Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha

Original Creator: Masaki Tsuzuki

Production by: Seven Arcs

Spinoff of: Triangle Heart ~Sweet Song Forever~ OAV
OAVs: none
Movies: one. (an alternate retelling.)
Live Action: none
Extra: there are two sequel series.

Genre: magical girl, adventure, comedy, technology/fantasy.
Number of Episodes: 13

ANN's Plot Summary: " Yuuno Scraia is a mage from a distant planet working to fix the problem he started when Jewel Seeds were accidentally spread around the world. In a failed attempt to seal a seed properly, he winds up on Earth in the form of a ferret. However, his battle with the seeds did not end upon reaching the Earth and he needs somebody else's help to seal the seeds for him. Takamachi Nanoha hears his telepathic cries for help and comes to his rescue. When she is given a pearl known as the Raging Heart she is able to transform into Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and wield a staff to fend off the evil that lies within the Seeds. In order to help Yuuno complete his mission, she needs to seal all 21 Jewel Seeds away, but Fate may be playing a hand in the matter to prevent Nanoha's goals."

My Ranking: 3 1/2 hoshi
My Rating: PG
This series has not that much bad in it. There is a bit of partial nudity but there is no swearing and only a bit of blood. other than that, its a-okay.

My Review: "Magical Girl on steroids". That's a pretty good description. You usually see a magical girl series and automatically think "bah. just another shojo." Well there are quite a few things that set this series apart from the general stereotype of Magical Girl aka Mahou Shojo.

For one, the characters are not the regular age. Instead of being pre-teen to teenagers, Nanoha is only in 3rd grade. One may wonder how watching an eight year old could be any good, but I personally prefer it. Nanoha's innocence is actually quite refreshing. When you have teen characters there can't help but be drama and potential emo situations. Nanoha on the other hand seems surprisingly sure of herself. She doesn't let other things compromise her ideals. And here we find a kind of innocent wisdom about the series.

This brings on another good difference about the series. When the main character is unfazed and has less to contemplate about what do you get?.....Less talking more action. YES! While it wouldn't be anime without the dialogue in the middle of a battle, they don't linger and hence you get more boom factor. I'm serious about the boom. "Steroids?" you ask. Let's just say that I nearly had to turn my volume down during some of the battles. These little magic kids may be short and cute, but they can kick more ass in one episode than Naruto ever could in seven.

The fact that its not all magic but also technology is also something unique to MGL Nanoha. The series actually involves time and space. The Magical Wands are actually intelligence devices kinda like a computer. Its different but really cool. Kinda like a cross between magical girl and gundam.

I found this series quite enjoyable. It maintains a cute theme while still kickin some butt starting around episode 4. Its only 13 eps long but it leaves me wanting to watch the rest of the saga. And that's pretty good in my book.

Comparison: there's really nothing to really compare considering this series has no corresponding manga series. But I will give the info just the same.
This series is licenced by funimation and subbed by DamagedGoodz and The Triad.

Sample Vid: there are really awesome amv's for the two sequel series and those are what got me watching but what would i use for this review. so i found a pretty good MAD. the song is a bit odd at first but believe me it grows on you. there are only spoilers at the end when they show clips from the last two eps. so if you dont want to have the ending given away only watch to 3:05.
please click HQ. trust me it needs it.

Princess Tutu

Princess Tutu

Original Creator: Ikuku Ito

Production by: GANSIS

Adapted into a manga
OAVs: none
Seasons: two
Movies: none
Live Action: none
Extras: There are three bonus episodes at the end of the series. "Neko-sensei's lesson of love" and two eps that are basically a summary of the anime.

Genre: comedy, drama, story book, ballet, magical girl/henshin.
Number of Episodes: 26 or 38 (eps 14-25 are divided into two parts. making 38 eps but 26 Acts)

ANN's Plot Summary: "13-year-old ballet student Ahiru is clumsy, good-hearted and sweet... and has a big secret. The mysterious Drosselmayer morphed a young duck into a girl to give her a mission: help a Prince to get the parts of his heart back. With that in mind, she morphs into Princess Tutu, whose magical dances ease the pain and purifies the bad feelings."

My Ranking: 6 hoshi! (extremely rare)
My Rating: PG
in my opinion there really isn't anything objectionable in it. though I doubt its content could be understood by just anyone. also there is some swearing and partial nudity but barley any of the latter and its not bad.

Review: I'll just say it out strait; this anime is a work of art. It's truly beautiful. Just the thought of a ballet-themed anime sounded interesting to me, but it is so so much more than that. Yes the ballet part is exquisite. There are actual songs from different ballets in the soundtrack which give a very magical atmosphere. Also, if you look closely you can see references in everything, from the specific dances, to when the characters are fighting in ballet positions. It adds to the beauty and intensity of all the dramatic scenes. But, as I said, while ballet is a primary and outstanding theme in the series, it is not the only thing that gives it its magic.

The main theme of Princess T. isn't truly revealed until later in the series. Everything, though, revolves around stories. At the beginning of each episode you are told a story with the famous "once upon a time..." opening. If you pay close attention it will make sense by the end of the episode. As in old storybooks, the main character is named only by what she is. (Ahiru=duck). Princess T. really makes you remember all those wonderful old stories from back when you believed in fairy tales, and allows you to look at them with a deeper insight.

One thing I noticed my second time through about this series is that its like a castle. Depending on what levels you have access to, the more you get out of your visit. When watching the anime, if you have knowledge of ballet you'll probably get allot more of the references. Same thing goes for the story stuff. If you are a literary type of person (like myself) you'll be able to connect more with what the characters are going through and all the little interpretations embedded in the plot.

Don't worry though. Princess T. isn't just a beautiful drama. It actually is also a comedy. You won't get drained on intensities while you have Ahiru as your spunky little ducky of a main character. Also, how can ballet not be amusing when you have a cat as your sensei who sometimes comes across as a pedophile. (haha. I kid) Its all good here.
Anyway, I really do love this series. I laughed, I swooned, I sighed. It's a beautiful story and a work of art.

Comparison: The manga came out about a year after the anime and is only two volumes long. I have not read it nor do I really want to but I did do my homework for this one. The manga has the basic same story but more or less focuses more on the ballet theme and leaves out mostly all of the story stuff. So in general I think you can classify it as almost a completely separate series from the anime since its so different in perspective.
Both the anime and the manga have been licensed by ADV films. I do not recommend the dub at all. Believe me. The sub is so much cuter. The anime was subbed by Hikari no Kiseki and A.F.K.

Sample Vid: This is the amv that i believe got Princess Tutu its fanbase. This amv made it popular. It is really really good and makes you want to watch it. Its true there are some spoilers in it but they don't hurt. I personally watched this amv before the series and I didn't enjoy it any less. Again, this amv is awesome. Its one of my all time favorites.

Winter 2008/9 Lineup

Yes its a little late and i haven't been on in forever. I've been busy. what can i say? anyway, i wish you all a happy new year. hope its full of anime goodness. hee hee. I am finally gonna get another review up. i promise, i'm working on it as i type. i also have some new amv's to give out. yay!
okay. so this is my update. enjoy the winter lineup. (i do not create these. all credit to the awesome dude who does)
postin' soon!