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Aquarion EVOL part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : June 1, 2014
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Aquarion EVOL part 2Title: Aquarion EVOL part 2 combo pack

Director: Shoji Kawamori

Written By: Mari Okada

Studio: Satelight , 8-bit

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date:

Format: DVD / Blu-ray / 13 Episodes / 325 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Romance, Sci Fi

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

The intergalactic hijinks continue as beings from a womanless planet target the girls of the newly coed Neo-DEAVA academy. Meanwhile, a mysterious villain’s plot slowly comes to light, Amata’s past is revealed, and Mikono finds herself in the middle of a really awkward threesome.

The hormone-fueled pilots will have to survive unusual training methods and swimsuit-filled secret missions in order to grow strong enough to kick some otherworldly tail, but as the boys and girls get closer to each other, they discover that destiny might not be on their side. Victory could require the legendary mecha Aquarion’s ultimate form – even if summoning it means breaking an intimate taboo.

 

Commentary:

A 12 thousand year story come to an end. Of course Aquarion EVOL isn’t just another love story it a tail of souls torn apart being reunited. This simple plot is give plenty of life in this fan serviced filled story. I have a feeling that if it were not for the sexual connotations that run through this epic story the plot would end up even flater than it is, but at the same time the fan service ends up getting in the way of a story that could have been much more than it is. As with the original Aquarion story there is a great deal of mystery and confusion that runs through the plot, but with EVOL the main character ends up being way to wimpy which makes the ending a lot less dramtic.

The animation of EVOL is great and serves the story well. In fact I would say it is the saving grace for the entire series. The slick look gives the series its real appeal. It is a classic look given a contemporary style that does not betray the essence of the story, rather it enhances it to the point that makes it watchable. With the writing leaving you dazed and confused it takes the visual power to keep you watching.

Overall Grade: B-

Aquarion EVOL is a series that possess a great deal of potential and also plenty of fun for the fan service crows. Unfortunately, it fails to completely deliver. The level of confusion and just out right complexity betrays it and almost sends the series to its death. The fun with sexual innuendos and the high quality of animation helps save the series from itself. If you are a fan of Aquarion then you will mostly be a fan of EVOL, but don’t expect it to be close to the same, just expect it to look good and manage to lose you from time to time.

Space Battle Ship Yamato (live action movie review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 11, 2014
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Space Battleship Yamato MovieTitle: Space Battle Ship Yamato

Director: Takashi Yamazaki

Screenplay Writer: Shimako Sato

Actors: Kazuki Namioka, Meisa Kuroki, Takuya Kimura and Tsutomu Yamazaki

Studio: Tokyo Brodcasting System, Toho and may others

U. S. Distributor: Giant Ape

U. S. Release Date: April 29th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / Feature Film / 131 minuts

Genre: Sci Fi, Drama, Action, Adventure

Age Rating: Not Rate, but I rate as PG 13

Overall Personal Rating: B+

 

Synopsis:

A cult classic from the glory days of anime blazes to life on the big screen in this feature-length sci-fi epic starring Takuya Kimura (Redline, Howl’s Moving Castle)!
The year is 2199. Mankind teeters on the brink of extinction as the Gamilas, a heinous race of alien invaders, wage an endless war for the right to inhabit the Earth. The last hope for humanity lies on the distant planet of Iskander, and the only battleship capable of attempting the journey is the legendary Yamato. Armed with the devastatingly-powerful Wave Motion Cannon, grizzled Captain Okita and the Yamato’s crew venture boldly into the darkest depths of space. The Gamilas attack at every turn, but fallen hero Susumu Kodai and ace pilot Yuki Mori fight side-by-side for the future of their world. Together, these young lovers unlock the secrets of Iskander – only to face a harrowing voyage home that will change their world forever!

Commentary:

Space Battleship Yamato is one of those highly rated anime that finally made its way into a live action film. The complexity of the series clearly posed a genuine issue when trying to compress it into a two hour film. I have to hand it to Takashi Yamazaki and Shimako Sato for creating a faithful film with only a few minor changes, that could be argued, added to the overall appeal of the story. I found the film to be entertaining as a stand alone film even if I did get the feeling that some of the special effects may have been taken with a lower level of production quality. On a whole it managed to come togehter and tell the story within a very limited timeframe.

As a person who grew up watching film where actors follow the very western method acting approach I still find myself becoming a little annoyed with the over the top Kabuki style acting that comes across in many Japanese action films. I have a real tendency to find over the top acting as rather funny and distracting when the moment should rally be tense and dramatic. I guess it is all about each of our own perception and it is clear to me that this type of exuberant facial expression acting is something that is well received in Japan and much of the Asian world. I think will does pose a problem for american fandom to really wrap their approval around films like Space Battleship Yamato.

Overall Grade: B+

The fact that Space Battleship Yamato is a fun and action filled Sci Fi is almost enough for me to like it, but the way that they put this complex story together is far and away the strength behind the film. The acting fell apart for me a little. I would have loved to see it acted in a much more conservative style and for the American market I think it would find a much larger fan base.

If you are a fan of Star Blazers / Space Battleship Yamato then this film is a must. If you are just looking for a Sci Fi that provides a solid two hours of fun and entertainment I highly recommend this movie for you.

 

Hal (special anime movie review)

Posted by :Patches On : May 10, 2014
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hal-movie-animeTitle: Hal

Director: Ryōtarō Makihara

Author: Izumi Kizara

Studio: Wit Studio

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Sept. 2nd, 2014

Format: DVD / Feature Film

Genre: Sci Fi, Romance, Drama

Age Rating: Not Rated at time of review

Overall Personal Rating: EVA & Andy: A-

 

The following review is a special conversational review by EAV and Andy. This anime is not scheduled to release until September and because of its unique aspects to the film we thought it would be interesting to provide two viewpoints in a back and forth conversational approach. We hope you find it helpful.

 

Synopsis:

Kurumi’s heart was broken by the sudden death of her boyfriend in a tragic airplane accident. Forced to carry on without her beloved Hal, she fell into a reclusive and joyless existence. Kurumi had given up on the world, but a brilliant scientist devised a plan to win her back. By melding futuristic technology with the binary equivalent of human emotion, they created an ultra-lifelike robotic surrogate to take Hal’s place – and lure Kurumi from her shroud of solitude. Resistant at first, this shattered beauty slowly yielded to her feelings of longing – and took comfort in the company of a robot. Though their unique bond grew stronger with each passing day, Kurumi and Hal would soon discover that nothing about their artificial love story was quite as it seemed.

Commentary:

E: Hal was definitely an interesting movie. It has the potential to do well. I did find that I really had to pay attention to the movie, because if I got busy doing something else for a bit, I didn’t know what was going on. I think it was the way they revealed the story and events.

Andy: I also found it to be a movie you had to pay attention to. It may not have been fast paced, but it was rich enough to make you follow along. The strongest aspect to the film that I found interesting was the way they portrayed both Hal and Kurumi. Both were fully developed and at the same time I found them to be shrouded in mystery.This in itself leads you back to being forced to pay close attention to it. I really think the writing was strong enough to carry this off and proves to be the real power to the film.

E: I watched it a second time, it was illuminating and still held up well. It was amazing how much detail and concepts were fit into such a short time. The writing/ story  really directed the viewer to believe certain things that were put into question later but the way the story was told was rather clever. I enjoyed the  comfortable mix of old and new woven throughout, the ultra modern wasn’t leave behind nature or tradition.

Andy: I agree and think that Izumi Kizara did a wonderful job of creating that world where these possibilities could come true. Even with the great advances that have taken place humanity still has not lost what makes us special. That bond between two people who truly love each other manages to transcend time and space and become clear even when one of the two has become an Artificial Intelligence. I don’t know if that world will ever come true, but it gives me hope to think that if we are able to create such a wonderful machine that we will be sure to give it those aspects of our nature that makes us wonderful and loving.

I too found the animation to be well done and I think it says a lot for a newer studio that has Hal and Attack of the Titans to stand on as their first two productions. For Hal they did a great job of including the emotion of the story into the look and to also give a warmth in the environment that lends itself to the touching story line. It sure did make it easy to have true empathy for both Hal and Kurumi.

E: Visually it was excellent. The outdoor scenes had a poetic reality and the indoor scenes were really full of details that expertly set up the story or the character’s lives. The room that Kurumi had isolated herself in is one example. All the things and pieces fill us into the person she was and her relationship to Hal.

Working at an anime store, I’m often asked for suggestions. Summer Wars or Girl Who Lept Through Time are two movies on my favorite list, now I’ll be adding Hal to this.

Andy: I can see why you like it so much, but I just didn’t get to the same place as you did. I did find the animation at the top of the spectrum and much of the writing was great, but all in all I guess that the complexity just made it a little off the mark. Hal does make it on my list of great films that should be seen and will also be a mainstay on the shelf at the store. I am looking forward to seeing what others think about it when it is released.

E: The more I thought about the movie, the better I liked it. My grade for it will be A-. It was well animated, sensitive, thought provoking and an interesting story told in a clever way. The strike against it was Hal’s background story, it was too saturated with tragedy without enough to really explain.

Another thing I want to bring up, was the robot, who was a lesson in humanity and made a great sacrifice. It is easy to forget about it as a separate character because it was personifying someone most of the time.

 

 

 

From The New World Collection 1 on Blu-ray (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : April 18, 2014
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From the New WorldTitle: From The New World Collection 1 on Blu-ray

Director:  Masashi Ishihama

Writer: Masashi Sogo

Studio: A-1 Picture

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: April 15th

Format: Blu-ray / 13 Episodes / 325 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Romance, Supernatural, Drama

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

 

Synopsis:

Born into a world a thousand years in our future, Saki and her friends Satoru, Maria, Mamoru and Shun have lived their entire lives in what seems to be a perfect utopia. Not only is their small, idyllic community overflowing with clean rushing water and abundant green foliage, but almost all technology has been rendered irrelevant by the magical power of “Juryoku,” the psychic ability to materialize anything one desires. But when Saki discovers a long-lost artifact from the past, the facade of their world is shattered and the cracks that split the foundation of their reality threaten to swallow them whole!

Faced with a bloody secret history of how their world really came to be and thrust into a nightmarish new paradigm, Saki and her companions are confronted with dangers they never knew existed and a series of choices that may change the fate of every intelligent creature on the planet – human and otherwise!

Commentary:

From the New World took me surprise and at the same time left me scatting my head. Within 10 minutes I was hooked and by the 4th episode I was wondering what happened to that cool, intriguing and enigmatic  show that I ha been watching. The series takes on a interesting view of our future as a species and how we cope with the potential of our own minds. Of course there is a very dark side to this, but what we first see is a rather bucolic world that seems to have found a rather strong balance with the world we live in. As we travel through the series we discover what lies beneath and some of the rather strange ways humanity has decided to deal with the stress of the  powerful abilities that have moved history in an unexpected way.

The animation starts off impressive and slick. It proves to be well suited for the Blu-ray format, but as the series progresses it show different phases of quality. There was even a couple of episodes that remind me very much of the most recent version of Casshern Sins with the hard edge and quick movement cuts. The different phases of style end up both bringing into focus the drama and also highlighting some of the weakness of the series. In an effort to make the series more rounded there are a few episodes that introduce us to some rather freaky creatures and also shows off how the rest of nature has evolved. Even though there are some important plot devices and structure for the series there is also a level of poor writing and somewhat sloppy storytelling.

Overall Grade: A-

There have been several new series released this year with much fan fair, but I would say that From the New World has something to offer that those heavily marketed series just don’t have the depth of From the New World. There are also some rather odd aspects to the series that I didn’t particularly enjoy, but overall it is an outstanding series that takes you on a trip that makes you wonder what is going on and keeps you wanting to see more.  I can honestly say that I am seriously looking forward to the second half of the series

Aria The Natural Season 2 part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : March 23, 2014
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Aria The Natural part 2Title: Aria The Natural Season 2 part 2

Director: Jun’ichi Sato

Studio: Hal Film Maker

U. S. Distributor: Nozumi / Right Stuf

U. S. Re-Release Date: March 4th, 2014

Format: DVD / 13 Episode / 325 Minutes

Genre: Slice of Life, Sci Fi

Age Rating: 13+

Overall Personal Rating B+

Synopsis:

Akari, Aika and Alice continue to strive toward their goal of becoming Neo-Venezia’s top gondoliers. As their skills improve, they find themselves faced with new challenges. On their journey to become Primas, the girls will have to paint a palina, serve as hostesses at the Festa del Redentore, and even learn how to be brave in the face of a dangerous passenger!

Even with all the drama there is still time for friends and festivities. Will the girls be able to handle the added pressures that come with their trek toward becoming the successors to their teachers who are known as the 3 Fairy Gondoliers of Neo-Venezia?

Commentary:

As we work our way through these 13 episodes it becomes very clear that this series is not just about the friendships that these 3 young ladies have developed, but rather the bigger picture of what it means to become an adult. Of course, the fact that Neo-Venezia provides a very nurturing environment makes a big difference. Even so, there is plenty for them to learn and discover on their own.

For as much as I see the ease and beauty to this series I also see the limitation that it has placed upon itself. With such a soft and easy general appearance tied to a rather gentle grace that flows through all the episodes Aria provides a supportive environment that showcases the coming of age of these characters, but at the same time gloss over some of the confusion and distress that adolescence tend to struggle with. I do appreciate the way the address some of the questions and at the same time became a little less enamored with the way in which they were presented.

I can’t really say that this series is meant for that adolescent audience. The real audience is the pre-adolescent girl who is still somewhat dreamy and living in the world of happy wonderlands. This is not to say that others can’t enjoy this series, I think that most of us would love to live in a world just like Neo-Venezia. A world where all of the problems of just moving through life a simplified by just being in such a peaceful loving place.

Overall Grade: B+

Aria: The Natural part 2 is still a happy easy anime to watch. I can’t really discredit for giving us a picture of life in a world that most of us would enjoy having. I just think that it manages to make light of the coming of age for these young ladies. As a older viewer I like this easy escape form reality and I would guess that many younger viewers under the age to 10 just might find it romantic, but for those who are currently at the same age as the 3 protagonist I think it would be frustrating to watch. Anyway, I still like Aria and see it as a highly idealized world that I would love to live in.

Robotics;Notes part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : March 15, 2014
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Robotics;Notes part 2Title: Robotics;Notes part 2

Director: Kazuya Nomura

Writer: Jukki Hanada

Studio: Production I. G.

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: March 25th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray /DVD/ 11 Episodes / 235 Minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Thriller, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Kaito, Akiho, and the rest of the Robot Research Club have finally completed their dream of building a giant robot, only to discover they’ve still got a ton of work to do. As they draw up plans for a new model, strange things start happening around them. A robot uprising wreaks havoc in Tokyo, a network-based AI crosses over into the real world, and the Kimijima reports foretell of an impending apocalypse.

The real questions are what is up with Misa, Akiho’s big sister? Who is Ko Kimijima and what is his role in all of this? Will Gunvarrel make it to Tokyo? What is the story behind Aire? What makes Frau Koujiro so freeky?  These and many other question are answered in part 2 of Robotics;Notes, or are they?

Commentary:

The first thing that stood out in the conclusion of Robotics; Notes was the tone of the series. With no real surprise, the series took on a much more serious flavor that took it from being a light high school club series to a dramatic  Sci Fi that has hidden romantic undertone. This shift in focus is also very reminiscent of Steins; Gate, but the plot twist imbedded in the series is not as convoluted. The fact that it comes across somewhat simplistically just might be the reason it doesn’t have as high of an impact as Steins; Gate.

Robotics; Notes is a very good series that turns a Sci Fi mystery into a conversation on our reliance on technology and the future that could prove to be very challenging. The one thing that I was expecting, but did not get in part 2 was a bigger story and more leaps of faith between the story and the viewer.  No getting that pushing of plausibility is a real disappointment for me but it does not mean that there aren’t plenty of classic anime physics benders in Robotics; Notes, I just didn’t see any that made me question the sear nature of things.

Overall Grade: A-

Robotics; Notes delivers a solid package that is full of fun and entertainment and continues to showcase why anime is so much different than western cartoons. There were parts in this 22 episode series that I felt is dragged a little and in doing so it detracted from the story, it didn’t have that negative of an effect.

So, if you are looking for a fun story that intertwines Sci Fi, Romance, and a Thriller with the world at stake then Robotics; Notes is for you.

Mardock Scramble The Third Exhaust (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : March 14, 2014
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Mardock Scramble The Third ExhaustTitle: Mardock Scramble The Third Exhaust on Blu-ray

Director: Susumu Kudo

Writer: Tow Ubukata

Studio: GoHands

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: March 25th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / Feature Film / 66 minutes

Genre: Cyberpunk, Sci Fi, Drama, Action, Adventure

Age Rating: MA

Overall Personal Rating: A

Synopsis:

Rune Balot’s struggle to bring the man who killed her to justice continues amid the world of high-stakes gambling and glamour at the Eggnog Blue Casino. The odds are stacked heavily in the house’s favor, and even with the aid of Dr. Easter and Oeufcoque, a universal item capable of turning into anything and everything, Rune’s chances of winning are slim. But winning the golden chips containing Shell Septinos’ memories is only the next step on a long and treacherous road.

Run will still have to live long enough to bring those memories before the court, and even that isn’t the end of the journey. Rune’s search for answers to the questions that haunt comes to a shattering climax!

Commentary:

Finally we have the chance to see how the animated form of Tow Ubukata’s dark Sci Fi thriller Mardock Scramble. Coming to the anime after reading the 750 page novel several years ago brings plenty of expectations and desires, but in the end this anime managed to take on a life of its own without letting me down. This last installment and third film brought Rune Balot’s personality to full fruition and completed the connection between her and the AI weapon that is her partner, Oeufcoque.

As this story developed it brought together a look at humanity in both its darkest and lightest at the same time. There is also a very eastern approach to the dark side that allowed it to have a small but intense sense of honor and love. That does not say that most of the antagonist have something honorable, but there are one or two that bring some added baggage along with their external personas. The yin and yang within the characters adds so much death to the story it makes it all worth while.

Overall Grade: A

This final installment of the Mardock Scramble films does exactly what it needs to do. There is very little waist to the story and also develops a rather deep and enlightening interaction for Rune  that results in a very special aspect of the human condition. Mardock Scramble is something very special in the way it is constructed and executed. Tow Ubukata gives a look at ourselves in a raw and brutal way that goes straight to the core of our existence. I’m not sure that I can do justice to the fine story in this rather weak review, but if you have any interest in the underbelly of humanity and are looking for an honest approach to this genre that provides a hero, or should I say heroin who struggles with her own demons and hatred just to become stronger in order to defeat not just the person but ideals of that dark world. Then you should pick up these movies and enjoy each film. My only complaint is that it took so long to produce and distribute them. Now, I guess it is time to package them all together.

If you are looking for a real treat, be sure to read the novel and them watch the film. I think you will find the translation worth while and get a real treat in seeing for once a genuine translation that gives us two visions of the same story and succeed with both.

This is not for everyone and it doesn’t hold back when showing off the darker side of our species, but if you are looking for a insightful Cyberpunk story that says more than most in a way that leaves you thinking rather seriously about the world we live in and where we are headed, then Mardock Scramble is for you.

Space Adventure Cobra part 1 ( anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : March 12, 2014
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Space Adventure Cobra part 1Title: Space Adventure Cobra part 1

Director: Osamu Dezaki

Studio: TMS Entertainment

U. S. Distributor: Nozomi / Lucky Penny

Original Run: Oct. 1082 – May, 1983

Re-Release Date: March 4th, 2014

Format: DVD / 15 Episodes / 375 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Space Opera, Action, Adventure

Age Rating: 16+

Overal Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Seeking reprieve from a painfully ordinary 9-to-5 existence, mild-mannered office worker Johnson visits the TM Corporation, a company that sells virtual dreams.

In Johnson’s dream adventure, he’s the notorious space pirate Cobra! Accompanied by his android partner Lady Armaroid, Cobra fights the lowlife scum of the Pirate Guild by day and saves sultry sirens of space by night. After the journey is over, events unfold that bring reality into focus. His experience wasn’t a dream at all – it was a reawakening of his buried past!

With the most feared weapon in the universe, the Psycho Gun, Cobra sets out into the galaxy in pursuit of love, fortune and fame!

Commentary:

Within the first 15 minutes I was sitting back and asking a simple question. Can you say Total Recall? Yes for those of us old enough or geeky enough to have see Total Recall I would have to say I now understand where the idea for the film came from. Cobra came out 8 years before The seminal Arnold the Govenator movie and much of the original premiss is the same. The only difference is that I can’t tell if Cobra will follow the same notion of questioning the reality of what happens in the series. Even with that heavy preconceived notion in my head I still kept going and ended up finding Cobra to be a fun ad very entertaining series.

I found the characters to have richer personalities and a much more solid plot line that the western live action film and of course the animated Cobra is a much better actor than “I’ll Be Back” Arnold ever was. All kidding aside, I found Space Adventure Cobra to be just that, a fun space adventure that lead us on a simple but entertaining getaway.

Overall Grade: B+

With older series that have been re-mastered and re-released it is often very hard for me to get past the dated animation, but in Space Adventure Cobra I only found that it took me a few episodes to get past the poorly or rather dated animation stylings of the early 1980’s. I found it easy to loose myself in the story and sit back enjoy the ride. I can’t say that the english dub is all that great, but again the age of the series sleeks volumes for what you should really expect to see and hear.

The concept and vision of the suture is what makes it stand out for me. Based on how fast we are moving I think it just might be very plausible to plug in very soon and experience an adventure while never leaving the couch. There is also that bizarre thought that someone could hide themselves in such a way that would allow them to discover a simple live without too much concern of giving themselves away. There are plenty of day that I would like to reinvent myself and at the same time forget about my past.

For all you Sci Fi lovers this one os for you and for all you wonderful people out there that know and have seen the original Total Recall this all I can say is that you better pick this up because I know you will be wanting to have one of those wow moments I had during the first episode. I can’t wait to find out if this is a dream or reality.

Tiger and Bunny vol. 4 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 24, 2014
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Tiger & Bunny vol 4Title: Tiger and Bunny vol. 4

Art By: Mizuki Sakakibara

Planning / Original Story: Sunrise

Script: Masafumi Nishida

Character Development: Masakazu Katsura

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 11th, 2014

Format: Manga, 184 pages

Genre: Sci Fi, Super Hero, Comedy, Action, Adventure, Seinen

Age Rating: T for teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

The heroes face down the deranged NEXT killer, Lunatic. Lunatic’s vigilantism has the city on edge, and the heroes find themselves having to convince everyone that NEXT are working for the good of Stern Bild City. Lunatic is in the wrong, but there is much more to the madman than anyone knows.

All the while we find Origami, Tiger and Bunny asked to visit Origami and Bunny’s alma mater. This sends Origami into a real funk and makes him question his entire existence as a hero. Tiger is quick to be supportive and is also put on the spot by the students to judge their powers. Of course they all have very strange powers and it forces him to come up with powerful idea for them. All of his enthusiasm from Tiger  and Bunny just listening ends up helping  Origami out and giving him something that he has needed for a long time.

Bunny is still charging forward looking of anything or anyone connected to Ouroboros and when he gets the chance to confront Lunatic he learns something he would have never expected. Does Bunny get any closer to discovering the truth and will Origami become a Hero who is interested in being in the forefront rather the side line?

Commentary:

As much as I like the Tiger & Bunny anime, I must say that it is a much better story in manga form. I don’t typically have that reaction, but in the case of this series there is something more personal about these heroes that is not caught in the animation format. I get a much better sense of who these characters really are by the emotional essence of their personas thought the print media. I think that when animated everything moves rather fast and some of the nuances are lost. Most of the time voice acting is able to bring the character to life and portray the emotional aspects of the character, but for  Tiger and Bunny I see it the other way. It may also be this volume that brings that to the forefront because of Origami’s personal struggle.

This volume also is a great example of the difference between Japanese graphic novels and American Graphic Novels. In most American hero stories there might be some emotional issue that the characters are dealing with but they tend to be rather dark and depressing. In Tiger & Bunny and many other super hero style manga the personal issues tend to be somewhat more mundane or even something that most of the readers can connect with. There seems to be a real empathy for the reader that we just don’t get with many American stories. I’m not saying that it doesn’t happen, but most of the time the personal trauma’s are much more melodramatic and supercharges.  They just don’t spotlight a young mans lack of self confidence because he is having a hard believing in himself.

Overall Grade: B+

Tiger & Bunny is a many layered series that reaches across the ocean to try and blend with the west’s superhero genre and at the same time add that very eastern touch to the story. For all american comic and graphic arts fans I would seriously recommend Tiger & Bunny. I might not be as dark as the new generation heroes on our side of the pacific, but it does provide a great picture of a group of heroes that still have to live their lives just like everyone else.  Don’t be afraid to give it a try!

Robotics;Notes part 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 22, 2014
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Robotics;NotesTitle: Robotics;Notes part 1

Director: Kazuya Nomura

Writer: Jukki Hanada

Studio: Production I. G.

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 18th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray /DVD/ 11 Episodes / 275 Minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Thriller, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Kai and Aki dream of building a giant fighting robot based on a super-popular anime, but that’s going to be impossible if they don’t get more members into their school’s Robot Research Club. They’ll take anyone they can talk – or force – into joining them, including an eccentric robotics champion with a secret identity and a l33t video-game designer who’s spent one too many late nights online. Finally, their goal looks like it’s within reach.

But when a sentient AI program tells Kai about mysterious documents hidden on the internet, things start to get strange for everyone. As the club members track down the secret messages, they realize that the information might be far bigger – and more dangerous – than they expected.

Commentary:

Following the Techie anime of the last few years like Chaos;Head and Steins;Gate, Robotics;Notes brings things back to earth and give us a bit more plausible story line (at least so far). With that said there is still plant of little signals that tell me there are things yet unrevealed that will add several layers to the series and make it more like the multi layered Steins;Gate. I’m not saying that those layers are a bad thing and intact I really enjoy it when a series makes me think and then surprises me later. That level of writing is hard to find and also hard to pull of.

So, far the series seems to be somewhat straight forward with a darker mystery sitting there just below the surface. I am very much looking forward to how this plays out and truly expect it to give me reasons to cheer it on. The thing about Robotics;Notes so far is that it is drawing us in with some rather likable characters and a challenge to have a high school club actually build a full size mecha robot that doesn’t defy physics and at the same time makes us imagine a world in our own future where these things can be done.

Overall Grade: A-

With Robotics;Notes following the indirect path or rather a simplistic story line to set us up for something much deeper I find myself hooked. The animation production is at times a bit simple, but that too is a trick that gives us an illusion of a basic teenage high school story and a false sense of security. The voice acting is fitting in just perfectly and gives a another sense of reality that is both reassuring and somewhat unbalanced with the light comedic presence. Of course the story follows a group of high school seniors and their drive to make their mark so the voice acting must come across with the same naivety of those very 17 and 18 year olds, and so far I see them hitting the mark.

Robotics;Notes part 1 doesn’t hit you with a dazzling display of action or in your face mystery. What it does is give you some very likable high schoolers who have their own motivations or lack there of and places them in a very believable world that just might get turned upside down as we go along. I am looking forward to seeing how the series concludes and honestly expect some strong twist along the way. As a Techie Sci Fi companion to the likes of Chaos;Head and Steins;Gate I honestly expect the second half of Robotics;Notes to blow my socks off, so bring it on I am ready.