Title: Anonymous Noise

Director: Hideya Takahashi

Music by: Sadesper Record, NARASAKI / Watchman

Studio: Brain’s Base

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: June 5th, 2018

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Shojo, Romance, Music

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Six years ago Momo taught Nino the joy of singing from her heart. When Momo’s family moved away without warning, Nino found herself lost and adrift. Until she met Yuzu, who also had a musical gift that he shared with her until he was suddenly gone as well, leaving nothing but the memory of his music. Before they disappeared, both Momo and Yuzu said the same thing- that Nino should keep singing, because that was how they’d find her again.

Now, as Nino starts high school, their paths are all about to cross again. But while Nino has kept singing and remembering how things were, Momo and Yuzu have changed. Now it may take a miracle to bring them back together when a triangle becomes more than a musical instrument.

Commentary:

True shojo anime is not really my bag but there always seems to be something about these anime that draws me in.  Anonymous Noise is one of those anime series that does a good job of keeping my attention and telling a somewhat simple story in a entertaining way. Granted, love triangles are typically one sided and Anonymous Noise leans that way and of all the issues I might have with the series this is the most petty issue I have. I know that people come to series like Anonymous Noise looking for this type of drama and honestly it is the one thing that makes me want to turn away. The thing about Anonymous Noise that kept me coming back was the underling story about the band and their rise and the difficulties they had based on members needs. Having grown up with musicians in my life I understood the trials and tribulations they had to go through even if their road to success was easy yet strange.

Even though I like the underling story, I realize that it was really all about the romance and love triangle and can easily see why anyone would be attracted to it.

Overall Grade: B

I wish I could say that Anonymous Noise hit a home run, but in reality it didn’t. Expecting some hard hitting music with some love triangle drama ended up being a setup for disappointment. I loved the basic story, but fund the music to be overly simplistic and the love or romance of the story to be forced at times. With all of that being said I did enjoy the dynamics between everyone and appreciated the overall writing. If you love Shojo anime and are looking for a solid story with a melodramatic love story intertwined them Anonymous Noise is just the ticket.

Title: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Sword Oratoria

Director: Yōhei Suzuki

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: May 29th, 2018

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genere: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Fan Service

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis: 

Contrary to what the adventures of Bell and the Goddess Hestia might imply, not everyone goes into the dungeon of Orario to pick up girls. The veterans of the Goddess Loki’s Familia have lots of reasons for risking life and limb facing the monsters and mayhem lurking within the deadly labyrinth’s multiple levels, but new member and mage Lefiya just wants to prove that she’s worthy to be on the same team as her hero, the famed sword princess Aiz Wallenstein.

As for Aiz herself, she’s seeking something that no one else even suspects, and she may find it when trouble comes after her from the previously unreached 59th level! If you thought you knew the Danmachi universe, be prepared to think again as the adventure continues from an all-new point of view!

Commentary:

As much as I liked Is It Wrong To Pick Up A  Girl In A Dungeon, I have to say that Sword Oratoria gave me even more appreciation for the complete series. Knowing that the 12 episodes will not have Bell and his adventures in it I did have moments when I could see the team back fighting together. The Loki Familia is great and all but Bell and Hestia and many of the others do make a difference in the entire mix.

Of all the characters to have focus on, Aiz, is by far the least entertaining one. She might be on the clueless side and have great talent but her flat persona is a lost cause. I also think that having Bell faun all over her is much more entertaining than seeing the girls in the Loki Familia have the hots for her is just sad indeed.

Overall Grade: B+

The action is very good and the pacing of the series is great. We don’t get too bogged down and things move along without giving up too much to soon. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Sword Oratoria is solid and very entertaining. I feel as though it is important to provide more character development for many side characters and most series just toss out a bad  OVA to help create some back story. Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Sword Oratoria helps us see some of the other characters in a new light. I am contemplating going back and revisiting the original just to see some of these players with a new appreciation.

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?: Sword Oratoria is worth owning and if you are fan of the original series this is a must. I think it does nothing short of helping the series stay relevant and opens doors for more to come.

Title: Atom the Beginning on Blu-ray

Director: Katsuyuki Motohiro

Studio: OLM, Production I.G, Signal.MD

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: May 1st, 2018

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Action

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Atom the Beginning contains episodes 1-12 of the anime series directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro.

In the aftermath of the Great Catastrophe, grad students Hiroshi Ochanomizo and Ummataro Tenma are working at the forefront of the exciting new field of super-robot development. Creating the next level of technology isn’t cheap, however, and not only do the guys have to take on side jobs to keep their research going, they also have to contend with both jealous rivals and sinister organizations who want their secrets. Fortunately, our heroes also have an ace in the hole: their latest prototype, A106, who may just be the smartest, most powerful robot yet, and might even possibly be ATOM – THE BEGINNING!

Commentary:

Atom the Beginning is a prequel to Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy manga/anime series, depicting the events up until the birth of Astro Boy. Atom the Beginning may be a homage to Astro Boy but I found it to be better in almost every way. The writing is better, the animation is superb and the overall production quality proves that the new generation has a greater feel for this art form.

Of course there is some silliness in Atom the Beginning, but I didn’t seem to mind . It was the development and delivery of the story that made every moment worth while.

Overall Grade: A-

Before I sat down and began to watch Atom the Beginning, I was very concerned that trying to connect it to Tezuka would blind their own vision. The only other time I have seen a winning attempt to honoring Tezuka was in Urasawa’s Pluto. Which is also a reimagine of the Astro Boy story. Atom the Beginning didn’t have to rewrite the story it just had to come up with a valid beginning and present it in a way that didn’t fly in the face of the 65 year old series that stretched over 15 years.

I am impressed with Atom the Beginning and would tell everyone to forget that it relates to Astro Boy and look at it as a stand alone series. You will find it to be wonderfully told and crafted.

Title: In Is It Wrong to Expect a Hot Spring in a Dungeon?!

Director: Yoshiki Yamakawa

Music by: Keiji Inai

Studio:  J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: May 8th, 2018

Format: Blu-ray/ 25 Minute OVA / 2 Music CDs

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Fan Service

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

In Is It Wrong to Expect a Hot Spring in a Dungeon?! contains the OVA and 2 Disc Original Soundtrack.

Our band of bold adventurers has just blown through the 18th level of the world’s most fearsome dungeon, so what do they do for an encore?

Since the city of Orario doesn’t have a theme park, the next choice for Bell, Hestia, Lilly and the gang would seem to be a trip to the hot springs… and, conveniently enough, a battle with some hellhounds has led them to an undiscovered underground oasis! However, there’s something fishy about these springs, beyond the fact that Hermes happens to have bathing suits for all the ladies in their correct sizes! Will the secret be discovered before it’s too late? Will Hestia finally come clean with Bell? It’ll all come out in the wash when our heroes learn the answer!

Commentary:

All in all, In Is It Wrong to Expect a Hot Spring in a Dungeon?! is exactly what you would expect from a 25 minute OVA that is clearly about the characters in a Hot Spring. Of course, this is Is It Wrong To Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon and it is really about the sexual innuendoes and fan service. I didn’t expect anything else and that is what I got. The OVA did not try to hide its meaning or shy away from what it was trying to purvey. The real purpose of the set is the 2 Music CDs. That is a full 95 minutes of music.

The animation is the same quality as the series and there is nothing to note there and the music is a rather standard fair for soundtracks I guess the one big this is that you won’t find the opening or closing soundtracks on the CDs just a full tracks of music. The majority of them are rather ordinary European style orchestral arrangements that are so short that they really don’t express much of any feeling. There is a large amount of songs and also understandably relate back to the fantasy aspect of the series but that is as close as it gets.

Overall Grade: B

I completely understand the reasons for putting In Is It Wrong to Expect a Hot Spring in a Dungeon?! out and can see why this can find a solid place in someones collection. Where it all breaks down for me is the soundtrack and the solo issue of the OVA. For me it is clear that the OVA should have been packaged with the series and I honestly am not sure why the soundtracks even exists.

This little set is something that Is It Wrong fans will have to have and for everyone else I think it is a maybe. For the real essence of the set it really comes down to the CHEESECAKE. You would never guess from the cover.

Title: Urara Meirochou the Complete Collection on blu-ray

Director: Youhei Suzuki

Writer: Deko Akao

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: April 17th, 2018

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Slice of Life

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Chiya was raised in the woods and most of her friends were animals. But now she needs to find something, and since it may take the skills of an Urara, or fortune teller, to find it, she’s come to the town of Meiro-cho to learn to become an Urara herself.

It won’t be easy adjusting… and not just because Chiya still tends to check to see if people have tails or want their tummies rubbed! But the other girls studying at the Natsumeya teahouse are all unusual in their own ways, and it’s clear from the beginning that Chiya’s going to be great friends with studious Kon, rambunctious Koume and shy Nono. And that’s good, because if Chiya’s going to find her missing mother, she’ll need all the help and support she can get!

Commentary:

Urara Meirochou the Complete Collection is one of the cutest anime I have see in some time. each of the characters, especially Chiya, steals your heart from the very first episode. Like most of these slice of life anime the girls are easy to connect with and their personalities are also obvious from the very start.

There is a solid plot and with the humor of the naive young ladies and the weird world they have entered the series doesn’t have to be long to be good. There are plenty of small twist along the way with an overwhelming splash of silly playful humor to keep the viewer tagging along for all 12 episodes.

Overall Grade: B+

The one thing that Urara Meirochou has going for it is the solid animation. The production really matched the feel of the series rather than try to push a false dynamic. The look adds to the feel good aspect of the series and also provides for a soft easy flow.

The real strength of the Urara Meirochou the Complete Collection is the simplicity of the story and the warmth of the characters. Having each of them with sweet unassuming nature and a rather naive approach to life allows the story to give plenty of humor and happiness to the time spent watching.

Bottom line is if you are looking for some light sweet entertainment then Urara Meirochou the Complete Collection is the cure for you.