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Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz is the follow-up to the hit anime, Wing Gundam. Originally released as three OVAs, it was later complied into a movie, which is the version I'm watching. Picking up after the events of Wing, the gang's back to fight-off a new enemy that threatns the peace between Earth and the colonies. So, does it manage to be a fun time?

Story - After Colony 196, one year after the events of Wing, peace between Earth and space colonies has been going smoothly... until it's not. The supposed daughter of Wing's villain Traize Kusheranada appears and declares war against ... the Earth-Space Union, believing that she's the rightful heir to rule. Naturally, it's up to our four Gundam pilots Heero, Duo, Trowa, and Quatre to put a stop to her plans. I say four as Wufei joined her cause-- believing its just (which is such a Wufei move)-- and will fight his former comrades. Characters such as Relena, Noin, Dorothy, and even Zechs are back and get their time to shine as well. All in all, the story wasn't anything special, but it got the job done in being entertaining and bringing the group again for one final adventure. It does offer backstory to each character via flashbacks prior to the show's first episode, which was cool.

Characters - The characters have grown after the events of Wing, with each going about living their normal lives. Their core personalities remain intact: Heero is still edgy as ever, Duo is the life of the group, Trowa is silent voice of reason, Wufei is arrogant as ever, and Quatre is the pure-hearted soul we know and love. Relena's more mature this time around, working to improve the peace efforts and has visibly grown after the events of Wing. Zechs is here after being presumed dead and this time, he's learned from his mistakes and aims to protect the harmony between Earth and the colonies. As for the villains, Mariemaia is a young and misguided kid and her second-in command Dekim was a generic villain taking advantage of her-- not the most interesting bunch. The silver-lining here is that Wufei finally redeems himself by the end by letting go of his stubborn ways of war and starts lending a hand.

Presentation- Being a movie, the higher budget meant that the animations and backgrounds look much more fluid and smoother than the show. The Gundams look better than ever, especially when causing all sorts of chaos. Though it's a bit odd that some designs like Trowa's Heavyarms Gundam look different from the show. The voicework (sub) was great and the original cast make a return. The soundtrack was great with many catchy tracks to boot.

Overall- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz was a fun time for fans of Wing Gundam. Granted, the villains were weak, but the main cast help carry the story. All in all, a fun time with more action, backstory, and flashy visuals to enjoy.

Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or "Wing Gundam" is arguably the most popular Gundam in the franchise, being many fans' first introduction to the decades-long franchise. Following the story of five Gundam pilots and their quest to rebel against their oppressors, it's an engaging series that has captivated many fans and newcomers to anime over the years. As a huge fan of Gundam, I've heard and read about the praises Wing gets so naturally, I was excited to watch it. So, does it live up to the fame?



Story - In the futuristic After Colony 195, Earth has formed a worldwide alliance and most of mankind ... have settled in space via colonies. When the Earth alliance rule began to oppress the colonies, several colonies began developing special mobile suits known as a "Gundam" to retaliate against them. The plot follows five Gundam pilots: antisocial hero, Heero Yuy; wisecracking joker Duo Maxwell; stoic loner Trowa Barton; kind optimist Quarte Winner; and arrogant showoff Wufei Chang as they battle the Earth alliance and their subdivision, the OZ.

The anti-war themes of the series is prevalent here and you get to experience the cast's ordeals as they struggle to find a cause to fight for. Despite being a confusing mess sometimes, I enjoyed the story and its themes. Still, I had some issues with it being contrived at times with numerous coincidents happening and characters getting plot-armor like crazy, constantly escaping danger like falling on their heads from deadly heights without a scratch.


Characters - Each of the five leads were interesting and get a decent bit of character development, like Heero showing basic empathy, Duo being snarky, Trowa slowly opening up to his comrades, and Quatre (while being the kindest) shows his darker side at one point. Sadly, Wu Fei is the weakest of the bunch, as he struggles to grow and remains arrogant till the last episode. While their personalities clash initially, seeing the five leads working together as a team by the end was really cool and made for some memorable moments. My favorite was Duo as he stands out compared to the rest, with his bubbly personality being a breath of fresh air (though be can be a total badass with his Deathscythe if need be). Relena is the poster girl of the show and while she has a reputation of being annoying, but I found her character to be good with an interesting arc. Hearing her screening "Heero!" every episode got annoying, though.

The supporting cast like Noin, Sally, Hilde, Catherine, and the Gundam scientist were nice too. Zechs Marquise was a great villain (and Char clone) with a solid arc about him finding a reason to exist as a soldier when wars aren't needed. Traize Kusheranada, Zechs' best friend and co-villain was equally cool and calculating, challenging Zechs and the Gundam pilots behind the scenes. Other than that, the other side villains were all one-note and generic.


Presentation - For a nearly 30 year old anime, Wing holds up pretty well with the stylish designs of the Gundams being the highlight. Each was distinct and unique, matching the personality of its pilot (Deathsyche and Epyon were my favorites!). The character designs were great though i didn't like some choices like Trowa's hair looking like a broom and Dorothy's eyebrows being disgustingly gross-looking. Other than that, the backgrounds were nice and I liked the deigns of the Taurus, Leo, and Aries suits. I watched Wing sub and the performances were good, especially Zechs (whose the same voice as Dio!) and Traize being standouts. The soundtrack was fantastic, packing many great tracks that fit the tone. The opening themes "Just Communication" and "Rhythm Emotion" as well as the ending theme "It's Just Love!" are catchy all-time classics.


Overall- While it didn't exceed my expectations, I had a lot of fun with Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. The story was a confusing mess at times though I still enjoyed watching it to see how things unfold for the cast, who I grew to like. The Gundam designs were awesome too and that's important for a Gundam show. If you're a Gundam fan, then watch Wing. It may not be as great as the Universal Century shows, but it delivers on the action and themes we've come to expect from the franchise. Newcomers will find it a fun watch, especially if you love of seeing giant robots causing all sorts of destruction (the first two episodes give you that and more). All in all, a great anime and a classic in the mecha genre.

Ponyo is another fresh offering by the renowned Studio Ghibli and animator Hayao Miyazaki. A more cheery and upbeat film compared to their previous offerings at the time, Ponyo is an adorable film, though nothing that I would call deep or anything.

Story- We follow a small goldfish who meets a young boy named Sosuke, who adopts her as his own and calls "Ponyo". The two quickly become close until Ponyo's sea wizard father comes to take her back. However, Ponyo's not your average fish as she's a magical princess who plans on being human after falling in love with Sosuke. Things won't go as ... smoothly when Ponyo disrupts the balance of the sea, unleashing havoc on the world. Along the adventure, we'll get to know more about the pair and the world around them.

As far as the story goes, it was alright. It can feel all over the place with the constant amount of stuff that's happening on screen but it was entertaining. The themes of anti-pollution and not judging others based on appearances were nice and anyone can relate to.

Characters- Sadly, the characters are weakest aspect of the film with the exception of Sosuke and Ponyo, who were fun to watch as the adventure got more wild. The side cast like Soskue's mom, the sea wizard, to the old ladies at the nursery home, just felt pretty one dimensional and uninteresting as you don't get to hear about some of their backstories.

Presentation- Like many of Ghibli's films, Ponyo is a treat for the eyes. I fell in love with the soft, hand-drawn art-style which hasn't aged a day despite the film being over 12 years old. From the deep blue seas to the sunny skies of Sosuke's town, the film is a looker. The animations, backgrounds, and character designs are jaw dropping. The voicework (dub) was good, with big name talents like Liam Nesson delivering good performances. As always, Joe Hisaishi composes the soundtrack and it was great, complementing many of the films chaotic moments.

Overall- Ponyo was a fun watch and while it wasn't the most fleshed out film to come from Studio Ghibli, it's still a great time for audiences of all ages. The animation, themes, and soundtrack were definitely highlights and it's a worth a watch if you're a fan of Ghibli's work.

Porco Rosso has a reputation of being one of Studio Ghibli's lesser known, more underrated films under their belt. It's not a film you'd often see mentioned when people think of Studio Ghibli. Anyway, so I was browsing the studio's line up of films on Netflix and came across Porco Rosso, which looked like a cool a watch. Is it a blast like Ghibli's other works? Let's find out.

Story- Set after WW1, we follow Porco Rosso, an ex-Italian airplane fighter who's been turned into a pig by a mysterious curse. He works as a bounty hunter, clearing the skies from pirates, and getting paid big. ... One day, he's ambushed by a rival fighter Curtis, who beats Porco, now presumed to be dead. With his plane trashed, Porco sets out to repair it once more and regain his honor. Along the way, he'll befriend a young mechanic Fio, who takes great admiration in him.

The story was an interesting one and has themes of anti-war that's expected from Ghibli, which serve as a backdrop to Porco's journey. That being said, it packs some funny moments to keep things from feeling overly serious.

Characters- The characters were all right, nothing to write home about. Porco's your cool and collected protag, and I enjoyed learning about his mysterious past throughout the ride. Fio is your energetic female lead, and contrasts Porco's calm demeaner. The rest of the cast like Porco's love interest Gina, Curtis, and the sky pirates were on the shallow side, but were entertaining nonetheless.

Presentation- It's a Studio Ghibli film and even though it came back almost 30 years ago, it still looks pretty nice. Yeah some of the character designs feels a tad dated, but the colorful backgrounds like the ocean and the skies, and designs of the planes hold up well. The voicework (dub) was great. Lots of great performances and I enjoyed Michael Keaton's smooth voice as Porco. The soundtrack was nice to listen to, as expected from composer Joe Hisaishi.

Overall- Porco Rosso was a pretty enjoyable adventure and definitely deserve a lot more attention than it gets. The story, the action, and the visuals were easily the best parts of the film. Though it has a few shortcomings, I liked Porco Rosso a lot. It's definitely worth a watch if you're into Studio Ghibli animation or just plain cool films in general.

Lauded as being one of the best (if not the best) animated movie of all time and the highest grossing movie in Japanese history at the time, Spirited Away is animation legend Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki's magnum opus. That's saying a lot considering there's a lot of great animated movies out there. So what makes Spirited Away special? A lot of things.

Story

The story's an odd one to explain, but I'll do my best. We follow Chihiro, a young girl who is sad that she's moving to a new home. Along the way, she and her parents get lost and end up in an ... odd looking amusement park. It's soon after that Chihiro finds herself being transported into a spirit world where she can see spirits and other weird creatures. Oh, and her parents are turned into giant pigs! Yeah, it's a lot to take in. In order to get by, she's forced to work in a bathhouse in fear of being turned into an animal by the witch Yubaba, who happens to run the place.

Throughout her journey, Chihiro will meet and befriend a wide cast of odd people, some good and some bad, while trying to find a way to save her parents and go back home. It's pretty confusing at first, but I ended up loving the story and the themes of appreciating hard work, greed, and gluttony were relatable. It's a 2 hour adventure that didn't feel like one since the story managed to hook me in.

Characters

The characters aren't the most deep ones you'll ever meet-- especially the lack of a clear-cut villain-- but I still found them all pretty likable. Chihiro is initially moody and timid since she's leaving her old life behind, but her journey in the spirit world helps her grow into a more confidant and brave person. Haku, who is just as lost as Chihiro was great and was interesting when you get to know his story. I even found the Witch herself, who was pretty threating and always gave Chihiro a hard time, to be likable towards the end of the film. Also, the side cast like Chihiro's cleaning friend Lin, and the Dr. Eggman-looking Kamaji were great too.

Presentation

Obviously since were talking about a Ghibli film, it's no surprise that Spirited Away is one great-looking film, especially for one that came out nearly 20 years ago! The amount of weird looking creatures and characters like the giant baby, six-legged Kamaji, and the black mass with a face that's following after Chihiro were pretty weird and unique at the same time. Couple that with beautifully drawn backgrounds and impressive lighting and it's a visual treat for the eyes.

The voicework (dub) was great, I liked the performances and none where too annoying or felt out of place. The music was just plain fantastic to hear and I loved hearing many of the film tracks. It's easily my favorite work from composer Joe Hisaishi.

Overall

I came into Spirited Away with normal expectations thinking it's going to be a regular film, but after watching it, I finally understand the hype behind it. The story was original, the characters were great, the visuals are stunning, the music was amazing, and the enjoyment was there. It's my favorite film of Ghibli and it may sound cliché, but there's nothing quite like Spirited Away. Young kids and even adults will find a lot to enjoy here, though those looking for a more action-packed adventure won't be as impressed. Overall, it's a must watch for adventure fans.

My Neighbor Totoro has a reputation of being one of Studio Ghibli's best films ever made. Following the adventure of two sisters who befriend a giant furry animal, the film's received high praise and became an anime icon. Naturally, I was excited when I heard all of the hype surrounding it and now that I've finally watched it, does it meet those expectations?

The film starts out when the Kusakabe family moves into the country side to live in a run-down house to be next to their ill mother. Our two main leads are Satsuki and her younger sister, Mei, as they explore their newfound ... home. Things seem pretty normal until Mei stumbles into the giant forest next to them and come across, Totoro, a big rabbit-like furry monster who likes to sleep a lot. Only the two sisters can see Totoro and throughout the film, the two slowly befriend him and his pack of friends (one of them is a Catbus!). There is no main villain or conflict in the story, aside from the sisters' mom being very sick, so it's a fairly laid-back one.

I enjoyed it for what it is though the scenes without Totoro and his pals weren't that interesting since aside from Satsuki and Mei are just goofing around-- which I found to be kind of boring. It's mainly aimed at kids so don't go expecting a deep story and some plot twists.

Characters

While nothing special, I really enjoyed the cast of the film. Satsuki is the older, slightly more mature sister while Mei, is the younger, more naïve one. The interactions between the two were adorable and you start to care about them as the story progresses. Totoro and his friends don't talk much, but the scenes where they eat and hang around with the sister were fun to watch. The side characters like the sisters' dad, the old lady "Granny", and the boy next door Kanta, were pretty likable.


Presentation

Being one of Ghibli's early works, Totoro holds up pretty well considering its over 30 years old. The character designs might look a bit washed-out by today's standards, but the lush green environments, detailed water effects, and iconic design of Totoro are all very impressive. The voicework (dub) was decent and the performances were pretty okay. The soundtrack, on the other hand, was great and really blended well with the film's style, as expected from renowned composer Joe Hisaishi.


Overall

My Neighbor Totoro was a pretty fun watch. The story was pretty simple for my taste, but I can see the appeal behind it, especially with young children. The characters were good as well and the presentation continues to impress to this day. Overall, it's a great recommendation for fans of the studio and those looking for a "fun for all ages" adventure.

Howl's Moving Castle is another Studio Ghibli classic that's based on the 1986 novel of the same name. It's directed by Hayao Miyazaki and features the studio's signature visual animation. I've recently been interested in watching Studio Ghibli's works and Howl's Moving Castle caught my eye. Is it worth a watch? Definitely!


Story

The film follows Sophie, a quiet young hat maker who meets Howl, an eccentric wizard known for his gargantuan moving castle. She soon finds herself into an old lady as a curse from the Witch of the Waste, who's after Howl's "heart". She sets out to lift her curse, soon bumping into Howl's castle ... and joining its crew, which consist of Howl, his young apprentice Markl, and Calcifer, a fire demon who powers the entire castle. All of this is happening while two nations are mercilessly waging war against each other. The story can be hard to follow sometimes, with it constantly shifting between scenes and introducing new characters, but I still found it to be an enjoyable one.

Themes of anti-war and old age were handled well, being the story's strongest suits. As for the villain, which some might expect to be the Witch, but it's actually the war itself.


Characters

Another great aspect of the film were its characters, which I all loved. Sophie may initially seem like a quiet, dull lead but when she transforms into an old woman, she builds up courage and realizes that there's nothing to fear, with her starting to embrace life. Howl is also a great lead as underneath his charming looks, is a tormented and war-despising man who will do anything to stop it. Markl is your upbeat kid, who isn't overly annoying. And Calcifer is the heart of the bunch, proving lots of much needed comedic relief. Its even better that he's voice by Billy Crystal in the dub. Even the hopping scarecrow "Turnip head" was likable despite not saying a word.


Presentation

It goes without saying, but the film is a visual treat. From the impressive character designs to the beautiful backgrounds to the detailed and mechanical animations of the castle itself, the film looks stunning. The voicework (dub) was packed with commendable performances, featuring big-name voices like Christian Bale, Jean Simmons, and Billy Crystal as Howl, Sophie, and Calcifer, respectively. The soundtrack was great, with lots of orchestral tracks.


Overall

Howl's Moving Castle has to be one of my favorite anime films I've watched in a while. The story was interesting, the characters were relatable, and the presentation was stunning. It can be hard to keep up with and tends to drag at points, but it remains a fun watch for those looking for a fantasy adventure that's also a visual ride.

The Secret World of Arrietty comes to us from non-other than anime legend, Studio Ghibli. Being one in their long roster of classics, how does Arrietty compare to their previous works? and is it any fun?

Story

Arrietty is a small (and I mean really tiny) 14 year old girl known as a "Borrower" who lives with her family under a house. They borrow everyday objects from humans like tissues, sugar cubes, and other small things in order to survive while also making sure that they're not seen. One day, a sickly young boy Shou spots Arrietty and the two slowly become friends as they get ... to learn more about each other's worlds. The story was simple yet remains a heart-warming one that viewers of all ages can watch and enjoy, though I'd have to say that the main antagonist was pretty lacking.


Characters

The characters, while straightforward, were pretty interesting. Arrietty was a great lead and her journey of becoming a fledgling borrower in order to support her family was an admirable one. Shou was also a relatable character as he slowly builds up the courage to overcome his sickness and embrace life. I enjoyed the interactions between the two, which are easily the best parts of the film and the ending was a pleasant one too. Other characters like Arrietty's family were okay though the main antagonist, the housekeeper Haru, was weak. The story never explains her dislike of the borrowers, making her motivations really jarring.


Presentation

Being Studio Ghibli, there's no doubt that the production values are phenomenal. It may not match the mind-blowing visuals of the studio's previous work, but I loved the detailed look of the environments, with the rain effects, lighting, and creature design all making Arrietty's world feel that more alive. The doll house scene, which is just plain gorgeous to look at, was one of my favorite bits of the film. The UK dub was surprisingly good, featuring strong performances from big-name actors like Tom Holland and Mark Strong. I liked the soundtrack, with the ending theme being my favorite track.

Overall

Like many of Studio Ghibli's works, The Secret World of Arrietty was a fun watch if you're looking to relax and unwind. The simple story and relatable cast will resonate with audiences of all ages and the impressive art just gives it a ton of charm too. It's one of my favorite works of the studio and comes highly recommended.

I heard lots of praise regarding Angel Beats! over the years being worth a watch, and recently I was pretty interested in the show itself that I finally dedicated time to watch it. So is it any good? Yeah, though not without some flaws.

Story

The plot follows our protagonist Otonashi, where he awakens to a mysterious high-school environment. It's soon revealed that he has been passed on to the afterlife and finds himself reluctantly joining with a similar group of students that met the same fate-- who are constantly fighting with the titular Angel, a terminator-like girl with superhuman powers and possibly the only thing ... preventing the group from escaping the place. The story was interesting and I enjoyed seeing the cast working together and forming "Operations" in order to beat Angel, with the ending also being an somber one.

The show's tone is juggles between bloody action and over-the-top comedy, which may sound conflicting at first but the latter worked well in easing some of the tension of the story. Also, the plot can get emotional too, with the themes of facing your regrets and moving on, being pretty relatable. All in all, I enjoyed the story.

Characters

The characters on the other hand, weren't as interesting as the premise, with few of them being standouts. Otanashi has his own tragic past and is relatable on some level, though he's pretty uninteresting compared to the rest of the cast. I ended up liking Yuri, Angel, and Hinata as the plot glosses over their pasts. However, the most interesting characters like the shy ninja Shiina, the short-tempered Noda (who also freaking packs a halberd), and oddball TK (who has a tendency of spewing random English gibberish) had lots of potential that were left wasted. It honestly sucks, but that's mainly due to the anime's brief 13 episode run.

Presentation

I really liked the art-work and character designs (even their weird hair colors) of Angel Beats! The background environments were great and overall look felt nice. The voice acting (Dub) was decent and the VAs looked like they were enjoying themselves. I have to say the music was very good and the upbeat tracks played throughout the show were nice. The piano opening theme "My Soul, Your Beats!" and rock songs by the anime's band "Girls Dead Monster" were fun to listen to as well.


Overall

Angel Beats! was a fun watch despite its flaws. The story was interesting and I always told myself "just one more episode!" and while the characters were short on the depth, it was still entertaining watching their dumb antics. The art and sound were great, as expected. I can honestly see myself going for another watch somewhere down the line again just because I enjoyed my experience with the show. Action, mystery, and even slice of life fans should definitely check out Angel Beats!

As a big fan of mecha anime, I kept hearing lots of great stuff about Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion or just Code Geass for short. I've recently came back to watching anime seriously again and I thought I'd start with possibly one of the most revered shows in recent years. So without any further delays, let's see what Code Geass has in store.

Story:

Code Geass takes place in a future where Japan has been invaded by the largest nation in the world, Britannia, and its natives are now known as "Elevens" and have been stripped of their rights. The story follows a young prince ... named Lelouch Lamprouge who seeks revenge at his father, the Britannian emperor himself for the death of his mother when he was a child. He gains a mysterious power known as "Geass"-- which let's him control anyone through eye contact-- from a mysterious girl known as C2. With this power, he dons the mask of "Zero" and starts a rebellion against the empire with the help of the Japanese resistance force. Throughout the the story, we'll learn much about Lelouch, his family of royals, and the nature of Geass itself. The story does a great job of hooking you in with lots of twists and a cast of chracaters that I found interesting.


Characters:

The cast were another sign of the show's strength as the main and side cast were all equally interesting. Our "hero" Lelouch comes off as a quiet, "lone wolf" type at school though his alter ego Zero is the opposite of that, in the sense that he's a far more charismatic and cunning rebel. Lelouch's childhood friend Suzaku Kururugi is the complete opposite of Lelouch, who believes in change through more peaceful methods like within the law, often contrasting Lelouch's personality. Things really get heated when the two clash many times throughout the show. The rest of the cast including Lelouch's sister Nunnally, mech pilot Kallen, his royal family, the resistance force, and his school friends were all fleshed out characters and I enjoyed seeing them on screen. The villains were interesting, with them being Lelouch's family after all. Though sorry for spoiling a bit but Lelouch himself is the by far the best one as he slowly walks down that path towards the end of the series.

Presentation:

For an anime that debuted back in 2006, Code Geass doesn't look like one. The art-style drawn by artist group CLAMP and backgrounds holds up so well that you'd think it just came out a few years ago. The mech designs-- mainly the Lancelot and Gurren mark II-- were nice and interesting to look at, no surprise since Gundam studio Sunrise is behind it. The voice acting (Dub) was fantastic and I enjoyed the performances from Johnny Young Bosch and Yuri Lowenthal as Lelouch and Suzaku, respectively. I also enjoyed the soundtrack, which complemented the show's setting and the first opening theme "COLORS" by FLOW was amazing.

Overall:

I had a fun watching Code Geass. The story, characters, and bittersweet ending were memorable and I'm honestly thinking of doing a second watch. That and the art and sound were great as well. Being a mecha fan, I wished that the story put more emphasis on the mechs since I felt that they were secondary to Geass. Other than that, it's among my favorite shows in recent years. Fans of action, mecha, and good anime in general will defiantly enjoy Code Geass.