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Strobe Edge 8 Manga Review

Posted by :Joann On : January 6, 2014
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Strobe Edge 8Title: Strobe Edge 8

Author/Artist: Io Sakisaka

U.S. Distributor: Viz Media

Release Date: January 7, 2014

Format and Length: Shojo Manga,  184 pages

Genre: High School Romance

Industry Age Rating: T

Overall Personal Rating:B+

Similar Series:  kimi ni todoke, Say “I Love You”, A Devil and her Love Song

Synopsis:

Ninako is a high school girl, a bit small but very cute and somewhat socially naive. She has fallen for Ren, a popular and good-looking guy at school. He’s noticed her too, but when they first met, he was dating someone else. Ninako was content to be his friend and just be close to him. Now that he is single, he knows he likes Ninako but he has not gotten her to see that. She thinks he is being a good friend and keeps her feelings hidden the best she can. In her mind, there is always a good reason. This time, she has found out that Ren and Ando used to be close friends and it was a girl who had come between them. Since Ando has made it very clear he wants Ninako to be his girlfriend, she thinks that it would be best not to pursue Ren for the sake of his friendship with Ando. The big problem is she is no longer content to just be near him. The answer to her is to stop loving him. As she struggles, her friends begin to worry about what is going on.

A school festival is coming up. Ninako and Ando end up being leaders in the cheer group for their class. She is very distracted by her thoughts of Ren and what to do. Ando is openly working on getting Ninako to love him while Ren is approaching things in a quieter way. Except, he tells Ando exactly what he wants. Neither is willing to back down and they agree to both compete for Ninako’s heart.

 

Commentary:

With Ninako’s overthinking and abundance of faulty logic, she isn’t getting past being Ren’s friend. This keeps the plot from moving much as things circle around from one obstacle  to another. But, it keeps the series going so it’s not over too soon which is good, because it is a fun series to read. This, to me, is the series’ strength. It’s a lighter read with out anything particularly amazing, but it is sweet, hopeful and entertaining.

Ninako and Ren are exceptionally cute, one of the advantages of art verses real people. The artwork of this series is really good. It is well drawn, with clarity, great use of light, dark and tones. The faces and bodies easily convey emotions and thoughts without chibi or characteristic exaggerations-well, outside of the anime eye style. There are simple backgrounds which focus the attention on the people which works well since this is a character/relationship driven story. I see the skill put into the human forms, even down to the hands. The details of Ren’s hands when his face or chin rested on them was awesome. Having taken many figure drawing classes, I really appreciated the lines and shapes specific to the hands and the skill necessary in matters of fore shortening perspective.

The characters have all reached the point where they know their real feelings and have admitted the truth to themselves, now they need to find the courage to try to make the connections or move on. Ninako is just so new to all of this and probably has read too many perfect and noble romances. They should look to Ando for communication skills. With only two more volumes in the series, I really think Ninako and Ren will find a way to connect but just how will be the interesting part. I look forward to seeing the series to the end.

Extras: Author’s notes including one that explains the meaning behind the title.

Overall Grade: B+

 

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 4, 2014
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Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18Title: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan volume 18

Creator: Hiroshi Shibashi

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media / Shonen Jump

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 3rd, 2013

Format: Manga / Paper Back / 192 pages

Genre: Supernatural, Action, Shonen

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Harken back with us to the Golden Age of Edo, when Rikuo’s father Rihan first takes control of the Nura clan. Gain new perspectives on Rikuo’s family history, as well as the back story on some of your favorite devilish yokai (including that pesky Demon Lord Gorozaemon Sanmoto). Follow Rihan’s second heir adventures as he learns the hard way that controlling, commanding and battling yokai is not to be taken lightly, lest you be the one who’s taken.

We are also given a look at the original encounter between the 100 Story clan and gain the knowledge of why these two clans just don’t get along. As Rihan takes over for the Nura clan he is very protective of Edo and both the yokai and the humans that live there. He takes exception to any intruders that wish to take advantage of the town he cares so much about.

Commentary:

As in the rest of the series we the story is put together well and follows a very solid train of thought. I was impressed at how well everything fit together and even though this is back story I found the characters to be rather well developed. As it progresses everything stays focused on the story line. If there was any weakness is was the way in which the 100 story clan was portrayed. They cam across much weaker than maybe they should have and some of the encounters seem almost too simplistic.

Other than the weak depiction of the 100 story clan volume 18 is a nice refreshing change from the rest of the series.

Overall Grade: B+

With the flashback to the previous generation we typically see a loss in focus, but with this flashback it gave us a real solid look into a history of the 100 Story Clan and the Nura Clan and why there is such a hatred. I enjoyed the depiction of Rihan and also discovering a few new tidbits about some of the other main characters of the story. For all the Nura fan I think they will be very pleased and for anyone just picking up this issue I believe that they will find it interesting enough to check out the rest of the series.

Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan is one of the more imaginative shonen series being released in the U. S. currently. the thing about that I really like is that it blends Japanese culture together with an solid ethical story that not only carries a dramatic edge but also a plot line that moves you along with out the feeling of having been there done that or having the entire series slap you in the fase for shock value. If you are looking for a fun series that will leave you wanting for more for all the right reasons then you need to grab Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan.

 

Say “I Love You” Anime Review

Posted by :Joann On : January 3, 2014
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Category: Reviews

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Say "I Love You"Title:  Say “I Love You”

Director:

Publisher: Sentai Filmworks

U. S. Distributor:

U. S. Release Date: December 24, 2013

Format: DVD or Blu-ray (English subtitled or dubbed available), 13 episodes

Genre: Shojo, Romance

Age Rating: 14+

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Similar Series: kimi ni todoke

 

Synopsis:

Mei Tachibana is a high school girl, often picked on and friendless, having given up on them after being emotionally hurt. She usually acts awkward, surly and embarrassed. One day, a girl crazy guy accidentally knocked her down, leading his friend, Kurasawa Yamato, to notice her. Yamato is very popular and has plenty of girls flirting with him, but he is intrigued by Mei. Especially when they actually meet,  she kicks him in the face (that was intended for someone else).

Mei is confused by his forth coming attention and doesn’t trust it. Why is a guy like him talking to a guy like her? She can’t figure him out and she can’t get him out of her mind.

Mei and Yamato start dating. This is her first boyfriend ever. Other kids in school notice a difference in her. The couple become content for the gossip-vine. Even so, as Mei finds safety in her new relationship, she is more willing to risk making friends. Yamato is also changing in this new role.

There are other students around searching for their places in life and new relationships. One that stands out is a transfer student, Megu-tan, whose job is being a magazine model. She has her eye on Yamato, but Mei also has someone’s eye. Interference and jealously make a new relationship even harder, and added to that, a slightly eccentric and possessive little sister.

Commentary:

A friend told me that Say “I Love You” was one of the top viewed anime for a streaming site for a while, and I can see why. Turns out, a lot of people have seen it, male and female, and have enjoyed it. The series is unusual because as a romance, it isn’t all about getting into the relationship, but rather being in the relationship. Some stuff may be formulaic;  such as tripping and falling into someone, the popular guy looking for someone who is a little different, and communication difficulties (Getting your information from hearsay gossip isn’t very reliable). Still, I found it easy to get caught up in the story by the first episode.

Even though it is kind of short, only 13 episodes, there was a natural pace of introduction of the primary and secondary characters, who even have time for their own stories. This love story goes quickly, quicker than most anime moves and much faster than kimi ni todoke. They have a similar base stories with slightly different circumstances, but kimi ni todoke takes more than a season to get where Say “I Love You”  gets in two episodes. The age rating cover a some cussing and a touch of adult themes dealing with sex, but not actually happening in the show even though the first episode might lead you to think otherwise.

The characters and their relationships seemed natural, believable and multidimentional, really being a part of contemporary society. It is refreshing to see that everyday life can create an interesting story. Even with the bit about Megu-tan being a model, she was only in a minor magazine. Along side the romance were the elements of getting outside of your comfort zone and making friends. Even when people around seem to be pressuring them to fit together in a certain way. Finally, about how important it seems to fit in but longing for people to know the real you.

Say “I Love You” is nicely animated, great backgrounds with interesting perspectives, details and color. I watched it dubbed and think the American voices fit well. It all worked great to support the story and the characters.

I had a bit of a shock when it was over, I mean it seemed to just end. However, I knew that just couldn’t be it, so I went back and watched the closing song and video that I had skipped, so, make sure you watch it and stay until you hear the last words. It may be a bit of a weak ending, but it still finished satisfactorily.

Overall Grade: A-     I think this is one that could be enjoyed more than once.

 

Magical Play: Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 29, 2013
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Magical PlayTitle: Magical Play: Complete Collection

Director: Hiroki Hayashi

Studio: AIC / Magicaland Magic Union

U. S. Distributor: Sentia Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 3rd, 2013

Format: DVD / 5 Episodes / 150 minutes

Genre: Magical Girl, Comedy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

 

Synopsis: 

Becoming a Magical Girl isn’t easy, but Padudu thinks she has most of the bases covered. She even has a magical pet and a magical cloak! Granted, her pet’s a talking fish that she wears as the cloak (and occasionally snacks on), but now all she SHOULD have to do is wander the countryside, fight in official Magical Battles and collect enough Hanamaru stamps to become an official Magical Girl.

But life isn’t always that simple, and when Padudu accidentally breaks a law, she ends up on the run and traveling with some really odd companions. There’s MyuMyu, who wears a pair of cats as a bikini; Pipin, who dresses like a rabbit and wears her magical pet bunny as a back pack; and the nefarious criminal Nonononn, who also wanted to be a Magical Girl, and has both a Hammerhead Shark and mysterious ties to the Queen (who’s nowhere near as nice as her PR would have you believe).

 

Commentary:

December was a month were strange off beet anime made a real showing. Magical Play is decently one of those strange anime that specializes in the absurd. From the very opening where we see a young girl dressed in a fish suit being dropped onto another unsuspecting magical girl to the final 3D episode, Magical Play throws one curve ball at you after another. This short series proves that sometimes less is really more. I have a feeling that if there were more than 5 episodes that the entire series would fall apart and become more of a nuisance that a comedy that should be seen to understand. This type of work was exemplified in, Fooly Cooly, another strange series that proved that some story need to remain short.

The humor in Magical Play is simplistic but at the same time odd enough to keep you slightly off balance. That is were is really shines. The fact that these girls clothing is alive makes it strange enough, but when that very same clothing becomes food is something very different indeed. I really enjoyed this odd rather quirky style and it made me laugh enough to keep the series fresh throughout all of the episodes.

The animation was rather fitting for the subject matter and AIC seemed to understand that this simple happy approach was best. On the other hand when the 3D was spotlighted much of the charm wore off and the humor was pushed to the background. The last episode is completely in 3D and with just a few exceptions I found it to be the least funny one of the collection.

Overall Grade: B+

With all of the quirks and odd humor that goes on in this short collection I found Magical Play to be very enjoyable. I laughed enough to keep it interesting and also loved the way the characters and their clothing interacted. I think that the real key to this series is the anime stylings and overall production quality. Keeping the satire solidly in the magical girl genre was the point and even though it is only 5 episodes this common thread was not lost. The final 3D episode was by far the weakest of all and even though it was made to not only satire the magical girl genre but also the 3D arena too, I found it to loose track and not be as effective as the other four episodes.

If you are looking for something that will keep you off balance and also keep you smiling then Magical Play is something you should check out. This one looks like it is perfect for younger audiences but some of the subject matter and humor might not be well suited for those under 10 or 11. I will keep this one close by just in case I need a laugh and don’t want to invest a lot of time or emotion in the series.

Humanity Has Declined: Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 28, 2013
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Humanity Has DeclinedTitle: Humanity Has Declined: Complete Collection

Director: Seiji Kishi

Studio: AIC

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 24th, 2013

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Comedy, Fantasy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

 

Synopsis: 

For years, declining birth rates have forced what’s left of the human race to cede more and more territory to other beings who have appeared to take advantage of the emptying ecological niche. Now, only a handful of humans remain among the remnants of civilization and Earth is dominated by faeries – tiny, ten-inch tall creatures of surprising intelligence.

But humanity’s importance isn’t over quite yet, as young Watashi learns as she makes the decision to return to her hometown and assume her grandfather’s position as an arbitrator between the races. Unfortunately, the job isn’t going to be anywhere near as simple as she expected, and it’s going to take wisdom far beyond her years to achieve her most important mission. It’s not about how often you fall and fail, it’s about how often you get back up and try again, and the human race still has a lot left to accomplish.

Commentary:

Humanity Has Declined is the newest entry into the U. S. releases of strange and somewhat incomprehensable anime. It starts out rather innocent and unassuming, but it doesn’t take long before it take a turn to the weird and wild side. One other notable is that the lead character’s name is not revealed. Watashi stands for “I” and sometimes she is referred to as Ms. Sweets by the Fairies, but we do not know what her true name is and in many ways it is refreshing because it is not important to the series.

The animation styling sets up a happy light image that beguiles the viewer into thinking that the series is relatively inviting. It doesn’t take long before we are treated to a talking loaf of bread that tears itself apart and invites the humans to eat it. The edge to this scene is that there is a red liquid that squirts out giving the appearance of a violent end to the loaf of bread. This is not the only instance of a overtly strange scene and the seres becomes rather absurd from time to time.

The voice acting also gives the viewer the impression that this is a series aimed at the younger viewer and this too becomes rather disturbing from time to time. Even though this series is only subtitled it does not detract from its bizarre nature and in fact it helps maintain the mystique. The voice actors do a fine job of helping all of these slightly odd characters come to life and with their light approach to the characters helps the series keep the viewer off balance. The soundtrack is nothing to get too excited about, but I did think the closing song was above average and the lyrics manage to capture the odd nature of Humanity Has Declined.

Overall Grade: B

There is a lot about this Humanity Has Declined that should have propelled it to the top of the charts, but it has its flaws that keep in the middle of the pack. Even though I found the series fun and entertaining there were too many flat points were the story seemed to fall apart. This weakness may have been intentional in order to make to over the top strangeness even more extravagant, but in the end it just brings the series down. I really appreciated the fact that the names of the characters was secondary and the most personal name we get is Grandfather the rest are all based on description or nicknames. This stands out as not just a tool of the writer but a genuine effort to make the story stand on its own. The one thing I wished for was more of of an exploration into who the Fairies are and what has brought humanity to this point, but all in all it is still a lot of fun and for those who are fans of the strange anime this one is for you. Go for it I think you will be very pleased.

Midnight Secretary 3 Manga Review

Posted by :Joann On : December 27, 2013
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Category: Reviews

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“The Radius”

Midnight Secretary 3

 

Title: Midnight Secretary 3

Writer/ Artist: Tomu Ohmi

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: January 7, 2014
Format:  Manga

Genre: Shojo, Vampire Romance

Age Rating: 18+

Overall Personal Rating: C

 

Synopsis:

Kaya is a secretary working for Tohma Manufacturing Corp.  She is exceptionally skilled and hard working . Her boss is Kyohei Tohma, a managing director. He has a secret; that he is a vampire who feeds on women.  Kaya comes to him at night for feeding encounters that also include sex to make the blood sweeter.

Kaya is temporarily transferred to a subsidiary business to help set up their secretarial group. She works very hard as always and yet tries to set it up to make sure she gets transferred back to Tohma Corp. she can again be Kyohei’s  secretary. It doesn’t go as she planned and it seems that her time will be extended. All of the overwork and night encounters causes her to collapse creating concern for everyone, even Kyohei. Although he thinks of her as a mere human, he tells her to take care of herself and he will take a break on feeding from her. Suddenly all contact with him stops and he seems to have disappeared.

 

Commentary:

I found the characters, at best, vaguely connectable, but generally flat. Kaya’s personality has both good and bad aspects. What stood out, and I was most bothered by,was her attitude that she wants to be with Kyohei no matter what and will sacrifice herself to be special to him. He isn’t nice to her even though she works incredibly hard, then gives him her body too. This attitude is demeaning and doesn’t make for a good protagonist in this day and age.

Kyohei is just a selfish, creepy, womanizer vampire, even if he seems to be falling for Kaya against his will. Why does Kaya even fall for him? I guess power and looks? Or maybbe excitment. Everything has to center around Kyohei in his mind and Kaya is all too willing to comply. Not so much fun to watch as a reader.

The manga is fine, maybe average and perhaps enjoyable for a light read but nothing of special to recommend it by. The story lines seem a bit weak at this point (it actually gets move complex in later volumes). It often seemed to be just a love story shell more for setting up the sexual encounters (mature scenes) which in turn are used to create something akin to love.

The audience appears to be adult women who are fond of vampire romances like Twilight, only looking for more adult romance (i.e. sex). This is definitely for the older crowd only, with it’s mature rating and nudity. I didn’t like seeing the sex scenes, however brief, so this was not a manga for me. I think I may have graded it low because I generally try to grade for the intended audience if I can get my mindset right. I just couldn’t really get there this time. 

Overall Grade:  C

“In the Radius”: For a demon romance, Demon Love Spell has similar vibes with tamer rating needs.

 

BTOOM: Complete Series (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 27, 2013
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BTOOM: Complete SeriesTitle: BTOOM: Complete Series

Director: Kotono Watanabe

Studio: Madhouse

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: December 10th, 2013

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Action, Drama, Sci Fi, Romance

Age Rating: TV MA

Overall Rating: C-

 

Synopsis:

Ryuta Sakamoto is your typical NEET, He has decided that there is nothing out in the world he would rather do than play BTOOM!. Well, there is one other thing he would consider doing and that is work for the company that created BTOOM!. Ryuta has managed to alienate everyone including his own mother. The only place he has found any semblance of a life is the virtual world of BTOOM! and he even found himself a wife. Take him out of his room and you have nothing more than an unsure coward how would rather hide then get involved.

In the blink of the mind’s eye, Ryuta Sakamoto suddenly finds himself transported from playing the hit BTOOOM! video game to being stranded on a mysterious island. He’s equipped with a day’s worth of provisions, a bag of bombs, a strange crystal embedded in his left hand, and a huge gaping hole in his memory. But it doesn’t take long to figure out what’s going on, especially after the first person Ryuta meets tries to kill him. Someone is attempting to recreate the ultra-violent BTOOOM! game in real life, and the island has been filled with an army of other unwilling players, each armed with one of the multiple variants of explosive weapons called BIM.

Fortunately, Ryuta’s an ace BTOOOM! player, but this insane version of the game has no reset switch or second lives, and there’s only one way off the island: kill seven other people before they can kill you! Can Ryuta repurpose his game-based skills fast enough to survive this ultimate battle royale?

Synopsis:

BTOOM! is simply put Battle Royal meets Sword  Art Online but it is not as entertaining as either one. The basic premix is somewhat interesting and the style of battle is somewhat unique, but the way that it is put together is somewhat of a serious let down. I think that if the main character, Ryuta, was a more sympathic person from the beginning rather than a punk who is just running away from the world, I just might have like the series a little better. There is also Himiko, the other main protagonist and his romantic lead. She come across so afraid that her compulsion to hate men is rather unappealing and pushes the viewer away from liking her within a few short minutes. It is understand able that both of these characters have their flaws and paranoia, but to present them in a way that just makes them unlikeable in the first fews episodes that it creates a level of disfunction that the series has a hard time overcoming. Then you add in other weak or psychotic characters and things just go from bad to worse.

The animation is rather standard for Madhouse but it does come across well for the series. In fact the animation stands out as the strong point of the entire series. With this style of artistry the premiss comes off well and added to the jungle / island environment this end up looking rather slick. The voice acting is nothing to shout about but at the same time I did not see any flaws or issues with the work. They are all professionals and it showed. I think that the series itself may have brought down everything around it.

The other aspect of the series that stood out for me was the basic premiss. The thought that a game that contained strict rules of engagement and some very experimental sonar devices has its merit. There is also the reason why all of these people are on the island. Without giving anything away, the reason is something that is so disciple that it almost seems plausible. At least, it is believable anyway.

Overall Grade: C-

BTOOM! is a series that has so much potential and proves to fall apart before it ever gets going. I guess that is why this package represents the complete series. It reminds me of Deadman Wonderland and the way it ended up presenting a story and then essentially creating more questions than answers. I know that there are plenty of people that will enjoy this series for what it is, but I have a feeling that there are more than a few that will find it disappointing, like myself.

 

Dorohedoro 11 (manga review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 27, 2013
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Dorohedoro 11Title: Dorohedoro 11 (manga review)

Author: Q Hayashida

U.S. Distributor: VIZ Media

Release Date: Dec 17, 2013

Format and Length: manga; 170 pgs

Genre: fantasy, action

Industry Age Rating: M for Mature

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series:  Dorohedoro is a unique series and it is difficult to find something else similar to it.

Synopsis:

Nikaido is back with En but she is severely injured.  Even Noi’s powerful healing smoke has no effect on her injuries. It seems that Nikaido hates being under En’s contract so much that her body is physically rejecting it and it is killing her.

Elsewhere, the small group of Cross-eyes has been having their own problems. Something has gotten into their prisoner and possessed him.  The thing turned him into a demon-like creature that calls itself “Curse.” The cross-eyes try to fight it but the two that did attack it end up horrible wounded

Meanwhile, Chidaruma, the former devil that helped Nikaido and Caiman escape, comes across the body of a human Caiman. Believing Caiman to be dead, Chidaruma passes out from exhaustion. He eventually wakes up in a bed being cared for by a man who calls himself Aikawa. Chidaruma manages to teleport himself and “Aikawa” to the room where Nikaido is resting. En, sensing the disturbance, runs to see what is happening with Nikaido, but gets dristracted by a horrible sensation he had only felt once before. And it nearly killed him then.

Commentary:

Dorohedoro 11 was an improvement over the last few volumes. Things finally feel like they are progressing and the gritty art style did not make any panels unintelligible like they sometimes do, especially in scenes with lots of movement. Though I have always liked the art style of Dorohedoro and it really fits with the scenes and plot of the series, in some volumes the roughness of it can often get in the way of being able to tell what is going on in some of the scenes.  That problem was not there in volume 11. In each panel it was fairly easy to see plainly what was happening. Although there were some scenes where the content was what made it difficult to see what was happening. There were many situations where various characters were having strange visions. It looked like they are supposed to have some deep symbolic meaning but it is extremely difficult to tell just what that meaning is. But not knowing the deeper meaning of the visions does not really affect the character development that occurs within the visions. There is dialogue and, while the symbolic meaning is confusing, the dialogue is what propelled the plot and character development so no story was lost in visual translation.

The comedic relief parts are well done as well. Each one, at the very least, gets a small laugh. They are all at least a little bit funny and serve as nice breaks from the harsh seriousness of the main plot of the series.

Overall Grade: B+

Dorohedoro 11 was good overall. The comedy was funny and the action scenes were easy to see despite the rough art style that sometimes makes movement difficult to decipher. Dorohedoro is a unique series and it is difficult to find something else similar to it.

 

 

 

07-Ghost Volume 8 Manga Review

Posted by :Joann On : December 23, 2013
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07-Ghost 8“The Radius”

Title: 07-Ghost Volume 8

Story: Yuki Amemiya

Artist: Yukino Ichihara

U. S. Distributor: Viz Media

U. S. Release Date: September 14, 2014

Format: Manga, supernatural, adventure, 200 pages

Age Rating: T for Teen

Overall Personal Rating: C

Synopsis:

Teito falls back into a memory.The Seven Ghosts believe the truth lies in his memory because it looks as if the memory quelle has been altered. In the past, Teito had been used in a ceremony to seal Pandora’s box. It is this that will cast him into the very center of the fight against Verloren. Can knowing the truth lead Teito in the right direction? As he struggles with his fate, he is determined to carry on with the help of his supporters.

The power of the Eye of Mikael has him safe for now. The Bishops know it is their job to protect Pandora’s box but it is beyond complicated. Who is behind it all? Who is the real manipulator? And does the Pope have the power to help?

As Teito continues to travel with Frau and Capella, they encounter two Combat Slaves from Raggs. Teito is glad to hear his own dialect and befriends them. It is a bright spot, however temporary, in the journey.

 

 Commentary:

I still have a difficult time getting into this series. The characters haven’t drawn me in and the story is complex and jumpy. Many times something is suddenly part of the story and then gone with no explaination. It seems to be there only temporarily to solve a plot problem, and that to me is annoying. The story struggles and lacks any clear path. There’s also too much going on, and the bits that aren’t important to the story just sort of clog it up. There needed to be some serious editing because I think there is a basic story hidden in there and I wish it had been better made clear. One last complaint, the saturated use of German and Christian terms is so misused that it is distracting. There doesn’t seem to be a sensible application.

Now after all of my complaining, what is good about the series is the art work. I prefer the dark and dramatic look, and 07-Ghost is loaded with them. A bit gothic, but Teito is too cute to really call it gothic. The linear dynamics are charged with energy and excitement. The proportions and overall look of the people (and creatures) are well done, and the clothes are used to increase the successful designed graphics look.

In this volume particular, there is an important revelation about the connection between Teito and Pandora’s box. Miss this and be lost.

Extras:

4  panel comics and a bio page.

Overall Grade: C

So I Can’t Play H The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 22, 2013
1

Category: Reviews

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So, I Can't Play HTitle: So I Can’t Play H The Complete Collection

Director: Takeo Takahashi

Studio: feel

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks / Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 31st, 2013

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Josen, Supernatural, Romance, Harem, Fan Service

Age Rating: TV MA (Violence and Nudity)

Overall Personal Rating: B-

 

Synopsis:

 

Never make a deal with a wet goddess you’ve only just met. That’s a lesson Ryosuke Kaga learns the hard way when he foolishly agrees to let Lisara Restole use some of his “essence” to stay in this world. Despite her smoking-hot appearance, Lisara’s actually a Shinigami, a Goddess of Death. However, she doesn’t steal years off his life like any decent Shinigami would do. Oh no, instead she sucks off his lecherous spirit, draining his ability to enjoy… well, the things that teenage boys normally spend most of their time thinking about!

Now the poor degenerate’s only hope of getting his licentiousness renewed is to join the Lisara on her quest, since when she leaves our mortal plane he regains his normal immorality! But Shinigami can be really harsh mistresses, and it’s going to be anything but easy to go back to being sleazy!

 

Commentary:

Although I can’t say that I thought the fan service in this series was needed at the level it is presented, I can say that the series is a fun one all the same. Right off the bat you know this isn’t your typical Shinigami using a human anime. The connection between the two appears to go deeper right off the bat, even though they just met. The constant friction between these two is delightful and then when you add in a group of young ladies who also find the ultra perv, Ryosuke Kaga, add a full flavor to the series that makes it worth watching. There is also another device that is used to lighten Ryosuke’s perverted side, but there is a consistent aspect to his nature that is a little disturbing and also natural at the same time that makes him a sympathetic character. Lisara does not come across as sympathetic until later in the series and once the softer side of her comes out she ends up being a true standout.

I guess that shows how well this series was written even if there is a disturbing slant toward a teenage boys sexual imagination. They do a very good job not going too far and at the same time making Ryosuke less freaky and a little more like a naive high school boy who just loves girls and is naturally drawn to them. This odd external presence in his personality is both funny and written into some very appropriate moments which make for a couple very funny situations.

As for the animation I found myself impressed in the quality of the work done by feel and found myself looking back at some of their other production for comparison. Honestly I am not finding any others that stand out for me like this one. There is a slick voluptuous look to the series that adds another level to the overall appreciation to the show.

 

Overall Grade: B-

Not being a huge fan of heavy fan service I found it rather distracting in the telling of the story. I felt like I was being bombarded with breast and ways to expose them. I really thought there was enough to this story that even if the the ladies could have remained more clothed it would have still worked and maybe even come across as a much stronger harem / romance. I did like the pacing and the way things came together with a solid ending, but I still find myself coming back to the lack of clothing and the way that it made me loose my train of thought.

The writing is solid and much of the comedy came form the dialog and the way these characters entreated. To be able to over come a story hell bent on showing off young women’s breast and making something that is worth watching is sometimes very hard to do. I thing the high quality production also helped. If not for these two strengths this series would end up being at the bottom of a long list of eiichi series that are only concerned with showing off a young woman’s body. Unfortunately, it may be hard for other fandom to find this series easy to watch. I did enjoy it for the story, so if you are looking for a fan service series that does tell a fully developed story then this one os for you.