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Review : No Game No Life

October 16, 2014, 3:50 am
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No Game No Life was an amazing adventure! Everyone considers it as the anime that "made the difference" for the past one year, because it over-passed everyone's expectations and even managed to be compared to the mainstream series, and eventually, got better than some of them. It also broke the record of making an enormous amount of fans in just two and a half months. Bad opinions about it are also rarely expressed and almost the whole amount of the viewers that have watched it had fun and enjoyed watching it. Well, that seems legit, because that is why I'm reviewing it and I'm really sorry for reviewing it so late, I just wasn't getting the time to complete it!

Story

The story of this anime centers around two NEETS a brother and a sister - Sora and Shiro - who together make up the “Blank” - an undefeated gaming group that goes from game to game, mastering it before moving on. In the real world, they are shut-ins who view real life as a crappy game with poorly designed rules and too many players. So when they are drawn into a fantasy world where games are the central aspect of life, the two, unlike the other characters that are “trapped in a fantasy world” stories, don't want to leave; they like this new world far better than ours!


Characters

I think that the characters were the real award winners here in this show and they were the ones that made this anime one of my favorite anime of this spring season. Undoubtedly, the vast majority of the focus in the character section was on Sora and Shiro, and I certainly don't think that they were disappointing. So, I'll try to explain the pair to the best of my abilities alongside the other characters of the anime. Let's start off with Sora, who is an extremely charismatic and cunning person. He uses tons of deceitful tactics and strategies planned out way in advance in order to direct the flow of events much more than that meets the eye at first glance. As he likes to say, no matter how the game turns out, his victory is already assured from the very beginning as "Only an idiot starts a fight he cannot win" as he says. Of course, that doesn't mean that he's the second coming of Light or Lelouch, as Sora has no sinister ulterior motives  and instead he is a very humorous and enthusiastic person that just likes to have fun. Shiro on the other hand, looks like a moe fan-service loli at first glance, and to some extent I cannot say that this part is wrong and In case you didn't realize, it really is an ecchi anime in the end. 

Anyways, Shiro's quite fun to listen to with her almost expressionless voice, and yet has a very blunt choice of words. Also, in reality her level of genius is way above than that of her brother, but in a very different way. Shiro's mind works sort of like a supercomputer, capable of unmatched amounts of logical thinking and data storage at any given point. On the other hand, this makes her less adaptable than Sora. However, what this means is that the pair of them perfectly complement each others weaknesses. The supporting cast primarily consists of Stephanie Dola, who at first also looks like the obligatory fan-service character. But, before long you'll realize that she's much more than a comic relief character or rather the butt of everyone else's jokes. Now normally I might be a bit skeptical to that idea but this girl fills that role absolutely PERFECTLY. There is also the other so popular Jibril who is just all around awesome in every way, but I'll avoid talking about her as she is introduced later on in the story.



 Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork of this anime was stunning and the word "colorful" might not even scratch the surface on this one. Animated by Madhouse, the art direction goes out of its way to use bright colors for almost everything. Even the character outlines were done in red instead of the typical black. That made for a world that looked vibrant and alive - and, more often than not, exceedingly beautiful. Thus, later in the series when there was a sudden art shift alongside a major plot point, everything seemed bland, drab, and more than a little surreal. It's anime like these that show the unique qualities that an anime can have over books or live action films!

For the sound, If you look on it at its own this was definitely the part which I thought about the least while I was actually watching the series. But, when looking at it in retro-perspective it's actually pretty solid. The OP of the anime never particularly blew me away but to be fair I mostly ended up skipping it all the time because I was so eager to get into the new episode every week, The ED was a better albeit but still not amazing, although the full version of it was a lot more enjoyable. That parts aside though, the OST for the anime itself is one or two levels above that and the best voice acting in the anime was the one done by Hikasa Yoko in her role as Stephanie. The role she had as the character constantly got abused by the two siblings simply for their enjoyment and that resulted in her having numerous different comedy roles at the same time, yet Yoko absolutely nailed them all in an absolutely hilarious fashion!

Enjoyment

I'm just going to straight-up say that this was without a doubt one of the most enjoyable anime I've seen to date and it was simply due to how much fun every single episode was to watch! Also, the concept of the anime as a whole was extremely appealing and interesting to follow, and due to the unlimited potential of the games themselves, every episode was completely different from the last one despite following the same ideals and there was just so much charisma poured into the characters' over-the-top settings, that it never failed to keep me hooked.


Overall, No Game No Life is an anime that never left me disappointed. All the episodes, centered around one game or another, and were always exciting - but those that served as downtime between battles were full of comedy and helped to flesh out the world! This anime had smart characters, great humor, and games that were just fun to watch ; though you may need to occasionally watch the rules twice to keep up. The only real turnoff I saw in this one were those moments of fan-service with Shiro at its center. But other than that, I highly recommend it and every gamer should at-least give it a try!



4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Sankarea

October 17, 2014, 9:49 am
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A high school boy dreams to be with his ideal girl, Not to uncommon among romantic tales is it? But, here's something that might run your blood cold, pun intended! He likes zombies, and he really likes zombie girls, and one day, POOF! Due to the plot, he gets to live with one. With a premise like this, what could possibly go wrong? Quite a bit actually. Yet Sankarea stands out as quite the opposite, and as something very special!

Story

In accordance with the seeming laws of the Anime Universe, this series sports a love triangle, with questionable outcomes for the characters and comedic side characters that occasionally steal the spotlight for a good laugh! (Especially Furuya's Grandpa and Furuya's best friend, Yasuda.) However, one thing that makes this anime stand out in the crowd, is its plot device. I had never, never, heard of a zombie in an anime before watching it, and I think that was probably the main reason I started and finished this anime. Now for the actual story-line, Chihiro Furuya is a zombie fanboy of the first order. He watches every zombie movie he can, has all manner of zombie paraphernalia scattered about his room, and even dreams of having a cute zombie girlfriend; that his buxom cousin Ranko is practically throwing herself at him doesn't even register against such obsession. Thus, when his beloved cat Babu dies, Chihiro attempts to zombiefy him using a vague formula in a suspicious, stained old journal. His ultimate success comes with an unexpected consequence: Rea Sanka, the very pretty but also desperately troubled girl he has recently met, also winds up as a zombie after drinking some of his very poisonous resurrection potion in a failed suicide attempt and then later dying from a grievous injury. Now that Chihiro has exactly what he thought he wanted – a zombie cat and a sexy zombie girl to look after – he struggles to stay on top of the situation while Rea revels in a freedom that she has not previously known, even if that does mean that she cannot quite live a normal life!


Characters

Sankarea had three main characters and introduced them right off the bat, Saouji Ranko, Furuya Chihiro, and of course, Sanka Rea. It was pretty obvious that the two girls would fight for Chihrio's love (and with Rea being the 'true' route). I feel that the characters were developed at a well-timed gradual rate, beginning with Ranko and Furuya's playful nature, and Furuya witnessing Rea's stress release at the abandoned hotel. So, As we start to learn more about the two girls and their relationships to Furuya, Furuya's own traits are also revealed. Let's go into specific details, Furuya Chihiro, was adorable and I thought that his status as a zombie otaku was something new and obviously, was a sort of crux to the series and even he had his good moments and was generally a like-able character. Sanka Rea was sweet, and I would almost be keen to say that I disliked her. But, she had some awesome moments where she proved that she could stand up for herself, despite her quite innocent nature! Saouji Ranko was the loud and boisterous character, who stirred things up a bit and was a fun addition to the series. Also, most of the fan-service came from her. Overall, if you are sick of characters acting extremely tsundere, shy, or down-right annoying, this anime is a refreshing break that will leave you feeling concerned and engaged with its characters, instead of knit-picking at the tiny annoying things that many anime characters can get up to!


Animation and Sound

The artwork and animation of the anime was outstanding. One of the series's most visually impressive scenes came in episode 1 and in the closer, which showed Rea in a striking red dress and although Rea and Ranko offered a nice diversity of fan service options! The rendering quality and animation were both decided averagely, but the series does make a (rather graphically bloody) impact when it needs to, such as in the death scene, and in the disturbing redness in Rea's eyes when she became a zombie, also in the character's varied expressions. Background details also impressed me consistently, but many recent series at its time still did better!

For the sound, The series's musical score did its job well, hitting exactly the right tone on the more serious and poignant scenes and even going appropriately silent at a critical moment to let the events on the screen carry the full weight! The OP “Esoragato” was a catchy pop-rock number somewhat reminiscent of some of Taylor Swift's work, while the ED “Above Your Hand” was a gentler and a more sympathetic member. Nevertheless, both of them contributed to an overall solid soundtrack.

Enjoyment

Sankarea had the potential to be a great one but merely remained a good one because of the shocking turn of events in the series's final minutes. Still, I enjoyed this series greatly and the greatest quality of this anime shines through in its dramatic elements, however, it takes a concept ripe with possibilities for absurdity and silliness and dares to treat it seriously! 


Overall, I really enjoying watching Sankarea, it was a very surprising and beautiful discovery. But, I don't think that its something that I'll be obsessed about as much as the main character is obsessed for zombies though I definitely enjoyed it at an anime fan level. The story had drama with an emotional background mixed in with comedy and possible romance, the characters were appealing and the soundtrack fitted well. So, On the whole this series is DEFINITELY worth watching and If you haven't already, add it to your list, and start watching!


4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Hitsugi No Chaika

October 19, 2014, 2:40 am
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Created by the author of Scrapped Princess and Outbreak Company, this light novel adaptation is part of Studio Bone's trio of shows in the Spring 2014 season! So, I went into Hitsugi No Chaika without any high expectations as it was one of the least hyped shows airing at that moment, And as it turns out that it was also one of the most underrated!

Story

The story of this anime may not look particularly original if you only read the synopsis! But, if you get into it I guarantee you that it will provide a really satisfying adventure-filled romp through various places. Also, I didn't find the story either to simple or to complex, it was just filled with the right amount of twists and turns and it didn't over-complicate itself with overly wordy explanations! Though, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't pay it your full attention, as it's full of little details. Now for the actual story-line, Toru Acura is a 20-year-old retired soldier meandering through life now that the war has ended. When, he encounters Chaika Gaz, a 14-year-old sorceress carrying a coffin, and he follows her in hopes of finding meaning to his life again. The two travel with Toru's adopted sister, Akari, who is also the employed member of the group and thus Toru's only source of income!


Characters

The cast of characters I thought were phenomenal and we had three main characters - Chaika, Toru and Akari. The interactions between the main characters were funny, sometimes adorable and always somewhat believable. Akari was obsessed with Toru, but it was a running gag that this show never overused. Therefore, it also never came across as something needy or annoying. Also, they both had an actual personality to support such gags! So, Let's go into specific details, Toru, is the aforementioned main character of the series. As a sabetour, his main job was really whatever his employer told him to do, which ranged from killing people to not killing people. I find him to be an interesting character due to the fact on how seriously he takes his job. Also, he is calm in any situation with only the goal in mind, Toru is a character that I find to be a pleasantly different main protagonist than the ones in recent years. Akira, is the other sabetour of the series, bearing a similar personality to her older adopted brother. With the same sort of emotionless personality! Apart from that, she has a rather obsessive personality with her adoptive brother, essentially cock-blocking him in any situation with any other girl aside from her regardless of what the situation is. Chaika, this character that is more or less the main focus of the show. She is also a very interesting character for several reasons. One being, her speech pattern. Chaika speaks in a broken pattern where every "sentence" she speaks is spoken with only the important words said out loud, meaning that every conjunction, adjective, adverbs, and everything but the subject and predicate is missing. From what we do see initially, Chaika is a naive character with a singular goal in mind! But, as the series goes on, her character gets both explored, as well as not gotten into any deeper at all. Yeah, that sounds contradictory. But to me, that's actually pretty interesting! The rest of the cast is split into two categories. The first, is the "Good Guys" featuring cavaliers and people who wish to maintain the peace of the country. They don't get explored too much as characters, more or less playing the role of an "opposing force" to our main protagonists! The second, is of the "Side Characters of Post-War", these characters are directly affected by the ending of the war and for the most part, these characters are only revolved around their own war stories.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork might not be standard, but were original and refreshing. Also, It looked really nice in HD as the colors were fitting. Like, it got dark and gloomy when the mood called for it, and also got lighter neutral when needed. I also enjoyed the fact that Frederica was not animated in 3D as that could often look clunky and out of place in this anime. Also, The 3D animation that there was in the air ships and some of the magical effects, actually fitted in nicely without detracting from the anime at all. The fights were also really well animated and the anime instead of going for a more attractive style went for a more believable style, which I liked very much.

For the sound, The OP "DARAKENA" by Iori Nomizu was very catchy and setted the mood for the anime quite well. The background sounds within the anime were also fitting and the mood was also set by little piano parts and the punchier music. The characters' voices were excellent and matching for their characters. Also, they could have made the mistake of making Chaika too "moe", and although her voice was pretty high pitched it never seemed to fall into that trap, at least not for me. It portrayed her apparent innocence very well. I also liked the fact that Akari's voice was a bit more mature sounding, as often in anime now even girls in their 20s sound like they are 10, which is pretty frustrating.

Enjoyment

The first episode of this series really felt un-fulfilling and I was slightly boggled by what was going on due to the horrendous pacing. But, as I continued watching, I started enjoying it and the initial thoughts that I had of the series became more and more positive. I was very intrigued by how the series was being played out due to the sort of plot twists were coming as the series progressed! 


Overall, Coupled with interesting mechanics, excellent action, effective humor, well-rounded characters, and a high-staked conflict, Hitsugi no Chaika easily stands out as one of the my favorite fantasy adventures to come out in recent years. From personal enjoyment to critical appreciation, this show delivers, and increase my thirst for more! If you are interested in an anime that focuses on magic and an overarching mystery, then I would definitely and highly recommend it to you, It may not blow your mind away but I can guarantee you that the hours spent with it would keep you entertained and would be well spent!


4 STAR ANIME.

Click to view my ratings guide.
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Review : High School DxD

October 21, 2014, 4:49 am
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High School DxD was a raw, shameless and an extremely brilliant addition to the Harem genre. The tropes were missing and the cliches were obliterated! So, Prepare your mind for a perverted mental assault the likes of which I've not seen since a long time!

Story

The story isn't the reason why you're going to be interested in this anime, plain and simple. However, it certainly holds enough plot to actually make you wonder about certain things other than the obvious and enjoyable. But, Obviously for the first timers, they might seem either fascinated or awkward with the story, depending on their mood for harem romance. Though, how they develop the story is what I really like! Now for the actual story-line, Issei Hyodo is your average perverted high school student whose one wish in life is to have his own harem, but he's got to be one of the unluckiest guys around. He goes on his first date with a girl only to get brutally attacked and killed when it turns out the girl is really a vicious fallen angel. To top it all off, he's later reincarnated as a devil by his gorgeous Rias Senpai who tells him that she is also a devil and now his master! One thing's for sure, his peaceful days are over! 


Characters

Other than enjoying the series itself, this is by far the best and most important part of this entire anime. Every single girl in the harem was noticeably different and wasn't fawning over left, right and center for the guy. They all had unique powers and traits that could interest you. Let's go into specific details, Hyodo Issei, Our MC is a pervert, and ends up in funny situations and rubs his sexual exploits in his friends' faces. He wants to touch any and all sexual parts of the opposite sex. He's awesome in that as he ends up getting a harem which he's totally unaware of because he doesn't believe women can be genuinely be interested in him, but they all eventually fall victim to his pure-hearted pervert ways! Then, we have the beautiful Rias Gremory, who is someone everyone admires and lusts about. She is the president of the Occult Club. And she is of course, the main heroine as well as one of the reasons some of us were watching this series. She takes a curious interest in our protagonist Issei after the incident but what really makes her unique is her definite character. Behind her outer shell is a girl who takes responsibility and does what she does best - help others. Then, we have some of the other characters. The sadistic Akeno who is also admired among the academy. She is playful and flirtatious, she also plays the role of the onee-sama and I'm sure that a lot of us want to be “treated” by her. Then, we have our mascot, the all adorable Koneko-chan. Behind that cute loli apperance lies a girl of power and valor who puts her own life at risk to help others. Next, we have Asia-san, the pure girl that reflects the innocence of the series after all the lewd story arcs and peerage. Finally, we have Kiba who serves as the antithesis of Issei, whom he despises to no end. And of course, all these characters of the Occult Club are the bridge to Issei's path of becoming someone who he never thought he'd be. Overall, all of it is pretty bland and natural for the genre, but they all come together quite beautifully (no pun intended) and it ends up being a laugh riot. But, There was no typical harem cock-blocking here. Also, The enemies were generally all generic except the bosses, but were interesting enough to make you wonder!


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was great though it didn't cover a whole lot on the demonic abilities and what not! Also, their weren't any average demons as you would expect to be. The power effects were also pretty sweet. Of course, will power was what made their power surpass their own limits! As for the characters, I've developed a fetish for radiant colors of long hairs on women and though they fought in their school clothes, which was a little disappointing, their demonic powers covered up for it. The only person who changed their clothes during battles was Akeno Himejime! 

For the sound, The characters were voiced well. Also, nothing particularly seemed out of place. The OP for the anime was a sort of generic but the music wasn't that bad. The ED, I'm convinced that it was one of the best I've heard (and not just for the epic fanservice), the song was incredibly catchy and fitted the series well in both the fun and lyrics department. Not much to say about the sound really, everything fitted like it should though there wasn't anything exceptionally spectacular about it.

Enjoyment

Well, this is the best harem I have ever watched for many of the reasons stated above and some like I felt interested and invested in the characters and actually cared enough about the story arcs to be able to watch multiple episodes consecutively. Usually I find this difficult with a Harem genre since most don't have too much else drawing you in. Plainly put, I really enjoyed this anime very much and will be re-watching it in the future when it leaves my recent memory.


Overall, High School DxD isn't going to be winning any awards but it was entertaining as hell! It was completely insane, shameless and interesting. I've not had this much fun watching an anime in a while. The fun factor was in it's ability to tell an interesting story and do comedy, there was also some mighty powerful fan-service for those interested in that. Now, You'll have a good time watching this anime if you can judge the anime based on it's merits in this genre over the level of fan service. Yes, if you hate fan service, you will be annoyed to the maximum extent but otherwise, it's really very fun. I suggest picking it up and waiting for my review of the second season as I'm going to review it pretty soon and if you want to decide just right now I would say it's certainly not the best but it's not even close to the worst. Give it a shot!


4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Legend of the Legandary Heroes

October 23, 2014, 8:01 am
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The Legend of the Legendary Heroes was a surprising show for me and it had quite a bit to offer that one most likely wouldn't have expected on a quick glance at this anime. On the surface, it is a typical shounen action anime involving magical attacks and a search for mystical objects, and to some extent that is true. However, once the story begins unraveling, it happens pretty quickly, and this anime shows us that it has much more to offer than just fighting and quirky antics!

Story

I have to say, this anime walks a very dangerous line as it tries to mix humor with themes like drama and betrayal, but it manages very well. Also, I really loved the way how the mood suddenly changes from silly comedy to deadly politics in the show. Not only that, there were also many other elements like saving the world, sad childhood, betrayal, young leaders, which could easily go wrong and destroy the show, but they are used very well and only contribute in making this show more enjoyable. Now for the actual story-line, Ryner Lute is a lazy student of the Roland Empire Royal Magician's Academy. One day, the Roland Empire goes to war against their neighboring country Estabul, and Ryner looses his classmates in the war. After the war, Ryner sets out on a journey to search the relics of a "Legendary Hero" at King Sion Astal's command and finds out that a deadly curse is spreading throughout the continent.

Characters

The story started off with the two out of the three most important characters. Ryner Lute and his partner Eris Ferris, who are on a mission to try and collect these “Legendary Hero” relics and we meet our other important character King Sion Astal later on the story. But, this anime could be seen as from all three of the main character's point of views, which made it a very intelligent anime. For example, the decisions Sion made as a King often conflicted with his philosophy, but he shouldered everything as a King would, and refused to give in to his ideals. At the very same time, the conflicting nature of the characters within themselves made it a very heartfelt anime. Like Ryner, who has been through enough, shows lack of emotion, although he cares for every living thing around him, ironically though, he puts threat on those around him just through his very existence. Also Ferris, who is always mocking Ryner doesn't falter to hold him dearly when he really needs it the most. So, as you can see the characters were depicted pretty nicely but they themselves were a mixed bag. Also, the character backgrounds were only expanded on when the episode/plot found it necessary. Which led to a good mix of well-timed character introductions vs the not so well-timed ones thogh atleast the main 3 (Sion, Ryner, & Ferris) do not suffer from a lack of enough character development. So, I'd say the major characters had been expanded well like they deserved but the most minor characters till the end where still yet to have a purpose established! Overall, the characters were a huge part of this show. Instead of having the typical black and white heroes and villains, this anime shrouded a lot of its characters in a morally ambiguous shade of grey though I guess the interpretation of good and bad in the anime depended upon the audience's own moral values.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was splendid! I just loved the color schemes and the detailed character costumes. Also, Ferris's magic animation was a treat with her purple and pink costume. This anime also contained nice reflections and magic effects. The glow of the Alpha Stigma eyes, was beautiful. The anime had detailed and fitting backgrounds. So, as you can see there just isn't much to complain about it but there also isn't much to talk about. But, I don't remember one episode where I felt that the art team was slacking off on their job.

For the sound, it never bothered me so I can say that it was not bad to say the least. The beginning theme and (especially) ending theme complimented the series well. The background music was also good and it really fitted the theme of the anime and the most important thing was that there were no annoying voice actors so that was a plus and it made me very happy.

Enjoyment

Truly, only one word can be used to describe this anime: "legendary". Jokes about the name aside, this was truly an enjoyable show, also it has a pretty high entertainment value. Perhaps I found it good because I came in with very low expectations after reading the name, but I can definitely say that I was pleasantly surprised. Truly, one shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. So, I would like to say that the story was interesting and captivating throughout the anime and although some might argue that parts of it were similar to other shows, it seemed pretty unique and original to me


Overall, If you are still skeptical about The legend of the Legendary Heroes, I suggest you to start watching from episode two since episode one is a blasphemy and not integral to the overall plot and only introduces a few characters' names. So, With all things considered, this anime is definitely not perfect but it is really very interesting. Unfortunately though because the anime suffers from a relatively low budget, misinforming title, a first episode that does not do the series justice and a late night timeslot, sales were not particularly outstanding. Hopefully all my ritual sacrifices are working and a second season would still be on its way despite all the factors denying it. So finally, I'd recommend this anime to anyone interested in a bit of lighthearted/bloody entertainment with nothing better to do!



3 STAR ANIME.

Click to view my ratings guide.
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Review : Angel Beats!

October 24, 2014, 2:00 am
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Angel Beats borrows ingredients that are achingly familiar and mashes them into something miraculously entertaining. The series cheerfully rips off Suzumiya Haruhi's titular character, adds her to a Sunrise-inspired ensemble cast, and plunks them into a rehash of Haibane Renmei's basic premise and somehow, even this messy mismatch of borderline cliche isn't horrible!

Story

The story itself is somewhat simple, but each character's back story and attempt to find peace is incredibly well-written. The character's stories should make even the most hardened individual think about their life twice. This anime really shines in making you think about life and death and what makes life worth living in a way I had never seen before watching it. Now for the actual story-line, Otonashi awakens only to learn that he is dead. A rifle-toting girl named Yuri explains that they are in the afterlife, and Otonashi realizes the only thing he can remember about himself is his name. Yuri tells him that she leads the Shinda Sekai Sensen (Afterlife Battlefront) and wages war against a girl named Tenshi. Unable to believe Yuri's claims that Tenshi is evil, Otonashi attempts to speak with her, but the encounter doesn't go as he intended. Otonashi decides to join the SSS and battle Tenshi, but he finds himself oddly drawn to her. While trying to regain his memories and understand Tenshi, he gradually unravels the mysteries of the afterlife.


Characters

One common issue with all anime where there are too many characters like Angel Beats is that you get lost within. It really becomes confusing to tell who did what, whose name is that, etc. But, This is something you won't experience with this anime. The characters - I mean, the PEOPLE - of the anime, each had their personalities incredibly well-written and had their own importance in the story, be it a main or a supportive character, they all had a carefully written background story that made you feel like you were watching real people with real problems even when it was something as unrealistic as being dead! So, let's go into specific details. Otonashi, who is the supposed main character of the series. Although everything is seen through his eyes as he is put into this high school purgatory, he does little to really influence the direction of the plot. He mainly just stands around and does nothing, spectating what the other characters are trying to accomplish. But honestly, I can't really fault him because that's exactly who he is supposed to be, a completely bland character. It is learned that he has amnesia from the transition of living to dead, so having no previous knowledge of the life he lived. This means not just us, but Otonashi himself doesn't even know who he is, and is basically just a blank slate though we learn about his back-story sometime throughout the series. Next, we have Yuri, the leader of the Battlefront Otonashi who is more or less pushed into joining. She is a very eccentric woman who wants to fight God because she thinks that the life she got was completely unfair. She had been given a decent amount of character motivation, as well as a great personality. But, The direction she was inevitably led to was less than desirable. Rounding off the main character trio, we have Angel, the person everybody seems to hate for one reason or another (don't need to spoil anything). She falls into the Rei Ayanami archetype, saying around 100 words throughout the whole series. For a lot of the time, she just seems more of a plot point than an actual character. She does get more interesting later on in the series, though. Lastly, we have the supporting cast of characters. These guys pick up any of the slack the main cast may have left behind. Each and every one of them have interesting personalities, and were responsible for the great comedy this series had to offer. A few of them are also the focus of the aforementioned side stories, which were better than I could've imagined.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was great as P.A Works is one of my favourite studios to date, and they do not disappoint me with this anime. From the lighting to the artwork to the actual fluid animation, everything was solid throughout the board. Something I really thought was a nice and welcome touch was the changes they kept making to the opening and ending. In the opening and ending, they would show off every main and supporting character in the Battlefront, and whenever a new character was introduced, or a character left the Battlefront for whatever reason, they would either add or remove that person from the opening and ending in the next episode. I found that this addition had a refreshing effect when changing to a new episode. 

For the sound, it was one of the main reasons this show stands out so much. The OP's and ED's are fantastic pieces that fitted the tone of the show perfectly. To add on to that, the characters in the show actually had a band named GDM that played fantastic pieces on their own. Really. the songs could even make scenes feel very emotional even though they were actually more contradictory and unnecessary than emotional (particularly the ending). Like the art, this anime is on another level with its music production.

Enjoyment

Angel Beats deals with themes surrounding life and death. This was inevitable since it is a series taking place entirely in purgatory. Essentially, the series tackles what happens when we still have lingering regrets and desires in our hearts when we pass on. The series handles them with a lot of tact and explores how one should go about overcoming them. So, I really enjoyed this series it was a huge tear jerker. Yes, It was. You'll be doubting me after watching the first episode, but it's true. It is extremely poignant and heartwarming.


Overall, Angel Beats is another 13-episode series that is hard to pass up. It's a giant tear jerker, has a fun cast of characters, and deals with themes of regret. It may seem a bit weird and out there during the first few episodes, but it manages to build itself up significantly in the penultimate episodes until it reaches tear jerk levels that I haven't seen in years. It isn't without flaws though. It seems like most of the cast didn't get a chance to share the development limelight. There were just too many of them here and there was not enough time to give everyone a chance for major exploration. So finally, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a good, short series that would invoke some powerful feelings!



4 STAR ANIME.

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10,000 Views!

October 27, 2014, 10:00 am
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For anyone who runs a blog, getting a lot of views is pretty difficult and its something you want as it means people are taking the time to visit what you’ve created and read what you’ve written! Also Now, I've finally gotten 10,000 views on my 5 month old blog which feels pretty nice and is something I'm really proud of.

I still remember my first month of anime blogging when I was pretty happy at just getting a 100 views and a few comments. Then, I eventually got tired of obsessing over the stats and just started to post as many reviews as I could manage. Though, I still have a habit to check my stats the first thing in the morning after I logon to my blogger account other than replying to comments. So, this morning I noticed that I just reached ten thousand and decided to post about it. It’s a milestone, right? It's something to brag about and it feels nice to write about something else besides reviews.


But as amazing as this is, I think what I really should be saying in this post is THANK YOU! Thank you to all the awesome people across the globe, for making this possible. Thank you for not giving up on me for being a little slow with posting reviews, Thank you for pointing out my mistakes so I could correct them and Thank you for offering suggestions to improve my writing and the blog in general. But most importantly, Thank you for reading what I post here.

Looking ahead to the future I hope you plan on sticking with Anime Cataclysm as you’ve done so far this long, and I hope you continue reading and enjoying the reviews that I post here. Also, I’ve got plenty more reviews coming, as this season has only just begun and I’m eagerly looking forward to watching and writing more reviews on anime! Once again, Thank you very much for visiting my blog!
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Review : Welcome to the N.H.K!

October 31, 2014, 4:55 am
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Welcome to the N.H.K! is definitely one of the most unique and depressing anime I've watched thus far and I found myself laughing hard every time the MC made a fool out of himself but this show had the capability to even change that laughter to depression in a blink of an eye. But even with all the tragedy, drama and comedy this show had to offer, it was a definite roller coaster of emotions and although it was not perfect it still definitely deserves a spot on my top five favorite anime of all time!

Story

This anime has the most fascinating story I have ever seen thus far and the way it symbolizes everyday life problems is amazing and really well-done. Also, the fact that it is such a realistic and hard story with no taboos for any perverted thoughts makes it difficult for a lot of people to watch because most of them don’t expect such things in an animated series and I want to say this to a lot of people who don't watch an anime of this genre "You have no right to judge it!" As it is just the same as a lot of people don’t like shoujo, so they don't watch it and then give it a 1 or something on MAL. Now for the actual story-line, Satou Tatsuhiro, 22 years old, thinks that everything that happens around him is a conspiracy. He even figured out who is behind it all: The NHK, an evil secret company. But in reality, he is nothing more than a NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training), also desperately in need of a cure from that "disease." He wants to break out from the curse, but going out and getting a job is frightening enough for him. That is until he gets selected for a "project"; which is a plan to help a hikikomori like him in facing the reality of this world.

Characters

The characters were very well-designed and although I have never actually met a hikikomori, I would guess that their personalities and lifestyle are fairly depicted. Let's go into specific details, Satou Tatsuhiro, is your “typical” conspiracy nut shut-in. While his hikikomori lifestyle doesn’t seem to be as severe as some other people’s, it is bad enough to keep him from functioning as a part of society and most of his ventures to the outside world seem to end with him becoming completely scared and freaked out. Then our female lead, Nakahara Misaki, who I also find to be the most notable character in this series. Also, She remains a mystery for almost the entire series and refuses to reveal any personal details about herself to Satou. Even when asked directly, she makes up obvious lies in order to avoid divulging anything personal. Her actions leave the viewer wondering and guessing and although that becomes somewhat annoying at times it contributes to the story coming together quite well in the end. Then our MC’s only male friend, Yamazaki Kaoru, who is your typical anime/hentai/game otaku. He is obsessed with all sorts of things and the most notable of which happens to be echii games. He is very passionate about his obsessions and becomes easily enraged by the smallest things especially if they have any relevance to his obsessions. Needless to say, he is an amusing character to watch. And at last is our MC’s upperclassman, Kashiwa Hitomi, who is also a complete conspiracy nut like Satou. She seems depressed most of the time and even sees being happy as a sign that she is playing into the conspiracies and though she is a supporting character in the series, she still plays an important role in the development of the story.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was good and the one thing that I really loved about it was how they used dark hair colors for the main characters in the art. As only that simple choice really added more realism to the show and it was always refreshing to see the anime not using bright hair colors for the main characters. Though there were some noticeable flaws, as there were times when the characters were drawn kinda weirdly and slightly looked different. Also, I think that Satou looked a little too old for a 22-year-old sometimes and I understand that he isn't really living a very healthy lifestyle but I just think they overdid it a little.

For the sound, I really loved all the OP's and ED's they used in this anime because they fitted really well with the overall concept of the anime and were really amazing. Also, The OP, "Puzzle", had a soft and happy feeling that kind of reflected the comedy and romance in the series and the first ED, "Odoru Akachan Ningen", was rock song with an intentional out-of-tune sound and this song really went well with the crazy psychological aspect of the anime. Then there is one particular song in this anime that I just have to mention is the "Purupurupururin" song. This song is extremely annoying in the beginning but after hearing it several times it is actually quite catchy.

Enjoyment

It was simple but very capturing. It got my attention through-out the whole 24 episodes and there was a lot more to it than what you would find at a first glance in this anime. Also, it was pretty interesting to see how Satou would overcome the problems he faced! So, this anime was pleasing in every way possible and I enjoyed it, PERIOD.


Overall, Welcome to the N.H.K! is really an anime of its own, with nothing to compare it against. This anime is able to realistically show many different problems that the Japanese society is facing with and in the process make you laugh whilst keeping you intrigued throughout. Yet due to the unfamiliarity of this anime, not all anime fans will be able to get into it. So, if you want to find out what it means to be a hikikomori, check this out.


4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : High School DxD New

November 1, 2014, 2:24 am
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If you have watched the first season of High School DxD, then you probably already know what you're getting into - a very heavy fan-service filled harem romantic comedy with good action, decent plot, and memorable characters! So That being said, I'm going to jump right into the review of this fanservice-filled wonderland that we call High School DxD New. 

Story

Most harem anime have little or no story. However, this anime series is the exception to that rule. The story it has is a genuinely good one and the story it has in its Season 2 is even better and more complex than the 1st season's. The main characters are all back, and the first large story arc deals with Kiba's backstory and expands his character a great deal, while the second arc sheds more light into the whole darn demon-angel war. Also, both the stories are pretty well thought-out and give all the characters other then Issei good character development, all the while introducing new interesting characters who deepen the plot. However, there was still enough for Issei to go around. Whether that being him dealing with chicks or fighting with his Sacred Gear to kick some devil butts. 

Characters

Onto the characters now, they are still charming and lovable as ever in this second season of the anime. Also, The biggest improvement to this season were the characters as we learn a lot more about all of them - their feelings, their histories, their families, their motivations, their problems, etc. because of this, the characters become even more endearing than they had been in the Season 1. And if you liked the series because of the characters, then you definitely won't be disappointed here. Let's go into specific details here and let's take Akeno and Rias for example. Their characters really gets more fleshed in this season and Akeno starts having lustful desires for Issei and starts to fall in love with him. She is also revealed to be a reincarnated devil who was once half human and half fallen angel. Then Rias, gets more of a jealous personality and when the other girls try to flirt with Issei, she really gets mad and does things to take him back which is pretty interesting to watch. So, some new characters were also introduced and as there are many of them I'm just going to talk about three of them (Gasper, Irina and Xenovia.) Starting with Gasper, who is a first year student at Kuoh Academy and is a cross dressing vampire who is timid and afraid of people, but gets development as the show goes on. Then Irina, who is a childhood friend of Issei and is also a reincarnated angel. Finally, there's Xenovia who is also a reincarnated angel but later joins Rias's peerage as her knight demon and she also wants to bear Issei's children. Overall, the characters were the biggest improvement this season but all of them were pretty much the same as the first season. Though, this season will make you want to watch more of the characters and their interactions to see how their own stories unfold!


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was surprisingly pretty good this season. Many of the fight scenes were also choreographed well, with fluid character movements and cool tricks used by all sides. I was actually somewhat taken aback during many of the fight scenes for how nice they looked! Also, There were a lot of scenes in which the club went in forests or parks with trees and the leaves on the tree blocked the sun’s view and gave you shade, which felt pretty realistic. Then the last reason for the art and animation being outstanding was that there was more nudity in this season and it will also be enjoyable for a lot of ecchi and harem fans.

For the Sound, The OP's for season two were not that good. However, season two's ED, was both not only catchy but extremely pleasing to the eye. That is to say, visually the EDs were probably the most sexually suggestive things I have seen in anime. Also, I thought the voice acting was appropriate for their roles, but nothing in particular stood out to me performance-wise. I recognized some of the voices from some of the characters, but that is besides the point.

Enjoyment

Every episode of this anime was enjoyable to watch and is delivered on a consistent basis, the way they managed everything was really amazing. Also, without a doubt this anime kept the audience thoroughly amused and wanting to know what happens in the next episode. A great anime with an over abundance of enjoyable fan service, yet can switch gears nearly on a dime, to a more serious mood.


Overall, High School DxD New is what fans of the original series may want with all the fan-service, action, and plot progression. Yes, I said plot progression as even for an ecchi show like this, there's development with certain characters that progresses the plot in its way. This series is definitely not the best show out there but it has its moments and if I had to describe this show, it would be sexy but also equally annoying to watch at some cases. So finally, I would recommend this to anyone who has watch and enjoyed watching the 1st season.


4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Highschool of the Dead!

November 2, 2014, 3:51 am
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I'm not going to waste my time comparing Highschool of the Dead! to other medias as that would be a waste of time and besides, we both know about what you're here for! "Is this anime worth watching?" is what you want to know, right? Well, I have mixed feelings about it the same as most of the other reviewers, but still here is my opinion on it.

Story

The story wasn't a 100% original. But still, I actually think that this is the only anime about a zombie outbreak and the good thing about these kinds of stories, is that you're able to manipulate it into anything you want. Personally, I find a fast paced survival story to be the best route and this anime did do this, but the whole apocalyptic setting and turmoil of possibly being turned into a zombie snack seemed to wear down as the plot continued because of one main flaw within the plot, which it that nobody in the main cast really gets that close to dying. For me, that made the story to be a little to predictable and I felt that the story would be better developed if the writers would have been willing to sacrifice their cast a little. Now for the actual story-line, A mysterious, lethal disease is on the loose worldwide, resulting in a catastrophic death rate of humanity, and the increasing rise of attacks, caused by the living dead. In Japan, several high school students and a school nurse have banded together to escape Fujimi High School shortly after it was attacked by zombies. The group now attempts to figure who or what was responsible for this plague, and in the meantime, attempt to survive the present apocalypse. The story is initially narrated through the eyes of Takashi Komuro, one of the students who had survived in the initial outbreak.

Characters

The characters, of course, were too archetypical. In terms of main characters, the whole group of the six survivors consisted of 2 guys and 4 girls and while the initial cast was interesting in terms of personalities, they at the second half became what you would expect of a high-end ecchi, where more and more skin was showed. Also all of the development happened within an episode and thus lacked of proper development. Also, while some characters did develop, it was still not enough. Let's go into specific details of characters, Takashi is the usual leader/sane man/chick magnet and though he was not that bad, he was just not that memorable. Then there was Kouta, who was probably the best character and a gun specialist. He also had a lot more personality and was a major help to the group. Then there was Rei, who was overall pretty but usually ended up in bad situations and then needed someone to save her though even she did prove herself sometimes. Then there was Saya, who was pretty annoying, being a complete smartass throughout most of the story and not really changing as it went. Also there was Saeko, she was probably one of the most complex of the girl characters, having an interesting back story of intense sadism. She was atleast the most helpful and used her abilities for the best. Then there was a character like Shizuka who you wonder why hasn't died since the first episode. This woman is useless and pretty much a walking pair of breasts for the animators to obsessively exploit any time they want to and besides her occasional nursing and driving, nothing she does really effects the story. Overall, The characters in this show were fair enough, they were mostly nice and enjoyable but if you're looking for character development in a show you won't find much of that here as while I did notice some development throughout the show, it was nothing major!


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was pretty solid and also there were very colorful and vibrant art-styles used in this anime. Also, The lighting was very well-done and the animation was surely brilliant. Every bit of action was also animated at its best through each splash of blood and sword swipe. The only downfall of course was the fan-service as it was everywhere in this anime. No matter how well drawn, all the girls having humongous breasts and incredibly airy skirts that lift up at even the slightest movement took away from whatever scenery there was.

For the Sound, The VA wasn't anything fantastic, but they at least did a good job on the emotions. Also, The script wasn't pure gold or anything but it was with great dialogues and at most, it was okay. Still, the opening and ending music were pretty good. The opening was fast paced and really got you into the action-adventure mood of the series and my only complaint was that the guitar got a little too crazy at times and just sounded messy. The ending themes also weren't much but were appropriately calming and slow paced! 

Enjoyment

I couldn't help but enjoy this anime. Even though it was trying to be serious, I found it more humorous and amusing to watch, mainly because of the unneeded elements that took it away from everything else and added such things that were not meant to be added. The action scenes were also very fun and were my favorite parts of the entire anime also I basically watched this anime series because of the action scenes and not for the cluster-fucked plot.


Overall, Amidst the incredibly overwhelming fan service, there was a lot of more great stuff going on in Highschool of the Dead. There was good action, some small romance, comedy, suspense and the reality of the situation in which the characters were portrayed. Also, It had an assembly of people who relied on each other for survival, in a world crawling with daner. But Really, I don't mean to try and simplify a show beyond what it is, as this anime is already pretty simple. It has some zombies, some boobs and butts, Go enjoy!


3 STAR ANIME.

Click to view my ratings guide.
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Review : Sword Art Online

November 3, 2014, 11:30 pm
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Sword Art Online was the most hyped show of 2012, and is also known to be one of the most argued show that exists. With one side saying its the best thing ever, and the other side saying it's complete shit! Therefore, After re-watching it 3 times I've finally decided to review it as now I think I'll be able to give a non-partial and a good review on it covering everything. Though don't go by my rating on this one as it is completely biased. (So, this review is longer & contains more photos!)

Story

In the year 2022, When the first 10,000 lucky people log into Sword Art Online, a new, highly anticipated virtual reality MMORPG, they find themselves trapped in the game with no way to log off. Worse yet, the players discover that if they die in the game or the connection is severed from the outside, the VR helmet will microwave their brains and kill them in the real world. The only way out is to pass all the one-hundred floors - each a self-contained world in and of itself - and defeat the game's final boss. Now, In fiction, a story like this would normally last about a month their time but just 12 episode in and more than two years have already passed since the start, which allows for an in-depth look at the psychological implications of being in a virtual reality for so long that you start to wonder if the real world even exists. But, beyond the discussions of reality, This anime also delves into the sociological issues of living in this virtual world. Some people trapped in the game are hardcore gamers while others are casual players or young children who don't have the experience or skills to be risking their lives in the still unbeaten dungeons. So do you, as a hardcore gamer, draft the whole lot and make them fight? Or Do you just leave them to fend for themselves? All these type of questions and more are addressed over the course of the story. Also, Because everyone is trapped inside the game, their knowledge of the virtual world is limited to what they learn in the game itself. So while everyone knows the basic rules of the world, no one knows the specifics other than the data collected in the beta test. This makes the world perfect for adventures from a wide range of genres. So, If there's one overused cliché in this anime, it's that once two characters hook up, it's the end of the story. But Thankfully, This anime does not stick to the norm and Thus, it explores a love story in Sword Art Online's unique setting and brings definition to exactly what love is like in a virtual world!


Characters

I can honestly say that if you do not like the main characters, this is just not the anime for you to watch as the personalities of the characters are pretty much the only things they have going for them. Also, Most of the characters are quickly forgotten after a single episode, I know this sounds harsh but they are quickly forgotten after serving their purposes as sort of a side quest. Despite that, I found two of the main characters to be very lovable: Kirito & Asuna. They were greatest reason I continued watching the anime because I wanted to see where their relationship would lead them! So, Let's go into the specific details of some characters, First up, is Kazuto Kirigaya or Kirito, as his username entails. As a shut-in who focuses his time mainly on playing games, Kirito doesn't show much interaction in the beginning of the show since he is a solo player or a loner. But, It isn't until a tragic accident in episode 3, that changes Kirito forever, urging him to finish the game as soon as possible and beyond that, well, nothing else important happens with him. Also, If I was to explain him in the later episodes, I would phrase it as "An overpowered player who could really care less about anything other then his girlfriend." Though I still really love him.

Next Up, is Asuna Yuuki, who is the main female protagonist, she is shown at the beginning to be a strong-headed and focused player who ends up becoming a powerful player thanks to Kazuto's advice. Although, as the series progresses, the badass attitude that she has early on, develops into, well, "a needy girl who needs her boyfriend to live!". Then we have the rest of the "main" cast such as Kirito's sister Suguha, Ayano or Silica, the blacksmith Rika, the comic relief Ryotaro or Klein, the AI child Yui, and the awesome mace wielder, Agil. Beyond that, we have a whole cast of side characters that get about 20 minutes at most of screen time which have no worth in mentioning. Overall, As I have mentioned above, the length of the anime was far too short to flesh out all the characters. Especially with the inclusion of basically all the Aincrad side-stories, the love-story in the light novel which had gone awry, and indeed does not feel right as many other reviewers have already said. So, With the conclusion of these two animated arcs there is also a justifiable feeling that the main character seems like a deux-ex-machina with not enough human qualities. But to ME, at-least, this is still better than the psychologically-insecure / self-deprecating / extreme-sociopath main characters in other anime that I will not name!


Animation and Sound

The artwork and animation in this anime was simply just WOW! and something to behold. The settings of this show were also widely varied and beautiful, it excellently presented an MMORPG style of world in anime form. This was a world that I honestly wanted to be in! Also, What really made the art from this show a masterpiece were the battle sequences - they were fluid, and gorgeous. A vast array of battle animations and actions were on display, and the big boss battles were utterly enticing. I really haven't seen an anime before with such an expansive world, and such beautiful action animations. So, if you get a chance to watch Sword Art Online in High Definition, FREAKING DO IT! as SAO looks amazing. 

For the sound, it was a big plus, in my opinion. The soundtracks all-in-all were pretty great, with a lot of songs fitting for both the more intense fighting scenes, as well as the more “rom-com” styled parts. The two opening themes, “Crossing Field” by LiSA and “Innocence” by Aoi Eir, were both more upbeat and fast-paced songs, while the two ending themes, “Yume Sekai” by Tomatsu Haruka and “Overfly” by Haruna Luna, were both slower songs, which are often the most fitting for ending themes. Also, I think all of the songs fitted the series and their respective arcs rather well, and Therefore, there wasn't really any problems with any of the songs from the series's soundtrack.


Enjoyment

Regardless of how lackluster or ill thought-out things might have been, I enjoyed the anime, and in the end that's all that matters. Reading other reviews I did see some flaws, but they didn't affect of how much I liked SAO. If you enjoy video games, and you enjoy anime, you WILL enjoy Sword Art Online, it's almost guaranteed. But just to reiterate, don't expect a masterpiece of plot or story. You kinda need to just blindly enjoy it for what you see.


Overall, Sword Art Online is a fantastic anime series. While it is not the first anime to have the "trapped in an MMORPG" setting, it is certainly the deepest when it comes to the psychology and sociology behind it. Also, it is a series where the first half was far stronger than the second. As The first half was interested in the psychological and sociological issues of living in an online world, while the second half decided to instead take the simpler route of retelling a classic myth in a modern setting. So That being said, this anime remains an often fascinating, highly entertaining experience for fans of sci-fi-fantasy action, and Kirito & Asuna were utterly adorable together. So though, It didn't quite live up to its initial premise and is hardly an evolutionary leap for anime as a whole, it's still a solid, likable, and enjoyable anime!



5 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance

November 8, 2014, 9:20 pm
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Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is one of five anime adaptation of LN that was simultaneously announced by MF Bunko J. and for you who have watched many anime by synopsis alone you can see which direction this series will take. Yes, this is a harem romance comedy with a fantasy setting and dash of action. But, probably the best way to describe it is that it is a remake of Zero no Tsukaima with a few additional archetypes thrown in and a few intricacies removed.

Story

The story was as generic as it could be and was nothing but an obvious setup for a harem. It had a plot which only existed for empowerment of fantasy/wish fulfillment and nothing else also it did not do a good job of explaining its setting or conflict as Restia's back-story and motives were never explained so she fell flat as a villain. It was also never explained why Kamito was the only boy with powers, which actually made this show really weak as an empowerment fantasy. Also, from a story-telling perspective, I see no reason why any random boy couldn't also gain powers and get chicks, it's not like anything is stopping them! Thereby it made Kamito look ordinary and not unique. Hell, even Infinite Stratos gave a reason as to why the MC was special. Sure, it made no sense and was never explored, but at-least it was there! Now for the actual story-line, Only a pure maiden can have the privilege to contract with a spirit. In here, Areishia Spirit Academy, trained maidens of noble families are gathered and given an elite's education to become spirit contractors. A boy, Kamito, peeped by accident at a girl, Claire, while she was taking a bath and he ended up making a contract with the spirit she wanted. Yes, Kamito is an irregular boy spirit contractor whose existence was thought impossible until now. So, What will Kamito's destiny lead to!?


Characters

The most important part of an harem anime is it's characters and So, Up first is our MC, Kazahaya Kamito, he is your standard "bread and butter" copycat harem leader who is nice to everyone and gets all the chicks. Aside from a few fairly decent traits such as not being reluctant to see girls naked, being a generic pervert, and having some actually good funny moments, he's not really much in terms of actual character. He does have some good wit to him, but really, he's just your average harem protagonist. This however gets much worse in terms of overall characters as he is the most detailed and the most well-rounded character in this entire cast. Then we have Claire Rouge, our token flat-chested, fiery, and tiny main female. Plain and simple, this girl is your basic cardboard cutout tsundere who feels as though she "needs to get stronger." Literally, that's it. There's nothing more to her character aside from saying her catchphrase "burn in cinders!" over and over again till it gets old like a broken record! And then we have the rest of the female harem involving Rinslet and Ellis, both tsunderes, Fianna, the walking pair of breasts with a pension to get Kamito's D, and Est, the kuudere sword spirit who will sleep beside you with practically no clothes on and follow your EVERY command despite looking like an 11 year old. Then we have the biggest waste in the series which is the character known as Restia, she was the most mysterious character and was legitimately the most interesting character in this entire series. It was shown in this series that she had a connection to Kamito and I felt as though that was the most defining moment this series had as it delved a bit more into the story and it really made something in this series, regardless of how small it was, it shined. In the end though, we got a character that basically appears out of nowhere, titters, then leaves mysteriously. So, Apart from them, you have the supporting cast of random characters that I won't even bother mentioning since their appearances are so scarce and so varying that I feel as though there is no point to them even being mentioned.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was fantastic and actually had a rather nice and aesthetically pleasing style. There was no real standout moments for the actual animation as it was pretty standard and consistent all the way through, though the color scheme and the overall look of the show was rather nice. But, While the art in general was nicely detailed and very nice-looking, there was one very big flaw that this series had, and that was it's ecchi. This show was very big on ecchi and basically stripped its girls naked just to reveal to you that "it was that kind of show." The ecchi for this show was quite extreme and they really don't hold back on flaunting their girls. So, if you don't really like echhi, this show is not for you!

For the sound, this was the only aspect for which I had absolutely no expectations on whatsoever, and sure as hell this was the real surprise of this show. The OST was just so damn catchy and I was really impressed with it as it had its own feel to it which was not particularly J-pop-esque, but rather gave me some East European or tribal vibes and I think "wild" might be a good word to describe it. Also, Note that I'm not just talking about the OP and the ED with this, but the soundtrack as a whole including the CD-only tracks that aren't in the anime itself are also fantastic and I'd recommend you to run to your nearest YouTube and check them out if you haven't.

Enjoyment

Since I'm a male teenager, I can't exactly say that I was bashing my head on the table while I was watching it. But, It was enjoyable for what it was and as long as you keep your expectations low, you won't be disappointed with it. Though, My main problem with it was that it was very generic and predictable. Also, I could hardly tell it apart from Seikoku no Dragonar which only came out one season before it.


Overall, Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance was a short, enjoyable romp through a rather basic setting with funny and interesting characters. Therefore, I'm not going to be one of those hypocrites who keep yelling stuff like "the source material is so much better, don't judge it by this anime" etc, because that was definitely not the case here. In fact, I think it was quite a respectable adaptation as a whole; not perfect but good enough. So, I would recommend this anime to you if you're not quite that hardcore and simply want to watch a show casually for plain fun!



3 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Outbreak Company

November 12, 2014, 7:36 am
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Anime is a medium that is normally looked down upon. Filled with sexualized women, crazy plots, and enough cute little girls to open up a daycare, the culture it has created is definitely unique. It is with this in mind that Outbreak Company aims to look at with a more satirical view in mind. Also, lemme tell you that I have a thing for anime that have a message that I can take away from it!

Story

The story seemed original, for me at least. As never before have I seen an anime where the main character actually exports the whole otaku culture. Also, It was pretty fun about how they implemented this general idea in such a short amount of time and provided the viewers with enough details & explanations as to why and how this is happening! Now for the actual story-line, Having a light novel author father and an eroge illustrator mother, Kanou Shinichi is a thoroughbred otaku. However he does not have any special power except for his broad knowledge, sharp insight, and impeccable instinct about "MOE" and its products, from manga to anime to games to light novel to figures. One day he found himself transported to a fantasy world where elves live and dragons fly. And he is given a task—not to fight monster or embark on a quest, but to enhance cultural exchange by becoming a "moe missionary" in this fantasy world! He meets a palace guard who has a bit of fujoshi taste, a half-elf maid, and the empress who is a little girl. He comes up with the idea of building a school. At first it runs as a comedy but later there are serious matters that Shinichi needs to face: ethnic discrimination, social problems, conflict with neighboring countries, sabotage by opposition elements including Japanese government, etc.

Characters

Most of the characters were pretty good although there was a great inequality of available information for the supporting cast. Though, As a huge fan of anime I was able to extrapolate certain things from the characters based on the maintained classic character patterns. So, There is your loli, your BL Pervert, your timid maid and other usual characters, in essence all of them are quite good for this type of series! Let's go into specific details, Our MC, Shinichi, is a person that honestly reminds me of a couple of my friends who just sit-back and watch anime all day. In the beginning, he gets kidnapped and brought to some foreign world that has magic and loves Japanese otaku culture. Shinichi is brought in to educate this new world of his otaku culture and to ensure that relations between said world and Japan are good. He starts a school where they teach anime and manga that right away challenges racism and class diversity between the elves and the dwarves. His school does more for these students than teach them to be otakus - it teaches them to live beyond their differences and be friends with each other despite their origins and differences. Soon they begin to have arguments about lolis and eroge games rather than fighting because they are dwarves or elves. Next Character is Miusel, who is also my favorite character in the entire show. Miusel presents herself to Shinichi and tells him that she will be the maid taking care of him while he stays in the Eldant empire. As soon as Shinichi sees Miusel, he freaks out at the fact that she is a legitimate maid and Miusel freaks out the moment that he discovers that she is a half-elf, which is something that the citizens in Eldant discriminate against her for, but instead Shinichi thinks the fact that she is an elf is awesome. Miusel at this point I believe begins to fall in love with Shinichi, which wasn't something that the plot synopsis or the genres really talk about. Next is Petralka, the supreme ruler of Eldant that nearly kills Shinichi when he calls her a little girl. Right off the bat, she takes a liking for Shinichi and develops a sort of tsundere personality that really compliments Miusel's personality. As the show progresses, Shinichi helps change her personality for the better with his otaku ways and even helps her become a better leader.


Animation and Sound

The artwork and animation was extremely good though all of the characters had this "shine" to them that made them look as if they took a bath in some oil beforehand. It wasn't really a turn-off, just that they seemed to always be glowing. As for the character designs, I actually liked them. In particular, Miusel's and Petralka's designs were quite nice. The same can be said for Romilda. I would have liked to have seen more racial variety besides just the dwarves and the elves, but perhaps that was just wishful thinking.

For the sound,The OP at first wasn't too good, but became at least slightly enjoyable the more I heard it as it had a fantastical feel to it that fitted nicely with the fantasy landscaping of the show. Though when it came to the soundtracks, I guess it didn't leave a memorable mark. However, this piece, probably known by everyone who has seen the show, is the "DA DA DA" song that gets played a handful of times. You owe it to yourself to check it out, since it is strangely weird yet extremely fun to listen to.

Enjoyment

It was quite an enjoyable show. Also, I love to ship for couples if they show any signs of being together. So, whenever Shinichi and Miusel were alone together, I always had a doofy grin on my face. Romance wasn't really the focus of the show, but I did like the subtle hints and inclusion of it, for it provided tender moments and nice comedy.


Overall, You should watch Outbreak Company if you’re in for some fun because this show is floured with silliness. But, if engaging story is a factor you’re more interested in, then this show could be quite a disappointment. As instead of a deep story with complex elements, this anime likes to make more fun of the typical otaku culture and community. With an outbreak of references to anime and manga, expect many ideas to be wheeled in from your favorite series. So, if you watch Outbreak Company it will definitely bring forth a charming experience of the otaku culture where you’ll learn more than what just meets the eye!



4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Blast of Tempest

November 19, 2014, 6:41 am
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Blast of Tempest is a masterly written piece of work that challenges the watcher to reflect on their ideas of death, love, and logic and though,  I started this anime with low expectations as I am a rather optimistic person, and the premise of a dystopic world did not attract much enthusiasm from me. This anime, however, was not just a story of some parallel dystopian world, but rather a personal story involving love and tragedy which I really enjoyed!

Story

The story was put together in a great yet questionable way. There were a lot of plot twists that would leave you confused, But still the story never got boring. The twisted tale of love, hate, revenge and a touch of magic was most definitely satisfying and especially how the ending wrapped up the entire story. So Yes, there were numerous action scenes to gratify our blood-thirsty anime watching peers but those are not the most impressive features of the anime. The splendidity was really established in the plot and dialogues. Now for the actual story-line, The Kusaribe family is a family of sorcerers under the protection of the "Tree of Origins". Their princess, Hakaze Kusaribe, was the greatest sorceress of their family. But Samon Kusaribe, a member of their family seeking to resurrect the "Tree of World's End", a tree that opposes the "Tree of Origins" and controls the power of destruction, stuffs her into a barrel, and banishes her to a deserted island. From the deserted island, she sends a message out to sea, which is picked up by Mahiro Fuwa, a young boy who's sworn vengeance upon the criminal who killed his little sister, Aika. Mahiro agrees to help Hakaze under the condition that she find Aika's killer with her magic. But once Mahiro's best friend and Aika's lover, Yoshino Takigawa is rescued from danger, he too gets dragged into this tale of revenge.


Characters

Gosh, all of the characters were just perfect! They all played a huge role in the story and I think I should be more specific. Fuwa Mahiro & Takigawa Yoshino were the perfect foils and thus made for an interesting relationship between them. Mahiro, was my favorite character of the series. His intellect could not be denied, his will power was impeccable, and his vengeance was nothing to play with. I felt bad for him throughout the anime since it seemed like he was the one in most pain, and I couldn't see a good ending for him emotionally. Yoshino,  I have mixed feelings about this character. I mostly liked him but I felt like we didn't really get to delve into who Yoshino really was. Though, I know he prides himself in not showing his emotion to anyone, but you would think that we would at least get a glimpse, as us watchers, to his inner attitude towards other characters. But besides that, they both got a significant amount of development in the show through a series of flashbacks, some of which involved Aika. And, THE brash and arrogant Mahiro was the brawn of their duo while THE manipulative and analytic Yoshino was the brains. Their relationship was one of the most interesting ones of the series and it showed how two young men who are totally different from each other could end up cooperating pretty willingly and become the best of friends!

Next Up is Kusaribe Hakaze, Who I did not like her at first, but eventually she grew on me over time. She was smart, but had an annoying attitude and she was raised as a princess, and was also the strongest person of the Kusaribe tribe. Though She grew on me later because of the different sides we got to see of her, as it made her more human to me. Finally we have, Fuwa Aika, who was one of the most confusing characters. She was already dead by the beginning of the series, yet played an important role in the story. Also, She was the motivation for Yoshino and Mahiro’s actions and appeared in numerous flashbacks. Her character was described in the anime as having a “horrible personality.” But that was not even the half of it. Her development at the tail end of the series hinted at a facet of her personality that was far more barbaric, border lining on psychotic! The rest of the side characters were mostly lively personalities to either spice things up or to be used as a convenient plot device to move the story along.


Animation and Sound

The art and animation was amazing. It was animated by Bones, The very same company known for works such as Fullmetal Alchemist adaptations, Wolf's Rain, and many more nice looking series, and Blast of Tempest also upholds some degree of that quality in its appearance. The characters were almost never off model, everything was smoothly rendered, and they alos pulled off some dynamic action sequences, but those scenes were rather few and far between, and there was still much better out there, so it isn't THAT remarkable. But, The artwork looked nice and they captured the look of the manga well, the designs were very sharp and precise which totally satisfied me.

For the sound, The soundtracks chosen for this anime were fabulous. The violin solos with the varying volumes matched the pace of the show and the suspense in the best fashion. The opening and endings weren't boring and they definitely didn't reveal a lot about the story. The upbeat openings showed the action and more aggressive emotions in the show while the slower themes in the endings portrayed the more negative and deeper feelings.

Enjoyment

This anime was a heck of a ride and the enjoyment level was out of the roof for me. The first half shined as bright as one of the best anime's I have seen, and the second half was spectacular in their transition. The theme of the anime about wanting to change the world for someone you love was reiterated but explained throughout the anime. There were also numerous quotes from Hamlet and Tempest, and I would not be surprised if one is tempted to get into Shakespeare after completing this anime. 


Overall, Blast of Tempest represented a brilliant modern style mystery with some ancestry blood of William Shakespearean work bought to life. And in the end, the anime handled itself well and had an ending which tied up the ends. Therefore, the series as a whole, balanced all the components, and had an excellent cast of characters. So, it was a great watch and I would recommend it to anybody who can turn of his head and enjoy an anime for what it is!


4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Shin Sekai Yori

November 21, 2014, 2:46 am
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Shin Sekai Yori was that kinda anime where I would just sit in awe watching the director roll out things one after another and making it look so very effortless. Also, As a matter of fact, I wouldn't even bat an eye if the writer actually happens to be someone from the future because his description of the ‘New World’ was just not only persuasive but also connected!

Story

A millennium from now, in Japan, exists a utopia. The Protagonist, Saki Watanabe, lives in an idyllic village barred from the outside world. Her world is ruled by the people who possess the "gods' power" of psychokinesis aka cantus. After finally obtaining her own powers, Saki enters the Zenjin Academy to train along with five other children: Satoru Asahina, Maria Akizuki, Mamoru Itou, Shun Aonuma, and Reiko Amano. Where not all is as it seems, However, In this utopian village, strange rumors about a monstrous cat that abducts children circulate, and students are said to disappear from the academy. The world and its history are much darker than they appear and humanity is on the verge of collapse. So, Fantasy toned genres like this never actually piqued much of my interest but this whole future setting here was surprisingly compelling. Even the plot holes got over shadowed by an unbelievably smooth story transition. One could almost relate our world with the ugly facade put up by the otherwise apparent dystopia. Also, I am deliberately refraining from describing the story but I assure you it's a staggering watch indeed.

Characters

One of the things that I really loved about this anime were the characters. They were just so beautiful and for such an ominous story to flow one needs characters, and the characters here really do justice to the story & the anime. Also, The main characters started off as children then became teenagers and by the end of the anime they were all adults! Now, there are a lot of anime who have attempted this within one season but they do not pull it off as well as this anime does. With an anime that had just twenty-five episodes, you might think it would not be enough time for proper character development from children to adults. However, This anime pulls it off very smoothly, which is evidently seen with Satoru, Shun and the other supporting characters as well. Also, They all dealt with certain issues in their own ways, each tackling a certain problem the best way they saw fit. That's what made each of them unique and fun to observe and even relate to. For instance, Saki had qualms about dealing with at-the-moment perilous situations, but she had an easier way of moving on. Satoru on the other hand handled the present situations which required quick answering easily but had a harder time of moving on. All these kinda things made each character you see in the series developed and relateable. Regardless of whether you liked them or not, when their story came to fruit, you could feel for them all the same. That's one of the greatest strengths of this anime as the characters are not badass stereotypes who go around spouting badass one-liners. They're all humans and they can act tough, but that's all there is to it - an act! 


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was dynamic and this anime was a visual master-piece. All the backgrounds like the villages emanated a quaint and peaceful feel while the landscapes were both beautiful yet unsettling. There were also numerous psychedelic-like sequences that would not only unsettle the viewer, but also evoke a sense of curiosity about the inner workings of this world and the people who inhabited it. The only problem I had with it was the CG sequences as they looked rather off most of the time, though in the grande scheme of things this was a minor detail.

For the sound, There was no OP in this anime, but there were 2 ED's for the 25 episodes and I think that I don't mind the fact that there was no OP, as the two ED's were just so enjoyable to listen to. This is no exaggeration, the ED's for Shin Sekai Yori were just fabulous. Also, The soundtracks setted the feeling in a way that enhanced the story, never once did I find a kink in the sound that would have lessened my enjoyment.

Enjoyment

I personally enjoyed this anime way more than I'd initially expected. As the entire run had a consistent dark atmosphere, which contributed in keeping the tension. Also, I haven’t been this satisfied with an ending in a long time. I absolutely loved the ending. I'm not going to be too descriptive here, because I don't want to spoil any of it and I won't even say if it's a happy or a sad ending, but I just want to say that the ending worked pretty damn well. Considering everything that happened to Satoru, Saki, and their society, I think the ending was fantastic and It felt completely natural. I left the show feeling completely satisfied, yet craving for more.


Overall, Shin Sekai Yori was a very deep and emotional show and I say go watch it and be sucked into its world. I was completely invested in the world it built and I ended up marathoning the whole show in just two days. The few gripes I had with it were completely outshone by the good and I actually feel that this is an anime that everyone should watch or give a try. Also, this show was very thought provoking, so put your thinking caps and attention glasses on and completely immerse yourself in this fantastic piece of art!


5 STAR ANIME.

Click to view my ratings guide.
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Review : Fairy Tail

November 23, 2014, 12:56 am
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You guys might be wondering why I was so slow with my blog posts this month... right? Well, this anime was the reason as I was busy watching its brilliant 175 episodes! Once I started it I just couldn't stop watching all the separate stories, that were all packed together into "one big objective". Each time there was a different action packed epic adventure that focused on defeating one main "bad guy" or main "multiple bad guys". I found all of the epic adventures to be entertaining and exciting!

From the other shounen and fantasy animes I've seen, Fairy Tail is all its own and soars far beyond the genre's preset standards. The problem with most long shonens, say Naruto, lies with the time wasted in the long arcs or cliches that really offer the show no originality. And while, I'm aware that Naruto and Bleach do run much deeper than those stereotypes, those tend to be the reasons why people avoid long anime. But, Fairy Tail's arcs are considerably shorter and still maintain the depth and excitement of those longer arcs.


I say, this anime is a masterpiece that draws in the first time anime watchers and allows them to embrace the spectacular array of art, sound and story to fulfill their desire of a good anime. It contains a sufficient amount of fan service to keep some happy, a slight tinge comedy and action. It balances these elements of an anime well, incorporating its own uniqueness and there you have it, Fairy Tail! 

Story

Set in an imaginary world, the Earth Land, there exists a Mage Guild called "Fairy Tail." Fairy Tail is stationed in the town Magnolia, residing in the Kingdom of Fiore, and is currently governed by Makarov, Guild's master. Lucy Heartfilia, a 17-year-old girl, wishes to become a full-fledged mage and join one of the most prestigious Mage Guilds in the world, Fairy Tail. One day, out of pure coincidence, she meets Natsu Dragneel, a boy who is transportation-sick, but very cheerful in nature. However, the thing she does not know is that Natsu is the closest connection to Fairy Tail, as he is a Mage in Fairy Tail!


The story in the anime is amusing, but there indeed is not very much plot and most of the things happening seems rather random. But the story is set up on a group of people in a mage guild named Fairy Tail, where the series's main topic probably is the friendship and bonds between them. With a story like this, not having any special plot actually works. Instead of plot, we have fun and interesting small arcs all the time, which never makes Fairy Tail boring! And we all have to remember that Fairy Tail is still on-going, and there is lot of unanswered questions yet to figure out, so it is possible for a deeper plot to pop up in the end!

Also, Life in the guild Fairy Tail consists of various hazardous missions to be taken on for pay. Therefore, punctuated by brawls, meals and lockings of horns between the various guild members in the guild’s fraternity house. Many of these missions are mere odd jobs, but they quickly take on unexpected dimensions. In an early episode, Lucy, Natsu and Happy team up to find and destroy a book named Daybreak, on the orders of the late author’s son. But, the Fairy Tail team uses their magic to discover the truth which was quite different.


A good deal of the time, though, those missions are also throw-down battles between the members of Fairy Tail and other wizards. Like, When Erza shows up, for instance, she drags Natsu and Gray along with her to stop a rival guild from making use of a magic flute that can kill all who hear its playing. And then there’s the internecine fights between Natsu and Gray, Natsu and Erza, Natsu and… well, most of everyone who isn’t Natsu, except for Lucy!

Characters

Each character in Fairy tail is unique in their own way, each being a mage in their guild, they demonstrate fierce loyalty to their nakama and pride in their guild. And its the bonds between all the characters that is really my favorite part of the show. Though so many of them had lost their homes or hope, they band together to overcome any obstacle in their way. And I'm sure many people find those feelings cheesy or strange, but I find it inspiring. It makes me want to find friends like that, and be the best I can be for them. 


So, I'll explain only the main characters to you as there really are a lot of characters in this anime. Natsu Dragneel, is a Dragon slayer who is very gung-ho on going on dangerous jobs and picking fights with his guild members. He was also raised by a dragon called Igneel and was abandoned by him in the year 777 on July 7th. Next is Happy, he is a flying blue cat that is Natsu's buddy. Then Lucy Heartfilia, she is a celestial spirit mage who is very kind hearted but can be cold and rude at times especially with the guild members antics. She ran away from home and is the heir to the Heartfilia family fortune. Then Gray Fullbuster, he is an Ice mage who has an unusual habit of stripping his clothes. Finally there is Erza Scarlet, who can requip into different armors. She was a slave forced to build the death tower but later joined Fairy Tail after she lead a revolt on the people who forced them into labor.

Overall, All of the characters in Fairy Tail are developed to perfection. Even the supporting characters add to the anime and I don't think it would be the same even if it was missing a single character. You really get attached to them and feel for these characters and they make you want to be there next to them, as they experience the "Eternal Adventure," which is what Master Makarov describes to Natsu as the meaning behind the guild name, Fairy Tail.


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork was good and I really loved it. But, there was one thing that disturbed me a lot, the lack of blood in the fights. I only saw blood on Erza's face once when she was fighting with Jellal but other than that this anime didn't really contain blood. Which made the fights a little unrealistic. And aside from the blood problem, The artwork and animation was decent. Also, a lot of people say that Fairy Tail is a rip off or copy from One Piece. But that is definitely not true! Yes, the art was somewhat similar and yes both series are a lot about their "nakamas", but its two very different stories. Fairy Tail and One Piece are NOT the same and Fairy Tail is NOT a rip off, So please don't compare them.

For the sound, Fairy Tail without a doubt had the most EPIC soundtracks! It made me go "hell yeah, go fairy tail!" every single time when the main theme for their fighting scenes played! They also had an amazing VA cast (In Japanese) with some of the very popular seiyuu's, like Happy's voice actor Kugimiya Rie  and my own favorites, Natsu and Gray's voice actors Kakihara Tetsuya and Nakamura Yuuichi respectively and there were still a lot more amazing voice actors, but that would be too much to list here now. So, Go check out for yourself!

Enjoyment

It's a series meant to be for purely fun and It's the most enjoyable anime I've seen till now. You'll always be smiling or laughing while watching Fairy Tail because it takes a person on an adventure where one finds themselves captivated by the personal relationships they can find between characters and themselves.


Overall, Fairy Tail is an incredibly well-done feel-good show, and while it may not make you think and ponder the secrets of the universe, it's definitely entertaining and even heartwarming at times. But, It ought to be clear that this anime follows in roughly the same mold as the other long-running shows aimed at younger audiences, from Bleach to Naruto to One Piece. And, It breaks absolutely no new grounds, but it doesn’t even try to, and it loses pretty little for not trying. It gives us a lively cast, plenty of energy, non-stop action, good humor, and just enough novelty to be worth the effort. So, If you have free time and want to watch something entertaining I recommend checking out this anime, Peace!



5 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Guilty Crown

November 26, 2014, 5:44 am
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After watching Guilty Crown, I found myself thinking about how I may randomly lose very good anime only because of my lack of trust in covers. Of course, if you look at its name, at its description and even at its cover, you could consider this anime to be quite another cliché. And In the end, maybe it is. But isn't it quite difficult nowadays to choose between fake and true? We are bound to our own personal feelings and reactions when watching an anime; in the end, all we see is our own enjoyment. So, after watching this anime, I got a very nice feeling inside. I thought to myself ”this is not such a wonderful anime, but, even so, this is a very good anime, even with its clichés and traps, I enjoyed every freaking bit of it”.

Story

The plot was rather garbed and a bit hard to follow. In the first half the plot follows the "enemy of the week" format before leading to a rushed climax. However, that was expected since the first half of the plot needed to introduce things. While, The second half was better paced and had a more coherent path along the plot. While not exactly original, the story amalgamated enough ideas to make it seem interesting. In sum, Guilty Crown isn't afraid to take chances in the plot and it's presented such that it never feels stale or over-the-top. It weaves a tale of darkness, death, and betrayal with a story of redemption, love, and sacrifice in a way that will appeal to a wide range of audiences. Now for the actual story-line, The story takes place in Tokyo in 2039, after the outbreak of the "Apocalypse Virus" during what became known as the "Lost Christmas" of 2029. Since then, Japan has been under the control of the multinational organization called GHQ. Ouma Shu is a 17 year-old boy who mistakenly obtains a rare and great power. He can use this power, "The Right Hand of the King," to extract "voids," or tools/weapons that are the manifestations of peoples' hearts. He has been rather shy since a childhood tragedy, but both his personality and life change forever when he meets a girl named Yuzuriha Inori, a member of the rebel group called "Funeral Parlor," whose members seek the restoration of self-government in Japan via the ousting of GHQ.


Characters

The anime was a bit short in the character department! Most of the supporting cast got barely any introduction and they also didn't get a back story, which made them difficult to relate with. Though, the main cast got enough, but even then the protagonist, Shu, can be difficult to relate with when it is critical for the viewer to do so. As such, sometimes it feels a bit hallow when the characters do make choices. Examples are present throughout the series where characters do something that seems totally off-the-wall nuts and ends up badly for everyone. Some of the decisions that the characters made in the anime still doesn't make any sense to me. Though, some people bash on how weak Shu was, but actually that was one of the strong points of the show as most of the beauty of the series lied in the evolution of the lowly protagonist Shu into a "hero", as it were. The trials he faced might be fantastical and unreal, but his reactions to them were very real. Also, the popular colloquialism for this series would definitely be, "It isn't the destination that counted, it was the path taken to reach it" and Shu's path was certainly a compelling one. Overall, The characters in this anime were a bright spot and a letdown at the same time. The characters who were developed the most were all very likable, or at least memorable. And, I think if the writers would have worked more with the character development into the first 12 episodes, this problem would not be as big. Also, The only times I ever felt emotions for a character was in the back half of the series, which should not have been that way.


Animation and Sound

The artwork and animation was amazing. The environments were unique, the characters' appearances were memorable, and the opening and ending credits looked fantastic. Also, The artwork for when a void was extracted looked brilliant, and the character expressions while being extracted from looked very believable. My favorite aspect of the artwork was during the cut-scenes with the crystal-like virus (which I will not describe any further). The crystal effects were menacing and beautiful looking at the same time, which perfectly conveyed the theme of beauty being a symbol of destruction in this anime.

For the sound, The soundtracks of the anime were really ambitious but also extremely effective. Vocal parts aren't uncommon in soundtrack music, but the pieces in the soundtracks of this anime broke all the conventions when using vocals. These pieces also appeared at high action moments in the series. The effect was obvious. On top of this spectacular OST, Guilty Crown featured two of the best openings in any anime. The powerful soundtracks of the anime combined with the stunning visuals to attract a lot of praise for this series.

Enjoyment

I personally enjoyed this show. But, your enjoyment of this anime will depend on how seriously you take the anime. If you keep thinking that it is a CG rip-off, you're not gonna enjoy the show. Also, Every anime has their own share of cliche's so don't complain when you see it. If you also keep hating on the protagonist you won't enjoy it, instead I suggest to try and think that you are Shu and what you would do in the case you are in his situation. Though, I think what you would do won't be any different...


Overall, Guilty Crown was a powerfully presented and beautifully conceived anime that tended to suffer from a rushed and predictable plot. The characters didn't get fleshed out all the way because most of the series was focused on advancing the serial plot. The world was well conceived, but it relied on this universe's unobtainium for everything. I didn't find this a problem, but some people may get miffed by the seemingly all-powerful virus that did everything! This is that sort of series that people who love to watch a main character's journey would be into.



4 STAR ANIME.

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Review : Kyoukai no Kanata

December 10, 2014, 9:48 pm
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Kyoukai no Kanata was by no means a very ambitious project (or a very pretentious subject). It had a very linear and straight forward story-line which actually was very easy to understand, delivered with excellent animation and a proper adolescence romance development... is probably an understatement. But, saying that it was the best foreshadowing is also an exaggeration. And, Before I start I need to get this out of my way, I'm a sucker for "bespectacled beauties". Thus, this review is based solely on the anime and will not reference to the LN at all, This is me simply giving my opinion.

Story

"The dark fantasy follows a high school sophomore named Akihito Kanbara. Although the boy appears human, he is half youmu and invulnerable to wounds because he can heal quickly. One day, Akihito meets freshman Mirai Kuriyama when it seems she is about to jump from the school rooftop. Mirai is isolated because of her ability to manipulate blood, which is unique even among members of the spirit world. Disturbing events begin to unfold after Akihito saves Mirai." It was a great concept. In fact, it was amazing, but poor delivery and plot development issues stopped it from growing into something great. Also, For the first few episodes, I was genuinely confused on what was happening. Although the main concepts were very easy to understand, I didn't know what Spirit World Warriors were, and any time something of the sort was mentioned, I didn't feel any immediate danger even though there clearly was, because the concept was not fully explained to me. I'm not sure if it was just my own stupidity or not, but after a while I caught on. Um Also, I couldn't tell what this show was trying to be. The Slice of Life aspect of the show was great! The comedy was great- I loved every scene of it. Then, after everyone had a nice laugh, they would switch gears and become really serious. Some shows can do that really well. But, this is not one of them. Because of this, I failed to feel any emotions towards the characters because of the conflicting genres. If they executed it better, I would have felt sadness, or extreme happiness. Don't get me wrong- I'm a softie. I've cried at shows that weren't even supposed to be that sad. However, they were basically forcing sadness on me, and I was hurting on the inside because I really wanted to be on my knees bawling, but I couldn't be brought to do that!


Characters

Although the fetishes may put some people off, I think that the characters were fabulous and interesting to watch. They were all so diverse, making their interactions with one another quite unpredictable. And, It was refreshing to have some personalities that were a little less "typical". As someone who has seen a reasonably large amount of anime, it's very difficult to find something different, especially character wise. Though, what I really liked was how no matter how dark the show got, the humor shown when the characters interacted always kept me laughing my ass off. Mirai, the main character, was, well, adorable. And it's not in a creepy or moe way. I loved her catchphrase of "fuyukai!" and the way she dealt with things. Mirai was a good person who had lots of unlucky things happen to her, but she finds a way to go on, and is also one of the strongest characters in the show. 

Akihito, her love interest and another main character, was also pretty likable. His obsession with glasses was kind of weird at first, but you get used to it after a while. He's a caring and persevering guy, and he truly loves Mirai, no matter how many times she tries to kill him... And, I also liked Mitsuki and Hiroumi, but their relationship was just a bit strange. Was it supposed to be slightly incestual? Was it comic relief? Or Was it serious? I'm not sure. Let's hope it was comic relief. Overall, The lead characters, Mirai and Akihito, had mysterious backgrounds which were explored through the course of the series and their relationship was developed as well. However, for the character development this was pretty much as far as they went. Some of the side characters were just kind of ignored for a larger part of the story. But, in the end they never explained the reasoning behind the motives of the side characters and that just left me feeling unfulfilled.


Animation and Sound

The artwork and animation was astounding and was really one of the strongest areas of the series, if not the strongest. I've long wished for a Kyo-Ani produced action show and this series provided it in spades, the colors were vivid and the action was so fluid. It is one of the greatest series that I've seen when it comes to animation. The shots were so beautifully colored and detailed and the sequences were so fluid and eye catching that it stunned you every time an action scene came up and the special effects came to effect. I really think that this was the main factor that made me continue this series, despite my consideration of dropping it.

For the sound, The music was incredible (especially the idol scene, I adore that episode). It added to the feel of the show and blended into the background, which was great. Also, Kyoukai no Kanata by Minori Chihara, the self-named OP for the series was a great way to start every episode. It started off very calm but leaded to an exciting verse and chorus, it was very similar to how the series progressed. Though, My favorite thing about the sound section, was the ED, Daisy by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION. Nothing sounded as good as the actual series transitions into the ED through the sound. Typically used toward the last episodes of most of the series, KNK used this transition into the ED frequently and it was very enjoyable.

Enjoyment

To be honest, Kyoukai no Kanata is definitely one of my all-time favorites. It has been a long time since I have found dual protagonists (Mirai and Akihito) so likable. The ever present plot, the senseless fluff, the jokes, the quirks, all of it tied together had me enjoying this anime all the way through. While it depends on the person as to if they enjoy it or not, I dare say Kyoukai no Kanata is worth it! Also, There's one other thing that I wanted to say about this show that's utterly fabulous and that more shows need to take note of. KNK do world building by dropping the viewer right into it, expecting them to learn what's going on without spending valuable episode time with dull exposition about what's going on, it's a classic example of showing, not telling.


Overall, Kyoukai no Kanata stands at the basis of simplicity and is displayed as it is without sounding so deep or pretentious or dramatic. But, because it started at that very simple idea, because of great directing, multi-layer subtlety, and a very long foreshadowing, it entices the viewer to at least pay attention to a bit of exposition without feeding needless explicit argument for the sake of understanding. And As a fantasy darkness anime, you cannot be certain on anything. Just about anything could have been done for the final episode, and the way it was ended was great. I believe it's as Akihito would say a "bespectacled beauty" and it's my pick for a quality anime.


4 STAR ANIME.

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5 Anime of Summer 2014 you need to watch!

December 12, 2014, 11:42 pm
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There are a lot of new anime on the air this summer season and so it can be understandably more than a little difficult to find good ones to watch. Luckily, I'm here to help you with my anime recommendations.

But before you get to the list, keep in mind as you read that these are just the new anime that should not be missed this season. There are many more airing currently that are perfectly watchable.


1. Sword Art Online II


When I initially heard that Sword Art Online was getting a second season, my immediate reaction was something along the lines of "Oh, Lord, please don't ruin this amazing anime with a mediocre second season." As it turns out, there is a God, and he did not disappoint. Sword Art Online 2 has so far left me dumbfound. This is truly one of the few anime that goes completely mainstream yet does not grow poorer in quality as a result of the growing demand.


2. Akame ga Kill!


Akame ga Kill! has a fairly interesting plot and brilliant action scenes that leave me wanting to watch more, waiting impatiently for the next episode to air the upcoming Sunday. I know there are a lot of bad reviews on this particular anime, probably because most of the audience are upset about the pacing or the deaths of so many important characters, maybe even the fact that the creators didn't quite follow the manga.


3. Free! Eternal Summer


Free! Eternal Summer was by every means an improvement of the first season. Its light toned atmosphere combining with a diverse cast of characters will definitely catch your attention. In fact, this sequel was similar to most of the Kyoto Animation’s projects with an ability to lift your spirit. Had a bad day? No problem! This anime will bring back the liveliness of what summer feels like beyond just the naked bodies and swimming movements. So, for the people who love summer, the people who love swimming, and the people who love hot guys being wet, I guarantee this sequel won’t be a disappointment to you!


4. Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!?


While I did enjoy the series, I was expecting more from a title that was ambitious enough to combine a huge diversity of themes as their female cast. But then again, I might be expecting too much from a harem genre. Though, The lack of harem cast over-bearingness was a step in the right direction. The little twist at the end was a gentle slap to my face for forgetting something that happened in the first episode which I cast aside due to the escalation of female invaders. So give it a try, draw your own conclusions on what this anime is about or take it at face value for what it is!

5. Shirogane no Ishi : Argevollen


It isn't the best Mecha show this season, But, Beggars can't be Choosers. Also, I kind of liked Argevollen, though I certainly acknowledge it isn't pulse-quickening and the hero is a bit of a trying character. But, the gritty and unpretentious realism of this series worked for me - if the armies were using tanks instead of mobile suits it could easily pass itself off as realistic. Its focus is on the drudgery, hopelessness and pointlessness of war rather than on heroism, and that can be a hard sell!
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Review : Rail Wars!

January 10, 2015, 2:30 am
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Rail Wars has much to offer anyone who is interested in the Japanese way of life surrounding Public Transportation Systems. It is an average anime that is surprisingly entertaining and easy to get into with some flaws, of course. Nevertheless, here's my first review of the year 2015 and the 60th review in all, continue to read and see if this show is for you!

Story

"The 'dream railway paradise entertainment' story is set in a parallel world where Japan did not privatize its national railways. Naohito Takayama is an ordinary high school boy who dreams of a comfortable future working for the top-rated Japanese National Railways. He is assigned as a trainee in the Railways Security Force full of odd characters such as Sakurai, a troublemaker who hates men. On top of that, an extremist group called "RJ" plots to privatize the Japanese National Railways." So, from what is probably clear by the synopsis, one can tell that they will not get an incredibly heart throbbing romance out of this show. But, They do however get a satisfying slice-of-life feel from it. And, as each episode takes you along a specific story arc, with an occasional arc spanning a couple of episodes. That being said, a couple of cliffhangers may stand in your way, but not in the dramatic sort of sense. Overall, it's a casual story for people who are looking for an anime to get them past a depressing Key based anime that left a gap in their soul. If this has happened, you know what I'm talking about! 


Characters

What we had here was our standard harem setup, a surprisingly tough and reliable bro, and a mentor who started to favor the main character almost as much as the harem members did. Also, there is a drawback I want to bring up first, is that you may find some of the harem candidates falling for the main character too quickly or taking interest in him for the littlest things. But since it's 12 episodes long, I guess the anime had to fit all this love for the main character in sooner before later, as to make for the cute and valid scenes throughout the anime. 

Now for the characters, first up is our protagonist, Takayama Naoto, who has a child like fondness of trains and that appealed to me because I felt I could relate to him in terms of the things I like. No matter how much certain characters thought he went overboard or told him to shut up, he would always have something nice to say about the trains! But, sometimes you may dislike how often he comes off as weak, and yet powered up in certain situations with no reason except to look cool, get opinions of him improved, or with explanations like, "I have a friend who toughened me up and they will never forgive me if that's all I could take". Characters like this are made to seem like they're improving as people as the anime goes on, so I guess I could put up with him being weak. Though, I still found him to be a great person, way ahead of his time mentally, as he would often put the public's safety and comfort before himself.

Next up is Aoi Sakurai, she was the very aggressive tsundere who had a very bad and close-minded view of just about all men, and constantly hits and yells at the main character over accidents and the smallest of things. I cannot stand these kinds of tsundere characters! Even if her aggression, mean streak, and hitting of the main character tones down the more she hears his thoughts about certain matters or sees him in action during certain situations. But like I said, it gets toned down to acceptable levels. She gets a lot less annoying and a lot hotter and cuter, just in time to pay attention to her back story and withheld feelings for the main character. I began to like her and think better of her, so don't peg me as someone who hates tsundere characters in the reviews I make. It's just that I can only take so much of a harem member whooping the main character's butt, until it gets played out and annoying.


Then there was Haruka Kōmi, the big breasted intellectual who was very gentle and was competitive in the harem sometimes. She could also take-charge in regard to serious situations. I'm not going to dig too deep into her as it'll spoil how she became a member of the harem. So I'll just say that it might annoy you at how frail she came off sometimes and less likely to say what's on her mind. Especially when compared to the other members. She's the real "damsel in distress" type who's both resourceful and needs saving.

So, Next is the childhood friend Sasshou Mari, who not only had a normal frame compared to EVERY member in the harem, but also had an edge over everyone else since she knew the most about the main character. She had a bit of a noble, "I'm not too worried about how I measure up to the other girls", demeanor to her. And, I liked that about her.

Now that I got the harem out of the way, the last character I'll talk to you about is the muscle headed character that had a great sense of honor, impressive strength and reliability, and who ate a lot, Iwaisumi Shou. He also appeared to be that smart person who had insight on certain things, for some reason was spared from Aoi Sakurai's hatred of men early in the anime, and was a fun guy to watch. You may find me a smudge forgettable, passing him off as the ox character who was there to round out and support the main cast, but I found him to be a great addition!


Animation and Sound

The animation and artwork of the anime was magnificent. Also, As the title would suggest, there was a lot of trains in this show, and with a show that had so much emphasis on trains the animators and artists did a good job on providing the extraordinary details on all mechanical entities within this show. Along with this and the near flawless integration of 2D and 3D animation, the show was also fond of creating some weird angles for character interactions. But, that was mainly due to the ecchi elements that were present within the show, which can be more distracting than pleasing.

For the sound, I guess there is not too much that an anime can mess up with sound. And, As for this one, I'm sure there were plenty of trains locally available to get good sound in, and the malfunctions and action that came of with it played well too. Though, sometimes dialogues were not synced with animation. But as for the soundtrack, we see very good OP and ED, as well as fitting music to accompany the shows current mood. 

Enjoyment

I liked this show and actually enjoyed it a lot! Although I imagine there will be many people that would have a hard time trying to keep them interested in it, if they're not at all interested in Public Systems or Criminal Justice. And, Even if a viewer did hold such interests, it is still possible that they would not be satisfied with what Rail Wars! has offered.


Overall, Rail Wars! came of as a good series with outstanding art and good characters. But, most likely it won't appeal to all the anime watchers and probably the ones who will enjoy it the most are those who come for the story but stay for the girls! (I'm not one of them.) I would also like to call it the best offering of the Summer 2014 season (especially in the face of titles like Aldnoah.Zero), yet if your just looking for something straightforward and full of zest, it is difficult to call this anime anything short of satisfactory. 


3 STAR ANIME.

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