July 30, 2008

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
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.

July 28, 2008

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.




July 21, 2008

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.

July 13, 2008

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