April 2007 New Anime Report Part 3

Romeo & Juliet
Link: http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/937.html
Genres: Um...New interpretation of old classics?
I've watched: 1 episode
Art style: Dramatized
Recommended to: hum....hard to say, maybe people like to see a new angle of an old story?
Summary: Everybody knows the story of Romeo and Juliet. This, however, seems to be the same story that in a slightly different world. Almost a fantasy world. If you have seen Gankutsuou (which is also made by Gonzo, portraiting the story of The Count of Monte Cristo in a futuristic fantasy world), you'll know what I'm talking about. As usual, Gonzo takes the slow start approach (at least in first episode). So people who like to jump in quickly will have to hold your temper or drop it.
Rating - first impression: 3.75 out of 5


Seirei no Moribito
Link: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=6634 torrent only available throught http://www.baka-updates.com/
Genres: Spiritual/Mythical/Drama/Old Japan
I've watched: 1 episode
Art style: Realistic
Recommended to: People like mythical drama
Summary: I'm not quite sure where this is heading yet. Opening credit seems to suggest some kind of spiritual and mythical story. But so far all I've gotten is some female worrior rescueing a young prince. It reminds me much of "Princess Mononoke". This, too is a slow start.
Rating - first impression: 3.25 out of 5
Personal comment: The art style of this type always bothers me - the lips of the characters are all too thick.

Seto no Hanayome
Link: http://www.animesuki.com/series.php/1014.html
Genres: Pure comedy/Teenage love story (<30%)>I've watched: 2 episodes
Art style: Typical comedy manga/anime
Recommended to: People like mindless comedy
Summary: A boy was saved by a young female mermaid. Then his family was visted by a group of people very much like Japanes mob. Later, they found out that mermaid community has a rule: If a mermaid had been in contact with a human, one of the two has to die. The only way out of this is for them to get married so the human becomes part of the mermaid family. The mother of the girl mermaid wants them to get married, but the father mermaid, however, is totally against it. On top of that, the father is kind of mob boss figure in the mermaid community.
Rating - first impression: 2.5 out of 5
Personal comment: Lack of substance. Normally, a rating of 2.5 is below my threshold for throwaway. However, it is produced by Gonzo (and I always liked Gonzo's work), I'll give it until episode 4 before I decide whether to drop it.

Shinkyoku Soukai Polyphonica
Link: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7479
Genres: Drama/Fantasy
I've watched: 2 episodes
Art style: Common
Recommended to: People don't dislike drama
Summary: In a fantasy world called Polyphonica, human and spirit co-exists. Human can bond with a particular spirit, and the spirit can gain power through the music played by the bonding person. (Sounds familiar? Yeah, we've seen something like this in Erementar Gerade) The main character and his spirit works in a place where spirit's power is used to solve everyday (and unusual) problems.
Rating - first impression: 4.25 out of 5
Personal comment: After watching the first two episodes, my instinct telling me this is one of those stories that places whole bunch of seemingly unrelated sub-plots in the early episodes and thread them up all in the end to form a much bigger plot. (Like "Kiddy Grade", if you have seen it). Personally, I think it is always one of the most brilliant way to build a plot. The downside, however, is you get this slow start feeling because everything seems to be completely unrelated.

Shining Tears X Wind
Link: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7633 (torrent only available throught http://www.baka-updates.com/)
Genres: Fantasy/Drama/Parallel world
I've watched: 1 episode
Art style: Common/Video game
Recommended to: People like parallel world stories
Summary: This is a anime related (or based of) the video game. I've never played it, so I have no idea how much similiarity between it and the game. Basically, it starts with some guy disappears in the school. Then a group of students run into some strange human-like creatures. They end up being sucked into a parallel world. The whole setup, reminds me much of Escaflowne and El Hazard.
Rating - first impression: 3.8 out of 5