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The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : September 3, 2015
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Category: Reviews

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The-Comic-Artist-and-His-Assistantsreview provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection

Director: Takeshi Furuta

Studio: Showgate

Author: Aki Itami

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U.S. Release Date: September 15, 2015

Format and Length: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes + 6 OVA’s / 205 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem, Slice of Life

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: C

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Kill Me Baby!

The term NSFW was invented to describe this guy.

Synopsis:

Perversion, lechery, and a lack of respect for the feelings of others are all qualities that would normally look really bad on a resume, however for Yuki Aito they are the fundamentals of his art. His art is good enough that managing editor Mihari Otosuna will put up with a lot, including panicked panty runs, barrages of breast jokes, and other even lower-brow forms of self-amusement that Yuki wallows in.

However, when the continuing carnal crudity causes Yuki to fall behind schedule, Mihari is forced to bring in a team of assistants for him. But those assistants are of the young and attractive female type so that schedule will be going right out the window. Will Yuki’s assistants be able to fight him off and keep him on schedule? You will have to watch The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection and see.
Commentary:

The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection is set up in a very interesting way as each of the twelve episodes are less than fourteen minutes long and the OVA episodes are less than eight minutes long. Each episode consists of three to four mini-stories that revolve around one of the assistants and their day with Yuki. There is a large amount of fan-service in each episode and Yuki also cross-dresses in a couple of episodes.

The assistants really made the show enjoyable. Sahoto Ashisu has a high tolerance for Yuki and is his main assistant. This means she takes the brunt of Yuki’s perverted actions. She aspires to be a manga artist herself and when she is not working for Yuki she attends art classes. Mihari Otosuna is Yuki’s editor and is also the tsundere of the series. She is very focused on her work as an editor and is also tolerant of Yuki’s perversions. Fuwa Rinna is Yuki’s fan-girl. She took the assistant job when she had no experience and basically agrees to go along with whatever Yuki wants her to do. She must really like him because he can come up with some crazy ideas. Finally we meet Kuroi Sena. She is somewhat sadistic and proud but she also has a soft spot for cute things. She is also known as “Super Assistant!” in the manga world. She is usually the one to put Yuki in his place and sometimes she has to us a whip to do so.

The animation was normal. Nothing really stood out as amazing but everything looked good. The voice actors were chosen well and added to the characters. Personally, I believe that this series was given the wrong age rating. I think it should be a rating of 16 and up with all of the ecchi scenes. But that is just my opinion.

Extras:

The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations, Japanese promos, episode 12 closing karaoke version, and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. This series was released with Japanese with English subtitles as the only language option.

Overall Grade: C

The Comic Artist and His Assistants: The Complete Collection is interesting to say the least. However, that is not a good thing this time. If you enjoy the ecchi genre then you will probably like this series.

Hamatora The Animation season 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 29, 2015
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Hamatora-the-Animation-Season-1Title: Hamatora the Animation season 1

Directed by: Seiji Kishi & Hiroshi Kimura

Written by: Tōko Machida & Jun Kumagai

Music by: Makoto Yoshimori

Studio: NAZ

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: September 22, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / 12 episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Drama, Sci Fi, Mystery, Supernatural

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Nowhere may seem like just another Yokohama cafe, but as with many of its employees, this apparently innocent eatery leads a double life. Because Nowhere is also where you can find Hamatora, the mysterious detective agency run by P.I.s who are also M.H.s. That’s M.H. as in Minimum Holders, individuals gifted with extraordinary powers and abilities.

For the right price, you can hire founder Nice, who moves at the speed of sound, and partner Murasaki, whose super strength and near invulnerability are a significant asset. Of course, with incredible talents like these up their sleeves, Nice may not decide to take a case unless it personally interests him. But when a series of serial murders all turn out to involve other Minimum Holders, that interest is about to become extremely personal. Something monstrous is going on, and Minimum Holders as a class may be targeted for extinction!

Commentary:

Hamatora opens in a manor that made me feel like I was getting to see another series just like Penguin Drum and Persona 4 blended together, but it quickly made a detour that gave it a life of its own. As soon as it settled into its own skin I knew that it was something a more than a quirky blend of top series. I’m not sure if Hamatora is paying homage to some of the biggest new series or if it is taking the simple understanding and creating something a little different.

As the series progresses it manages to truly take on its own life and that is when it manages to move out of the shadows and stand in the sun with its head held high. The slow development of the characters adds to the overall feel and gives us a even greater reason to like them as we discover what is really going on.

Overall Grade: A-

Hamatora the Animation season 1 should find a large fan base and if it doesn’t I will begin to doubt the american anime scene. Of course it is more complex than it looks and it requires some work as a viewer to pay attention to what is going on.

The only real drawback for me is the animation. I found it to be a little too hip and colorful for a series that has such a dark edge. That also lends itself to some of the ques it picked up from other series. The atmosphere change when someone uses their power is a little tiresome and almost too cliche’, but I can understand why it is there.

Hamatora has to be one of the more inventive new series to be release in the states so far this year. I highly recommend it to the anime fan that love action packed series that have solid mysteries and a full array of characters that have plenty of great personalities and manage to keep you coming back for more.

I am looking forward to the second season. So Sentai bring it on.

 

 

 

 

Argevollen Collection 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 28, 2015
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ARGEVOLLEN-Collection-1Title: Argevollen Collection 1

Directed by: Atsushi Ōtsuki

Written by: Tatsuo Satō

Studio: Xebec

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23 Films

U. S. Release Date: September 1st, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / 12 Episodes / 300 Minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Mecha

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Other series to check out: Knights of Sidonia, Nobunaga the Fool and Aldnoah. Zero

Synopsis:

Tokimune Susumu has every reason to distrust the military and question orders. His sister has already died in the service of the Arandas military, and his secret reason for enlisting is to ferret out the truth behind her mysterious death. So, when a civilian convoy is in jeopardy and his own battle mech is destroyed, Susumu’s all too ready to break ranks and jump into the cockpit of the experimental Argevollen.

What he isn’t expecting, however, is that activating the Argevollen conforms it to his mind alone. Now he’s on the frontline of the ongoing meat-grinder that the war between Arandas and Ingelmia has become, and his only certain ally is an attractive civilian contractor whose reasons for being in the war are as convoluted as his own.

Commentary:

2015 may just end up being the year that the Mecha series made their triumphant return. At least in the U. S., really 2014 was the year in Japan. I think that some of the very best series release in the states this year are mecha and Argevollen is a classic example of where the genre tends to be very good and also very heavy handed.

Argevollen gives us a rather common story line of a young mecha pilot who has raw ability but doesn’t understand how to control himself. Can you say Full Metal Panic, you know it is all about being able to connect with the machine to become the ultimate fighting mecha. Of course his youth and lack of understanding tends to get in the way and is pure energy and mindless will ends up being his savior. The level of coming of age struggles may be at the core of all too many anime, but is is also fun to watch and at the same time very frustrating when the drama ends up being heavy handed. And heavy handed drama is front and center with Argevollen.

Overall Grade: B

For a mecha series it is very entertaining because of the way they bring this band of military outliers together and prove that you don’t have to be spit and polished to be good. There is also the connection between Tokimune Susumu and Jamie Hazaford that is handled very well. Jamie is a reluctant player in this war but as things move forward it is clear that she is meant to be right where she is and that she is there to help Tokimune and Argevollen become a single unit.

The animation is above par but in the end it is all about how these characters blend together. I can’t say that Argevollen is one of the top offerings of the season, but if you are a mecha fan then you should be pleased with this series too. I still think the heavy handed dramatic approach is what always hurts mecha series. I will always love the approach that Full Metal Panic took with a easy blend of comedy and drama with plenty of wonderful action to keep things going.

Argevollen will find its home in the hearts of plenty of fans, so if you enjoy a action packed mecha then this one is for you.

 

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection on Blu-ray (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 27, 2015
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My-Teen-Romantic-Comedy-SNAFUreview provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection

Director: Ai Yoshimura

Studio: Brian’s Base

Author: Shotaro Suga

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U.S. Release Date: September 1, 2015

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

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: The Pet Girl of Sakurasou, WataMote: No Matter How I Look At It, It’s You Guys’ Fault I’m Unpopular, Haganai, and Haganai: NEXT

Synopsis:

Caution! Opposites may attract, but putting them together may result in chemical burns, electric shocks, and explosions. Enter Hachiman Hikigaya, a pessimistic high school student with no friends and absolutely no interest in making any, and the firm belief that everyone else’s cherished high school experiences are either delusions or outright lies. Hachiman finds himself forcibly coerced by his well-meaning student advisor into joining the one member Service Club. There he encounters club founder Yukino Yukinoshita, a smart, attractive, walking superiority complex who looks down on the entire student body.

These two negative personalities are quick to attract Yui Yuigahama, who’s cute, bright, cheerful, and needs the Service Club’s help to… bake cookies as she should not be allowed in a kitchen by herself. Is this a recipe for romance or the precursor for a nuclear meltdown? Will there be cookies or a reason for everyone to play hooky? Get ready for rom-com gone totally wrong as the three members of the Service Club is unleashed on the unsuspecting student body!

Commentary:

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection is the opposite of a rom-com but at the same time it is one as well it just depends on the episode. My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection gives you a fresh and exciting spin on anime stereotypes that will leave you bawling in laughter. The storyline is mostly episodic and character-driven. The last few episodes flow together but the rest of the episodes do not need to be watched in order after the first episode.

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection really gets its characters and empathizes with them, but it does not make excuses for them. The characters are wonderful and well thought-out. Hachiman Hikigaya, or Hiki, is your cynical and somewhat pessimistic lead male character and his dissections of everyday occurrences and his appreciation for the little things in life bring hilarity to the story. The way he thinks and acts changes drastically throughout the course of the show as he meets new people and learns more about how to be a friend. Yukino Yukinoshita is the incredibly cunning and calculative tsundere of the series. She and Hiki are in the same boat when referring to lack of friends because she lacks them due to her perceived perfection and elitist attitude; while Hiki lacks them for his mistrust of others and cynical behavior. It was amazing to watch them grow on each other in a way that is not very predictable, but extremely well done. Yiu Yiugahama is the air-headed and inexplicable nice member of the group and serves as the glue that sticks them together with her much needed comical outbreaks and genuine emotions.

The animators brought these characters to life and it was amazing to watch. The character designs were bright and the facial expressions added the realism to the series. The opening and closing songs were fun to listen to and were easy to sing-along with. The voice actors did a great job and helped bring the characters to life before your eyes.

Extras:

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. This series was released with Japanese with English subtitles as the only language option.

Overall Grade: B+

My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU: The Complete Collection has made it onto my list of favorite series and I found it quite enjoyable. It is a refreshing and interesting take on the rom-com genre. I hope that there is a second season released soon so the story can be wrapped up.

Appleseed (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 22, 2015
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AppleseedTitle: Appleseed Blu-ray, DVD combo (Sentai Selects)

Based on: Appleseed by Masamune Shirow

Director: Shinji Aramaki

Written By: Haruka Handa, Tsutomu Kamishiro

Producer: Fumihiko Sori, Hidenori Ueki, Naoko Watanabe

Production Company: Micott & Basara, Digital Frontier

Music By: Boom Boom Satellites, Tetsuya Takahashi

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23 Films

U. S. Re-Released Date: September 8th, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / Feature Film / 105 Minutes

Genre: Cyber Punk, Sci Fi

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Plucked from the last battlefields of the final war, mercenary Deunan Knute finds herself pressed into duty with the ESWAT, defenders of the Utopian city of Olympus. But serpents lurk beneath the peaceful surface of this apparent Garden of Eden, and new seeds of destruction have already been planted! Now it’s up to Deunan and her former lover, the now-cyborg Briareos, to unravel a deadly web of plots that threaten to bring down Olympus from within!

Commentary:

2015 just might become the year of the retread or revival of some long beloved films and  series. Appleseed is one of those films that was at the forefront of Computer Generated animation and one of the first anime that Sori got his hands on. In 2004 when this first came out it was hailed for its visual presence and the strength of the story itself.  It may not have gotten the same praise that Final Fantasy The Spirits Within, but it did find a special spot in the hearts of many a anime fan.

Looking back at the film today it is hard to find the same level of awe or the interest in the story line. It does bring back plenty of fond memories though and I have a feeling that is what Sentai is expecting. With the creation of the Sentai Selects I am interested to see how Sentai uses this new grouping. I have seen what they have planed for release later this year under that subset. I see it as being used much the way Anime Classics is used by one of their major competitors.

Either way it is great to see Appleseed regain some new life and possibly get seen by a new generation of anime fans. I for one love the film.

Extras:

Alternate English Dub, Audio Commentary, The Birth of 3D Live Anime, Staff Profiles, Original Japanese Trailer, Special Japanese Trailer.

Overall Grade: B

When giving a new grade to a film that in the past you gave a high rating to is difficult. Based on how dated the CG looks I found it hard to stay focused and with my love of the film from 10 years ago I found myself becoming a little disappointed with the film.

This of course is a very personal aspect to the my viewing enjoyment and feel as though a new fan will find the film a lot more engaging. I still loved story and can see how much impact Appleseed had on many of the newer writers and film makers, I is a true classic I just wish I could have graded this version higher.

If you are new to the film then you should try to look past the dated CG and pay attention to the story. I know you will be hooked in no time.

WXIII: Patlabor The Movie 3 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 15, 2015
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Patlabor-WXIII-Movie-3Title: WXIII: Patlabor The Movie 3 on Blu-ray

Director: Takuji Endo and Fumihiko Takayam (chief)

Screenplay by: Miki Tori

Studio: Madhouse

U. S. Distributor: Maiden Japan, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: September 8th, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / Feature Film / 107 minutes & 38 minute extra

Genre: Sci Fi, Mecha

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating B+

Synopsis:

The SV2’s giant Ingram Patrol Labors may be the ultimate in crime-fighting technology, but there are never enough to tackle every pending case. So when a mysterious series of deadly attacks targets Labor operators across Tokyo’s harbor region, the job goes to “conventional” detectives Hata and Kusumi.

After all, just because it looks like a giant robot-created crime doesn’t mean that it is a giant robot-created crime, and deep inside a web of half-truths and government cover-ups, the detectives uncover a secret biological weapons project called WWXIII. But while this secret may have been buried, it’s still very much alive. And that’s when having the armored force of the SV2 as backup may become a literal lifesaver for the entire city!

Commentary:

The last of the Patlabor franchise films is something very different then the rest of the series, but it is not detached. The one thing that is very consistent is the high quality of story development. One thing that may lose people is the strange concept behind the story. Although the Japanese are not too afraid to take on the issue of monsters derived from mutations and experimentation.

I can say that I was drawn into the story right off the bat and continued to stay with it all the way trough. I loved the way they wrapped it up but I would have liked to see more Patlabor. As a police drama it is solid.

The animation was a let down for me. Almost 10 year passed from Patlabor 2 and the production quality just doesn’t match up. It almost felt older than and lacked the special visual prescience the earlier film had.

Overall Grade: B+

Patlabor the Movie 3: WXIII is a fine film but maybe its title should not have been Patlabor the Movie 3 because of the lack of the Patlabor Mecha and team. Maybe it should have been called the Promise from Space and Death.

Honestly I found Patlabor the Movie 3 to be a wonderfully strange and at the same time a little disappointing. It is telling how production ideals and approaches changed over the years and also the interest that is given to some of the small details. This alone is a simple pleasure that comes with much beloved dramas. I have always marveled at how the Japanese can take some of the strangest story lines and make them interesting and good.

If you are trying find that real “diamond in the ruff” then WXIII: Patlabor the Movie 3 is what you might be looking for.

Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 15, 2015
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Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete CollectionReview provided by Andrew and Katie

Title: Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection

Director: Keiichirou Kawaguchi

Studio: SynergySP

Author: Kenjiro Hata

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23 Films

U.S. Release Date: August 18, 2015

Format and Length: Blu-ray / 52 Episodes / 1300 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Harem, Action, Parody

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B-

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: The Familiar of Zero and Student Council’s Discretion

Synopsis:

Could Hayate Ayasaki’s life get any unluckier? Because his unemployed parents are good-for-nothings who waste what money they have on gambling, Hayate had to start working at a young age to help out his family. Although such experience has made him inhumanly fast and tough and skilled at things boys aren’t normally skilled at, it has also left him in an awkward position, as his parents have racked up such a huge gambling debt that they have sold Hayate to the yakuza for the value of his organs. Desperate to pay off the 156,804,000 yen debt before he’s converted into black market organ parts, Hayate strikes on the idea of kidnapping oddball heiress Nagi Sanzenin. Unbelievably, however, even that goes wrong and not only does he end up not kidnapping her, he rescues her from other kidnappers. (Apparently this happens to her all the time.)

But maybe, just maybe, there might be a tiny, dim light at the end of the very dark tunnel of Hayate’s existence, and the skills that Hayate’s had to develop to stay alive will pay off. Because Nagi needs a butler/bodyguard and Hayate could just fit the bill. But he will have to survive the on-the-job training first. Fate can be a harsh mistress, but Hayate may have just signed up with an even harsher one!

Commentary:

Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection is a hilarious rom-com that is full of parodies from well-known shounen series. They also include many parodies Japanese television culture jokes along with references to famous idols and random television shows. Luckily, they give some background information at the top of the screen whenever this happens so you can fully understand the joke. The romance part of the rom-com is pretty one-sided for this season, but I believe it will eventually even out.

With Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection being mainly a comedy series, it does not have a strong storyline. However, the vibrant characters make up for it. Each character has their own interesting personality which gives equal balance between characters. There are a ton of different characters in this series, almost too many and they do not have much development happen. I almost wish they would have made fewer characters and had more development for them. But, that is why three other seasons have been released. Nagi has to be my most favorite and lease favorite character of the series. She is the tsundere character of the series and basically acts like a spoiled brat to get whatever she wants. However, she is adorable when thinking about Hayate. Nagi is also your basic shut-in teenager who would rather read manga, watch anime, and play games than go to school. Luckily for her, she is really smart so that does not affect her grades.

The animation was pretty and the colors were very vivid. The voice actors did a great job and you will probably recognize many of them from other series. There was not a lot of fan-service and when it appeared, it was well done and tasteful.

Extras:

Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. This series was released with Japanese with English subtitles as the only language option.

Overall Grade: B-

Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection is quite a long series, but the comedy makes it very easy to watch. Parts of it reminded me of Excel Saga and that made me laugh for a long time. If you enjoy comedies with a little bit of romance added in then I recommend Hayate the Combat Butler: Season One Complete Collection.

Vampire Hunter D on Blu-ray (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : August 2, 2015
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Vampire-Hunter-DTitle: Vampire Hunter D

Director: Toyoo Ashida

Written By: Yasushi Hirano

Based On: Vampire Hunter D volume 1 by Hideyuki Kikuchi

Studio: Ashi Production

Original Release Date: Dec. 21st, 1985

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Re-Release Date: Aug. 25th, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / Feature Film / 80 Minutes

Genre: Supernatural, Drama, Action, Romance

Age Rating: TV MA

Overal Personal Rating: B

 

Synopsis:

For 10,000 years, Count Magnus Lee has walked the night, sustained by an unholy thirst for blood and an unending lust for human women. But when he tastes the sweet nectar running through Doris Lang’s veins, the Count knows he has found more than his next meal: this is the woman he intends to claim as his next vampire bride. As the daughter of a werewolf hunter, however, Doris Lang is less than willing to step into the thrall of evil. And if she is unable to defend herself from the Count’s nightmarish powers, she is fortunate enough to have found someone who can: the Vampire Hunter known as D. But D is no ordinary man, and signing up for his protection may carry a price of its own.

Commentary:

1985 was a long time ago for many of us for other it seems like yesterday. To have a fan favorite from 30 years ago make its return is something of a wonder. To keep it true to its look and from the video era may not be what everyone is looking for. Granted producing it on Blu-ray and trying to clean it up to add color and richness to it may improve the quality a little bit, but overall I wouldn’t say that the new version is much different than the original VHS version.

The story itself is a derivative of a classic archetype of the tragic hero who is plagued with much of the same weakness that the antagonist must suffer. In this case it takes on a literal aspect that not only helps further the cause of the plot line, but helps saves the story from a glide path into a simple hentai genre.

There is a simple romantic aspect that isn’t realized and if anyone ever saw the classic film Shane they would understand some of the overlapping sub-plot.

Overall Grade: B

Vampire Hunter D is a classic anime that should be brought out every 30 years or so and revisited to understand how the genre has progressed and what some of the complexities from the past really looked like. I know that many of us look back at many of the classics from the 40’s and 50’s and wonder how they ever made it that level of stardom, but one thing that never gets lost in technology is the quality of writing. Vampire Hunter D is written well and layer the ground work for many darker tales after it. This alone should be enough to keep it in the classic anime column, but much of the production of the time was also at such a high quality that it does keep us interested in the story. That aspect is key to any classic and Vampire Hunter D deserves the title.

If you haven’t seen it then you need to check it out. If it has been some time I think the re-visit will take you down memory lane with a smile on your face.

Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 27, 2015
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Is-the-Order-a-Rabbit

review provided by Andrew & Katie

Title: Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection

Director: Hiroyuki Hashimoto

Studio: White Fox

Author: Kazuyuki Fudeyasu

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U.S. Release Date: July 14, 2015

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

Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life

Industry Age Rating: 13 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Kiniro Mosaic, K-On!, Place to Place, and Non Non Biyori

There is something bunny going on at The Rabbit House…

Synopsis:

Moving to a new town to start high school can be intimidating. That is especially true for Cocoa, who cannot find the place she is supposed to stay at when she arrives in town. So she decides to stop at a café to ask for directions, however they are not needed as she is at the correct spot. The Rabbit House is both a restaurant/café and a boarding house, and Cocoa will be working there along with the owner’s granddaughter, Chino, and the strangely military-obsessed Rize. It is a great place to work, business is hopping, and Cocoa fits right in with her new coworkers, as well as the girls from two other rival cafes.

Still, there is something that is just a little odd about the Rabbit House. Rize usually carries a gun and a knife hidden on her and there is also the mystery involving the shop’s pet rabbit, Tippy, to just name a few oddities.

Commentary:

Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection is simply a light-hearted story of a group of girls living their daily lives and joking around along the way. This series truly belongs in the slice-of-life genre as each episode stands alone and is usually about a day or two in their lives. The comedy is spot on and the voice actors did a wonderful job delivering the one-liners.

The characters really made this series standout because they were so cute that you could not help but fawn and giggle over them. The characters consist of Cocoa, the ditzy protagonist found in almost every slice-of-life series; Chino, an adorable and quiet girl that will melt your heart on more than a few occasions; Sharo, the timid worker of the rival café who also wears a maid uniform on occasion; Chiya, the sole source of reason throughout the story; and Rize, the most interesting girl this world has ever known. There is a bit of character development but not too much as Is the Order a Rabbit? is a slice-of-life series. The characters were drawn to look very similar; however each one still had her own distinct taste, personality, and interaction.

The animation was nothing special but it was well done. The music was beautiful and I really enjoyed it. I really believe that children would love this series if it was dubbed because it is so episodic that they could watch an episode whenever they wanted to and still understand they story. Plus there is not too much fan-service and what there is seems forced at times.

Extras:

Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection includes clean opening and closing animations and Sentai Filmworks trailers as special features. Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection was released with Japanese with English subtitles as the only language option.

Overall Grade: B

I would love to see this series dubbed as it is a wonderful anime for kids to watch and I believe they are missing the targeted audience by only having it subbed at the current time. Is the Order a Rabbit? : The Complete Collection is an enjoyable slice-of-life anime that will brighten up your day.

Space Brother Collection 4 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : July 25, 2015
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Space-Brothers-Collection-4Title: Space Brothers Collection 4 on Blu-ray

Director: Ayumu Watanabe

Music By: Toshiyuki Watanabe

Studio: A-1 Pictures

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Aug. 4th, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / 13 episodes / 325 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Slice of Life, Action, Drama

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Grade: A

Synopsis:

In the unforgiving vacuum of space, the difference between life and death can boil down to a single bad decision or a millisecond of delay. And when the nearest help is as far away as another planet, the only one you can trust to save you is yourself. This lesson is driven home in the most brutal fashion possible as a series of accidents strand Mutta’s brother Hibito and another astronaut on the lunar surface. As Hibito fights to keep his injured companion alive, Mutta must join a team of scientists and fellow astronauts as they struggle to find a way to locate and save their friends before their critical oxygen reserves run out.

And if that wasn’t enough of a test, Mutta’s entry into JAXA training becomes its own ordeal when he and his fellow trainees are dropped into the survival test course on an accelerated schedule. Foraging for food and facing wild animals on one planet, and fighting for one’s last breath on its satellite, two brothers worlds apart find common ground in the fight to stay alive!

Commentary:

In my past reviews I have given high praise to this simple series and now I must heap even more love its way. Space Brothers is beginning to show me why it managed to become a solid and beloved series in Japan. It doesn’t have any dark, magical battling large breasted women going around causing mayhem nor is it a slow smoldering love story that bring agony and ecstasy to every episode. Space Brothers is a straight forward story of hope and success along with a view of family life that is all too often ignored just because it seems to be unreal.

Space Brothers may be set with a plot that is somewhat unrealistic, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t giving us a view that is somewhat realistic. The real story is not about these two brother who are striving to be astronauts, but rather how life can be challenging and rewarding even if it throws some curveballs your way.

Overall Grade: A

Space Brothers Collection 4 gives us some drama that high tens the story and brings us out of a easy lull that we had fallen into. There is also some additional character development that is long over due. These new developments help make more of these new astronauts even more likable. There are also a few new characters introduced that add a slightly different flavor to the story, but I have a feeling that they will end up becoming much more important as things go on.

Space Brother is a real hit for me and if you are looking for something that is easy to watch and even easier to get sucked into then you need to check this series out. It may not be flashy or overly slick, but the real backbone to any anime is the writing and story line. Space Brothers is a winner in both categories and needs to recognized as a wonderful series for what it is.