Celebration!

Well turns out I didn't get the halloween review up after all, so sorry. I got caught up in life and watching something else.
Anyway enough about that. Something special has happened. My Birthday! yay! so in honor of this occasion I'm posting the link to my most fav amv ever. so happy b-day to me and enjoy!

Attack of the Otaku

AMV of the Week 11

so so so sorry. ive been gone for so long. im secretly in love with theater and opening night was this week. plus school. ive been busy.
well im watching my halloween series at the moment and will have a review up hopefully before oct 31st. i was also introduced to the brand new ouran host dub. it....was.....horrific. i was nearly in tears. i love this series and was quite upset. tamaki is way to fagish, kyouya lost his evil and just sounds like a code monkey, honey lost allot of his cute, haruhi sounds really butch, and the twins (my fav) sound way to much alike and sound really whiny. and funimation did the unthinkable. they english-ized the op and ed. in the words of side-show mel "TER-rible!"
anyway, thats my rant after being gone for so long. heres an amv as a pacifier.
the anime is called RahXephon and its to Must be Dreaming by Frou Frou

Anime Fall Season 2008

Its October 3rd and we all know what that means. Time for the premiere of the new anime series for the fall season in japan. Woot! and by the looks of it its gonna be good.
instead of me typing everything out I will simply post the Picture that has all the information made by a very wonderful fan. I salute you sir!

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
So Long, Mr. Despair

Original Creator: Koji Kumeta

Production by: SHAFT

Adapted from: an ongoing manga
OAVs: one so far
Seasons: two
Movies: none
Live-action: none

Genre: comedy, drama, harem, slice-of-life.
Number of episodes: 12

ANN's Plot Summary: " Itoshiki Nozomu is the world's most negative person. To his way of thinking, there is no hope or meaning in this existence. Even the three kanji of his name become the two-kanji word zetsubou, "despair", when compressed. What an ironic twist of fate, then, that he becomes teacher to a class containing his precise opposite, the invincibly positive-minded Fuura Kafuka."

My Ranking: 5 hoshi
My Rating: R
um.....yeah. considering the bizarre themes and mind twisting conversations I rate it R. not to mention the constant suggestiveness for no apparent reason that's there just because its a harem type anime.

Review: I'll just start out that this anime has come to be called by its fans as "a drug-fueled awesome machine!"........and I completely agree. It makes sense the writer is a self-proclaimed pot-head because it completely explains the bizarre and completely true interpretations of the most random subjects. This in itself should proclaim its coolness. If not for those who would delve into the completely unimportant we wouldn't have glow sticks to chew on now would we.

Back to the plot......wait. It doesn't have a plot! Itoshiki Sensei in his classes prefers to explain why the world is void of hope and would rather make his students see his point of view then actually put it into practice himself. For this, many have become his followers. Through the conversations he instigates with the 'zetsubou girls' (as they have come to be called) the viewer is able to go beneath the surface of the subject and see it in a completely twisted way that, dear gosh, actually makes allot of sense. Soon after this is made clear we suddenly find the ever positive Kafuka, looking back up to the surface from a backwards perspective of the previously stated conclusion, causing you to cock your head as your brain does a back flip in your skull.

The animation and art style compliment the off beat nature of the series to a T. The cool patterns and dark pallet give it a kind of eery feeling along with the random suicide attempts but in the midst of it all you can't quite help from smile at this odd looking comedy. The music is also quite cool put to the op's and ed's that have no particular attachment the actual story of the series. Just another cool thing to throw you through Zetsubou Sensei's looking glass.

This series is definitely a must watch for any anime fan. So throw aside the shonen and the shojo and jump down the rabbit hole, they have a noose waiting just for you.

Comparison: I don't know much about the manga only that it is still ongoing and it was just licensed. the anime on the other hand has not yet been licensed and it was subbed by A.F.K.

Sample Vid: this is positively the best amv ever for SZS. spoilers are not an issue for this anime because its not really what you see its what they say that really counts. btw. this vid is for both seasons one and two of SZS.

AMV of the Week 10

Hello all. whoa boy have i been aggravatingly busy. school is a shit of a bugger ill say that. anywho i think ill be okay soon enough. i just finished another series and as i write its review i will be starting a more freakish series in the mean time. as you can tell im trying to keep an open mind on variety. well enjoy the amv until my upcoming reviews.

Stop the Rock

Seto no Hanayome

Seto no Hanayome
My Bride is a Mermaid!

Original Creator: Tahiko Kimura

Production by: Gonzo collaborated with AIC

Adapted from: a manga series
OAVs: one
Movies: none
Live-action: none

Genre: Comedy, drama, romance, action, supernatural.
Number of episodes: 26

ANN's Plot summary: "A young boy gets saved from drowning by a mermaid but, according to mermaid law, if a human sees a mermaid's true form, both have to be killed. The only solution to the problem is for him to marry her. But can they keep her secret from being found out."

My Ranking: 3 hoshi
My Rateing: PG-13

Sexual references mostly with some adult humor. mild language.

My Review: This series was first described to me as 'The Yelling Anime'. It was well put. This anime is crazy. Everything is over the top in this series but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Its this extreme nature that gives it most of its humor. The voice actors of SNH deserve mad props considering the major talent it takes to endure the kind of vocal strain it must take to make the characters' voices flux from yelling at the top of their lungs to going deep and evil then high and cute in the count of 30 seconds. The series was obviously well put together in that area of expertise.

In my little world there are two kinds of comedies: the kind that are really funny but still stick to the cool story and then the kind that are crazy funny but don't have much of a plot. The thing that threw me off about SNH was that it didn't fit into either. The way I see it is its like both kinds of anime slapped on top of each other; the craziness overriding for a while until the point where it gets a little tiresome and annoying but then the plot suddenly pops up to the surface in a totally awesome, well-balanced episode. Taking this into account the series is a bit bumpy in my perspective. The first six episodes were a tad annoying then went into three totally awesome eps then went up and down a little more until the totally sweet two ep finale. (I'm serious. the last two are win)

In my opinion they could've toned it down a little if not just spread the insanity a little more evenly. Looking back on this series I have the strangest picture in my head of a slice of bread with peanut butter and blobs of jelly in random places. Okay maybe that's a bad analogy, but I just see it as a way to get my point across. As for the awesomeness of this series with the crazy ear abuse aside, I'd say it was pretty cool. Don't let the pretty mermaids fool you, they're still part of the mafia. There's still gonna be some buttwuppen amongst all the screaming, and THAT is what I like. Not to mention a little romance in the mix. Now who can resist that?

Comparison: the SNH manga I don't know much about except I don't think its finished and it is not licensed along with the anime. An OAV was just scheduled for release this upcoming fall 2008 season. SNH was subbed by the group Ayako for eps 1-12 and 16. unfortunately they were not able to finish so the rest of the series was done by Your-Mom.

Sample Vid: ugh. why do I keep picking series that I can't find a good amv for. drat it and sorries.

AMV of the Week 9

Hello all. yet another positively shaweet amv to share with you. I'll finally be starting school again soon so just a warning that the frequency of reviews and such might decrease between breaks at least until I get my own laptop. (when that will be I have no idea) so sorry and hope yall will bear with me.
presenting a montage of anime put to 'Best of You' by Foo Fighters.

Jihaku

Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo

Gankutsuou
The Count of Monte Cristo

Original Story: Alexandre Dumas

Production by: Gonzo

Adapted from: the classic book "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas
Movies: none
Live-action: there is an American movie but its not accurate.
OAVs: none

Genre: mystery, action, adventure, science fiction, drama, romance.
Number of episodes: 24

ANN's plot summary: "Trying to escape his uneventful life, Albert, the son of a renowned general from Paris, makes a journey with his friend Franz. During his travels, he meets an immensely wealthy nobleman named The Count of Monte Cristo. Living in luxurious hotels, surrounded by beautiful women and strong bodyguards, the charming but enigmatic count fascinates Albert. Albert invites the count to join the high society of Paris. However, unknown to Albert, his father had once framed the count and took the Count's fiancee as his own. "

My Ranking: 5 hoshi
My Rating: R
there is allot of intensity with reference to drugs and a few pretty explicit sexual references and scenes. also there is quite a bit of violent and bloody instances.

My Review: This series was amazing. For the moment I will only touch on the anime and make no reference to the book because the anime can honestly be given its own review. For one this series was incredibly well done. It was intense, full of action, and didn't cut short on the mystery factor. This anime was exquisite to behold in art style and animation, but that didn't in any way overpower the plot which was just as intricate and bad ass. The mystery that enveloped the Count was to be left on everything he touched to keep one ignorant of certain things until the climax of the story. This made you want to keep watching to find out what would happen next and to unravel his enigmatic cloak. The story captured your interest while the gorgeous affects kept you engrossed to not look away for a minute.

One thing I particularly liked about this series was its consistency. There was never a lack for speculation on behalf of the plot nor was there a lapse in the intense emotion accompanied with the story. Up until the end there were times when the viewer would still be dying to know what would be the outcome of the Count's quest for revenge. What feelings would each of the characters choose as the most dominant in their actions?

The action is pretty win in this series. Though its not all fighting and bloodshed its still gives a thrill as the Count weaves his web of vengeance around the unsuspecting cast of characters. Not to mention the fact that the anime takes place in a futuristic setting which opens the door to some of the coolest ways to kill people. mwahaha.(couldn't resist).

This anime deserves its props and I'm willing to give them. It was the right combination of action and mystery in the most perfect amount of time. It left one with closure and was not so overpowering that the viewer is still left uneasy. I can once again describe this series as consistent but also well proportioned. With that, I confess my love for this story and bid you Au Revoir. "Bide your time and hold out hope."

Comparison: Gankutsuou was ingenious in its adaptation from the original book and let itself become its own entity of awesomeness. At this time I must admit to my other identity as a bookworm in order to give a full report. (it so happens I had to read this book for summer reading the same time I was introduced to the anime. haha.) In most book to movie adaptations the movie is doomed to fail because it often tries to go in the same direction in a different way, therefore, suckage. Gankutsuou on the other hand was spared in complete fail because it branched off in a different direction in order to do things differently, hence a good story on its own alltogether.
The characters retain their names and occupations along with their connection to each other very accurately. The plot also retains most of its shape, but it does deviate from the facts. For example: Franz and Eugenie have barely any part in the original story. We see Franz only twice while Eugenie doesn't have one line.
The anime was put more in Albert's perspective while the book stays in a 3rd person omniscient with a little more attention to the Count himself, hence, depicting him as a little more human than the enigma presented in the anime. There are other things I could touch on but I fear of boring the audience of this ANIME blog. For more I'd suggest Wikipedia but I just like giving my two cents on the matter.

Gankutsuou was subbed by KAA (kick ass anime) and licensed by bang zoom! entertainment.

Sample Vid: I once again don't know of a good amv but the ED for the series is a pretty good representation for a sneak peek at what its all about. without spoilers.

AMV of the Week 8

so sorry for yet another delay between reviews. there is a particular anime i want to do next that is sure to be full of action. so to help your patience here is a really cool collaboritive amv. its 70 anime (the list may be found here) to It's Tricky by Run DMC

It's Tricky to make a Music Video

H2O~Footprints in the Sand~

H2O~Footprints in the Sand~

Original Creator: Makura

Production by: ZEXCS

Adapted from a manga: kind of. (see comparison below)

Movies: none

Live Action: none

OAVs: none

Genre: romance, psychological, drama, comedy, supernatural, slice-of-life, harem

Number of Episodes: 12

ANN's Plot summary: "Takuma Hirose, a blind young male high school student, though the cause for his blindness is undetermined. After his mother died an unexpected death, it left a deep emotional scar on him, which caused him to become very lonely and reserved. Due to this, Takuma and his father move from the city out into a rural area and Takuma is enrolled into a new high school. At his new school, he meets several new girls, though three of whom he gets to know the most out of anyone else. They are, the firm and obstinate Hayami Kohinata, the kind and obliging Hinata Kagura, and the cheerful and mysterious Otoha. As Takuma interacts with these girls, his medical condition gradually begins to heal. "

My Ranking: 2 hoshi

My Rating: PG

This series is a mite dramatic not to mention a bit tragic so.....yeah. As for impropriety there are multiple flashing scenes not to mention a few nose-bleed inducing instances.(one guy, bunch of girls....yeah. you get the idea) other than that its okay.

My Review: I honestly do not know how I should feel about this series. Of course that doesn't leave me without an opinion, it just makes the production of one more difficult to put into words. I was told this series was very sad and at first I didn't see it. Unfortunately I soon saw that it was. The story, while sometimes a bit jumbled and unclear, is very touching and melancholy. Its progression is very steady in the sense that even though each episode takes the focus of one of the characters it doesn't interfere with the plot. While there may be instances when you'll wonder 'was that really necessary? or was it there for filler?' well, most likely its not. I have to believe that underneath, the creators have an incredible sense of humor while producing such a melodramatic series. This is was proved in some necessary comic relief in episode 8. Good thing too because after that there isn't much of a let up in emotion.

What I particularly liked about this series was that the characters were more well rounded than those in most anime. The characters weren't one sided, fitting into a type, but nearly all of them had both good sides and personal conflict. This allows the series its emotion by not having a character that will make everything alright with the spout of a few words of wisdom. Each one may help the other but sooner or later have their own conflict to deal with. Its like I said before, this series doesn't waste anything. Everything has its own little purpose for happening.

Though this series may be sad or melodramatic it doesn't leave a gnawing, need for closure feeling. You might feel bad or clench your desk in anger but the series leaves room for acceptance. All in all, this series introduced me to a new potential for anime. It was something out of the ordinary for me and I have to admit that I enjoyed it while I still don't know quite what to think of it.

Comparison: Like's been said above, this series was first an adult game for the PC then converted into a manga, then an anime, finally ending with a game for the PS2 with removed adult content. The manga is only two volumes long and is not licensed while the anime was just made so. The anime was subbed by Bakawolf-m.3.3.w subs.

Sample vid: sorry no vid again. This series is short so its hard to find an amv without spoilers let alone one that's any good. Not to mention that this anime is fairly new so its not to well known yet.

AMV of the Week 7

well im currently reading like five manga series and am watching an anime of the book im supposed to read for summer reading. haha. it will be interesting when i actually read the book afterwards. sorry i wont be writing any reaviews till i finish it though since its going to take forever to get the Keshin movie i want to watch for the sake of reviewing it. i accidently watched the OAV reflection before which was depressing because i should have watched the other OAV first. sigh. spoilage. oh well. ive been fervently trying to scour my brothers amv collection in the attempt to bring in something new so here are the slightly too ripe fruits of my effort.

Hubba Hubba Zoot Zoot

Genres and Themes of Anime/Manga

While like any other type of media/literature, anime and manga have been placed into general genres. However there are many other themes and categories that anime and manga are placed in. Most of these specific terms are difficult to understand considering their Japanese origin but this list of definitions I hope can help create a better interpretation.
Most of these are thanks to the Anime article from wikipedia.org. I do not lay claim to any of these definitions in quotes, but will only allow myself to expand on these in my own words.

"Major Genres"

"Action/Adventure primarily focuses on battles, war, and physical competition. Martial arts, weapon fighting, or other action oriented material are usually featured. Examples: Naruto or One Piece."

"Drama primarily has a high degree of character development and emotional themes. Many center on relationship complications. Examples: Fushigi Yūgi or Kare Kano. "

"Game Based primarily revolves around some sort of card or board game. Examples: Yu-Gi-Oh! or Hikaru no Go. "

"Horror use darker and/or supernatural themes. Examples: Vampire Hunter D series or Chrono Crusade. "

"Science fiction consists of futuristic elements, particularly featuring future science and technology. They can be drawn from current scientific studies and inventions or created to meet the needs of the world. Examples: Ghost in the Shell or Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honneamise "

"Progressive or "Art films" are extremely stylized. Examples: Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei or 5 Centimeters Per Second. "

"Demographic" Themes
These give a clear understanding of the audience the series is intended for.

"Shōjo is Japanese for "young lady" or "little girl". These are generally targeted at girls. Examples: Fruits Basket or Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch."

"Shōnen is Japanese for "young boy". Examples: Dragon Ball Z or Digimon."

"Seinen is Japanese for "young man" and normally includes teenage or young male adults. Examples: Oh My Goddess! or Cowboy Bebop "

"Josei is Japanese for "woman". Examples: Gokusen or Honey and Clover."

"Kodomo is Japanese for "child". All children's series fall into this category. Examples: Hello Kitty or Hamtaro. "

"Thematic" Genres

"Bishōjo is Japanese for "beautiful girl", and a blanket term that features pretty girl characters. Sometimes conflated with Moè. Examples: Magic Knight Rayearth or Negima."

"Bishōnen is Japanese for "beautiful boy", and a blanket term that can be used to describe any anime that features "pretty" and elegant boys and men. Examples: Fushigi Yūgi or The Wallflower."

"Sentai is literally a "fighting team" in Japanese. It refers to any show that involves a superhero team. Examples: Cyborg 009 or Voltron. "

"Robot/Mecha features real robots or super robots. Examples: Mobile Suit Gundam or Mazinger Z respectively." Full Metal Panic is also another example.

"Post-Apocalyptic simply deals with a post-apocalyptic world. Examples: Fist of the North Star or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. "

"Mahō shōjo is a subgenre of shōjo known for "Magical Girl" stories. These stories involves teenage or pre-teen girls who receive magical accessories that allows them to transform into magical warriors. Most magical girl anime involves a girl reciting a phrase before undergoing an intricate transformation sequence which shows the girl being magically dressed or an magical artifact forming it's shape into the girl's hand. These sequences are collectively known in anime as henshin. Examples: Sailor Moon or Cardcaptor Sakura. "

"Mahō shōnen is a male equivalent of Mahō Shōjo. Examples: D.N.Angel or Fullmetal Alchemist "

"Moé features characters with perky, cute, weak, or naïve behaviors. In some way, they are not overly independent.Examples: A Little Snow Fairy Sugar. "

"Expertise specializes with a specific topic in depth. Topics range from sports, the arts, and cooking. Examples: Eyeshield 21 with football, or Yakitate!! Japan with bread-making. "

"Lolicon ("Lolita Complex") is the sexualization of under-aged female characters, the name coming from the titular character of Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. Example: Kodomo no Jikan"

"Shotacon ("Shōtarō Complex") is the sexualization of under-aged male characters, the name coming from the lead child actor from Tetsujin-nijūhachi-gō. Example: Papa to Kiss in the Dark "

• One thing I've noticed about the loli and shota themes is that it doesn't necessarily mean the person is under-aged, just that they look it. For example: Honey from "Ouran Host Club" or Konata from "Lucky Star" who are both in High School but are called 'Loli' because of their appearance to be much younger.

"Harem is a genre which focuses on a male character surrounded by the romance of multiple female characters. Typically, the male cohabits with at least one female. It is usually marketed as a Shōnen or Seinen. Examples: Ranma ½ or Love Hina. "

"Reverse Harem reverses the gender balance in harem, where a female character is romantically involved with many male characters. It is more often than not a Shōjo or Josei Anime. Examples: Ouran High School Host Club or Fruits Basket."

"Magical girlfriend is more accurately termed Exotic Girlfriend. This genre focuses on the romantic relationship (and cohabitation) between a man and at least one woman of extraordinary origins such as alien (Tenchi Muyo!, Urusei Yatsura), supernatural (Oh My Goddess!), or technological (Chobits). Often considered a subgenre of Harem."

"Ecchi is Japanese for "indecent sexuality", derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the letter "H", (the origin of the term is not well known, even in Japan. See main article for more information.) Sexual humor and fan service are prevalent. Examples: Oruchuban Ebichu or He Is My Master. "

"Hentai is Japanese for "abnormal" or "perverted". This term is synonymous to pornography or erotica, as hentai content specifically consists of such. Examples: La Blue Girl or Bible Black."

"Shōjo-ai or Yuri is Japanese for "girl-love". These focus on love and romance between female characters. It is often being replaced by the term "Girls Love" (GL). Yuri is like Shōjo-ai, but sometimes involves older characters or explicit sexual activity. Examples: Revolutionary Girl Utena or Kannazuki no Miko."

"Shōnen-ai is Japanese for 'boy-love'. These focus on love and romance between male characters. The term "Shōnen-ai" is being phased out in Japan due to its other meaning of pederasty, and is being replaced by the term "Boys Love" (BL). Examples: Loveless or Gravitation"

"Yaoi is like "Shōnen-ai" but often involving older characters and explicit sexual activity. Examples: Sensitive Pornograph or Until the Full Moon"

Hope this was helpful to any new or curious fans.
If you'd like a second opinion on some of these definitions I recommend 'Lexicon' from ANN.

AMV of the Week 6

hmmmm.....not much to say. is it possible to become addicted to the light and funny genre of anime. I'd say I'm already there. though I do admit I've been away from shonen for too long wallowing in all this shojo stuff. I just watched a very shonen OAV and I nearly fell apart. oy. Ive become weak. (but it was pretty sad) must.....build.....back......resilient defenses. sigh. I just like to laugh to much I'd say.
I need to raid my brothers amv stash. seriously. we need some good stuff on here. this amv is okay. the first time I watched I was like meh. but after watching it a few more times. I like it now. enjoy the randomness.

Ouran High School Host Club - Witch Doctor AMV

Rurouni Kenshin

Rurouni Kenshin

Samurai X (sometimes referred to as this. The same thing)

Original Story by:Nobuhiro WATSUKI

Production by: Studio Gallop

Adapted from a manga: yes

Movies: yes-Samurai X: The Motion Picture (aka-Rurouni Kenshin:Requiem for Patriots)(sequel)

Live Action Series: none

OAVs: yes-Samurai X: Trust & Betrayal(prequel, 4 eps), Samarai X: Reflection (sequal, 2 eps)

Genre: action, comedy, historical fiction, shonen

Number of Episodes: 95

ANN's Plot Summary: "Himura Kenshin is a vagabond with a dark past and sunny disposition. Not a ronin but a rurouni, he was never a samurai, but an assassin of utmost skill in the Meiji restoration, who in the turning point of the war simply walked away. His travels lead him to Tokyo in the 11th year of the Meiji era, where he befriends a female Kendo master, a former thief, a brawler and a doctor all with their own secrets. Together they fight off the enemies surfacing from the dark past that Kenshin cannot escape."

My Ranking: 4 hoshi

My Rating: PG13

Its all pretty basic stuff. Some bad language and a bit of goofy suggestive stuff (but isn't that in all anime?) The only thing is allot of bloody violence and inklings of twisted talk.

My Review: Kenshin was an adventure and an experience, I'll say that. I was very much in love with it for the first 30 eps or so. The action was win and the characters could actually provide quite a bit of humor. I really liked the story and concepts that went along with the time period. The old samurai-like atmosphere was something I really enjoyed. I'm sure there are fans out there saying I'm not giving the series enough credit but the thing is I'm trying very hard to give props to a category I'm not all to familiar with so I hope they'll forgive me.

Though I haven't seen this anime described as historical fiction I think it should be. There is an educational feel to it sometimes which I actually liked for once. This series can also make you think. Some of the things the characters say are really well put and meaningful. A few times I found myself pausing the ep to think for a few seconds before resuming. Also the time period it was put in opened up a bunch of opportunities for the plot. The series takes place in the Meji Era or commonly known as the 1870s. I believe this is the time around where Japan finally opened up to the world after being secluded for so long. There were allot of things happening around this time which gives the story allot of interesting views.

The only thing that actually bugged me about this series was that I kept getting burned out. 95 eps is allot compared to normal series. Of course it is a Shonen Jump and those tend to be longer than normal. Still, the plot was very up and down for me. As I said, I was good for the first 30 eps or so but then I started to get tired. The series developed a thing i like to call stop and go syndrome. Where the series is full of little adventures compiled into a series. Yes the little adventures were cool most of the time but it still left a 'Hey Kenshin, have you seen the plot anywhere?' feel.

Amidst all the flakiness of this review I'd like to make clear that I did like this series. It was cool, full of action, and made me laugh allot too. It was pretty well rounded it just could have been planned better in accordance to its length.

Comparison: Watching this anime was an experience in itself for me. sub or dub? (subs better!) where to find it. (four different sub groups in different locations. whew I'm exhausted). Well, both the manga and the anime were cancelled mid series which explains the sudden drop at the end of the series that leaves a 'wait, what? that's the end?'. It also explains why even though its a Shonen Jump why its shorter than most series from there. I know nothing of the manga unfortunately so I cannot assess a proper comparison. For that I am sorry. I can only warn you of the sudden cancellation of the series, not for lack of funds but I think because the artist simply stopped.

Sample vid: sorry to disappoint but I could not find a good amv that did not have a butt load of spoilers or an assortment of clips from the OAVs mixed in. sorry. If anyone finds anything on their own, let me know.

AMV of the Week 5

Okay then. ive only a few points to make. first as you can see i finally was able to get my gundam layout to work properly now lets see if it makes any sense to those with fresh eyes. second ive added another feature to my anime reviews that includes a sample vid: an amv (with spoiler warning if needed) of high calliber that will hopefully give a small look before one decides to watch it or not. third, ill be doing my next review as soon as i finish watching the series so i should have it up by the end of the week. if anyone knows any good Rorouni Kenshin amvs let me know.
well thats it i think. im going to have to revamp my amv list. heres another oldy but goody. Behold a race of anime characters through many different anime settings. it took me a couple watches to finally catch everything. enjoy!

The Race

A Complete Dissection of the Spiderweb that is the Genre Gundam (fixed)

Wow. how confusing can you get.
Gundam can be defined as a genre of anime that includes the use of mecha or simply giant robots. while other series may have this and have the genre gundam attached to it, Gundam can also be a world all its own. In a three day effort i sought to sort out this kaleidoscope for that's what it is. here is an outline of all gundam series (both anime and manga) and their attachments. Depending on the time period it takes place in, the series can be put into categories of Universal Century, Future Century, After Colony, After War, CC Seireki, Cosmic Era, and Anno Domini.
Ive provided a key to this outline that should help (i hope) to explain. I don't blame anybody that cant make heads or tails of it because in all honesty its very confusing even with the outlines help. i just hope this can be at least a guideline.
[edit] hurrah. found a way to get it on here finally[end]


Key

Symbols
Seq=sequel
Preq=prequel
Spin=spin-off
Spin-m=spin-off of movie
Seq-m=sequel of movie
*SeqA-m=sequel to Astray manga


Clarifications
Blues-universal century
Oranges-future century
Greens-after colony
Reds-after war
Purples-CC Seireki
Pinks-cosmic era
Yellows-anno domini

The color the era title is in is a ‘nothing color’ as in it’s the color used for those titles that have no particular connection other than that made by the symbol in front of them.

Those titles in a different hue color are specific. Meaning those of that color have connections. First the main one then the one under in the same color with no particular marking is from, adapted from, or related to the previous series.

Moe Kare!!

Moe Kare!!

(Moe Boyfriend!!)rough eng. translation.

Story and Art by: Gō IKEYAMADA

Published by: Shogakukan, Inc

Adapted into an anime: no

Adapted into a movie: no

Adapted into a live action: no

Genre: Romance, drama, shojo

Number of tankoubon: 7

ANN's plot summary: "Wakamiya Hikaru is a 15 year old teenager who wants a boyfriend that'll protect her. She likes to read Shoujo mangas all the time. One day, she gets kissed by a handsome, perverted boy who she called the "Perverted Prince." Later on, she finds a guy who looks exactly like him, but eyes are different. -Mangaupdates "

My Ranking: 5 hoshi

My Rating: PG-13

so glad I went back and looked around before I published this cause I forgot about allot of stuff. whew. okay there are many sex references along with some scenes. also there's a bit of partial nudity and mild language but all in all I don't think this series is all to bad but still there should be a courtesy warning.

My Review: I love this series. It is super super Moe (moe-eh) as it is in the actual title. Its a short romance story that made me all squealy inside. (definitely shojo) This series is so so sweet its intoxicating. I first discovered this series via a wallpaper I found on theotaku.com. I really thought the art style was adorable and romantic so I looked it up. I have to admit I was tentative because I knew that this was as shojo as one could get and I did not want to be an 'a-girl' like Hikaru in the story. (a fangirl who especially likes moe type shojo). You have to allow yourself to get paste the first chapter that I admit is not very attractive in credit to the rest of the series. Its really good, especially after chapter five where things really pick up.

This is a really lovely, tug at your heartstrings, leave you screaming in agony romance series; but not so much that its annoying cornball mush. The girl character isn't a hopeless, faint at the sight of danger kind of girl which I love in a main female character. and the guy isn't a total idiot with emotional baggage. How better could it get? Drama? you ask. Not to much like other series I've read. Yes there are some twists of problems which usually are qualified as drama but in all honesty they aren't ridiculously so. (did that sentence make sense?)

Again I cant describe how much I loved this manga. Adorable, sweet, romantic, all of these and not annoying at all. How excitingly rare! I read this series in three sit downs, it was that good. With all its squeelyness I admit it will make you laugh for it has a tendency to go into chibi form repeatedly. The last I can say is even if you aren't a total shojo lover give it a chance and I'm sure you'll love this manga. I cant describe how much I fell in love with it.

Comparison: I read this manga series at onemanga.com. Luckily the sub group, ShoujoWorld, was mostly continuous through the entire series and they did a very good job in my opinion. The beginning though was subbed by a combination of the groups Ochibichan and Condensation. This series is not licensed even though it was published back in 2005.

My Anime Reviews

Same as the Manga. List of Links. Can be accessed from the side. Will be updated.

Kuroshitsuji
Kamichama Karin (comparison)

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Strkers
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A's
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Princess Tutu
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
Seto no Hanayome
Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo
H2O~Footprints in the Sand~
Rurouni Kenshin
Ouran High School Host Club
Le Chevalier D'Eon

My Manga Reviews

List of all the Manga Reviews on the blog. I do not claim ownership of any of these anime or any of the pictures used in the reviews.

Merupuri: The Marchen Prince

Kamichama Karin
Moe Kare!!
Boys Over Flowers

AMV of the Week 4

well ive been gone for a while so.....sorry there hasnt been one of these in a while. on a side note, ive updated the music player! yay!
anyway, As a sorry here is an awsome amv fav of mine.
The Pirates who dont do Anything by Relient K
to
Cowboy Bebop
entitled.

The Bounty Hunters who don't do Anything

Bounty Hunters Who Don't Do Anything
Uploaded by onikage725

AMV of the Week 3

hmm. nothing much to say except ive been reading manga like mad and is now barely concious due to a moe (moe-eh) attack. now am i ever to pull myself out of this shojo rut i am in. i trully hope so as i sit down and set about finally finishing rurouni kenshin.
i love this amv. its quite funny and the lip synch is near perfect.
may i present:
Jungle wa Itsumo - AMV - Hare's Mom

Boys Over Flowers

"Hana Yori Dango" (jap)

Story and Art by: Yoko Kamio

Published by: Shueisha

Adapted into an anime: yes

Adapted into a movie: yes (a retelling)

Adapted into a live action: yes (with a sequel)

Genre: Romance, Drama, comedy

Number of tankoubon (volumes) : 36

ANN's plot summary: "16 Year old Makino Tsukushi is 16-year old girl, from a mid-class family, who, due to her brains, gets into an ultra high-class school called Eitoku Gakuen. One day she accidentally gets on the F4’s, bad side *they’re a gang at school*, and from then on she suffers from hazing. She fights this back, and while doing so falls in love with one of the F4’s members. However, another one of the members also falls in love with her. "

My Ranking: 3 1/2 hoshi.

My Rating: PG-13

There is some bad language (even the f-word a few times) as well some suggestive stuff. I mean two of the guys are playboys so that's one reason there is a recurring mention of sex. Also there is some partial nudity but nothing too scandalous .

My Review: well hum. What can I say about this series. I decided to read it on a whim hearing it mentioned by one of my friends. At first I was like "wth what is this?! its so weird. " and it was. The style was something I wasn't used to and I hadn't read a series quite like this before, but I was a good little anime fan and gave it a little more of my time because, though it may be weird, its surprisingly addictive. I was hooked. Despite the oddities I was not accustomed, to this series drew me in which is an extremely good quality in any manga/anime.

Boys Over Flowers takes you on a roller coaster of drama like I've never seen. One minute your like 'what the heck' the next your covering your eyes and a few seconds later its OMG!! I've never been fond of drama but this series grabs a hold of you and won't let go. There is never a lull in the plot to allow you to take a breath. As soon as it starts to calm down something else will happen to send you guessing again. For that I respect this series.

At the beginning I was introduced to the realization that the beginning of the series is a bit like Pride and Prejudice. But as it goes on this comparison is forgotten for it strays once again into a different entity. Its a romance story that will make you very frustrated at the characters but make you love them just the same. In this aspect the series can be quite clever.

Overall this series had me devour it in all its frustrating, exhausting, plot twisting self. Even if its not one of my favorites i definitely respect it.

Comparison: I read the entire series at OneManga.com. This series is still being released in the U.S. by Viz Media and will soon be finished. It was scanned by five different scan groups (wow) so it can get a little frustrating when scan styles change mid series. Though there is an anime I have no intention to watch it. It doesn't look enticing to me plus the manga series is so long I'm pretty whipped out from it. Unfortunately i don't know the difference between the manga and the anime but just to be safe I suggest the manga so as to get the real story and full affect of it.

AMV of the Week 2

These posts also give me the oportunity to babble a little bit.
for my reviews ill be adding a few things. 1)comparison: at the end of a review of either a manga or anime i will put the comparison for the corresponding anime or manga of the same story. it doesnt matter if i have a review for both or just one ill have it on one. 2)Alternative titles: ill also include the original japanese name for the series for interest and also cause some things get messed up in translation. 3)genre: heck you should get to know what kind it is before you watch/read it right?...
well i think thats it. there is more stuff i know but as always im drawing a blank when i actually sit down to do a post. oh well.
Now for the amv!
this i found quite funny
ANYTHING YUKI CAN DO. (anie get your gun to fruits basket)

AMV of the Week

sorry this blog has been getting perty boring when i intended it to be awsome. so heres something new to pass the time. I will post a new amv (anime music video) every week as much as i am able to help entertain the time in between revies and news. enjoy.
how bout we start with an oldy but goody.
Waka Laka for Osaka.

Ouran High School Host Club

Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran Koukou Host Club (jap)
Original Story by: Bisco HATORI

Production by: BONES

Adapted from a manga: yes
Movies: none
Live Action Series: none
OAVs: none

Genre: comedy, romance, slice of life

Number of Episodes: 26

ANN's plot summary: "Haruhi is a poor tomboyish student at a school for the ultra-wealthy, able to attend because of a scholarship, and unable to even afford a uniform. One day, she stumbles across the decidedly peculiar but very popular Ouran Host Club. She tries to leave, but accidentally breaks a vase, and unable to pay for it, she's told that she'll have to stay and do odd jobs. That is, until they decide she would be more valuable as a club member. Not realizing she's female due to her appearance, they fix her up and give her a male uniform. She's an instant hit, so they decide to have her keep up the charade even after they find out the truth. Haruhi, being average almost to a fault, doesn't know what to make of the unconventional activities of the Host Club (or of the even more unconventional members), but having little choice, she plays along. Before long, real bonds are formed, friends made, and Haruhi finds herself accepted in a way she could never have been otherwise in this affluent school."

My Ranking: 5 hoshi!!!
My Rating: PG-13
There isn't much bad stuff in this anime. No nudity, bad language, or violence. The only reason I rate it pg13 is because of the environment in general and there is suggestive talk of course (its in a high school. hello.) Also the twins give the suggestion that twins often do in anime. So if you get creeped out by homo-ish characters, watch out.

My Review: Before I begin I must say that this is one of my most favorite animes of all time. My brother saw the manga in the store and told me it would probably be something I would like....boy was he right!! Not even halfway through the first ep I was laughing my butt off. (I ended up calling my brother over and we watched it together. Its that funny)

The coloring is springy and beautiful and along with the classical soundtrack gives it a very elegant feel but despite that it will soon zoink you into one of Tamaki's inner mind theaters and next thing you know you're falling off your seat. Its hilarity aside, this anime can be very heartfelt and has a tiny bit of psychology to it. (at least in my opinion) It also contains the romance that most reverse harem's have but thankfully it doesn't focus on it so much it takes away from the humorous adventures the host club encounters.

(comparison embedded here) While the anime stops before the manga ends and leaves out a few bits that are in the manga, it is still really good. Only if you want an advance on the romance factor do you have to read the manga. But still, the anime is fine on its own. Also this anime makes good use of the character characterization used constantly in anime. If you had any questions pertaining to the type system before, you won't after you watch this.

Overall, Ouran Host Club is totally awesome. Every anime fan who loves humor should watch this.

Info: Ouran was subbed by Lunar Anime. This series is now licensed by Funimation and might I say it is quite terrible in my humble opinion.

Sample Vid: There are many amv/parody vids for this anime. If you'd like some suggestions please comment. This in my opinion is the best plain amv for this purpose. Also probably one of the better made ones out there for this series. enjoy.

Le Chevalier D'Eon

La Chevalier D'Eon
Original story by: Tow Ubukata

Production by: Production I.G. and WOWOW along with numerous companies including Studio Ghibli and Bee Train

Adapted from a manga: yes
Movies:none
Live Action series:none
OAVs:none

Genre: historical fiction, horror, mystery, supernatural

Number of Episodes: 24

ANN's Plot Summary: "During the time when Louis XV still ruled France, a certain woman was found dead in the coffin floating through the Seine river. D'Eon, the woman's brother, determines to search for the killer of his sister, Lia. But there are some strange movements in France. And things become more strange when Lia's soul enters D'Eon's body... "

My Ranking: 4 Hoshi
My Rating: R
There are very intense moments including graphic violence and overall creepy stuff. Also there's a few moments of partial nudity.

Review: As soon as I watched the first episode I was stuck. Within the first few minutes your thrown into a conspiracy and by the end of ep 1 you just gotta have more. Its that grippingly intense. Throughout the whole historical fiction concept it helps if you know a bit about the time in which it takes place (the reign of Louis XV of France), but if you're not so good at history, like me, you can still understand it pretty well.

Overall this series is in one word 'intense'. I don't recommend this series for the faint hearted or those under the age of 13 at the most.

Le Chevalier is extremely clever in its story line. With its use of the inconclusive history of D'Eon de Beumont and Earl St. Germain they create an alternate story of their actions. They also rely on the peoples high faith of 'The King is the Voice of God' back then and include many religious references of the time. What was most intriguing was the use of Psalms in this series for it in fact becomes practically all about them; though halfway through they recite them so much I stopped listening altogether and saved my head some pain.

While I liked this series thoroughly, especially with all the awesome special effects and fight sequences it provides, it left me with an unfortunate wretched feeling inside. Perhaps if I had had a better historical knowledge I might have been able to avoid that feeling but oh well, to late now.

All together this series was one that drew you in and took you on one heck of a ride. I would definitely recommend it.

Comparison: I personally know nothing about the manga only that I don't think its very well known/very popular. From the look of it though I'd suggest the anime.

Sample Video:
This is the best vid I could find with a fitting song. Of course there are a few spoilers (but not so much) so for those who wish warning don't watch beyond 1:58. That still gives you a good look without seeing to much.

Upcoming Anime!

Its here! the list for the new season shows in japan!
you can find the complete list here but i will give a miny list of my own anyway.

1. Vampire Knight
original by: Matsuri Hino and published by viz media
anime by: Studio DEEN (same as FB and Spirited Away)
finally the first episode of the anime released on April 7th. i love the manga to death! So far it looks pretty good but we'll see how it goes. 26 episodes.

2.Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
by: Hayao Miyazaki and of course Studio Ghibli
The official publication date is July 19th! as for what its about and when the dub will be published i have no information.

3. Dot Hack//G.U. Trilogy (OAV)
by: Bandai Visual on the game trilogy by Bandai and CyberConnect 2.
A basic anime version of the awsome games for the PS2. Debued on March 25th. Comprised of 1 episode.

4.other OAVs to come include another negima oav, along with another Lupin III. another that i might check out is Naisho no Tsubomi oav. (an interesting looking slice of life series)

5. Finally some of the upcoming movies worth mentioning are: the 9th One Piece movie along with another Naruto Shippuden movie. Also a Gurren-Lagann and Bleach movie.

And there you have it. a list of my anticipated upcoming releases.