Diabolik Lovers

Genre: Horror 
Age Appropriate: Older Teens+
Emotional Response: confused fascination? 
Notable Features: vampires, reverse harem, evil
Language: Japanese
Length: 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Pretty good (kinda)

"I wanted to punish you." - Kanato

Diabolik Lovers follow a young lady who has somehow been misled into a mansion full of vampires. Her understanding and reality are very far apart. Despite the varied levels of attractiveness and fascination with each of the male characters, each has one thing in common. These are not the nice vampires that are popular today. Yui spends some part of each episode attempting to learn each of the vampire brothers but it seems as though all of her efforts end in futility. Each of the vampires also have something specific to their personalities outside of their clearly different appearance. They all seems to have some sort of horrific personality twist that is often seen in reverse harem anime, but twisted in some way. The series works through Yui's attempted, scary relationships with each and discovering where she really fits into the scheme of things.

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I have no idea how I feel about this anime. On the one hand, I generally like reverse harem anime. On top of that, I've been a vampire freak for most of my life. One would think that between the anime geekiness, vampire geekiness and reverse harem geekiness, this would be perfect for me and yet I'm left somewhat confused and unsatisfied. It completely reminds me of Amnesia, in that way. Actually, it reminds me of Amnesia in a lot of ways. Both of them seem to have this quiet horrifying experience wrapped up in them, but also a weird fascinating quality that makes me want to finish them regardless. I think that's why I don't know what to feel here. I couldn't decide if I to kill them all, or hope they ended better than they began.

Of course, that also puts me in a conflicted position about how to rate this anime. I've put down "pretty good" because that's true. Whatever else I might be feeling, I have to admit that I certainly feel something, and that is usually a good mark of an effective story. So, it was certainly well done. I just don't know how to recommend this to someone. I guess, if you're into that kinda thing, this is a pretty good series. I know that I'm certainly interested. I also still retain my vampiric enjoyment (especially since none of these guys sparkle, ew). So, yeah I would recommend it - just to very specific people.

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What just happened?: So, I Can't Play H?

Freezing

Genre: Drama/SciFi
Age Appropriate: Adult
Emotional Response: sad and confused
Notable Features: pandoras, limiters, evil monsters, high nudity
Language: English
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes (plus extras)
Overall Recommendation: not for me

"I would be honored if you would come to my room tonight." - Satellizer

There are Pandoras and their limiters in the world of Freezing. Pandoras are genetically modified girls with "sacreds" implanted in them. These give them powers and weapons to battle Novas, energy pumped beings that are terrorizing the world. The Limiters are the Pandoras' counterparts who "freeze" the surrounding battle areas during Nova fights. This is meant to diffuse some of the power and give the girls a change to bring down the Novas. This is the background that brings together the main characters of the series.

Kazuya is a young boy who has transferred into Genetic West academy. He is attempting to follow in his sister's footsteps, who was a super powerful Pandora. Unfortunately, she died in a battle against a powerful Nova, and it seems now Kazuya is intent on following her path somehow. He chooses the academy specifically because it was the school she attended before joining the fight.

At this school, he literally runs into Satellizer, known as the Untouchable Queen. She was the first ranked second year student, until his bumbling interrupted a ranking battle. She has a terrible reputation as a troublemaker because of her standoffish attitude, but somehow Kazyua manages to squeak past her personal barriers. His determination leads him to choose her as his Pandora, despite the personal issues she has with cementing her bond, and the series explores how that works out. However, the main focuses turns quickly to the Nova battle at hand, and there are some serious twists to find.

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This series reminded me of Master of Martial Hearts. It's all battling, and girl bitchy attitudes, and boobs. Lots and Lots of boob. With every battle, at least one per fighter strips the other of her clothing. Actually, it's very much like Master of Martial Hearts - instead of battling girls for a fake wishing jewel, everyone is training to fight mysterious alien robot things. I don't mind nudity, generally at all, but I appreciate it in comedic scenes, or even incidental nudity - this just irritated me after awhile.

I hated the first episode, but I realize only because I was looking for something else at the time. When I started it again, I wasn't that disappointed actually. There are a lot of anime series that have random nudity, so I wasn't bothered by it much, but I eventually hated how much and in what circumstances the nudity occurred. Freezing may not be as much of a mind screw as MOMH ended up being, but I hated it. It was well done, I suppose, because I have some strong feelings about it. I can even think of a few friends who would appreciate it more (even aside from the nudity), but I wanted more out of it. Maybe a sprinkling of comedy, or better emotional relationship development, maybe some actual friendship...I don't know. This was definitely not for me.

Re: extras - Wow. Loads more inappropriate than the series itself. Just wow.

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Servant x Service

Genre: Comedy
Age Appropriate: Teens
Emotional Response: 
Notable Features: civil servants, work relationships
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Okay

"My name is Lucy Kimiko Akie Airi..." Lucy.... Yamagami

Servant x Service is a simple work-place anime. It follows a small group of three new additions to the welfare office of the city. They each have different positions, but only in minor ways. Lucy (who has the world's longest name after the Lucy part) is awkward, shy and obsessed with her goal of revenge against a different worker from when she was born. Hasebe is a slacker/ladies man, who has somehow managed to fall in love with Lucy. Miyoshi is a recent college grad who is soft spoken, and a huge pushover when it comes to clients who talk to long. Added to this mix are a supervisor who is too shy to make a different, a cosplay obsessed woman with strange attitudes, a high school student, and a boss that leaves so much room for what-the-hell-is-going-on. There are no strong plots, but mostly just a series of encounters in a comedic view of civil service offices.

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There isn't anything particularly special about Servant x Service. It's not bad or anything, but I probably wouldn't recommend it. I've enjoyed catching up on episodes as they were released, as a way to pass the time. I've been watching some other series that I enjoy more, but this is fine. The characters are a bit charming in their own little ways, but the main boss guy is my favorite. If you decide to give it a chance, you'll see why. I wouldn't stop anyone who wanted to give it a try, but it might be a waste of your time unless that's what you really want at the moment. At least the last episode was pretty cute!

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Right: Free!

Air

Genre: Drama
Age Appropriate: Any Age
Emotional Response: Depressing
Notable Features: Dreams, mental health issues, dancing puppet
Language: English
Length: 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Nope

"I had another dream last night." - Misuzu

Air begins with a young, vagrant man looking for food and attempting to use his puppet show to earn some money. Mostly, he's rejected because his show just isn't that exciting. After wandering some, he takes a quick nap on the rock wall of a beach, and wakes up to a strange girl standing in the breeze. Her presence triggers a memory from his mother, and he ends up following her  as the story of the series.

Misuzu takes Yukito home with her, with a promise of food, and ends up keeping him around - despite his arguments that she shouldn't trust random strangers. He ends up staying with her, and her aunt, in t he shed and finds a job in their small town, helping around the office at the local clinic. The story is somewhat split up by two episode mini-dramas, each following a different character. While Yukito participates in each story, for the most part the people in town don't seem to have much of a personal connection with each other. In the end, each mini-drama adds a small piece to the end result.

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I really enjoyed the theme music for this series. It was pretty, and often triggered an emotional response. Unfortunately, that was pretty much the only thing I liked about the series. I can't say it wasn't well done, in some respects, but it was so slow. I think I liked episode 8. I've been through plenty of stories that are sad, melancholy, depressing...etc, but there is always a little something here or there to help me through the pain.

I don't expect, or want, happy endings and cheery stories every time I watch a new series, but I also don't want to force myself to watch something because there is no relief from the oppressive sadness. I've had Air on my list to watch for weeks, and it kept getting pushed aside for something more bearable. The writing was fine, the music was nice, the art was normal, but I just couldn't handle it in any constructive way. I'd be willing for someone to disagree with me, I suppose, and I won't argue that it's "bad," as much as not worth the effort. I just don't think it should've taken me over three weeks to force myself to finish. The final episode did strike a chord with me, but I would've survived without seeing this. Not recommended.

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Um: Uta No Prince Sama

We Without Wings

Genre: Comedy/Drama
Age Appropriate: Adult
Emotional Response: So. Confused.
Notable Features: Fan Service, MPD, alternate universes - maybe, kinda
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Pretty Good

"May peace prevail in the world" - A number of male characters

We Without Wings has an extensive cast that seems to go through a complicated "normal" life, with little romances and day-to-day happenings. The complications all seem to surround four young men, all who seem to have a very cool demeanor - except for the one dorky/pervy, yet decent, guy. There is an extra wildly inappropriate bartender, and a bevy of busty girls in the bar - who all get eyebrow-wiggling attention. There are also a number of younger ladies who follow one of the guys around with starry-eyes love in their eyes. At the bottom of the totem pole is an adorable young girl, Alice, who seems to have little ability with the Japanese language, and can't seem to keep herself from trying to make one of the guys from sounding like a pervert - though, in reality, he's not.

Aside from the funny interpersonal relationships, there is a secret story hidden behind everything. There are two little gangs running around beating their chests at each other. Everything changes when one of the peons brings a gun to a fist fight. Then, there may be another universe for some of the characters, but it's fairly unclear in the beginning if it's real, or an internal fantasy. Then again, it seems to maybe include more than just one character. The series quickly turns into a maze of questions to be unraveled.

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We Without Wings started out hilarious. I don't know how many times I ended up laughing out loud (literally). I was almost in tears within the first episode. Then, it got kinda weird. Probably because of the description, I expected something a little more "normal." It was anything but normal. I didn't really get let in on the big secret until episode 7. I guess that's pretty normal timing for a short series, but I was brain-hurting confused by then. This wasn't weird/creepy like Amnesia, just head spinning. Obviously, I eventually figured out what was going on. I'm glad that I wasn't going insane, but it was a little bit depressing when you figure out the answers.

Generally, I think the fact that I cared was a pretty good indicator that the creators did a good job. There were some good funny bits thrown in with the confusion - probably saving my mind and motivating me to keep with it. There was also a LOT of girl shots. Everything was creatively blocked by censorship tape, or steam, but it was definitely adult in nature. I wouldn't let any kiddies watch this one, and I certainly wouldn't watch it with my parents. I made the "Adult" part green because it's not messed up like Rin or Elfen Lied, it's just sexual. I think Girls Bravo could be sort of considered worse because it was uncensored nudity, but it was so incidental in nature that it wasn't a big deal. This was not incidental at all. Either way you look at it, definitely not for youngsters. Overall, I though it was pretty good. I would probably recommend it to people, but carefully considering the relationship I have with that person.
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Fly Away: Listen to me girls. I'm your father. (At least, that's what I found it named as...)

Amnesia

Genre: Romance (kinda?)
Age Appropriate: Teen
Emotional Response: total confusion
Notable Features: amnesia, repeating days, hot guys
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: WTF?

"Don't trust him!" - Orion

A young lady has lost her memory, and begins a strange journey toward recovering it. She has an apprentice fairy friend, Orion, who seems committed to helping her find her lost self, but it becomes more complicated at the series goes on. She re-meets her friends, re-learns her job and finds herself trying to hide what's missing. It gets her in trouble with the person who is supposedly her boyfriend, and she can't figure out what's missing, again.

She fell and lost her memories from after she lost her memories, which happened right before she lost her memories - again - and behind it all is a strange, probably evil, man with green hair who messed with her by appearing and disappearing every time she tries to have a meaningful conversation with him, maybe. It's a upside down world and the path to getting out makes it worse rather than making it better, maybe. Her strange journey takes her through different worlds, sorta, and she changes love interests per world, kinda, and in the end it theoretically makes sense.

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I picked out this series, because at the time I was looking for something with hot guys. This looked kinda good, but I decided to wait a little bit because it was being simulcast. You can't really finish up a series for review if it's not actually done being aired, right?

It wasn't anything at all like I expected. I guess, I was expecting something a little more comedic, and a lot less creepy. It almost has the same quiet tone as "Say 'I love you,'" but there is a sinister aftertaste that is nowhere near related to anything else I've seen. I've seen creepy zombies and dark vampires, evil gods and bad guy ninjas, but nothing prepared me for this. I didn't want to finish it, but I made myself. Usually, I don't want to finish things because they're terrible and I make myself because I've committed to it. This just had me nervous the whole time. I don't know how to explain it, and I don't know that it would translate to another viewer. I think part of it was the eyes. Each person's eyes are a wierd half/half mix of odd colors. Otherwise, they all look like normal characters - and they have very interesting clothing tastes. I also realized somewhere near the end that there doesn't appear to be much of a soundtrack - I'm not sure if that makes a difference either.

I really didn't understand what was going on until the second to last episode. I know a number of people who would enjoy, or at least be intrigued by, this series. I would definitely recommend it to them, but unless you're into really weird, mind-boggling, confusing, kinda emo-esque stuff, this might not be for you. I've finished the series, and I understand everything now, but I'm still feeling a little
dazed.

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What's going on?: Kenichi: The Mightest Disciple