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well it's the finale of the tennis show that rocked the world and became one of the best selling shoujo manga of all time. Farewell Oka!
In a very bittersweet goodbye to one of the most surprising additions to lifelong favorites, I look back at the series with fondness. Mainly upset that I won't be able to rush to review something I'm so in love with so others might have insight into such a forgotten series, or be the sole commenter on streaming sites.

Final stage is a direct continuation of Aim for the ace:2. I would barely call them separate seasons as the story is ... basically just chopped in two and called couers.

The biggest change is the focus on the romantic subplot finally that we got glimpses of back in the second season. I was honestly shocked to see Oka take ahold of her own life for once - being influenced by her coaches for so long! We also get a bit of a Madame butterfly side arc which was a nice break. It flowed well into the final episodes.

Note that the budget reflects on the amount of pastel freeze frames (Dezaki...) and still shots to stretch the time to reach the airing slot as well as just lower frame rate in some places. And i did find myself slightly peeved but,if you're going to watch this then you know from the past its expected. Not to say there weren't some nice moments and animations. Highlights include Episode 8's mini battle of the sexes, the queens match! (which i wish had a higher budget, oka is growing!) Reikas match in episode 11 which flipped my expectations! The ending had a lot to be desired but it was simple goodbye.

1971, Japans first Yuri manga is published: Shiroi Heya no Futari.
Truly somethings that holds well on it's own, and started an entire genre of dramatic school lesbians in anime and manga. Couple of the white room is simple, short, and bittersweet. The dynamic between stereotypical blonde haired naive Resine and matured, sharp eyed Simone works perfectly for 80 pages.
Very representative of it's time with it's highly stylized 70's shoujo trademarks: sparkling eyes, clean thick lines, decorative side panels, and existential melodramatic narrative.
For something so short there is not much to nitpick other than it seeming inevitably weak to those used to ... the current state of 100+ chapter stories. Rather Shiroi Heya no Futari is here for it's legacy.
Oh and also mad respect to queen Yamagashi Ryouko.

I am going into this without reading the 15 volume source material, so I'm limited. I am also viewing this in a post 9/11 era so the idea of terrorism at airports is kind of a taboo thing and I was honestly surprised to see it.
Desert rose is another product of 90’s one-time OVA’s complimentary to their manga. A very simple plot and quick story, maybe a little too out there for 40 mins, but we get a swimsuit shot at the end so who cares right?
Following the story of C.A.T. , a small unit of women trained in anti-terrorism and led by ... captain Rosebank. Partially named after the scar she has on her chest from a quite horrific bombing at an airport. Her and her motley crew of young women embark to the pseudo Geneva conference- this time in the mountains to protect world leaders from the inevitable assassination attempts.

There is not much to say about Suna no Bara, other than the character design is a nice change of pace from conventional anime. Honestly the character interactions before and after the main plot hold more interest than the actual storyline. Nothing to write home about in any department. And quite forgettable. But, if you have 40 minutes to spare why not.

Edo never sleeps, but your brain might during this.
Going in blind to the manga I’ll be objective to the OVA only. Exceptionally average, Oedo wa Nemurenai! Offers a historical setting in 1700s yoshiwara. The famous pleasure district. Our main character is quite a young woman and Oiran and is for some reason important you’ll find out. (also pay attention to that cat!!! What happened there)

Production quality is at most times quite poor, out of sync voice acting, many still/panning shots, and very low movement. This is all to be expected for something low budget. For anyone who has not read the source material the ... plot is quite choppy as nothing is clear since context is not given for anything. Unclear relationships, confusing cuts etc...
Sound is nothing to write home about either as the music is a mix between win-dings like synth sounds and orchestra garageband samples. Gratefully the voice acting is fine.
The main issue is there is no explanation as to why anything is happening and who these people even are until after it should have been established by some clue. Regardless for a half an hour it is not unbearable and most likely complimentary to the manga. In all honestly it gave me a few chortles as to how ridiculous it was.

Here we are. The next installment of Aim for the Ace! after a delightful series and movie adaptation. We step into a new and maturing Oka Hiromi now focused entirely on her tennis after graduating and becoming a junior champion with her teammates. Oka has achieved it all, she’s a tennis star, has a great coach, and amazing friends/teammates.
Until she doesn’t.

For fans of the previous installments, the style shift and VA changes might be quite jarring. As we turn away from the softer palette and character designs (a bit more similar to black jacks ‘93 OVA), Fortunately this does not distract too much ... from the beloved tennis and personal drama. We also step away from unorthodox framing and shots to a more direct scene by scene. Sound quality is for sure a step up from the rest of the series as well. Aim for the Ace! 2 offers a look into the more personal trials and tribulations of our favorite characters as they go through loss, grief, and struggle. A more serious take on a sports anime, but absolutely worth it.

Aim for the Ace! is the shortened movie version of the '73 series of the same name. Most notable for its part in the boom of tennis in japan and inspiring Gunbuster, Dezaki creates another sports anime rife with melodrama and sparkling eyes. I highly recommend viewing this movie if you are not interested in the original anime as the production quality leaves a bit to be desired. The movie adaption is truly a masterpiece of 70's anime as we lose the art of manual animation. With rich colors, great framing, varied shots, it truly is eye candy for anyone a fan of 70’s ... anime, and a fan of Dezaki.

High Schooler Oka has one goal: to play tennis. Especially with the much more beautiful and mature Madame Butterfly. A tennis queen unmatched in elegance and power. Among her peers she is just like the rest of the newcomers. Unskilled and clumsy. So it is much to all's surprise when new coach Munakata choses Oka to play as a regular in an upcoming tournament rather than her seniors. The story grows as we see the main characters get ready for the final match between Madame Butterfly and Oka Hiromi. A coach with a harsh training style, a tennis newcomer who will do anything to achieve her dreams, and her bitter rival bent on defeating her through skill alone.

While nothing extremely deep (no, tennis does not reach to far into the psyche) Aim for the Ace offers a glimpse into what we all felt when we were younger, that our passions define our life.

Hmm. I really needed a second review on this damn movie. Where can you start with the absurdness that is the
Patalliro anime? In a flurry of quick hitting gags and 70s gay (?) drama you realize one thing-If you are not Japanese, you will never be able to pin down half the cultural references. And an interesting relationship with Nazi imagery can ruin the series for some. For sure a movie for the seasoned anime viewer and being familiar with who the characters are, I'd say not seeing the whole TV show won't take away from seeing this uh...48 minute special.

Will you forget the opening ... scene half way through reminding you that there was some type of space setting? yes. Will the theme song make you pause the movie just so you can go and look it up? Yes. Will it be confusing because you remeber oh yeah Maraich gets PREGNANT in the source material? Maybe, thats up to you. If you are bored, and willing to be a little brain dead for an hour, then honestly it isn't the worst. Plus the Hair makes up for the lack of story (wait, did Patalliro ever have one)?

A story of life. A wandering man, the people that intertwine with him, and the strings of fate and time. All come together for a satisfying and truly amazing manga.

Never have I ever been able to just feel the wind from the pages and the warmth of smiles. I literally could not get enough of the composition the way the literal frames seamlessly flow. A standing shadow casted on your lovers crouching frame, the reflection of a pondering man in a pond, tears over the river bridge, rage of death, combing anothers hair. I am amazed.
There is a reason abstract art conveys stronger ... emotion- how do you convert intangible feelings into a visual form? Matsumoto figured it out. Be careful, 84 chapters sure felt fast....

I thought I might as well write a review for on of my favorite manga since no one else has.....
Yamaji has easily become one of my most beloved Mangaka, Her very simple clean art work in combination with very real life situations flows naturally. Indigo Blue is no exception. Keeping with the 'Bian' theme of her other works. There is no huge plot or exciting story here. Rutsu, a novelist, meets Tamaki, a magazine editior. Both women have their relationship woes told over a quick 12 chapters.
The very real and easy feeling of lesbianism is pleasant. I am often drawn to short simple stories ... as such. There is not much else to say without honestly telling the whole manga. But for a little rainy day read it sure is satisfying.

The first Manga i ever read was Dorohedoro and i'm grateful that it was. The excitement of waiting for a book to be released and checking them out at my library 4 books at a time, the anxiety of having to return them and not be able to go back and admire the art and worrying that i was reading them too fast. I never want to forget the amazing experience that Dorohedoro was. It introduced me to a new idea of what manga is and what it can be, that the most complicated of stories can still be simple and heart warming even in ... a swarm of guts and gore.

Regardless of who i show this manga to, the first thing they are captured by is the art, rough lines and sketchy characters, detailed settings and apocalyptic-grunge clothing with nikes. The world of Dorohedoro draws you in visually first before enchanting you with a plot constantly leaving you wanting more and romance that will have you ripping your hair out in anticipation (and always will (: ) humor that builds and eventually requires the 23 volumes of knowledge to really get, never ending action, information and plot twists. And of course, everyone's favorite- little gyoza fairy

Dorohedoro NEVER had me wanting to drop or put this on-hold, in fact I'd have to pace myself as to not read too much. Q Hayashida really created an entire world like you've never seen it and does a spectacular job at being able to create a diverse cast of unique people and animals. each story is choreographed perfectly with the personalities of each character. It accomplishes what a lot of manga doesn't care as much to touch on- architecture and the nuances of the world and environment.

I'm not the best at conveying why i enjoy things objectively but if anything I urge you to read a story that will always give you enjoyment!