- Last OnlineDec 25, 2013 6:06 PM
- JoinedJul 12, 2009
No friend yet.
Also Available at
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Aug 3, 2009
Nothing interesting happens in the life of 12 year old Naota. Things liven up quickly, though, when a woman on a vespa runs him over and bashes him on the head with a guitar. The next day, Naota finds himself with a huge, mysterious horn sprouting from his head. To top it all off, he can't seem to avoid running into this maniacal woman, until finally she shows up at his house and becomes the family maid. Now Naota must deal with affectionate older women, giant robots, and aliens, all while facing newfound feelings of love and the pressures of growing up.
FLCL is exhausting, but
...
in a good way. Storyline, audio, and animation - everything is relentlessly energetic and intense. A lot happens in just 6 episodes, so you'll want to watch with care. The soundtrack is incredible and filled with tracks by the now-popular (but at the time relatively unknown) band "The Pillows." The animation is among the most creative and experimental that I've seen: you won't find any impressive attention to detail or original character designs, but it really does play out like a work of art. As for the storyline, FLCL took some time to get into (and to understand), but this is typical of Gainax productions. By the second half you come to realize that, at heart, FLCL is a beautifully done coming-of-age story that happens to be funny as hell and full of alien robots.
As mentioned, a lot happens in 6 episodes, and although you'll get the gist of things, there are so many hidden jokes and references that the series has high re-watch value. Overall, I was impressed, though I didn't walk away feeling that I had just seen one of the greatest anime series of all time. Maybe it's just something about Gainax (see Neon Genesis Evangelion review), but I felt that FLCL was good but overrated. Animation and audio are certainly among the best I've encountered, but the story is nothing special and is slow to start (it took 2 episodes to really get into it, but there were only 4 left after that). The main plot with Haruko and Medical Mechanica is pretty basic and serves more than anything as a vehicle for developing and delivering the more interesting story of Naota's coming-of-age. I could easily see the Medical Mechanica plot being replaced with something better and, as a result, FLCL being something really great. As is, FLCL was impressive, but not worth as much praise as it gets.
Animation: 8.5/10
Audio: 8.5/10
Storyline: 7.2/10
Overall Score: 7.6/10 (Very Good)
Check out snapshots and downloadable episodes/OST at my blog, http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Jul 29, 2009
Full Title: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
Year: 2008
Genres: Mecha, Drama, Action, Science Fantasy
Episodes: 25
Age Rating: PG-13 (Language, Violence)
R2 picks up where Code Geass left off, and like its predecessor it pulls you in from the very first episode. The Black Knights have been defeated, Japan is safely under Britannian rule, and Lelouch is just a normal student driving down the highway with his brother. If you've seen Code Geass, you should already have some questions: what happened to Lelouch and Suzaku, why does Lelouch have a brother, and how has Lelouch returned to his old life? R2 is full of such quandaries and
...
easily distinguishes itself from Code Geass as the more suspenseful series. It is in R2 that all of the answers to the questions set up by Code Geass will be revealed, and this alone makes it a smash hit.
R2 features the same beautiful animation as that in Code Geass, but as the Knightmares take to the sky and each side tries to outdo the other with new technological strength, the fights and special powers are even more impressive. My sentiments toward the voice cast remain as they were when I reviewed Code Geass, and it's really nice to see Spike Spencer join the English cast to play Rolo (see Shinji in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Hanataro in Bleach). As for the OST, I've seen a number of reviews hailing R2's as superior to Code Geass', but I didn't notice any significant difference. Both OSTs are awesome and feature great nobility and action-packed themes (of note are "Boy from Britannia," "Area," and "Concealment").
As was mentioned, R2 is incredibly suspenseful, even moreso than Code Geass, but as much as this can be an asset it can be a problem, too. With such suspense comes twists of epic proportions, and sometimes I found myself scoffing at the plot development. If you've seen Code Geass and found the major twist in episode 23 too outrageous for your tastes, then you will probably be disappointed with the "creativity" of R2. Occasionally things are just too convenient and, even for an anime like this, unbelievable. Still, I can't deny that for every episode, regardless of its believability, my eyes were glued to the screen.
On a final note, what an ending! This is probably the first anime that had me choked up and on the verge of tears. What's more, if you pay close attention during the final 5 episodes, you will determine the answer to the ultimate question: what happens to Lelouch? This just goes to demonstrate the level of depth that is there in R2 if you seek it, and I think such unpretentious depth is what makes it such an appealing series. If you're younger or disinterested in deeper plots, there are plenty of badass mecha fights, cool powers, and delightful characters to make R2 worth your time. If you're looking for a show with deeper philosophical meaning, you should be very satisfied as well, and in this respect I found R2 comparable to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Wolf's Rain. But if you're like me and you are looking for both, then you should watch R2 (and Code Geass, of course) or you'll really be missing out.
Animation: 9.3/10
Audio: 9.1/10
Storyline: 9.6/10
Overall Score: 9.5/10 (Masterpiece)
Check out my blog for snapshots and high quality episode/OST downloads at http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 27, 2009
Following the invasion of 2010, Japan has fallen to the Holy Britannian Empire. Now called "Area 11," its people have been reduced to second-class citizens. Lelouch and sister Nunnally, by birth members of the Britannian Royal Family, live in Japan under fake names and are thought to be dead. When children, their family was attacked, resulting in the death of their mother and crippling of Nunnally. Now, Lelouch wants nothing more than to get revenge against those that took part in the attack and his father, the ruthless ruler of the Britannian Empire. When caught up in an incident with the military and Japanese liberation
...
fighters, he meets and forms a contract with a mysterious girl named C2. With his newly attained power to control the minds and actions of others, Geass, Lelouch sets out to free Japan and put an end to the Britannian Empire.
Code Geass is everywhere. Log onto any anime forum or do a search for "best anime series" and you will probably see Code Geass (and its sequel, R2) listed. After finally watching it, I have to say that the hype is warranted: simply put, Code Geass is one of the best series around. It wastes absolutely no time getting you hooked, and is one of only 2 or 3 series that I've seen which doesn't have a single dull episode. As the story centers around the Japanese resistance to Britannia, much of the show is filled with fantastic mecha fights, but even when there isn't fighting the characters are so entertaining and interesting and the plot so well developed that I was never bored. More than just a mecha anime with a nice story, Geass focuses on the symbolic battle between Suzaku and Lelouch over the moral and efficient way to deal with the rule of the Britannian Empire and the resulting subjugation of the Japanese people; this culminates in an intense ending that will have you rushing to watch R2.
Geass' animation is bright, beautiful, and features superb character design. Fights are fast-paced and never repetitive, and a heavy focus on Lelouch's use of tactics makes them superior to those in your typical mecha series. The OST is very nice, creating suspense and capturing the mood of nobility life perfectly: of note are "Cold Nobility," "Occupied Thinking," and "Nobless Oblige." While both voice casts are exceptional, the English cast really shines with an all-star group including Johnny Bosch (Ichigo in Bleach, Kiba in Wolf's Rain), Yuri Lowenthal (Sasuke in Naruto, Kuma in Afro Samurai), and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn (The Major in GitS, Lady Jagura in Wolf's Rain, Julia in Cowboy Bebop). All of this comes together to make Geass a wonderfully addictive, well-presented anime that must be seen.
Animation: 9.2/10
Audio: 9.2/10
Storyline: 9.5/10
Overall Score: 9.4/10 (Masterpiece)
For snapshots and high quality episodes/OST downloads check out my blog at http://animefiend.blogspot.com.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 25, 2009
The Death Note is a notebook used by Shinigami to take the lives of human beings, but if it comes into the possession of a human he too can wield its power. Brilliant high school student Light Yagami is bored with life until the day that he finds a Death Note on the ground. When he discovers that its power is real, he becomes determined to create a utopian world free of crime. As Light kills criminals through supernatural means, he becomes known as "Kira," gaining followers and adversaries. With the police helpless to track Kira down, the world's most famous detective, L, takes on
...
the case.
Death Note is something else. Get ready for an incredibly original premise with non-stop suspense and a level of intelligence that should have you on the edge of your seat. The game of cat and mouse between two truly brilliant characters provides for an entirely new way of watching and interacting with anime: unlike any storyline before it, Death Note had me constantly guessing and, thanks to the twists, I was often wrong. Animation is superb and distinguishes itself from that of comparable series by way of its use of lighting and color to set mood. Audio, too, is commendable: the OST is religious, dark, and creates a sense of suspense perhaps better than any other series that I've yet seen.
As for voice actors, the Japanese cast is perfect, particularly for Light and L. The English cast, while acceptable, is so different that it often changes the personality of the character entirely (this is especially the case for Light, L, and Misa), and for this reason I strongly recommend you view the show subbed.
Death Note does have one significant setback, though. While the last 1/3 of the series wasn't bad, the story loses some of its appeal after episode 25 and I think that it would have been held in higher regard had it ended then. This tends to be the response of other viewers, too. Still, Death Note deserves all of the attention that it receives and is one of the few shows that I insist you watch.
Animation: 8.8/10
Audio: 8.6/10
Storyline: 9.3/10
Overall Score: 9.1/10 (Masterpiece)
For snapshots and high quality episode/OST downloads, check out my blog at http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 25, 2009
For Kiki, a young witch-in-training, the time has come to spend a year away from home. During this time, she is to mature as a person and develop into a full witch. Accompanied by her talking black cat, Jiji, Kiki will move into a new town where she will make new friends, start her own business, and even develop her first love interest. But most importantly, Kiki will come to truly understand herself and the magic that comes from within.
Kiki's Delivery Service is a very sweet story and is presented in typical Studio Ghibli fashion. Animation is detailed and beautiful, and the soundtrack is enjoyable
...
and fits well with the mood of the film. Voice actors are well chosen and professional; in the English version viewers should be pleased to find the lead role of Kiki played by Kirsten Dunst. As for storyline, there isn't much that can be said: the film sets out to provide a cute story about a witch coming of age, and it is successful. If you're in the mood for something like that, you will be satisfied.
Still, when I watched this with a friend that loves stuff like this, even she was somewhat let down in the end. Kiki's Delivery Service is so sweet that it's drab. Throughout the film both of us kept asking, 'what's the plot?' And the fact of the matter is, nothing really happens in the story. Now of course a film doesn't need to have a distinctive plot to be good, but even in other character-centered Ghibli films like "My Neighbor Totoro" there is something unique that makes the movie stand out. Kiki's Delivery Service simply isn't unique, doesn't have much of a plot, and cannot be carried by its characters alone. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the film: upon finishing I didn't feel like I'd wasted my time. But at the very least, I recommend that you spend your valuable time watching the other Miyazaki films first.
Overall Score: B
For snapshots and a high quality download visit my blog at http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 24, 2009
Based on the video game by the same name, Tales of Phantasia follows the journey of Cless, Mint, Klarth, Chester, and Arche as they try to defeat the demon king Dhaos, who is bent on annihilating the human race.
Like most anime series based on video games, Tales of Phantasia lacks many essential storyline elements, preventing it from living up to its initial potential. While the premise promises a grand, fantastical adventure, Tales' limitation to 4 episodes makes this impossible. The storyline is rushed and unless you've played the game you won't understand some scenes (why, for instance, is Fujibayashi suddenly in a fight to the
...
death with her own father to prevent him from entering Dhaos' castle?).
The series' brevity further results in a lack of any substantial character development, and moments that should have some build-up are forced and unrealistic (Chester and Arche go from disliking each other to cuddling up close after a 5 second apology). The story itself lacks depth and is cliche, and it may become hard to watch even all 4 episodes when there is nothing suspenseful or shocking.
Weak storyline notwithstanding, Tales has exceptionally clear, attractive animation and lots of cool magic spells. Characters and scenery are sufficiently detailed but nothing special, and character designs are original. Both the Japanese and English voice casts are superb: in particular, Cless (in English) is voiced by the extremely popular Johnny Yong Bosch (see Ichigo in Bleach, Lelouch in Code Geass, and Kiba in Wolf's Rain). The OST is nothing spectacular but it gets the job done and sounds professional enough. Overall, aesthetic and audial elements make Tales of Phantasia a well presented package, but the storyline plays out too much like the video game on which it's based and cuts too many corners to be anything special.
Animation: 7.8/10
Audio: 7.4/10
Storyline: 6.3/10
Overall Score: 6.7/10 (Good)
Find snapshots and downloadable episodes at my blog, http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 24, 2009
The End of Evangelion provides what is often called a "more externally-focused" ending to the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. If viewers weren't sure whether the original "internally-focused" ending was to the producers' liking, that EoE is structured like the series and broken into Episodes 25 and 26 should clear things up. This is the real End of Evangelion. Whereas the original final episodes showed what was happening in Shinji's mind and enabled us to construct answers pertaining to the Human Instrumentality Project and final psychological state of the characters, EoE gives us so much more. But while crucial questions such as the origin of the
...
angels and the motive behind Seele's plans are revealed, EoE stays true to the Evangelion series' approach of leaving things open to interpretation.
EoE has absolutely stunning animation and keeps the series' stand-out voice cast and enjoyable soundtrack. The storyline itself is a trip and much of the movie (especially towards the end) is done in a post-modern style which requires a lot of interpretation and will have viewers arguing for hours. Some scenes are grotesque, most are simply absurd. Watching one Eva eat another is nothing new to fans of the series, but it is pretty shocking to see the pilot's arm ripped in half, and there is something unnerving about watching an anime character masturbate on another if its not in hentai.
Religious symbolism is prevalent, but intriguingly the symbols typically represent nothing at all. There are also some incredible lines: an indescribable feeling of fear, anguish, and genuine shock overcame me when I heard Seele's ultimate motive for reducing all beings to LCL. If you have issues of existential despair, you may want to pass on EoE or you might go crazy. Finally, the ending with Shinji and Asuka is telling in many ways, delivering the message of Evangelion in a neat 2-minute scene.
Like the series, End of Evangelion is an interesting project. Different viewers will react very differently: some will find an immediate connection to the despair of the characters and will find great meaning in a collection of seemingly unrelated scenes; others will find the show so pretentious that they will make their disapproval known to anyone that will listen. I think that following the Evangelion series I was more in the latter camp. Having seen the movie, I still find the Evangelion project pretentious, but I understand what the goal was. Some viewers will walk away having been truly impacted by the film's message, and for this EoE is deemed one of the greatest in anime. EoE, like the Evangelion series, is one of those few works for which even a semblance of an objective evaluation simply cannot be given. At the very least, I've given you my opinion.
Overall Rating: A
For snapshots and a high quality download, see my blog at http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 23, 2009
Conqueror of Shamballa picks up where the final episode of Fullmetal Alchemist left off. Ed and Al are now in alternate dimensions, worlds which differ in the path technology chose to follow. Ed's world is our own, set in pre-World War 2 Germany, while Al remains in the world of the FMA series. While the brothers try to find their own ways to reunite with one another, the Thule Society in Ed's world is preparing to prop up the new Nazi government under Adolf Hitler. Seeking the power of alchemy, the Society searches for a way to cross over to Al's world. On their journey
...
to be with each other once again, Ed and Al will have to face a maniacal enemy bent on domination of both worlds.
Shamballa is a pretty good film: animation is in line with that of the series (if not a bit more detailed and polished) and viewers should expect comparable audio. The storyline, while necessary for those of us left hanging at the end of the series, is a little too ambitious for even a nearly 2-hour film. While the plot is strong overall, the ending and enemy both seemed forced and left me with questions. In some cases, those questions were answered, but the answers were not satisfying. For instance, how is the primary enemy, a mere human from the other world, suddenly a beast with alchemic powers which prove a match for even trained state alchemists? And more importantly, what is her motive for wishing to destroy and conquer "Shamballa?" She gives viewers an answer, but it is pretty weak and is easily the low point in the movie.
On the bright side, fans should be pleased with how the movie brings the main storyline to a wrap: the two-world system is explained, we find out what happens to Ed and Al, and we see whether Roy Mustang remains a bum for the rest his life.
In Shamballa's case, the pros outweigh the cons. Animation, audio, and storyline are all enjoyable; it's nice to see the characters one more time, and the underlying premise is well-developed throughout. Apart from what felt like a forced dramatic ending battle and final enemy, Shamballa is a hit.
Overall Score: B+
For snapshots and a high quality download check out my blog, http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 23, 2009
Memories of Nobody is a side-story set in the Bleach universe, taking place before the Arrancar entry arc in the Bleach series. While patrolling Karakura Town, Ichigo and Rukia come across strange white creatures and a female soul reaper named Senna. Senna is able to dispose of these creatures, and though she claims to be from Soul Society, her story does not match up with any records. As the plot progresses, the Dark Ones, a clan banished from Soul Society in the past, are revealed as enemies seeking to destroy the two-world system by using Senna. Ichigo and friends will have to travel to the
...
Valley of Screams to save Senna and the world.
Bleach movies, unlike many offshoot movies of super-popular anime series, have tended to be very good. Memories, the first Bleach movie, sets the bar high with an interesting plot, a touching love story, and some enjoyable Bleach fights. Fans of the series will love the movie simply for getting to see the Captains kick ass, but for those that aren't all about bankai there is much more here that should satisfy. Viewers will see a new element added to the Bleach universe (the Valley of Screams) and there is some notable character development for Ichigo due to his relationship with Senna.
There are still a few faults that are typical of the Bleach series: the enemies, for all the hype, prove to be no match against the Captains, and the final battle between Ichigo and the leader of the Dark Ones is pretty brief. Senna's English voice is also shrill and sometimes annoying. But really, to harp on these minor (and for the most part, expected) elements is just to show that the story and overall package are very good. Memories is a must-see for Bleach fans, and if you don't mind spoilers, first-time Bleach viewers should find it entertaining as well.
Overall Score: A-
Find snapshots and a high quality download at my blog, http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Jul 23, 2009
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie follows the Bebop universe and presents a new story of biological terrorism and bounty hunting. Spike, Jet, Faye, Edward, and Ein work together to catch a terrorist with a huge bounty on his head before he unleashes a deadly virus on Mars.
The Bebop movie is superb. If you are a fan of the series, you will not be disappointed, but you won't miss a beat if you decide to watch it without ever having seen the series either. Like the series, the movie features fantastic animation and a phenomenal soundtrack.
If you haven't seen the series, enough cannot be said here about
...
the quality of animation and audio, and you should take a look at the review of the series itself. But what sets the movie apart (and above) is its story: while the plot isn't terribly intricate or even among the most interesting, it's still a plot. Viewers of the Bebop series will probably agree that for all of its pros, the show suffered at times from an incoherent plot and hit-or-miss episodes. Think of the Bebop movie as one long hit episode. The characters remain as lively and unique as they were in the anime, but here there is an enemy, a plan to capture him, teamwork, and a feeling of urgency and excitement. All of this culminates in a beautifully done final fight scene.
Apart from being slow at times, the Bebop movie has no negative aspects. It is a joy to see the landmark characters of the series in a full-length film. It is even greater to see a developed plot accompanying such fine music and animation. Fans and non-fans alike should give the Bebop movie a view.
Overall Score: A
Find snapshots and a high quality download at my blog http://animefiend.blogspot.com
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
