Anime Reviews (50)
Arguably one of the most popular manga and anime series currently out right now, Attack on Titan seems to have captured the world by storm. Featuring a deep story, engaging characters, towering giants, hack-and-slash action, teen drama and a lot of blood and gore, Attack on Titan is a series that features something for everyone. Available now, FUNimation has brought the popular series home, not only having it aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami, but also on Blu-ray and DVD pack as Part One (episodes 1-13).
Ever wonder what would happen if you were to give an undead zombie magical girl powers? Then wonder no more. Serving as the whimsical premise behind FUNimation's and Studio Deen's 2011 supernatural series, Kore wa Zombie Desu Ka? (lit. Is this a Zombie?), the anime tells the tale of a zombie high school student, by the name of Ayumu Aikawa, whom suddenly finds himself in the midst of unusual circumstances after he is mysterious murdered by a serial killer. He is revived by the deadpan necromancer Eucliwood Hellscythe who moves in with him which is followed by a series of happenstances that threaten to interrupt Ayumu's "normal" life.
Originally aired on the famed Noitamina timeslot, Guilty Crown was easily considered to be one of the most hyped anime series in the Fall 2011 season. An action/adventure series set in a dystopian future, the technology in the world has advanced to a state where there are hand held computers and mechas, but there are still a plethora of issues. Years earlier a strain of virus called the Apocalypse Virus devastated much of the population. The government was able to step in and clean up the situation. All would seem well if it weren’t for the fact that there are obvious cases of military brutality against innocent people. Enter Shu Ouma, our young hero of the story. After meeting Inori and gaining use of the mysterious “King’s Power,” Shu holds the fate of the world in his hands.
For fans of the Twilight Saga, Mamoru Hosoda's exploration into the world of lycanthropy in Wolf Children may be the movie to grant your wish of seeing what would have happened if Bella ended up with Jacob. After all, the entire synopsis revolves around a college student named Hana who meets a tall, dark and mysterious classmate named Ookami whose rough exterior hides his true identity- that he's the last descendant of the Japanese werewolf. However, to start comparing Hosada's latest work with the aforementioned title would be doing a vast injustice to the brilliance of the award-winning 2012 Japanese animated film. After all, lying beyond its first fifteen minutes is a tender and heart-warming story about the sacrifices mothers make for their children and watching them grow up in an imperfect world.
Pandora Hearts is an anime set in an alternate European world and is a series that spans nearly a century of history. The anime's premise centers itself around a horrific event appropriately named the Tragedy of Sabrie and the handful of characters who are supposedly involved. Enter Oz Vessalius, an heir to one of the four great dukedoms, who has just turned 15. His life so far has been rather normal for a noble of his status as he has had the privilege of living in a posh mansion, being attended to by his loyal servants, and being free from most worries. However, on his "coming of age" day, everything takes a turn for the worst. Enigmatic personas in robes deem him guilty of a "hidden sin" and choose to cast him into an alternate dimension simply known as the Abyss. Upon his arrival to this dark prison, Oz is immediately attacked by Chains, monstrous creatures who inhabit the Abyss. Just before he is devoured by one, a Chain known as Alice comes to his rescue. Who is this Alice, why was Oz cast into the Abyss, and what other trials await him?
Based on the series Otome Yōkai Zakuro by mangaka Lily Hoshino, Zakuro is a romance revolving around the struggles of spirits living in a world where they were once revered and respected. NIS America announced their acquisition of the series in March of 2012 and released their premium edition package in June 2012.
Taking an interesting look at the ups and downs of parenthood, Bunny Drop (Usagi Drop) was originally a manga series created by Yumi Unita. While the series does not contain magical girls or giant robots, its popularity spawned a live action film and anime adaptation in 2011. Categorized as a josei series, one that targets an older female audience, Bunny Drop is a series that can be enjoyed by all.
Heaven's Lost Property: the Angeloid of Clockwork (Blu-ray/DVD) Review
Written by Jason Young
Those who know me know that I hold the series Heaven's Lost Property (Sora no Otoshimono) in high regard -- it's one of my favorite series that's come out within the past few years. With its often perfect blend of ecchi comedy, sci-fi action, and mystery along with a sprinkling of melodrama, it's the type of series where you can check your brain at the door and simply enjoy it for what it is. So when I heard that there was a movie, Heaven's Lost Property: the Angeloid of Clockwork coming out on DVD/Blu-ray from FUNimation, there were plenty of reasons for me to get excited. After watching the film, I can say that it's a great microcosm of what makes the series great, but occasionally frustrating at the same time.
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day, or Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai, is an anime produced by A-1 Pictures which aired on Noitamina in April 2011. A movie that recaps the series and shows content from the sequel will premier in 2013 during the summer.
Considering my lukewarm reception of Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker, I worked to keep an open mind for Mass Effect: Paragon Lost. When Jack Wall and Sam Hulick inspired music kicked in over images of nebulas during the intro, I felt a flutter of hope. However, as James Vega, voiced by Freddie Prince Jr., began rambling broadly about making tough decisions in words more suited for Blasto the Hanar Specter, the flutter was quashed, and I settled in for what was going to be a long ride. This movie contains spoilers for all three games, and it would be impossible to write a review without mentioning a few of them. Unlike most of T-Ono's reviews, if you don't want anything spoiled, I'd recommend leaving at this point. For everyone else, let's see what calibrations could have been made to Mass Effect: Paragon Lost.
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After a year since the main series ended, the Tiger and Bunny movie makes its way to the US and thankfully was not simply a visual upgrade. While the movie mirrors the first two episodes, with slight alterations, the rest skipped over the mid-season arcs. The good news is that you get new material for the most part, but the bad news is that, given the movies condensed format, we did not get any expanded material on the other heroes. Kotetsu (Tiger) and Barnaby (Bunny) take center stage in the same manner as the TV series. Kotetsu, the middle aged single father, carries most of the load and is the same blue collar hero that he was in the series. Barnaby, the young hot shot ladies man, remains fixated on the criminal syndicate/secret society, Ouroboros and is as smug as ever.
From the creative minds behind Last Exile comes a new animation centered around the struggles of citizens of a futuristic Japan that is slowly being engulfed by an out of control forest. Shangri-La was released by FUNimation Entertainment on August 21, 2012 as a two part limited edition set. The series was previously simulcasted on streaming sites such as Crunchyroll. Director Makoto Bessho, writer Hiroshi Omogi, and character designer Range Murata all contributed to this sci-fi animation.
Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror (BD/DVD) Review
Written by Jason Young
At first glance, Production I.G.'s first 3D production, Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, is easy to dismiss as a wannabe Studio Ghibli film that tries to be the next Spirited Away and Laputa. Using an almost paint-by-numbers approach to family films, all of your basic ingredients are present including a spunky teenage female lead named Haruka, cute dancing critters, and fantastical hullabaloo that might have some anime and cinema fans rejecting it right out of the box. However, to do so would discredit what makes Japanese storytelling so great: somewhere in the midst of the film's exotic setting, predictable plot, and dancing dolls is a film filled with a lot of heart.
When I first heard of Oreimo, I thought to myself, "yet another series that I must keep from watching in front of family and friends because it's borderline super ecchi (sexually suggestive)." [Editor's note: Aniplex licensed the series as Oreimo, a shortened version of the original Japanese: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai, which translates to, My Little Sister Can't Possibly Be This Cute.] I was surprised to discover that the title was misleading, and the series has deeper themes like: acceptance, understanding, family bonds, and of course love for anime, manga, doujinshi (fan-made comics), and eroge (adult computer games).