Tales of the Abyss: Sudden Turn

Currently finished: Episode 8

If I knew how quickly things were going to turn, I probably wouldn't have written that previous post ranting about how much of a douche Luke was.

Up till now, I consider this series to be mediocre at best. In episode 8, everything changed. Not only the plot made a sudden turn, it also might potentially cured Luke "the douche". Now this series has become so much more interesting.

I'd like to award it fantasy anime of the month, but, this is the only ongoing fantasy anime at the moment, so there is no point of that.

New rating (out of 5): 4.25 (net gain: +0.25) ~ Nice Twists

Tales of the Abyss: Douche of the Season

Currently finished: Episode 7

Luke was a little douche early on in the series. As time goes by, I thought he had grown out of it. But I was wrong. Recently, he just become the biggest douche of this season.

Aside from that little annoyance, this series is ok. But they ought to cure his "douchness" quick or I may not be able to enjoy this series any more.

Random Thoughts: Princes Of Tennis ~ Final

I have to say, this is one anime series I am a little ashamed to admit that I'm actively watching. It's not bad as far as anime concern. What is bad is the extreme exaggeration of the tennis play in this anime. As a 3.5~4.0 tennis player myself, I could not bear to watch some of the scenes because they are just pure ridicule. Yet, I managed to finish not only the 178 episode TV series, but also the two OVA series of 18 episodes total (not including this Final OVA).

So you wonder, if I think it's so ridiculous, how could I have managed to watch it. Well, if you have followed my blog long enough, you'd know that I rate animes fairly heavily on the character depth and variety. And Prince of Tennis series are good at both. It is so good that it makes me even forget all about how terrible they have portrayed tennis as a sport.

All and all, Prince of Tennis is still a sports anime. And to me, all sports animes are mediocre at best. Prince of Tennis is probably as good of a sports anime as I'll ever seen.

Ef ~ A Tale of Melodies: HOLY CRAP!!!!!

Currently finished: Episode 6

Just as I thought everything is going pretty smooth towards mid-season, two huge twists appeared. About a year ago, towards the end of Myself; Yourself, something very evil occurred in it and I was calling it a masterpiece of evil plot. But compare to this, that was just child's play. This is just pure evil. Whoever wrote it gotta have a evil twisted yet very talented mind. And I am loving it. That's why I am awarding it:

November 2008 Drama of the Month

New rating (out of 5): 4.5 (net gain: +0.5) ~ Simply Evil

Clannad After Story: Reused Content

Currently finished: Episode 6

If you have seen Key/VisualArts other work, Kanon, you would have noticed by now that they pretty much re-used an entire arc from Kanon in the most recent segment of Clannad After Story. While I don't have a big problem with it, especially considering how well-made it was, I still think it is a cheap shot just to grab an entire arc from another anime to be fitted into this one. It's usually an indication of the story writer running out of ideas. That's never a good sign for an anime, especially when it hasn't reached its half way point yet.

Earl and Fairy: Interesting Blend

Currently finished: Episode 5

The first impression I had about this anime is very similar to Astraea Testament, which lasted about a third way through the season before the amusement ran out. Earl and Fairy, however, seem to be somewhat different.

I said it is very Shoujo heavy anime, well, that part didn't change. But on top of that, there's a blend of light novel, light action, and light comedy being introduced. Because there's has been quite a few high quality light novel animes, my attitude towards new light novel animes are generally welcome with a somewhat high anicipation since the early ones had set a high standard. So, that's enough reason for me to keep watching it till the end of the season (since it's a short season anime).

One thing about light novel, is that generally you'd get the resolution to the problem, but you wouldn't get a clear climax throughout the storyline. If you've been following my blog long enough, you'd know that I really dislike anticlimactic endings. The only genre I'd let go without burning it on the review is the light novel. Because if it's done properly, there would be no need for a climax.

New Rating (out of 5): 3.75 (net gain: +0.25) ~ Intriguing

New OVA: Zettai Shougeki ~Platonic Heart~

"R rated Sekirei", that's what I'd tell you if you ask me to describe this OVA in one short sentence. It exhibits many similar qualities Sekirei has. Basically, this is just another story about big boobed girls fighting each other for a reason that is unknow to the viewer. During the fight, their clothes just convinently rips apart. The only difference is, since this is an OVA, they did no hesitate to show what's underneath a big boobed girls' clothes: BIG BOOBS.

So, if you are a fan of fan service (that sounds pretty retarded), and liked Ikkitousen or Sekirei, then this is also for you. And for everybody else that is not into fan service, don't bother to waste your time on this.

Mouryou no Hako: Stories within Stories?

Currently finished: Episode 5

It's been quite confusing early on in this series, but I think things finally start to come together now. It seem, that this is not just a simple story, or multiple related stories as I previously thought. More and more clue points to that this is a set of stories occurring within another set of stories. More specifically, someone from one of the sub-storyline is creating the rest of the stories. I know this still sounds very confusing, but you will understand it when you reach this point.

Shikabane Hime Aka: "B" Anime?

Currently finished: Episode 5

A "B" Movie, refers to a low budget commercial motion picture. It usually consists of cheesy action scenes, a cheesy story, and cheesy dialogs. In the case of Shikabane Hime Aka, the art and story so far seems to be at standard quality, but the voice acting and action scene, in my opinion, is just plain terrible. There may be many of you do not agree with me. But if you have seen as many anime as I have, the quality of this one is just not up to par.

New Rating (out of 5): 3.5 (net gain: -0.5) ~ Cheesy action scene, terrible voice acting

To Aru Majutsu no Index: Action Anime of the Month

Currently finished: Episode 5

Just as I thought things are getting resolved, a new twist appears. And they manage to make them all into cliffhanger at the end of each episode. Even though I would put this anime under action genre, I think the drama here is almost as good as, if not better than those in the drama genre from this season. So it is getting my award for

November 2008 Action Anime of the Month

Toradora: Comedy of the Month

Currently finished: Episode 6

Just as I thought the story start to get repetitive, a new character is introduced and all hell broke lose. It made the story so much more dynamic and so much less predictable. The comedies in this series, are very much like Special A, being both subtle and blatant at the same time. That's the best type of comedy I like. That's why Toradora earns the:

November 2008 Comedy Anime of the Month

Lately, I've seen so many top-notch animes that deserve awards leave without any only because there are better series in the same category from previous seasons in the same year. To better express my appreciations towards them, I decide to restruture my award system. On top of my regular year-ending award, I'll start to hand out monthly, and seasonal awards to those who deserve one but may be out scored by some other series for the year ending award.

Skip Beat: Show Biz, Driven by Hate

Currently finished: Episode 4

I'm not interested in show biz, nor the story of someone trying to get into show biz. But, that does not mean I won't enjoy a very well made anime about it.

Skip Beat is a somewhat unique story. I say "somewhat" because there are some similar concepts that had already appeared in other animes, namely Full Moon and Kaleidostar. What does make Skip Beat unique is attitude of the main character. While most other show biz animes focus on "love", Skip Beat had laid its focus on "hate". Though after watching episode 4, I have a feeling that it is going to slowly progress towards "love" as the story goes, for the moment, "hate" is still what drives the story.

New Rating (out of 5): 4 (net gain: +0.25) ~ Unique