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From The New World Collection 2 on Blu-ray

Posted by :Patches On : July 28, 2014
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From The New World Collection 2Title: From The New World Collection 2 on Blu-ray

Director: Masashi Ishihama

Writer: Masashi Sogo

Studio: A-1 Picture

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 12th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 13 Episodes / 325 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Romance, Supernatural, Drama

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

 

Synopsis:

Still reeling from the deaths of her friends and the revelations of the Ethics Committee’s machinations, Saki returns to the village expecting the worst. However, what she’s learned so far barely touches on the edges of an even vaster conspiracy. As she discovers the fate the committee intends for her personally, she realizes that her own mind is being turned against her.

With her memories of Shun fading, she and Satoru find themselves in a race to find Maria and Mamoru before the Committee condemns them to destruction. But the clock is turning against them in more ways than one, as the smoldering conflicts between the rat colonies threatens to erupt into open warfare. As pivotal pieces in a deadly endgame designed to wipe an entire species from the face of the planet, it’s not going to be enough for Saki and Satoru to merely survive. To lead the best laid plans of both rats and men astray, they’ll have to uncover the final secrets to two hidden worlds and turn them against their makers!

Commentary:

For all of you that seen the first collection then this should be helpful. For everyone how have not seen any of From The New World, I would recommend reading the first review and also checking out the collection for yourself. Now for those of you that are wanting to hear more about this complicated series the best I can say for it is that it is still complicated and at the same time emotionally fraught with dilemma after moral dilemma. From The New World takes on the next evolution of humanity in several ways and at first you think it is all about the plight of the 5 main characters but after a while you realize that it is more of an indictment of the hubris that mankind has carried through the millennium.

There is so much I would like to say, but for me to be direct I would spoil it and that is not my intent. As collection 2 starts we see two of the group forced to leave their home and the events that follow leads us to believe that they have set out for some great adventure that if all things go even half way right we would see them again later in the series. We then jump 12 years and the two remain members of group 1 have taken their place among the village. Things begin to take new and strange paths and the next thing you know the entire world is up for grabs.

The real twist to this story is that it sets us up to believe one thing and then gives us other option to ponder and in the end they were all false paths and the moral imperative becomes a full blown commentary on the folly of our species. Of course this narrative was discusses early in the first few episodes, but it wasn’t clear at that time how important that topic of discussion would be until we reach the fill few minutes.

 

Overall Grade: A-

From The New World is a series that take some getting used too and with the depiction of the mutant mole rats it is hard to take it too seriously. I think that is both its failure and great deceiver. The animation style leave you not giving much serious thought to what is going on and then by the time you understand what is really happening you are fooled and twisted around. I’m not say that the series is confusing, it keeps things moving in a way that makes you believe that you understand what you are watching and this was possibly my greatest delight in the series.

The character development ended up being secondary to the story and it proved to be less important than I thought it was going to be. I’m not trying to imply that the main characters are not fully developed, but rather this development is all part of the ploy that keeps the series going. Ok, I guess that I’ve made everyone believe that From The New World is a fantastic series that twist you around and leaves you asking some great impossible question. That is not what I am trying to imply, rather I found the series rather simple in its approach and straight forward with the storyline, what is great is the way that the real plot is finally revealed and how it elves you questioning how great humanity is even with all our higher intelligence and abilities we are still part of nature and all too often forget who and what we are.

So, if you are looking for a series that will entertain and keep you coming back for more by its where nature with a final twist that ends up holding the mirror up to us all. Then you will find From The New World something you will need to experience.

Hetalia Season 5 Anime Review

Posted by :Joann On : July 22, 2014
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Category: Reviews

Hetalia Season 5Title: Hetalia Season 5,  The Beautiful World

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: July 22, 2014

Format: DVD, 125 minutes, 25 episodes

Genre: Comedy

Age Rating: 17+

Overall Personal Rating: A-

 

Synopsis: 

Series overview: Hetalia is a comedy that make fun of many of the countries of the world. Each character is a personified version of a country, composed of stereotypes associated with each. For example, the guy named America loves hamburgers while Italy loves pasta.

Season 5:

Italy gets a new tank and Germany creates a coffee substitute before everyone goes to an academy. Germany, Italy and Japan decide to check up on all of the clubs (no matter how stupid).

In between shorts, there were cute new rice ball characterizations of the countries.

Russia was having a difficult time as other countries bully him. Chibi Romano is being a brat. Japan travels to attend Americas, it is a total culture clash. Americans don’t act different whether they are home or not. Then there are obvious food and activity differences.

There is internet trouble around the world. Blogs and websites are being hacked, one of the main countries seem involved but play innocent. Next scandal happens when embarrassing photos are getting around and causing havoc.

The group is having a little friendly(-ish) competition with holidays and even more so over who is the best at horror and thriller films.

Germany struggles to understand other people, the emotions and social interactions have him confused What is it that they mean? Specifically what is Italy’s intention?

Estonia’s dream brings a new way to enjoy the characters.

Commentary:

I definitely enjoyed seeing another season of Hetalia.  It has been awhile since I watched any myself, but it definitively remains popular, as both a series and a fandom.

Overall, there is a bit of a change in Hetalia. The animation style features more realistic, or perhaps older, looking characters.

The script seemed to be different too. There seemed to be more current pop cultural references and less of the knowledgeably historic points. While the pop cultural jokes were quite funny,  one of my favorite reasons of liking Hetalia was that it taxed my knowledge of history, and I could read the notes or look somethings up before re-watching.  I’m able to learn something in a fun way. I don’t mean that this was missing, just a little less saturated. I always say never skip the historical notes. It makes the humor more complex, explain things you don’t currently know and lets you understand were the writers were coming from.

There were plenty of smaller countries, all represented with there stereotypes in full force. Netherlands , Belgium, Greece, Turkey and others get their episodes.

Complaints? Italy’s voice. In the beginning, it was too high and fast making him hard to understand. Maybe I got used to it, or maybe it was toned down because the annoying quality faded until I had nearly forgotten about it.

Who do I think Hetalia is for? Well, I think it should be a broad range but I know from those around me, it is mostly tweens and teens. I don’t see this as a shoned, but the excited fandom seems to be female.

It was a fun afternoon, traveling the world with the guys and gals, definitely good to see them all again. If you liked any of the previous Hetalia’s, I really think you like this too.

Extras:

I had the limited edition, this comes with a rice ball bandanna and a set of stickers.

The extras on the DVD include commentary with the voice actors. It is mostly fun chatter, but occasionally has interesting bits of production notes and personal opinions.

 

 

 

Overall Grade: A-

 

The Devil is a Part Timer (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 18, 2014
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The Devil is a Part TimerTitle: The Devil is a Part Timer

Director: Masahiro Yokotani

Studio: White Fox

U. S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Release Date: July 22nd, 2014

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

Genre: Harem, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis: 

When Satan is run out of his infernal kingdom, he finds himself virtually powerless in modern-day Tokyo. Stuck in a feeble mortal body and desperate for cash, there’s only one way for the dark lord to survive: by getting a job manning the deep fryer at “MgRonald!”

As Satan flips burgers and tries to regain his evil magic, he’s pestered by a righteous hero who tracked him to Earth, a video-game-loving fallen angel looking for a way back into heaven, and the most unholy of enemies: a rival fast food franchise. Will he figure out a way to reclaim his homeland and throne? And if not, will this demonic burger king at least sell enough featured menu items to be promoted to shift supervisor? The devil can’t survive on minimum wage!

Commentary:

The Devil is a Part Timer follows in the path of many light comedy harem series, but in several ways it stands out on its own for humor and pointed parody. The story is rather simple with the Devil being upon the verge of having his butt handed to him in battle by the righteous Hero and in order to be able to fight another day he and one of his powerful generals escape through a demential portal and end up in Tokyo. Of course the Hero is able to slip through the portal and also end up in Tokyo. Simply put they all end up loosing most of their magical powers which forces them to become regular humans and struggle through life having to make money just to survive. This basic plot is not what makes the series special, it is the character development and the way in which the story makes the viewer start to root for this unlikely group.

First of all the Devil somehow ends up making some rather monumental changes that make him a very likable person without making him overly sappy. The Hero is a bitter young woman who never seems to want to see the change but it is easy to see that she really see him for what he has become but still keeps her position of his inevitable slayer. This interplay between the characters keeps the story alive and also ends up being much if the humor.

Overall Grade: B+

Devil is a Part Timer has many elements that more recent stores like I Can’t Play H and Maoyu where there is a link between the human and demon world and in essence the connection between the two is at it core and proves to be very necessary.  All three of these stores use that interplay to their fullest and also make the connection something that stands out in the forefront, not a thing that must be discovered later in the series. The ting about The Devil is a Part Timer that makes it special is the writing and character development. I really enjoyed the way the each of these characters puled their own weight and how the persona of the devil ended up making them all stronger.

There was some simple and somewhat unobtrusive fan service in the series and I’m sure it was there just to please a special segment of the fan base, but overall I didn’t see anything about the series that made me want to turn away form it. The only flaw that I have is that it ended up being too short and the ending doesn’t feel complete. I’m not saying it can’t end there I just feel like I would like to see the devil and the hero really get together rather than just leave them in the place they are at the end. I also got a feeling like there is still much more to the story, I am not sure why there was a 13th episode if it wasn’t there to open the door to more. Maybe we will see an OVA come out in the future in order to close the gap between them. Anyway, The Devil is a Part Timer is a fun series that promises to give you plenty to enjoy and keep you smiling throughout the entire 325 minutes .

Fairy Tail Part 10 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 13, 2014
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FN09176review provided by Luther

Title: Fairy Tail Part 10

U.S. Distributor: Funimation

U. S. Re-Release Date: March 25, 2014

Format: DVD / Blu-ray combo pack

Genre: magical adventure

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

The masters of magic have converged on a remote island, where Natsu and his teammates go head-to-head with Grimoire Heart, a dark guild led by one of Fairy Tail’s former masters. Revelations from the past and long-buried secrets continue to come to light as Cana is granted a sacred new spell, and an excommunicated guildmate makes an unexpected return.
If Fairy Tail has any hope of defeating their diabolical opponents, they’re going to have to combine all their powers and work together like never before. But as curses start to fly between wizards, the real danger might come from Zeref, a legendary dealer of death whose devilish plans for the future could bring an end to this golden age of magic.

Commentary:

Fairy Tail is a grand fantastical adventure of a series, with bold memorable characters and exciting action sequences. Fairy Tail has many similarities to shows like Dragon Ball Z and One Piece, with over the top fights with over powered bad guys, but one of the things that I feel really sets this show apart from these other shows is the vast and interesting cast of characters. There are characters that are: old or young; male or female; human or cat. With so many differences between characters, Fairy Tail has a much more dynamic and colorful story then other shonen series, and although it may not be a deep or complex series, it is definitely a lot of fun to watch.

Fairy Tail Part 10 continues with the Fairy Tail Guild’s fight against the Dark Guild Grimoire Heart. So far this has to be one of the more interesting story arks. As I mentioned, Fairy Tail has a large cast of characters, and in story arks, a lot of the secondary characters really have a chance to shine. In a way, it felt like the main characters were less important that everyone else until the last few episodes. So it was really interesting seeing some other characters get a chance to fight, however I will admit that with so many characters active at once, there were a few times where the show was juggling to may fights at one time, with constant jumping back an fourth between fights.

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Although Fairy Tail is not a particularly mature show, it is still a lot of fun to watch, and I can recommend it to any fans of high action anime.

Majestic Prince Collection 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 10, 2014
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Majestic PrinceTitle: Majestic Prince Collection 1

Director: Keitaro Motonaga

Studio: Dogakobo, Orange

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: July 15th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Mecha, Sci Fi, Comedy, Romance

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

In the not-so-distant future, the people of earth have expanded their frontier into the solar system. And now, we’re under attack! Advances in physics and genetic engineering have created astonishing new flying war machines and pilots with a wide array of enhanced abilities.

Young Izuru has been chosen to lead the hapless Team Rabbits into battle against the sinister Wulgaru forces. Spearheaded by the cold and savage Prince Jiart, these dark invaders possess both superior firepower and technology, as well as an unwavering thirst for earthly destruction. It will be up to Izuru and his brash band of misfits to vanquish the enemy and save us all… if they don’t kill each other first.

Commentary:

It is always fun to watch a series that proves to be a fine omage to a archetype from the past. Majestic Prince just so happens to be one of those series. In its opening segments and the others to follow it manages to tip its hat to most of the great mecha anime of the past. Of course with Majestic Prince our heroes are setup a losers right off the bat and it doesn’t take long to see where they are headed. This leaves out much of the mystery and only gives us some sad moments of self doubt and societal abuse pointed in their direction. The other side of that plot device is that it sets up some rather funny situation, but because of the way the lead characters are written they just end up being nothing more than silly and at the same time pitiful. After the first 9 or 10 episodes I did begin to feel a title sympathic toward them, but this is because they are beginning to develop into more direct and serious characters.

The animation stylings are a mix of old and new. Some of the space battle scenes look like they are straight out of Marcoss or Gundam with the odd round burst of light far off in the distance and the strange little clusters of explosions that follow. The mecha are well rendered and end of being the star of the show. With the genetic connection as being part of the premiss of the series it is hard not to make them important and to show off the thing that will allow our band of misfits to become the heroes they all wish to become.

Overall Grade: B-

Majestic Prince is one of those series that has a great deal of possibilities but end up relying on rather weak characters and tired plot devices to try and carry the series. I can understand the appeal this series might have to some serious mecha fans and also how the comedic aspects do help it stay afloat, but in the end I honestly hope that the second half of the series looses the looser persona and allows the serious side of the show to come forward. I think that if give the right writing and move in a note dramatic direction Majestic Prince could end up being both an omage to the classic mecha from the past and also a worthy series in its own right.

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation (anime review)

Posted by :Joann On : July 8, 2014
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review by Luther

Title: Devil Survivor 2: The Animation

Devil Survivor 2: The AnimationDirectors: Seiji Kishi

Writer: Makoto Uezu

Studio: Bridge

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: July, 1, 2014

Format: DVD /13 Episodes/ 325 minutes

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Age Rating: TV MA

 

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

When Japan is driven to the brink of despair by mysterious invaders called Septentriones, humanity fights back using Devil Summoners, 13 people of great distinction who have made pacts with daemons and been given the power to fight! This is the story where comrades’ death can be foretold, where mankind has been placed in the harshest of situations, a story of conflict and choices. Will they be able to survive the countdown to Armageddon?! Their choices will decide the future in Devil Survivor 2 THE ANIMATION!

Commentary:

The first thing to note about Devil Survivor 2 is that there is no Devil Survivor 1 anime. Devil Survivor 2 is based off the Nintendo DS game Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2, and is a self-contained story that is not a continuation of the first Devil Survivor game. That said, when I started watching Devil Survivor 2: The Animation I wanted to compare it to the game, however games and anime are two very different mediums. In the game, as the player, you have different dialogue choices and gameplay options that affect how the story progresses, compared to the anime which is a set story. So at first my opinion of the anime wasn’t quite as good as it could have been because I preferred game, but when I got adjusted to the anime, I did enjoy it.
Another reason I didn’t like Devil Survivor 2 at first is the main protagonist, Hibiki. Shortly after the anime started, Hibiki became your typical whiny anime protagonist, which is one of my least favorite character archetypes. Fortunately as the anime progressed, Hibiki’s personality evened out, and he became a much more likable character.

In general, I thought that Devil Survivor 2 was a well put together anime. Thirteen episode series can often feel rushed or incomplete, but I think all the time in Devil Survivor 2 was well used and very little of it was wasted. As a result, the story was deep and interesting and despite the fact that there are 13 main characters, most of them felt whole and rounded.

There is one little thing to note about Devil Survivor 2, and that is its packaging. Although packaging isn’t typically noteworthy, I quite like the box art for this anime. The box has a holofoil cover, thus is very shiny, and with its spiral pattern, it’s almost hypnotic. I will admit that due to its shiny nature, reading the words on the box is not easy, but ultimately I found the box to be really cool, and eye-catching.

Overall Grade: B+

Devil Survivor 2: The Animation is a quick and enjoyable watch, with interesting characters and a compelling story. If you have played the Devil Survivor 2 game, then you may not like anime as much, but if you’re unfamiliar with both then I would recommend watching the anime first.

Short Peace (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 5, 2014
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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.

YuyuShiki ( anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 4, 2014
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YuyshikiTitle: Yuyushiki

Director: Kaori

Author: Narsuko Takahashi

Studio: Kinema Citrus

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 5th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Epsisodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life

Age Rating: TV 14 (but really should be PG 13)

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Everyone knows you can learn a lot on the internet, and some of it is even true. But if you want to know what’s REALLY going on and important, then there’s just one place to go: the computer club!

Okay, so maybe it’s not the club itself, but the three girls you’re most likely to find there. And maybe they do spend more time chatting about their social lives and debating things like the virtues of ketchup versus mayonnaise than they do learning about the ins and outs of a keyboard, but whatever they’re up to, it’s sure to put a smile on your face.

So come learn what the mysterious YuiYukari Formula is all about and join serious Yui, hyperactive Yuzuko and lovable but not quite in touch with reality Yukari as they experience life’s ups, downs, surprises, and occasionally, the internet!

Commentary:

In the world of anime there is a classic formula that seem to attract creators to it like moths to a flame. That formal is the girl high school club slice of life. Yuyushiki is one of the moths at manage not to get too close to the flame and burn itself. It follows the simple formula of putting some girls into a club, that really has no purpose, and follow their lives and silliness though their early high school experiences. I’ve seen this formulae work and sometime it crashes and burns, but Yuyushiki manages to stand up to other classics like K-On and Lucky Star.

The one thing that gives me some pause is the style of animation that they depict these young ladies. They do everything possible to make them the older style archetype with big eyes and no nose and their heads are oversized for their bodies. It took me a few episodes to get used to this older comedic image and even though it is light and slightly funny I still find it distracting from the real strength of the series.

Overall Grade: A-

In today’s anime world of killing giant mutants to crazy slasher dramas it is great to get a taste of simple fun that comes from following a group of girls though the somewhat silly early years of their high school lives. I’m not sure why this series was listed at TV 14, I didn’t find anything that I wouldn’t allow a 13 year old to see. Maybe they are trying to attract an older age group, but I see this rather naive humor to be great for so many age groups that I wouldn’t rate over PG 13. The writing is great and the story made me laugh out loud several times and kept a smile on my face throughout the entire series.

The harmless humor that doesn’t have a mean bone in it keeps these girls likable and easy to watch. It reminds me of how great series like Lucky Star, K-On, Tari Tari and even Daily Lives of High School Boys are. I now have another series to recommend when someone is looking for a light hearted series that simply makes you feel good. So, if you want to smile then Yuyushiki is something you will need to get as soon as it comes out.

Dog & Scissors (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 3, 2014
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Dog & ScissorsTitle: Dog & Scissors

Director: Yukio Takaashi

Studio: Gonzo

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

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

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Personal Rating: C+

 

Synopsis:

Harumi Kazuhito was the ultimate bookworm, spending days at a time with his head buried in his beloved books, and little could make him happier than perusing the pages of his favorite author, Kirihime Natsuno. Unfortunately, Harumi’s life goes to the dogs – literally – when he gets himself killed while trying to stop a robber!

Thanks to the power of a true bookworm, however, Harumi inexplicably finds himself reincarnated as a dog… which might not be so bad if dogs could read. Or if the woman who adopts him didn’t have twin predilections for playing with scissors and tormenting her new pet! But what truly makes this strange reincarnation the worst of all possible worlds is that she’s also his favorite author! The horror! Can Harumi find a way to live with this tantrum-throwing typist, or will her crazed clippings prove to be his undoing? Can he escape her constant hounding via the doggy door, or is he barking up the wrong tree?

Commentary:

Sometimes anime just exists because they do and there are times when those anime are great just because they are. In the case of Dog & Scissors I can’t say that either of those instances come into play.  The simple fact is that this strange little sierras has an almost indiscernible plot line and mostly lacks any internal essence to propel it through 12 episodes. To have a young man who is a book worm cut down in the most exciting time of his life and transferred into the body of a odd little dog is sad in itself. To then have him become connected to a scissor wielding crazy woman who just so happens to be a popular author adds more pain to the suffering this story has to offer. Granted there is some redemption in their relationship as things more forward, but in general the torture continues throughout the 12 episodes.

The series is not a total failure because studio Gonzo has a hand in its creation. The creative minds at Gonzo understand how to take even the weakest story and make it look good. I’m not saying that they created a masterpiece, but they did give us a series that looks very good. That being said there is still something to be mentioned about the characters and their uniqueness. The strange quality to the top authors is light and adds some good humor to the story and when push comes to shove the main female character, Kirihime, shows some humanity in her emotional bonds to Kazuhito the dog boy.

Overall grade: C+

Honestly, there are plenty of anime that don’t have much reason to exist and I can’t completely write off Dog & Scissor. The series showed some real promise in the first few episodes, but never really developed and in the end was just s series of somewhat humorous episodes that just take up time. The look of the series stood up to the high quality that is expected from Gonzo. If you are looking for a series that just has some rather odd and torturous stores of a young man/dog who just wants to read books and has to live with a crazy author who has a thing for scissors.

Red Data Girl Anime Review

Posted by :Joann On : July 1, 2014
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Red Data GirlTitle:

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U.S. Distributor: Funimation

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Overall Personal Rating: B+

 

Synopsis:

Izumiko Suzuhara has grown up on a shrine compound where her life has been very protected. This shy girl is about ready to enter high school and strives to be more out going and true to herself. Except for electronics like computers and cell phones going haywire when she tries to use them, she was unaware of her true nature and destiny. It is when she meets Miyuki Sagara again (they knew each other as little kids), that she finds out she is one of the small number of humans still in touch with the spiritual world and is considerd rare and endangered. Miyuki is training to be  a mountain monk and he is charged with protecting Izumiko.

The two enter into a special high school in Tokyo where there are other students who also have various connections with the spirit world. Izumiko’s roommate is Mayura  Soda. Her brother is Manatsu. They also have a special spiritual being that is deeply connected to them.

Mayura seems to be the leader of one side of a high school rivalry. Is it just teens with powers bigger than they are really capable of dealing with because of their immaturity or is there something much bigger going on? Either way, they must be vigilant because their lives may be on the line.

Izumiko has to deal with a new school, becoming a mature teenager and unraveling the mystery of who she is and her assumed destiny. Miyuki is at her side but his attitude isn’t always positive. This is almost too much to handle, but finding strength is what she is learning to do.

Commentary:

Red Data Girl is a interesting series but sometimes things seem to jump, as if there wasn’t enough time for all of the information. Some of the background details or the evolution of things, or even the resolution of things goes too quickly and leaves reason or facts missing. We just have to not know and move on. This was originally a series of novels and I can only assume those were better fleshed out.  I had plenty of what and how questions staying with me through the anime that never get answered. This may have been better served in twice the episodes. Even so, I enjoyed the anime. I like the mix of reality and the secrete otherworldly events that surrounds us hidden away from regular people. It brings an element of familiarity and possibility to help bring the viewer in.

Visually this is a nicely done anime. The scenery and costuming were beautiful, colorful  and well thought out. Even though they were high school kids, their spiritual lives and school festival gave quite a variety to their clothes. With the setting of the mountains and shrine contrasting to the modern day, we also got to see a variety of the Japanese scenery. The action scenes usually went well, but occasionally I had the impression that they had to skimp on time of effort. There is this one really cool scene where one of the kids is running away and leaps onto a ghost horse and rides off into a different plane of existence.

I think this anime would be great for a lot a people, from a lot of categories and interest groups.  There really isn’t anything very scary(a bit of stylized blood on ghost) and no fan service, so age is not much of a factor. With a true mix of everyday life, the supernatural, relationships, self discovery, mystery and action, Red Data Girl has something for everyone.

Note: The title comes from a book called Red Data which list endangered species.

 

Overall Grade: B+