Wednesday, March 31, 2010

[Ended] Sora no Woto


You may call it K-ON in the military, but it's not. You may think it's a simple light comedy, but it's not. Sora no Woto is something much more than what it first appears to be. The story is constructed with interesting and colorful yet ordinary characters that all seem to have some shadows in their past.

It's somewhat difficult to describe exactly what Sora no Woto is like. But I can tell you it definitely worth your 4 hours. However, it does have its shortcomings. For one, I think they might have spent a bit too much in the middle to develop the character, where I think it could be equally effective if they instead stretch out the later part for character development while moving forward with the plot. But despite that, this is still one brilliantly made anime.

Final scoreboard:

Drama: 90 (Dramatic)
Comedy: 83 (Interesting enough)
Action: 85 (Above average)
Art/Animation: 80 (Looks just like K-ON!)
Sound/Music: 93 (Amazing Grace is amazing)
Character: 90 (Hidden shadows)
Plot: 90 (Well developed)
Ending: 85 (Well enough)

Re-watch value: 60 (Probably not gonna be as good as first time)

Overall: 90 - Brilliantly made

Recommendation: If you can't get over the fact all character looks like K-ON, then I don't think I can make any suggestion to ease that. Otherwise, this should be one of the must watch from January 2010 anime season.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

[End] Omamori Himari: Oh, that's lame


Seriously? That's how they decide to solve the problem? She was going for the kill, yet he can simply grab her just like that?! I knew from the beginning that it's going to be something lame, but I wasn't expecting it to be this lame. Well, I guess you can't really expect too much out of a cookie cutter harem anime.

Final scoreboard:

Drama: 80 (Cookie cutter)
Comedy: 82 (Typical)
Action: 80 (Can't exactly call it good)
Art/Animation: 80 (Looks nice enough)
Sound/Music: 80 (Nothing special)
Character: 78 (Typical harem)
Plot: 70 (Highly predictable)
Ending: 60 (Lame!)

Re-watch value: 30 (No need for the first time through)

Overall: 73 - Cookie cutter harem

Recommendation: If you are really interested in watching some cookie cutter harem anime with some fan service, then pick this one. Otherwise, you're not missing much by skipping this.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

[Preview] Spring (April) 2010 New Anime Season Preview

It's a little late, but it's better than never :-)

With a very disappointing January season, it seems we're in for a treat this season. By the information I can gather, there are about 29 new animes coming out this April 2010 season. Some of them look like they have real potential to be awesome. Without further ado, I present you the April 2010 anime season preview.

Same as last time, I'm keying the detailed description of each anime following the video with the order of their appearance in the preview video.





Ikkitousen: Xtreme Xecutor
http://www.ikkitousen.com/
(Video time: 1:08)

Big boobed high school girl that inherited the spirits of warriors from the three kingdoms.

Forecast: The first one may be amusing, the second and third are just plain stupid. Rest assured I will NOT be watching this one.

Unknown Anime about Baseball
(Video time: 1:23)

Baseball anime, don't know, don't care.


Shin Koihime Mousou: Otome Tairan
http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/shinkoihime/
(Video time: 1:39)

Another anime about girls that took on names of the warriors from the Three Kingdoms.

Forecast: The first one was interesting enough, but the second one didn't even last past half way. I'm probably not going to bother with this one either.

Heroman
http://www.heroman.jp/
(Video Time: 1:53)

Some kid's newly found toy robot is now a super robot which he uses to find evil.

Forecast: Pet robot superhero? I'd give it 2 episodes...


B-gata H-Kei
http://www.bgata-hkei.com/
(Video time: 2:08)

Story of a high school virgin girl who dreams to have 100 casual sex partners.

Forecast: The concept sounds ridiculous, but it could be interesting.

(An Unknown Baseball Anime)
(Video time: 2:23)

Baseball anime...don't know...don't care...pass...

Kaicho wa Maid-sama
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/maidsama/
(Video time: 2:38)

A female class president of a formerly all male high school with bad reputation wants to turn the school's image around. But she has a secret.

Forecast: It could be another variant of a typical romantic comedy, could be interesting.


Ichiban Ushiro no Daimao
http://www.mmv.co.jp/special/daimao/
(Video time: 2:53)

Story about somebody who's predicted to be the future demon king.

Forecast: Seems to have potential...

Angel Beats!
http://www.angelbeats.jp/
(Video time: 3:09)

In a afterlife school, a girl leads a rebellion against God.

Forecast: Battle against god is always interesting, plus, I love its art. I think this is a keeper.

Ring ni Kakero
http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/sp/rin-kake1_shadow/
(Video time: 3:23)

Looks like an anime about boxing.

Forecast: Boxing anime...pass...

Transformer Animated
(Video time: 3:39)

Jewelpet Tinkle
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/jewelpet2/
(Video time: 3:53)

Kids anime...

Forecast: um...no


SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors
http://www.sdgundam3gd.net/
(Video time: 4:08)

More silly Gundam...

Forecast: Gundam = Garbage

Major 6th
http://www9.nhk.or.jp/anime/major/6th/
(Video time: 4:24)

Japanese are quite obsessed with baseballs...

Forecast: Never.



Hakuouki Shinsengumi Kitan
http://www.otomate.jp/hakuoki/
(Video time: 4:39)

Samurai era romantic love story (somehow the description sounds like a Kenshin variant)

Forecast: Definitely has potential

Himehen! Otogichikku Idol Lilpri
http://lilpri.com/animation/
(Video time: 5:10)

Kids anime

Forecast: for kids...



Giant Killing
http://www9.nhk.or.jp/anime/giantkilling/
(Video time: 05:23)

Story about a soccer league.

Forecast: Sports animes to me usually are hit or miss. I'll give it 50/50.


Working!!
http://www.wagnaria.com/
(Video time: 05:38)

A color story about a diner which is full of colorful employees.

Forecast: I've seen the preview episode, I'm pretty sure this is going to be a keeper.



Arakawa Under the bridge
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/arakawa_ub/
(Video time: 05:53)

A story about a guy and an alien girl that lives under a bridge?

Forecast: This sounds very random, so I have no clue what to expect.


KissxSis
http://www.starchild.co.jp/special/kiss_sis/
(Video time: 06:08)

A ecchi story about a guy who lives with two sisters that aren't blood-related to him.

Forecast: I've seen the OVA, which is very ecchi. I would assume they're removing some contents that cannot be shown on TV.



Senkou No Night Raid
http://www.1931.tv/
(Video time: 06:23)

1931 Japanese occupied Shanghai, a group of spies with special ability called "Sakurai Kikan" investigates some bizarre cases. (Sakura war clone?)

Forecast: Also seems to have good potential.


Mayoineko Overrun
http://www.patisserie-straycats.com/
(Video time: 06:38)

About a confectionery shop that is run by a whole bunch of girls.

Forecast: It could be a hit or miss...


Rainbow
http://www.ntv.co.jp/rainbow/
(Video time: 06:53)

Story about 7 juvenile inmates.

Forecast: Somehow the art make me feel...uncomfortable...



K-ON!!
http://www.tbs.co.jp/anime/k-on/
(Video time: 07:08)

K-ON!!! Season 2!!!

Forecast: WATCH IT! If you haven't seen the first season, WATCH THAT TOO!



Uragiri wa Boku no Namae wo Shitteiru
http://www.uraboku.jp/
(Video time: 7:23)

A student from a school for the handicapped has a special ability. Then some mysterious events drags him into wars against demons. (Seikon no Qwaser without the milk?)

Forecast: Looks like a fan girl anime. I'd give it 4 episodes.


Saraiya Goyo
http://www.goyou-anime.jp/
(Video time: 07:39)

Some weird looking samurai story. Adapted from manga by Natsume Ono, the creator of Ristorante Paradiso.

Forecast: His art work is always weird looking. But I was quite fond of Ristorante Paradiso, so I'll give this one its fair chance as well.


Magic Kaito
http://www.animax.co.jp/feature/index.php?code=NN10000960
(Video time: 07:53)

Some kid battles against some evil organization...

Forecast: No clue, more chance to miss than hit, just because of the art...

Yojohan Shinwa Taikei
http://noitamina.tv/yojouhan/
(Video time: 8:08)

Mystery stories about a fourth year college student.

Forecast: Can't determine, too little information...

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Kimi ni Todoke: Some Evil Thoughts


Currently finished: Episode 22

Everybody should know by now that I'm evil and like tragedies. If it was up to me to write the story, I'd totally put an tragedy into this episode--it has THE perfect setup for an unexpected (well, kind of) tragedy, probably a simple run over by a car would be sufficient enough.

Dance in the Vampire Bund: No Reserve


Currently finished: Episode 9

I've read quite a few negative reviews about this anime. Although there are many different reason people are not liking it, lately I've seen more and more negative reviews starts to draw some kind similarities to the Twilight series. Although I've never read Twilight, from all that I've heard about Twilight, this could be one of the biggest insults against Dance in the Vampire Bund.

Anyway, this time, I'm not here to talk about how great I think this anime is so far (although I do want to mention that it is :-). Rather, I'm here to make a comment about how they're not holding any thing back on things that aren't generally acceptable by civilized societies. Although it's pretty clear from the beginning, they have no problem with loli, now they've just taken a step further. So for those who have issues with this kind of things, I think you probably want to stay away from it all together.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Tatakau Shisho - The Book of Bantorra: The Final Showdown


Currently finished: Episode 23

Ok, I think this time it's onto the final showdown.

Sora no Woto: That's what it's all about


Currently finished: Episode 10

Up to episode 9, the series seemed had no purpose other than just having a light comedy-drama lying around. However, episode 10 changed all that. It almost threaded everything happened up till now up to now together and created a purpose for this story to exist.

Kiddy Girl-AND: Um...Ok...


Currently finished: Episode 21

The entire Kiddy Grade series is somewhat fan service themed, and it was apparent from the beginning they intend to make this one more yuri themed than the previous one. Now they finally broke down the thin paper and made this obvious what this is all about.

As for the story, I'm a bit more fond of it at its current state than what it started as. Without the pure stupidity in the first half of the series, this is almost a semi decent story.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Tatakau Shisho - The Book of Bantorra: Multiple Climax


Currently finished: Episode 21

I want to say that I am a bit disappointed because what I thought going to be extended to the grand finale was only a local climax of some sort. However, this currently segment further affirmed me that with a proper ending, this is going to be one of the most amazing story I've seen lately.

Having said that, I can already tell you that you'll need quite some patience to get through first half of the story in order to see the brilliance of its plot construction. That's probably why so many people have rated this anime so lowly.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Omamori Himari: Touching all the Archetypes


Currently finished: Episode 9

So now the role reversal has been sorted out, now all there is left is the harem and ecchi symptoms keep getting more and more severe. Yes, it's dumb, it's tasteless (well, depends on how you look at it). At least it keeps pulling out new threads. I wonder when it's going to finish touching all stereotypical harem anime archetypes and have to recycle some of them.

Kimi ni Todoke: Side story till the end?


Currently finished: Episode 21

Sorry about the week and a half long dead period. Other things in life has been keeping me busy. But now I get my free time back, I'll try to zip through the backlogs I've piled up as quickly as possible.

Anyway, back to the relevant topic. Are they going to ride the side story all the way till the end of the series? I really want to see more Sawako's story and hopefully an semi wrap-up before the series ends.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu: Idiotic/Moronic/Retarded (take whichever one offend you the least), Yet, Brilliant

Neon Genesis Baka to Test

Currently finished: Episode 8

Very much like Lucky Star, this series has been either hit or miss for me on an episode-by-episode basis. So far, there has been a lot more hits than misses. Especially this episode, the parities drawn from many animes as well as games are quite brilliant. Though everything is progressively getting more and more retarded/idiotic/moronic (take whichever one offends you the least), I think this occasional showcase of brilliance still outshines all the shortcomings it possesses.

p.s. If you're confused about the sentences inside the parentheses, read the comments for this post.