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"Normally you only need to know what's happening on stage. That's how reality works."

Following the commercial success of Bakemonogatari came the anime adaptation of the next chapter in Nisio Isin's light novel series, in the form of Nisemonogatari. This is the direct sequel to Bakemonogatari, and takes place some time after the events of Bakemonogatari. As one character pointed out, "Add too many members, and the story will be hard to follow." While there are some new additions to the cast, the majority of the series is centered on familiar faces. In this season, Koyomi's two sisters, the cheerful tomboy-ish Karen and the delicate but ... short-tempered Tsuhiki take the spotlight from their previous positions as minor background characters. The "fire sisters" become the main focus, although it is well blended with the other heroines from Bakemonogatari, who are still involved but take a backseat in this series.

If Bakemonogatari were to be considered the main act, then Nisemonogatari is the supporting act that plays on the previous, although that isn't to say one or the other is superior. It's a matter of taste, as the general theme and styles viewers were familiar with are still there, although there are some changes that may or may not be pleasing to you. Although the two sisters are the main focus, we also see familiar faces in various scenes. The series plays on the old interactions with the addition of time to the character's relationships. They are more familiar with one another and their interactions seem a bit smoother to me.

Aside from the Araragi siblings, there are a few more new faces to the scene, who bring with them different perceptions on life and justice, which act as a foil to one another, which really highlights the distinctions between each character's outlook on life. While the fire sisters believe themselves to uphold justice, Kaiki is in a whole different class. He could be seen as cruel or evil, but in his mind, he doesn't really belong in the spectrum of good or evil. What he believes in, is only money, and that is the only absolute. I found it to be a very refreshing take on a villain; while it brings in the argument of what is justice and evil, it was also an adult, or maybe pessimistic outlook. The way that the matter was solved was different to most confrontations, and that was also nice, although it might have been a little disappointing to some.

One major difference I noticed was an increase in fanservice. Although I was fine with it most of the time, it was a little distracting during moments of intense dialogue or plot moments. It did however lead to numerous hilarious sequences so I'm not really sure what to say. I think it would have been better if there was a bit more moderation, as sometimes it just felt excessive. It does show you a bit more about how the characters interact with one another though, such as their toleration or confidence (or lack of it) in themselves or others. This might be a love it or hate it aspect, but I think many viewers out there will enjoy it a bit.

Art/Animation: As a series by Studio Shaft, the animation is very well done. This series in particular was stunning, in my opinion. The animation was smooth and colorful. Each background brings in a different mood or setting, it looks sort of unreal how simple, mundane backgrounds could be made to look unique, from a whole city street or even a regular bathroom. Unlike Bakemonogatari, I felt a spike in animation quality and visuals, as colors just seems to leap off and actions just seems so crisp and clean. One example of this could be seen in the second opening theme of the three in the series. Shaft has its own style and quirks and they ran free in this anime, which I loved.

Sound and sound: Solid in every aspect, background tones suited the mood very well and complemented what was going on during the moment. Similar to Bakemonogatari, this series had various opening themes with their own different style and singers, for Senjougahara, Karen, and Tsukihi, in that order. I thought they were all good in their own way, with Karen's being my favorite of the 3, although I do like how cute Tsukihi's theme was.

Overall I really enjoyed this series, with each episode ending in what felt like only minutes. It mixes together great, witty dialogue with a good amount of action and character interactions and, haha, some fanservice thrown in for good measure, although it is done tastefully.

"They say that if you change yourself, you'll change the world, but that's a complete lie."

Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Phew. I'll shorten it to Oregairu for future reference. I was just introduced to this anime by a good friend and wasn't sure what to think about it. I just jumped into it without looking at the synopsis or anything, not knowing what to expect. Once I got in, I was hooked.

How many of you were super popular in school, or in other parts of life? With friends all around? Did you feel like you had someone to rely on? I wasn't, ... and it was part of what attracted me to this show. Alright, lets get into the review.

Story: If you just read the synopsis, it seems like a regular slice of life. The loner guy gets put into a situation that brings him together with a beautiful girl. Not the most original premise, but as they say, there is no bad idea, but bad execution. And this anime was done incredibly well, imho. Meet Hachiman Hikigaya, a anti-social to the extreme in high school who is content with the way he is, having no friends or real acquaintances of any kind. He is made the join the Volunteers Club with the beautiful and well known "ice queen" type, Yukino Yukinoshita, for the purposes of helping others. The two have conflicting personalities and wits, and their interaction with each other make for many hilarious moments along the way as they help out other with their problems.

Characters: The strongest point of Oregairu was its characters, which are paramount to any anime. This show had some of the best characters I have seen. From the beginning, I was hooked into Hachiman's monologue, reminiscent of how I was hooked into the Haruhi Suzumiya franchise by Kyon's beginning monologue. From then on I knew there had to be potential in the MC, and oh boy, there was. Hachiman is full of pragmatism and wit, whose attitude reminds me of Keima from the World God Only Knows. His opinion of the world is quite less low, to say the least, and his lack of social interactions with others stem from his low perception of life and people in general. My favorite thing about him is his ability to justify his views, however warped they may seem to other. He has his reasons for being the way he is. Yukino Yukinoshita on the other hand, is so "perfect" (rich, beautiful, smart) that she seems so different in comparison, yet they both share the fact that they are both alone, in this case people are turned away by her sort of untouchable aura. The two have different perceptions of life, and their banter between one another is a huge strength of the series. The last main character is Yui Yuigahama (btw this series has many names that seem to have similar first/last names for whatever reason), a happy, cheerful girl who is the first to get help from the club. While her personality isn't as deeply developed as the aforementioned two, she rounds out the two and acts as a bond between all of them. Her personality growth is also well done also. The supporting cast is full of different personalities that I find realistic and they all represent different types. Well done again.

Art: The art is well suited to the series. While it isn't too sharp and detailed, it is smooth and colorful, and works fine as a whole. It could have been better, but it was fine. I was happy with it, and I felt it worked for the overall theme.

Sound: The soundtrack for the show was good and worked for the themes in which they were in. I liked the opening a lot and actually watched it every time, but I can't say as much about the ending theme. Overall, solid.

For voicing, I thought the voice actors were good, especially for Hachiman and Yukino. Hachiman's voice actor really captured the tone of Hachiman's character in my opinion, with good intonation and tone. The others were all fine, nothing bad to say but nothing too praise worthy either.

Overall, I thought this was a very enjoyable slice of life. I really loved the main characters' personalities and their interaction with each other were smooth and well done. I related to Hachiman's plight, and I think many of us can. I thought it captured many parts of life well, and sometimes the stark reality that we don't really want to talk about. Life isn't always filled with sunshine and rainbows. There are tough moments, and sometimes its difficult to get through. Maybe we all feel a bit like Hachiman at times.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and would highly recommend it to others. Solid 9/10 overall from me.

Go beyond the impossible and kick reason to the curb!
You'll be hearing this alot. Cliche? Probably. And yet, it is oh so fitting.

Welcome to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (TTGL), a ridiculously epic action adventure anime that is so borderline over-the-top at times that you might wonder why you are watching it in the first place. And yet, it is precisely because of that that you are so enthralled in the whole thing. My first advice for new viewers to the show is, don't think, don't judge, just accept it for what it is. It isn't trying to act fancy, deep, dark, and cool. It ... is a straight up adrenaline filled anime with big fight scenes and loud, in your face characters and personalities. Also, on another note, even though I was never a mecha or shonen fan, I loved this show, so don't brush it it off because of that.

~Story~
From the dream to travel to the surface, away from the enclosed tunnels and isolation, to an enemy that seems invulnerable and omnipresent; this is the tale of TTGL. With small time beginnings, this epic show takes you on a roller coaster of adventure against enemies and forces that seem unbeatable, and the characters who never give up. Buckle in your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

~Cast and Characters~
While the show does have a large cast, there are a few who take the spotlight and shine. Most notably the star of the show, Kamina (◥▶◀◤), who embodies basically everything the show stands for; courage, resilience, standing up for what you believe in, and never giving up. Other major members are Simon, Kittan, Viral, and (sigh) Yoko. They are all different personalities and the one of the show's strength is mixing such a diverse cast and showing off their quirks and growth.

~Art/Animation~
The art and animation were sort of immature and unrefined, but that suited the style of the show. The fighting sequences and some other events were verrrrry well done however, with an explosion of color and animation.

~Sound~
No qualms here. from regular scenes to the epic battle moments. It synthesizes a mix of rap, chorus, and other sounds to get you in the mood. "Libera me from Hell" is the most well known track and it's great.

Overall, this anime is great. It has all the elements I would want in an action anime, and it really pumps you up when watching. It has everything I would want in a proper shounen, but its more than that, anyone can watch and enjoy this. While there aren't any super deep meanings or themes, it encompasses the idea of fighting for your dreams and doing what is right while never losing hope.

"Noblesse oblige I pray for your continuing service as a savior"
With great power, comes great responsibility ~Uncle Ben

Higashi no Eden (translated to Eden of the East) is a short 11-episode mystery/action with an intriguing premise that basically begins en media res, leaving the viewer wondering what is going on at the beginning as the action unfolds.

Story:
Basically the story begins after previous major events that are revealed over time. You follow the main character Akira Takizawa, who has wiped his memory and is now in process of trying to figure out his previous reasonings for it. The plot is interesting with a suspense to keep ... you wanting more. However, since it was only 11 episodes, the ending sort of leaves you with a cliffhanger, to be followed up by the 2 movies following it.

Character:
The main characters consist of Akari Takizawa and Saki Morimi, the woman who becomes wrapped in the mystery with Akari as he begins figuring things out. Akari himself is a great character, who is quickly likeable, being lighthearted at times and serious at other, doesn't take things that seriously, while being funny and a little witty all at the same time. His mysterious past, amnesia, and his random knowledge of film references all are a part of his character. He basically is the star of the show, advancing it along. Saki on the other hand is a bit bland, who does have some good interaction with Akari and the others, but seems more like someone dragged onto the ride (which she basically is). The supporting cast do their job well enough, with good chemistry between one another. The other Selecao members all have different personalities and backgrounds, which provides an extra bit of interest to the show.

Art:
I'd say great overall, the opening and endings were very well done, and the character design looked good, although not super polished, they were fine. The backgrounds and setting all looked great and animation was smooth. No real qualms from me.

Sound:
The opening "Falling Down" by Oasis suited the theme of the anime very well, even though it wasn't designed for the anime. Good pick by the producers. The ending was also good. The background themes and sounds were crisp and clean throughout the anime, and suited the scenes they were in.

Overall I thought this was a solid anime with many good points going for it. It's a nice short anime to get into as it really grabs your attention early, although the fact that it is followed by 2 movies afterwards seems a little strange.

"If you're kind to everyone, that means there's no one special"

This anime centers around Koyomi Araragi, a not-so normal high school guy, and the supernatural forces burdening them.

Characters:
In my opinion the most important part of any story, the cast of Bakemonogatari do not disappoint, with varied personalities and traits. The two main characters, Koyomi Araragi and Hitage Senjougahara, themselves have won a place as some of my favorites out of any anime for their mindsets and chemistry with one another. They have an interesting relationship, to say the least, with Senjougahara acknowledging herself as a tsundere but also taking jabs at Araragi, whom takes ... it wearily as he knows he can't win as any response has no effect. This never ending conflict is part of what makes this show so compelling, to me at least. The 4 other heroines all have their own personalities and problems, and while not as deep, are still interesting in their respects. The last major character is Meme Oshino, who aids Araragi in resolving various problems.

Story:
The anime basically moves in arcs depending on the various females and the entities affecting them. Along the way Araragi and Senjougahara's relationship develops slowly in the midst of all the madness. I was happy with the arc style as it didn't detract from the ending, but I felt one in particular felt out of place.

Art:
Produced by Studio Shaft, this anime followed the studio's style to a high degree of different angles, cuts, and inserts. If you are new to the series, it may take some time to adjust to all the madness that pops up, especially with the dialogue shots, which often flash on and off screen at a moments notice. Just enjoy it and overthink it too much. While some may find it distracting, I found it quite enjoyable to be presented with such an experience. My only major qualm was that in the midst of all this, they even added some real life clips/pics, which I believe didn't really belong in there. The characters themselves are (in my opinion) all well designed and look good, with fluid actions and expression.
P.S. some fanservice thrown in if you like that also

Sound:
Voice- The seiyuus did an excellent job on this series, with each voice matching the characters spot on, on emotion and tones. With Bakemonogatari so heavy on dialogue, they really did an amazing job. I really wish I could understand Japanese as the series employs generous helpings of sarcasm, wit, and pop culture jokes that cannot fully be appreciated in translation.

Music-The music fit well with the scenes, providing the something extra to the dialogue. For a short-ish anime of only 15 episodes, it has five whole OP's, each different in tone and style. "Staple Stable" is the first and probably the best imo, and the ED Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari by supercell is becoming one of my favorites just for listening to.

Enjoyment:
I can whole-heartedly say that, while subjective, for me myself, this was a 10/10 anime for enjoyment. Everything just came together really well to be a lovely slew of arcs, characterization, and dialogue. I loved the characters and their interactions with one another, and the romance was great in that it wasn't sappy but meaningful over time. This was honestly just the sort of thing I was looking for, and I am already craving more.