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Everyone loves a good story that makes them think. "Death Note" is a good example of an anime that is loved mainly for that aspect. Most people will disagree with me on this subject, but I think Code Geass is in fact more thought provoking than Death Note. Don't get me wrong, I loved Death Note and I always will. However, Code Geass gave me something that Death note just couldn't...

I had actually watched Code Geass about 2 years ago, and I was really glad that I did. Recently I decided to re-watch Code Geass, and in doing so I gained a new appreciation for ... it. I saw this quote floating around the internet, "If Death Note is chess, then Code Geass is Checkers," and to some degree, I agree. As far as outwitting and being outwitted goes, I think we can all agree that Death Note is superior. What Code Geass does do, I feel, better than Death Note, is explaining the mentality of the show. "Why did the main character do this?" "What is his drive for killing all these people?" "Is this just? In fact, what is just anyways?" In Death Note I feel the main protagonists reasoning for killing all the people he did is... far fetched, and poorly explained. Code Geass didn't do that much better a job, but I feel getting revenge on the people who killed your mother, while at the same time creating a safe environment for your crippled sister is a bit more believable.

As far as character goes, I wish I could score it at an eleven (no pun intended). Maybe it's just me, but a character that is strong willed and actually able to do something for him/herself is way more attractive then the usual "worthless sacks of shit" that seem to dominate anime and manga today. The characters in this story would be totally perfect, but for some reason the creators felt the urge to put the most annoying, worthless, and downright pitiful character I have ever had the displeasure of watching. If you find yourself wanting to break "Nina"'s neck, don't worry buddy, I'm here with you.

One of the only (and biggest) complaints I had regarding code geass was, yes, the art. I'm not saying the art is horrible or anything- in fact- it's far from it. That is, if this were a shoujo manga or something. The heads are big, the colors are way too bright, and everyone looks way too... nice? As far as story goes, this should be one ho dank, depressing anime. The main character kills his blood brother before the first few episodes are done, for gods sake! I might just be ranting over here by myself, but in my opinion they could have chose a much better art style.

However, don't let that discourage you from watching a great anime. After the first episode, you'll stop noticing and start code geass'n. Oh, also I noticed that a lot of people put this off because they hate the Mecha aspect of it, which I can understand. Honestly I don't get the whole Mecha fad, but it works out well for this anime. If you had any doubts about whether this is worth your time, trust me, it is.

The first romance anime I ever watched was "Kimi ga Nozomu Eien" (Rumbling Hearts); and since then no other romance has just quite satisfied me. Whether the characters were too shallow, the plot was too cliche, or any other wide variety of faults, I was always disappointed- until now.

For me, being able to relate to the characters is one of the most important parts of a manga/anime. If I can't relate, I won't even try to finish the manga/anime. Some where down the road, someone decided that making the main character a helpless, worthless sack of shit was a good idea, and for some reason ... almost all the other authors jumped on the bandwagon. GE: Good Ending starts off with a male character that fits into the former category, but fortunately he turns into a normal human being who can actually wipe his own ass.

What pisses me off the most is when the supporting characters seem to fall on their knees and grovel for this aforementioned worthless character. Thankfully all the romance in this was at least somewhat believable. We got some good character development, peering into their pasts, which showed us why each character did what they did, which leads me to the next point.

For me, unless the manga is super short, romance without drama is very boring. The problem with drama in romance is the fact that usually the author will blow everything out of scale. The author wants to keep the drama relatable, so he/she makes the drama a small problem- something like a bad breakup. However to keep the story moving, that one breakup ruins several peoples lives, making the story seem almost silly. GE has quite a bit of drama, at some points their was maybe even too much drama for my taste, but all the effects of the drama were believable. One character has a sex tape spread throughout the school without her consent, and after that she has a hard time wanting to love; which I feel is very believable.

As far as art goes, I felt it fit the story line perfectly. It wasn't too dark, but it wasn't too.... fluffy(?) either. I don't think anyone will have any complaints with the art. I found myself enjoying the story line almost every second I was reading. In fact, I read this manga for 6 or so hours straight, and finished it one sitting. The story was just long enough to give us a really deep emotional attachment to all the characters, but it wasn't to long as to let the drama get redundant.

The only reason I gave GE: Good Ending a 9, and not a 10, is because the main character started out as the kind of character I truly despise the most; a worthless sack of shit. If you get turned off by this fact, however, do not fear. After about 10 or 15 chapters his act turns around and he turns into one of the best romance protagonists I've seen. GE: Good Ending isn't quite on the level of Rumbling Hearts (in my opinion), but it sure comes close. If you want some romance with a bit of drama; you won't be disappointed.

Note: This a review on the overall series, not on the first movie. Due to the fact that I think you should know what you're getting yourself into before you decide to watch this movie, I am attempting to write one review for 7 movies. Also, I feel many people will not watch these movies due to the bad ratings given to the first movie.

If there is one thing that I want to emphasize more than anything, it is this-- do not let the first movie discourage you. If you do, you will be throwing away a chance to watch an amazing anime. I am ... guilty of putting off watching the rest of the series because I didn't like the first movie. I saw several reviews saying that there was no link whatsoever between the separate movies, and after watching the first movie I was disappointed. "Where was the much needed character development?" and, "Where was the beginning, or even the end of this story?" I felt like I was thrown into a story that could have been something great, and then kicked out before it reached fruition. I'm sure thoughts similar to mine will be racing through your head after the first movie. Due to these thoughts, I stopped watching this movie series because I thought each movie would be like this one- an underdeveloped short story attempting to be something original.

However, due to some heavenly information received from a trustworthy friend, I decided to pick up where I'd left off. This was one of the better choices I've made in my life. All that the first movie could and should have been, developed right in front of my eyes. All the character development that such an original story needs, was given to us in creative ways. You get see the story in a different way then most stories are projected. Almost exactly like the star wars movies, the first episode is actually near the end of the story. The second episode is at the beginning, and the last one is the end. Instead of seeing cause and then effect, we see effect, and then cause. For a lot of people this will spice up the story and give a much needed push in the plot. Even if you aren't one of these people, I believe everyone should watch series in the traditional sequence. If you don't, you won't get the full experience that you should get. Also, you'll miss some clever scenes that seem random in the beginning, but mean everything in the end.

Some people will put off this "series" because it's a sequence of movies. Don't. If you do, you will be making a grave mistake. Honestly, I didn't even view this anime as a series of movies. I viewed it as an anime series spanning 21 episodes and 7 arcs- each about 3 episodes long but some up to 6 episodes long. If you view it this way, you will realize that you get everything you get while watching a series- and more. Due to the fact that movies can take up bigger budgets, everything is better. The art, of course, is superb. Kara no Kyoukai has some of best art I've ever seen present in an anime. Only short to '5 centimeters per second', any artist will be instantly drawn to this show. On par to the art, is the sound department. Brilliantly dramatic, the sound is just what these movies need to give them that extra beefing up that was required to attain a 10. Due to the fact that you will be on the edge of your seat for most of the eight and a half hours, music will not be given much recognition. However, even if you don't notice it, the music is playing a big part. Due to a broken link, I had to watch a whole movie with no sound. To say the least- this was my least favorite movie of them all.

Even though a lot of what this series has to deal with is suicide and murder, many of us will be able to relate and feel for the characters in this story. Most of these principles are down scaled, and play an important role in part of our everyday lives. Kara no Kyoukai is an anime that many people will be able to relate with, which is what you want in any story. Few will regret watching six movies to be able to experience what the last movie gives you. If nothing else, please watch the seventh movie, because it really is something else.

Note: If you haven't already watched Neon Genesis Evangelion- go watch it. If you've already watched it, and you haven't watched The End of Evangelion-- for the love of god, please, PLEASE, watch this movie. Need I emphasis more?

Just like every other person who watches Neon Genesis Evangelion (NGE), I was in love, I was crying, but mainly, I was confused. If you are at all postponing watching The End of Evangelion (EoE) because you are confused with the ending of NGE, stop reading this review and go watch EoE. Why? Well, because chances are it will change your outlook on life. EoE truly is, ... as the rating system goes, a "masterpiece." Not one I can express with words.

NGE ends with Shinji killing kaworu, the only person who has ever loved him. You then see Shinji on the beach, with Misato, in obvious depression. She tries to console him, but only ends up hurting him more. The last two episodes are hard to explain. Basically, Shinji is in turmoil. He is hating himself, and feeling bad for himself. And honestly, who can blame him? He was faced with killing the only person that he believed truly loved him in life, or extinction of the whole human race. It's like being faced with saving your mom, or saving your dad. Neither choice is wrong, but neither choice is right. All it induces is pain, and suffering. All that Shinji wants to do is die, and who can blame him for that? Is suicide really a sin?

For me (and I know some will disagree) the whole Evangelion series was about loneliness. Everyone is afraid of being truly alone. People fear death because they do not want to be forgotten. They want to be remembered. They don't want to be alone. That's all shinji wants, is not to be alone. He says he doesn't want people to hate him, but he really just doesn't want to be alone. If you didn't know already, what Seele is trying to accomplish is to create god. By creating god, all physical forms of existence will cease to exist. All the souls on planet earth will come together and form one... "being", if you may. Shinji is at the center of this, as the being who will decide the fate of everyone in existence. Trying not to give to much of a spoiler, shinji chooses one way and realizes he is still lonely because everyone is something, yet he is nothing. He chooses to go back to the way he used to exist. However, after that several things happen that can be interpreted in many different ways. Although reviews are mainly opinion based, it doesn't feel fair for me to voice my opinion on such an amazing ending. If you really didn't understand the ending, there are thousands of discussions all over the web. However, every single one is only a theory. Hideaki Anno explained that EoE does not have one set meaning, or ending, for that matter. In a sense, you create the ending of this beautiful series with your imagination. Can you think of anything better?

Before Anno started creating evangelion, he had a girlfriend who fell terminally ill. On her deathbed, the last words she said to him were - "I was going to dump you anyway. Your disgusting." Shortly after, he created the masterpiece Evangelion. Many people believe that the last scene is a reenactment of the conflict that went on between him and his girlfriend. However, it can be interpreted in many ways. In fact, the whole Evangelion series can be interpreted in completely different ways. That, my friends, is the beauty of Neon Genesis Evangelion: The End of Evangelion.

After finishing this anime, you're going to be asking yourself one thing, and one thing only. "What did I just see?" Whether it's "What kind of s**t did I just see?" or "What amazing twist did I just experience?", chances are, your jaw will be touching the floor.

Now, a lot of people rate this anime harshly. I feel that this is due to the build up of already harsh reviews. I don't know about you guys, but when I have bad expectations for an anime and start watching it, 9/10 times I won't like the anime. Which is really just a pity. Thankfully, I ... started watching School Days not knowing what to expect, only knowing that there was a huge twist. Really, that's all you need to know. If you start watching schooldays with your mind set in stone that you won't like it, chances are, you won't. Just like almost anything in life, having a bad attitude or already believing you lost, will only decide it for you. This is even more so true in the anime world. If you start watching school days with the expectations that most of the reviews will give you, you're gonna have a bad time.

Honestly, I loved School Days. It's really a hit or miss. Either you're going to admire it for it's courage to sway from normal slice o' life/romance anime, or despise it for being a train-wreck. Usually, it's the latter of the two. I mainly think the reason for this is solely because of the expectations for it. The synopsis really does attract the wrong audience. What a pity. That's all I can say for School Days. If it had been advertised better and put into a different genre, it could have done good. Thankfully, I like romance, thrillers, horror, slice of life, comedy and almost everything else. Really, School days is a great way to ease the boredom felt by watching countless mainstream romance anime. If you haven't already watched School Days, you're either new to the anime crowd or have been put off by the influx of harsh reviews. Either way, give it a try. Hey, even if you have already watched it and didn't like it, you might want to give it another try with a different mind set. I know I'm going to get hated on for writing a good School Days review, but oh well. I hope some of you try School Days due to this review; and maybe even fall in love with it.

This review is going to be a little different. Instead of focusing on one main theme for my review like I usually do, I'm going to explain several. This is my second attempt at writing a review for this anime.

Freedom is something that is not easy to achieve. Whether it's freedom of the heart, mind, body or soul; freedom does not come cheap. Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom really portrays well how powerful the idea of freedom is.

Ein has no freedom, and is a puppet to be used for peoples needs. Whether she's killing someone or having sex, none of it is for herself. She ... never does anything for herself, and truly believes that the only reason she exists is for someone else. Until she meets Zwei. Zwei goes under the same harsh training and brainwashing Ein does, but somehow manages to keep hold to some part of his humanity. Do you want to know why? Because he has freedom. Even if it is only a little, and most of it is false, he has some freedom. Because of that he can become truly strong. Ein is mesmerized in her own way at how strong Zwei is. Zwei surpasses Ein, solely because he has freedom. He still has enough freedom that he can go home if he wants. But he doesn't, because he's in love with Ein.

Love. Most people will agree with me when I say that love is one of, if not, the most powerful emotion. What will you do for your loved one? Anything? If not, then chances are they are not truly your loved one. When you will do anything for someone, that is truly when you and that person are at serenity. That is truly when love first blooms. Because this is the case, love is a powerful emotion. Ein and Zwei are the perfect example of love. They are truly living for each other, mainly because they both have nothing else. Having their pasts wiped, they have nothing but each other, which is what makes this story so beautiful. Trying not to give any spoilers, Ein and Zwei live and die for each other, with each other, by another.

Losing everything, only to find it, then lose it again will cause most people to go insane. Zwei is strong, but not invincible. His mind is erased, which cause him to lose everything. He finally finds one person he can put all his trust in, only to have her ripped out of his life, and by his own hand. The only way he can cope with this is to forget it. He forgets it and follows orders, just like a robot. He tries to move on, and when he finally moves on, she is thrust back into his life. Have you ever heard the saying " You don't know what you have untill it's gone"? Well, this saying has never been taken to such an extreme before. He's lost everything twice now, so Zwei definitely knows how to cherish something while he's got it. And cherish it he does, until the very, very end.

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is truly a beautiful story that teaches us many things about life. Dealing with love, loss, the implications of freedom, and last but not least, revenge, you're emotions will run wild. Most of the time you'll be crying, or in awe. Sometime both at the same time. Honestly, I'm surprised this anime isn't under the romance section, because honestly it deals a lot with the implications of devoting your life to someone else. What's more romantic than that? Anyways, whatever you like, Phantom:Requiem for the Phantom will leave a big impact on how you look at the world. Whether you love it or hate it, your feelings will not be left in balance.

Before I get started, let me say that this review is definitely subject to change. Mainly due to that fact that I had to voice my opinion on a really enjoyable anime, I'm writing this before the series is over. I know, writing a review on a series before it's finished reviewing is taboo; however I really feel that this anime needs more recognition. Mainly, I'm here to help those people who can't decide on whether they should watch this anime or not. Trust me, you not going to get an accurate feel for what you should expect from this anime after just reading ... the synopsis.

Just so you know, I'm not a big basketball fan. If I had to decide, I'd say I don't like basketball. I rarely even watch a game and find little to no enjoyment from playing the sport. However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this anime. For those of you who have watched "Hikaru no Go" or "Prince of Tennis", you already know that you don't necessarily have to understand an anime to enjoy it. This is even more true in sports anime; in fact, it might even be more enjoyable because you can learn a little while having fun.

To say the least, your going to have a lot of fun watching this anime. Heck, I might have had the most fun watching this anime out of all the series I have watched, mainly because I thought it was the perfect length for a sports anime. A lot of times you'll notice that sports anime are very long; which a lot of the time makes them very tedious. For me, a prime example would have to be Prince of Tennis. To cut a long story short, it's too long. Spanning 178 episodes, you can already see what I mean. Sure, being over 100 episodes long has worked well for several popular series, and in fact, most of them are still running. Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, and Inuyasha are several of the mainstream anime that span over 100 episodes, and most of them are still immensely popular. So why doesn't it work for series like Prince of Tennis? Because they're sports anime. And one thing you'll notice after watching sports anime is repetition, and lots of it. I mean, how could there not be? There are only 2 ways a sports anime will end, in a win or a loss. I've yet to see a tie, and hell, I've never even seen a loss. Sure, you can change the way they accomplish their goal, but the end result is the same. Even if you change the methods, you're still limited in a sports anime. There are only so many different ways to change the methods. More true than in almost any other sport, basketball is honestly not that flashy. To get around a defender, it usually doesn't require immense ball handling skills, but usually comes down to speed in the end. Which is where I get into my next point.

I've seen a lot of reviews done by (I assume) basketball players ranting on and on about how "unrealistic" this show is. And yes, I do agree with them, a lot of this stuff is unrealistic. But no, I do not agree with them on their opinion that this downgrades the quality of this show; mainly because of how awesome some of the stuff they did was. Without this aspect of sports anime, no one would watch them. Every sports anime is over exaggerated. Do you want to watch someone practice something to only watch them miss over and over again? No. That's why it's over exaggerated. Sure, no one can make every basket they shoot. No one. Sure, the idea of running by moving your arms and legs at the same time in sync is completely ridiculous, but that's okay. You want to know why? Because it's fun. Because it's interesting. And because it makes for one hell of an enjoyable anime.

Let me just say that the art in this show is really good, if not amazing. You're really going to get sucked in by the awesome effects done to the dunking and passing in this anime. Even the characters always looked crisp and ready to go, which is what usually lacks in sports anime. Mainly while trying to emphasis the background elements that help emphasis the importance of a dunk or 3 pointer, the writers forget that they also have a character there. This usually leaves the characters looking a little... well, dumb. Sure, some of it is a little unrealistic, but who can't deal with a little exaggeration?

I kind of brushed up on it earlier, but you're going to have a lot of fun watching this anime. Why? Let me tell you. First, the synopsis is complete rubbish. Possibly one of the worst I've ever read. Let me clear a few things up for you before we start. Kagami is the main character and has just returned from America and is disappointed at the difference in the skill level between America and Japan. He decides to join his schools basketball team and eventually hears about "the generation of miracles." He becomes excited when he learns that one of his teammates, Kuroko, was a starter for the same team as the Generation of Miracles. He finally gets the chance to play him, but figure out that he actually sucks! Very disappointed, he continues to go to practice. Finally they play a little practice game between the upperclassmen and he figures out that Kuroko is a MASTER at passing. He realizes that they can go far together and realizes at the same time that the Generation of Miracles is, in fact, strong. Loving nothing more than a challenge, Kagami and Kuroko lead their team to the top.

Fun. That's all this anime is, is fun. If you're in an "anime slump", as I call them, and can't seem to find an anime you can finish without getting bored, then this anime is definitely for you. Having been in a slump until just the other day, I can tell you for certain that this is the perfect remedy for a slump. Even if you're not in a slump and are just looking for a fun anime that is somewhat mainstream but still a overall great show, look no further, because your knight in shining armor is here. You may have noticed that my overall is only a mere 8, but that's only because I haven't seen the end yet. As I said before, this review is subject to change. Heck, if this show pulls a gold bar out of its ass, it might even get a 10. Sure, that's not perfect on any scale but that would mean that this is a damn good anime. Not enough can I emphasize the fact that you should not drop this anime simply because it focuses on basketball. I've been guilty of this mistake and I can tell you now that I fully regret my actions. Even if you absolutely hate basketball, don't put this show off without giving it a try. If you do, you'll simply be wasting a chance at watching 25 episodes of pure enjoyment.

It's heartbreaking to see one of your favorite anime series end, so you can guess why I was so happy to hear that there was a sequel to Hajime no Ippo. I wasn't disappointed. New Challenger lived up, and passed, everything it should be. From the side splitting comedy, to the heartwarming matches; you'll never be let down. What New Challenger lacks in length, it makes up in perfection. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and then you'll laugh until you cry. You won't be able to pull away until the end. Yes, I was sad when I realized that New Challenger was only 26 episodes, but ... no, I was not disappointed. It ended right when it needed to, even if it was heartbreaking and I want to say it was too soon, but only because I love the series so much.I'm kind of hoping and praying here, but I really think they should make a 3rd installment to the series. I'm sure every other Ippo fan agrees that it would be fun to see his ride to fame and see him take the belt for Date. But that's not what we're here for. We're here for a review!

I'm going to start with the "enjoyment" department, because this was truly the greatest aspect of Hajime no Ippo. Yes, the story line was amazing, and yes, the characters were outstanding. But I honestly believe the pure enjoyment you can get out of this series is the strong point in hajime no Ippo. New Challenger, no, the whole Ippo series in general, is one of few animes where I can truly say I was never bored. Never. Not once. I watched it from start to finnish within two days straight. You will never, ever, EVER, get bored of this anime. From the rich comedy that will make yours sides split, to the desperate fights, you won't want to put this down, not even for a moment.

I'm not going to spend much time on the art because I didn't notice anything wrong. It got better from Hajime no Ippo to New Challenger, and to be honest I would have been dissapointed if it hadn't. Same thing with the sound. Seemed good nothing to be done here.

Of course, the characters were just awesome. You have the same characters in the first installment, yet you get more depth with some of the characters. You start to understand Takamura more, which is just awesome. Because, let's be honest, who doesn't love Takamura? He's like the bad ass of all Bad asses. You also get to see a little more dealing with Date which helps you get more emotion when he passes on "the baton" to Ippo. Seriously, the characters were just as perfect as I expected. Maybe more?

Overall... what could have been better? Funny, heartwarming, dramatic and if you squint you can see some romance happening with Ippo and Kumi. Maybe I would have liked to see Kumi and Ippo hook up, but hey, what can you do? I mean, yeah I suppose this was not a romance anime. And looking back on it, that might not have been a good idea. But yeah. I mean what can I say? Besides being what I felt was a little short, this anime was just awesome.

Aki-Sora. One of my all time favorite incest anime, right along side Yasuga No Sora and a few other hentai films. If you've never "tested the water" of the incest genre before; Aki-Sora could or could not be what you want to start off with.

Before I get started, I cannot emphasize this enough: Aki-Sora is as close as you can get to hentai, before actually becoming a full-fledged hentai. There are sex scenes. Hot, sticky, brother-sister sex scenes. After that last statement, you might be a little grossed out. However, don't let that discourage you. Aki-Sora is a beautiful love story. Even if it is ... only 3 episodes long (with the sequel), it's going to capture many peoples hearts, making them want more. Sure, the idea of incest is gross to some. Disgusting to others. But Aki-Sora gives you a chance to have a whole new perspective on the idea of incest.

I've always found incest interesting. Having a younger sister myself, I could never see why anyone would fall in love with their own siblings. However, after watching several incest titles, I finally started to understand. Love isn't something you can choose. You can't make yourself fall in love with someone. Me and my siblings had never gotten along good and are more like enemies than lovers, which may be one reason I couldn't understand incest. However, incest does happen. Now, it may not happen much. But back in the 14th century and such incest was a common thing. Royalty would use incest to keep the blood line pure. However demented that may sound to some, incest is intriguing to others. Because, no matter what, you can't choose who you fall in love with.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." If you've ever watched The Twilight Zone, you know what this statement means. And no, The Twilight Zone has nothing to do with the Twilight series.

What this statement is implying is that YOU are the one who decides what is beautiful. The statement also branches off into implying a lot of other things like, "Who decides what is wrong and right?" Really, it's up to you. If you think incest is disgusting, then so be it. If you think killing a ton of bad guys with the Death Note is wrong, then that's according to your ... own sense of justice. Really, this anime deals a lot with deep questions people have in their everyday lives. What is wrong, and what is right? I believe you decide that for yourself. If you believe that incest is wrong, then I suggest not watching the last 3 episodes. Other than those last 3 episodes, you're going to see some lovely romance as well as some nice sex scenes mixed in.

Yosuga no Sora starts off with us learning that a pair of twins are moving to the countryside after their parents death. Mind you, they'd lived there before. You learn that our Protagonist is "super cute" and all the girls fawn over him. Honestly, I like those kind of protagonists. However, what you expect when you have a protagonist like that is a harem. In this anime, that's not the case. Yosuga no Sora is in what's called a "multi-arc branching" format. What this means is that there are 4 arcs given to each of the main girl protagonists. After each ark you go back in time to before any romance has started and you switch girls. Each ark usually ends with a nice sex scene and a happy ending. In my opinion, the arks go from worst to best. Now if you don't like incest, this might might not be the case.

From what I've told you, you can already kind of expect what this anime is going to be like. 4 short little romances. Good romances, mind you. If you're into the romance genre and can handle a little soft sex scene here and there, Yosuga no Sora is the anime for you. Some people will be turned away by the multi-arc branching format, but this is still a great love story. A lot of romance anime have trouble with the ending, but Yosuga no Sora has a beautiful and tear-jerking ending. Give it a try!