Rss

  • youtube

Archives for : Fantasy

Sunday Without God (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : October 25, 2014
1

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday Without GodTitle: Sunday Without God Complete Collection on Blu-ray

Director: Hiromi Mizutani

Studio: Madhouse

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 21st, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes + 1 OVA / 325 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Mystery

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Fifteen years ago on a Sunday, God abandoned the world and closed the gate to Heaven, leaving the souls of humankind trapped in limbo. With the dead unable to rest and the living unable to have children, the world is slowly coming to a halt. The only key to mankind’s salvation rests with the Gravekeepers, mysterious beings charged with the task of sending the deceased to their final resting place.

Twelve-year-old Ai, one of the last children in the world, soon finds herself shouldered with the burden of becoming her village’s newest Gravekeeper. But beneath the village’s unassuming exterior lies a dark secret that is revealed with the arrival of a gun-wielding stranger in black. With her position as a Gravekeeper now uncertain, Ai has no choice but to set out to put the living dead to rest. But in a world where no one can die, is death truly the ultimate blessing?

Commentary:

Conceptually Sunday Without God is an interesting proposition. To pull it off and take the subject matter seriously would be very hard to do. In the early episodes things don’t add up as well as I wanted, but by the third episode things start to come together. I have to admit there is a twist up front I didn’t expect and part of me id not sure if it makes much sense. Anyway, the series does come together and provide some semblance of living up to its title.

The real strength to the series is the animation done by Madhouse. The look is classic anime with a cute girl being the main protagonist. And the rest of the characters either being sweet and cute or strange and somewhat bizarre or older and worn out. The overall style is somewhat typical, but there are moments when the look becomes a little rustic with a truly ethereal feel that is an important tie-in to the series.

Overall Grade: B

There are such great possibilities with the subject matter and in some ways Sunday Without God delivers and in others it misses the mark. I’m not sure why the main girl had to be so cute and simplistic. I think that if the story had been re-written to make all the characters older would have made more sense and also given the plot a dramatic edge that it is missing. For the most part I found it to be relatively entertaining and when I forgot about the plot it was down right fun.

To really enjoy the series I would tell you to leave the concept behind the story at the door and just sit back and watch it without any preconceptions. That way the cuteness and melancholy that is presented early on is received with a viewpoint that doesn’t jade the rest of the series.

if, you are looking for a series that makes you think, you might want to look elsewhere. If you are looking for a series that looks great and entertains at a level that is both fun and somewhat thoughtful, then Sunday Without God is a series that you will enjoy and should check out.

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : October 18, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs from the East Season 2Title:Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 Collection

Director: Mitsue Yamazaki

Creator: Miyuki Abe

Anime Adaptation: Osamu Yamasaki

Studio: Studio Deen

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 28th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 13 episodes / 325 minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Historical Myth, Action, Adventure

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Forced to choose between death and an unnatural life bound to the living sword Murasame, Shino Inuzuka chose the sword. Now, however, in the bloody aftermath of his transformation and Kohaku’s death, Shino’s awareness of the true scope of his bond with Murasame has expanded. Is he truly a curse to all who meet him?

In the end, the focus must return to the mysterious beads which started everything. What exactly are their origin and powers? Who and where are the holders who have not yet been located? And what are Rio Saotome and the Imperial Church’s real roles in all of this? Does the woman who is “She,” hold the answers?

Commentary:

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 is a great followup to the plot and story layer down in season 1. The follow through is seamless and it allows the tail to be revealed in a smooth and reliable manner. The characters are brought together and with the search for the remaining Dog Worriers things come together nicely. The episodes are well written and do a great job of telling us about each of the history of the remaining group. I felt like if there was a easy out for these characters to be brought together it was the fact that each was forced out of their home and ended up heading to the capitol city. Of course they needed to come together, but to make them abandon their homes the way they did seemed a little contrived.

The animation was well done and it suited the series well. It came across with a soft easy feeling that also aided in helping the characters remain sympathic and easy to stay connected to. I can’t say that the soundtrack or music made any difference for me. I was somewhat stock and blended in to become nothing more than background noise. That in itself is not a bad thing and in this case I guess it was appropriate because the story didn’t need a dramatic soundtrack.

Overall Grade: B+

I am a fan of the series and found most of it to be really enjoyable. If there was any aspect to it that I found unsettling it was the tendency to make Shino a object of desire for too many of the male characters. I really found that humor to be somewhat disturbing and rather tasteless. I would have rather seen more of a brother approach to the relationships. I know that there was a brotherly commentary running through the series when it cam to Shino and Sosuke and even some underlying connection with Rio Saotome. It is some of the other that seem to come across with more than a brotherly love .

I was also disturb that the story was not properly wrapped up. I guess that there is always hope that more funding will come along to allow production of a third season. If not I will be rather disappointed that there are so many questions left unanswered.

Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East Season 2 is a wonderful second step and it does a great job of bringing the group together. I believe that the fans of this series will be happy with season 2 and that they will also find some frustration with the way it is wrapped up.

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2

Posted by :Patches On : September 15, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2

review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2

Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

Studio: J.C. Staff

Author: Seishi Minakami

U.S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U.S. Release Date: August 19, 2014

Format and Length: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Fantasy, Super Power

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: A Certain Scientific Railgun, A Certain Magical Index

Synopsis:

The Sister’s Arc continues in A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2. Since Misaka knows the entire truth about the organization that is making the sister clones, she will stop at nothing to bring it down. However, that means facing Accelerator in a fight that only one of them will walk away from.

Elsewhere in Academy City, an adorable girl named Febrie is introduced to Misaka’s circle of friends. As the girls begin to learn more about Febrie’s past, they discover that she is a victim of scientific forces in the city as well. Of course, that is something that Misaka and the girls of Judgment simply will not stand for. Will Misaka and her friends be able to help Febrie? Will Misaka be able to stop the organization that is making the sister clones? You will have to watch A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2 and find out.

Commentary:

In A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2, the Sister’s Arc finally comes to an interesting conclusion. The Sister’s Arc gives us thrilling action, emotional and powerful revelations, and portrays the story in an exciting, multi-perspective fashion. Misaka’s character development was amazing and was awesome to watch. Touma makes appearances once again and adds an interesting plot twist. I absolutely loved the Sister’s Arc because you really begin to understand Misaka more. However, I thought that the conclusion to this Arc was a little rushed and I really wish they would have taken a little more time on it.

Now for the Silent Party Arc. I like to think of the Silent Party Arc as the red-headed step-child of the Sister’s Arc. The Silent Party Arc had a very weak plot that was filled with inconsistencies and characters who acted completely out of character. Basically Misaka and her friends meet the most adorable little girl ever, Febrie, and try to find her a place to live since she does not have parents. They end up learning that she is not really human but a genetically manufactured being that is going to be used to destroy Academy City. I believe that if they would have taken more time to make the plot flow better and actually make sense that this story arc would have been interesting. I wish that the characters did not act so out of character because Misaka went through some amazing development in the Sister’s Arc but reverted back to her original character for the Silent Party Arc. That really took away from the story and also made it very hard to watch. All that being said, if you watch the Silent Party Arc with low expectations it is a cute, light arc to watch and it is only eight episodes long.

J.C. Staff did an amazing job with the animation. The scenes burst to life off the screen and drag you into the story and do not let go until the end of the disc. The voice actors did an amazing job and brought the characters to life. The opening and closing songs were okay. I did not see anything special about them but they were decent for what they were.

Overall Grade: B+

I really enjoyed A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 2 and I recommend it to anyone. I really loved the Sister’s Arc and could take or leave the Silent Party Arc. Either way, this entire series has found a way into my heart and I am okay with that.

Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection

Posted by :Patches On : August 11, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sengoku CollectionTitle: Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection

Director: Keiji Gotou

Studio: Brian’s Base

Author: Touko Machida

U.S. Distributor: Lucky Penny / Nozomi

U.S. Release Date: August 5, 2014

Format and Length: DVD / 26 Episodes / 650 Minutes

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Parody, Samurai

Industry Age Rating: 16 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Battle Girls: Time Paradox

Synopsis:

Oda Nobunaga is a feisty Warring States era general who is locked in a massive struggle to dominate the land, however, that all changes when a strange light sucks friend and foe alike into our era. But how will the Warring States era generals and their servants adapt to a strange land full of technology? Some will do better than others and become Idols or models while others are determined to go back to their own era. Japan and Feudal Japan will never be the same again when the generals are done wreaking havoc and collecting the “Secret Treasures.”

Commentary:

Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection once again brings us an all female cast for the Warring States era generals, but this time they are brought into the modern era. However, I wish that the story line would have meshed together a bit better. Each general had one or two episodes devoted to their adventures in the modern era. The only character that was in almost every episode was Nobunaga. I wish the other characters would have had some more screen time and more advancement of their character. Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection ended up feeling like a slice-of-life anime because the episodes are very loosely related to each other and they did not add much to the main story. The name of this series makes perfect sense after watching because it is basically a collection of all of the generals’ stories with no actual plot. You see hints of a story line in each episode, but for the most part there is none.

There were also some problems with the characters. Some of the characters are horribly written and have almost no relevance to their Feudal image that they should have either been left out of the story or shared an episode with another character. One of those characters would be Tsunehisa Amago, the general that came into our era as a four year old child. Her episode really threw me for a loop. However, some of the characters were well written and brought their episode to life. Some of those characters would include Masamune Date, Nobunaga Oda, and Ieyasu Tokugawa. I really enjoyed their episodes and their voice actors really brought their characters to life. Some of the episodes were awesome, most were okay, and a few were a chore to get through. There were also a large number of parodies in this series but most are Japanese-related media so the average viewer will probably not understand the references.

The art work quality seemed to change from episode to episode, however it did not take away any enjoyment from the series for me. I thought the opening and closing songs were catchy and cute. Every episode had different styles and artists for the music depending on the episode and parodies used in the episode. Be forewarned, there is a ton of fan-service in this series and I felt it took away from the episodes and was overdone.

Extras:

Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and trailers as special features. This release only included Japanese with English subtitles as the language options.

Overall Grade: C+

Sengoku Collection DVD Complete Collection had so much potential but it was not executed well. This was still an okay series but at times it was tough to make it through an episode.

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection 9anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 4, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,

Fantasista Doll

Review Provided by Andrew &Katie

Title: Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection

Director: Hisashi Saito

Studio: Hoods Entertainment

Author: Noboru Kimura and Yuko Kakihara

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: August 12, 2014

Format and Length: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Magic, Sci-Fi

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Angelic Layer, Rozen Maiden, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Busou Shinki

Synopsis:

No one really knows what life has waiting in the cards for them, but for Uzume Uno, the surprises are not just in the cards but also in what comes out of them. Uzume finds herself in possession of a mysterious deck of cards through a strange twist of fate. She is surprised to find that five magical girls known as the Fantasista Dolls materialize and by playing the cards in different combinations, she can equip the girls with an array of costumes and weapons. That comes in extremely handy when a new danger that only the Dolls can stop is coming to threaten the Earth. With the future of the entire world on her shoulders, Uzume is going to have to learn how to play the hand she has been dealt pretty quickly. Will Uzume be able to deal with the Dolls’ odd demands and save the world at the same time? You will have to watch Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection to find out.

Commentary:

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is a very cute and moe anime series. I believe that tween and teen girls will love this series even with the age rating. The only thing that makes it the age rating is that the dolls have body paint on under their outfits and go around like that for a good part of the series and there is a little bit of fan-service. Those pluses aside, Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection does have some problems. The dialogue between characters does not flow well most of the time and they jump between the other plot line and the main plot line in the middle of an episode. I wish that they would have spent an entire episode on one plot line and went to the other plot line in the next episode. I believe that would have made things a bit smoother.

Uzume Uno is an interesting character. You learn that she has experience in playing card games. She had decided to give up playing card games though because she felt it was time to grow up. I believe that dealing with the dolls actually helped her become more mature and also helped her realize that she cannot try to solve problems on her own. Her Fantasista Dolls are pretty cute. Sasara is the first doll to appear to Uzume and she makes the contract. Katia is the childish doll and she is amazingly cute. Shimeji is the least trusting doll of them all as she misses her previous master. Madeleine is the tallest doll who is always ready to help out her master and she also plans out battle tactics. Akari is the little loli doll. She is also amazingly cute and uses yo-yo’s as her weapon of choice. If I had to choose my favorite doll it would have to be Katia because she is just too cute and adorable.

The artwork is really nice especially as the outfits and hairstyles are unique and reflect on each characters personality. The artwork was also very colorful and nice to look at. The voice actors did a good job bringing the characters to life. The battle sound effects were great and the music was okay. It sounded like J-Pop so if you like that type of music then you will enjoy Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection’s music. The only other thing I have to complain about is that there are credits from Sentai after each episode and it gets old after a while. I really think that they could have just put that at the end of the series and the episodes would have flowed better. But that is a small thing and might not bother other people.

Extras:

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations, Sentai Filmworks trailers and disc credits as special features. Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is only available in Japanese with English subtitles in this release.

Overall Grade: C

Fantasista Doll: Complete Collection is a good series, especially if you enjoy the Magical Girl genre. Just make sure to never make a contract with a random magical being that appears at just the right time.

Short Peace (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 5, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , ,

Short PeaceTitle: Short Peace

Directors: Possessions; Shuhei Morita, Combustile; Katsuhiro Otomo, Gambo; Hiroaki Ando,  A Farewell To Weapons; Hajime Katoki.

Writer / Creator: Possessions; Shuhei Morita, Combustile; Katsuhiro Otomo, Gambo; Hiroaki Ando, A Farewell To Weapons;  Studio is Sunrise.

Studio: All Short Films are done at Sunrise.

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 5th,

Format: Blu-ray / 4 short films / 68 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Edo Period, Sci Fi

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

In 1995, Katsuhiro Otomo’s anthology Memories showcased the work of upcoming superstars of the anime world. Now, Otomo’s spotlight shifts to a fresh generation of master creators with an all-new anthology of visionary films.

A lone traveler is confronted by unusual spirits in an abandoned shrine in the 2013 Academy Award nominated Possessions (Tsukumo), directed by Shuhei Morita (Coicent, Kakurenbo). A mysterious white bear defends the royal family from the predations of a red demon in the brutal Gambo, directed by Hiroaki Ando (Five Numbers!) from Redline’s Katsuhito Ishii’s original story with character designs by Yoshiyuki Sadamoto (Neon Genesis Evangelion).

The focus shifts from supernatural to science fiction for the action-packed A Farewell To Weapons (Buki Yo Saraba), as Mobile Suit Gundam designer Hajime Katoki helms Otomo’s tour-de-force saga of men battling robotic tanks in apocalyptic Tokyo, while grandmaster Otomo himself assumes the directorial reigns for a spectacular tale of love, honor and firefighting in ancient Japan with the multi-award winning Combustible (Hi-No-Youjin).

Prepare your senses for the animated films that are taking the critical world by storm as a new era in anime is ushered in with Katsuhiro Otomo’s Short Peace!

Commentary:

Compilation sets are not as common as they used to be and for as much fun as they are there was often a real letdown when they came out. The expectation that we would see something amazing was always followed by dashed hopes and a sense that the future for anime is nothing new. Now comes Short Peace and a look at four short films that approach animation in very different ways.

Before I get into the films I have to mention the opening sequence. In some ways it was very special in itself and managed to heighten my expectations for the films. Now as the films go I was immediately shocked by the look of the first film, Possession, looked. I thought I was looking at a edo period version of Appleseed. Now this could be construed as something great because I really like Appleseed and feel like it was a ground breaker for its time. Now-a-days  this blocky style of Computer Graphics looks dated and somewhat naive, but as soon as you get into the story this feeling of obsolescence fades away quickly. The story is based on an old Taoist belief and brings the idea to life in an imaginative way. By the end of the story I didn’t care about the animation style.

Combustile is a different story all together. This is another Edo period film that quietly takes on a simple story of the loss of childhood and dreams. I loved the look, but found the story to be lacking in substance and ended up leaving me flat. I think that what really happened is that there just wasn’t time to connect with the characters  and the complex human aspect to the story needed a larger opportunity to develop. None-the-less, it comes off as the weakest of them all.

Gambo is a interesting story of alien devastation and also during the Edo period. The look of Gambo is outstanding and gives a slick stylized look to a naturalistic film. The story is straight forward but the overall look is what takes this one home. There is also a battle at the end that is rather intense. This clearly is what helps make this a memorable anime.

The last film, A Farewell To Weapons, is by far the slickest of all the films. It is not based on the past but rather in the future and carries with it a rather realistic opinion of what happens after humanity is done playing god with weapons and weapon systems. It may also be the one with the least complex of all the stories. Even though is is simple in form the animation is beautifully done. It matched the subject matter and came across with a realist impression. It also managed to show us how good Computer Graphics have gotten.

Overall Grade: B+

Unlike other compilation sets like Voices of a Distant Star, by Shinkia , or Heavy Metal, Short Peace doesn’t seem to providing us a glimpse of the next great director / creator. Although, I was impressed with Gambo and A Farewell To Weapons for their ability to give us a slick anime that left a real impact.  Short Peace does provide a solid hour of entertainment and because of the variety of styles it keeps us engaged. In closing, this compilation set could be a genuine addition to any anime collection.

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 28, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , ,

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1review provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1

Director: Tatsuyuki Nagai

Studio: J.C. Staff

Author: Seishi Minakami

U.S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U.S. Release Date: July 1, 2014

Format and Length: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Fantasy, Super Power

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: A Certain Scientific Railgun, A Certain Magical Index

Synopsis:

Something sinister is growing in Academy City. The shadows are filled with whispers of a project to clone one of the super-powered students known as espers. High-ranking master of electricity Mikoto Misaka, or Railgun as she is known to other espers, laughs off these stories until she comes in contact with a copy of herself. The duplicates are real and are being mass-produced from Misaka’s own DNA, making each one of them a little piece of her. The Sisters, these clones, are being systematically murdered in a series of experiments designed to turn a sadistic killer into the strongest esper in history. Misaka vows to save her copies and destroy the project. However, this might be one fight she cannot win alone but she hates to ask for help. Be on the lookout for high-energy battles and intense action in this continuation of the A Certain Scientific Railgun series. Will Misaka be able to turn to her friends for help or will she be forced to fight the good fight on her own? You will have to watch A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 and find out.

Commentary:

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 still takes place in academy city with the four usual characters Misaka, Kuroko, Uiharu, and Saten. However, this season focuses more on Misaka’s background story and outlines her more as a character. We are also introduced the fourth level five esper and the first level five esper making for some well animated fighting scenes. In these first twelve episodes some of the characters from the first season were not featured as much as they could have been. I am hoping that will change in Part Two.

The Sister’s story arc really caught my interest. I remember some of it from A Certain Magical Index and A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 just expands on it and fills in any blanks that A Certain Magical Index left. You also see a different side of Misaka in this season. She became slightly darker, at least to me, and that added depth to her character. She really grew into her character this season and she also learns some very important life lessons. It also ties you emotionally to her and the fights that she has in A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1. Touma from A Certain Magical Index also makes an appearance in the last few episodes and I am hoping that he will be there in Part 2 because he adds that certain something to the plot. Academy City seems like a Stepford city. Rules for the general public must be followed and images for the general public must be believed. So long as the general public accepts those rules then everything will be great, however there are issues because every city has its issues. It will be interesting to see how Academy City fairs in Part 2.

J.C. Staff did an amazing job with the animation. The scenes burst to life off the screen and drag you into the story and do not let go until the end of the disc. The voice actors did an amazing job and brought the characters to life. The opening and closing songs were okay. I did not see anything special about them but they were decent for what they were. I cannot wait to see the rest of the series and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat while watching it.
Extras:

A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 includes episode commentary, clean opening and closing animations, and Funimation trailers.

Overall Grade: A-

I really enjoyed A Certain Scientific Railgun S—Season 2 Part 1 and I cannot wait to see Part Two. I personally enjoyed this season more than the first but I recommend the entire A Certain Magical Index series and spin-offs as the storylines keep you interested. Just a word of advice for those who are reading this, do not offer up your DNA to some doctor unless you are ready for the consequences.

Samurai Bride (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 7, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , ,

Samurai BrideTitle: Samurai Bride on Blu-ray

Director: KOBUN

Studio: Arms

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date:  June 24th

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Harem, Fantasy, Comedy, Fan Service!!!!

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: C+

 

Synopsis:

Things seemed to be going so well for Muneakira Yagyu. On top of dealing with Jubei, the immortal samurai warrior who fell out of the sky and into his arms and lips, he used his ability to awaken the latent power of a female samurai with a kiss to successfully juggle a handful of very powerful, very female master samurai, AND led them all to victory against the minion of a great evil. So was it too much to ask for a little break in the routine of saving Japan?

Apparently it was, as another great evil has appeared in the land, this one even stronger than the last. However, that’s the least of Muneakira’s problems, because with all the women he’s kissed in order to awaken their latent samurai powers, the inevitable has finally happened. Someone’s taking the long walk down the aisle with a samurai girl! It’s going to be a really old-fashioned wedding and any resistance by the groom will be totally feudal!

Commentary:

Ok, all you fans of Samurai Girls here comes the next installment. All the bouncing women parts are making their way through this simplistic story of light vs dark. Of course the series characters take on the names of famous historical figures, but all of these figures must be rolling in their graves with the depiction of their famous personas. I doubt seriously that the great Yagyu, Jubei was ever interested in being depicted as a rather  simple young woman, but this is not the first time his should has found its way into a rather bountiful young women. The thing with this series is the fact that it is really focused on the fan service.

Studio Arms has done its best at what it does best Samurai Bride. That is depicting the female form and showing to off from opening credits throughout the entire series to the closing credits. On the other hand the male characters much less developed and they clearly are secondary figures and represent a vessel for that viewer to use as a conduit to the women.

Overall Personal Grade:

Samurai Bride is not a series for everyone and in fact it has a rather narrow audience in the U. S. When putting the series together I can tell that the target audience is males between age 17 to 30 and it is put together just for them. I guess there can be some cross over, but seriously doubt if it will find a place in many other collection. For the harem, Fan Service crowd this one will hit a home run. This one is a classic of the idealized female form and does have its moments of real comedic relief that makes it fun. So, if you are looking for something that will arouse and humor you at the same time then Samurai Bride is just the thing you are looking for!

Maoyu (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 6, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , ,

MaoyuTitle: Maoyu: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray

Director: Takeo Takahashi

Writer: Narujisa Arakawa

Studio: Arms

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: June 10th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Names can be deceiving, something the warrior known as Hero quickly discovers when he storms the castle of the dread Demon King that mankind has fought for fifteen years. For one thing, the “king” turns out to be a queen! Even more shocking, though, is that she’s waiting for him with an unexpected proposal.

She points out that it would be bad for both sides if the war was to end immediately, as without a common enemy, the individual factions of the winning side are certain to turn on each other in a new series of civil wars. However, she has a plan to end the war, bring democracy and advanced knowledge to humanity, and ensure lasting prosperity for both sides, no matter who “wins.” But to accomplish this, she needs a collaborator on the human side, and she’s chosen Hero as the one partner she can trust! Is it a deal with the devil, or mankind’s only hope for lasting peace?

 Commentary:

The list of anime that use romance and war as a vehicle to teach basic economics are few and far between and those that are able to do this and come out on the other side with a real winner of an experience are even fewer. Maoyu is one of those series that manages to pull this off at a level that puts it at the top of my list. After the first episode I was hooked or should I say after the first 15 minutes I was smiling. Admittedly there is some fan service that may not be necessary , but it just might be what is needed to keep some fans watching. Personally the writing and beautiful animation styling  are enough for me.

With the series being place in a mythical land and time just before the industrial revolution  the look needed to fit well. The animators at Arms seemed to understand exactly what seas needed. There is a very special rustic look to the environment that balanced well against the new standard for human form. The two main characters, The Hero and Demon King, visual appearance suit them both well. The Demon King is a kind hearted woman who has so much to offer and the Hero is a young man who has all the power and no wish to use it against others. It is just this that makes these two so well suited together. When you add in the way the story develops you end having a series that makes you want to watch it all the way through.

The only think that I felt betrayed the series was the last episode. Based on where we end up I can see that it was left open for another seson. With that said I felt like the last episode was rushed and ended up pushing the story to an end that fell flat. I’ve seen this before and it is a shame when so much effort was put into creating a rich story line that ends up being thrown together just to finish off the story. I can only hope that someday the writer and creative are able to get together and finish this off.

Overall Grade: A-

Maoyu is one of those new arrivals that should be given high marks for its story telling and style. It is great to see good stories that look fantastic making their way to the store shelves. So, if you are looking for a full bodies story that has great story telling then Maoyu is for you.

 

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 1, 2014
0

Category: Reviews

Tags:, , , , , , , ,

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete CollectionReview provided by Andrew and Katie

Title: Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection

Director: Kenichi Yatagai

Studio: Gonzo

Author: Yasunori Ide

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U.S. Release Date: June 10, 2014

Format and Length: Blu-Ray / 13 Episodes / 325 Minutes

Genre: Action, Fantasy, Comedy

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: The entire .hack series and Magic Knight Rayearth

Synopsis:

Aquafall is a paradise, where water was abundant, lands are covered in green, and everyone lived in peace and harmony, unless you’re the owner of the Key Tail Tavern. But then meteors began to fall from the sky, each impact bringing new hideous creatures. It soon became clear that they were there to take the entire green world for themselves. An invader that would not stop until all opposition had been destroyed. Fortunately, the fairy Syrup was on guard and knew exactly what to do. Working quickly, she began to recruit potential warriors to become the base of the Aquafall Defense Force. On her list are the incredibly strong, but absent minded Jormungandr, the spoiled, extravagant Bahamut, and the stoic, and timid Leviathan. Can these three really turn the tide of an alien invasion? They can when each of the ladies in question is also a member of a Dragon Clan, and when it comes to fighting tooth, nail and claw, the invaders have just met their match!

Commentary:

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is an anime series being released virtually concurrently with the mobile game it was based on. Many of us have seen anime series that prequel video games. They usually are a base introduction to the characters, scenes, locations and a basic beginning story. And they tend to have no closure, and leave any possible ending out, so you will have to play the game to find out. Those anime series are usually just promotional, a long commercial if you will, that lead to what will probably be an awesome climax and conclusion, just to cut you off before it happens, and ends it to get you to play the game. Sadly since I am not a gamer anymore, these animes tend to irk me to no end. Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is one of those, but with a few exceptions that have kept me from pulling my hair out. It’s a simple start to introduce you to who, what, where, and why. It’s not a bad story, at least the story that you get, as the fairy Syrup gathers her team. There is character development, and you get to know them on a decent level. And there is a reasonable conclusion to the story, or maybe at least what I guess could be called a chapter of the story. So I will say that this one did not make me curse the day I picked it up like some that have come before.

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection was a cute, light-hearted adventure, reminiscent of some classic titles. It doesn’t require excessive amounts of thought to understand, and has no strong philosophical meanings. It has a decent amount of comedy, most a bit cliché and nothing really new, but just because the jokes have been done before does not mean they fall flat. It has its moments where all is serious, but it never reaches the doom and gloom, end of the world like one would expect. It had the feel of a role playing game, as side quests are completed, allies made, and items acquired. To summon your allies, you needed an item of course, so it definitely felt like that I was watching someone play an rpg at times, just no sprites and stat bars. Overall Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection was enjoyable. It had enough story in it to overcome any feelings of incompletion, and the characters are decently developed that by the end, you kinda know what their reactions will be to certain situations. I suppose the single thing that annoyed me the most was the mixing of CG animation with normal animation all around it and flashing in and out of it for certain creatures. But truth be told that has bothered me in most occasions it has been done. I guess the other thing I noticed is if they would have cut down on the dirty jokes and suggestive themes that appear randomly throughout, this series could be suitable for children, and I think they would have enjoyed the simple enough to follow story.

Extras:

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers. This release is available only in Japanese Language with English Subtitles.

Overall Grade: C

Leviathan-The Last Defense: The Complete Collection is a decent anime that is enjoyable even with all its flaws. Each episode is only 22 minutes including the opening and closing animations so it also does not take very long to watch a few then come back to it at a later time.