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Area 88 is just another one of those series you'd think that it wouldn't be great because it's old and outdated. But fortunately, Area 88 flips you on the side of your head, making you regret that you ever doubted this series' capabilities. You know something? I noticed a common trend in most older Anime series- most of them are "substance over style." This is what Area 88 is all about folks. "Substance over style." Let's review.

STORY... The plot revolves around a man named Shin Kazama who ends up in an Air Force Mercenary Guild somehow (You have to watch, if you want to find ... out.). In order for him to reclaim his freedom, he must keep working until he reaches a certain amount of money. We all know what mercenaries do, right? They kill. But here's the thing- Shin isn't a true born natural cold-blooded killer. (I'll talk more about Shin later in the CHARACTERS category.) Basically, the plot is more about an inner struggle within Shin as he tries to retain his humanity. How can one not undergo character development when he's doing what he is required to do? The plot tears at your emotions eventually and you can't help, but feel emotions for Shin by the end of the series. There is another part of the story which is a tragic romance part, but I feel that it really is insignificant compared to the magnitude of Shin's story. His story will really have you paying attention from start to finish.

ANIMATION... The visuals are surprisingly good, despite being so old. The character designs look typical of old school, but where the visuals really shine is during the battle scenes. Fighter planes are drawn with good detail and when they fire at each other, huge explosions are everywhere which at times bring awe to your viewing experience. Also, wherein the visuals excels is during the expressions of the characters. They really look do human enough. If you can tolerate old school art design, then there will be no problems at all when you're watching this.

SOUND... The sound is perfect. The voice actors fit their characters, but more importantly it's the background music that greatly adds to the atmosphere of Area 88, making it endearing to watch. The background music comes in at the right moments to add that emotional effect, which grips the viewers emotions. The songs are perfect for the series' theme.

CHARACTERS... This is the bread and butter of Area 88. As mentioned earlier, Shin is not a natural cold-blooded killer. He has a soul. He has a heart that cares. In essence, he's just a man with an innocent and kind soul. He just wanted to pursue his dreams and live a happy life with his woman. What makes Shin so captivating is he goes through what we all must eventually go through- the loss of innocence. It's like this- the world sometimes puts us in situations where in order for us to gain something, we are forced to do something we don't like, or in Shin's case, despise. And when we do the things we dislike, you can't help, but feel as if a piece of your sanity, humanity, and dignity was taken away from you. But there's no other way because you must absolutely gain what you so desire... This is an idea of what Shin undergoes throughout the whole series. I'd like to delve more, but you really should just watch this to see what happens. I can assure you it gets interesting. There are also a number of side characters which are realistically human as well, and by the end of the series, you'll eventually like them as well. These guys are mercenaries, but they still retain their humanity... Somehow. Some will provide laughter, some you may dislike, but you'll understand where they're coming from. If you ask me, a splendid job in the CHARACTERS category.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10= Awesome

STRENGTHS
+ Great cast of characters with an emotional gripping main character in Shin Kazama.
+ Plot will have you interested from start to finish.
+ Good visuals despite being old.
+ Ending could make you say, "What a tragic fate."

WEAKNESSES
- Some plot threads prior to ending left and felt unfinished.
- Incomplete ending. (You'll have to resort to the Manga to finish this series.)

Note: Once again, this is a "substance over style" type of Anime. If you can tolerate old school animation, you won't be disappointed with Area 88. It delivers what most Anime of today's generation could not- a great story which tugs at your emotions from the start until the very end. Definitely recommended for any serious Anime watcher.

Phew... After reading some reviews of FLCL, I decided to pick it up. After seeing it, I can say that it does deliver lots of comedy, however by the end of the series, I could not find myself completely drawn to the overall story of FLCL. I, therefore conclude that FLCL is a "hit or miss/love or hate" type of Anime. On to the review.

STORY... Hmm... It's kind of tough to say things about the story when you've got a boy, robots, aliens, secret agents, and a bunch of other crazy stuff. In essence, there's no meaningful story. But with all the mentioned factors, the ... series does provide a hysterical, outrageous comedy that will have you laughing your butt off. Alright, here's a little insight of the story- a boy named Naota whose brother has left for America, so his brother's girlfriend is left with Naota. Then Naota suddenly meets a woman named Haruko and when he learns that aliens pop out of his head, it's only the beginning of the chaos approaching... There is so much going on in the series that it's kind of hard to tell what's really going on. Haha... And much has been left open for interpretation by the audience. Now, if you're a serious Anime watcher, like you go for the more meaningful and deeper stories, it's sad to say that FLCL might not be to your liking. But if you're just looking for a laugh, FLCL definitely delivers. So note to self: don't be too serious when watching this.

ANIMATION... The visuals are top notch. The animation is so fluid that it radiantly vibrates and contributes to the crazy, hilarious atmosphere of FLCL, especially during comedy scenes. It's also fast paced to provide excellent action scenes that at times can be breathtaking. I'd give the Animation 5 stars.

SOUND... The soundtrack is also excellent and it fits the series very well. You can say it's "psychadellic?" Or "funky?" Some songs may have been overused in some scenes, but the series only lasts 6 episodes, so you won't be annoyed too much. One of the more memorable songs was the ending theme song. It's catchy. Also, the voice actors did great on their part. A great job in the Sound category.

CHARACTERS... The characters are good. The most likeable though, would have to be Naota and Haruko. Naota because he's still just a kid growing up and trying to accept the changes happening around him. Despite the short series, he undergoes character development that is likeable. And Haruko, simply because of the comedy she provides. Most of the laughs will be coming from her. There are a number of side characters and they perfectly fill their role because they too provide loads of comedy. The whole cast doesn't disappoint.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10= Awesome

STRENGTHS
+ Outrageously funny.
+ Some of the best quality animation you'll ever see around.

WEAKNESSES
- Not much of a meaningful story because there's too many things going on.
- TOO MUCH has been left open for interpretation.

Note: It's due to the strengths and weaknesses that FLCL is a "hit or miss/love or hate" type of Anime. I recommend this if you're looking for a good, no make it a great laugh. As for people who are serious Anime watchers who like deep and meaningful plots, then this IS NOT for you. Once again, note to self: Don't be too serious when watching this.

Kaiji is another gambling series done by the same people who made Akagi. If you happened to read my review on Akagi, you will notice how disappointed I was. But the same cannot be said about Kaiji. This time the producers realized their mistakes and fixed it. Now, this is a gambling series done right. Thumbs up.

STORY... The plot revolves around a man named Kaiji, who is in his early twenties and is debt-ridden. It doesn't seem he will ever be able to pay off his debts, but as if sent from the heavens or hell, a messenger comes to him with an "once in ... a lifetime" opportunity to pay off his debts... There are 3 story arcs and that's basically how each arc starts. But what keeps things certainly interesting and fresh is how with each arc, there is a new means of gambling for Kaiji, meaning he's not going to play the same game every time. Watch it for yourself to find out, I hate being a spoiler. To add to the unique gambling propositions is that within each arc, there is a heavy load of SHOCK VALUE. It will leave you with your eyes wide open and your jaw touching the ground, constantly making you say, "No way!? That seriously did not just happen! I can't believe it!" There is however, still an amount of internal dialogue, but the producers have cut down on it, so the pacing of the story moves moderately. But still, near the end, the internal dialogue got a little overwhelming. There is a lot of tension build-up that you will keep you on the edge of your seat. What else is great about the plot is that it will keep you guessing from start to finish. All in all, the producers have absolutely managed to make a good story. It even provides insight on the smallest actions of the gamblers in the series, thus, giving you tips on how to become a better gambler. How can you not like that?

ANIMATION... It was the same people who made the character designs for Akagi, so you're pretty much getting the same thing. It takes some getting use to, but you'll realize that there's no problem with it. The character designs fit the dark gambling atmosphere appropriately and the movements of characters are fluid, bringing life to the characters. You can also see sweat, tears, and veins. There's even some blood involved.

SOUND... The soundtrack of Kaiji is likeable and fits the theme of the series very well. The opening theme is an up-beat rock song that you can jam to and the ending theme has a depressed, but there's still hope theme to it. It fits perfectly for gamblers who lose big and still believe that they can change. The background music is okay too. The producers didn't go wrong in this category.

CHARACTERS... Kaiji is the only character that you need to know, and he is by far one of the most characters that people can relate to. Not by what he is, but by what he goes through and his qualities as a person. Kaiji is a low-life bum who resorts to not so conventional means to make a living for himself. He struggles everyday, and at times he even cries about his problems, but then suddenly realizes that crying ain't gonna do him any good. Also, how many of you have been betrayed by people whom you thought were your friends? How many times were your morals tested to the limit? Wouldn't you say that's very human? This is just one of the many sentiments Kaiji undergoes through the series. Kaiji's morals are constantly pushed to the limit throughout the series and it is inspiring to watch him desperately hold on to his dignity as a good human being. But where Kaiji really shines is during the gambles. He has this "keep struggling to pull the come from behind victory" attitude and expresses his emotions loudly. These are just a few of the many things in Kaiji. He is such a great main character. You will like him for the character development he undergoes. Now, there are some side characters, but they don't stay very long, they are somewhat insignificant.

OVERALL SCORE: 7/10= Good

STRENGTHS
+ Great main character in Kaiji.
+ Has loads of twists and SHOCK VALUE, not predictable.
+ Even provides insight/tips on how to become a better gambler.
+ Has one of the most shocking endings in Anime ever.

WEAKNESSES
- The internal dialogue can drag the series to a boring halt sometimes.

Note: If you're looking for a gambling series, this is it.

Oh, Akagi... Akagi, Akagi, Akagi... What can I say? This is the first Anime that I have ever seen that dealt with gambling. The means of gambling is with a game called Mahjong. I did not know the fundamentals and basic rules of Mahjong when I watched this. Looking back at it, I certainly wished I had taken the time to learn Mahjong. The reason for this is because all Akagi did was left me with numerous boring moments, frustration, and a bitter taste in my mouth. And maybe, just maybe I could have appreciated and enjoyed Akagi a little bit more, but it's just ... not that great folks. I'm sorry. On to the review...

STORY... As mentioned earlier, the plot revolves around Mahjong. There are a total of 3 arcs, if I remember correctly, and within each arc, the ante is raised to a higher level which keeps things interesting. The setup of the plot to me was great, but the execution of the plot was not well done. There are numerous instances wherein there is internal dialogue. It happens when the players are thinking to themselves. For example, what's their opponent's next move, what's the best move for them, and when they start panicking. Now, these are great ways to build "on the edge of your seat tension" and it works for the first few episodes, but they just overdid it with the rest of the episodes. Imagine taking 2, sometimes even 3 whole episodes just for a single round. There were so many times I tried so hard not to fall asleep while listening to the characters' internal dialogue. It's slow paced. Eventually, you'll come to find out it's not if Akagi will win, it's HOW he will win, meaning you know what's going to happen= predictable. And to make matters worse, Akagi has a very UNSATISFYING ending. Let's go to the next category before I start ranting on other details as to why I dislike Akagi. Haha...

ANIMATION... I had no particular problems with the animation. It takes some getting use to, but it's quite good. The character designs appropriately fit the dark gambling atmosphere and great detail was put into the Mahjong tiles, giving viewers a better feel for the game of Mahjong. The movements of the characters is also fluid such as when slamming Mahjong tiles on the game table. That's pretty much it.

SOUND... The soundtrack is actually quite decent. The opening theme is just alright, but the first and second ending theme are definitely much more likeable. The background music also appropriately fits the dark gambling atmosphere. The producers did right in this category.

CHARACTERS... This is THE ONLY strong point of the series. The main character Akagi is actually quite really cool. He has a natural born instinct for gambling and he has this dark aura about him that terrifies his opponents. Maybe it's because he's emo? Just kidding. Haha... It's probably due to the fact that Akagi is never satisfied with just winning. He always wants to bring about the demise of his opponents by mentally breaking them down and then taking absolutely everything the opponent owns until there's nothing left. It's play hard, gamble harder. However, the series does not go into any background information as to why Akagi is the way he is nor does he undergo any character development. But I get the feeling it'd be wrong for me to hold that against this series, so I won't. There are some side characters, but they are totally insignificant.

OVERALL SCORE: 4/10= Below Average

STRENGTHS
+ Likeable main character.
+ Animation is fluid.
+ Decent soundtrack.

WEAKNESSES
- Predictable.
- Incredibly slow paced.
- Too much internal dialogue.
- Horrible ending.

Note: You can still somehow enjoy Akagi without completely knowing Mahjong, but good luck to you. If you're curious about Mahjong, then be my guest and watch this. But if you're just a regular viewer, (such as myself) take my word for it and avoid this one. There is another gambling series that is so much better than Akagi. It was made by the same producers- the series is called Kaiji. Read my review on Kaiji and see the difference. I recommend this series ONLY to viewers who are curious about Mahjong.

Hey, guess what everyone? Guess whose everybody's favorite robot has come back for yet another adventure! Well, it's none other than GaoGaiGar! A new menace threatens the planet... Huh? Wait, didn't we get a lot of that last time? Not again! Nooo!!! Joking aside, I'm glad to say that this sequel redeems the GaoGaiGar Franchise altogether. If you happen to be a regular viewer who just stumbled upon this series, (such as myself) and got through the first season, it's safe to say that if you watch this, you will be rewarded. Sadly, kid viewers will have to wait until they're teenagers to watch this ... one. I'll explain later in the review. Before I go on to the review, if you haven't seen the first season, I STRONGLY SUGGEST you do watch it before reading any further. The only reason I suggest this is so you can appreciate the totality of GaoGaiGar. Now, on to the review.

STORY... Not much has changed in this category, but you get a sense of nostalgia when you see the heroes of 3G back again. There's still villains wanting to rule the universe, but where it gets interesting is the methods used by the villains. The methods carried out by the villains inflict absolute despair on the heroes that it had enough SHOCK VALUE to make me say, "No way... Did that really just happen? Whoa, the heroes might actually lose this time." But then I suddenly remembered that this is GAOGAIGAR, the heroes ALWAYS find a way to win. And with that, lies a flaw- While watching this, I never had the sense that the heroes of 3G would lose in the end= slight sense of predictability. But as I got towards the end, I was finally given a befitting ending that left me satisfied. Watch it for yourself to find out.

ANIMATION... This is one of the strong points of the series and also where I explain why kid viewers will have to wait until they're teenagers. The robot designs definitely look fresher, crisper, and much cooler. There are definitely those heavy GAR moments when power-ups are achieved and when transformations are done. The battle scenes are splendid- seeing mechas go at it, as bits and pieces of their armor break apart and lots of sparks flying everywhere with each intense collision. Not to mention, over the scale screaming of emotions of the pilots. Definitely fun to watch. It was enough to make me say wow. It's just that awesome. Haha... To my surprise, there is a lot of nudity and ecchi themes like huge breasts jiggling and seeing panties under the skirts of women. They even focus on it for like 1-2 seconds, sometimes 2-3 seconds. I thought this was a kids' show!? Anyways, let's go on- there are still the over exaggerated movements for the simplest of commands, and luckily, you don't see as much of that stuff anymore, (not like in the first season, wherein, every episode it's loaded with that junk) so you'll be more amused rather than annoyed. I also applaud the designers for making the villains look more menacing and dangerous. They weren't lazy this time. I commend them for that.

SOUND... Not much can be said in this category, there's still the same opening theme song, but with a "grander" feeling about it. Maybe it's because it's the finale? I guess so... I didn't particularly like the ending theme song. In essence, it's still basically the same soundtrack.

CHARACTERS... The same heroic 3G group is still here, but early on, the series lets you know that most members of the original crew have all moved to different places and different people have replaced their old positions. For example, remember how Mr. Chief use to give the approval for Final Fusion with wild energy and emotion? The new guy who replaced him is so relaxed, and so laid back that it is outrageously funny watching him give the approval for Final Fusion (because it's something you're not use to, if you watched the first season). There are also the introduction of a few new side characters, like the new sister robots of Enryu and Hyoryu, and Renee, who is Guy's cousin. But I ended up not really feeling for them because this is about the original 3G and their final battle. It feels as if they were just put in there because the number of villains turned out to be extra, so the directors needed an opponent for the villain. Surprisingly, Mikoto Utsugi was given a stronger role in the story, which I found to be respectable and likeable- refreshing. The directors finally made full use of the cast, which resulted in a better story.

OVERALL SCORE: 8/10= Awesome

STRENGTHS
+ Still conveys the wonderful message: "Anything can be overcome with courage."
+ Has SHOCK VALUE.
+ Full use of cast characters.
+ Excellent Animation. (Especially mecha battles loaded with GAR moments.)
+ Finally delivers an appropriate ending GaoGaiGar should have had a long time ago.

WEAKNESSES
- Predictability still exists.
- Too much unnecessary nudity and ecchi themes.

Note: I can't really say whether you should watch this or not. If you watched the first season, then why not watch it for closure? (It's what I did and I was rewarded.) But if you didn't watch the first season, then you don't have to bother with this one. Remember, tell the kids they're going to have to wait a few years before watching this. I recommend this for GaoGaiGar fans and for regular viewers who happened to watch the first season.

When I first laid eyes on the title, "Grave Of The Fireflies," I was immediately allured, thus, making me want to watch this movie. After seeing this movie, all I can say is this- it has the potential to make even the hardest of hearts soften up and crumble to pieces... Prepare yourselves for a review of an EPIC Anime.

STORY... The plot revolves around 2 siblings, an older brother named Seita, and his baby sister named Setsuko. The timeline is around World War II and the plot portrays how Seita and Setsuko try to survive during such harsh times. I'd like to mention more things ... about the plot's details and it's key events, but due to the short time of the movie, (about 1 hour and 30 minutes long) any further telling of the plot's details would result in spoiling. All you need to know is your heart and emotions will pour out to these 2 siblings as they suffer one devastating blow after another. And you may find yourselves asking by the end of the film, "What would I have done, in that situation, could I have handled it any better?" Or "How could such a thing have happened?'

ANIMATION... Now, this movie is pretty old, but I was amazed at how excellent the drawing designs are. When the characters display emotions such as when they cry, get angry, or smile it is portrayed in an excellent manner because it looks human, it looks real. The surrounding environment also has a realistic feeling to it. Death is even portrayed perfectly down to the gritty details. This Anime does it's best to display people and reality, and succeed it does.

SOUND... The soundtrack fits perfectly with the movie. Each key event is accompanied with an excellent music piece which ultimately engulfs you in the heavy tone and theme of the movie. When I watched the first few minutes, I could already feel a sad, depressing theme just by hearing the background music. It's as if the music is a hook that deliberately pulls at your emotions straight from your heart. It's just that good at accompanying the movie.

CHARACTERS... The siblings are the focal point of the movie. Seita is an admirable older brother as he does his very best to keep it together and take care of his baby sister and himself. Setsuko is absolutely adorable, and displays the true innocence of a child, and though she may be young, she knows how to adapt to her environment, and at times, she is stronger than Seita. You'll understand why when you watch. There are a number of side characters as well like the siblings' Aunt, and a few others. There are some side characters that you will dislike, but you'll end up accepting them as they are because sometimes there are people that you may have encountered in your own life and they are exactly the same as the side characters in the movie. Familiarity of human nature. All in all, the side characters play a role in the memorable and tragic fate of Seita and Setsuko. You will sympathize with Seita and Setsuko's actions until the very end...

OVERALL SCORE: 10/10= As Good As It Gets

STRENGTHS
+ Delivers excellently in all categories. (Story, Animation, Sound, Characters)
+ Emotionally striking. (This will hit home especially if you're an older brother who has a baby sister, or if you're a softie.)
+ Realistic enough to make any viewer understand, relate to, and sympathize with it.
+ Conveys an important life lesson: How truly fragile Life really is...

WEAKNESSES
(There are no weaknesses.)

Note: This is definitely a must-see for any serious Anime watcher. Personally, no other Anime has left a bigger emotional wound on my heart than this one. Watch this. You won't regret it.

I had high hopes that I would be sinking into another EPIC mecha-anime because of all the reviews I read about this beforehand. They all said before "Gurren Lagann," there was GaoGaiGar. What I sunk into, no I mean drowned into was a predictable and "Neon Genesis Evangelion-like" story downgraded for kiddies. At least now I assuringly know which audience this was targeting, so I'll give the fairest and most unbiased review I can.

STORY... The plot of GaoGaiGar is your typical "save the world one day at a time," except it's with robots. You've got your evil mastermind sending his minions to do his bidding; ... you've got your typical "monster of the week" or in terms of GaoGaiGar, "Zonder of the week." And with each enemy encounter, the question isn't if GaoGaiGar will win, it's HOW GaoGaiGar will win. You can expect power-up, after power-up, after power-up, after power-up, after power-up... (Hence, the "typical cycle"). And just like the sentence before this one, (not the one in parentheses), GaoGaiGar is repetitive... Too repetitive for it's own good... It attempts to put in some suspense at times by displaying that some actions of one of the heroes does has negative repercussions, but you can easily tell they will find a solution to fix this problem. And so, the "typical cycle" repeats itself with the introduction of new characters joining the fight. Predictable, right?

For me, the only good points of the plot was with each enemy encounter, you really can sense the degree of difficulty on how to defeat the enemy getting higher and higher or the degree of danger getting higher, however you want to say it. That could possibly spark your interest. The second good point is it's twist- just when you thought the enemy was defeated, guess again... But that too, was unfortunately it's downfall because repeating the "typical cycle" for 49 episodes just got a bit boring towards the end. Also, I thought that if the exact opposite thing happened to the heroes (don't worry, I won't spoil anything, keep reading) in episode 30 and in the final episode, then GaoGaiGar could have been a candidate for an EXCELLENT series or maybe even EPIC.

ANIMATION... The animation is a bit dated, but I won't hold that against it. The robot designs are neatly drawn, and great detail goes into when they perform their transformations. However, a lot of stock footage transformation was used for most of the episodes and you could get bored after seeing it too many times. But you will find yourself amused on how exaggerated characters perform their actions even if it's just for the simplest things like- Mr. Chief's jacket wildly blowing in the wind as he gives approval for certain battle actions and how Mikoto Utsugi has to break glass with her fist just to press a button. Now, this works for the first few times, but after a while, it just gets annoying. As for the enemy designs, I can't help, but think if the designers got lazy towards the end. Watch it for yourself, you'll see what I mean.

SOUND... The soundtrack of GaoGaiGar isn't terribly bad, but it isn't terribly good either. The opening theme may be annoying to some, but after 8 episodes in, I found myself smiling, thinking to myself, "I'm actually listening to this. Haha..." The ending theme is just okay or should I say "meh?" As for the background music, what can I say? It's typical of the 90's? All in all, the soundtrack shouldn't be too much of a bother while watching.

CHARACTERS... Now, this is what I consider to be the "saving grace" of GaoGaiGar. The main characters are likeable, despite the lack of depth. You've got Guy Shishio, your main super hero who displays a fiery courage, along with a boy named Mamoru Amami whose got special powers that help defeat the Zonders, alongside them you've got the team 3G whose cast is also entertaining to a certain extent. However, it's the robots that steal the show, mainly GaoGaiGar's comrades. GaoGaiGar's robot comrades were each given distinct, unique human personalities, and seeing them interact with others and their environment will either put a smile on your face or make you laugh. You might even have favorite robots by the time you're done with the whole series. As for the villains, they are totally one dimensional, just a bunch of dudes always planning to wreak havoc on humanity in whatever way they can. You know, a mastermind wanting to rule the world or universe, something along those lines. Only one villain undergoes character development, but I won't say who that it is. I don't like being a spoiler. Haha...

OVERALL SCORE: 6/10= Above Average

STRENGTHS
+ Likeable characters, despite lack of depth
+ Introduction of new characters is what keeps the show entertaining somehow.
+ Different types of enemies keeps challenges for the heroes fresh.

WEAKNESSES
- Predictable plot.
- Too much repetition in some scenes.

Note: The target audience of this series is obviously kids because kids don't tend to notice character development, plot twists, or other details that serious anime watchers look at. I recommend this series only and ONLY to a younger audience and for people who really love mechas. As for the other viewers, you'll be better off not watching this one.