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Jul 9, 2014
STORY
Generally, I rate the story on how much it interested me, rather than how plausible or unique it is. I also add points for comedy if it's well done, and subtract from my final score if there are glaring faults.
Having said that, I found Code Geass to be immensely enthralling, even when I've already seen it once before (read: two and a half years ago). The tension kept me on the edge of my seat, and the twists still genuinely surprised me. i even became more emotionally invested towards the end.
However, it's also towards the end that I had some problems with; not just in
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how the story made one of the more shocking twists of the show (no matter how much it was foreshadowed), but also the ending. It actually ends on a huge cliffhanger, basically ordering you (no pun intended) to go watch season two, and I do so hate it when that happens.
ANIMATION
I never do have much to say about the animation. Despite re-watching Code Geass for reviewing purposes, i eventually found myself overlooking the art/animation in favour of the story, which I really shouldn't be doing. Overall, the art was good, bright and colourful, and particularly detailed when the scene was set in one of the "ghettos", and the animation was mostly well done.
SOUND
The BGM was largely forgettable for me, bar one or two tracks. It mostly fit well with the current situation, but more often than not, I wouldn't really notice it, particularly the Ashford Academy scenes.
Code Geass sports two main opening themes that split the majority of the show between them, the second one being the worse one, IMO. On the other hand, I often found myself singing along to the first OP - Colors by Flow - as well as humming the first ED - Yuukyou Seishunka by Ali Project. This ending just seemed to fit CG more than the second one did, thought that's probably just personal preference butting in again.
There is, however, a third opening - Hitomi no Tsubasa by access - that took up the slot for the finale. This opening left a long-lasting impression on me, and personally edges ahead of Colors as favourite CG opening.
The voice actors largely do their jobs very well, with Jun Fukuyama doing a very good job as Lelouch. Thinking back, there was not a single voice that didn't really suit their characters, though that's probably because this WAS my second time watching CG, regardless of how long ago I first watched it.
CHARACTERS
The characters, for me, were rather hit-or-miss. On the one hand, you have Kallen, the hot-headed ace pilot who is determined to reclaim Japan's freedom; Cornelia, who does a very good job at being the villain/hero (depending on whose side you're on); and Lelouch, the magnificent schemer who slowly falls further into darkness. Being the main character, he gets the most character development, initially seeming apathetic towards the casualties of his fight against Britannia, and all the bloodshed starts taking its toll, both emotionally and psychologically.
On the other hand, there are characters that annoyed me for whatever reason. For example, we have Suzaku, who is very much against violence claims that he will fight to change Britannia from the inside despite doing nothing more than keeping his own people under the Empire's thumb; and then there's Nina, who honestly doesn't seem to serve any sort of purpose to the story whatsoever. She was the one that pissed me off the most, really, and every time she's on-screen, I wonder just why is she there.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Code Geass is one of those anime that will always be talked about, either in a positive light (fanbase who defend the show against every argument) or a negative light (haters bashing it at every turn). Either way, try to ignore the hype and the spoilers floating all over the internet, and give it a watch. I'm not saying to drop everything and watch it now, but place it high on your priority list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 7, 2014
One of the more complex series I've seen recently, Eden of the East is definitely a breath of fresh air with all of the cookie-cutter anime that have been released in the past few years. Created by Kenji Kamiyama, people have been fawning over this anime since its release in 2009. But what is it about the series that makes it so unique? Is it the subject matter? Is it the characters? The series definitely has a lot going for it, but there are just a few nagging issues that keep this series from being the best that it can be.
As a quick aside,
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yes, I am aware of the two movies, but this is a review of the series independent of said movies.
Eden of the East definitely has the most unique character introduction I've ever seen. The main character, Akira Takizawa, wakes up in Washington, D.C. in the nude with just a gun and a cell phone charged with 8.2 billion yen. He ends up saving a girl named Saki Moirmi from arrest, and manages to get back into Japan with her. In the interim, the country has fallen victim to a missile attack known as “Careless Monday.” Takizawa wants to find out where he came from, who he was, and why he has been given such financial means. Along those same lines, Takizawa finds out there are others like him, all with their own motivations, and cell phones loaded with cash, with the enigmatic Juiz there to always fulfill a request, no matter how insane it might be. If the person has the money, she'll do it. The web of conspiracy theories slowly reveals itself: who is behind the Careless Monday attacks and why would they want to destroy Japan?
The stars of the show are definitely Takizawa and Morimi, with the two making for an interesting couple, but it's definitely more of a “prince/damsel in distress” dynamic between them. Jason Liebrecht gives a fairly subdued performance as Takizawa, but it works because his character is always Joe Cool—he doesn't lose his temper, he doesn't make a scene unless he has to, and he's always calculating, looking for the best way to get what he needs. Leah Clark is the precocious Morimi, who is dragged into a situation she didn't ask for, but is drawn to Takizawa and is always looking to help. There is a budding romance between the two of them, but it definitely feels forced in the early parts. Luckily, it shows up intermittently, without being too much of a distraction.
With an excellent setup and interesting characters, Eden of the East has a lot going for it right off the bat, but the problem is the show's lack of length. Clocking in at only 11 episodes, they try to cram in as much of the story as they possibly can, and for the most part, they're successful. However—similar to Mnemosyne—there just isn't enough time. Unlike Mnemosyne though, the story doesn't take a nosedive in the last half. It just gets a little crazy and requires full attention (and maybe a re-watch) to understand all the big reveals, which I won't spoil here. Also, I have taken issue with the ending, which just wraps everything up too neatly, and it doesn't set up the first movie very well. Also, for a series this short, the pacing could have used some work.
One thing I can say about Eden is that it nails the artistic side of anime. The animations and character modeling are very well-done, at times making you think this is an OVA, and not a television series. As such there is no dip in the quality of animation, as is common in anime as they get closer to the end. The characters also look a little less Japanese than most models I've seen, but I can't shake the feeling that Morimi (and a few other characters) looks like a frog.
A standout area of the animation are the locales, which are lovingly rendered. The opening scenes in Washington are amazing, and the rest of the locales look like you're really there. This is a highly atmospheric anime that does everything possible to draw you into its world.
The music is mostly forgettable...with the exception of the opening and ending themes. I don't know, maybe it's because you hear them so much, but the ending theme (futuristic imagination by school food punishment) deserves special mention because it has one of the most unique ending sequences I've seen. It was so good that I actually watched the clean ending, something I have never done. It seriously needs to be seen to be believed.
In the end, Eden of the East is a great series, but has some hangups that keep it from being all that it can be. With a good but unsatisfying ending, characters that seem to come and go, and a story that borders on convoluted, it balances out the excellent art style and intrigue that pervade the series. Again, Eden of the East is great, but it isn't the transcendental anime that many seem to think it is.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 7, 2014
This is one of, if not, the best shounen sports anime I’ve ever seen. Sports anime that are based around American sports, can often fall into the category of being comically poor representations of the sport they’re portraying. KuroBasu has already established itself as being a show that, while dramatized, still offers an informed view of how basketball actually works. The 2nd season of the show continues to build on a strong foundation of the first season, adds compelling dimensions to the characters, and an ever increasing intensity in the games.
Kuroko no Basuke is bound to be compared to the classic series “Slam Dunk,” but,
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for my money, this show has been a big step up from that series. The action is great. The plot is simple enough to not get in the way of the action by making things feel poorly paced, ridiculous or unbelievable. The characters are interesting and diverse. The strategy within the games adds a great layer to the already impressive action. All in all, it’s got a lot to offer for shounen fans, sports anime fans and basketball fans alike.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 7, 2014
One thing that Durarara!! does well is character development, increasing the effectiveness of the plot devices used. The clusterfuck near the end wouldn't have enough impact if the characters were weak. Additionally, even the characters you rarely see are developed in a way that makes them memorable. I watched the subbed version and a bit of the dubbed to see how I felt about it and I feel like both did an excellent job of aligning voice actors with character design. It has a great balance of action and suspense with comedy, making it a feel good anime with enough substance to be engaging.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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