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Manga adaptations are, by and large, a double-edged sword. On one hand they can be a guaranteed-profit venture for the production company, while on the other it can be incredibly difficult to capture the charm of the original work and can often leave us fans bitterly disappointed. Being an avid fan of the original manga, it is needless to say that I expected a lot from the anime adaptation of The World God Only Knows (or TWGOK). Unfortunately, it joins the long list of manga-turned-anime that have fallen just short.

The plot centres around Katsuragi Keima, known on the internet as the “Capturing ... God” of galges (dating sims), who has no interest in the real world. But this all changes when he accidently signs a contract with Hell, meaning he has to go around catching runaway spirits with the (admittedly cute) demon-in-training, Elsie. These spirits hide inside the hearts of real girls and it is up to Keima to “capture” their hearts and drive out these spirits.

The story overall is refreshing and unique. Some of the situations that Keima and Elsie get into are genuinely hilarious, as are all the parodies of eroge stereotypes. It is also quite faithful to the original manga. However, it suffers from a major setback, and that is the short 12-episode container.

Yes, it has been confirmed that there will be a second season starting April 2011, but where does this leave the first season? All in all it is an entertaining watch, but it’s hard to look past the fact that by itself it is just a series of random "captures" with little-to-no plot development bar the first episode. Some of the arcs seem unnecessarily dragged out, making the pacing a bit awkward. Furthermore, Manglobe insisted on throwing filler episodes into the mix which completely bewildered me. While it’s true that these fillers (or breaks, or whatever you want to call them) are present in the original manga, in the anime they just served to intensify the shortfalls in the plot.

As readers of the manga know these initial captures are just the introduction to the greater underlying storyline, and it’s unfortunate that the anime adaptation had to finish a whole season without even touching on it. For an anime series whose length will be determined by DVD/Blu-ray sales, Manglobe didn’t do the franchise any favours with the 12 episode format and the fillers.

As looks go TWGOK is not too bad, but it’s not great either. The character designs are a little inconsistent, but they hold up to a good standard overall. The colour palette is the standard comedy fare, as is the animation. Some of the scenes seem overdone and there is very little use of light and shade. But there are some good bits; the animation of Keima’s theory scenes always got a laugh out of me and Kanon’s concert sequences are also a highlight. The final result is a slightly better than average looking anime.

The music one of the strengths of this anime. The opening, composed especially for the show by Tenmon, is perfectly suited. The full song being 8 minutes long, the parts not used for the opening sequence are used for background music in addition to some other instrumental tracks to add to the atmosphere. While the soundtrack is a bit lacking in variety it suits the mood of the show very well. The cast of seiyuu also do a surprisingly good job of portraying the characters despite there being no real standout performances.

The diverse range of characters is what really makes the TWGOK manga really stand out. Katsuragi Keima is the enigmatic anti-hero, obsessed with his game world and disillusioned with the real world. Wakaki subtly pokes fun at practically every single galge stereotype with Keima’s flawed personality and the vast range of girls that Keima captures; tsunderes, yanderes, kuuderes, every other type of –dere you can think of, and many more. These elements have been retained in the anime, and Keima still shines though as a unique and thoroughly entertaining protagonist.

Then there is Elsie, who takes the role of the cute and quirky sidekick. While it is always fun to see more of Elsie, sometimes a disproportionate chunk of screen-time is given to her and the capture targets. The extra character development that this screen-time allows is welcome but it tends to unbalance the whole show. The story should revolve around Keima, and at times the writers at Manglobe seem to lose sight of that fact.

Finally, the curse of the 12 episode container strikes again, meaning that we don’t get to see any other recurring characters besides Keima and Elsie. The lack of variety in the recurring cast hurts this anime pretty badly, which is a shame since more of these characters are due to be introduced right after the point where the season ended. The lack of episodes also means that the anime fails to address Keima's motivation in all but the first episode, which trivializes his character somewhat.

Now I have been fairly critical of TWGOK, though that is not to say that I didn’t enjoy watching it. It is, if nothing else, entertaining, and I recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good rom-com with a twist. However, the simple fact is it could have been much better had they done a few things differently. The current format does very little to attract new people to the franchise, and it will be a huge shame if the series is axed after the second season because of the mistakes they made in the first.

Nevertheless, bring on season two. Here’s hoping Manglobe learns from their mistakes. Overall score: 7.2/10 (rounded to 7)

What makes an anime great? Is it purely a mix of great story, well made animation and soundtrack and engaging characters? Or does an anime need something extra to be regarded as truly great? Some kind of x-factor that makes you feel like you’re watching something special? I believe that a great anime needs both; that the x-factor that separates those shows you give 9 or 10 out of 10 from the others is created by having the great story, animation and so on. I used to believe that this mix could only be obtained through complexity, with unexpected twists ... in the story and flashy animation styles. Natsume Yuujinchou, and more so its sequel, Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou, proved that I was very wrong.

Something special about the series struck me as soon as I started watching it. It was based on a very simple concept. We follow the protagonist Natsume, who has been able to see spirits since birth, as he tries to return the names of the spirits obtained by his grandmother, Reiko, to their rightful owners. Whereas this is the premise of the story, the true plot revolves around Natsume’s encounters with various spirits, and how they affect both him and the people around him.

In contrast to the first season, we see Natsume slowly beginning to find his place in the world and become more accepting of both himself and his gift. He is less reserved and has more people around him to support him, but this only increases his concern that his gift will bring his friends and loved ones misfortune. Most of the episodes are self-contained, with a couple of two episode arcs. Objectively speaking each episode follows a simple formula and at times risks becoming a bit repetitive. But don’t let this assessment fool you; never once did I feel bored or uninterested. Despite the simple nature of the story there is undoubtedly a certain charm about it that draws you in. It is incredibly calming to watch, which is in contrast with many anime series around nowadays. It is essentially stripped of anything even resembling flashy or overt, leaving you with a bare but thoroughly interesting tale that you can sit back and enjoy as it plays out before your eyes. Its brilliance lies in its simplicity.

The animation also continues the simple theme. Minimal lines and subtle shading are used in the character designs. The colours are also soft and subtle, using a paintbrush-like style. Where the art really shines is in the landscapes which are striking and brilliantly drawn. Whereas the action and fast moving scenes are not as well animated as many other anime, it is almost unnoticeable. Wide panning shots of the sky or an open field emphasise the laid-back, almost meditative style of the show.

The soundtrack is quite superb, filled with calming melodies and interesting uses of effects. In particular there are a couple of BGM tracks that really capture that mellow feel. The opening and ending songs were also very fitting. The seiyuu do a very good job of capturing their respective characters, though only Kazuhiko Inoue (Madara a.k.a. Nyanko-sensei) and Hiroshi Kamiya (Natsume) get a chance to show their voice-acting prowess. Kamiya particularly portrays Natsume’s inner loneliness and conflict masterfully.

The characters in Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou are quite limited. The spirits come and go, although some of them turn out to be very well constructed characters. There is also a cast of minor human characters, but they do not feature very heavily at all. Of course, there is also Madara who continually provides comic relief and the occasional giant spirit-fight. Despite this, each interaction these spirits and humans have with Natsume has a profound impact on him. The show itself revolves almost solely around Natsume, whose character grows before our eyes through these interactions. Through this we get a real insight into his way of thinking, and also into his own loneliness. Again the recurring theme of simplicity becomes evident again; never have I gained so much enjoyment out of watching a single character’s development, but I would have liked to see the other human characters feature more prominently.

Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou is a refreshing break from the norm; a show that doesn’t try to do anything too fancy, but still makes you feel like you’re watching something truly special. Watching this anime is a calming and pensive process, and is thoroughly enjoyable. It’s almost comical how such a simple concept can capture that rare x-factor while other, much more complex anime fail. Perhaps simplicity really is the ultimate sophistication. Overall: 9.2/10 (rounded to 9).

Angel Beats! was hyped up long before it was released. Everyone expected it to be the new Kanon or Clannad. Everyone expected Key to pull out some more of their brilliance, and I think its safe to say that we (myself included) were all disappointed with the first couple of episodes. It continued to show glimpses of signature Key emotion, but at the end of each episode I was left unsure about where the plot was going. I kept asking "What is Key planning to do with this story?" Yet, despite my concerns, I decided to keep watching because of ... Key's past track record, and I am now very glad that I did.

The story initially seems to have no direction. In a world after death the amnesic main character Otonashi teams up with the Yuri and the Shinda Sekai Sensen to fight against the God who made their lives so miserable. The idea has a lot of potential, but it initially seems to squander it. There's a lot of random fighting without any purpose and details into each character's past are provided intermittently. There are parts that are brilliant, but there are also parts that are seemingly unnecessary and mediocre. The comedic scenes are genuinely funny, but there is not enough drama or suspense. But this all changes after about episode 9. Until this episode the tear-jerking dramatic style that Key has become famous for was lacking; only really seen in a handful of scenes prior. Nine episodes in the story reaches a turning point that completely changes your perception of this anime. The signature Key style comes to the fore again, and all the purpose of all the previous randomness becomes clear - to provide the foundation for the second half of the series. Overall it starts off slow, but the story improves notably and can only be fully appreciated 9 or 10 episodes in, at which point I looked back on the episodes that came before and thought: "Well now that I think about it, it was actually alright." The conclusion was also stunning. However, I still maintain that 13 episodes is much too short of a time frame for this series; it's very progressive and hence the pacing seems a bit awkward.

The art is brilliant overall. This is another anime that uses 2-D CGI and you can clearly see the difference it makes during the fight and concert scenes. The characters' movements are fluid and the lighting effects used are masterful. The character designs are simple yet elegant.

Sound is the main strength of Angel Beats!. Jun Maeda's compositions are outstanding, and again he delivers. This series has one of the best OST's I have ever heard in an anime. The music is emotional and complex, with soaring highs and depressing lows. Only one word can describe this soundtrack - EPIC. On top of that the voice actors also do a very good job, especially during emotional scenes.

Some say that character-wise the show is somewhat lacking but I disagree. Yes, character development is the weak point of this anime, but it is still present. You do tend to get a feeling for each character's personality as you watch the series, even if it is not through any meaningful dialogue or feature. The problem is simple - there are too many characters and too little episodes. There are quite a few characters that are present merely for comic relief. However, the characters that are explored to some depth are very well constructed. Later on it starts to explore the characters' pasts in more detail including Otonashi, who's story is is particularly touching.

Is this anime enjoyable? I would have to say it is, but this is a point that will divide many viewers. As tempting as it is, we shouldn't group this with Clannad, Kanon and Air. It is clear that Key were trying to go down a whole different path with this anime, and all things considered they've done quite a good job of it. Its flaws are many, but if anything these flaws give its its unique feel. Overall Angel Beats! has divided rather than conquered, but it has managed to evolve into something that I would have never expected when I started watching. This anime has to be given time to reach its full potential. Good things come to those who wait. Overall score: 8.6/10 (rounded to 9).

Ah, Baka Test...probably up there in the list of most random comedy series ever. When this was shown in the first screening of the year at the anime club at my university, everyone agreed that this was the best anime of the season. Yes it is idiotic and over-the-top, but it is one hell of a funny anime.

Story-wise it's quite...unique. Set in a school dominated by a hierarchical structure of classes (A to F), it pretty much follows the school idiot Akihisa and the rest of Class-F (full of the dumbest kids in school) as they try to rise up ... the ranks and prove that academic smarts are not everything. They do this through a system of "Summoned Being Wars" where two classes fight it out using avatars with attack strength equal to their score in their last test. At least, for the most part, the show follows this story. The rest of it is filled with random events, running jokes and poking fun at every anime cliche in the book. All of this combines to create absolute hilarity. I almost fell off my seat laughing in the first episode.

The art is very good to say the least. It's simple and light-hearted, and fits the style of the show perfectly. The base style is very bright and colourful but it switches styles dramatically to suit various scenes (and jokes). The use of 2-D CG for the character drawings and also for the Summoned Being Wars adds an extra level of depth to the art. Sure its a bit sugar-coated at times, but if anything this just enhances the comedy of the show.

In contrast, the sound is not that special. The voice actors do a good job, but none of them really stand out. The soundtrack typical of this style of comedy anime, although i did enjoy the ED "Baka Go Home".

Characters are this show's main strength. A baka, moe, tsundere, yandere, lolicon, pervert and even an incestuously inclined older sister. Combine this with traps, references to yuri, yaoi, varying breast sizes and even Digimon and Gundam and you pretty much get Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu. With such a variety of characters and personalities, each with their own running jokes attributed to them and their relationships with the other characters, Baka Test plays to its strengths very well. Overall, the characters are incredibly entertaining and this anime is worth watching for that alone.

The overall enjoyment level is very high. Even the running jokes that are repeated episode after episode seem hilarious every time and cliches are abused left, right and centre. Watch this one with a mindset to enjoy it as much as possible and you cant go wrong. And if you like it, stay tuned for season 2! Overall score: 8.0/10

Some men kill in order to live. Some don't need a reason...

When I first heard of Sword of the Stranger about a year ago I'll admit I was skeptical. It seemed like every samurai anime cliche rolled into one. But I watched it the first time in absolute awe, and after four times I am compelled to write a review on this revolutionary anime.

Yes, that word was "revolutionary", and by this I am referring to the spectacular animation used in the movie. As aptly put on Anime News Network, it has "some of the most intricately staged, gorgeously animated fight sequences ... in anime history." Bones has raised the bar so high with Sword of the Stranger that just about every other anime fight scene you see will seem slow and uninteresting in comparison. Every swing of a sword, every step the fighters make is meticulously animated, all down to their heavy breathing and realistic gushes of blood as they cut down one enemy after another. Absolutely no shortcuts are taken, resulting in samurai that actually FIGHT, rather than reverting to cliches like two samurai simply walking past each other and one falling down in a gush of blood, cut down by a stroke too fast to see (or one that was too hard to animate). It's not just the fight scenes either. The condensation from a person's breathing, drops of blood on the snow and countless notches on a sword; these are just some examples of the detail that the animators have gone to. Bones has definitely given other studios a good lesson in animation with this movie.

The story itself is quite cliched I'll admit. A master swordsman that will not draw his sword, a foreign samurai who's only desire is to find a worthy opponent and the search for immortality. It's all been done before. The story does have some depth to it, but it's very easy to be swept up in all the fights and take no heed of the plot at all. However, it does require you to watch very closely to get all the intricacies of the storyline, some of which is presented in quite a subtle way. The web of interwoven motives and conflicts between the characters also adds an extra layer to the plot. Overall its not the deepest or best story ever told, but it is enjoyable.

The character development is the greatest force pushing the story along. From the nameless samurai Nanashi (or No-name in the English version), to the western "demon" Luo-Lang, the innocent victim Katarou and the feudal lord's general Shogen, each character has their own motives and reasons for fighting. Inevitable conflict ensues, culminating in possibly the most epic duel in animation history.

The soundtrack to the movie captures feudal Japan perfectly and adds a great atmosphere, making the final confrontation all the more epic. The voice actors also fit their characters very well. In particular the torment of Nanashi and the ruthlessness of Luo-Lang are excellently portrayed, proving once again that this is not the typical shallow-plot samurai anime.

Sword of the Stranger is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. With good character development, a somewhat cliched yet good, subtle storyline and utterly groundbreaking animation, the enjoyment level is quite simply off the scale. If you're looking for a anime movie that'll provide quality entertainment time and time again, look no further...just make sure you watch it in 1080p Blu-Ray on a giant HD TV with surround sound so you can fully appreciate it. Overall score: 8.6/10 (rounded to 9)

Look up comedy in the dictionary. If it doesn’t say “Lucky Star” there then you should write it in. Very funny and incredibly smart Lucky Star pokes fun at the most ordinary things in life, and does it brilliantly.

Even though this series is a few years old, I only recently saw this on the top anime page of MAL. I was quite astounded to find that this was #130, when (judging by the anime above it) in my opinion it deserves to be much higher. And it was then that I saw the divided reviews, some giving it ridiculously low scores. ... So, despite it being somewhat futile, I decided to write a review on it.

I have given Lucky Star marks based on the categories of storyline, art etc only because I had to. To be honest, I think it is impossible to review Lucky Star in such a general way. This is the kind of anime that comes along very rarely, one that attempts to innovate and stand out from the crowd. The best way to define the genre would be “pure slice of life”, abrupt and somewhat in-your-face, and I think this is what unnerves some people and prevents them from opening up to the series. It bombards you with jokes and various comedic references almost in passing. Hence, a lot of people fail to comprehend punch lines and complain about the lack of storyline. Unfortunately they’re completely missing the point.

This story is about the very ordinary lives of a very ordinary group of schoolgirls. The style is exactly like a person reflecting upon a yesterday and laughing to himself as he remembers all the amusing things that happened. He omits the boring parts and various unrelated conversations he had during his very ordinary day and focuses only on the funny or strange bits. The fact that, like an ordinary person’s life, it has no over-arching storyline is the whole point of the show. Why did I give it 10 for story then? Basically because I believe it does what it sets out to do brilliantly, and should be rewarded for it.

After watching a few episodes you tend to settle into the rhythm of the show and appreciate it much more. The jokes themselves are hilarious, making fun of both the extremely ordinary as well as the bizarre. Countless references to other popular anime and otaku culture also provide a source of genuine laughs. A few heart-warming moments are also there to balance it up nicely. Once you get into it the enjoyment factor is definitely a maximum, but this isn’t a show you can rush through. The best way to watch it is a couple of episodes at a time, complimenting each with slices of your own life. In fact, after watching I find it hard to go through a day without a potential Lucky Star reference.

The art is also top-notch. Going for more of a semi-chibi style, it does a great job in complimenting the light-heartedness of the show. The backgrounds are exactly that; 2d backdrops that are there to add a bit of depth to the art but nothing more. However, this works well to compliment the simple art style and the focus on dialogue. As well as the catchy opening theme, the hilarious and unique endings, the background music also aids the light-hearted atmosphere. The characters are definitely the show’s biggest strength. Each character plays a role in reflecting on another side of life, from the outright ridiculous otaku Konata to the calm, somewhat introverted Minami. Varied and original, they really inject an energy into the anime that really makes you want to keep watching. Add to that the talented voice actors, many of whom also did the popular The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, and loads of ironic Haruhi references and you’ve got a very funny mix. (I definitely recommend watching Haruhi before Lucky Star so you can get these jokes.)

There is no question the Lucky Star is quirky and unique, and is shunned by some viewers because of this. I am of the opposite opinion, however. This is a show that dares to be different, and should be celebrated as a very successful experiment by Kyoto Animation. Truly one of the greatest comedy anime ever made.

Now, this is a prime example of how to adapt an manga into an anime the RIGHT way. The original Fullmetal Alchemist, though well made and very popular, went into a downward spiral as soon as it diverted from the manga storyline and never seemed to recover. This however, shows that instead of trying to add their own story elements when adapting manga/visual novels etc., sometimes anime producers should just sit back and retell the great story that has already been written in the original.

This anime starts off at a breakneck pace. It shoots entire volumes of the manga in a couple ... of episodes. It was to be expected though, as Bones is trying to fit 100+ chapters of manga into a 1-year long series. However, once you get used to it the pacing seems very appropriate for the series and only seems to increase the suspense. While small elements have been omitted from the manga, these are mainly non-essential and have no impact on the story. Yet while many of these omitted elements are comedic in nature, Brotherhood still manages to switch between seriousness and comedy so fast you'll get whiplash. I quite enjoyed this particularly as a sort of trademark of the series. The actual plot-line twists and turns in unexpected ways and keeps you on the edge of your seat, and the climax grips you like no other. Many disregard the plot as being generically shonen, but it is these twists and its exploration into the psyche and motivation of the characters that propel it past this "generic shonen" label.

The art is of a different style to the original FMA. It is a little simpler, and comedic scenes sometimes even stray into an outright chibi style, but this is by no means a bad thing. If anything it is closer to the the style that Hiromu Arakawa draws with in the manga. What its lacking in detail, it makes up for with first-class fight sequences (as to be expected of Bones). The animation overall is quite polished and character movements are very fluid and natural.

The characters on both sides really caught my attention as one of this series' strengths. It boasts a diverse range of characters, all of which have considerable substance and a distinct purpose in the storyline. The Homunculi especially turn out to be completely different from the original Fullmetal Alchemist anime, and more awesome in my opinion. Edward and Alphonse are still the main focus of the story as they quest to find the Philosophers' Stone and restore their bodies, but now Winry also takes a more central role along with Ed and Al's father, Hohenheim. There is also a host of new characters which didn't feature in the first anime adaptation, including a few from the mysterious country Xing and a new main villain. Being completely faithful to the manga, all the characters' separate journeys and origins are told in much greater detail. Each character's values and beliefs are tested almost to breaking point as the story reaches its later stages, providing a somewhat surprising and refreshing depth to the cast.

The one thing I initially disliked about this series was the soundtrack, which lacked substance and was very repetitive. The first opening was brilliant, one of the best I have seen, but the background music was lacklustre. However, as the series went on more music was added and the soundtrack began to add a great atmosphere to fight scenes and dialogue alike. The voice actors also really show their ability throughout the series and seem very well suited to their roles. With such an all-star cast of voice-actors you wouldn't expect any less.

Overall Bones has done an awesome job surpassing its previous effort and faithfully retelling the Fullmetal Alchemist manga. Enjoyment wise, you'd be hard pressed to find a shonen anime that will entertain you as much as FMA Brotherhood. Truly a great anime, there's no other way to describe it. A must-see for people new to anime and hardened otakus alike. Overall score: 9.4/10 (rounded to 9).