Ouran's was... okay, you get what I mean. During the first episode when Haruhi was changing, and I saw her reflection in the background, for some reason I was amazed, maybe it was because it was there, or something else, however, it was... yeah. The animation also seemed akin to that of Fruits Basket, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has noticed this, however, at times because of this, my mind referred Hunny to Momiji...

Score: 9

Sound -

I liked the background music... I'm not entirely sure why, but I found it very fitting to the show... The opening theme, "Sakura Kiss" is pretty catchy, and while I do like the song, after episode seven or so, I started to skip listening to it, as for the ending song, I can't say that I know what it's called, seeing as the only times I have even bothered to listen to it were when the song was present during the episodes, but it's not really because I don't like it, it's just a habit.

The voice acting... Woah.. What can I say? Since Ouran hasn't been dubbed yet (and why not? Someone please licsense it?), I had to watch it subbed, which is not really something I like to do, however, I really like the Japanese voice acting for Ouran. Haruhi sounded convincingly like a young boy, and all the other voices suited their characters well.

Score: 9


Characters -

Ah. The characters... Well, I found all the main characters likable, and they all managed to leave very distinct impressions of who they were in my mind. Their actions, Tamaki especially, are very fun to watch, and some of them are very easy to picture in my mind, while I know that I haven't gotten them all covered... It is hard to tell if certain characters actually grow and change a bit, which is why I wish it was longer, however, I suppose that it's more realistic that way, since people don't change that fast.

Score: 10


Overall -

I really liked Ouran High School Host Club a lot, so much that it was able to tie itself with my previous number one title, Black Cat, and that I started to look for the manga. I do wish that the series was longer, so I could enjoy the host club more, however it'll be a miracle if there is another season. And if you're wondering, if this does get liscensed soon, and I hope it does, I will be buying it.. Though that fact is a bit irrelevant.


Yay!: The characters are amazing! Diverse and... amazing. Renge, who I didn't like in the beginning also started to grow on me.

Nay~: Well, I'd say the plot suffered the most, seeing as I wanted more, and well... yeah. It needed more of the host club, and not the one act characters.

Score: 9 kitties outta 10.

When it first came out as manga I picked up Fruits Basket and fell in love with it instantly. A few weeks later, I insisted my mother buy a DVD from the anime series, sadly I only watched the last six episodes, and then a few months ago Hakoot let me borrow the series from her, and how happy I was.

Anyway, Fruits Basket is about the orphan Torhu Honda who starts the story out by living in a tent in the woods. A sequence of events leads to her staying in the house of her handsome classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousin Shigure. On ... accident she uncovers the secert of the Sohma's - that thirteen of them will turn into the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac... And the cat. Normally one who learns this secret has their memory erased, however, Tohru is an exception and the story mainly follows what happens between her and the Sohmas.

Story -

The story of Fruits Basket is simply heartwarming. It's a nice break from watching all of those "Gotta save the world!" type plots, with it's smallish subplots, and the backgrounds of most of the characters are very interesting and human. Gah. It's so wonderful that I can't think of the words... However, the story in the anime is cut short, meaning it doesn't follow most of the manga, stopping around manga volume eight when there are twenty-three volumes, and moreso Torhu doesn't meet two of the Zodiac animals! However, that is the only downfall.

Score: 9

Animation -

...I'm sure if you've read my other reviews then you know what I'm going to say. Animation was smooth. xD Well, it was. It was slightly like the manga style, however it looked a lot better. The eyecatches were amusing with the little drawings that represent characters (i.e. Onigiri for Tohru, Flower for Hanajima). Coloring was good... Okay... Moving on.

Score: 10

Sound -

I listened to the dub of Fruits Basket, and Funimation did a pretty good job, Torhu sounds innocent and naive, but not to the point of being just plain annoying, Kyo is an arrogant.. cat, and Yuki is all... calm. All the character's voices fit well, however, White Haru's voice didn't fit my mind, but that's probably because I think of Yusuke...

Background music was wonderful, especially the non-vocal piano version of For Fruits Basket, the opening. Most all the music was soft except for those... tense moments... Unfortuantly... I... can't remember.

Score: 10

Character:

Ah. The characters. Probably the best part about this series. I think part of the reason that it's so likable is that someone will be able to identify with at least one of the characters and their situations. The characters are different , but yet in a way the same (in a good way), and seem very human. Again, Tohru is that sweet girl that you'd love to have as a friend, and I could picture it too, because she seems so human.

Score: 10

Enjoyment -

...Needless to say, I enjoyed this series very much, the characters were diverse and interesting enough to watch, and the plot was interesting as well... So. Yeah.

Score: 10


All in All -

Yay: Characters were good, nice and diverese, and interesting and deep.

Nay: Anime ended too quickly. Nuff said.

Score: 10

There aren't many video game players that I know of who haven't heard of Final Fantasy, and there aren't any RPG maniacs that I've met that haven't heard of Final Fantasy VII. The seventh installment of the never-ending Final Fantasy series is the most famous, and for a while I had no idea why, since I had never played the game. When the sequel, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children was announced, I had no idea what it was to be about, but since I was consumed with Final Fantasy X, X-2 and the Kingdom Hearts series, I decided to give the movie a shot.

Final Fantasy ... VII: Advent Children takes place two years after the events of the game. It follows Cloud, who is still mourning the death of Aerith/Aeris and a trio of mini Sephiroth clone things as they try to obtain "Mother" and wreak destruction on the entire planet. Goody.

Story -

Well, I can say that anyone who has no idea about the events of Final Fantasy VII might be confused on the events and people that are mentioned, or it could be just my mother, but it's fairly easy to keep up with, so long as you're paying attention. While I did enjoy the story, it just seemed a little like your typical villian wants to destory the world because of some personal reason and hero, or slight anti-hero in Cloud's case, goes and takes down villian for some personal reason, so that took away from the inital enjoyment.
Score - 8

Animation -

...Dude, this is Square Enix we're talking here. Square Enix the video game company. Do I have to say anything else? ....Fine, I will.

Okay, the last Final Fantasy movie, The Spirits Within, it was a flop, why? Well, I think that it looked too darn REAL, and when you're making something animated or with CGI (that's it right?), you don't want it to look real! The whole point is for it not to look real, if it's going too look real then you're better off using real actors. When AC came around they learned that you can't make them look too real. Now, while the characters can be mistaken for real people, they still hold that animated air around them (it's all in the hair). And that, my dears, makes for some awesome animation. Satisfied?

Score - 10

Sound -

Well, the background music is well. I have the feeling that some of it are different versions of the soundtrack from the game, but again, I can't be sure. The piano compositions that play at certain points of the movie are simply beautiful, particularly the one, Cloud Smiles... I think that's it's name anyway. The remixed version of One-Winged Angel, is simply awesome, and it proves that you can mix a mad rock band with a orchestra. I wasn't fond of the ending song that plays during the credits (the one with the vocals), so I seldom watch the credits because of that...

I watched the dub version, and I loved it, I thought everyone's voices suited their apparent character... Kadaj sounding like a crazy boy dude, Cloud sounding like some... well, you get it, don't you? Though my mind doesn't agree with Aerith's voice...

Score - 9

Character -

Well, I'd say the characterization for this is fairly well, particularly Cloud, since because the end while he does show some acceptance with what's happened and what he's been told over and over again, he still seems like the same...stoic Cloud. Ahm. Yeah. I'll use Kadaj as an example again, he's a good character because you see him, and when he's in your mind you can't put him out of character, unless you're some rabid fangirl... But... yeah. Since this is a movie a character can't really grow in the allowed time period (I assume the movie takes place during maybe... three or four days?), so I can't say much... Unless we're talking Cloud, and we did already.

Score - 9

Enjoyment -

...I can say with a straight face that I enjoyed this movie. After all, you're not going to watch a movie that you don't like eighty times, now are you? I liked the actions scenes, and the animation the most... And particularly Reno... Okay, moving on.

Score - 9


All In All...

Yay! - Animation, baby! Those graphics can be synonymous with... eye candy. I think they are, too.
Nay! - Story needs to be indepth, and should maybe a little easier for the... non fans to follow... Eheheh...

Overall Score - 9

Gah~ Ceray's Review Time (procrastination in disguise)! Anyway, this is the review for the anime Black Cat. The anime is about Black Cat, also known as Train Heartnet, who once was an assassin for the organization Chronos. Due to events that happen in the story, Train quits being an assassin to becoming a sweeper/bounty hunter.

Plot: Since I haven't read the manga (yet) I can't compare the plots, I do know, however, that the storyline has changed a bit, however that doesn't really affect the story. The main part of the story consists of Train more or less wanting to confront a ghost from his past ... and this takes up roughly a little less than half the series. Though it's good that Black Cat had other small subplots, it felt rushed at times, as if they wanted to get straight to the action, which took away from the enjoyment. That aside, the story was wonderful, and kept me anxious for the next episode (which is why I finished so quickly), wanting to know what would happen to Train and company next.
Score: 7/10

Animation: If you want me to express what I though about the animation for Black Cat in one word that word would be "PWETTY." Not pretty, but pwetty. The animation is smooth and does look all.... icky. Yeah. If there's one thing about the animation that I have to point out is that Train looks younger, a few years younger. I mean, he's twenty three in the manga, but in the anime he looks nineteen (age change could be because of the changed time line...). What else should I say? The ending animation for the first twelve episodes is amusing, but only until... episode eight, but honestly I was missing it after a while. But, that's not the point, and the point is that Black Cat's animation nice... No reused animation, as far as I saw.
Score:10/10

Sound: Ah~ The background music, it's music to my ears. The music pretty much matches the mood of the current scene, for example during the dramatic scenes some sort of opera sounding music plays giving you that... ominous (?) feeling. I absolutely adored the piano version of the song Konoyo no Uta, which plays at certain points in the series. The opening theme, Daia no Hana, is amazing as well... However, the first ending theme Namidaboshi sometimes doesn't match the mood of the episode that it's ending...

Now usually, I don't watch subs, this is because I'd rather hear it in English, with Black Cat, I had no choice but to watch it subbed... And how wonderful it was. Takashi Kondo pulls Train off extremely well, sounding one way when serious and totally lighthearted another way. Also Shin'ichiro Miki makes Creed sound absolutely obsessed, which is good... I guess...Cept, I dun like Creed...
Score:9/10

Character: Ah. Do I have to put this? I totally love the characters of Black Cat... Even Creed, who scares me a lot. They aren't all that different than their manga counterparts, which is... good, and you can really tell the difference between then, Train is Train, Tanya is Tanya and Creed.... is obsessed.
Score: 9/10

Enjoyment: ... Must I explain?... Well... I sorta watched the whole series for Train... So... yeah...
Score: 9/10


Overall:

Yay!: Animation is smooth and pwetty. Smooth animation is good on Ceray's glasses ridden eyes.
Nay!: Plot was way too rushed. Pull it out at least ten or so more episoes.
Score: 9/10