Guin Saga

Guin Saga - Don't let the strange appearance fool you. By the time the dust settles, it's obvious that he is the man. The story begins on the crest of a coup taking control of a royal palace. We are introduced to two young royals, a prince and a princess. Their character and emotions are worn on their sleeves from the start. Thanks to an ancient power they are cast to a faraway land and wake up in unfriendly territory. Guin, a mysterious warrior appears and that's when the adventurous journey begins. They meet a few new companions and the story begins to mix and move, folding in new faces and growing the world around them for viewers to sink their teeth into. This isn't some shallow RPG adaptation animated. This story has some high level strategy, character twists and mysteries.

Will the royal twins return to their kingdom? What will become of the throne? Where did Guin come from and why is his past forgotten? Where will the characters end up if not as allies? And near the end, was Istovan out of his mind?

The opening theme really captures the "saga" feel of the anime. This first season has ended, but the story is far from over.

Recommendations:

• Record of Lodoss War >>...dragons, warriors of every cloth, and an evil that keeps rebirthing under a new guise, this keeps fantasy and dark adventure alive
  
• Heroic Age...battles so big they can only take place in outer space, a handful of clans are grappling for control while trying to fulfill a prophecy that takes a young man far from his modest home >>
  

Video Sample:



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September 2009 List of Picks

This past season brought a good number of interesting anime. Some surprised me with how much I liked them, even though the premise can be a little strange at first. I also picked up a couple of anime that are not from this season, which goes to show you that there is plenty of golden anime out there waiting to be discovered. Good news when you can't find anything to your taste in the current season

Sometimes I am interested in checking out new anime and want to list them, but then end up dropping a series or two and picking up others. This is a list of anime that I ended up watching this last season.

What I've been watching this past season:

• Aoi Hana >>...a sentimental girl returns to a small town, and is reunited with her childhood friend, whose friendship sees her through new and difficult situations
  
• Canaan >>...human beings survive mutations due to covered-up viral experiments, bringing the mess to the doorstep of a seasoned assassin with a past she's ready to put to rest
• Guin Saga...a mysterious leopard-headed warrior and a pair of displaced royal twins escaping enemy attack, and strike out on a journey home in the midst of ongoing war >>
  
• Hanasakeru Seishounen >>...a sheltered rich girl is challenged by her father to select a husband, but his bet is that she'll choose a man out of four men he has secretly selected, hearts, lives, and family empires are at stake
• Hatsukoi Gentei >>...this light-hearted anime focuses on the difficult and comic challenges of unrequited love, and cashes in on borderline shameless fan service opportunities at times, making up with breakthroughs later on
  
• Tokyo Magnitude...a jaded girl and her little brother are on an outing when an earthquake hits and their lives and world are left shaken, holding on to hope that they can make it home safely and that their parents are still alive >>
• Umineko Naku Koro ni...a gruesome game of whodunit is proposed when a witch takes a recently reunited rich family hostage and kills them off as the hour chimes until her challenge is met >>

Series still watching:

• Hetalia: Axis Powers...update: country-characters don't always fight, sometimes they just try to go another day without killing each other, tidbit webisode entertainment >>
• Valkyria Chronicles >>...update: happy times are in the past when armies are face to face, and things are down to the wire, the element of a superpowered descendant joins the fray
• Tears to Tiara >>...update: put the day-to-day character circus on the backburner, we'll see where this rebellion really going, who's the old guy in the opening theme, and what the demon king has truly set his sights on
• Phantom: Requiem for Phantom...update: it's no longer all about Zwei/Reiji, now it's an in-family fight amongst the Phantoms, old and new, and not everyone is left standing at the end >>
  

Picked up late:

• Kemono no Soujo Erin...Erin gets cooler and cooler with just her hardships, kindness and dedication to taken for granted beasts backing her up, but there's no shortage of attempts to tie her down by laws fueled by past tragedies >>

Loose episodes:

• Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette...update: finally someone kind and competent takes the little french girl under his wing, but now they are on the run from the police >>
• Eve no Jikan (Time of Eve) >>...a web anime about how androids have become ingrained into everyday human life, the story centers around a mysterious cafe that temporarily hides the line between android and human

Out of season anime:

• Last Exile....the story is always on the move with two friends that grew up flying their own aircraft in hopes that they'll someday conquer the natural force that took their fathers' lives >>
• Kigeki (Comedy) >>...there's hardly much to laugh about when a grim demon-like man is approached with a young girl's request to rid her town of invaders
  

Jury is still out:

• Sora no Mani Mani >>....an overexcited, shouty happy character is reunited with a quiet bookworm who thought he'd managed to escape her starry-eyed escapades until he caught her attention on his first day back in town

Watched a few episodes and then dropped:

• Koukaku no Regios >>...it became unbearable for me to watch when I couldn't tell why I was still watching after the 5th episode

Video Sample:

Kigeki (Comedy)



Do you plan to watch any of these anime?

Umineko no Naku Koro ni (When Seagulls Cry)

Umineko no Naku Koro ni - Do you like mysteries? How about those ones where you aren't sure that the butler did it? And how do you feel about golden butterflies?

The party starts with a rich family's reunion on a secluded island in the middle of nowhere. Almost-obnoxious-guy shoulders his way into main character status with his pointy red and white suit. Everything seems fine and dandy until ill will worms its way to the surface as inheritance, child abuse, jealousy, hate, the rumor of hidden gold and the influence of a unseen witch has brought this tea party to a screeching halt. Once the screams start, the anime has begun to fling full pace into mystery-novel land.

There will be blood, there will be ugly endings to lives, there will be countless references to a chessboard and magic, and there will be a creepy little girl complete with creepy little grin. You have been warned.

Nine episodes in, I have already surrendered to the notion that I need to watch these all in row, as opposed to one every week, giving myself time to forget what scenario the anime is currently in, and what facts have been established. My head flips every time Battler suggests to flip the chessboard. And when Beatrice started talking in red, I almost threw in the towel.

I'm ready to watch this whole thing from start to end, as this anime is definitely something I wouldn't usually touch with a ten foot pole. Mysteries aren't always up my alley, but this one was like a scary story you want to hear...with the lights on...and a baseball bat in hand. I don't want to give up on this anime, because I want to know how it all happened. I want to see the episode where the mystery is solved and each little trick is broken down.

Until then, I plan to suppress a cringe every time Maria "ooh's" and enjoy those fun scenarios when someone is shown with a menacing face as they attend to a gruesome killing in someone's imagination.

Recommendations:

• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro...episodic mysteries take zany turns as a demonic detective and his fronthuman crack mysteries to feed his appetite >>
  
• Ga Rei: Zero...close friends are pitted against each other when one has her life, humanity, and future taken away by a demonic force >>
  
• Jigoku Shoujo: Futakomori...when a request to bury a grudgemaker comes in, a small mystery is created, often adding another bittersweet round to an unending cycle >>
• Himitsu: The Revelation...solving seriously mysterious crimes takes brains, specifically the brains of the deceased >>
  

Video Sample:



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Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0's situation is the answer to the question: What would happen if Tokyo suffered a 8.0 Magnitude earthquake? Every episode starts out with a brief note that extensive research and simulations were done to ensure that the anime was grounded with some science homework.

That said, the story opens up with your run of the mill "life is so boring, who cares?" youth named Mirai (english translation: Future) and her little brother Yuuki (english translation: Courage) and how their pocket-sized family is in a rough patch in many ways besides money.

While chaperoning her little brother to a local convention, the namesake natural disaster smacks tokyo silly and the heart-rending and pulse-quickening anime is on its steady track, riddled with aftershocks, character development and tough times ahead. Along with a quickly-made ally, they begin their journey surviving on the small crumbs of hope and kindness, and suffering the dread of questions and hopes that continue unanswered.

This anime was gold for me after the characters started becoming more tolerable. They aren't terrible, but you have to keep in mind that these children act like...children, during a disaster.

Nowadays when I hear about a natural disaster, all that is on the news is the damage, the victims, the body counts, the government and the riots. This anime completely rests the cameras on the shoulder of the two children and their smart and strong-willed companion...Mari. Yes, she's worth naming because she pulls them out of frying pans and fires alike, and has her own set of troubles kept in the back of her mind.

Give it two episodes, and see if you'd like to see what happens to these kids.

Recommendations:

• Bokurano...a band of kids are unknowingly tricked into a string of life and death battles, each with their own tragic story >>
  
• Seirei no Moribito...a spear wielder takes a young prince under her wing as they escape a squad of assassins >>
• Kemono no Souja Erin...young erin enjoys her days until her only family is stuck facing a death penalty, curiosity and inner strength keep her afloat in days awash with tragedy >>
• Guin Saga...royal twins are cast away to a far land in their parents' dying attempt to spare their lives during an attack, they take refuge under the wing of a mysterious warrior with the face of a beast >>

Video Sample:



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Last Exile

Last Exile - Sure the title is a little strange, and it doesn't get much better with the episode titles (Positional Play?). Luckily the story makes more sense even though the characters and situations play out in unexpected ways. The story opens up with a young pair that are flying through the air in some type of aircraft. The pilot is young Claus and the navi is young Lavie. This whole anime is steeped in steampunk era style aircrafts, gadgets, and...coloring. There is a lot of faded ashy brown, so get used to it.

It reflects the attitude of the times as the two take on a messenger mission and must make a delivery that puts them at the front line of a battle between two airships.

There is front line action, some at-the-helm battle strategy, on-ship drama, a few underlying mysteries and times when the characters you have pegged at first sight fly off in a new direction, taking the story in a new direction. It sounds flighty, mixed and confusing, but I'm on episode 16 and I'm still hooked on the story, becoming attached to the slightly conflicted characters, and becoming interested in cracking the mystery behind some of the other characters.

If you like aircraft action and want it toned down a little, sprinkle in some down-home character charm, a dash of wartime stories, and top it off with some characters that are a mystery all their own, give Last Exile a watch, maybe 3 episodes.

I think the opening is a tad too techno for the series, but was surprised to like the ending theme, letting it play. I also enjoy hearing the slightly-off pronunciation of the all-English episode titles.

Following this, I'll probably check out Sky Crawlers.

Recommendations:

• Heroic Age...from modest roots an unlikely hero pushes his limits to save the starways amongst a war waged between races >>
• Soukou no Strain...a rude awakening sends a promising young pilot into a lonesome empty life until details behind her past push her into battle again >>
  
• Steamboy >>...in a life-like steampunk era, a youth risks his life protecting a powerful component left by his father from a sinister plot to abuse it

Video Sample:



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Kurozuka

I don't remember how I found Kurozuka, probably browsing on boxtorrents, but I'm glad I did. It covers a lot of ground without burning dozens of episodes in the process. There is a bit of mystery, then some action, then a lot of bloodshed, mystery again, then the story skips to to different places in time to give us the big picture of what's really going on. It's not painful to watch, you just have to keep up and pay attention to each scene to make sure you don't get lost.

It's a bit more complex than the usual guy likes girl, kills to protect. Let me back up: The story centers around this young man and his almost unreal journey that has him fighting in the feudal era, and what appears to be a dystopia centuries later while making sense of this nostalgic feeling of chasing the mysterious woman that he has fallen for. Mysteries pile up and memories are missing in action, how is a young man supposed to keep his head on straight?

There are untimely demises, bloodshed, and some disturbing scenes and characters that had me cringing. The beginning of the anime and the ending hardly resemble each other and by the time the last episode comes around, you will begin to feel just like the main character. Watch three or four episodes before you make up your mind. The first episode is only the beginning.

I believe the beginning theatrics are to pay homage to the noh play of the same name. Each episode has snippet of this with words that add to what's going on in the anime, so don't skip it thinking it's the same blah blah.

Recommendations:

• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou >>...fights in the forest and other backdrops between warring clans that display their deadly skills to satisfy decades-old rivalries
  
• Ergo Proxy >>...dystopia, darkness and mysterious creatures drive the story that takes the characters to lands, while a mysterious creature looms in the shadows
  
• Toki o Kakeru Kanojo >>...time just drifts happily by for one high schooler until she finds the ability to time travel and her woes amount to more than just stolen pudding
• Mnemosyne >>...living forever can be a curse, especially when those who hunt you are irresistible demons in this not for kids anime
  

Video Sample:



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Kemono no Souja Erin (The Beast Player Erin)

Kemono no Souja Erin follows the life of a young girl named Erin. We meet Erin and her mother and quickly learn that her world isn't the same as ours. Her world is full of nature, beasts, interesting people, unexpected turns of events and harsh ways of life for those with green eyes. I'm 9 episodes in and she's already had it pretty rough compared to most girls her age. One thing she has going is resilience, smarts and curiosity...almost too much curiosity.

We get to experience many new things with Erin, including times of heartache, times of wonder and times she gets to figure stuff out. That happens a lot. It's light fare, but I seem hooked and will be watching through until the end. The theme song seems to foreshadow a lot of what's to come, except for the heavy use of apples. In the ending theme, she has long hair, and appears to be traveling the globe. I'm looking forward to following her on her journey, because she doesn't bug me and has some interesting experiences with creatures and people. I wouldn't say it's fast-paced, but because there always seems to be something happening, I wasn't bored at any point so far.

Oh, one thing I must mention is that there are times when instead of following Erin, for a few minutes, a pair of brothers that are within reach of royalty seem to be getting their story started. I'm assuming their paths will cross somehow, but it's certainly a distraction that isn't much of a tease.

The alternative title I've found for this series "The Beast Player" almost makes it sound like this anime is about some sort of game. I believe this phrase refers to how Erin has a way with beasts, as if she can wield and play them like instruments. I have not seen the harp that is shown in the picture in this post yet, so the "Player" thing could be something different than my suspicions.

Recommendations:

• Seirei no Moribito...nature and otherworldly creatures, a sheltered youth learns about survival from a spear-wielding guardian >>
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...life already in danger, a young lady abandons her caged bird lifestyle to undergo tutelage by a wanted criminal genius >>
• Shion no Ou...young girl witnesses her parents murder and still manages to confront her challenges and fears when the past comes back to play with her mind >>
• Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi >>...moving to a new town is a bummer, especially when your parents go missing and you have to fend for yourself in a world brimming with supernaturals and mythical creatures
• Tokyo Magnitude...when a whopping 8.0 magnitude earthquakes shakes Tokyo to nearly rubble, a young girl does all she can to guide her brother home through the chaos and fallout >>
  

Video Sample:

As the only good video clip I could find on youtube for this series, this has a major spoiler in it, so if you are dead serious about spoilers, do not watch past 00:35.



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July 2009 List of Picks

This past season has been some slim pickings for me. A few anime have been sustaining me, and some leftover episodes pop up, also some trailing anime. Sometimes I am interested in checking out new anime and want to list them, but then end up dropping a series or two and picking up others. This is a list of anime that I ended up watching this last season.

What I've been watching this past season:

• Souten Kouro...the time for change has come and one man is at the eye of the storm, bloodshed and crooked politicians don't phase him (See Anime Spotlight)
• Sengoku Basara...let's have some fun action with flashy characters, styled art, and two main characters whose rivalry takes them straight to the Demon King (See Anime Spotlight)
• Genji Monogatari Sennenki...shield the children's eyes, it's the man that steals the hearts of maidens whose tale is told through the ages
• Eden of the East...mysteries unfold around a young man found nude and armed, with a phone to die for (See Anime Spotlight)
• Hetalia: Axis Powers...don't think, just indulge in the stereotype-seeped characters of Hetalia and how they go way back (See Anime Spotlight)
• Hatsukoi Gentei...a kappa, a bijin, and a kaibutsu are a few of the trail mix of characters you'll get with this light high school comedy with underlying blooming romances
• Valkyria Chronicles...if you've got the clueless commander, they've got a tank for him to command in this wartime story sprinkled with action, comedy and suspense
• Tears to Tiara...don't be fooled by the first episode, this anime provides surprising laughs, characters straight out of an RPG, and some long-awaited mysteries
• K-On!...this was light, airy fun with some high school girls banding together to experience being in a high school music club
• Phantom: Requiem for Phantom...really want to finish this cold and slightly haunting anime about an assassin in-training (See Anime Spotlight)
• Koukaku no Regios...this is good for some laughs, and a decent time filler if you mute the fighting music and don't expect too much
• xxxHolic Shunmuki...I enjoyed the xxxHolic team, but think I would have enjoyed it much more if I had finished Tsubasa Chronicles

Picked up late:

• Kemono no Soujo Erin...one episode won me over, will be watching till I have no more episodes left (See Anime Spotlight)

Loose episodes:

• Les Miserables Shoujo Cosette...classic story about a little french girl who sees hard times (See Anime Spotlight)
• Porfy no Nagai Tabi...I've seen a few episodes to be interested, but have a feeling these kids aren't going to have it easy
• Denpateki na Kanojo...it gets twisted when a high school delinquint gains a new stalker and a serial murder surfaces (See Anime Spotlight)
• Cat Soup...this was a bit surreal, watch when you have time to admire the animation
• DOGS: Bullets & Carnage...caught two episodes and it was action that entertained
• Kannagi ep 14 DVD episode...you could tell this was for fans because it went nowhere in fun

Out of season anime:

• Kurozuka...a romance borne at a gruesome beginning spires a familiar chase that spins on throughout the ages

Watched a few episodes and then dropped:

• 07-Ghost...it got boring for me after a handful of episodes
• Pandora Hearts...it got creepy and boring for me after a few episodes

Do you plan to watch any of these anime?

Sengoku Basara

Sengoku Basara's appeal sort of crept up on me. The character designs were cool and their personalities weren't too bland. There was story from the get-go, conflict that created action and emotion, a dash of politics.

That's a bit too vague. Here's what this anime is about to me: Japan during their warring states period. There are several groups that are trying to conquer each other with warriors pride and respect keeping the rivals at bay. The anime focuses from the viewpoint and interests of the groups that belong to the two main characters, the red spear guy (Yukimura) and the blue guy with swords (the one eyed dragon-By the way, isn't that a cool nickname?). These guys are cool, and their relationships with other characters in the anime aren't bland and lend some comedy and other elements of different bonds like rivalry, romance, camaraderie, and tragedy.

Enter a new force, the 6th heavenly demon king Oda Nobunaga (this names gets tossed around in historical inspired anime from time to time). He and his army and handful of "bad guys" are spitting on warrior pride and are burning and destroying any obstacles in their path to control the smaller "states". Their growing strength and the way they do things is overwhelming and our bands of warriors are forced to take notice.

It's entertaining, and I like a lot of the variety the show brings without the serious suspense and cool-headed war tactics that some other anime are serving up this season.

I'm ten episodes in. I'm surprised that this is from a game, but I really shouldn't be. The character designs are awesome, and some of the action definitely indulges in escaping reality for their main characters' moves. Horses going up a castle wall, anyone? But it's all in good fun. This anime doesn't take itself too seriously, and neither should we.

Recommendations:

• Guin Saga...escape reality with a powerful warrior whose mysteries lie underneath the face of a leopard >>
  
• Seirei no Moribito...you like spears and a woman who won't rest until she's atoned for seven deaths, mythical creatures and young royalty in danger >>
• Souten Kouro...inspired by China's stories, we follow the life of young Cao Cao who doesn't compromise when seeking justice, rising up to bring down corrupt leaders >>
• Samurai Champloo >>...a modern funky twist on the samurai-period anime, comedy and a strange combination of characters
• Samurai 7 >>...the animated version of a classic kurosawa film, the main characters meet, greet and travel

Video Sample:



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See the description for Sengoku Basara on AnimeDB.net >>

Hetalia: Axis Powers

Hetalia: Axis Powers is a web anime, and each episode is a brief 5 minutes. It's like a parody of a world history book with each country represented as a character that turns chibi whenever comedy is at its extreme. These countries bicker, interact and are at each others' necks as often as the countries seem to be. Stereotypes run rampant, and I fear these characters will come to mind whenever I meet an Italian.

The episodes are quick-paced and loosely follow history's events in the order they occured, sometimes interrupted for fun cuts of silliness that have nothing to do or say about history or the countries.

All about white flags and pasta, the Italy character is infused in most of the episodes, and keeps the mood light and dazy. The anime as a whole stays away from anything truly serious and is a fun way of recounting what was grasped from history books, and is a fun escape from a lot of the more serious action anime I'm watching.

The ending theme is infectious.

This anime as inspired me to create a new tag: unusual. Maybe I should have called it bizarre or strange, instead.

Recommendations:

• Astro Fighter Sunred...with 10-minute episodes, this is for those who can laugh at the intracies of japanese society and ranger-shows parodies >>
  
• Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei >>...overflowing with parodies, referring to other anime, contemporary Japanese culture, high school life in japan, anime characters types

I'm having trouble thinking of a third recommendation. This anime is really out there. Leave a comment to suggest recommendations.

Video Sample:



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Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom

Phantom: Requiem for the Phantom is directly related to Phantom the Animation which aired in 2004.

For those who are seeing Phantom for the first time, it kicks off with a young man who finds himself in strange place, with no recollection of who he is. He doesn't have time to gather thoughts, before he is assaulted by a knife-wielding attacker. That gets the ball rolling and viewers can expect more action, agony and internal struggles from Zwei (the young man), the contrasting character of Ein, and just enough other characters and background details to fill in a few blanks that will only add to the anime. There will be a creepy guy, masks, and quite a few puppet references.

For those who have seen Phantom the Animation, Requiem is worth watching. You'll see more footage about training, more insight about Ein's thoughts now that Zwei is in the picture, and we see more than just a brief final action scene that leaves us wanting more.

I like the opening theme, and actually let it play out before the episode begins. It's got an interesting arrangement and adds some mystical feel to the anime.

Recommendations:

• Phantom the Animation >>...the original animation from a few years ago, it gives more story about when Zwei gets picked up by Ein
  
• Black Lagoon >>...an office worker is uprooted and assumes a life riddled with the criminal underworld, risking his life with newfound comrades
  
• Bokurano....a group of kids have grown-up problems accepting their fate to die in a game that decides the world's future >>
  
• Mnemosyne >>...fight or die again and again, there's no escape from a hideous twisted struggle that has waged for decades
  

Video Sample:



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Denpa Teki na Kanojo

Denpa Teki na Kanojo - Once you get past the disturbing first scene, this anime takes you on a strange ride. A high school brawler stays out of trouble long enough to find himself being stalked and revered by a strange girl at his school. So strange that she ultimately becomes a person of interest once a school acquaintence is found dead, part of a mysterious string of serial killings.

(With one episode watched, this Anime Spotlight is brief. At the time of this post, it is marked as an OVA.)

Recommendations:

• Himitsu: The Revelation...forget crime scenes, through technological advances images from victims' brains are used to aid investigations, revealing startling details >>
  
• Perfect Blue...a pop star's happy-go-lucky life is turned upside down when an blogger claims to be her and knows surprising small details of her private life
  
• School Days...this anime gives a stark contrast between a happy high school harem anime and a twisted personality anime, here's where you'll find it >>
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Denpa Teki na Kanojo?



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Souten Kouro (Beyond the Heavens)

Souten Kouro caught me by surprise. I didn't expect to be impressed by the art, by the main character, and that it still kept my attention as a historical anime. I usually get a tad bored with historical anime, laden with lots of characters whose relationships I can never remember by the time the next episode is subbed, or by mid-season. Luckily, for this anime, it's not as important. Just pay attention to the main guy Cao Cao and his actions.

The first episode covers a lot of time, and leads me to be impressed by the main man, the type of guy the viewer and many in the anime grow to respect. Nowadays there are a lot of main characters that are of the straightforward and virtuous type, but Cao Cao manages to pull that off and also achieve an air of ferocity and justice.

What about everything else? The action is animated without restraint, and makes no apology for all the blood spilled, body parts severed, and people killed. Blades, bruises, missing teeth, torn clothes, pain, and tears it's all there on the screen. The action scenes aren't drawn-out or lengthy by any means, but what is shown makes an impact. It can also be gruesome outside of the action scenes, too.

What about the goings-on behind the doors of the elite? Basically the higher ups in power are crooked, and Cao Cao is popping up on their radar as a fast-approaching threat. Viewers can enjoy a messed-up beaurocrat getting his just desserts while the suffering townspeople cheer on in hushed tones around their slums. The top brass aren't the only ones who aren't keen on the idea of a young upstart strutting around their town. Not everyone loves Cao Cao, so his path will be an interesting one.

I look forward to these episodes, eager to see what Cao Cao does next.

Recommendations:

• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou >>...two warring ninja clans collide when a peace treaty dissolves, to see who will stand once all the blood is spilled
• Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Tsuiokuhen >>...story of a red-haired young man who swiftly becomes a killer, and woman he encounters one rainy night
  
• Saiunkoku Monogatari >>...sharp girl struggles into the lowest political ranks, with a mission to educate the idle emperor, more comedy, less action
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Souten Kouro (Beyond the Heavens)?




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Higashi no Eden (Eden of the East)

Eden of the East caught my interest after I saw a promotional trailer. The art looked good, it looked a little dramatic and had some intrigue. Two episodes later, I am impressed by a lot of different facets so far. The dialogue is natural. The setting feels "modern" (mobile phones are utilized and a key device in the series). The artwork is nice and even the backgrounds catch my eye. Although, the CG waslking people can take some getting used to. The pacing is comfortable and kicks up at all the right times without tiring me out.

Forget all that vague stuff, the real story is all about a young lady on a school trip and a young man that manages to steal all the attention with a few waves of a gun. Mid-rescue the two get tangled up in each others' business and stick together while the situation mysteriously escalates around them. On the run, trying to stay out of harm's way, and trying to recover his past are all it takes for these two to bring a good chemistry and a few light moments.

It doesn't get too mushy to detract from the main mystery, and it doesn't get too actiony to take away from the bond the two are forming.

Revealing clues to a forgotten past, while building a greater mystery adds to this series' appeal more than the extra characters that are shown sparingly.

The Opening theme is english, but catchy and set the mood for the anime, with the graphics and dramatic music. The ending theme is more artsy and drums up even more memories of Honey & Clover (The main characters look like Hagu and Morita to me). They've got paper and they know how to use it.

Additional Note: The term NEET is used in the anime. In Japan, the classification comprises people aged between 15 and 34 who are unemployed, unmarried, not enrolled in school or engaged in housework, and not seeking work or the technical training needed for work. (See NEET it on Wikipedia >>)

Recommendations:

• Gankutsuo >>...drama whose players have been collected and set, gruesome details of past crimes are revealed
  
• Ergo Proxy >>...more post apocalyptic, hope is lost, robots, darkness, hidden agendas and secrets everywhere
  
• Hachimitsu to Clover >>...similar devotion to artwork, more characters figuring out who they are and deciding where they are going in life
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch East of Eden?



See the description for Eden of the East on AnimeDB.net >>

Ga-Rei Zero

Ga-Rei Zero - watching its first episode, I thought I knew what was going on and what to expect from the anime. We see a special task force who has some history and during the episode battle some demons with some interesting tactics (holy water and holy chants are practical parts of battle), and I thought this anime was going to be about this group of people and we'd learn about the history as the story continues. After the first episode ends, I realize...wow, I was really wrong.

So if you give this anime a shot, watch more than just the first episode. The second episode made me want to watch more of the anime because we meet completely new characters (Kagura, Yomi, and company) and wonder what the connection is between the first and second episode. Then, the third is really the meat of what the anime's focus: the friendship between two ill-fated friends and the struggles, misfortune and evil that brought them to the unhappy dramatic scene in the second episode.

There are some action scenes where I admit, I've rewatched a few times over, because the action was pretty fast, and even after the dust has settled, I wanted to see that "move" again. Maybe they're not as creative as they get, but they seem slightly different than most of the sword-fighting fare.

There is violence, creative weapons, chopped off limbs, and enough blood to know that someone isn't going to quite make it to tomorrow. Friendship is rooted and grows and grows to set you up for what you already know is coming...(because they already showed you earlier). It's like we're seeing the whole thing in hindsight which adds drama to the whole ordeal, from beginning to end.

After the first episode, I wasn't very interested in this anime, and had others to watch and keep me busy. But now my other anime have finished, I watched a few more episodes of Ga-Rei Zero and want to watch it through until the end. It serves as another reminder to me not to judge anime on just the first episode alone.

This video sample is pretty good. Although the trailer's subs are not in English, you get to see some of the good parts of the anime's action and mood.

Recommendations:

• Rental Magica >>...specialists from different belief systems team up to excorcise anomolies, lighter fare with comical romance
  
• Claymore...heavy swords, severed limbs, and a lot of pale killer ladies >>
• Mouryou no Hako >>...another beautiful friendship that didn't end so prettily, a mystery and crime clues form the story
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...main girl escapes a troubled past only to lead a life struggling to survive and protecting her few friends >>
  
• Majin Tantei Neuro...the main villian isn't the only mystery around town >>
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...ill-blood between rich family members begins to boil when mysterious and gruesome murders begin one after the other >>

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Ga-Rei Zero?



See the description for Ga-Rei Zero on AnimeDB.net >>

Heroic Age

Heroic Age somehow slipped under my radar a long time ago. I remember seeing the first episode, being a bit interested, and then I forgot about it. I'm glad I picked it up again and finished it, because the series is pretty unique. I think it could easily be passed up by others as the first few episodes don't reflect how the rest of the anime will be, and think it deserves a spotlight.

It starts out in unfamiliar lands with not a soul in sight until Age comes tumbling into the picture. As we're beginning to wonder what his story is, suddenly we're in deep space, spaceships and skin-tight uniforms all around. Before we start recognizing some space military anime that we've seen before, a Princess shows up and she's got some serious clout, and some unique abilities. Once Age and the Princess meet, the story picks up pace and tosses in politics, war, a tribe of god-like beings, deaths, love, and some really nice painting.

There are some bad guys, a division of good and evil that isn't so clear once a history lesson reveals that the story is smack in the middle of prophecy about a war between races that has been scribbling starways across space.

The anime as a whole was very satisfying and a lot the characters were memorable and had impact, especially Age - he's just a really cool character, and the Princess - who offers a lot more than other anime princesses. And even though the "wish there were more episodes" tag is usually used for a great anime like this, I was really satisfied with it and think any more would just mess up its existence.

The opening theme really grew on me, too.

Recommendations:

• Soukou no Strain...dreams dashed, her sights set on space, a girl uncovers a disturbing military secret >>
  
• Sousei no Aquarion >>...if you can deal with the "gattai" scenes, a simple ruffian is plucked from obscurity to fulfill his destiny
• Starship Yohko >>...an older sillier anime, that doesn't take itself too seriously, some space battles, slapstick, and disturbed enemies
• Tenchi Muyo >>...if you love comedy and the idea of space pirates, princesses, and police invading your simple life, this anime is where they all collide
• Last Exile...a young pilot and his childhood friend navi become entangled in a three-way war when they take a young mysterious girl under their wings >>
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Heroic Age?



See the description for Heroic Age on AnimeDB.net >>

April 2009 List of Picks

Sometimes I am interested in checking out new anime and want to list them, but then end up dropping a series or two and picking up others. This is a list of anime that I ended up watching this last season:

• Astro Fighter Sunred...sing the theme song and fight courteous villains >>
• Bounen no Xamdou...you say your body is taken over by a religious cult's only hope at salvation? >>
• Ga-Rei Zero...the slaughter of gifted task force and the friendship that led up to it >>
  
• Himitsu: the Revelation...dead men tell no tales, but their brains are a different matter >>
• Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae >>...just when you thought the gates of hell stopped handing out straw dolls, a new pawn appears
• Kuroshitsuji...a young heir and his dark butler and the business of revenge >>
• Michiko to Hatchin...A duo of brazen beauty and reasonable kindness, these fugitives bust border after border chasing a dead man>>
• Minamike Okaeri >>...the sisters three are back and their mundane lives are an open book
  
• Mouryou no Hako >>...chopped up body parts are a gruesome start to a young woman's puzzling past
  
• Munto >>...a young girl gets strength from friends, and encounters another magical world hidden in the sky
  
• Skip Beat!...betrayal and revenge kick-start a surprisingly funny story about rebirth >>
  
• Soul Eater...youths take the forms of weapons and wielders when Death himself needs a little help to keep the peace >>
• Tales of the Abyss >>...a sheltered prince's bubble is broken when he runs into his doppelganger and the world comes crashing down at his hand
  
• Viper's Creed...the arrival of a young rookie signals the end of the stalemate between the military and a terrorist group, with Team Viper in the middle >>
• White Album >>...the heaviest of moments are buried in the silences between two people in this romantic drama
  
• Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou...Natsume, the book and nyanko sensei are back and face new youkai as enemies and as allies >>

It's too early in the season to make a list of anime that I'm eagerly watching. As only one or two episodes have aired for a lot of new anime, I have a long list of first episodes to wade through. Hopefully this season will have a healthy crop of great anime.

Video Sample:

Out of the above batches theme songs, Zoku Natsume Yuujinchou's ending song is great and it surprisingly grew on me by the time the season ended. I don't often get to post ending themes and thought it deserved a spotlight.

The song is:
Aishiteru 「愛してる」 by Kourin 高鈴

Skip Beat!

Skip Beat is a fun anime with some bright and shiny characters, and a very motivated and simple main gal driving the story. Thanks to this "heroine" of sorts, we get an upbeat story that involves merit stamps.

Kyoko was a simple gal leading a simple life, in which she knew exactly what her role was and was happy to keep it as such. Then she gets the wake up call of a lifetime and is reborn, switching up to a new path that although, grudge-driven, is laced with hilarity as we watch this newfound "heroine of her own life" realize that she's more than a plain girl who can whip up a daikon rose and serve tea...although the daikon rose thing is sort of not-plain.

She encounters new experiences and new "luxuries" (friendship?) and seeing her treasure these everyday situations can make watchers endear her. Then in another episode she seems like an underdog until we can see her true gifts emerge, then the rooting starts.

Although the picture here looks flashy and girly, the anime focuses on the Kyoko's change and self-empowerment that is so natural that she doesn't quite notice it. Only the watchers of this anime and the other characters really make a fuss about seeing a rising star, so don't expect a strutting peacock at the end of the series.

Yes, thanks to these other characters we get even more funny reactions from Kyoko. One character can bring out her gut-wrenching hatred, another can bring wide-eyed pouts of childish complaints--and don't forget we get the razzle dazzle of this being set within the entertainment industry. We get to see snippets of things like auditions and television shows and the drama that happens behind the camera.

This season seemed short because I enjoyed so much of it. I hope that another season is made so I can see how her story turns out.

Recommendations:

• Glass Mask >>...you want acting, you can get it here, the struggles and challenges of a rising star performer, her secret fan, and her rival
• Kareshi Kanojyo no Jijou >>...the thin line between love and hate appears before two high school overachievers
• White Album >>...quiet anime shows the complications of what seems like a dream come true, having an idol as a girlfriend
  

Video Sample:



Do you plan to watch Skip Beat?



See the description for Skip Beat on AnimeDB.net >>