- Last OnlineFeb 23, 2022 4:07 PM
- GenderMale
- BirthdayJan 29, 1995
- LocationTokyo, Glorious Nippon
- JoinedAug 11, 2015
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Sep 4, 2015
Today we will have a review of one of the classic anime of all time.
Shaman King is a manga created and illustrated by Hiroyuki Takei. The series tells the story of Yoh Asakura, a shaman boy training to develop their skills in order to win the tournament and become the Shaman King Shaman. Shamanism was chosen as the central theme of the story why Takei wanted to explore a topic that had never been addressed before in a manga.
The manga was originally published in Weekly Shonen Jump of Shueisha between 1998 and 2004.
In Japan, Shaman King was a popular series. The original manga has sold
...
about 22 million copies, making the series one of the best selling of all time in Shonen Jump Weekly, while the anime was among the ten most watched of the week several times. Critics of the area has provided positive comments about the series.
I met Shaman King in the former "Fox Kids," I was impressed when watching an episode in which the protagonist invoked a samurai spirit and put in his chest, which aroused my curiosity and led me to follow the original series in Japanese.
The Shaman King characters are so iconic, Yoh, the quiet protagonist, who does not care about anything but that in the face of danger becomes an extremely strong person, along with his Amidamaru and Manta spirit that is the "sidekick" Yoh, ordinary little boy who is super terrified of everything.
Another thing that marked much in Shaman King was his opening song, just fantastic (get goose bumps every time I hear)!
And I could not end this review without mentioning the game "Shaman King: Spirit of Shamans" which gave me hours, which together make up days of fun. A 2D fighting game for PlayStation containing the characters in the series and a very good gameplay. Well, for that you're a fan of anime I hope I have provided you a good sense of nostalgia, and you who do not know yet, here is the tip from Nomuro-senpai; watch, play, and enjoy yourselves with a classic of Glorious Nippon culture.
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
![]()
Sep 2, 2015
In janeiro'2014 season, the fandom works with shoujo-ai and yuri content just having the presence of anime Sakura Trick to indulge, even in parts, that will and desire to have a focused work to do so. With a simple plot, focused on the daily lives of two students (who liked and kissed a lot) and her friends, please know the anime in a good spot, although their final product could have been even better than it ended up being.
Now in 2015, the same fandom would have another anime at its disposal. This time, it was a work that led to the signing of Ikuhara, the
...
mind behind titles like Utena and Penguindrum. The highlight now is the so-called "forbidden romance" which, through a nonsense and even exaggerated premise, eventually earning serious contours and gleaming. And thus it appeared and developed Yuri Kuma Arashi that, throughout its twelve episodes, made the minds of those who watched him work harder than necessary.
And when it comes to mental work it is not something for nothing. The work uses many symbols to emanate your messages into dialogues and actions. They are not easy to capture and understanding, and this is very obvious in the first minutes of the initial episode. The truth is that, to the extent that the characters were being presented, the chance of you staring at the screen goes questioning about what was going on at that moment was increasingly real.
In the basic design of Yuri Kuma Arashi, bears and humans do not have peaceful coexistence. After the explosion of a type of planetoid, its fragments fell to Earth and they have made the Bears mercilessly attacked humanity. This in order to continue living, created a large wall in order to separate the two forms of life and establish a middle ground in Earth's soil. All this sounds directly as a nonsense and abstract plot, but just a part (later on) the true message that the anime was proposing to bring.
Symbolisms have come and gone in large and incalculable speed. Terms such as "fog", the "Kiss Promised" and "honey" were cited at the beginning of the anime as simple adornments of the plot. But this kind of definition ended up being very false because both had a lot of breadth and integration to the work universe. If you think about it, visiting friend from the existence of said wall to the design of such terms, there was a natural convergence to the same point in common. And in the most direct possible short, Yuri Kuma Arashi spoke about love and how this feeling has to overcome certain barriers to be widely experienced. In the case of this work, prejudice exists against the homosexual feeling.
The representation of female bears and human was very strong. The Ikuhara ended up being very smart, to show the line of thought and theme analysis described in the paragraph above with such characters. And when it makes a reference to the cast of the work, one can say here that it has a power to retain very high-attention, thanks not only to their actions, but also by the various moments in which the emotional took over. Expressions and dialogues were very competent in the work as a whole.
The last episode in particular was made to bring out the real meaning of the word "emotion". Complementary call for love made two of the main characters of this anime, the bear Ginko and Kureha human, to experience moments docile monitored approach that feeling falling off fervently. The Lady Kumaria in his appearance was entitled to an outcry, bringing surprise and amazement due to its visual and representativeness. Lulu deserved to have had his best time in this episode, however (and fortunately) its loving devotion to the cause did not end up being in vain. The simple message, in the final chords of this episode, sacramentaram "all" anime with a sense larger than the accomplishment.
Yuri Kuma Arashi was a visual anime stylized in their environment and design of the characters, which eventually resulted in a presentation truly welcome. Perhaps the animation itself could have been better crafted (and this is a point of attention). In the acoustic part of this anime has not done a role deemed memorable, but was very happy in these melodies. The musical themes of opening and closing can be placed here as the highlights in it, plus some chords that did sing during episodes.
Here is difficult to measure this anime, Yuri Kuma Arashi, can really be recommended to everyone. For myself, the work in question can indeed be seen with good grades and mention, since to keep in mind that the basic proposal for its plot calls for calm analysis. In addition, the work has a lot of symbolism and times when it does require a lot of thinking to try to brave the messages left by Ikuhara. At the end of all, the Nomuro-senpai tells you Yuri Kuma Arashi welcomed, especially by the title itself constantly challenge you to understand your events and also the search for the real meaning of love.
Hooray for the female bears on this anime! ^__^'
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
![]()
Aug 29, 2015
10 years after a large, but really big earthquake in Japan (and this story was created before the earthquake there) the country is rebuilt, and one of the measures for this is the construction of a prison: Deadman Wonderland.
Deadman Wonderland is not a simple manga, created by Jinsei Kataoka and Kazuma Kondou, who also wrote the manga Eureka Seven. It tells the story of Ganta Igarashi, a young man who sees all his friends being killed by a man dressed in red who is flying out the window, is guilty of murder and ends up in Deadman Wonderland in prison.
Deadman Wonderland is not just a
...
prison, it was made to look like a macabre amusement park where prisoners would be the main attraction, every day would attractions such as racing, wrestling and others to meet the wishes of blood from viewers, who think all just a show. As the name implies, the prison has only sentenced prisoners to death, and to ensure the good condition inside there are some rules:
- At least every three days an inmate should eat something they call "Sweet", a small antidote to a poison that is injected via mechanical collars, if not make them die.
- Win the race, or even survive, gives you credits, which are almost a money inside the prison, with that you can buy almost anything, indicate that you can also buy their freedom for a very high price.
Life in this prison would not be so easy, add it to discover that you have a strange power, you control your own blood, in the case of Ganta he shoots bullets blood. Thus it becomes an aberration and is mistreated. But there is that the manga begins, then we go to the secret section of the prison, where the Carnival Corpse (I do not short the rendering "Bodies Carnival") happens, the battle of the real Deadman, people infected with Sin Branch (this I agree to Branch of Sin) which is the ability to control the blood, but in each it happens differently.
In terms of powers is one thing I like is that, although not a Sci-Fy, they try to explain what happens and effects of powers. The Ganta to shoot is very anemic from lack of blood, one makes a glove of blood that is hard because of the carbon ... and so on, some explanations are somewhat fanciful, but within THEM logic makes sense.
The traces do not bother or are messy, but I also do not think genius, there manga with better features out there (Blade of the Immortal say so) but does not hurt, I saw people saying out there that would not read by do not like the dash, as I've seen talking about One-Piece and Berserk. But it should be noted, there are violent images, are not heavy gore, full of guts as Berserk, yet have heavier scenes.
The plot follows Ganta learning to use the power and having a series of crises, although the main character I can not really like it, it's very full of mimimi and many crises wonder, is like a person who likes to suffer You're welcome. Okay, it's a teenager, but still there are certain hours that it's annoying drama it is for nothing. But after the crisis, you see what's really behind Deadman Wonderland, which technically originated the branch of sin, who is the Wretched Egg (I do not know if it's Wretched Egg was called in translation) and other great mysteries that world there, including earthquake. For all who are infected with the branch of sin has a significant history with the quake.
What about characters, although the main leave to be desired have a range of much better characters and fun, starting with Shiro, who is a crazy girl who technically does not hurt and is simply happy. Senji which is the Cool Guy manga and meets VERY well that role, and even a call Drag Masaru. The secondary characters are more worthwhile and are better than the main character, but the ladder they do for Ganta ends up working very well.
In the end, Deadman Wonderland is a median trace of manga, with a great story that ends up surprising, good minor characters and an excellent plot with mysteries and twists that does not fall short. And a manga without courage to try betting on epicidade and get some profit that. For those who like a story a bit darker, it's worth.
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
![]()
Aug 26, 2015
Highschool of the Dead is an anime inspired by the manga of the same name containing ecchi and horror elements, launched in 2010 by Madhouse studio (the same as Death Note and Devil May Cry), with 12 episodes and a short OVA. In the plot, a sudden zombie outbreak begins to ravage the world where Komuro Takashi and other students (Miyamoto King, Takagi Saya, Hirano Kouta and Busujima Saeko) and Marikawa Shizuka nurse will have to confront the plague together and surviving initially to a escape from the devastated school. As the situation worsens, this group will witness the collapse of society, the outbreak of
...
other survivors and the breakdown of the old moral values.
H.O.T.D. awakens the attention and interest not by ecchi elements (the "sensuality"), but the theme involving the popular zombies, of course, because even the manga and anime have joined this trend. Adhering some pretty classic clichés and relying on some elements themselves, creating a story not very unique compared to productions that include zombies and similar creatures, but well traveled and very interesting and varied characters, without a little freshness and centered, ie without much freshness. It is a heavy and a lot of blood anime.
Accompanying a small group of characters, and the relatively small number of episodes (remember my theory that most short animes are good), we have a more efficient contact with this story. Of course there is not enough room to deepen with each of the main characters, but did their best without making it tedious, long or too intimate, however, focuses clearly on Komuro Takashi, who unintentionally ends up playing the leading role the group, which incidentally is well composed. No one but the little Alice, is helpless, let alone Kouta, the chubby team, which specializes in firearms.
Yes, lightly following the Harem, there is romantic tension between much of the female members and the young protagonist, and even being heavy and full of action, does not give up a dose of humor to relieve tension. It is a story of survival in an interesting format, not resembling the popular American series The Walking Dead, but with elements that slightly resemble games like Resident Evil, Lef 4 Dead and Dead Island. Although not mention any specific title, HOTD makes it clear that has inspirations in zombie films released by Hollywood, even not playing or parodying a scene from a particular movie, at least apparently.
I do not deny, it is a violent anime, however, if they so demand is best to try Mirai Nikki. Also do not expect a high dosage of terror. Honestly, it's another shonen action, horror almost confined to violent deaths and zombies, that is, does not even scare. There is a good tension, not deny, but it is the least that can be required in this case. I also do not deny that a few times and a half absurd elements, however, which can be relevados, one of them is that each episode (or act) has the DEAD word in the title. As I said, I note that in most cases can be relevados, but others generate a certain gap when not to generate mood.
Highschool of the Dead (yes, now I did not use the abbreviation) follows much the line of ecchi, ie breasts and panties whenever possible, but not distracting nor blurs both the story presented. Not a anime distasteful, as I myself have thought being, however, is not the kind that pleases everyone, but it quite apena watch and still get a taste of "I want more". No, it's not an anime that stands out too much or that ooze creativity, however, can engage the viewer and arouse our sympathy with his young characters in search of survival. Anyone who has watched several films, series and other stories involving zombie apocalypse will not be impressed, and this is an unfortunate truth about Highschool of the Dead.
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
![]()
Aug 25, 2015
In the first episode, we see a warrior trounce many soldiers in a tavern, leaving only one alive to warn that the Black Swordsman is going looking for revenge against the king. Starting with the energetic and violent end of the plot, and then back to the past, Berserk is based on Medieval Europe, with some similarities in the names of the clans with the actual historical names. The main character is Guts, an orphan raised by warriors. The anime follows his youth and the entrance to the Taka in Dan, a group of mercenaries.
With age, Guts just a lonely young man fond of the
...
camaraderie of the mercenaries, and developed great admiration for the founder and leader of the gang, Griffitt, who is very intelligent, charismatic and always victorious in their battles. Its reputation for invincibility makes Griffith King preferred in the war against the Chudors. Bark is only woman in the band and second-in-command, whose skills with the sword are inferior only to the Guts and Griffith. The group goes free mercenary soldiers to the orders of the King, and Griffit is devoted Conde.
Griffith in his obsession with more power over time goes confidant and friend antagonist Guts. Carrier Behelit, a magical object that provides supernatural strength and invincibility through a pact with The Hand of God, Griffith creates conspiracy plots, betrayed and sacrificed their most faithful companions in pursuit of his dream of becoming King.
The character development is excellent, where we see all Griffith nobility and kindness, qualities for which his soldiers face the worst threats, and his coldness and cruelty to achieve their goal. Virtually all secondary characters are presented to us with its unique features, some being slightly caricatured. It has the common types to medieval fantasies: the evil king, the noble two-faced traitor ... But the intricate web of relationships is fascinating. It is an anime that deals with the best and worst of human nature, and intersperses complex political plots with the supernatural and violent battles.
All episodes end with a change der unexpected turn in the plot and with a hook to the next which makes it almost impossible to not assisitir in marathon. Highly recommend for a mature audience that can tolerate a lot of blood and severed limbs and some degree of nudity (not free).
The ending is shocking, worthy of a good horror movie, and leaves open the story. Excellent Susumu Hirasawa (Paranoia Agent, Paprika) created almost the entire soundtrack, being instrumental and electronic, with only three songs sung. Tell Me Why, the opening song is one of my favorites. The animation without CGI is well made, and the backdrops somewhat simplistic, exposing common medieval landscapes, and extremely heavy, even in the scenes during the day, creating a perfect gloomy climate for anime. The Berserk center are the people, either in battle or at dances.
Berserk has relatively few episodes, surprised by the depth of the story told in them. if you are a person who likes to exaggerate the sangria, limbs flying and a story with an unexpected turn rolls ... This is the story for you!
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
![]()
Aug 24, 2015
I was very careful with this criticism. Trigun was one of the first manga I read, and also one of the best.
Tells the story of Humanoid Typhoon Vash the Stampede. Vash is the most feared gunslinger in a desert land, with a reward of 60 billion double by his head, and held responsible for the complete destruction of the City of July. However Vash is a staunch pacifist who avoids aggression to the fullest and not admit killing under any circumstances.
Regardless of like violence or not, haunts him: the places visited by Vash are always devastated by their well-meaning interventions or people seeking the reward.
...
A couple of Bernadelli insurance company agents (Meryl Strife and Milly Thompson) follows him trying to minimize the damage caused by its passage.
Best of Trigun certainly is Vash. It is iconic, it is only one of the best players I've ever seen in manga. And even with a main character of these, the side not devalue, all with a style, a way, a way to mark you. Of course, especially Wolfwood. How many manga you see a priest with a machine gun / lance / Granadier cross-shaped ?.
The plot flows well, knowing balance the humor, action and tension. Action sequences are well crafted and very creative, append that at times you have to pay close attention not to "lose". You are surprised when the story takes more serious air, is a nice super environment and science fiction touches will give a more style fuck yeah cool yet.
As for anime, it's done well and has one of the best voice acting I've ever seen. But it has not even a tenth of the impact it has on the manga, is faced with "just one more". The best thing about anime is probably the ending (here follows: http://www.mp3.animaniaclub.com.br/download-mp3/947/).
"But then, Nomuro-sensei?"
Trigun has amazing and remarkable characters. The plot is unique, designed and fun to read. I recommend to western lovers, to those looking for action, and who wants to see a manga with a deep end.
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
![]()
Aug 24, 2015
The beginning of Baccano! is a disorienting experience. Forget linear storytelling-the series actually spends half an episode debating just how to tell its story through a sequence of meta dialogue between a newspaper vice-president and his secretary. What it settles on is scrambling a tale that already has a huge scope in terms of ground covered and characters included by jumping around between several seemingly unrelated storylines, and doesn't settle down until several episodes after that. And even then, even then, I still wouldn't blame you if you felt lost. Some people have said that it's disrespectful of the audience to do this-it's like throwing
...
them out in the ocean without a life vest. But that's an odd criticism, since it implies that it's respectful to simply tell a story like anybody else would, using the same techniques we learned in 6th grade English class. Isn't that just milquetoast? And it's especially odd when you level that criticism in anime, where anything resembling "normal" is routinely routed, twisted and bungled for the sake of being as cool as possible.
Like The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Baccano! deliberately abandons those conventional methods with reckless abandon. And unlike Haruhi, there's a meta-textual method to its madness; a commentary on how stories never really have a proper beginning or ending, that what we watch and read is only a snapshot of something much bigger and that continues long after the final reel goes black. And when you're telling a story as big as this one, are there even main characters, or just one person of many who the narrator arbitrarily picks? It's an appropriate theme for a story about immortality, and especially this one.
Most media portray immortality the same way: a route "be careful what you wish for" fable. Surprisingly, Baccano! eschews that idea and embraces immortality, because life is an excellent, excellent thing. As long as you have friends and family to live it with, who are you kidding? Why wouldn't you want to live forever?
Especially when it's friends like the cast of characters populating this anime-a suite of eighteen that includes Jokers, Thieves, Murderers, Gangsters, Lovers, Monsters, and even a couple of Idiots make up the "main cast." There's Miria and Isaac, a lovable duo of happy-go-lucky thieves who have only gotten away with so many crimes because they pull them off in profoundly stupid ways. There's Dallas, a young punk who is a much worse thief, if only because he accidentally stole the wrong thing at the wrong time. There's Szilard, a sinister immortal who has been scamming people for over a century with a fake immortality elixir. He has just recently recreated the real deal, though, and is enraged that some punk has stolen it. His silent assistant, the emotionless homunculus Ennis, is supposed to retrieve it. And she meant to, but she met this sweet boy named Firo, who is the ingenious new inductee to the Camorra mafia family. Ladd Russo is a psychotic son-of-a-gun who has boarded the Flying Pussyfoot with his gang of white suit assassins to kidnap a Senator's family. He didn't count on the black suited orchestra actually being a rival group of assassins, or on the Rail Tracer, a monster that hunts down trains and devours its passengers. And then there's the Gandor and Martillo family, Dallas' sister Eve, the cult leader Huey Leforet, his mute daughter Chane, the capable crybaby Jacuzzi and the sadistic kid Czeslaw. In a hobby filled with colorful and memorable characters, Baccano!'s cast leave a helluva an impression, and when it seems like the story is beyond your grasp, latching onto the strong cast makes the road to understanding less bumpy.
Even when you sit down and string the events of this series into a linear path it's still a crazy tale. Much like a Rube Goldberg contraption, seemingly unrelated subplots bump into other subplots, which coincidently stumble onto other events before characters meet other characters in strange circumstances, creating a surprise twist. I should note here that "baccano" is Italian for "ruckus," and it's an apt description of this series.
In Highlander: The Search for Vengence, having immortal characters who healed from nearly any wound gave its director Kawajiri a license to show outlandish violence. Baccano! doesn't so much take that idea a step further as give it a running start. Heads will roll, and if there wasn't anything you would recognize as a head left, it will still piece itself back together...on camera. Like Kurozuka, it's a stylishly violent series with so much blood being spilt it almost repaints the dining car in the Flying Pussyfoot red. I haven't seen anything like it since Hellsing Ultimate- it's so outlandish it could only have been visualized through animation. It's not for the squeamish, but for people like myself who enjoy stylized violence like this, it's a treat. It helps that the animation looks great throughout, especially for a TV series- the initial episodes looked so good I was afraid that the finale's budget would only allow for a series of still frames.
You'd expect a series mostly set in the Great Depression with so much violence and danger to be...depressing, but in the end, it's a joy to watch. It's a suspenseful series with such a large cast that it feels like no one is armed with plot armor-no one, even the "immortals," are guaranteed to come out of this insanity alive. There is a palpable feeling of danger. And when it wraps up, even with a few threads left dangling, some justice has been served, and even better, some characters find love. While the series ends on an epilogue that feels a bit flat, it left me with the best possible feeling: a mixture of contentment and a hunger to see more.
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
![]()
Aug 23, 2015
I often come across as a snob, but what I truly abhor, and what often forms the basis of my seemingly snobby negative reviews, is boredom. Though I entered the anime world out of an interest in so-called "art films" (if you can really make a definition for that) and like to find shows and movies where intellectual engagement plays a part in my enjoyment level, I will give credit to a purely entertaining series when it is due. That brings me to Attack on Titan, one of the most popular series of recent years and one that, given its ubiquity in fandom as of
...
2014, appears to be on its way to becoming iconic. Like other so-called "classic" series I fear it will reach a point at which criticism is impossible, not because it is devoid of flaws but because such status can make a series immune to being called out on them. Indeed, Attack on Titan is far from flawless, but its popularity, and perhaps even its "classic" status when it does come, are deserved in my opinion. It is a thoroughly entertaining series.
Attack on Titan succeeds largely because its world is, if imperfectly constructed, terrifying and grim, such that I couldn't help but feel the hopelessness felt by the Titans' targets and, later, be stirred up by the war against them. In part, this owes to the show's visuals. The Titans themselves, more than being simply large and homicidal, are eerie, with human features but with proportions clearly just different enough from normal humans to be offputting. Their mouths open too-widely, they move in a slight "waddle" that makes watching them incredibly unsettling, and the gaze behind their eyes is simultaneously mindless yet completely horrifying. The arguments made that this show has promoted rightwing political beliefs could certainly be substantiated by this aesthetic choice, but it works wonders in establishing the tone of the show. Attack on Titan is, meanwhile, very violent, but while I would suggest the squeamish stay away, the violence in fact went a long way in allowing me to understand the terror the humans felt. Watching characters be mangled, chewed, and eaten, and seeing the expressions on other characters as they witnessed this occurring, it was near-impossible to distance myself. Regardless of whether I liked or disliked the main characters (and as I will discuss, I did have some issues in that regard), I could always feel their terror during these scenes. To be sure, it amounts to manipulation, but it is an especially effective occurrence of it, and I will give credit to it for giving the show the atmosphere it had. Certainly, the musical score, which is oft-repeated but appropriately intense, contributes, as do the fantastic energetic opening songs, which at this point have become about as popular in fandom as the show itself.
I'll also give credit to the show's production staff for using money where it mattered most. Attack on Titan certainly wasn't a terribly high-budget series, and to the chagrin of the manga's fans, it frequently fell behind schedule; a recap episode was devised to give the team some time to catch up, a move which strikes me as a desperate one. But while static scenes are given over to still shots and to speed lines, the scenes in which the animation truly counted, such as those featuring the famous "maneuver gear" used to swing between houses or trees and fight the Titans, looked magnificent to me. Money was also spent on giving appropriate detail to the backgrounds, which is crucial in a series attempting to establish such an atmosphere; even before the Titans appear, the street cobblestones have the appearance of having seen too much wear and far too much human excrement, and the wildlands in which the Titans currently live are drawn as being especially verdant and biodiverse, highlighting the fact that the Titans bother no other living things besides humans and that they have created such a massive waste by leaving verdant land uninhabitable. An important aspect of Attack on Titan is its grim medieval-esque setting, and it is developed excellently here.
It is aspects such as these that allow Attack on Titan to work in spite of its weaknesses, which are certainly there and certainly are not slight. For one thing, Eren himself makes for something of a frustrating protagonist; his seething rages and inopportune exclamations can come across as highly childish, in addition to making him somewhat one-dimensional. I'm certainly not alone in finding him frustrating; friends of mine with whom I watched this described him as being irritating, with one noting that a scene in which he gets away Scot-free with killing a character (a would-be murderer himself, mind you) made him impossible to empathize with. I didn't feel the same about that scene, and regarding his hotheaded personality, in this case I think the circumstances, which far outdo those of most "traumatic backstories" used to justify childish behavior, do provide good enough reason for his behavior that I tolerated him without necessarily liking him. Regardless, he is a polarizing character and is likely to remain so.
I certainly liked the secondary leads far more. Eren's friend Armin, written as a sort of "timid sidekick" character, does grow out of that limiting descriptor thanks to some episodes that are devoted to him and his tactical abilities. Meanwhile, Mikasa, probably the show's best-known character, is also probably the show's strongest, I would argue. She is, in my opinion, one of relatively few physically strong female characters who is not written to have a key vulnerability or secret reliance on a male character; while she does care about Eren, she functions fine without him. In part, she has the role of keeping Eren's idiocy within bounds, an aspect that I appreciated, but while this is a common aspect in shonen anime among female characters, I did feel that the series gives her the license to reach her potential that many female characters are not given; considering how enjoyable her battle scenes are to watch, I would say she reaches it. While I would not necessarily go far enough to say that Attack on Titan is "feminist", I did appreciate that it invokes parity in several ways: the army uniforms are unisex, meaning that fanservice is practically non-existent, the female characters are rarely subjected to sexualized camera angles (I was certainly NOT talking about Mikasa's scenes from the viewpoint of one who enjoys fanservice), and positions of power, at least within the army, are roughly split between the two genders. Arguments over the politics of this show, as well as Mikasa herself, are bound to be lengthy and I will therefore hold myself back somewhat, but I personally found her compelling.
Still, characterization is not the show's greatest strength, and Eren aside, the primary problem is that the supporting cast is very, very large. This might have been less apparent in the source manga, where it is (perhaps) easier to flip back to a previous page in order to refresh oneself on who a character is, but while watching the anime, it was somewhat difficult to invest myself in some of the characters' problems, simply because I had barely seen them before the drama arose. A common complaint against Attack on Titan has been that its pacing is slow, a point that I would echo somewhat with the modification that it is mismatched: early on, we get approximately two episodes to introduce an enormous cast of characters, and then perhaps 7 episodes total of plotting and planning. There is, to be sure, plenty of action in the show, and while watching it I frequently marathoned four or more episodes at a time out of anticipation, which is something I rarely do. Nonetheless, the show decidedly favors scenes of tactical planning over scenes of character development, and more of the latter was necessary for this cast to make the impact. I think that the show's battle scenes do make up for this failing somewhat, and the tactical scenes, which contain more visual aids and less technobabble than in similar and lesser shows, do remain interesting to watch; nonetheless, for those not familiar with the manga, it is hard to keep track of the characters.
If the plot of Attack on Titan is its greatest strength, then one might ask if the plot is flawless. That's certainly not the case, for while I did genuinely enjoy this show's world-building, plot holes can be found if one digs deep enough. There is, for example, the bizarre case of the Titans breaking into the outermost wall and apparently leaving the next outermost wall intact until, conveniently, Eren and his friends have just become members of the army. Relatively little, meanwhile, is explained about how the humans came to build the walls in the first place, or how they were even able, and the show throws in a bizarre detail, that Mikasa and her mother were descended from a small group of Japanese people who made it inside the walls years back, whose significance it never really explains. Now, I certainly am aware that the manga has continued far beyond the point at which the anime is at (the anime, sadly, ends on a bit of a cliffhanger), and so some of this criticism may be irrelevent or become irrelevant as more is animated. Regardless, they don't ruin the show: the plot remains a strength because the show is fabulously entertaining. In spite of how frustrating I found Eren at times, and in spite of my various quibbles, the positive aspects do truly add up to something worth watching. I found it easy to invest myself in it, and that investment was not wasted, as I truly enjoyed the majority of the episodes.
My complaints about Attack on Titan are not meant to dissuade anybody from watching it; rather, they prove that the show is entertaining and engaging enough to survive its flaws, at least in my experience. Whether it becomes an enduring classic or whether the hype it saw in the early 2010s will be short-lived, I think its popularity is deserved.
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
![]()
Aug 23, 2015
Spike Spiegel is a bounty hunter with a dark, violent past. Nowadays, he roams between the seedier colonies of space along with his partner Jet Black and their spaceship Bebop as they try to catch a bounty or two, barely making a living at it. Some of their bounties, like the mysterious Faye Valentine and the intelligent 'data dog', Ein, end up as fellow partners. Is Spike trying to justify prior misdeeds by working for the right side of the law? What will happen when his past catches up to him? And what of the pasts of his fellow shipmates? Will any of them survive
...
long enough to find out?
Cowboy Bebop has been often referred to as the new anime noir, a title that does fit, but doesn't even begin to fully describe it. Equal parts film noir, spaghetti western, and 70's cop show; Cowboy Bebop is both retro and fresh at the same time. A very stylish, beautifully crafted series that deserves much more attention than it gets. If ever there was a series more deserving to be a sleeper hit, Bebop is it.
Cowboy Bebop is well suited to TV. Each episode manages to stand alone, but at the same time link together an overall larger story. Even if you only see two or three episodes, not exactly in order, one wouldn't be lost, and would find enjoyment in them. In order to truly appreciate it, though, one must see it through.
Cowboy Bebop also presents a realistic view of the future. Spike and Jet travel in what to us would be a highly sophisticated craft, but to them is the modern day equivalent of a 1976 El Camino. The places they visit are far from what one would expect. Instead of Neo-Tokyo with its shiny, impossibly tall skyscrapers that never end, we have Neo-Tijuana, with its dusty dirt roads, run down shacks and migrant workers. Space is ethnic, but not in the Star Trek sanitized for the sake of politically correctness way. Each colony reflects a melting pot more akin to Los Angeles or New York City than any Blade Runner wannabe ever could.
This striving for realism also is reflected in the character designs. Spike is lanky and handsome in his own way, but by no means is he a slender pretty boy. Faye is sexy and curvy, but she's no large breasted bimbo. Jet is burly, not fat, and has traits that would make one think he is of Russian descent. Ein can easily be recognized as a Welsh corgi, and not just another undistinguishable mutt. The only one who looks remotely like a 'cartoony' character is Ed, and even then no one would ever mistake her as anything -but- a scrawny preteen tomboy. (And to see her name and appearance, you'd think she just got off the boat from the Philippines.)
The animation is beyond superb. Its quality excels over most current releases. Cowboy Bebop uses computer graphics, but does so in such a fluid, breathtaking manner. There are practically no scenes that feel 'artificial', like what's going on in the foreground is totally separate from the background. Many computer-generated anime can't seem to shake the look that the characters are just floating in front of the background stills. Everything in Cowboy Bebop seems to breathe with life and motion, even in otherwise stoic scenes, and it's a rarity and a marvel to behold.
Another bonus Cowboy Bebop has going for it is the soundtrack. Yoko Kanno scores (literally) again with her work for this series. The opening theme alone is already one of *the* best intro pieces I have ever heard. The blend of jazz and blues is absolutely perfect in setting the mood of the series. I ask you, has this woman ever -done- any bad music? (Of course not!)
Then there's the storyline. Even though each episode stands quite well on its own, with poignant moments interspersed with exciting action, the underlying theme of Spike Spiegel and his motivations for what he does is absolutely intriguing. With each flashback, you get one more piece of the puzzle, from Spike's shady origins to the loves that influenced the way he is. Maybe his bounty hunting is really a search for identity as much as a way of life he has chosen. The plot and characterization in Cowboy Bebop have a sophistication and subtlety that is practically one-of-a-kind. It's hard to find movies this involving, much less animated television series. Cowboy Bebop simply puts most anime...and Hollywood, to shame.
On the surface, it's easy to dismiss as '70s retro fluff. "Hey, there's Vega$ all over again!" And yes, many a Japanese and American movie star or feature is lampooned in one form or another during each episode. Cases in point: Spike Spiegel is a postmodern Lupin III. And in the first episode alone, Asimov Sorenson and Katarina.... can we say Desperado, kids? (Heck, even Quentin Tarantino seems to have a cameo!) But beneath that noir veneer is a very human drama that has just enough humor and clever dialogue to be realistic, yet highly entertaining. This is a must-have for any serious collector of Japanese animation.
Simply put, this anime is one of the best.
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
![]()
Aug 23, 2015
Hello? It's me. Change of plans the Organization found out. We have to start Yggdrasil operation.
It's kind of something so Okabe Rintaro speaks to your phone when it is caught off guard by something, or at random times. Okabe is a college student and self-proclaimed mad scientist who fight an organization that aims to rule the world. And that's the main character Steins; Gate, an anime with the differential being produced by two studios, a games and other drawings.
Steins; Gate follows Okabe in his "laboratory" creating inventions meaningless use, until one of these is shown a time machine prototype that can send SMS's pro past
...
and with it you see everything going on from the perspective of Okabe, since he is the one who can keep the memories of the past changed, that is, if it alters the past to get something, everyone forgets that he did not have it except him. With this plot, the story unfolds full of conspiracies, paradoxes and many other things related to time travel.
With a little slower than usual narrative, the story passes and throwing little by little vital information in your mind. The fact is such that the first episode is full of information that will be useful for closing the series. The story itself is fantastic, falling a few times in clichés misused and that the pace of the narrative increases little by little, making almost imperceptible the time spent watching the episodes, as the agonizing way he told the story, you always end up wanting more. The big problem is that the anime only begins to pick up pace after 3 or 4 episodes.
In terms of characters, unfortunately anime piece, the characters are very caricatured and barely believable, with few exceptions, you do not feel that charisma emanating from them, I ended up tying me Okabe by its also jeitão and Makise Kurisu the situations it passes, but otherwise you can not see motivation or development of some characters within the story. But the narrative ends up making you do not miss it while watching, just started to notice these details when the series and began to reflect on it.
The animation is very competent and consistent with the story. There are action scenes and when they happen are "stops" because this is not the focus of the anime, there focus is the story of the effect that "Call Microwave (with name subject to change)" changes the lives of everyone there and how it reflects in the world. Just like in Death Note, where the clash was mental, what matters here is the development and understanding of the mysteries. And the animation fulfills this very well.
The final, but do not give away some clichés, is somewhat unexpected. Although much you can deduct, the closure does not disappoint you, you're actually quite pleased with the end that was worthy. I have a little trauma to the end of series and designs, I never think that the end is commensurate with experience who initially had with the series, but Steins; Gate manages to close with a flourish.
With all this, here is a recommendation of an anime. Look Steins; Gate with a sensational story that makes you freak out.
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
|
