- Last OnlineYesterday, 1:47 AM
- GenderMale
- BirthdaySep 5
- JoinedJan 2, 2008
No friend yet.
RSS Feeds
|
Oct 3, 2008
even though the animation quality isnt that to boast pale cocoon sure did give its story quite a boot.
taking place on a post-apocalyptic setting, pale cocoon deals with the lives of two humans under the excavation department whose jobs are to excavate old records encoded into software. while this job had some enthusiastic employees early on, it later lost its vigor as one by one, people began resigning. Ura, the only one dedicated in finding out about history decided to go on and unravel the mystery behind one archive. true to what the intro say about this anime, his finding would eventually change the
...
world completely.
the one prominent thing that made this stand out would be the story. it discusses bluntly how humans are ashamed of their existence. how humans are ashamed of what they've been doing and how through their actions, they have destroyed the world as evidenced by the setting and the background shown by each archive.
it is to say that people during this setting have already succumbed to despair as evidenced by those who dont give a damn on the archives anymore. it shows how people content are with their lives and how that content eventually kills human maturity, how it hinders human evolution.
as it was stated by one of the characters, the reason why she wanted to stop her job is because she do not want to find out anymore of her history. of the long line of humans who bring upon despair and tragedy over one another. while this philosophy brings about a good setting of perfect peace, it still invokes a world without growth as represented by the daily boring way of living everyone had.
ura, the protagonist, eventually sought out for the truth and unveiled a sign of hope. that what he discovered at the end of the OVA was a symbol of man himself. that even though man bring upon destruction to others, man is also capable of bringing joy (evidenced by the rusted earth and the blue earth).
this story reflects society so much that it would make one question how our future look like? will we be looking back someday to look for the prints of our past or would be continue to move blindly to our future?
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
Sep 29, 2008
story
i would say that aside from having much of fanservice, i really liked the romance and development of Nogizaka Haruka's story. it may be a typical slice of life but it touches sensitive topics related to otakus especially that of discrimination and i gues that's the reason why i got myself hooked since the start of the series.
although there are some cliched events troughout with the aspect of first-love and destiny and romance, i still liked how they developed every episode neatly. some episodes entertain the viewers with factual akiba-ke information while other deal with how people are to deal with their inner demons and
...
face conflicts with society.
as a general premise, yuuto would be haruka's knight in charge of protecting her secret from the rest of society so as she wouldn't be humiliated as what she experienced before when she was in middle grade. even though the story's plot revolved around that, it's fun that they still focused on fanservice rather than being serious all of a sudden. at the very least, they maintained consistency in their episodes.
art
the story's not that to brag about but it's still worth mentioning that it mixes very well with the harem and fanservice theme. lotsa sexy characters from time to time and frilly clothes that would definitely pick on cosplayers everywhere
sound
the opening and ending wasn't that catchy. it was entertaining but it was just at that. the slice of life an ero ero scenes are properly paired with BGM so i have no qualms regarding those things.
it is to note however that some character singles are amusing. they dont give me the last song syndrome but still have an enchanting effect especially haruka's single, sung by mamiko noto. i also liked kana ueda and kaori shimitzu's duet.
character
this is definitely a typical romance where boy meets girl few years back then boy meets girl few years later and boy must protect girl at all costs. despite being a fanservice anime, everyone has still attitudes that's worth mentioning such as the imperfection of the perfect haruka in terms of clumsiness, yuuto's laid back attitude but determination, mika's abuse of her innocent look which definitely leads to various echi echi moments and other forms of chaos. yuuto's drunk sister and teacher which definitely services a complete set of incest harem.
enjoyment
i really enjoyed the otaku fanservice though (episodes relating to otaku life) and has grasped the idea of otaku discrimination and oppression quite easily thanks to their episode conflicts. some episodes are simply senseless however yet still manages to progress in terms of plot development
overall
even though nogizaka haruka didnt give me a thrill in terms of action, i suppose slice of life fanatics wouldn't be disappointed watching this one. the same goes for those who love romance flicks and some ecchi here and there. however, if you really like to look into otaku popculture effects in the society, then nogizaka haruka wouldn't fail to boot
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
Sep 28, 2008
Story
taking place 1 yr from where season 1 trailed off i really anticipated this series' return but was a bit disappointed by how everything seemed to restart just the way everything began with geass 1. the only difference is that the catching up isnt far off since lelouch already have that military might he didnt have when code geass began. aside from that, i was a bit disappointed with how geass 2 somewhat deviated itself from geass 1 in the sense that the focal issue of geass has been resolved within 2 episodes, leaving some other secrets about it uncovered making the series lose the
...
"essence" of its title.
if geass 2 was able to brag about something, it would be the world domination schema that would really perk up strategy gamers' interests. alliances and forged, countries are colored red or blue and the world was torn between factions. as a personal fan of strategy games, i considered this plot influence a plus.
in the end, code geass 2 reverted to being another gundam series that ends with one massive war and a use of nukes/superweapons and i think that in itself made geass 2 unimpressive. however, it's overall flow was realistic. technology was discovered to counter an opposing country's technology. the world competed with one another through technology and development and that is another great influence of watching geass in the long run. it makes people realize that this overpowered mech came into realization in order to counter this other mech.
overall, geass have been bluntly a strategic action anime. it could've been better if they involved geass too and put it much in detail but hey. it happened, the season ended and everyone watched.
Art
the art is always good since it came from clamp but some angles would make me remember some SeeD characters such as kira and athrun. well it's all nice though but it's somewhat distracting since you're too much focused in the development of the story itself.
the knightmares themselves were definitely stylish especially this time around. they featured much sleek and glossy coating that made me reminiscient of 00. there were also some knightmare designs that seemed to have been copied from Gundam 00 but i think that's plausible sincesunrise made both series.
there were also some episodes released with poor quality but regardless, geass 2 was still fun to watch.
Sound
with nakagawa kotaro responsible for the bgm heard all throughout, there is no way geass wouldn't stand out. the opening songs by orange range and flow were good but the ending theme with ali project is/has that weird, uneasy impact on me. though i did like AP when they did the rozen maiden series, it somehow doesnt fit geass. i also didnt like how the final ep ended in an ali project end. it somehow doesnt feel enough closure like how they decided to end it on s1. that or maybe im requesting too much
Character
there were plenty of characters introduced this season as well as recurring ones. it seemed that every fanbase was influenced by geass such as lolicons, yaois, yuris, incest, and even some other unnamed weird bases.
aside from fanservice issues, im glad to see that a lot of the cast of geass have matured. from the young boy that wanted to make a world for her sister now fights for the rest of the world. the knight that holds his principles have finally decided to throw them away. there were lots of changes, both big and small, yet contributed to the development of the story. there were characters to raged at, to laugh at, to cry at and every last one of them contributed in the enjoyment of geass
Enjoyment
aside from the return of overpowered mechas that does spinkicks and heeldrops, im amused the most on the display of wit and strategy that geass used all throughout. one thing that code geass dsitances itself from its gundam counterparts would be the sheer execution of strategy that does not rely heavily on a single unit's power. while lelouch continued to throw away lives, he made every sacrifice worth it. that virtue itself is something that would interest me in as how flawless strategies are executed and how and individual carries the burden of his choices.
despite being given the power of geass, despite the actions taken and the decisions made, we also see the conflict of a young boy as he turned into a responsible man as he continued to carry the weight of his sins. as his influence grew and the hatred spread and how he finally resolved everything in one go.
if there were some things that season 2 influenced me with, it must've been the weight of one's sacrifice and the growing up of one simple ideal into another.
the boy who fought for his own happiness in R1 now fought for the happiness of the world in R2 and that in itself is a good way to close things regarding lelouch's personal issues.
as ive said however, lelouch's issue is over in this series but the issue about CC and geass is not. if there would be an s3 it woudl definitely be a new story and a new cast
Overall
it was fun, it was depressing, it brought me to tears and rage and awe and dissatisfaction. even though the beginning was a bit good and the middle was totally off, the end topped it off but it still left most hanging. still, it never ceases to amaze me how much wisdom lelouch has. you can blame it to his experience in R1 and the things he experienced in R2 but still, the experiences he had cultivated him to make a "Jesus Christ" triumphant plan in the end and that totally impressed me with code geass.
if this is the end of this series then i would surely miss the cast and crew of code geass.
this is a job well done but i wished that they made something along the series to make it better.
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 5, 2008
double arts is basically a typical shounen manga that starts with a chance encounter that ends up with a mix of romance and adventure.
it starts with a plot of an incurable disease with one boy holding the possible cure. the boy doesn't want others to be harmed because of him and thus, aspires to be much stronger. despite this common initial plot in every shounen manga, double arts has its own unique style that differentiates it from the others.
the art style of double arts gives off a hip look which makes, somewhat reminiscient with naruto's art, but gives of an entirely different feel. comedic plots
...
are nicely developed, and the story moves at a slow pace yet is staged properly by the characters introduced throughout the series. i also believe that even the minor characters in double arts would have an impact since the story is told from a flashback point of view by el, the story's heroine.
one thing that interests me in double arts is how it began as a flashback, with el as the narrator, and how it would eventually reach el's timeline where either something good/bad turned out from heir journey. with a lot of people involved and a lot of events that happened, el was able to narrate it vividly stating the mystery on what circumstances made her treasure such memories.
character-wise, aside from el and her partner, kiri, newer characters are being introduced throughout the story, with each of them having impact on the main ones involved. though it is stated on almost every shounen manga, kiri and el learn a lot from their encounters. from their first battle up to their first fried, their defeats and their victories and i believe that the fact that el tells her experiences in a flashback style of narration implies how important these experiences are and how it affects their future. that in itself is a mystery that perks up a reader's interest and would make them want to read more of the manga.
the combat techniques shown throughout are very much stylish, very much comparable with soul eater. kiri and el fight with such synchronized movements that it really amazes me how they perform uppercuts, spin kicks and heel drops while maintaining hand contact. even the simple taking turns in the bath is very much organized and well thought of. sui's fight style uses, but is not limited to i suppose, an iron hula hoop which she carries and assembles when needed. she can use her weapon perfectly that it covers her offense and defense as well as able to "ride" with it when delivering devastating blows. overall, i believe that double arts wouldnt fail to deliver, if not, satisfying level of action that would make itself competitive with other shounen manga.
so far, this manga holds much promise and have gained much of my respect. i do hope this would go on a long way, continuously proving itself to the readers of its potential of a good manga to boot.
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 5, 2008
if you're wondering why this manga deserved straight 10's then please, read it first (even the first 3 chapters would do) then read my explanation.
one thing that makes this manga unique is that it breaches the boundary of real world and online gaming. who would've thought that an approach in the game world can be made possible even in the real world?
in order to spare his head, keima must use his mastery of visual novels and sway the hearts of spirit-possessed girls to his side. aided by elshee, the spirit capturer from hell, he embarks on one wacky, romance-filled adventure.
one thing that makes this manga
...
unique is the visual novel theme applied in real life. while it is true that some approach is dire impossible, the mere thought that it can be done in reality has been visualized by keima. making this manga catchy and fresh in its own taste. the art matches the slapstick comedy very well along with how it creates a feel of cute (MOE) characters and the snob protagonist.
story-wise, there isnt seem to be a major plot going on except for the fact that keima has to deal with his real world problems using his game world solutions. there are different characteristics of women per manga arc and keima uses a different approach each time as based on his game world experience.
despite having the ability to stay happily in the real world due to his game application, keima would still prefer to live within his own world of games, a denial of what he is capable of doing.
on elshee's part, aside from acting as comedic relief, she influences keima to open u with the world around him. story-wise, keima refused interaction with the real world not until elshee showed up. with their first encounter and how keima interacts with elshee, elshee slowly helps keima in becoming true to himself. if not, at least less ignorant of the real world around him despite the fact that keima still prefers to his own world.
as there are different personalities/characteristics involved in this manga, i believe that this displays a lot of causality and effect. with little change, what would happen? with every situation that keima encounters with a different girl, what would he do? how would it affect the outcome of him reeling her in? does a little change really matter?
if life is a game then i suppose that The World God Only Knows is one guide that would help us go through with it. it tells you how funny live could be, how romantic it is, how fun the adventure will be and how our thoughts, imaginations, can make things possible.
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 5, 2008
when members of an online game went on for an offline meeting, everybody started to end up dead. the plot of this manga is cliche with any other thriller plot but unique in its own sense with the application of newer trends. so to speak, the manga is so good that readers would find themselves involved at the story and its characters, questioning what these people have in common? why should they die? how the story would end. what secrets would be revealed.
it's too early to comment on possible endings with how the story is progressing and always catching the reader's thoughts but if you're
...
craving for a good thriller manga to read, then rabbit doubt is for you. the clean art and the intriguing plot speaks it all.
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 5, 2008
on the shell, kure-nai is a very dull anime. the music is boring especially when the next episode is previewed and there are lots of local fanservice made to mention. however, after watching it, you would surprisingly find the anime deep. every episode rarely has relation with one another but it features lots of things reflecting culture, beliefs, change, and resolve. take the simple squabbles between murasaki and shinkurou. they always quarrel over petty things but they are only acting on their belief of their own right. they who live on different cultures and circumstances, when given before a problem or a point of discussion,
...
they would fight over what they believed in.
the same goes for all other characters within the story. i believe that there's no such thing as "minor" in this anime. the playgirl tamaki, the emo yamie, the flirt yuno, the stern ginko, the carefree benika, up to the serious yayoi. everyone lives in their own principle, guided by their own circumstance and belief and i think that factor makes this anime a success.
an anime coated with boredom and differences but gives everyone a sweet taste of understanding and appreciation of life. that's the true strength of kure-nai
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
Mar 31, 2008
maybe you've read it from somewhere or heard it before but let me state it again, Gundam 00 makes me reminiscent of Gundam Wing, one of the best Gundam series (in my opinion) with regards to story, character, and mechas.
However, Gundam 00 have developed its own form of respect that made it surpass some other Gundam series in its own field.
for one, this is the best series so far that excelled much in art style, making efficient use of modern day technology to improve the graphic quality of this anime. from the sleek coloring and the defined mech designs, i believe that this series reeled
...
it in.
the story may have an old feel with Wing but it certainly had its own touch of realism and feasibility in it. taking the old aspect of "Gundams are justice" and "Gundams against the world" Gundam 00 featured more struggle as compared to its predecessors. though the idea of one Gundam capable of taking on hordes of enemies is feasible at first (as it always have been in the Gundam series), this invincibility has been sabotaged ingeniously by the weakness of the pilots. like wing, no matter how powerful your mechas are, faced against quite a number of enemies, the chances of human error escalates, decreasing the capabilities of a God-like savior.
it is in this respect that i really enjoyed Gundam Wing and now, Gundam 00. the paradox of powerful robots piloted by simple human beings gives this anime realism and puts limitations to one's imagination.
also, there are no overly-powerful mechas in Gundam 00. everyone has its drawbacks as if each were designed with balance in mind.
Exia for instance specializes in close combat capabilities but have difficulty with mid-range and long ranged fights. dynames specializes in ranged fire but have difficulty when the enemy gets too close. kyrios is maneuverable and well balanced but does not excel much in fields of long range and close range fights, it simply is maneuverable and has average capabilities. virtue has insane firepower that can take down mobs but wear out its energy is easily. to compensate for this, each unit is assigned with a partner best suit to back each other up. exia is paired with dynames for cover in long range while virtue is backed up with kyrios which easily dodges the energy cannon used by virtue.
it is on this series that the concept of teamwork matters more rather than taking on them all alone. also, the mesiters know that it is best in warfare to finish enemies off before they increase in number as they would be having much difficulty later on. they know the rules of warfare and apply it on each of their battles.
i also believe that the mesiter's roles and attitudes affect the "humanity" of their Gundams. their lack of experience, their constant complaints as to why the world is evil, their regrets and pains. i think that balances their mech's power, giving birth to a powerful being that's limits is exceeded by human will.
If you like to watch how one-sided losing battles are fought realistically, i recommend watching Gundam 00.
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
Mar 20, 2008
a manga that tackles a sensitive subject. it's quite rare for me to be attached so much to this kind of manga.
i believe that bitter virgin's story gives color to the lives of those women that had their rights violated, to women that continue to fight, and to women that would always repent for the sins they made on their past.
this also explains to the reader how such cases are viewed by other people.
hinako who had undergone hell through her step dad and by aborting her child twice suffers the pain and anguish of her past. the pain and anguish that continues to torment her
...
present, challenging her daily whenever she sees children or men. her fear and regret that was subdued by daisuke that showed her kindness. the kindness of a man that she forcibly removed from her emotions due to the pain she experienced.
as the story progressed along, hinako's emotions slowly develop, relieving her of her fears and slowly beginning to make her face her regrets with a firm resolve and all this is because of daisuke's kindness. on the other hand, the story also shows how daisuke is careful with hinako's matter. how he is doing his best to not make her experience the bad things she had in the past all the while, experiencing her opening up to him slowly, able to face the world again with renewed strength.
the manga portrays how women are strong and fragile at the same time. how they face the world in the view of regret and fear and how good men play a role to their lives, acting as pillar of support if the need arise.
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
Mar 20, 2008
one of the reasons that i began reading his manhwa would definitely the gorgeous art. the other would be the complications between forbidden romance.
to lose oneself over love means to give up ones' dignity in the eyes of the many. i guess that would be the lesson that unbalance x unbalance is trying to tell the reader. the dilemma comes in the form that a student, jin ho, is in love with his teacher, hae young.
will love prevail over morals or the thoughts of other people? for a teacher that lives on morals and abides by the rule, hae young is troubled by
...
this dilemma. should she give in for her love? but if she does, what would other people think? on the other hand, jin ho thinks of his resolve. that he loves his teacher no matter what. that he doesn't care about what others think and that all that matters is his love for her. in the end, how will the two ends meet? if one always keeps on pushing the other while one insists on moving forth.
a good manhwa that focuses on a love that continuously defies time, opinion, and reason.
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
|