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)

Video Sample:

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)
  

Video Sample:

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 >>
  

Video Sample:



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)
  

Video Sample:

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?
  

Video Sample:

School Days

Description on AnimeDB.net

School Days

Here's part of an IM conversation I had with a friend, with their dialogue removed:

Anime Spotlights says:

oh!

Anime Spotlights says:

i GOTTA tell you about this anime that just shocked me

Anime Spotlights says:

it just stains the happy summer anime season with its finale

Anime Spotlights says:

eh, you'd never watch it though

Anime Spotlights says:

the ending is so messed up! sometimes it just pops into my head and i just stand there thinking,"ugh, that was So messed up!"

Anime Spotlights says:

it all started so innocently

Anime Spotlights says:

and then reality started twisting

Anime Spotlights says:

then the breaking point, when you know something horrible is going to happen but you don't know what

Anime Spotlights says:

what, what, WHAT's going to HAPPEN!?

Anime Spotlights says:

KAPOW!!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

KABLAMMIE!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

and it's over...

Anime Spotlights says:

and you are shocked

Anime Spotlights says:

stunned

Anime Spotlights says:

unable to watch anime for the rest of the day

Anime Spotlights says:

then you watch the ending one more time, to make sure it was for real

Anime Spotlights says:

yep! KAPOW!!!!!! KABLAMMIE!!!!!!

Anime Spotlights says:

for real man

Anime Spotlights says:

that was a crazy ending

Recommendations:

• Bokura ga Ita...high school romance with drama (See Anime Spotlight)
• Myself; Yourself...high school romance with some dark secrets
• Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae...high school and vengeance go hand in hand

Video Sample:

El Cazador de la Bruja: Amigo Tacos

I just realized that I haven't made an entry about the anime El Cazador de la Bruja. Later, later. (Update: See Anime Spotlight)

I am having tacos today (steak hard shell tacos, they're great!) which makes me want to sing--Sing about tacos!

But here, I'll let Nadie do the singing for me.

Here is El Cazador de la Bruja's Nadie singing the Amigo Tacos song: