Chihayafuru

Genre: Drama (high school)
Age Appropriate: Any Age
Emotional Response: suspense, victory, disappointment
Notable Features: karuta, high school, love triangle
Language: Japanese
Length: 2 Seasons, 50 episodes 
Overall Recommendation: Pretty Good

"I know I'm greedy." - Chihaya 

When they were young, three middle schoolers found mutual fun in competitive karuta. Karuta is a poem/verse card game between two people that requires strategy, skill and speed. Chihaya knew Taichi growing up together in school. One year, she meets Arata, and stands up for him despite being a stranger transfer student. Through this connection, she finds her love of karuta. They compete together as a team, but after a short year, they are separated by different family circumstances. The series finds Chihaya, the main character, in high school, desperately trying to form a functioning karuta club. She bumps into Taichi accidentally, and through a little pressure and guilt, manages to get him to agree to help her start the club. Her aggressive, yet airheaded nature, brings in the last three teammates needed to make it an official club.

Chihayafuru refers to a specific card, that Chihaya has marked as her own. Each member ends up with something similar for themselves. In the first season, the team fights through some difficult battles, and not all of them are successes. In the second season, some new characters join up and they move together back to the finals to compete. Each character brings a specific skill set to the team - a geek, a poet, a lazy bum, the pretend hero, the love sick boy, the love sick girl and the favored airhead heroine. The rivals are not to be trifled with, either. Chihaya's goal is to meet and beat the Queen, the highest ranked female player in Japan, and this goal drives a good amount of the storyline.

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Chihayafuru was a lot of fun, and full of suspense. I found myself watching episode after episode to see what would happen next, at the detriment of my sleep cycle. It's not that the story or presentation were phenomenal, but the story was paced pretty well. There were a few times that I wished more was happening, quicker, but it worked to suck me in. In general, I'm pretty satisfied.

Yet again, I find myself in that difficult position of having to wait for a third season. I'm not sure that there will be one, but there better be. There is a lot of unresolved story that requires one, but since this season was just released, I think it's pretty reasonable to expect more. It probably won't happen until 2014 at the earliest, though. Sadface. It was exciting, and actually pushed me to download a couple of apps to practice my Japanese. Well, they're to help me learn some characters. I'm not really sure if I would recommend this to everyone. If it's something you would be interested in genre-wise, then I would definitely recommend it. There isn't any real comedy, though. It's very slice-of-life. I enjoyed it.

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Slice!: You and Me

The Mystic Archives of Dantalian

Genre: Horror/Gothic
Age Appropriate: old enough
Emotional Response: uhhhhh
Notable Features: demons, magic, books, dark
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Sure, why not?

"...are you humanity?" - Huey / "No, I am the world." - Dalian

Huey received a letter from his grandfather that he's inherited his estate. This estate includes his very extensive library, with the condition that he take care of Dalian. He's actually under the impression that Dalian must be his grandfather's dog. It's not a dog. It's a girl! Dalian is one of Wes's (grandpa's) friends, who often enjoyed his library and seems to now be under the care of Huey. She has a haughty attitude, which likely comes for her real age and wealth of knowledge. While he seems a little weirded out by the whole situation, he takes on the role with a certain amount of grace.

Then the real action begins. They go to visit the rival of his grandfather, hoping to find clues that this rival actually had his grandfather murdered (rather than just a burglary gone wrong). In the process, they discover the household virtually slaughtered and under attack by a strange demonic-looking creature. It is the result of a Phantom Book.

There are a number of Phantom books, that if read by something "not worthy," create havoc and death around them. With the help of some acknowledgement and magic, Huey and Dalian are able to work out his role as keymaster and open the Mystic Archives of Dantalian, the magical library of everything that is hiding within Dalian, to pull out new books to defeat whichever book is causing problems. Their contact and subsequent defeat of these Phantom books is the driving force behind the series.
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Before I say anything else, I need to warn you. However weird and dark the series can get, nothing can match the end credits. They're creepy and nightmare-inducing. The music stays in your head. I played Devil May Cry (bought after the series because I wanted to get the story), as a way to get the music out. That's right. I played a game with creepy marianettes and sin scissors to wipe out the end credits....followed by a musical. Stay away. Far, far away. Unless you like that kinda thing, then more power to ya.

Mystic Archives is just plain weird. It wasn't weird in a can't watch it kind of way. It didn't completely turn me off, but I think I kept watching it out of a compelled need to see what was next. It was a bit like watching a car wreck. Or pringles. I just couldn't stop. I think that actually might have been the creators' goal, and if it was they succeeded. I didn't really get involved with the characters, but I did want to know what the relationship between the little boy and girl was going to turn out to be. It took awhile for there to be a reason for the story, a plot to appear. ION, the music is quite pretty (minus the creepycreep at the end).  I found myself watching the opening credits purely to hear the theme song alone.

I would actually recommend it for someone specifically looking for something of this type. Definitely not for girly-girls who run away from wierdo-magic-pseudo-bloody stuff. It might actually be better to watch in the fall. Yeah.

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More fun to come!: Vampire Knight (season 1)

Baka & Test

Genre: Comedy
Age Appropriate: Teen
Emotional Response: LOL
Notable Features: avatars, education and cuteness
Language: English/Japanese
Length: 2 seasons, 26 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Great

"I don't want to be your doughnut!" - Akihisa Yoshii

Fumizuki Academy is a high school that is highly focused on academic achievement. The better the test scores, the better the students' equipment. Each student takes an entrance exam at the start of each year, and based on those scores they are placed in a class with students who have similar scores - ranging from Class A to Class F. Class A has laptops, a kitchenette, comfortable desks, recliners...etc. Class F starts out with kindergarten tables and deflated seat cushions. The classes have the option of challenging other classes to Summoner Test Wars. The purpose is to trade up for better equipment if the lower class defeats the high class. Any class can challenge any other class. Students have avatars that represent them in the Wars, often reflecting that student's personality. Their starting scores reflect their most recent test scores, and the battles are usually in a specific topic. These rules make for important strategic battle plans between classes.

Yoshii, a student of the academy, starts his year in Class F, along with his friend Himeji. Himeji is actually a Class A level student, but because she fainted during the entrance exam she was given zeros and begins with nothing. The other students in the series all begin in Class F, and they all seem to be friends from past years in school. Yoshii's desire to help Himeji begins a class war, because he wants to get her back to where she should be academically. His friends help him because they want to rebel against the system, or just kick some higher class butt. The friends have varied personalities, from a pervy teen boy with a camera to a psycho girl obsessed with her elementary school crush. Throughout the wholes series, despite the battles,  the real story focuses on coming of age issues, teen romances, and teamwork.

Season two starts as a summer vacation episode, but it returns to the school based shenanigans pretty quickly. This season, however, has no overwhelming need for battling and is much more focused on friendship interplay and embarrassment comedy. There are also a few episodes centered on flashbacks of the friends' first year. It also delves straight into the romance part of the story.

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I watched the first season in one day.

Baka & Test is hilarious and just what I needed. It's ridiculous. I also want a battle avatar. They're super cute and super awesome. Yoshii's avatar is probably my favorite, and I appreciate the special abilities that come with his being an idiot. I also learned a lot of interesting little educational tidbits that I'll probably never remember, but it was fun.

I admit that the second season was not nearly as good as the first season, but I still watched it in about a day. Unfortunately, this caused the overall rating to go down a bit. The multiple-episode battle of the teachers/girls vs. stupid boys is quite epic, though. Both seasons have a really good flow, enough that I didn't actually realize that I'd seen 5 episodes in a row before taking a break.

It was silly, and while there were some head-shaking tsk-tsk moments, there was no serious nudity, swearing, or blood that would usually prompt a higher appropriate age rating. It didn't rate a Top 5, but it was simply fun. No serious plot, no super-drama, no heartbreak, but all in a good way. The only thing that might have made it better would be to have a real ending. It seems incomplete and I'm hoping they're planning on a third season. I would still recommend it.

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Summon!: Canaan

Inu X Boku Secret Service

Genre: Romance
Age Appropriate: Teen
Emotional Response: sweet and hilarious and strange
Notable Features: mythical creatures, sassy teens, interesting personalities
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Definitely

"The night view...Super-sadist. " - Kagero

Everyone who lives in Maison de Ayakashi is a supernatural creature of some kind. It is a refuge for those throwbacks who are also part of rich society. Additionally, the residents of Ayakashi Kun also have Secret Service agents as protectors - who are also supernatural creatures. There is also a unique staff of supernatural creatures - this includes a transvestite maid, a robotic maid, and girly busty maid, a bartender obsessed with pretending he's in some sort of film noir, his exceedingly tolerant no nonsense little boy, and a gruff looking, softy concierge. The other residents include various types of interesting Japanese folklore evil creatures, and the series frequently has minor trivia lessons when a new one is introduces. Also, at the end of certain episodes, the credits focus on the specific person that was highlighted in the episode.

Ririchiyo moves in to Ayakashi Kun to get away from her family. She has been held as sacred because she is a descendant of a supernatural creature and her blood has proven to make her into that supernatural creature. In her case, an oni. She is emotionally guarded after her upbringing, and uses a snobby-type attitude to push people away to avoid being hurt.

Miketsukami is Ririchiyo's SS agent, and is completely devoted to her, to the point of obsession in some instances. He calls himself her lowly dog, essentially. He is also an evil Nine-Tailed Fox. His sole purpose is to protect her, and he also acts in a butler capacity. This doesn't seem to be necessary, as the other agents don't act the same toward their charges. Each SS agent has a distinct personality and a different type of supernatural heritage that adds to the story.

The series is really their story, part coming of age for Ririchiyo and part budding romance with Miketsukami. The residents all seem to be interested in becoming friends with Ririchiyo, despite her attitude, and all have their own special quirks. There is a typical-male flying cloth monster, a girl-obsessed ice maiden, and a young girl who eats all the time. Learning to interact with others is the main "coming of age" experience that Ririchiyo deals with - often dramatically and possibly involving a strange man with bunny ears.


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Inu X Boku SS is interesting to say the least. The relationship between Chiyo and Miketsukami is actually pretty intense, and awkward. It's probably not a relationship that would be acceptable, but it's anime, so it's ok. The way that the Chiyo learns about battling her random, trying outburst in attempts to have normal interactions is sweet and made me a bit tenderhearted. I remember when I was that awkward.

The series itself has some seriously awesome moments. I particularly like Karuta and Sorinozuka. I mean, who doesn't want to be able to eat everything and anything? Or be a flying cloth monster? The weirdest, creepiest, most bizarre resident is probably the best source of laughter, though. Kagero is determined to treat everyone like dogs, and label everything as either a sadist or masochist - including a car window. It is also hard to take a "delinquent" tanuki seriously. I'm so glad that the episodes have little lessons in them, or I wouldn't know what these creatures are, and I admit that I have to look some of them up online. Learning is good.

The end credits are pretty great. There is also the obligatory end reel that shows the preview of the next episode and has great commentary. I would recommend watching each set of credits all the way through. In general, I would probably recommend this anime if you're interested in romantic-type anime. It is quite funny, but if you have no interest in the sweet human interactions, it might not be that fun. Personally, I loved it. Of course, the end is serious, but it is great for putting me in a good mood. There is always a smile in each episode (and usually outright laughter). The series isn't the same funny as some of more high school based anime I've seen, and it's a bit bittersweet. I'm going to have to watch something blatantly funny after this, but it's a great heart lifting series to watch. Either way, I would definitely recommend it.

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Come and get it!: Baka & Test

Miracle Train

Genre: Romance
Age Appropriate: Pre-teen/Teen
Emotional Response: girlish giggles
Notable Features: handsome guys, subway train, side commentating dog
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 13 episodes
Overall Recommendation: YAY

"Will you fall in love with a train station?" - Narrator

The Miracle Train is a subway train that only allows lost women in trouble on, and the stations attempt to solve their problems. This special train has 6 special stations on board. These stations are personified by handome men of every type: from bad boy to serious straight-lace type. The stations are actual stations on the Oedo Line, with each of the women getting on the station that is feature in the current episode. It is that particular station that will be key in solving her problem, although the others will often be helpful.

Each of the guys has certain characteristics that reflect the station that they represent. Tacho (serious type) Station is the location for the municipal building, where people get their passports and licenses. One of the stations also likes to cook on the train car, because his station is known for it's restaurants. In one early episode, it's also discovered that there are different stations on different lines that have different Miracle Trains (one station has brothers that show up).

There are a few other satellite characters: a masked conductor, a young girl-guide in pink, and a commentary making black dog (that no one but the audience can hear). The show also gives a decent amount of trivia throughout the season, either through signs or asides. There is an end segment per episode also. It usually features one random station and which ever station was the focus of that episode, and gives station specific trivia. These end segment characters are animated pretend hand puppets - think Harry Potter Puppet Pals. It makes the series a little more valuable than just a chance to giggle.

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Can I just say that I want to get on the Miracle Train? Also, Tokugawa (the dog) is the cutest, funniest dog character in existence. Don't get me wrong, the guys are hothothot (depending on your type) but there is just something about the dog that makes me smile. His general annoyed insight is epic. He's also adorable. I want a dog just like him one day. (I admit it, Roppongi station is my favorite.)

The storyline is pretty basic and predictable. There really nothing special about it, but really, this isn't a series to watch if you're looking to get any meaning out of it. It's pure fluff - in a good way. Every episode has some sort of touchy-feely message, and they're mostly about being true to yourself. I really did just like it for the smiles that it gave me. Least emotionally, psychologically stressful anime in existence. One of my favorite things? Oedo Line trivia and their general explanations about subway procedures. I now know a whole lot more about Japanese transit that I ever thought I would. From the absolute minimum fact checking I did, it seemed fairly accurate. It was actually fun to look up the Oedo Line on the internet to see where the stations are in the city.

Quirks and cuteness about in this series and I loved every minute of it. The different guy characters all have funny flaws with their personalities. There is no inappropriate anything, so really anyone could watch it. The real question is more about who would be interested. I listed it as Pre-Teen/Teen just because I figured someone younger either wouldn't get it, or wouldn't really care. I don't have many girly-girl moments or tastes usually, but I turned into a giggly teenager with this one. And for once, they weren't high school boys. Granted, they're train stations but you can't get everything. I would watch it again, especially the next time I find some draining anime to watch. It's like dessert. Go ahead, watch it. I dare you.

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All aboard!: Jyo-Oh-Sei