Sekirei Pure Engagement OP ED Opening Ending OST Character song

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Those embarrassing moments are often the result of Yuu "accidentally" revealing her skin, which takes us back to the essence of Pastel: boobs. And panties, and towels, and sometimes nothing at all. Whether stripping down to a bikini, soaked in a wet tank top, or just coming out of the shower, Yuu's curves and doe-eyed looks are a textbook example of pin-up illustration, coming dangerously close to the boundaries of adult material. By comparison, Mugi and Kazuki look like 3-minute character designs doodled on a napkin out of necessity.

Apricot "Rico" Sakuraba and her friends are the bubbly, high-flying members of the Rune Angel Troupe, an intergalactic peacekeeping force. Defending space is all in a day's work, but so is keeping everyone on the team happy! Rico's looking for a good deal at a bargain sale, but she'll have to fight off the hardcore shoppers to get what she wants. Then space raider Anise wants to make a meal of "legendary hot pot," but she'll have to travel across the universe to collect the legendary ingredients. A visit from a galactic princess goes beyond interstellar diplomacy when she asks Rico to help her find the perfect cookie, and Troupe members Anise and Lily try to resolve their personality conflicts—with hilariously violent results.

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Unfortunately, if that romance ever develops, it'll probably be just as empty as their personalities. Mugi is, of course, the Average Loser Guy who somehow keeps getting into racy situations, and Yuu takes the role of the stunning beauty who could do so much better but keeps hanging around anyway. Whether this turns into a harem remains to be seen (Yuu's little sister only shows up briefly), and the characters' attitudes are thankfully not as annoying as those from other shounen romantic comedies. Indeed, this is a title that plays up romance over comedy—Mugi often lapses into saccharine reflections on how he's getting over his ex and falling for Yuu. When the two of them interact, it tends towards sweetness or shy embarrassment rather than being outrageously over-the-top.

After the packaging debacle that was the first Galaxy Angel Rune DVD (one episode and a 45-minute "bonus" concert recording), fans will be happy to know that the second volume reverts back to a more normal format. The four episodes on this disc feature more of the usual Angel antics, investing in all styles of comedy to see what sticks. Not surprisingly, the results are a hit-or-miss collection of attempted humor: some segments, like the over-the-top parodies in the hot pot episode, are close to brilliant; other parts like the bargain sale episode are a mind-numbing exercise in hyperactive behavior. Don't expect anything special or new in the visual department—heck, this one doesn't even have unlockable fanservice!—but get ready for another dose of silly space adventures.

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To understand Pastel, it's essential to look at the central theme of the series. And that theme is: boobs. From the first glossy color page, to Yuu's cheesecake poses, to Mugi's hormone-driven utterances, nothing is more important than the chest area of a woman's anatomy. Manga-ka Toshihiko Kobayashi occasionally explores other areas of the female form too, but ultimately, it's the concept of exposed cleavage that dominates. Oh, and there might be a storyline too. But who cares? Look! Boobs!

For those who like to get bad stuff out of the way first in order to enjoy the goodies later, you'll be happy to know that the worst episode on this disc is the first one. Rico's bargain-shopping adventure is screechy, inconsistent, and makes the mistake of trying to shoehorn a crime-fighting side plot into it. Sadly, idiotic behavior does not automatically equate to funny (not even with a Rocky parody), and nobody cares about space-police procedurals when everything else is geared towards comedy. On the other hand, the episode right after that is an example of how to get it right: Anise's quest for the perfect meal of hot pot takes something mundane and exaggerates it to epic levels. The Angel Troupe's path to dinnertime is loaded with fantastic spoofs, riffing on Indiana Jones, board-game competitions, school-punk brawls, old-time war films, and finishing with a classic shounen-tournament showdown against an Afro-clad villain.

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This manga adaptation of Voices of a Distant Star does not achieve the full dramatic power of the original anime, in part because it lacks the great musical score that was such an integral part of the production's appeal, and does tweak the ending in a way that may not be as satisfying despite the fact that it shows more. It is still a strong story with a good amount of emotional appeal, however, and should satisfy most fans of the anime.

Mugi Tadano, having just broken up with his girlfriend, is trying to pass away his troubles by working with best friend Kazuki at a summer resort. One day, Kazuki sets up Mugi on a date with a beautiful girl named Yuu. All is well for the two of them—until Mugi accidentally walks in on Yuu while she's showering in the public baths. By the time Mugi musters the courage to apologize to her, Yuu's already left the island, and he figures he'll never see her again. Imagine his surprise, then, when he comes home and finds her taking a shower in his bathroom. At the request of a family friend, beautiful Yuu and her equally cute sister are moving into the Tadano house!

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Tokyopop's translation does a good job of retaining the feel of Shinkai's original writing and invariably translates the crucial on-cell-screen text. Most sound effects are left untranslated, except for a couple of key places where contextual clues aren't sufficient for figuring out an important sound effect. The opening few pages are done in color, albeit color that looks like it was done with colored pencils. At the end is a one-page Afterward and three-panel strip by Ms. Sahara.

Whether Pastel even has a storyline will depend on your definition of a line. Mugi's exploits seem more like random coincidences than a logical narrative: the girl from the beach just happens to move into his house; a rainstorm just happens to soak his room so that they have to sleep together; his dad, conveniently enough, is at work all the time. While these setups lend themselves to delightfully embarrassing, fanservice-laden situations, Kobayashi strings them together ineptly, leading to a first volume that doesn't go anywhere, only hinting at future romance between Mugi and Yuu.

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But the horror of ordinary life, like the horror of war and abuse and madness, is not the worst horror in Panorama of Hell. I mentioned earlier that in Buddhism, hell and heaven, life and death are all part of a cycle. This is a comforting thought, and one which gives an odd note of optimism to several of Hino's manga. Zoroku's Strange Disease (in the collection Lullabies from Hell), Living Corpse and the untranslated Kaiki! Shinin Shojo are all variations on the same theme: a person decays while they're still alive (or at least undead), their mind trapped in filthy oozing flesh. But at the end of these stories, there is a strange happy ending: when the protagonists finally rot to pieces, their souls rejoin the natural world.

15-year-old Mikako and Noboru attended middle school together and worked towards attending high school together, too. Though they claimed only to be “friends,” their connection was stronger than that. Mikako was drafted to take part in an expedition to track down and investigate aliens who had left their presence on Mars, however, leaving Noboru behind on Earth. Though they try to maintain contact with each other through super-long-range text messaging, the time lag caused by the increasing astronomical distances between them results in messages that take first days, then months, then finally years to pass between them. Can a relationship survive under such circumstances? And how long is Noboru willing to wait before moving on?

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When the narrator talks to us, it feels like his soft voice is whispering in our ear. And in those rare moments when the narrator seems to feel some kindly human emotion, like the moment when he cries at the sadness of his brother's fate, it's a howl from the soul. One recurring theme inthe manga (as in many horror manga and anime) is that people's bodies change to match their mental state. Human flesh is a plaything of the soul; when someone becomes angry enough, or crazy enough, or sick enough, their form changes and mutates. In one way or another, this happens to several people in Hino's story.

One of the few post-2000 anime titles that can justifiably be called a classic, the OVA Voices of a Distant Star stands as one of anime's best and most-beloved romances. Its captivating blending of quality mecha action and melancholy longing has won over innumerable otaku, so it's only natural that it would eventually be adapted into manga form. Thanks to Tokyopop's production of an extra-length (240-page) volume, American fans can now read the manga the same way the anime was originally presented: all in one shot.

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Panorama of Hell is a fusion of every kind of suffering: personal, political, family. The political elements don't feel tacked on, they feel like a natural part of the story. Almost the only area Hino doesn't directly attack is romantic love, although when we watch the painter's father drag his half-naked wife across the floor by her hair and beat her as the children watch, or when we notice that the painter's wife looks exactly like the painter's mother, we can see the patterns forming there too. And although you don't have to know the story of Hino's life to enjoy the manga, it has a personal rawness, almost like an autobiographical comic.

Although Voices was the exclusive creation of Makoto Shinkai, manga-ka Mizu Sahara has been entrusted with penning this adaptation. Her plotting follows that of the OVA very closely, albeit with less emphasis on the battle scenes (the final one is almost entirely skipped) and even more emphasis on the characters. Her writing also fleshes out the story quite a bit more, adding several side characters and a few additional scenes into what was originally a bare-bones two-person character study. Here we actually get to meet the girl Noboru associates with when he gives up on waiting for Mikako's messages (she appeared in one very brief shot of the anime and only at a distance), while a couple of friends Mikako makes aboard the Lysithea are also introduced to us. Also included are additional message exchanges between Noboru and Mikako.

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You mustn't let it live! No one would blame you if you kill it now!" His parents cannot bring themselves to kill the child, although they never love him either. And as the hell painter grows up, we see that he is not merely obsessed with ordinary death and suffering: he is obsessed with the atomic bomb. Perhaps one day he will be reunited with his true father. Perhaps soon.

The extra scenes were written with an eye to maintaining the tone and spirit of original story, and do such an exceptional job at this that someone who's seen the anime and didn't know differently wouldn't recognize this as the work of a different writer. This fleshing-out does help clarify some things, such as Noboru's sense of aimlessness at being left behind, the purpose of the Tarsian expedition, and the fact that Mikako probably knew for a long time in advance that she was going on the mission. In fact, the writing's only significant flaw is that it muddles some issues of physics concerning high-speed long-distance travel and time dilation, which could easily be ignored if it wasn't actually a plot point.

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In the manga, the light flash from the nuclear blast travels all the way to Manchuria and strikes the painter's mother, and in that instant, the hell painter is conceived in his mother's womb. Evil omens surround his birth: he is born laughing, with bloodstained hands, and on the long road home from Manchuria, where the Japanese are dying like flies from starvation, the baby crawls over to a corpse and licks its blood. The old midwife is horrified. "All I see is a vast, terrifying hell in this child's future!

Whether or not the additional scenes and characters are actually necessary or desirable is another story. Part of the appeal of Voices was how tight, uncomplicated, and beautifully-paced the story was in telling a grand tale of long-distance love in only 25 minutes of time. The manga loses little of the emotion of the original, however, so it's doubtful that fans of Voices will mind. What may be more of an issue are some changes towards the end. Mikako's time on Agharta plays out a bit differently, and the ending extends beyond where the anime does. Those who really wanted to know What Happens Next may be satisfied, and it's not a bad ending evaluated independently, but it pales in comparison to the lump-in-your-throat power of the original ending.

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While this lack of hard-hitting action in the early episodes may strike some viewers as slow-paced, the idea of an anime taking time to develop its central characters before sending them off to battle is a refreshing one. There's actually a lot going on in each episode with Kyouta, his friends, and his girlfriend--it's just that none of it involves explosions and fighting.

Our protagonist the hell painter, it turns out, is the result of several generations of abuse. His grandfather, father and younger brother are all violent, abusive alcoholics; they are each introduced in the same shot of a hulking man crouched over a bottle of saké, distinguished only by their tattoos. His grandfather, a roving yakuza gambler with a snake tattoo, died a violent death. His father, a pig farmer with a bat tattoo, worked in a slaughterhouse, drank himself into a stupor every night. Like his father before him, he beats his son and wife mercilessly.

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Aquarian Age - Sign for Evolution is one of those rarities that's low in fandom, yet high in quality. Those who come to this series looking for white-hot apocalyptic battles from the outset will be disappointed, but those who want good storytelling and a likeable, well-developed core of characters will find it right here. It's pleasant to the ears and eyes, and the understated slice-of-life approach to the ultimate battle for Earth is a welcome surprise. Let's hope that this unique sensibility doesn't get overshadowed by the complex fantasy universe that will be central to the rest of the series.

Blast Books' savage English rewrite makes this abuse sound brutally realistic. ("Bitch, how many fucking times do I have to tell you to stay in the house?") His mother, when she was a young woman, returned the favor by torturing her son. His younger brother, the only person who showed some compassion for the protagonist, escaped his wretched home life by becoming a delinquent, and wound up a "fight freak," provoking bloody fistfights in the streets.

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Having a quality story and quality visuals, it should come as no surprise that the music for Aquarian Age was provided by Yuki Kajiura. When the warring factions get busy, you'll hear the urgent tribal-drums-and-choir sound that is Kajiura's trademark, and on the other end of the scale, those sweet Kyouta and Yoriko moments are punctuated by sensitive piano solos. In a clever touch, the ending song is also the signature song of Kyouta's band, a melodic power-pop number that complements the more peaceful opening ballad.

Here is the thing: some of this is real. Hino used the "crazy artist who paints with his own blood" thing in several other manga (Lullabies from Hell, The Collection, etc.)—in Lullabies from Hell the narrator actually straight-up says "I am Hideshi Hino"—but Panorama of Hell goes a little farther into personal territory. In a long interview in the print edition of the magazine The Comics Journal a few years back, Hino talked about the origin of Panorama of Hell. It was written when Hino was in a deep depression, and it is loosely based on Hino's own life. Hino's own grandfather had tattoos and mob ties. And Hino, like the hell painter, was born in the shadow of one of Japanese history's most horrible events.

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From an audio standpoint, this is one of the few anime dubs that can stand toe-to-toe with the voices on the original track. Chris Patton's performance as Kyouta creates quite a different character from the Japanese original, yet it's just as effective and adds appeal to the role. (The original Kyouta is somewhat monotone and sullen.) The English-language cast, as a whole, comes up with a more varied palette of voices than the Japanese cast, and while some of them are hit-and-miss, the choices made in the dub make this a very respectable voice acting job.

The hell painter's father, like Hino's father, emigrated overseas when he was young, in a vain attempt to live a better life than his father did. He moved to Manchuria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchukuo), which at the time was occupied by Japan. There, in a puppet state supported by the Japanese military, nearly a million Japanese settlers lived alongside a Chinese underclass. When the end of World War II put an end to Japan's colonial ambitions, the tables were turned, and the Japanese settlers in Manchuria and Korea were forced to flee to the mainland, an event depicted in a somewhat bowdlerized way in the 1993 anime Rail of the Star.

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A carefully crafted storyline demands carefully crafted visuals, and Studio Madhouse is up to the job. You'll never mistake the characters of Aquarian Age for one another (although figuring out who belongs to what faction is still going to take time, despite their flamboyant costumes). The colors are vivid yet realistic, and even incidental objects like cell phones are rendered faithfully. The main faults of the visuals are the occasional CGI that hampers the excellent 2-D work, and a tendency to avoid large, complex motions. When it happens, they do their best to make it convincing, but because Madhouse's animation style tends towards the detailed and realistic, there's an awful lot of reliance on pans and mouth-flapping conversations.

The shame of Japan's World War II atrocities, the pain of Japan's defeat, the "lost empire" of Manchukuo, all is part of the tragedy of the painter. The painter's father is drafted and forced to kill complete strangers at war, then goes home and abuses his wife and child. But the portrait of hell is still not complete.

"On August 6, 1945, a gigantic emperor from hell appeared in the sky over Hiroshima…with a flash and a tremendous roar, it sucked up the blood of hundreds of thousands." Born on April 19, 1946, a little more than eight months after the event, Hideshi Hino was too young to remember the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, but the roar of the bomb echoes through his childhood.

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While I was not quite enamored with the vocal opening and ending theme songs (the series is old, so you can't blame them), the instrumentals in the series are enjoyable. I especially like the sweet, heart-wrenching ensemble played near the end of the first episode. As is usual with all the Gundam series, the music in the series is comprised of lyrical ensembles, and sweeping battle music. Though I didn't feel the urge to rush out and buy the soundtrack, the music accompanied the scenes perfectly, and increased the emotional responses brought on by the actions.

Unlike some of Hino's works, Panorama of Hell is not for children. The title and subject matter summons up a classical theme: Japanese Buddhist Jigoku zoshi ("Hell scrolls") which depict the underworld. With their graphic depictions of sinners being tortured, Jigoku zoshi are a bit like the famous hell paintings of Heironymus Bosch and other Medieval painters, although a religious scholar might point out that in Christianity hell is permanent while in Buddhism hell is just a place you pass through temporarily when you've been too evil in your past life to just be reincarnated as a slug.

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Overall, this DVD is a great one to own, especially for mecha and Gundam fans. Continuing the legacy of the series that started it all, Mobile Suit Gundam is packed with energy and excitement, coupled with emotional interludes that make the DVD one that repeat watching couldn't mar. Even for dub-haters, the content of the series should make it reason enough to overcome all the prejudices necessary to check out this DVD. After all, despite how much dub-bashers preach the necessity of having "pure" anime, no one could ever be complete without watching Mobile Suit Gundam, one of the biggest foundations of anime history.

(Unless you believe Hell Girl.) But in Hino's universe, Hell is much more than a mere bad roll on the roulette wheel of karma. After all, one of the tenets of Buddhism is that existence is suffering; the difference between hell and your ordinary life is just a question of degree. In Panorama of Hell, the narrator's whole life is suffering. Life is hell.

The manga is told in the first person by the narrator, a painter who sits in a studio with boarded-up windows and paints hellish paintings by candlelight. We immediately realize that this is not going to be a conventional horror story about 'normal' people in 'abnormal' situations. The painter talks directly to us, the reader, welcoming us to his world. He takes off his clothes to reveal a body covered with scars from cutting himself and gathering blood to use in his paintings. He has even started drinking hydrochloric acid to vomit up blood clots for more paint. "Oh beautiful, glistening blood…" He needs paint for his masterpiece, his life's work, of which we only see a glimpse at first. "I call it 'The Panorama of Hell.' It depicts the end."

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Outside the painter's house is a nightmare landscape of smoke and trash. It's the kind of dark industrial world of factories and smokestacks that we see in the manga of Imiri Sakabashira and Yoshihiro Tatsumi, in the comics of John Bergin and the movies of David Lynch: the gray, dismal world of the modern era. But it's not a deserted wasteland; the neighborhood is busy. A guillotine next to the painter's house is running full steam, chopping deformed heads day and night. Afterwards, the heaps of bodies are cremated, and our hero conspires with the crematorium workers to sneak up to the furnace and get a look at the bodies as they burn. ("It's so exciting! The smell of burning flesh…blistered red skin! Dripping fat! Crumbling bones!")

This is not to say that the plotline of the first five episodes is confusing. If anything, it's a carefully crafted story arc. The problem is that there's an entire Aquarian Age universe behind it, consisting of five warring factions: the Arayashiki (users of Eastern magic), Wiz-Dom (users of Western magic), Darklore (ancient mythical creatures), E.G.O. (modern-day psychics), and Eraser (space aliens). While this has the makings of some second-rate fantasy sci-fi amalgam, it all takes a back seat to Kyouta himself. That's why the story itself is easy to follow--it's basically about a guy in a rock band, and his girlfriend--yet the background seems far more complex than it needs to be.

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Then we meet the painter's family. His son, Krazy Boy, likes to torture animals. His daughter, Krazy Girl, is an artist like our hero, with similar subject matter. Around the house wanders the hero's senile old mother, who—this is an important detail for the conclusion—can no longer recognize her own children, and instead lavishes her affection on an old rotten pig's head. The hero's wife, a beautiful woman, works at a pub in the town. At night, the headless corpses from the guillotine, those that escaped the crematorium, rise from their grave as zombies and eat in the pub. Since they have no heads to eat with, the hero's wife carves holes in their throats with her knife, and they stuff food down their rotting stumps, including pieces of themselves.

But for all his growing fame, Kyouta's world is unraveling. The visions get stronger and stronger, with some of the strangely dressed girls even addressing him directly. Then Yoriko starts acting like she's never going to see him again. She works at a shrine, but could it be that their mysticism reaches far deeper than just traditional customs? And what about that vision Kyouta had of the Cosmopop agent being some kind of alien? Kyouta may not realize it yet, but he's about to become the central point of an arcane celestial battle: the dawn of the Aquarian Age.

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There's a certain Addams Family vibe to all this, but Panorama of Hell isn't just a horror comedy. After the initial splatter, and some beautifully surreal imagery—red fruits sprouting from the blood splattered on the railway tracks by the execution yard—the painter begins to tell us the story of his life. In the process, the manga slowly becomes more realistic, and before we know it, we're not in the over-the-top nightmare world of the beginning: we're dangerously close to the real world.

Kyouta is a typical high school guy: he's got his girlfriend, Yoriko, and he's the lead vocalist in a rock band with his pals Shingu and Junichi. On a New Year's Eve in the near future, Kyouta's band is playing a gig outdoors when he sees a fleeting vision of strangely dressed girls fighting in the sky--and they seem to be fighting over him! He ignores it, though, and when the concert is over, a representative from the Cosmopop record company wants to sign his band to their label. It seems too good to be true, but
soon enough, he's sharing studio and stage with Japan's hottest idols.

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Even the translators are creepy: well, maybe not Yoko Umezawa, who I don't know anything about, but certainly co-translator Screaming Mad George (Johji), a Japanese special effects artist who worked on a lot of horror movies. It's been out of print for years, and if you find it, grab it, but be careful. Like the Necronomicon, it's the kind of book where you can almost imagine if you read it, they might find you dead the next day…glazed eyes staring, face covered in blood, your cold corpse lying on the floor of the manga section of Barnes & Noble for the employees to find when they open for the day.

If anyone ever wondered why the Gundam franchise was so popular, one quick view of the original series that started it all would give them the answers they were looking for. Mobile Suit Gundam, now being released by Bandai (in English-dubbed-only format), gives fans a chance to experience the phenomenon that swept Japan, and eventually the world. In the third DVD volume, the Principality of Zeon is bent on revenge for Admiral Garma's death, and their target is the White Base and the Federation Mobile Suit piloted by Amuro. Meanwhile, back on Zeon, the royal family is planning Garma's funeral, using it as war propaganda against the Federation. Even as the war rages on with them in the middle, the White Base manages to return to Earth where Amuro decides to go visit his mother.

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It's a strange little book, originally published in 1983 in Japan under the name Jigokuhen. It was translated in 1993 by Blast Books, a publisher that specializes in underground fiction and creepy art books: their other publications include titles like Suehiro Maruo's Mr. Arashi's Amazing Freak Show, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's Venus in Furs (from which the word "masochism" comes) and Dissection: Photographs of a Rite of Passage in American Medicine 1880-1930.

Containing four episodes on the disc, the third volume of Mobile Suit Gundam is an action-filled continuation of the series. Especially nice is the character development contained within these episodes. Previously, Amuro was seen as a stoic figure with hardly any emotions aside from self-assurance and protective love for his comrades. On this DVD, however, Amuro's character is taken for a spin, as he combats the effects of battle fatigue, and the dawning notion that others would want to kill him for the sake of vengeance against the Zeon soldiers he killed.

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One last thing: If you should happen to doubt the popularity of Fullmetal Alchemist, then check this out. Recently Square Enix announced they'd received a much higher than expected profit for the last fiscal year (3/2003 to 3/2004) and attributed this to three things: The popularity of Dragon Quest V in Japan, the popularity of Final Fantasy X-2 in the US and Europe, and the popularity of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga in Japan. So yes, it's that big.

Even as he is progressing into a more dynamic figure, he is also confronted with the emotions he feels in regards to his family and his past. Throughout the disc, in fact, many facets are revealed about the crewmembers, which makes this a particularly intriguing group of episodes to watch. Many of the White Base members are expanded on, which make them more endearing to the viewers, with the exception of the little children on board, whose frequent appearances and screeching voices make them evermore annoying brats.

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2011-06-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

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Anyone who's familiar with the quality of music that Square Enix includes in their games should know what to expect from Fullmetal Alchemist. Much of the background music is fully orchestrated, often relying on the use of woodwinds and percussions that are pleasing to the ear and in no way distract from any talking taking place.

Included with the episodes is a Mobile Suit Encyclopedia standard on most Gundam DVDs. It gives insight into a few of the fighters seen on the disc, which is enjoyable for mecha enthusiasts. Also included is a large sticker of the Federation Mobile Suit, which is a nice touch, as I had countless moments of fun admiring the shiny gloss coating. The only quibble to be had about the DVD itself was the dub-only format, which was due to a licensing dispute. For dub-haters like me, it meant that I had to choose between watching this classic Gundam series in English or shying away from the dub. I opted for the former choice, and it was worth it.

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2011-06-13T02:56:00.000-07:00

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Equally as impressive is the music. So far we've had opening and ending themes by such popular artists as Porno Graffitti, L'Arc en Ciel, YeLLOW Generation, and Crystal Kay to name a few. As of this writing there are still two more top names being added to the soundtrack, bringing the total to eight for this series' fifty-episode run. Thanks not only to the variety of artists, but also the different styles that each one brings to the table, the music is never boring and worth taking the couple of minutes to listen to every time.

Unfortunately, that meant that I had to deal with the problems associated with the majority of dubs: bad acting. Some of the actors did a good job, but many instances were nothing but long, drawn-out scenes of sheer monotony and yawn-inducing acting. Another negative downside is the fact that subtitles or close captioning cannot be turned on, which means that for the hearing impaired, maybe they should leave this title off their list.

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2011-06-13T02:49:00.004-07:00

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The animation is squeaky clean. The colors are bright and vivid; even dull hues appear to glow. The animation is always flooded with colors--but never to the point that it becomes too busy or painful to watch. In some sequences they even use real photos of historical events like World War II. In other cases they use computer generated rooms and perfectly animate the characters within them, leaving a pleasant, uniform look to the animation.

Naturally, no matter how soothing such a world may be, it would be dead boring if pink were its only color and frothy fun its only tone. And so threads of other darker, more compelling colors are woven throughout. Ryuki initially has a guileless charm that belies his authority and reputation, but he has unknown depths that give him a sharp edge and make one wonder just how much of that guilelessness is genuine. Shurei may be a gentle romantic naïf, but she's a sharp customer otherwise, driven by a genuine passion springing from a vulnerability that offsets her vitality. And for how well everyone in the government seems to get along (Government officials who like and respect each other? No way.) not all is flower petals and sweet buns in the imperial palace, as at least one continuing and potentially deadly plot is afoot in the king's residence.

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2011-06-13T02:49:00.003-07:00

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We also witness some of anime's best character designs. You'll never confuse characters in Fullmetal Alchemist, as each character has a distinct appearance. Some very calculated care was taken to make sure that no two characters looked even remotely alike. It's especially important because most characters are part of the military and, thus, will be seen mainly in their uniforms. The one exception is Ed, who almost always wears variations on his familiar black suit and red coat.

Yet another victim of the art robbing from the animation, Saiunkoku's beautiful men, calibrated color schemes, and pleasing settings all come at the expense of clumsy body movements, diminished activity overall, lots of staid or static compositions, and emoting that is done almost solely with shimmery shoujo eyes. It hardly affects the series' entertainment factor though; the charms of Saiunkoku are hardly tied up in its animation.

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2011-06-13T02:49:00.002-07:00

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Fullmetal Alchemist has full of some of the most interesting and well-rounded characters you'll see in an anime. Thanks to the connections between past and present in the story, we learn much about the characters in a short length of time. We also get ample opportunity to watch the characters develop. In some cases it's as simple as a State Alchemist rising in military rank, but other times it's more personal, like a birthday. The characters mature, and as they reflect on their past lives, we often see changes in morals or ambitions.

More attentive viewers will recognize composer Kunihiko Ryo as the fellow responsible for the superb soundtrack in The Twelve Kingdoms. His work here bears some resemblance, especially in the use of older and more traditionally Chinese-sounding instruments. Where it differs is the same place where The Twelve Kingdoms and Saiunkoku differ, replacing the epic power and almost unbearable melancholy of the former with a lighter, happier touch in the latter. Both the opening and closing are slower, quieter tunes than is the norm. Pleasant without being the kind of thing that sells soundtracks.

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2011-06-13T02:49:00.001-07:00

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Much of the earlier story is told as the real story of FA progresses. The current story actually takes place about 5 years after the events that set the brothers on their path. Learning about events that have taken place in the past helps promote interest in what is a long, complex story full of well rounded characters. Everyone has a past to explore. The past is just as important as the present, and viewers will want to understand both series of events well. It goes beyond the Elric brothers' search for answers as all chains of events become intertwined at one point or another.

Geneon's dub is exactly the kind of thing that dub detractors dislike and dub fans find thoroughly tolerable. There isn't any doubt that it's a slight step down from the original. The acting is a little flat, and it lacks the natural ease of a good dub. It is, however, fairly competent; the casting choices are good, the acting at least consistent, and the cringe-factor is pretty much nil. And you have to give them a little slack for going up against a Japanese cast that reads like a who's who of popular male voice talent. The script adaptation makes so few changes that its almost more of a direct translation than an adaptation, news that will be welcome to some and a disappointment to others. Kind of like everything in life.

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2011-06-13T02:49:00.000-07:00

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While recovering, the pair is offered a chance to be students at a special academy that will give them a shot at becoming State Alchemists (“government-issued” alchemists). Ed and Al see this as an opportunity not only to better their understanding of alchemy, but also to further research human transmutation, hopefully to regain their former bodies. To do this they find they'll need an item that will amplify their abilities, the Philosopher's Stone. It's with this that their biggest adventure begins.

Don't let the pink fixation or resolutely sunny outlook fool you, Saiunkoku is neither stupid nor vacuous. True, in retrospect there is much that is unrealistic (starting with Shurei's becoming the royal consort). But each episode contains continuous plot elements, and the clues dropped as to the bigger picture are relatively subtle yet clear in their intent. Its relationships, for all their innocence, are complex and quietly affecting; and it has one of the most convincingly constructed 100% nice girls since Fruits Basket. Not bad for a pink show.

read Yaoi Hentai Volume 4 5 6 3 2 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Yamila Abraham

2011-06-09T04:28:00.001-07:00

read Yaoi Hentai
Yamila Abraham

Well, for most people, the point is that this film is something to watch while stoned, created by artists who were also stoned. This conclusion is a little unfair; these days we have a tendency to attribute anything even slightly surreal or abstract to the abuse of narcotics, which undermines the entire concept of creativity. Tamala 2010, while certainly as tangential and nonsensical as your favorite addict's acid trip stories, seems to be the concentrated effort of a group of artists to create something more than just entertainment.

As with Bandai's recent release of the first movie under its Honneamise label, its production of Patlabor 2 has replaced the original Manga Entertainment dub with a completely new cast and script. The updated script is much more faithful than that of the original Manga Entertainment dub, while the English cast returns from Bandai's dub for the first movie. The English VAs have clearly settled into their roles better since the first movie, creating a dub that, this time, is about on par with the original Japanese. Performances in key roles are also about even with the ME dub, while a distinct improvement can be heard in minor supporting roles.

read Surge (Yaoi) Yamila Abraham

2011-06-09T04:28:00.000-07:00

Surge (Yaoi)
Yamila Abraham

Whether or not they were successful is another matter entirely; if this really was an attempt at sparking a worldwide phenomenon, then why did they produce a cultish, R-rated animated movie with which to promote their concept? Only t.o.L really knows what the purpose of this film was, and we, as viewers, are asked simply to consume and draw our own conclusions.

Improvements in audio and recording technology over the years have also eliminated the sometimes-shrill sound of the voices in the original English dub. The new version does suffer a bit from a lack of expressiveness, but that's a fault of the original writing, as the Japanese dub has the same issue. (According to some of the Extras, though, this was partly intentional.)

read Aoi House Vol 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Adam Arnold

2011-06-09T04:27:00.002-07:00

Aoi House Vol 1
Adam Arnold

Artistically, the film is unique. The characters are animated in a sort of Flash-like fashion, with smooth and simple movements. Vehicles and some backdrops are animated in 3-D; the result is a piece of pop art unlike anything else. The film is mostly in black and white, using color very sparingly. It's hard to tell if the visual style of this film is intended to put across any sort of message; you just never know with films like this one. The soundtrack is a surprisingly pleasant trance mix, perfectly suited for the visuals. As an art piece, Tamala 2010 does not disappoint.

Casual Patlabor fans can probably content themselves with the regular version of the movie, which includes trailers and TV commercials for the movie as its extras. It also retains the original Japanese closer, with the English credits only found in the DVD Credits menu. The true collector or Patlabor fanboy/girl who's willing to shell out triple the normal price can instead get the fully-loaded Limited Collector's Edition, which includes artwork and extras never before available for American release.

read de Sade Assassins Made in DNA

2011-06-09T04:27:00.001-07:00

de Sade Assassins
Made in DNA

Basically, if you're a film student, or an art student, you owe it to yourself to see this film at least once. It's one of those cult events that any serious underground culture junkie will have seen. The artist group that created it seems strangely cultish, and it's a wonder there isn't more information out there regarding them and their project. Whatever conclusion you come to, Tamala 2010 is a unique experience, totally different from anything else available on the market today (aside from, you know, Cat Soup and Yellow Submarine).

Patlabor 2 was originally intended to be the final chapter in the Patlabor franchise, an intention later proved false by the creation of a third movie and a later parody spin-off called “Mini Pato.”
Its franchise has always distinguished itself from other mecha titles by the real-world feel it gives to its content and its concentration on adults rather than teenagers, and in this the second movie certainly holds true to its origins. If you're looking for typical action-oriented mecha fare than this is the wrong place to be, but if you're looking for something wholly dramatic, insightful, and mature then you've come to the right place.

read eng The Outcast Vol 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Vaun Wilmott

2011-06-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

read The Outcast
Vaun Wilmott

Background music is used sparingly throughout the movie, but when it is present it favors heavy, pulsing techno beats backed by airy, haunting vocals for the intense scenes and soaring synthesized scores in other places. Though orchestrated, the opening and closing themes have much the same sound. The 5.1 audio tracks, which are present for both the English and Japanese dubs, beautifully bring out the crisp sound effects.

After the bridge bombing fiasco has settled, it's business as usual for the Social Welfare Agency, and the Rico-Jean fratello are off to Venice to take down a Mafioso and clean out a den of terrorists. After the dust settles, Guise arranges for a vacation to his family's old sea cottage, inviting Henrietta, Jean, and Rico to come along. The girls find respite in the exquisite grandeur of Sicily, but Jean only finds himself haunted by visions of the past. Meanwhile, Triela stays at the dorms and reminisces with Claes about what they've all gone through.

read Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path, No. 2 1 3 4 5 - A Clan in Need Erin Hunter

2011-06-09T04:21:00.000-07:00

Warriors: Ravenpaw's Path, No. 2 - A Clan in Need
Erin Hunter

Yen Press otherwise does an efficient and effective job, producing a translation devoid of the incongruous choices of idioms and slang phrases which too often populate these Japanese imports. It is also free of typos, another problem which commonly plagues translations. Extras are limited to the aforementioned Afterword and the standard color pictures at the beginning.

Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space follows the hyperactive, non-sequitur adventures of Tamala, a little kitty with a spaceship. On her way to Orion, her ship is diverted to Planet Q, a place where dogs rule. Chased by a degenerate cop while evading society with the help of love interest Michelangelo, Tamala uncovers not only the secrets behind ‘Catty & Company’, the huge megaconglomerate that rules the Feline Galaxy, but also her own identity. That, and a whole lot of really weird stuff happens.

read eng The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya Nagaru Tanigawa

2011-06-09T04:20:00.002-07:00

read The Rampage of Haruhi Suzumiya
Nagaru Tanigawa

At 230 pages Spice and Wolf is not a heavy read, and its $10.99 price point puts it higher than most other fantasy novels of comparable length. The size of this paperback release and its color artwork balance that out a bit, though, and it is a good foundation novel for a series which skews a bit older than normal lite novel fare. It offers only a little more insight for those who have seen the TV series, while those who read the novel first will doubtless find themselves wanting to see it in animation.

The product of an artist group called Trees of Life (“t.o.L”), Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space is as strange a thing as you'll ever see. Doubtlessly produced under the influence of past animated ‘head trips’ like The Beatles' classic film Yellow Submarine, Tamala 2010 is, without a doubt, something that will only appeal to a very specific audience: art students and college kids strung out on illegal substances.

read eng The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation Siku

2011-06-09T04:20:00.001-07:00

The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation
Siku

Whereas the TV and OVA series centered on Noa, and Asuma was the star of the first movie, both are only supporting players this time around despite having several minutes of early scenes. Gotoh is the real star here, although the story actually centers more on Nagumo. Most of the classic supporting cast members make at least brief appearances, down even to the lowliest peon technician, with Kanuka Clancy being the only notable absentee. Because of that, the last third of the movie has the classic “bringing the old gang back together one last time” feel to it.

Tamala 2010 follows something of a storyline. Basically, we follow Tamala, a sort of Hello Kitty-alike who swears like a sailor and flies around in her retro spaceship. Engine trouble pops up, and she's mistakenly rerouted to Planet Q, a place inhabited almost enitely by dogs. There's a mild terrorism problem; dogs attack cats at random. Meeting up with a cat named Michelangelo, Tamala evades a perverted canine policeman and uncovers a whole load of mysteries and secrets surrounding Catty & Company, the gigantic corporation that controls nearly everything in the Feline Galaxy.

read eng Twenty Hentai Ultra Erotic Short Stories and Fairy Tales (erotica) Matsumi Blue

2011-06-09T04:20:00.000-07:00

Twenty Hentai Ultra Erotic Short Stories and Fairy Tales (erotica)
Matsumi Blue

The character designs, once again done primarily by Akemi Takeda, noticeably age many of the characters (especially Noa, who looks more masculine than ever), but given the three-year time lapse this isn't unusual or unexpected. Most favor realistic looks, with only Arakawa's wide-mouth, big-nosed, and appropriately reptilian visage qualifying as a caricature. The Labor designs, spider-like tank, and mobile gun platforms are all ordinary designs by mecha standards but are still drawn well.

That description, of course, makes the film sound fairly straightforward and simple, which is, unfortunately, not the case. The movie goes off on a series of hallucinogenic tangents that have almost nothing to do with the main storyline and will confuse anyone who isn't paying strict attention. The irony is that the film seems to have been designed to make the viewer tune out, so paying strict attention might be missing the point.

read Grand Guignol Orchestra, Vol. 3 1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Kaori Yuki

2011-06-09T04:19:00.000-07:00

Grand Guignol Orchestra, Vol. 3
Kaori Yuki

In fact, nearly all of the cel artistry is drawn and integrated well with effectively-rendered backgrounds, and even the small amounts of CG used were designed to integrate seamlessly with the cel art. There's nothing bright or cheery about the color scheme, but this isn't a bright or cheery series to begin with, and the animation is very good when present. Visually and technically speaking, it's one of the better anime titles of the early '90s, and its heavy production emphasis on layouts vs. storyboards not only shows in its scene selections but had a distinct influence on the anime industry in the years that followed its release. Among those working on the layouts was prominent future director Satoshi Kon.

Deciphering Tamala 2010's message is fairly difficult. A single viewing of the film won't reveal much of anything, except a warped sort of anti-capitalist message that doesn't really assert itself due to the totally detached and apathetic main character. Catty & Company winds up being connected to a bizarre religious cult and supposedly has the ability to make and remake the universe in its own image; this all connects to Tamala, who doesn't seem to really care about anything that's happening around her. A visit to the t.o.L website reveals that the purpose of Tamala is to create a worldwide merchandising franchise, something that will basically do what Sanrio's wretched saccharine creations have already done. Great. So what's the point?

read Vampire Cheerleaders Vol. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Adam Arnold

2011-06-09T04:04:00.001-07:00

Vampire Cheerleaders read
Adam Arnold

It also speaks strongly to the nature of the peace Japan had experienced for decades since World War 2 and the effect Japan's insulation from warfare has had on the public mindset. Some of the problems which arise in the movie were later seen as foreshadowing of problems Japan faced in the mid-90s. Thus, moreso than most anime titles, Patlabor 2's content can be seen as indicative of the time of its creation.

Yes, the events in the story provide the framework, but the relationship which gradually forms here between the mercurial Holo and the more steadfast Lawrence is the novel's greatest strength. The byplay between them is clever and dynamic, constantly adjusting to circumstances and never losing its edge as Lawrence struggles to keep up with Holo in a playful battle of wits. Because of that, we get to follow along as Lawrence gradually realizes that Holo is far from the burden she initially seems to be; she does, in fact, become very important to him because she fills the big hole in his lonely life as a peddler: his lack of companionship.

read Sweet Tooth Vol. 3 4 2 1 5 6 7 8 9 10 : Animal Armies Jeff Lemire

2011-06-09T04:04:00.000-07:00

Sweet Tooth read
Jeff Lemire

It's also important to note that Patlabor 2 was, for its time, a rare case of an anime tackling modern-day social issues in Japan. It very squarely looks at early-'90s Japanese discomfort with, and disdain for, the status of their Self-Defense Forces; the conflicts that arise between the SDF and police in the movie are partly an extrapolation of real-life tensions.

Although the story is told entirely from Lawrence's point of view, Holo's words and deeds also make it clear that the ache of loneliness a mortal could only barely comprehend underlies her words and deeds, so in a way Lawrence is just as valuable a find for her, too. Given where Hasekura shows both characters coming from, it is not at all hard to understand how they become so close and why Lawrence ultimately chooses Holo even over profit and his own safety.

read eng Vampire Knight, Vol. 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Matsuri Hino

2011-06-09T04:03:00.002-07:00

Vampire Knight read
Matsuri Hino

This time around his philosophy of choice is an ongoing debate between Gotoh and Arakawa about the nature and relationship of war and peace, a topic which has a direct bearing on the plot. His tendency to get carried away with such dialogues pops up several times, which heavily contributes to the movie's one significant flaw: it drags at times, especially in its first half. The general intensity and urgency begin to build when the wide-spread military deployment starts at the halfway point and kicks into high gear when the terrorists make their big move, but even when the major action scenes come the story never loses sight of being, first and foremost, a drama. The climax may not be the slam-bang affair otaku are used to, but it is consistent with the structure of the movie and feels both appropriate and satisfying.

The other advantage of Hasekura's style is that it adapts very easily to anime form. As a result, the first six episodes of the anime version very faithfully replicate the novel, down even to exactly duplicating lines of dialog in most places. In fact, the only substantive change in the anime version is the introduction of the character Cloe, who assumes and expands slightly upon the role of Yarei, Pasloe's wheat trader.

read eng The Tyrant Falls In Love Volume 3 4 5 6 7 2 1 (Yaoi) Hinako Takanaga

2011-06-09T04:03:00.001-07:00

read The Tyrant Falls In Love Volume (Yaoi)
Hinako Takanaga

That Mamoru Oshii, who directed the Patlabor OVAs and first movie and did screenplay work on the TV series, also directed this one should be obvious to anyone who's familiar with his work. The way he frames scenes and injects long-winded philosophizing into the story is very similar to what was seen a couple of years later in his iconic Ghost in the Shell.

In some senses this is an improvement, as the book never did establish a strong enough connection between Lawrence and the village of Pasloe to be satisfying in certain late scenes, although her presence leaves Lawrence seeming less isolated in the anime than he is in the novel. Beyond that, the differences are mostly just points of emphasis. The anime is better able to use Holo's body language to portray her personality, while the novel stresses the loneliness aspect, and how much Lawrence cherishes Holo, a bit more. The anime offers a more convincing conflict of interest for Lawrence in one late scene, while the novel is more effective at portraying the overwhelming nature of Holo's wolf form.

read eng Death Note: Another Note (Novel) Ishin Nishio

2011-06-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

read Death Note: Another Note (Novel)
Ishin Nishio

First released in 1993 but set in the year 2002, Patlabor 2 is a direct sequel to the original Patlabor movie. Its composition marks a distinct departure for the franchise from its TV series content and that of the first movie, which were relatively balanced mixes of humor, action, and police drama. Mecha action takes a back seat and light-hearted moments are almost non-existent as the story develops a serious, complex, and philosophical drama borne of disillusionment, one where confusion and chaos are the expected outcomes rather than the tools of the enemy.

Ayakura's illustrations impress much less. The anime version remained faithful to the style of his character designs but improved on them, as his black-and-white pictures lack sharpness. His color pictures at the front do much better, with his best effort being a rather cute chibi picture of Holo. A great controversy erupted among fans when Yen Press opted to change Ayakura's original cover art (seen at right) with the far more mature and sexy look used on the actual American release cover (seen above).

read eng Usagi Yojimbo Volume 25 26 27 28 24 23 21 20 22 : Fox Hunt Stan Sakai

2011-06-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

Usagi Yojimbo Volume 25: Fox Hunt
Stan Sakai

A wide-ranging music score gives Eureka 7 a feeling that's both classic and modern—rich orchestral sounds dominate dramatic scenes, but rock and dance tracks are the genres of choice when the Nirvash takes to the sky. Either way, the results are always tuneful and fitting. The same might be said of the lively opening and ending songs: Home Made Kazoku's "Shounen Heart" captures the adventurous coming-of-age spirit through hip-hop, and Asami Izawa's catchy "Fly Away" says more of the same but with a soul flavor.

In his Afterword, author Isuna Hasekura talks about aspiring to make a fortune from winning literary awards, and based on the writing seen here, it is obvious why he won one for this effort. His style is smooth and easy to read without coming up short on substance. He never gets bogged down in descriptiveness but still has a sufficient amount of it and never forgets that, in this story, the characters and their interactions matter far more than the events being portrayed; in that sense, his work stands in starkest possible contrast to Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D novels.

read The Complete Pokemon Pocket Guide Box Set VIZ Media

2011-06-09T03:54:00.002-07:00

The Complete Pokemon Pocket Guide Box Set
VIZ Media

The many emotional scenes in these episodes are handled confidently in the English dub, with Johnny Yong Bosch leading the way as Renton. For a character that goes through several moods in each episode, he gets all of them right, while still maintaining that youthful, high-pitched tone. Stephanie Sheh's Eureka is equally adept, although her rhythm could be more flowing. The supporting cast all turn in solid performances as well, and with a script that follows the subtitles closely (sometimes even matching word for word), this is one title that you could easily watch dubbed all the way through.

Its American release date actually came a week before its anime version release, and other aspects of its release (yes, the cover) also suggest that it is intended to appeal to a broader audience up front rather than depend on the anime. Either that, or it hopes to capitalize on the anime's popularity the moment it hits the market rather than years after the fact. Either way, if it was done intentionally then it is an interesting experiment in timing which bears watching and a further sign that publishing companies importing Japanese novels are doing so in a more timely fashion.

read The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects Mike Mignola

2011-06-09T03:54:00.001-07:00

The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects
Mike Mignola

The Japanese voice cast still deserves their share of credit, though, being the main source of extras on this disc. Look forward to a full audio commentary (subtitled, of course) for Episode 15, and a 30-minute interview with Yuko Sanpei (Renton) and Kaori Nazuka (Eureka) discussing their characters and the show. Occasionally they mention episodes that haven't shown up on DVD yet, so consider that your spoiler alert—but the segment is still worth watching for their insights and humor.

Typically when dealing with novels on which anime series are based, the release of the anime version in the United States far precedes the release of the original novel(s) and generally only happens if the anime was at least modestly successful; although those novel releases may hope to get broader exposure, they are really depending heavily on anime fans for their sales. That philosophy seems to be changing, though, and Spice and Wolf's case is evidence of that.

read eng Mega Man Gigamix Volume 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (Mega Man Giganix) Hitoshi Ariga

2011-06-09T03:54:00.000-07:00

Mega Man Gigamix Volume 1 (Mega Man Giganix)
Hitoshi Ariga

Even as it winds down from the high intensity of the previous volume, Eureka 7 continues to be an engrossing series. These episodes turn to the inner world of the Gekkostate's crew, particularly Renton and Eureka's states of mind, and pose new challenges that can't be solved by simply piloting the Nirvash. In an underground cavern, history and technology are examined. In a surreal dreamworld, true feelings are discovered. In Eureka 7, a young boy's heart still has plenty of growing up to do.

Along the way she helps the enterprising Lawrence in business deals as repayment, though a complex scheme involving currency devaluation ultimately proves dangerous for them both. As their association grows, Lawrence starts to realize that there may, in fact, be something more important than profit. When a spice-transporting merchant and a wolf come together, things are never dull.

read eng Pokemon Black and White, Vol. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (Pokémon Black and White) Hidenori Kusaka

2011-06-09T03:53:00.000-07:00

Pokemon Black and White, Vol. 1 (Pokémon Black and White)
Hidenori Kusaka

For centuries Holo the Wisewolf has maintained a pact with village of Pasloe to insure good wheat harvests. As time passed and a new local noble developed more advanced farming techniques, lonely Holo came to feel that her commitment was no longer needed and she was being more used than respected. Taking human form as a teenage girl with wolf ears and tail, she hooks up with Lawrence, a peddler who regularly does business in Pasloe, and accompanies him on a journey as much about companionship for both as it is about providing a convenient means for her to return to her northern birthplace.

Three years have passed since the incident with the Babylon Project [as seen in the first movie], and many of the members of SV2 have gone their separate ways: Oota's a pilot trainer, Noa and Asuma test new Labors, and others have retired or been promoted. Gotoh still remains, though, as does Shinobu Nagumo as the acting section chief. New trouble arises when seeming terrorist strikes wreak havoc and confusion among the government, military, and public, and a former lover and commander of Nagumo, Yukihito Tsuge, seems to be at the center of it. With his superiors either compromised or unable to see the big picture it falls to Gotoh, with the help of regular police ally Matsui and new-found intelligence officer contact Shigeki Arakawa, to sort out what the apparent terrorists are up to and why. When the situation turns really ugly, the old team is reassembled to deal with the perpetrators.

read Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2 1 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 James Patterson

2011-06-09T03:33:00.001-07:00

read Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 2
James Patterson

No matter where the story heads, though, one can always expect strong visuals from the creative minds of Studio BONES. The climactic scenes of Episodes 15 and 16 show great versatility by way of contrast: the Nirvash maneuvering gracefully through a sunset sky—a very traditional sort of beauty—and then, one episode later, an explosion of surreal imagery in Renton's dream. Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, an attempted apology to Eureka, LFO units drifting through the ceiling—it may not match the grand scope of the Coralian incident, but this scene still holds its own as a visual experiment.

When compared to the original, the animation and artwork take an evolutionary step forward. Instead of the dark and brooding dominance of the first film, Bloodlust presents things in a much brighter tone. Animation production was handled by MADHOUSE, known for their recent work on Trigun. The action sequences are crisp and clean, with a variety of camera angles being explored. The character designs show their roots in the original film, expanding with a variety of new and intriguing monster designs as well as mecha designs. Overall, Bloodlust retains the roots of the original film, but boldly steps forward in its own right.

read Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 5 4 3 2 1 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Alan Moore

2011-06-09T03:33:00.000-07:00

read Saga of the Swamp Thing Book 5
Alan Moore

Teen angst is truly universal, isn't it? The episode after that goes even further, pushing Renton into a deeper slump when he discovers that cool old guys aren't always all that cool. Confused about his world, confused about his goals, and confused about love—what these episodes lack in action, they make up for with serious character development. The only problem is that ending the disc on such a downer can feel unsatisfying for some.

When taking in the English soundtrack for Vampire Hunter D it is important to remember that it was created first. All the actors are well cast to their roles and do a good job of adding to the overall feeling presented. Being a self-contained story, Bloodlust doesn't really leave any room for character development. That actors' move in stride with this, allowing their characters to come to life as the story unfolds. The soundtrack and accompanying music do a spectacular job of fueling the emotional ride the viewers take while watching this movie. The only disappointment with the soundtrack is the fact that the Japanese soundtrack is not included for comparison. The reasons for the lack of that track are still a bit unclear, serving to disappoint the sub-fans of the market.

read Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 James Patterson

2011-06-09T03:32:00.002-07:00

read Maximum Ride: The Manga, Vol.
James Patterson

After such emotional hand-wringing, Episode 17 is a welcome relief as Renton and the crewmembers head out to meet a repairman and do some male bonding. Although repairing the Gekkostate is the most obvious plot theme, Renton and Eureka's strained relationship is the real substance throughout this arc: the men of the ship tease Renton about his progress, while Hilda helps Eureka work out her feelings by putting it in concrete terms.

The features and extras go a long way in trying to make up for the lack of the Japanese soundtrack. The big feature is a 20 minute featurette on the making of Bloodlust. This feature contains interviews with the production staff, both English and Japanese members as well as shots of various voice actors. Other extras run the gambit of standard releases including: Theatrical Trailers, TV spots, Urban Vision trailers and Motion menus. The more specialized features include: Fans' Favorite Picks, Dolby Digital 5.1, Closed Captioning and Anamorphic Widescreen.

read eng Natsume's Book of Friends, Vol. 7 8 9 10 11 12 6 5 4 3 2 1 Yuki Midorikawa

2011-06-09T03:32:00.001-07:00

read Natsume's Book of Friends,
Yuki Midorikawa

But Episode 16 inverts everything and becomes pure introspection in visual form: Renton, lost in the cave and mentally drained, succumbs to a dream sequence that sums up his conflicted feelings for Eureka. Of course, he wants to fly and develop his skills—but is it worth Eureka getting jealous over "her" machine? The story continues to develop on multiple levels, becoming even more mysterious when Eureka "takes a nap" and somehow enters Renton's dream.

At the heart of any film is the story. Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, being a sequel, has an already established world to work with. This allows the film to work more towards character development and conflict. Of course, there is worry that it being a sequel will make it difficult to follow, but Bloodlust stands well on its own, providing enough information to allow new viewers to keep up.

read eng Negima! vol 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37: Magister Negi Magi Ken Akamatsu

2011-06-09T03:32:00.000-07:00

Negima! 30: Magister Negi Magi
Ken Akamatsu

Before things get all gloomy, however, there's still time for a little comedy and action. The health craze in Episode 15 brings its share of laughs: the entire crew performing Tai Chi, a sudden shortage of junk food, and misadventures in search of the nutritious puncha nut. (If that's not a pun, I don't know what is.) Even as the episode turns towards battle, the spirit of triumph still wins out—Renton piloting the Nirvash by himself and taking out the enemy is pure exhilaration in visual form.

The story works on a variety of levels, being something different for how the viewer watches the movie. At its heart it is an action film, with chase scenes, fighting scenes and lots of explosions. Next to that is the dramatic subplots of a man struggling with his inner demons and a couple locked in a forbidden romance. These various subplots and almost contradictory storylines meld together to produce a strong film with a stirring plot. The visuals and sound add to this to provide a very entertaining movie.

read eng Naruto, Vol. 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 Masashi Kishimoto

2011-06-09T03:22:00.002-07:00

read Naruto, manga (Naruto (Graphic Novels)) Masashi Kishimoto

What Evangelion 2.0 brings to the table is far more than a retelling; it features an overarching maturity that was missing in the original. Gone is the hysterical self-loathing, the navel-gazing, the relentless self-defeat in even its narrative structure, and most of the confusing and problematic Judeo-Christian symbolism. (The angels, though familiar looking, aren't even named anymore.)

Maybe too much time. Young hero Renton has another one of his weird dreams, crusty old commander Holland is being even more crusty than usual, and Eureka—well, whatever's going on with Eureka is anyone's guess. This is a time to look inward and ask where the characters are headed, and the answers could be more complex than anyone might expect.

read eng Bleach, Vol. 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Tite Kubo (Author, Illustrator)

2011-06-09T03:22:00.001-07:00

Tite Kubo (Author, Illustrator)

read Bleach, Vol. (Bleach (Graphic Novels))

The story that's left is told calmly, with measured pacing and an even-handedness that's unexpected to those familiar with the original. In doing so, it reveals flaws in the original that likely never occured to the viewer initially, but are easy to spot now that they're gone. It's far too early to tell for sure, but at this point it's entirely possible that Rebuild of Evangelion will emerge as the stronger work.

Just looking at the description, there may not be much to get excited about in this volume of Eureka 7. The high-flying intensity of the previous installment is a tough act to follow, and now we're stuck with a block of episodes that boils down to "Gekkostate gets stuck in a cave." Taking a break from the action opens up new possibilities, though; suddenly the crew's got a whole lot more time to think.

read eng One Piece, Vol. 57 58 59 60 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 Eiichiro Oda (Author, Illustrator)

2011-06-09T03:22:00.000-07:00

read One Piece, Vol.

One Piece, Vol. Eiichiro Oda (Author, Illustrator)

Fans worried that Anno's steadier hand may no longer lead us to dark and horrible places have worried for nothing. He is clearly a more mature man now, so this work features a grounded, deep-seeded anger for the world, for society, for people and their failings that is distinctly new to the franchise, rather than the adolescent angst and self-doubt the original wallowed in. Evangelion 2.0 feels as though the project has been put on mood stabilizers: it's not any happier, but it's more stable and certainly more focused. And in the end, it's a vast improvement. It's no surprise to be attacked by a friend who's a bipolar drama queen. When the grounded, quiet guy snaps, though... THAT'S terrifying.

In the near future, Vampires ruled over mankind. The humans of the planet began fighting back, unleashing Vampire Hunters upon their oppressors. One Vampire Hunter stands out from the rest. He is himself half vampire, a dunpeal neither human nor vampire. He hunts vampires for money, and has yet to lose.

read eng Fairy Tail vol 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Hiro Mashima

2011-06-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

Fairy Tail [Paperback]
Hiro Mashima (Author)
read Fairy Tail

Meier Link, a powerful vampire, kidnaps the daughter of a wealthy family. Vampire Hunter D is hired to get her back at any cost. He is not alone: another group of hunters, The Markus Brothers, have also been called in on the job. While fighting the other hunters and the minions of Link, D comes face to face with a nemesis from his father's past!

When the Gekkostate stops in a cave for repairs, the crew becomes moody and restless; the discovery of ancient ruins and geological features still doesn't change the fact that they're broke and hungry. Worse yet, a prospective repairman and a digger living in the cave aren't all they appear to be. And how much longer will Eureka's bad mood last?

read eng Rave Master Vol 33 34 35 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 Hiro Mashima

2011-06-09T03:20:00.000-07:00

Rave Master 33/34/35

Rave Master 33/34/35 [Paperback]
Hiro Mashima (Author)

Based on the 3rd book in Shoji Kawajiri's series, Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust takes parts of many popular genres to create an exciting sequel to an OVA released over 10 years ago. Part horror, part western, part romance and part samurai action film, Bloodlust combines the best of each genre to reach the viewers on a variety of levels. In terms of production, Bloodlust takes a different direction by having the English soundtrack used as the base for music and sound with the Japanese track a translation of the English original.

The freewheeling sky-surfers of Gekkostate embark on a newfangled health fad, which eventually leads them to an agricultural town that just happens to be Renton's childhood home. There he meets his uncle, whose military affiliation quickly lands Renton and his friends in trouble—but the real trouble begins when Renton saves the day by piloting the Nirvash unit without Eureka's guidance. The normally quiet Eureka becomes even more withdrawn, distancing herself from the Nirvash, Renton, and everyone else.

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2011-06-07T07:44:00.000-07:00

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EVIDENCE AGAINST:
Perhaps what we should be saying is, Why does everything have to be happening right now? Fullmetal Alchemist's insistence on building up the epic battle to end all epic battles has resulted in this unsightly dogpile where every single storyline in the series has collapsed on top of one other. Somehow, it's even worse than when all the storylines were running concurrently and switching back and forth—now they've all arrived at the same spot, like commuters trying to pack a crowded train at rush hour.

The English script is significantly different from the original Japanese in many places, although I did not feel that this created any gross inconsistencies in meaning. The English vocal cast is well-chosen and its actors consistently do a fine job of capturing the essence of their characters in any particular scene. The biggest difference between the English and Japanese voice work is that Monica Rial uses a much higher and gentler pitch for Lumiere's voice than the original Japanese voice actress, but the portrayal is, I think, better that way. English performances in key roles are solid on their own merits, although there is a bit of a quality drop-off in the lesser supporting roles.

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2011-06-07T07:43:00.003-07:00

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And look at all the cop-out plot twists: characters appearing out of nowhere, or just happening to be in the right place at the right time, or developing important special powers at just the right moment. Even those presumed dead have an annoying habit of making dramatic comebacks. What can be even more frustrating, though, is that plot developments are quickly glossed over; instead, more pages are dedicated to fight scenes and other physical struggles, meaning that any deeper explanations will have to wait until next time. Not that there's much of a "next time" left.

When Éclair is pushed past the breaking point on a new mission, however, it becomes apparent that even having lost her memories won't prevent her from repeating the actions of her forgotten past. Her rebellion against Eclipse's orders gets her and Lumiere stricken from the ES roster and labeled as renegades, to the amusement, shock, and/or dismay of their fellow ES members. Éclair and Lumiere are left to fend for themselves when an elite strike force is sent to hunt them down, though Amblast (who is still traveling with them) might have something to say about the matter. . .

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2011-06-07T07:43:00.002-07:00

Philips Sonicare Essence HX5752/71 Power Toothbrush Twin Pack (2 Handles, 2 Travel Caps, 2 Chargers, 2 Cases, 2 Brushheads, and 2 Brushhead Holders)

Before you know it, he does just that, wreaking havoc across the WOW servers ... and across campus. With Shesh's RPG-enabling gammaster friend Theo feeding the fires of madness, WOW execs devise a plan to extinguish Moggrathka's virtual flame once and for all. The final showdown explodes at the world's biggest WOW convention, where top gamers gather to fight for supremacy. It's the ultimate battle between good, evil, and chaotic evil with the (virtual) lives of millions at stake!"

The more light-hearted, high-spirited tone of earlier episodes of Kiddy Grade is gradually being replaced by a darker, edgier tone as the series approaches its midpoint. Throughout these three episodes tantalizing hints are dropped about the real natures of the ES force and its members, including suggestions that Éclair may actually be far more powerful than she realizes or anyone else has admitted up until this point.

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2011-06-07T07:43:00.001-07:00

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KING OF RPGS
Vol. 2
(by Jason Thompson and Victor Hao, Del Rey, $10.99)

FROM THE BACK COVER:
"After an intense World of Warfare (WOW) bender, college kid and hardcore gamer Shesh Maccabee finds himself completely consumed by his dark character, slayer extraordinaire Moggrathka. To avoid a repeat incident—and the potentially fatal consequences of getting whacked online—Shesh enmeshes himself in the real world with the help of a part-time job, focusing on paying tuition instead of slaying orcs. Meanwhile his archenemy, student cop Rona, is never far behind, watching and waiting for Shesh to lapse back into character and go on a rampage.

A viewer of these episodes should also start to suspect that there may be a reason (beyond general cutesiness and anime stereotypes) why so many of the ES force members seem so young. None of the questions raised by these episodes are answered, but the series is only half done so there's still a lot of time left for the mysteries to be sorted out. This volume also introduces Unou and Aou, the last of the main pairs of ES members, although all the pairs presented so far get at least a little bit of screen time.

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2011-06-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

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EVIDENCE FOR:
The first and most striking thing that readers will notice about the new King of RPGs is how much Victor Hao's art has (pardon the pun) leveled up. Not only does the comedic energy of the characters bounce off the page—the wacky faces, the impassioned dice-throwing, the mad mouse-clicking—but the alternate fantasy world they live in shines as well. The visual grandeur in last half of this volume is especially effective, being an all-out battle involving ancient cities, wrathful lizardmen, and magical warriors.

The first three volumes of Kiddy Grade were mostly composed of episodic fluff with the barest hint of an underlying plot. That began to change in episode 9, when Éclair's experiences on Dardanos caused suppressed memories to start to resurface. With these three episodes the plot development kicks into high gear, as a continuing flood of once-suppressed memories unsettles Éclair. Though the memories come to her in a jumble, they suggest of multiple past incarnations of herself and other ES members. They also suggest of dark secrets that made her voluntarily suppress her memories and seek to start over again.

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2011-06-07T07:28:00.002-07:00

Phiten S-Type Silicone Titanium Rakuwa Necklace - Black - 17"
Phiten

Ristorante Paradiso is exceedingly unusual in that, despite its foreign setting, there is absolutely no one of Japanese ethnicity—not the protagonist, not the supporting cast, not even a one-episode guest appearance. Even so, you may be excused for thinking that the purportedly Italian characters behave in a markedly un-Italian—shall we say decidedly anime-typical, Japanese?—sort of way. Thus, it is safe to expect plenty of feminine tittering (and oogling of the multitudes of handsome, middle-aged men), the occasional bow, and liberal doses of “Eeeeeehhhh~?!”…to name just a few anachronisms. Fortunately, these do not distract unduly from the series' Europhile atmosphere.

EVIDENCE FOR:
Even as Fullmetal Alchemist powers through its chaotic final battle, this volume is full of poetic moments that seem almost too beautiful to be allowed in an action series. A key supporting character goes out with a heroic smile on his face, combatants spout out eloquent musings about life and death and justice, a hated villain takes a dramatic dive, and stalwart Roy Mustang meets a terrifying, unimaginable fate. But aside from its unusual capacity for beauty, the series also still has the capacity to shock; all it takes is another fierce twist of Arakawa's imagination.

worth getting Phiten S-Type by Jennie Finch Titanium Necklace, Black/Pink, 18 inch

2011-06-07T07:28:00.001-07:00

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Actually, the Europhile atmosphere is one of the series' best assets. The mixture of stylized Mediterranean and Mid-Century Modern interior design melds seamlessly with the three-dimensional computer renderings of Rome's narrow, cobblestone streets. The character designs are also especially handsome, faithful to the spirit of Natsume Ono's big-eyed, wide-mouthed, yet lanky, improvisational art style.

As Greed and King Bradley continue their battle, the mysterious homunculus 'father' makes his move under Central City. In order to achieve his objectives, he will need to force Mustang to make an unthinkable choice. Meanwhile, Alphonse has the chance to regain his own body, but the sacrifice to do so may be too much."

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2011-06-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

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And happily, there is plenty of room for touches of whimsy. For example, the name of the restaurant translates as “Little House of the Bear”—cue the cute, but not cloying, teddy bear cameos. Even when the animation quality per se is no better than your average Japanese animated television series, the heady unity of design and warm yet understated palette will not leave you feeling bereft.

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST
Vol. 25
(by Hiromu Arakawa, Viz Media, $9.99)

FROM THE BACK COVER:
"In an alchemical ritual gone wrong, Edward Elric lost his arm and his leg, and his brother Alphonse became nothing but a soul in a suit of armor. Equipped with mechanical 'auto-mail' limbs, Edward becomes a state alchemist, seeking the one thing that can restore his and his brother's bodies ... the legendary Philosopher's Stone.

worth getting Phiten Sport Type Necklace, 17", Black/White

2011-06-07T07:27:00.001-07:00

Phiten Sport Type Necklace, 17", Black/White

The soundtrack is pleasing as well. The light-handed opening and ending themes suit the series beautifully, and delicate strains of background music throughout evoke precisely the right register of Fantasy Italy. As for the voice acting, it is also solid throughout; of course, the indisputed Grand Master of the piece is Fumiko Orikasa (name three relatively recent anime series at random and she's probably been in at least one of them), who plays Nicoletta, but the large supporting cast playing the men are also quite good. Jin Yamanoi in particular does an exceptional job as the complicated and oft frustrated Claudio—he executes the role with precisely the right combination of honeyed and lukewarm tones.

It's understandable that Mori is in love with the subject matter and wants to take her time introducing the world and its people, but at a certain point you just have to ask when the actual storyline is going to show up. There's only so much excitement to be had from looking at woodcarving porn, adventures in child-reaing, and Amir overreacting to Karluk being sick. Sometimes the characters are even upstaged by their own clothes, with fancy headgear and distracting outfits making it hard to identify people early on.

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2011-06-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

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Although it is perhaps a tad disappointing that an anime based upon a manga originally serialized in Manga Erotics F is not more, well, erotic, there is more than enough sensuality to please even the most discriminating of anime hedonists. Great Italian food and faithful love… what more could you ask for?

EVIDENCE AGAINST:
Hey look, it's Twilight without vampires! Here's an amazing couple and their amazing relationship where nothing interesting actually happens. Okay, maybe that was exaggeration for comic effect—but there's certainly a grain of truth to the idea that this tale leans too much toward the domestic and not enough toward the dramatic. Just look at that one contentious chapter where Amir's brothers show up: it's the most intense conflict in the story so far, and she's not even there to witness it ... because she's visiting with an uncle, herding sheep and transporting some goods.

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2011-06-07T07:16:00.002-07:00

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Praise is in order, however, for the female actors, who generally speak in a lower, more natural register, which prevents the female-heavy cast from devolving into the unnatural screechfest it might have been had they attempted to match the exact tones of the Japanese voice actresses. Voice actors are also generally well cast, although Mikoto ends up losing her feral edge in the English version. It's also refreshing to see the increasingly standard substitution of the Kansai dialect with a light southern drawl, a practice light-years beyond the complete standardization of years past.

The twenty one year old Nicoletta has just arrived in Rome. Raised by her grandparents out in the country after the divorce of her parents back when she was a very young child, she barely knows her mother Olga. Nevertheless, she tracks her mother and her mother's new husband down at an intimate, hole in the wall restaurant called Casetta dell'Orso. The restaurant proves to be a bit odd, to say the least—it is staffed entirely by bespectacled, middle aged men! As it turns out, Nicoletta's mother wants to keep Nicoletta a secret from her second husband, and to placate the girl she helps her get a job in Casetta dell'Orso's kitchen. But of course, exquisite Italian cuisine isn't the only thing on Nicoletta's mind. She soon becomes infatuated with one of the restaurant's gentle waiters…

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2011-06-07T07:16:00.001-07:00

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Bandai's dub fares poorly in comparison to the cast of Japanese veterans and prominent up-and-comers. The original performances were highly dependent on slight shifts in tone, timbre and emotion, many of which fail to make the transition, and the emotion overall is dampened by the slightly lackluster delivery. Very few liberties are taken with the translation, except where necessary to match lip-flaps, but the accuracy comes at the sacrifice of flow, resulting in some awkward dailogue.

The twenty one year old Nicoletta has just arrived in Rome. Raised by her grandparents out in the country after the divorce of her parents back when she was a very young child, she barely knows her mother Olga. Nevertheless, she tracks her mother and her mother's new husband down at an intimate, hole in the wall restaurant called Casetta dell'Orso. The restaurant proves to be a bit odd, to say the least—it is staffed entirely by bespectacled, middle aged men! As it turns out, Nicoletta's mother wants to keep Nicoletta a secret from her second husband, and to placate the girl she helps her get a job in Casetta dell'Orso's kitchen. But of course, exquisite Italian cuisine isn't the only thing on Nicoletta's mind. She soon becomes infatuated with one of the restaurant's gentle waiters…

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2011-06-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

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Yuki Kajiura's score for this series continues to be a treat for the ears, and is thankfully a little more understated than some of her outings. Director Masakazu Ohara wisely decides to hold her patented classical-meets-modern choral pieces in reserve as punctuation for the battles, sidestepping the musical overkill that plagues Yuki Kajiura's collaborations with Koichi Mashimo. Mai-HiME instead finds Yuki Kajiura ably supporting the action, without drowning it in an aural tidal wave; simple melodies underline the everyday lives of students, while her more typical, complex, otherworldly rhythms lend a haunting unreality to the supernatural goings-on. A pair of pleasing yet relatively undistinguished j-pop tunes bookend each episode.

Well, more or less. But at the very least, it's safe to say that the Casetta dell'Orso is the setting of this anime's slice of life drama, not another character unto itself. Indeed, it is the setting around which all of these delightful characters' lives revolve; Nicoletta's newfound employment in the restaurant's kitchen is only the beginning. Over the course of eleven well-conceived episodes, we learn about little bits about the various characters'—mainly their past losses and present loves. Each of the male characters gets at minimum one episode all to himself, dedicated to his peculiar brand of love.

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2011-06-07T07:11:00.000-07:00

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The art hasn't changed since the beginning: Mai is as stunning as ever, and the supporting cast is literally rife with character designs that look good enough to eat. The colors are bright and eye-catching, and distinctive, complementary color schemes are used for all of the major characters. Backgrounds and settings are all well rendered, with special mention going to the nicely atmospheric crumbling ruin that the disc's climactic battle occupies. The Orphan designs are still kind of generic, although the beasties used by the Searrs Foundation have a more angular, mildly inorganic appearance that sets them apart from your run-of-the-mill monsters.

Luciano, for example, is a widower who reason for living has become high daughter and grandson. Nicoletta's love interest Claudio (his full name is the unlikely, not to mention risible “Santo Claudio Paradiso”), meanwhile, still has not gotten fully over his divorce. My favorite episode was probably the one devoted to the swarthy chef Teo, once bullied by his female boss and now temporarily turned bully himself when faced with his young female apprentice.

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2011-06-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

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Sunrise's art and animation for Mai-HiME are the same quality as the writing, not extraordinary, yet subtly impressive. Extra care is given to the animation of character's expressions, allowing one narrow-eyed glance or unhealthy grin to carry a disproportionate amount of meaning. Characters for the most part move fluidly through their surroundings. The staff also takes time to occasionally animate non-essential background characters, a rarity in most anime. Nevertheless, the obvious recipients of the animation budget are the action scenes, full of enough smooth movements, striking imagery, and outrageous acrobatics to match the rising stakes of the fights.

Teo's episode, actually, also connects to the anime's overarching plot. After all, it starts out as a coming of age story, and when Teo bullies Nicoletta, it intersects quite explicitly with her gradual professional development and burgeoning sense of selfhood. Obviously, apart from her sexual maturation, the other half of Nicoletta's coming of age involves purging her bitterness towards her mother's bad mothering. The love between mother and daughter is yet another type of love explored here. Not to spoil Ristorante Paradiso too directly, but suffice it to say that inasmuch as this show has any resolution whatsoever, it involves Nicoletta's relationship with her mother.

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2011-06-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

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Yet in other places, the panels slow down enough to capture the rhythms of daily life, showing the villagers going about their work. From a story perspective, the details of this culture are just as fascinating, with quietly humorous scenes where Amir discovers the unique customs of her new clan—which of course are even more alien to us (to say nothing of the comic-relief European researcher living with them). This volume's highlight, though, is definitely the culture clash when Amir's older brother shows up and demands the unthinkable. It's a fascinating look into distant tribal politics and customs, while reminding us how some family squabbles transcend people, place, and time.

The cultural festival is over and finals completed, which means it's time for the beach, make-up exams, and vampire-hunting! As always, life at Fuka is plenty exciting, and things only get more so as the power behind the defeat of one HiME begins to make its move against the rest. And all the while Takumi deals with his slowly-warming, secretive roommate Akira, Natsuki remembers her childhood, Mai comes to terms with the responsibilities of being HiME, the winds of love blow willy-nilly through the student body, and new HiME begin to surface in the most unlikely of places.

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2011-06-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

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EVIDENCE FOR:
The deepest love in A Bride's Story is not the bond between Amir and her groom Karluk, but Kaoru Mori's obsession with Central Asia and its indigenous cultures. It's a love that manifests itself in the series' stunning art, from glorious views of the steppe to elaborate woodcarvings to the textile patterns that are a part of everyone's clothing. Mori's talent goes beyond mere inanimate objects, though: she also drafts some impressive hunting sequences where Amir captures fast-moving animals ... with a bow and arrow ... on horseback.

Don't let anyone tell you that a good gimmick can save a show. At best a good gimmick provides a hook, something to draw the audience in. After that, it's up to the show itself to keep the audience involved. Mai-HiME's gimmick is to take a standard shounen action setup (a group of teenagers with super-powers battle each other and eventually join forces to fight a greater evil), and simply replace all of the characters with girls. Girls of every size, shape and personality type imaginable. It's a very simple (and visually pleasing) gimmick. However, here at the halfway point of the series is where the show must stop relying on its setup and find its legs. And while it hasn't taken off running, Mai-HiME proves in this installment that it has its feet firmly planted and is ready to sprint.

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2011-06-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

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Crafted in painstaking detail, Ms. Mori's pen breathes life into the scenery and architecture of the period in this heartwarming slice-of-life tale that is at once both wholly exotic, yet familiar and accessible through the everyday lives of the rich characters she has created."

Composed as it is, from an apparent swamp of been-there-done-that anime story elements, how does Mai-HiME find firm ground from which to take off? In a word: competence. Extreme competence in all areas of execution. It's simply superior entertainment at every level, and by dint of this, every constituent of the show flows together into one mightily satisfactory whole. How else do you describe a show that can take the standard "everyone goes to the beach!" episode and manage to sneak romantic entanglements, character back-story, some plot hints and illumination of dark conspiracies in between all the swimsuits and comic misunderstandings?

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2011-06-07T07:00:00.001-07:00

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A BRIDE'S STORY
Vol. 1
(by Kaoru Mori, Yen Press, $16.99)

FROM THE BACK COVER:
"Acclaimed creator Kaoru Mori (Emma, Shirley) brings the nineteenth-century Silk Road to lavish life, chronicling the story of Amir Halgal, a young woman from a nomadic tribe betrothed to a twelve-year-old boy eight years her junior. Coping with cultural differences, blossoming feelings for her new husband, and expectations from both her adoptive and birth families, Amir strives to find her role as she settles into a new life and a new home in a society quick to define that role for her.

Virtually every character gets a little bit of the limelight in nigh-on every episode (although you may have to keep a sharp eye out for some of them), all without ever feeling crowded, rushed or forced. Juggling a cast of this size without letting any of them drop is no mean feat, yet Mai-HiME manages to make it look effortless. The ability to write episodes that seem like simple filler, while inconspicuously seeding them with important portents and subtle developments is a skill that, while not as flashy as composing bombastic explorations of the human psyche, is no less difficult or praiseworthy. The plot may only begin to kick in in episode 11, but the preceding episodes are no waste of time.

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2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

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This far into the series, there is no escaping the impatience that comes with its insistent avoidance of anything that doesn't fit into Yotsuba's foreshortened gaze. That impatience, of course, comes from the adult in us. And Yotsuba&! has a facility for making that adult immediately feel like a cad for it. Those little glimpses Yotsuba catches (or misses) of grown-up business do their part, as does the series' hilarity and beauty. Just try begrudging the series its reticence on matters teen-plus while Yotsuba is grafting herself onto Jumbo to create Mega-Yotsuba or experiencing, with startling clarity, the joys and terrors of fence-walking. The book has its weak spots—the acorn chapter is genuinely pointless—but they quiver, pale and frightened, before the joie de vivre stamped on every other page.

The show may know when to slow down and have some fun, but even while spinning pure fluff it's never standing still; even the entirely disposable cake competition serves as the basis for darker developments later on. And additionally, throughout it all—from the fan-service fluff to the creature smackdowns and hand-to-hand battles—runs a thread of pure psychological unpleasantness that lends everything a highly becoming edge. Tate and Mai continue to emotionally abuse each other and themselves; Shiho shows the first signs of an unbecoming catty streak; Miyu demonstrates the ugly flip side of her devotion to pint-size Alyssa; Shizuru begins to let slip signs that she's not nearly so simple or easy-going as she lets on; and Sister Yukariko's weakness and insecurity begin to undercut her devotion to God.

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2011-06-07T06:43:00.002-07:00

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Yotsuba&! doesn't have a plot. It never did, and likely never will. Each chapter consists of our plucky little heroine executing a task—and usually making a hash of it. The chapters are largely independent, and change occurs on a geologic pace...if at all. It's those qualities that often get Yotsuba&! lumped into the "cuteness for cuteness' sake" category. It doesn't belong there. Yotsuba&! is cute. Incredibly so, both visually (Yotsuba is not to be trifled with on that front) and behaviorally (ditto). But it isn't cute for the sake of being cute.

If that sounded a little defensive, that's because there is good reason to be. After seven volumes and nearly as many years, and as loath as its fans (myself included) may be to admit it, Yotsuba&! is starting to wear out its welcome. We know the series has bigger themes to fry than adventures in souvenir-delivering and house-sitting. Several questions have been begging to be asked for eons now: Who is Yotsuba? Why is Koiwai raising her? And why is he so darned oblivious to the opposite sex?

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2011-06-07T06:43:00.001-07:00

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Transitional volumes can be difficult, and compared to the perfectly-formed climax of the last arc, this volume is indeed a retreat in quality. Half forward march and half lingering look back, this isn't the series' most focused installment. It is, however, a fulfilling one, particularly for long-time fans looking to see where, if anywhere, Rin and Manji's relationship is going; and one that holds great promise for developments to come. The wait for which, as always, will be interminable.

This volume skirts around the edges of a couple of the questions, including a cute bit where Fuuka's classmates briefly mistake Koiwai for her guy, and brushes up against a bit of adult-ish business involving Jumbo's unfortunate crush on Asagi, but it steadfastly refuses to address anything more important than, say a cake shortage directly. It's a dance we've seen before and, frankly, after 1600 pages it should have finished, gotten married, had a few kids and retired. It is fine to deal with larger issues piecemeal in the background, but Yotsuba&! has pushed them so far back they aren't even in the background; they're off the stage altogether.

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2011-06-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

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After twenty-some odd volumes, and lord knows how many eons, most should be amply acquainted with dark horse's Blade of the Immortal releases. The impeccable image quality, the satisfying heft, the weird cut-and-paste methodology for reversing the page order. At the end of the book you'll find a glossary of terms (nice, if repetitive), another of Samura's discussions of in-manga weaponry and an "ad" for a nonexistent Blade of the Immortal gal game (freaky).

I remember reading a foreword, written by Charles Schultz for some Calvin & Hobbes collection or another. In it Schultz praised Bill Watterson's artistic splashes of water and Calvin's dinner-roll shoes. "Bill's art is fun to look at," he said, or something to that effect. "Comics are a visual art; people forget how important it is that they be fun to look at." At the time I thought it was faint praise. Not any longer. Kiyohiko Azuma's art is also fun to look at. Yotsuba's unromanticized childishness and the adeptness with which he filters the world through her eyes indicate genuine writing chops, and his skill with combining innocence and working humor is nothing short of unnatural, but the true reason Yotsuba&! functions as a graphic novel fountain of youth, despite its own advanced years? Kiyohiko Azuma's art is fun to look at.

PYLE PLworth getting VWR1982 19-Inch Widescreen TFT Roof Mount Monitor and IR Transmitter

2011-06-07T06:42:00.001-07:00

PYLE PLVWR1982 19-Inch Widescreen TFT Roof Mount Monitor and IR Transmitter

It's cinematic in a way that too few manga truly are, beautiful and complicated and real and constantly pushing at its own boundaries. He isn't an artist to strive for invisible quality; his ambition and pride show in every line, and every line is the better for it. It is nearly impossible to describe exactly how integral his artwork is to his manga—though a quick watch of Bee Train's animated version of it will tell you most of what you need to know.

He draws simple but hilariously accurate expressions, instantly likeable people with instantly visible personalities, detailed and pertinent settings, and of course nigh-on perfect sight gags. And he can take all of those fun drawings and sequence them, expanding time and space to evoke with startling accuracy feelings not felt since childhood—the fierce joy of braving a rainstorm, the new world seen from atop an adult's shoulders—as well as some never felt at all (the float episode is the closest many of us will ever get to participating in a festival).

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2011-06-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

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The variety of tones allows Samura to showcase the flexibility of his wonderfully rough-hewn art. His insanely complex line work and deceptively simple layouts masterfully handle everything from ridiculously cool sword violence to straight-faced gags to repressed romance and intense battles of political wit. His fluid pacing allows for a huge density of plot and information to unfold without feeling purposely juggled or overcrowded. This may not be the most exciting volume, but Samura's art is thrilling nonetheless.

Yen Press picked up Yotsuba&! in 2009 after ADV Manga dropped it, but were it not for the logo and the ads in back, you'd almost never know it. Sound effects are still left in situ with unobtrusive translations nearby, cultural notes are still crammed in itty bitty type between panels, and the overall package is still attractively subdued. There is the back-cover synopsis—written as if by Yotsuba—but it doesn't hurt your brain too much. Certainly not enough to pass on the series.

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2011-06-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

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The introduction of exorcists-in-training like hot-headed Suguro and insecure Kamiki is just good, solid character exposition, with both their personalities and fighting abilities put in the spotlight. A variety of character designs and strong facial expressions also help them to stand out visually. Meanwhile, there's a layer of intrigue to be found in the ominous subplot involving school director Mephisto Pheles, various schoolteachers, and the folks who actually run Hell. Is Rin really training to be an exorcist ... or just a pawn in someone's game? Whatever the answer, there's plenty of power on display during battle scenes, full of dramatic punch-in-the-face close-ups and intense linework crackling with energy (sacred, demonic, or otherwise).

Rin and Doa's interference has killed Habaki's immortality experiment deader than the heaps of corpses he built his monstrous program upon. Abandoned by the Shogunate and left cycloptic by Manji's gentle ministrations, the ex-mastermind bets his future on the success of his new Itto-ryu extermination force, the Rokki-dan. If they fail, he dies. Unfortunately for him, they haven't proven particularly effective. One team is summarily terminated by Itto-ryu lieutenant Baro, and when the rest of the force is sent to search for him, armed with a shoddy drawn likeness, they end up attacking Manji by mistake.

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2011-06-07T06:21:00.001-07:00

RCA ANT1650 Flat Digital Amplified Indoor TV Antenna

EVIDENCE FOR:
Blue Exorcist's second volume wastes no time in continuing to build the action-fantasy world that was created at the start of the series. While not as morally weighty as Volume 1, the chapters contained here are no less entertaining: we get to meet Rin's classmates, esentially forming the core of a demon-hunting team, and some new threats emerge as way for the school administration to test Rin's skills ... or maybe some other, more sinister motive.

Aside from fending off assassins, Manji and Rin are enjoying their long-belated reunion. The separation has only strengthened their ties, and Rin at least is ready to step their relationship up to the next level. Elsewhere Anotsu Kagehisa plots the Itto-ryu's next move, using Habaki's replacement, a career politician, as a stepping stone to god knows what end. And still elsewhere stone-cold psycho Shira, still in possession of Manji's severed arm, stews silently, biding his time until he can revenge himself upon his archenemy.

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2011-06-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

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BLUE EXORCIST
Vol. 2
(by Kazue Kato, Viz Media, $9.99)

FROM THE BACK COVER:
"Shocked by the death of his foster father and the revelation that his real father is the demon lord Satan, Rin Okumura enters the True Cross Academy to learn to be an exorcist. But every great exorcist has to start somewhere, and for the students of the academy the first step is the Esquire examination. To prepare for the exam, the new pages in Yukio's class must undergo intensive training. Rin and his classmates have their hands full when a demon

"A new story arc begins!" exclaims the back cover. And indeed it does, what with the introduction of the Rokki-dan and resumption of plot lines put in cold storage by the Prison arc. With the artful minimalism of the recently concluded arc now behind it, the series explodes into parallel plots. This volume is awash in new information as it catches up with all of the manga's many principals, and advances most of them a few steps towards their ultimate goals. Anotsu in particular is poised at the cusp of a new course of action that will inevitably drag all others along with him. With the Rokki-dan, Itto-ryu and even Shira grinding into action, the cogs of a large and probably destructive plot machine are definitely starting to turn.

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2011-06-07T06:20:00.001-07:00

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With over 100 new Pokémon to capture, and the best features from the previous games being included, it is hard to argue that Diamond and Pearl are the most complete Pokémon games yet. The new and included features make them almost a must have for those already fans, as well as the best games to get started on if you are new to the Pokémon world and wish to know why so many people are playing it. Go Catch Them All!

However, as befits a series that has just completed its best, and in its own way most ambitious, story arc to date, just as much time is spent parsing out the effects of the events beneath Edo Castle as looking ahead. And while doing so, Immortal gets to spotlight its gentler side. All of this volume's most satisfying moments are of a calmer, sweeter sort than the tightly controlled cage match of the last two volumes. Doa an Isaku's goodbye falls under this umbrella, and the chapter-long nighttime chat between Rin and Manji is likely the happiest you'll ever get reading dialogue bubbles. Another pair—Anotsu and Makie—gets a brief but tender exchange between political maneuvers, and elsewhere the series' usually deadpan humor is allowed to get explicitly silly. If you listen you can almost hear the series pausing to take a few highly enjoyable breaths before muscling its way forward once more.

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2011-06-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

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There is very little to be disappointed with in these two games. The Pokémon games have always worked on the "if it isn't broke" approach, and it is quite evident again with this release. I did wish that they included the feature shown in Gold and Silver which was eventually being allowed to travel and fight in the previous region, though with so much else to do, you will likely forget about it soon enough. Having been an avid Pokémon fan and player from the start until the end of the Gold and Silver era, I can safely say that the spark these games used to give me has come back.

Of course plot machinations and sweetness and light leave little opportunity for action. Violence is Immortal's bread and butter, but you can't blame Hiroaki Samura for laying off it having just spent a grueling five hundred pages on one extended battle. After all, to paraphrase someone or another, man cannot live on bread and butter alone. Sometimes he needs a little meat and sugar. Even so, Samura finds time for a thrilling opening slaughter and a graphic demonstration that, even one-armed, Manji is no one to trifle with.

Kodomo no Jikan + OVAs Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:34:00.000-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/518-kodomo-no-jikan--ovas.html

The DVD features both the original Japanese soundtrack as well as the English dub created by CPM. For the most part, much of the English dub follows well with the original script, making allowances for lip flaps. Both soundtracks share music and sound effects, giving a nice consistency between them. The original Japanese cast feels well suited for the roles, allowing for the dramatic moments needed to give this romantic comedy its credibility.

Nerdy Yomiko Readman is obsessed with books. As "Agent Paper," she works for a secret branch of the British Library, where her power to telekinetically control paper helps her on missions to retrieve rare manuscripts and protect the world from evil. But all Yomiko really wants to do is read her new book. Unfortunately it has been stolen by the I-gin, clones of historical figures who believe Yomiko's book holds the key to unlocking Beethoven's lost "Death Symphony." Anyone who hears the tune is compelled to commit suicide, and the I-gin intend to broadcast it all over the world. Only Yomiko, along with fellow superagents Drake and Miss Deep, has a chance at stopping them.

Kure-nai Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:33:00.003-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/710-kure-nai.html

The animation and artwork seem a bit dull when compared to many newer series that use newer technology to create a brighter tone. Even beyond its time, the animation is top-notch: very smooth and consistent. While tame when compared to newer series, there is a hint of fan service for the guys, as many of the female characters tease Junta.

Starring a team of superpowered secret agents who work for the, ahem...British Library, the series follows the adventures of a mousy girl named Yomiko Readman, a.k.a. "Agent Paper." With the magical power to control all things paper, Yomiko and her fellow agents protect the world from those who would use, ahem....books for evil purposes. This is grand anime camp in the Giant Robo tradition, but it falls short of living up to its full potential. The top-notch animation and music, exciting action setpieces, and likeable (but distant) characters must be weighed against a rushed and ridiculously half-baked storyline riddled with enough plotholes to make Evangelion look downright coherent.

Michiko to Hatchin Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:33:00.002-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/561-michiko-to-hatchin.html

Masakazu Katsura, the man behind Video Girl Ai, is also the creator of DNA². His familiar designs fill DNA² with a set of characters reminiscent of his earlier work. The release of DNA² comes under a lot of scrutiny thanks to a rumor of the original master tapes being destroyed in a fire. Many openly speculated that any DVD release would be poor due to no masters being available. Luckily, the rumor turned out to be just that, and the transfer to DVD is quite good. The only real problem with the transfer lies with the fact that DNA² is vintage 1994.

Read or Die's story is weak not because it is campy, but because it is not very well thought-out. Hokey elements such as the never-explained superpowers and over-the-top villains are actually a lot of fun. But characters triple-cross each other without any apparent motivation, and the crux of the plot revolves around obtaining possession of a "lost" book whose location is known to everyone and their brother.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:33:00.001-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/50-nogizaka-haruka-no-himitsu.html

DNA² Metamorphosis, featuring the first three episodes of the TV series, contains all the standard extras for a release from CPM's U.S. Manga line. Art & Sketch galleries and a set of previews fit the bill of standard features, while a small "What is DNA?" presentation and a Mega-Playboy quiz go that extra mile for viewer's attention. CPM also includes a set of DVD-ROM features accessible via a computer with a DVD drive. These include another art and sketch gallery as well as scripts and cast and production crew credits.

The double agent planted in the Library's team has multiple chances to swipe the book, yet actively helps the heroes retrieve it from another one of the bad guys working for the same man. Beethoven's "Death Symphony" contained in the tome's pages is a nifty idea, but if the archvillain has a clone of Beethoven himself why does he need the book in the first place? And how many lapses in storytelling can really be explained away by saying, "oh, that was just a clone!"? Once you start asking questions, there's no end to them.

Asura Cryin' 2 Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:33:00.000-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/1211-asura-cryin-2.html

From the creator of Video Girl Ai comes DNA², at first glance, a standard romantic comedy with a slightly sci-fi related setting. Featuring many of the typical elements of an anime romantic comedy, DNA² proves to be a light-hearted romp with a healthy mix of comedy to keep things fresh. While definitely not covering any new ground, the series has many elements that are sure to please its audience.

The swiss-cheese storyline might have been easier to overlook had there been time to flesh out the characters a bit more. Yomiko, along with weapons expert Drake and the unfortunately named Miss Deep, are an entertaining trio with some really cool talents. Deep's ability to move through solid objects is a power that lends itself well to animation, and the creators dream up some exhilarating action sequences that showcase her skill. Yomiko's unusual powers are also excitingly realized as reams of scrap paper become lethal weapons.

Koi Koi 7 Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:15:00.003-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/1730-koi-koi-7.html

Tenjho Tenge's punchy, hip-hop-dancing opening sequence (storyboarded by anime legend Rintaro) is so good that it makes everything else after it a disappointment. Which isn't to say that the show is animated poorly—in fact, it's very respectable for a TV series—but the opening just blows everything else away. Studio Madhouse maintains their high standards with vivid colors, strong contrasts and sharp linework, and the fight sequences through the first couple of episodes practically jump off the screen with intense hits and lots of blood.

Those descendants also followed their father's path, simply adding to the overpopulation problem. To save the future, DNA Operator Karin Aoi is sent back to the past to inject the boy who would become the Mega Playboy. There's only one small problem: Junta, destined to become the Mega Playboy, has a slight problem when it comes to girls. Ah, well, a working girl has to do what she can to ensure her future. Of course, now it seems that the Mega Playboy has appeared after all, and it's up to Karin to stop him… while she's not falling in love with him!

Tayutama -Kiss on my Deity- Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:15:00.002-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/762-tayutama-kiss-on-my-deity-.html

From that point on, there's the usual drop in animation quality, but the action still looks better than the average fighting anime. With visual techniques like blurring and camera jitter, Tenjho Tenge's fight scenes are definitely more than just some guys floating in front of speedlines. The character designs, despite being standard anime archetypes, are still distinct from each other—there's no mistaking Souichiro's Dragon Ball hair, Bob's tall frame, or Maya's full-length pigtails.

Though the final five minutes alone are enough to excuse sitting through the occasionally confused forty-five that precede them, the insight it provides amidst all of the recapping is really better suited to an on-disc extra than an individual release. No matter how enjoyable it is to see Kira shine, Durandel doubt himself, and Shinn—the detestable little cretin—crawl, it still doesn't change the fact that this is a patch job.

Kanon 2006 Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:15:00.001-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/43-kanon-2006.html

The unremarkable soundtrack is Tenjho Tenge's biggest weakness: although the fight scenes are driven by strong, hard-hitting orchestral music, one mood does not make an entire soundtrack. Conversation scenes are supported by insipid, throwaway melodies, and the only low-key scene where the music works is Souichiro's flashback. On the other hand, the opening song is as fun as the opening animation itself—a hook like "Bomb! Bomb! Bomb A Head!" is just too catchy to forget.

The usual clean closing animation is important this time around since the credit scroll obscures part of the final scene, but otherwise the extras on this disc—clean opening, plates—are disposable.

ef - a tale of melodies. Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:15:00.000-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/119-ef-a-tale-of-melodies.html

An anime with extreme fighting action calls for high-spirited voice acting, and the staff at Bang Zoom! makes a strong effort to capture that passion in the English dub. Although most everyone delivers their lines with conviction, some of the voices just don't suit their characters. In particular, Maya and Aya (voiced by Wendee Lee and Tiffany Hsieh) sound too self-conscious and fail to bring out the special aspects of their personalities—Maya's inner wisdom and Aya's force of will.

Hill is passable when agitated, but is unable to project the calm confidence required by the new and improved Kira, derailing all of the scenes where his performance isn't swamped by battlefield violence. As Kira's assumption of his role as leader and protector is probably Final Plus's highlight, his weak performance has a very serious adverse effect.

The Law of Ueki Episode 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-06-03T01:14:00.000-07:00

http://minitheatre.org/x264-completed/870-the-law-of-ueki.html

Anyone who thinks that Tenjho Tenge has a profound, life-changing story to tell, or a groundbreaking new approach to animation, will be sadly disappointed. But if they're looking for a good example of the schoolyard fight-and-fanservice genre, then this is the series to pick up. With Studio Madhouse at the top of their game and intense fight scenes that don't buckle under the weight of fanservice, this is a show that manages to entertain without being overtly offensive or stupid. Just don't worry about story or depth for a while, and let the battle begin.

Given the popularity of the franchise, Bandai's dub for the series is a disappointment. It has its strengths—it's immensely faithful—and some of the performances, particularly Mark Oliver's brief reprise of his role as Rau le Creuset and Samuel Vincent's more mature Athrun, are quite strong, but the work as a whole is brought down by Matt Hill's performance as Kira, along with a general softness in the cast as a whole.