Monday, November 25, 2013
Thanksgiving
This Thursday will be Thanksgiving! I'll be spending the holiday and weekend with my family, and won't be posting anything. For those who celebrate, HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I'll resume review posting the following Thursday.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Sword Art Online
Genre: Fantasy/SciFi/Action/Adventure
Age Appropriate: Preteens
Emotional Response: heart warming and heart breaking
Notable Features: swords, video games, love, evil scientists
Language: Japanese
Length: 2 season, 25 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Top 10 (Fine, Top 5, but don't tell my cousin)
"Kirito-kun will save me" - Asuna
In a time far, far from now (not that far), in a land far, far away (not that far either), a VRMMORPG comes online with 10,000 new players. These players are a mix of beta testers and new players, trying out Sword Art Online. The game is set up to use NeverGear equipment that intercepts brainwaves and makes it a full-dive gaming experience. Something is wrong, though. While there seemed to be no weird occurrences in the beta test, the real game has a terrible problem. There is no log-out function! The game's creator reveals his dastardly plan to use the game as a new world. The only way to release the players is for someone to finally beat the 100 level game, but climbing the tower and defeat the bosses. The even more terrible catch: because the game is linked to all players via their brains, anyone who dies in the game will die in real life.
The protagonist is Kazuto, but his game handle is Kirito. Kirito is a beta tester who commits himself to surviving, and winning the game. The world develops into a real world out of the real world. Guilds are built, teams made, and battles won and lost. Kirito chooses deliberately to be a solo player, especially after tragedy strikes in his first guild foray. Through his grueling journey to beat the game, he meets people and makes important, life altering friendships. The series follows Kirito's journey and relationships as he carries on his mission to survive.
-----
My little cousin is probably going to make me eat my words. I'd been avoiding this, solely because I didn't think I would be in the mood. I think I got back into the adventure mood after finally finishing Legend of Legendary Heroes. This, by far, surpassed LOLH. Frankly, it surpassed a lot of anime series I've seen. I watched all 25 episodes in less than 48 hours, and I loved every minute. I will recommend it to everyone.
This is one of the few series that I've watched and nearly had me in tears. It's rare for me to get the sniffles at anything, and there were just a few episodes where I admit I teared up. The emotional investment was huge. It might take a little recovery, but I will watch this again. And possibly again. I'm floored by my feelings at the moment. There were some parts that were unsatisfying, but I'm pretty sure they were supposed to be. I mean, not every story is supposed to be exactly the way you want it to be, right? I'm glad for some of the more traditional elements, though. I might replace Tears to Tiara with this, with the sole exception of the fact that TtT was much funnier. That's not to say this didn't have funny moments, but they weren't a focus.
Seriously, unless you have some unknown hatred for Adventure/Fantasy/SciFi, you will not regret watching this.
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Dumbfounded: Freezing
Age Appropriate: Preteens
Emotional Response: heart warming and heart breaking
Notable Features: swords, video games, love, evil scientists
Language: Japanese
Length: 2 season, 25 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Top 10 (Fine, Top 5, but don't tell my cousin)
"Kirito-kun will save me" - Asuna
The protagonist is Kazuto, but his game handle is Kirito. Kirito is a beta tester who commits himself to surviving, and winning the game. The world develops into a real world out of the real world. Guilds are built, teams made, and battles won and lost. Kirito chooses deliberately to be a solo player, especially after tragedy strikes in his first guild foray. Through his grueling journey to beat the game, he meets people and makes important, life altering friendships. The series follows Kirito's journey and relationships as he carries on his mission to survive.
-----
My little cousin is probably going to make me eat my words. I'd been avoiding this, solely because I didn't think I would be in the mood. I think I got back into the adventure mood after finally finishing Legend of Legendary Heroes. This, by far, surpassed LOLH. Frankly, it surpassed a lot of anime series I've seen. I watched all 25 episodes in less than 48 hours, and I loved every minute. I will recommend it to everyone.
This is one of the few series that I've watched and nearly had me in tears. It's rare for me to get the sniffles at anything, and there were just a few episodes where I admit I teared up. The emotional investment was huge. It might take a little recovery, but I will watch this again. And possibly again. I'm floored by my feelings at the moment. There were some parts that were unsatisfying, but I'm pretty sure they were supposed to be. I mean, not every story is supposed to be exactly the way you want it to be, right? I'm glad for some of the more traditional elements, though. I might replace Tears to Tiara with this, with the sole exception of the fact that TtT was much funnier. That's not to say this didn't have funny moments, but they weren't a focus.
Seriously, unless you have some unknown hatred for Adventure/Fantasy/SciFi, you will not regret watching this.
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Dumbfounded: Freezing
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Makai Ouji: Devils and Realist
Genre: Fantasy
Age Appropriate: Teens
Emotional Response: potential?
Notable Features: demons, angels, high school
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Not so much
"Atoms. They're all made of atoms." - William
William Twining is a young student from an affluent family at an English boarding school. He's called home over break only to find that his family fortune is gone, his servants dismissed and no money for tuition. The only person left behind is his houseman, Kevin. Somehow, the debts caused by his uncle managed to leave behind the house, but virtually nothing in it. While searching through the rooms of the old manor, William stumbles into a strange storeroom with a large symbol painted on the floor. After a small fall, and a small cut, this symbol activates and a strange man appears in the middle. He introduces himself as Dantalion, Grand Duke of Hell, and attempts to explain his presence.
There is one catch, however. William is an extremely intelligent realist who doesn't believe in anything not clearly proven by science. Thus, demons cannot exist and this mysterious man must be crazy. So begins the story of William Twining, the Elector of Hell. William apparently has a special bloodline that has put him in the position of the Elector of Hell - he who can elect the next ruler should Lucifer not wake up from his current long term nap. Because of this status, demons are attracted to William, primarily as a tool to become the next ruler of hell. There are a few demons he becomes closer to, and those relationships effect everything about the story. The question becomes: Will William ever make a decision, if he even lives that long?
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This series was full of potential. I think it suffered from only having 12 episodes, as the development of characters and plot could've been much stronger. I'm not sure if the manga just isn't finished, or if the story is just cut that short. I've always been attracted to occult type stuff (shocking, I know), and I was really excited about the potential in the series. Unfortunately, I was left unsatisfied. I thought the relationship between Dantalion and William could've had more to it, or maybe some yay-friendship additions between the high school demons. The addition of the angels also had some serious potential as conflict building, but it just didn't last long enough for me to feel strongly when it ended. I'm all for occasional cliffhangers, but this is clearly just the end without resolution. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It's not bad, and I crushed on them a little. I just wish there was more time devoted to real stories - e.g. Why did we need to hear about Jeanne and Gilles? Useless. I guess, I would recommend it to other people interested in trying anything demon-y, but otherwise, not so much. I really hope there ends up being some sort of sequel that will fix this feeling of something missing.
-----
Blaaaaah: Sword Art Online
Age Appropriate: Teens
Emotional Response: potential?
Notable Features: demons, angels, high school
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Not so much
"Atoms. They're all made of atoms." - William
William Twining is a young student from an affluent family at an English boarding school. He's called home over break only to find that his family fortune is gone, his servants dismissed and no money for tuition. The only person left behind is his houseman, Kevin. Somehow, the debts caused by his uncle managed to leave behind the house, but virtually nothing in it. While searching through the rooms of the old manor, William stumbles into a strange storeroom with a large symbol painted on the floor. After a small fall, and a small cut, this symbol activates and a strange man appears in the middle. He introduces himself as Dantalion, Grand Duke of Hell, and attempts to explain his presence.
There is one catch, however. William is an extremely intelligent realist who doesn't believe in anything not clearly proven by science. Thus, demons cannot exist and this mysterious man must be crazy. So begins the story of William Twining, the Elector of Hell. William apparently has a special bloodline that has put him in the position of the Elector of Hell - he who can elect the next ruler should Lucifer not wake up from his current long term nap. Because of this status, demons are attracted to William, primarily as a tool to become the next ruler of hell. There are a few demons he becomes closer to, and those relationships effect everything about the story. The question becomes: Will William ever make a decision, if he even lives that long?-----
This series was full of potential. I think it suffered from only having 12 episodes, as the development of characters and plot could've been much stronger. I'm not sure if the manga just isn't finished, or if the story is just cut that short. I've always been attracted to occult type stuff (shocking, I know), and I was really excited about the potential in the series. Unfortunately, I was left unsatisfied. I thought the relationship between Dantalion and William could've had more to it, or maybe some yay-friendship additions between the high school demons. The addition of the angels also had some serious potential as conflict building, but it just didn't last long enough for me to feel strongly when it ended. I'm all for occasional cliffhangers, but this is clearly just the end without resolution. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. It's not bad, and I crushed on them a little. I just wish there was more time devoted to real stories - e.g. Why did we need to hear about Jeanne and Gilles? Useless. I guess, I would recommend it to other people interested in trying anything demon-y, but otherwise, not so much. I really hope there ends up being some sort of sequel that will fix this feeling of something missing.
-----
Blaaaaah: Sword Art Online
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Free!
Genre: Sports
Age Appropriate: Preteens
Emotional Response: Giggles, annoyance
Notable Features: swimmers, hot guys
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Good
"I only swim free." - Haruka
It's all about swimming with Free!. Four friends in their younger years swam together in a relay, and this is the basis for much of the underlying story. Now that they're in high school, the four friends have turned into three. Haruka is a water-obsessed swimmer with unknown depths. He quit swim club after a fall out with the missing fourth friend. Makoto is the strong silent type. He's calm, and one of the few people who can actually get through Haruka's barriers. Nagisa is overly optimistic with everything and can coax smiles out of everyone. In a desperate attempt to restart the swim team, and new fourth enters the story. Rei, previously a runner, joins the team after seeing Haruka swim. He's obsessed with beauty, form and theory. This is both a good thing, and a bad thing, while they teach him the ropes of swim club.
The whole underlying story, however, is about the relationship between the boys and their mysterious old friend, Rin.
Rin was the fourth in their childhood relay. They seemed to be great friends, until he decides to move to Australia in an effort to be an Olympic star. His sudden move, and some occurrence between Haruka and him, creates some sort of cold conflict between the two. It's obvious that this isn't the way that Haruka want their relationship to be, and it affects everyone around them. The series is as much about their sports prowess and achievement as it is the strength of the interpersonal relationships.
-----
Free! was a nice series. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible. I highly recommend it if you're looking for hot, sexy swimmers. Oddly, I really enjoyed the end theme, despite it being a bit weird. I suppose it might have been less weird if they translated it, but I really don't think so. I just liked the club scene.
The story is pretty good. In general, it reminds me of You and Me, in the whole boys-are-friends way. Actually, it's very like that only with swimming as the main focus. There is a little bit of conflict involved with Free!, though. I don't think I like how it ends for Rei, but any other way wouldn't have made as good a story. I don't really need any more of it, though. It was nice while it lasted, and I'm glad it's over. I suppose there is room for a second season, but I haven't heard anything about one. I'd watch it, but I wouldn't bite my nails waiting for it. The series was good. That's really about it.
-----
Heh: Makai Ouji
Age Appropriate: Preteens
Emotional Response: Giggles, annoyance
Notable Features: swimmers, hot guys
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Good
"I only swim free." - Haruka
It's all about swimming with Free!. Four friends in their younger years swam together in a relay, and this is the basis for much of the underlying story. Now that they're in high school, the four friends have turned into three. Haruka is a water-obsessed swimmer with unknown depths. He quit swim club after a fall out with the missing fourth friend. Makoto is the strong silent type. He's calm, and one of the few people who can actually get through Haruka's barriers. Nagisa is overly optimistic with everything and can coax smiles out of everyone. In a desperate attempt to restart the swim team, and new fourth enters the story. Rei, previously a runner, joins the team after seeing Haruka swim. He's obsessed with beauty, form and theory. This is both a good thing, and a bad thing, while they teach him the ropes of swim club.
The whole underlying story, however, is about the relationship between the boys and their mysterious old friend, Rin.Rin was the fourth in their childhood relay. They seemed to be great friends, until he decides to move to Australia in an effort to be an Olympic star. His sudden move, and some occurrence between Haruka and him, creates some sort of cold conflict between the two. It's obvious that this isn't the way that Haruka want their relationship to be, and it affects everyone around them. The series is as much about their sports prowess and achievement as it is the strength of the interpersonal relationships.
-----
Free! was a nice series. Nothing amazing, nothing terrible. I highly recommend it if you're looking for hot, sexy swimmers. Oddly, I really enjoyed the end theme, despite it being a bit weird. I suppose it might have been less weird if they translated it, but I really don't think so. I just liked the club scene.
The story is pretty good. In general, it reminds me of You and Me, in the whole boys-are-friends way. Actually, it's very like that only with swimming as the main focus. There is a little bit of conflict involved with Free!, though. I don't think I like how it ends for Rei, but any other way wouldn't have made as good a story. I don't really need any more of it, though. It was nice while it lasted, and I'm glad it's over. I suppose there is room for a second season, but I haven't heard anything about one. I'd watch it, but I wouldn't bite my nails waiting for it. The series was good. That's really about it.
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Heh: Makai Ouji
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