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

Murder Princess

Genre: Action
Age Appropriate: Teen
Emotional Response: seriously, wtf
Notable Features: spiritual transmigration, princess, bounty hunters, evil cyborg little girls
Language: English
Length: 1 season, 6 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Not so much



Murder Princess is about a young woman, Princess Alita Forland, who must run from her castle as it is attacked by a traitorous scientist who feels he would be a better ruler. In the process of her escape, she ends up running through the woods until she meets a cliff, and a bounty hunter. In her fear, she falls of the cliff, bringing the bounty hunter, Falis, with her. While falling, they have managed to switch bodies in the supposed process of spiritual transmigration - which occurred when both women felt they were about to die and when their spirits realized this was not the case, they accidentally returned to the wrong bodies. After realizing their situation, with input from Falis' helpers - Peter and Dominicov - Alita begs Falis to take her place on the throne and protect her kingdom. Falis only helps for a price, in this case Alita has offered her everything that she is, to act as Falis' service until the kingdom is safe.

In the altercations with the evil scientist, and his android-girl helpers, New Alita has shown to be strong and deadly with a sword. She defeats the monsters in public also, gaining the nickname Murder Princess. Old Alita - now Milano, her servant - helps Falis/Alita become a better princess and queen by instilling in her a sense of responsibility and teaching her the little aristocratic things a noble woman should know (including submitting to having servants). In the end, it all comes down to the battle for the protection of the kingdom against enemies, likely and not, trying to take over the power controlled by the Forland family.

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There were some redeeming qualities of this anime, really. The story isn't really terrible, the end was typical, and there is some interesting parts of the plot. However, I was not a fan. Perhaps, it was more to do with the fact that the series was only 6 episodes, but I had really no emotional investment in the characters at all. Actually, I had to force myself to get through the first three episodes. The last three were decent. I was able to finish the end without much trouble, but I don't think an anime is too successful for me when the only motivation factor to finish it was to write this blog post.

Most of the enemy characters are some sort of misguided or misunderstood. The story behind the story feels like it was just thrown in there so that there was a reason things were happening, even though there was no foreshadowing involved. Normally, I'm happy for a good plot twist, but this wasn't a twist. It was more of a "Oh yeah, we need a point..." It's a bit frustrating. Honestly, I think the series could've handled a little good humor. I probably wouldn't recommend this to anyone. I'm sure there are a few anime that would be lower on a list for me, but this one is pretty stupid.

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Run, doggie, Run!: Inu X Boku Secret Service

Brave 10

Genre: Action
Age Appropriate: Pre-teen/Teen
Emotional Response: Excited, a little confused
Notable Features: samurai, ninjas, swords, ninja magic
Language: Japanese
Length: 1 season, 12 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Great

"You are my one light in the darkness" - Isanami

Brave 10 refers to the ten brave warriors being assembled by Lord Sanada. His main goal is to assemble these warriors to serve him in a variety of ways. These warriors include fighters of multiple styles. While they are primarily some sort of ninja or samurai, they all have specific abilities that set the apart from each other. Some of them have elemental abilities, some are skilled weapons fighters, and one pretty lady is a warrior with heart.

The series actually follows Isanami, a priestess from a fallen village who seeks out Lord Sanada at the behest of the priest who raised her. On her way to Ueda, Lord Senada's home, she runs into Saizo, a wandering-type samurai who is completely apathetic to her plight, but battles the ninjas chasing her as an act of self-preservation. Due to Isanami's innocent pleas and her certain charm, Saizo takes her all the way to Ueda, and curiously finds himself staying with her and reluctantly agreeing to have Lord Sanada as his master. As the series progresses, new warriors are added to the mix.

Isanami has a hairpin, the Kushimitama, that is a relic of untold power. In the beginning, the hairpin is shown to have the power to destroy all life within the powerful bubble that seems to emanate from it when Isanami is highly distressed. The other lords during this Warring States period all want this power for their own gain. The Brave 10 end up protecting Isanami throughout the series, to keep her out of enemy hands and protect everyone, in general.

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Brave 10 is a great departure from the typical high school comedy/romance that I find frequently. In the Warring States period, which I'm not really familiar with, there are feudal lords, samurai and ninjas running around in conflict. Brave 10 uses that conflict as the foundation for the story. It's very interesting. I really wanted to watch a series that was apart from the usual. I'm glad I did, too. Brave 10 is great.

It reminds me, in some ways, of Neo Angelique Abyss. Some of the plot devices are the same, if in a different setting. The period part does remove the magic/technology post-Apocalypse parts. The ten warriors do have special "techniques" that essentially represented as magic. All ten also have strikingly different personalities. Those personalities play off each other really well, including a gruff samurai, a shy ninja, and a weird, masochistic-type potentially-transgender, weapons-master/thief. Say that 5 times fast.

The action is very exciting. There is some sort of battle (epic or otherwise) in each episode and I'm always cheering for the Brave 10, and laughing at the absurdity that is the womanizing Lord Sanada. The end has a few twists to it, but in a good way. I think this is a good anime for anyone. There is a pretty boy or two, a lovely young lady, NINJAS, and humor. I'm sure I'll watch it again in the future.

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Hai!: Murder Princess

Girls Bravo!

Genre: Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult (High Nudity - Not for Children)
Emotional Response: LOL, LOL, huh?, LOL
Notable Features: nudity, aliens, girls, innuendo
Language: English
Length: 2 seasons, 24 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Top 5

"...IN HELL!" - Kirie

Girls Bravo! is a series featuring Yukinari, a young man allergic to girls, and Miharu, a young woman from a planet of woman who shows up through a portal in Yuki's bathtub. Within the first sixty seconds there is some nudity, which essentially carries through the whole series. The whole story really begins with Yukinari accidentally walking in on Kirie, his neighbor and friend, in the bathtub. She kicks his ass - part of what would show to be her personality. This assault on Yukinari puts in motion his meeting of Miharu, when he is mysteriously transported to her planet and he realizes that she doesn't make him break out into a rash (he's literally allergic to girls).

Yukinari is a bit of a runt. Miharu is a bit of a ditz. When they meet on her home planet, she's naked and excited to meet him. Yukinari is just confused and panicked. It seems that Miharu knows exactly what's going on. On Seiren, there are no men and Yukinari's presence creates havoc (particularly with her big sister, Maharu). When he finally returns to Earth, Miharu follows shortly thereafter and the story really begins. Miharu opens Yukinari to a whole new world, both literally and figuratively. She also eats everything, everywhere, every time she can.

The supporting cast includes a pervy upperclassman, his witchy sister, and personnel from Seiren running around Earth for various reasons. There are also some assassin-level servants, an adorable pet and a bevy of voluptuous confusing women. Both seasons are full of inappropriate jokes and slightly complicated plot twists.

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First off, let me just say that there is a high level of nudity. Probably some in every episode. It's all incidental or accidental, not necessarily sexual. Still, I certainly wouldn't watch this with a family member, but maybe a few friends. It really is hilarious. There are a few hearty laugh out loud moments that are completely worth watching the whole series. Yukinari is often is a situation not of his own making, but gets a sound kick in the face by Kirie. Kirie is set on sending every perverted guy she runs across TO HELL! There is nothing to match Miharu's hungry ditziness or Fukuyama's incredible perverted antics. I think Fukuyama's attitude is probably one of the funniest things in the whole series. It wouldn't be complete without him.

There is so much to say and so little space! It is actually a series that you can survive with only watching one episode at a time, but that doesn't mean you have to. Each episode is completely focused on shenanigans, and probably only half of them have any relation to the plot. I admit, it may not have needed all 24 episodes. The end was a little weird, but all good things must come to an end somehow. All in all, the whole series is pretty fun. Clearly, with a Top 5 rating, I liked it. So, go watch it. Seriously.

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Ready! Aim!: Brave 10

Jyu-Oh-Sei

Genre: Sci-Fi
Age Appropriate: Pre-teen/Teen
Emotional Response: heartbreaking, confusing
Notable Features: whole new world, killer plants, Beast King, outer space
Language: English
Length: 1 season, 11 episodes
Overall Recommendation: Pretty Good

Chimera, or The Planet of the Beast King - a penal colony where people are sent to live out the rest of their lives, if they can make it. Originally from Hecate (the home planet), Rai and Thor are sent to the planet after their parents are betrayed and assassinated. Rai and Thor are actually young twins, age 11, when they're sent to the planet. They are rescued from the killer plants that inhabit the entire planet by a group of wild boys (like Lost Boys from Neverland). The planet is a Darwinian type society, and it is no different for the boys who start picking on Rai because he's young and weak - as opposed to Thor who is tougher. The twins run from the boys, and Thor has a moment of hate toward Rai for his weakness. After an attack by some men, Thor loses Rai to the plants and this is the basis of guilt throughout the storyline. The series is essentially about Thor's new life on the planet and meeting his goals to get back to his home world.

The Rings are the societal set-up of the planet - Sun, Blanco, Night and Ochre. Each ring has a separate set of rules and is determined by the color of skin, hair and eyes. The similarity across the rings lies i the general structure: Top - who has defeated the previous Top, Second - Second in command and with certain responsibilities, and Third - again the same but with the least amount of responsibities of the three. Also, women and men are kept separate as women make up 20% of the population and are deemed precious. They have their own Top/Second/Third structures within the rings.

As the series moves on, Thor's determination leads to the conclusion that he must become the Beast King in order to avenge his assassinated parents by getting off Chimera. He moves up to being Ochre Top quickly, taking Tiz and Third (Ochre's previous Third) with him. There is a time skip in the series to cover the uneventful years of 11-15 that mark the beginning of Thor's reign as Ochre Top. He deals with hidden agendas, betrayal, love and disappointment throughout his journey - all to get to the Dagger Pagoda that will lead him off the planet and to his parents' betrayer.

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Normally, I have to set a follow some sort of viewing schedule to make sure that I watch the series in time to write a post. You know, this many episodes on this many days. This is one of those where I just watched a whole bunch and before I realized the time, it was over or I was falling asleep. I'm not even typically a Sci-Fi fan, but I still got sucked in.

It has a compelling storyline that really has potential. I made it through 6 episodes in one sitting, but around 7 or 8 the storyline stalls a bit. Some of the plot devices make sense, kinda, but they suffer in that middle part. The beginning really reals you in because you want to see what's next and you have some hope that Thor will kick everyone's asses and meet his goals, defying the way of Chimera. (I'm trying not to write too much about it, either in review or synopsis, because it's only 11 episodes.) In the end, this series is just sad - not bad sad, but tear-jerking sad. The last two episodes almost make up for the boring middle. They're moving. I guess, if you're into Sci-Fi, this is a good series to watch. I enjoyed it.


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New World Order: Girls Bravo! (per special request)

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