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:



Do you plan to watch Umineko no Naku Koro ni?


See the description for Umineko no Naku Koro ni on AnimeDB.net >>

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:



Do you plan to watch Tokyo Magnitude 8.0?

See the description for Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 on AnimeDB.net >>

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:



Do you plan to watch Last Exile?


See the description for Last Exile on AnimeDB.net >>

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:



Do you plan to watch Kurozuka?


See the description for Kurozuka on AnimeDB.net >>

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.



Do you plan to watch Kemono no Souja Erin?


See the description for Kemono no Souja Erin on AnimeDB.net >>

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?