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 >>
  

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Do you plan to watch Heroic Age?



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

El Cazador de la Bruja (The Hunter of the Witch)

Description on AnimeDB.net

In El Cazador de la Bruja, we join a bounty hunter turned protector (Nadie) and a girl with a past shrouded in mystery (Ellis). The two are soon on the run from a mysteriously shady organization that is after the secrets buried within the young girl and more. They go on a taco-studded journey to find out what all the foggy memories mean, why this crazy creepy guy loses his breath over the young girl, and what lies south.

Fun times are whenever the characters run into a taco stand, action sequences that make Nadie shine, and when Nadie's gun isn't the only one for hire.

Recommendations:

• Black Lagoon...tropical locations, gun-toting ladies and a poor office worker that's no longer into playing the role of the company sap
  
• Seirei no Moribito....a spear-wielding bodyguard whose last task turns into a fight to survive when a royal prince falls into mortal and mythical danger (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Michiko to Hatchin....an escaped prisoner and an abused adoptee hop on a funky blue scooter in search of a man who they can call family, brazilian style (See Anime Spotlight)

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See this previous entry with a special song by Nadie:
El Cazador de la Bruja: Amigo Tacos

Nodame Cantabiru: Paris-hen (Nodame Cantabile: Paris Chapter)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Nodame Cantabiru: Paris-hen - I've seen the first season, and quickly became fans of the main two characters Nodame and Chiaki. It's the sort of relationship that is more entertaining than endearing.

If you watched the first season and was wondering what the second season was like, here is what you should expect: Less focus on the everyday life between the two, less animation of performances, more of the characters taking their own paths into their own hands and "growing up", more new faces and new laughs. Thankfully we see some old characters and the chemistry between the two main characters still make for laughs and a few nearly unexpected "awws".

I wasn't let down by this second season. It's not the same as the first, but that's to be expected when the season is stamped as a seperate chapter in a different country.

I preferred the energetic opening and ending themes of Suemitsu to Smith, but the themes for this grow on you and suit the breezy and calmer sense of the second season. :)

Recommendations:

• Piano no Mori - The Perfect World of Kai...music-anime
• SA - Special A...energetic girl and the "ice prince" who falls for her
• Nodame Cantabile...the first season because it's hilarious
• Lovely Complex...relationship more entertaining than endearing (See Anime Complex)
  

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Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi (Summer Vacation with Coo the Kappa,Summer Days with Coo)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Kappa no Coo to Natsuyasumi - This story has it all, tragedy, comedy, trust, action, a life lesson, friendship,....and a kappa. Even if you don't know what a kappa is to start out, this movie will endear that little beaked bald/mopheaded green guy before you know it.

Watch this when you need a summer watch or a dose of sunny skies and hot days. I highly recommend this one, and would watch it again. This is what anime movies should be like. I like the balance of seriousness with the everyday events. Definitely a "seishun"/"springtime of youth"/"coming of age" whatever you want to call it sort of watch. I don't want to spoil it, but you should know whether this is worth a watch and I think it is. Watch the first 10 minutes and see what you think.

Recommendations:

• Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo (The Girl Who Lept Through Time)...a young girl stumbles upon the ability to time travel, and learns her lighthearted games have unforeseen consequences
• Heisei Tanuki Gassen Pom poko (Pompoko)...japanese mythical creatures have their own battles to take on, when humans start affecting their way of life
  
• Piano no Mori - The Perfect World of Kai... friendship, a mysterious piano can be heard at night in the woods near the village of a young boy's new home

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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:

Ookiku Furikabutte! (Big Windup!)

Description on AnimeDB.net

I'm eight episodes into this baseball anime Ookiku Furikabutte and it is good stuff. I'm happy that Saizen (fansub group) decided to pick it up. :) I also watched another sports-related anime subbed by them, Eyeshield 21, which was a football anime that starred a shy quarterback. The main character of Ookiku Furikabutte is more enjoyable to watch because he pulls these great faces and has modest mannerisms. I'd have to say that Tajima and Abe-kun, and some of the other characters are growing on me, too.

A lot of the characters seem to have realistic problems that young kids in sports experience. I'm learning more about baseball, too. If people really do have abilities like some of these characters, then baseball players are really amazing. At episode 8, we're still covering the first game, which shows me the ups and downs that take place in just one game. With this time-span per episode ratio, I can see how the baseball anime Touch went for a hundred+ episodes. I think a lot of this is because we experience the game at hand as well as the events of Mihoshi's past that have set up the dramatic circumstances of the game.

I really like this one, and it's the perfect summer watch. Man, Tajima is cool! Love pointing out his Ichiro salutes.

You don't have to know a lot about baseball to enjoy this anime. If anything, watching it made me appreciate how complex it really is.

Recommendations:

• Touch...baseball and twin brothers, add a love triangle and a great loss, this is old but good
• Eyeshield 21...zany hilarious football anime that focuses on how a fast chicken-hearted youth can become an inspiration to those who used to bully him, with the help of an alter ego

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Kaibutsu Oujo (Monster Princess)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Kaibutsu Oujo or Monster Princess is good for a few laughs and if you like seeing main characters abuse their immortal slaves. Think of Rozen Maiden but the Shinku is now a chainsaw-wielding princess whose life is the aim of monsters from all around.

After the first two episodes, I thought it was okay. I liked some of the supporting characters (fuga, fuga~) and generally watched for some minor giggles here and there. But one episode with the body-snatching eyeball squid thing seriously grossed me out. I didn't expect it from this anime. It might be darker than I previously thought. Just watch that ending anime. It's vicious watching the little maidservant get drilled! Maybe there's more to this anime than I thought.

Recommendations:

• Rozen Maiden...young boy is pulled into a creepy doll fight, takes getting used to
• Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo...alpha female calls the shots while her assistant fights off creatures (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Soul Eater...action and sprinkled with scary movie monsters and Halloween influence (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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Lucky Star

Description on AnimeDB.net

For weeks Lucky Star episodes have been sitting in my Finished-and-ready-to-watch folder and I thought I had nothing to watch. HA!

This stuff's great. I'm practically glued to Konata. She's obviously the star, but there are some great characters that just come out of left field. I thought I'd be annoyed with the Lucky Channel after a few episodes, but now Akira is my 2nd favorite of the cast. Her assistant's presence just brings out the best in her. Watch it for wacky bits episode by episode. I even look forward to watching the super-peppy opening theme.

Recommendations:

• Lucky Star OAV...just an extra episode, just as wacky
• Kannagi...playful characters and situations and some just hanging on
• Azumanga DaiOh...high school girls that don't take things seriously

Bokurano

Description on AnimeDB.net

More than just a robot anime.

An anime I find myself looking forward to is Bokurano. These kids get themselves in a fix that they can't escape. Lives and the fate of the world are on the line as each kid prepares to leave a chair, a life and an entire world behind them.

The choices they make, their cruel fate, and their individual lives leading up to their last hours together give a depth to this anime that I haven't seen in a long time.

Check out the the opening song. I really dig it! It's Uninstall by Ishikawa Chiaki.

Recommendations:

• Neon Genesis Evangelion...boy fights angels with a mecha
• Escaflowne...boy pilots huge cool mecha, girl affects the future with her fortune telling
• Mushi Uta...youths and the powers that they must cope with
• Aquarion...mystical and strange opponents, mecha, and some eyebrow raising battle rituals
• Tokyo Magnitude...two siblings must cling together when a 8.0 magnitude earthquakes hits Tokyo, bringing all they know crashing down on their heads (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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This season's picks

Tried some new anime, a lot I didn't like. I usually don't write about anime that I don't like. I'm not much of a critic. I'd rather talk about anime that I did like. The only anime that is keeping me alive this season are:

• Love Complex...I've already read all the scanlations available, and went ahead to read up to volume 8 in raws..kanzaiben is a tricky beast to read for me (See Anime Spotlight)
• Emma...ah, trying my best not to peek ahead at the manga
• Nodame Cantabile...love it. honey and clover replacement
• Bokurano...ah, just messed up sometimes (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Naruto Shippuuden...Sakura is better, still hasn't impressed me (See Anime Spotlight)
• Seto no Hanayome...the characters are hilarious together, forget the plot
• Kaibutsu Oujo...that ending theme has some slightly disturbing sights (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Ookiku Furikabutte...it's good so far. I don't know much about baseball, though (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Claymore...it's not bad, but it's not as entertaining as it could be (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Seirei no Moribito...gah, she can fight, take hits and strategize (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Kekkaishi...barriers never got so much attention before this anime (See Anime Spotlight)
  

Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma: Molders Hen (Victorian Romance Emma Second Act)

Description on AnimeDB.net

The tale of Emma is continued as Victorian Romance Emma Second Act! This second installment of my favorite anime starring a gentle maid is giving us what we want: A new house, new companions, familiar locations, and of course--an old flame! (Jones-san, what have you let slip away last time!)

Watch the new developments started off with a new rendition of the previous opening song, with daily situations that reunite fans with their megane-wearing heroine and turning up the heat with a rival for ol' Jones-san.

Thanks to timely releases from iichan fansub group, I get to enjoy this series ever week.

Enjoy it!

Recommendations:

• Emma...the first season, refreshing and calm
  
• Kuroshitsuji...the butler did it, funny with sprinkles of mystery (See Anime Spotlight)
• Aria...calm, so calm
  

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Seirei no Moribito (Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Feel like watching a girl with a spear kick some butt? Seirei no Moribito may be what you're looking for in the feudal-anime-starved summer crop of anime.

She's on the last mission of her life and she is going to use all the tricks in her bag to get it done. The tricks being kicking butt, outsmarting an emperor and keeping a young prince out of tomorrow's obituaries. It isn't non-stop fighting, but I replay the sequences at least 6 times each because the action choreography is done so swiftly and well.

Just watch it. I watch the subs done by [A-Kraze]

Sometimes you just need to see some fighting.

Recommendations:

• Nabari no Ou...great art, some action, dash of interclan politics
• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou...great art, each battle is different and exciting
• El Cazador de la Bruja...Taco-toting hired gun becomes the bodyguard of a innocent young gal (See Anime Spotlight)
• Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto...period-set action, plot-driven anime, with some good fight scenes (See Anime Spotlight)
• Sword of the Stranger...movie, youth naively hires a swordsman and battles and blood-baths follow
• Tokyo Magnitude...a brother and sister find themselves at the center of a natural disaster separated from their parents and clinging to hope that they can make it home before aftershocks and aftermath destroy all they knew (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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Lovely Complex (LabuCom)

Description on AnimeDB.net

Thank you, Lovely Complex! I get my LabuCom fix from the [KissSub] fansubbing group. You have come to my rescue when I needed a super light and super funny anime this season. The two main characters fight so much that the sparks start to fly. And the accents--how I love hearing those accents. I think the voice actors are fun to listen to as well. So it's shoujo--who cares as long as it's good?

The story carries on with the main heroine "giant" (Koizumi) trying to get her feeling across to a dense "halfling" (Ootani) and crashing and burning until even her helpful friends begin to consider him lost cause. Some good situations malfunction when ill-timed mistakes are made and the couple's friendship turns rocky. You end up rooting for them because having them separated won't be as fun or as funny. Upbeat and full of dramatic and funny anime moments, I wish there were more of this series.

Enjoy the upbeat theme song and the ending song that isn't bad in its own right. It's a high school romance comedy that won't bore you.

Recommendations:

• His and Her Circumstances...the thin line between love and hate is located on school grounds, comedy
• Bokura ga Ita...you want high school drama, you got it (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• Kimikiss Pure Rouge...a handful of high schoolers discover light romance (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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Bonus Manga Information:

I'm even reading the manga online. n_n* ureshii~

It began as a few episodes of anime. Then it picked up speed by reading scanlated manga. Then it spiraled into reading raw scans of kansaiben until the final panel ended the story.

But wait--There was more:

Love*com (Love*Com)

Aya Nakahara

I just finished reading Lovely Complex Plus by Nakahara Aya, which are three chapters that include some prequel stories for the main two characters, Koizumi Risa and Ootani Atsushi, and also their fateful first meeting. And I mean FIRST.

I just hated for it to end, like any story I like. But it had to. O-WA-RI !

As of now, trying to track down raw scans of the first 5 volumes (ochibichan knows my weakness: irc), and watching the anime fansubbed by KissSubs.

I'm looking for scans of the Nakahara Aya's other works, too. Hopefully she'll release a new series soon.

Claymore

Description on AnimeDB.net

Claymore - Beheadings, gut-wrenching feasts (literally), mental supression of monstrous urges and big swords that not only cut even comrades but also make a nifty sleeping spot.

The story starts out simple enough, but with each new job we see the heroine Clare turn toward humankind for philosophical salvation from her own gruesome and eventual demise.

It gets better when the episodes give us a little taste of her origins and we get a break from that kid that tags behind her all the time. Will her story be written to match that of her mentor? How did she become a "silver-eyed witch" in the first place?

I watch [Eclipse]'s subs.

Don't want to meet her in a dark alley.

Recommendations:

• Seirei no Moribito...great art, more saving than killing, but the action and bonding are there (See Anime Spotlight)
• Blood: The Last Vampire...movie, dark, gloomy, and blood spilling afoot
• Blood+...light when it starts, but as it develops tears and blood are both shed
• Speed Grapher...underground groups, strange powers, and lives on the line in each episode

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Kekkaishi

Description on AnimeDB.net

At first I thought Kekkaishi was a little too simple. Protagonist, with lame power, and the vow to protect a childhood friend. Sprinkle in a little "I don't want to do this job. I have to." whining, as well as a little "in my brother's shadow" complex.

But I kept watching, cringing every time the guy made a cake castle.

I found myself watching more and more. It's light, the ghost wolf makes it funny, and the different applications of his power make it not so lame. As long as I fast forward through that terribly screechy OP song, I'll be good to go.

The best episode so far for me was the one that had the old friend of the ghost wolf. I'm up to Episode 16.

Recommendations:

• Naruto...young protagonist grows from painful beginnings to an inspiration, ninjas galore
• HunterxHunter...young effervescent protagonist that powers up with a smile
• Inu Yasha...longer series that has plenty of pesky youkai, some romance

Les Miserables - Shoujo Cosette

Description on AnimeDB.net

Les Miserables - Shoujo Cosette is just the animated story of Les Miserables. I think it's a beautiful and delicately miserable story. I like how the story follows the stories of three seperate characters: Cosette, Cosette's mother, and Alan (which sort of ends up as Jean Val Jean's story). They switch without confusing me and getting me mixed up, but I'm still focused on Cosette's day to day life's challenges.

The ending theme is a simply sincere melody that is pleasant, too.

I like it. I need something light to watch now and then when I drink my afternoon tea and relax.

Recommendations:

• Gankutsuou...old classics put into jazzy artsy anime form, an old story of betrayal and revenge as we follow a foolish young man and how a stranger isn't who he claims to be
  
• Nijuu Mensou no Musume...young girl protagonist has more than enough challenges and hardships to span several lives, has mystery and action (See Anime Spotlight)
  

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Naruto Shippuuden (Naruto, the Hurricane Chronicles)

Description on AnimeDB.net


See that picture? That's all you need to know. Now go watch it.

Naruto Shippuuden - He's back with a new jacket, some new tricks up his sleeve and a catchy new OP song. (Sorry, but the OP song that closed the last Naruto season was terrible, I chalk it up to the animation was--just Ugh!)

Love seeing the new Kazekage Gaara, and the brand-new Sakura. Yes, she became badass, but it doesn't easily erase her earlier lame performances. Glad there's no Sasuke to make her go all girly so far. Sick of that.

And what's this about Ino automatically running off to become a medical ninja. Is that the only option for you? Blaze your own path! It is possible for her to be cooler than Sakura.

Note: Is Sakura the only one with artificially colored hair? all the other characters seem to have hair that is naturally possible (yes, even the bone-guy's white hair). But PINK?

I'll say it: I don't like Naruto's new clothes. That is all. He let Sasuke out dress him again. Sasuke looking cho-kakko ii!

Recommendations:

• Naruto...the original series
• Kekkaishi...boy protagonist with special powers, surprising uses (See Anime Spotlight)
  
• HunterxHunter...young effervescent protagonist that powers up with a smile
• Basilisk: Kouga Ninpou Chou...ninjas with a solid plot and great art
• Nabari no Ou...powerful youth in a ninja world not far from the normal world

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Jigoku Shoujo: Futakomori (Hell Girl Second Cage)

Description on AnimeDB.net

I am five episodes into Jigoku Shoujo: Futakomori, the second installment of the Jigoku Shoujo series. Following the final episodes of the first season of Jigoku Shoujo, we've already found out about where Enma Ai comes from and why she's doing what she does.

As far as a second installment, this anime does a good job of continuing the nature of the episodes seen in the middle of the first season. After all the episodes that devote a good portion of the episode to animations of Enma Ai suiting up and delivering souls to hell, and before the episodes that introduce that little girl that could see what Enma Ai sees. Those in-between episodes, are what these Futakomori episodes reflect. Thank goodness, as I was getting tired of that little girl and her wierdo "dad". So we've escaped the usual formula of person gets their revenge and lives with it. Now we're exploring more of the revenge-seekers and what happens after they've "pulled the red string".

Along comes this creepy-creepy-creepy-faced little girl (did someone take a vacuum to her eye sockets?) who does nothing but, well, annoy me with every instance she appears. She's a total mystery and I can't wait for her story to be told--Because that's the only payoff I can imagine, and that helps me tolerate her existence in the anime for now. It had better be a good story. She even irritates the other supporting characters.

For some reason, I like watching this creepy and sometimes disturbing anime right before I go to bed. I have no idea why. This and Black Lagoon, I like to watch right before bed.

Recommendations:

• Jigoku Shoujo...the first season, introduces Jigoku shoujo and her helpers, some simpler cases
• Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae...this season focuses on a high school, and shows us that adults aren't the only ones that desire vengeance
• Shigofumi...communicating with death, the last piece of snail mail, the post-girl has her own dark secrets
• GankutsuOu...talk about revenge served cold, this colorful and dark story enjoys every episode to set up for the finale
• Mononoke...No-longer-human spirits want vengeance too, creative and complex vengeance that's got mystery to it
• Umineko no Naku Koro ni...a golden witch throws down a challenge to solve her epitaph before all the members of a rich family are picked off in gruesome killings (See Anime Spotlight)

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Shuffle: Memories

Description on AnimeDB.net

Can someone tell me what Shuffle: Memories is supposed to be about?

I watched all of Shuffle!, and thought it was ok. I decided to check out what Shuffle Memories is all about. A prequel, the same characters but thrown into different roles in a different world, an actual sequel that followed the first--"which would it be?" I thought.

After watching not 1, not 2, but 3 episodes, I'm...disappointed. Episode 1 is completely devoted to introducing us to each of the main and many supporting characters and includes a peek of what happened to them during Shuffle!. Episode 2 had a completely new opening and ending animation devoted to Kaede (orange-haired) and the episode was all about Kaede, too. If you've watched Shuffle, imagine the episodes that focused on Kaede and cut them out of their respective episodes and package them together as a special Kaede-only episode--that was Episode 2. Episode 3 goes the same formula. Beginning and ending and whole episode is all about the green-haired Asa-sempai.

So there you have it. 3 episodes, and I saw virtually nothing new. Is this all that Shuffle Memories supposed to be? Is the animation production company trying to get all they can from the previous Shuffle! footage? Too under-motivated to do research. nothing on animenfo.com about the story. blah. I won't be downloading this anymore if the next episode is more of the same.

Recommendations:

• Shuffle!...the first season, it had a plot going and characters that added some variety, basic opportunistic game-based harem
• Love Hina...lots of girls and a clueless guy, throw in a hot spring bath, add some laughs, turtles play an interesting role

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Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

Description on AnimeDB.net

I'm now on the fourth episode of Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto, a new anime this season. It's got some sword-fighting but not enough action to be called an action anime. I'd group this with more of a drama series. Like seeing how a story unfolds as new mysteries and clues are revealed about the characters' pasts. It's not bad, at all.

But the fact that Shinsen is subbing it makes me worried. If they get behind on translations, or the anime gets licensed suddenly in America, I'm stuck with a stalled anime storyline. I hope it picks up soon, because after the first episode, I thought it would keep the same fast pace and tone. But it's slowed down a bit. Fingers crossed for it to turn into a solid anime.

Episode 8 has an awesome battle between the main character and the two-gun shooter with the eye patch. Best episode yet! Had to rewind and rewatch several parts. Kakkoo Ii!

Recommendations:

• Sword of the Stranger...movie, stranger, sword and battles to keep an innocent youth alive
• Rurouni Kenshin: Seisouhen...extremely good, swordplay, old japan, drama
• Mononoke Hime...movie, youth away from his village, battles unworldly and wordly enemies and encounters a princess of the mononoke variety

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