Antique Bakery

Description on AnimeDB.net

Antique Bakery is a nice way to enjoy some uncommon personalites meeting to start a special bakery cafe with the scent of a small mystery driving the main character, and spotlights on french pastries and cake during parts of the episodes. These don't really inspire me to bake, but they inspire me to eat the cakes and drink tea while I watch each episode.

At the end of each episode, there's a picture and title of the cakes that are mentioned in the episode.

Recommendations:

• Emma...a calm maid, with plenty of peeks into victorian life
  
• Kuroshitsuji...specific cakes are shown from that era, short mysteries, comedy (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries solved by serious grown-ups that can stomach a crime scene

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Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo (Yakushiji Ryoko's Strange Case Files)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo has got elements of the unusual case, eccentric boss, political tones driving the drama, chuckling comedy, and action that makes the otherwise docile costar shine in his moments.

If you observe the previous paragraph, it shows a good representation of what each episode seems to have, in order of most to least. The action comes well-timed and wraps up episodes in a satisfying manner. I'll be watching this until the end hopefully.

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...mystery, less serious, a little wacky (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries only remains can solve, more serious
• Switch...undercover police and the criminals they try to ensnare
  
• Black Lagoon...more gunfights, gritty action and criminals in the spotlight

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Detroit Metal City

Description on AnimeDB.net

Detroit Metal City got me laughing. The dialogue pace, main character's situation and juxtaposition of different music and personalities. I hope to see more of it, although I've seen it labeled as a special episode.

Straight to the action, you're introduced to a mild-mannered young man that sings happy pop jingles as well as metal music, and the complications his alter ego creates. Soon you begin to wonder, which is the true self. Hilarious situations brought to gold status with the hilarious character. Hang on to your acoustic guitars, tambourines and KISS makeup, it's time to "Go To DMC".

This anime is not for the faint of heart. One watch of the opening theme and you'll know what you are in for.

Edit: This is 12 episodes.

Recommendations:

• Gankutsuou...happy boy pulled into a twisted dark world
• Nodame Cantabile...funny music-infused romance
• NANA...music
  

(These were very difficult to pick because this series is very unique.)

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Kimagure Orange Road (KOR)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Kimagure Orange Road (TV) - Comedy, Love triangle, school life, and a sprinkling of ESPer abilities make this series a fun and light summer watch. Before I noticed, I would watch episodes, 5 or 6 at a time of this before I watched new episodes of this season's animes.

The protagonist seems run of the mill at first, but thanks to his special powers, he's also susceptible to the uncommon situations that go from bad to worse in a blink of an eye. The episodes waste no time and use every minute to tell the story, so don't expect long pans of scenery and long setups to get the story going. Flashbacks and pace keep the watcher on their toes, wanting to know how Kasuga gets himself out of this one.

There's more violence than I expected in an old-school anime. Thanks to some characters that aren't afraid to slap, punch and knee people in the face. Also, a handful of episodes that involve sukeban gang girls with mostly strange weapons (except for a razor blade that freaked me out a little).

Keep an eye out for Ushiko and Umao, whose cameos pop up at all the right places.

Recommendations:

• Touch...youthful love triangle + baseball
• Telepathy Shoujo Ran...ESPer comedy/mystery with some romance
• Miracle Girls... ESPer sisters + old school

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Natsume Yuujinchou (Natsume's Friend Book)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Natsume Yuujinchou is funny, light and has modern and traditional Japanese style to it. Even the "cute mascot" is a transforming youkai with an old man's taste in sweets.

I am glad I can depend on this anime to get through the summer that marks the end of many other animes that I loved.

It reminds me a bit of mushishi except the pace is picked up a bit, and the humor is modern enough to keep you smiling. With all the youkai contact, it reminds me of a little Inu Yasha too--but not as intense or violent or bloody--maybe it's not like Inu Yasha at all.

I like seeing the representations of different types of youkai and semigods, so that's another thing that adds to the charm of this anime.

The story is, his grandmother had abilities like him, able to see youkai and such. His grandmother somewhat bullied youkai into giving them their names, and thus some control over the youkai. The names go into this book and well, watch the first episode to get a fair taste of what this anime is about.

Stay tuned for the ending theme, which is a nice finish to an episode with the same easy-going summer tone.

Recommendations:

• Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou...second season
• Mononoke...youkai and edgy mystery with vivid characters
• Mushishi...similar easygoing tone and feel of wonder for youkai

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The Daughter of Twenty Faces (Nijuu-Mensou no Musume)

Description on AnimeDB.net

I'm 6 episodes into the Daughter of Twenty Faces and I'm surprised to find that I didn't give up after the first episode. Part cinderella story, part robin-hood, and set in groovy time where airships were set the mood for a classy escape, this anime got me hooked after I saw that this main character perservered. She grew on me, and after 6 episodes, the anime grew on me.

The anime offers a good change of pace to the strange mix I'm watching this season. Cool and calm with action where drama is necessary to keep up the pace. I'll be watching in it until the season ends.

Recommendations:

• Steamboy...action movie, steampunk era
• Pumpkin Scissors...post war military unit takes challenges face on, action and slight politics
  
• Skip Beat...comedy, suffered heroine finds friends and laughs where vengeance were (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Glass Mask...actress blossoms but her shining future is filled with challenges and suffering
  

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Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

Description on AnimeDB.net

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro has a long title, but its story is simple enough. Normal girl endures shock and tragedy and a being from the demon world approaches her to solve the mystery of her father's death. But Neuro has his own mysteries to whet his appetite. Grotesque transformations, hellish tools, and an appetite for mystery, this anime has some great main-character abuse slapstick and a rough-mouthed ex-yakuza to keep the lineup out of the cute-zone.

Before I noticed, I was watching Neuro instead of watching other animes this season. I guess the lighter fare was appreciated during an otherwise more intense anime season lineup. Why not check out one or two episodes...and keep an eye out for the ponytail (gross!).

Recommendations:

• Kuroshitsuji...Victorian styled, the butler Sebastian reminds me of Neuro, mystery (See Anime Spotlight)
• Himitsu, The Revelation...mysteries only remains can solve, more serious
• xxxHolic...comedy, sprinkling of mystery and otherworldly beings
• Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo...mystery, gun fights, maids, strange creatures (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Rental Magica...hired supernaturals and the mysteries that pay the bills
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...gruesome closed-box murders galore in this murder mystery that envelops a quibbling rich family (See Anime Spotlight)

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Gunslinger Girl il Teatrino

Description at AnimeDB.net

Gungslinger Girl il Teatrino, compared to the first season doesn't have the calmness, class and sincerity that the first series did. In the first episodes we see more emotion and less reserve from the "main character" Henrietta. Her shyness and seriousness was pretty endearing in the first season. Another favorite of mine was Triela (love the suits, by the way). The episode that featured her going up against Pinocchio (stay with me on this) was unexpected and felt like the series was a bit more back to the feel of the original series' with the complexities that only these girls can experience.

I miss the OP and ED these of the first series, though. I don't really care for the ones used on il Teatrino at all. They haven't grown on me after 6 episodes. oh well. Will still watch because it looks like we'll get back to more gunslinging.

Recommendations:

• Gunslinger Girl...the first season had more action and Henrietta story and sophistication
  
• Gunsmith Cats...gunslinger and explosives duo, funny
• Bokurano...youths shoulder the weight of the world, and prepare to lose everything, pretty serious (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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Kimikiss Pure Rouge

Kimikiss Pure Rouge is a little romantic gem to help me breeze into springtime. It's light anime fare that will get you thinking...man, high school was nothing like that, but it certainly would be nice. Lots of young love, a vague club's activities, a childhood friend, two moves, and even a torn protagonist...and that's not all.

Recommendations:

• Myself; Yourself >>...romance and some drama
• Suzuka >>...school romance with a sprinkle of sports, trying to start a new romance while shaking off the losses of the past
• Bokura Ga Ita...school romance with a sprinkle of dark drama >>
  

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Update: Found this DVD Special of the anime.

See the description for Kimikiss Pure Rouge on AnimeDB.net >>

Shion no Ou ~The Flowers of Hard Blood~

Description on AnimeDB.net

Shion no Ou - The idea of a main character doing absolutely no talking? Hooked me. The light inclusion of Shougi terms, the depth of the characters and the complex instant-respect of the main character all made this anime easy for me to get into. Shion no Ou (Shion's King, referring to the Shougi piece) has a dark side lurking from the beginning of the first episode. But Shion's sunny disposition helps me pick up my spirits a little. I'm eager to watch more!....MORE!

How does she write so fast?

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Neuro...tragic beginnings, mystery, perserverance (See Anime Spotlight)
• Card Captor Sakura..little girl protagonist and the big feats she accomplishments
  
• Fushigi Yuugi...young protagonist uprooted and fending for herself in a new world
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...young protagonist and the "criminal" that guides her (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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List of Picks: February 2008 - Anime Movies

Give yourself a break from anime series and watch these anime movies. Just sit back and relax and don't worry about finding the next episode.


Description on AnimeDB.net

Paprika (be warned, there's a naked lady in there somewhere, the movie is really amazing to watch. It's made by the same company that did some of these movie gems that you should also check out.

Recommendations:

• Tokyo Godfathers...unlikely heroes have their own stories to tell, and bumbling situations somehow turn miracle
  
• Milennium Actress...an interviewer is whisked away through the life of an actress as she revisits the many exciting roles she's had
  
• Perfect Blue...suspense, terrifying psychological mess with a screaming-freaky ending
• Toki Wo Kakeru Shoujo...what begins as a refreshing everyday world following a young high schooler, quickly reels out of control once she travels through time and finds a ticking counter
• Tekkon Kinkreet...two young boys band together in a lawless world where gangsters and youngsters mix on the rooftops and in the gutters
• Howl's Moving castle...a hatmaker is swept off her feet by a wizard Howl, and overcomes struggles such as a curse and keeping the moving house from falling apart
  
• Spirited Away...a little girl is whisked away into a spirit world, she works in a witch's bathhouse in hopes of escaping this world and saving her parents
  
• Tales from Earthsea...fantasy adventure following a young lad, sword, villain, and...doppelganger?
  

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