Yojouhan Shinwa Taikei OP ED Opening Ending OST Character song

Anime Love So Life Chapter 22 23

2011-04-20T03:45:00.007-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/love_so_life/

If ever there was a title that really didn't tell you anything about a show, Spiral would be a good answer. If there was ever a box cover that didn't give you an inkling of what the plot of the show might be, the answer would again be Spiral. The reality, however, is that these are the most telling things about Spiral, a show that's all about mystery, intrigue and keeping your cards close to your chest.

And that's really what Spiral does best, throwing out plot points like shrewd bets from a poker-faced card shark. A bold opening move, answered by bluffs, cunning bets and a quick move into the call, where the episode comes to a nail-biting conclusion. Each episode manages to surprise at the end with its expertly woven drama and suspense.

Anime Magico (IWAMOTO Naoki) Chapter 8 7 9

2011-04-20T03:45:00.006-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/magico_iwamoto_naoki/

When high schooler Ayumu Narumi is a suspect in the murder of one of his classmates, he doesn't take the matter lightly. He sets about solving the girl's murder himself. In the process Ayumu uncovers a web of mysteries surrounding the murder victim, the murderer, and his own brother. Caught up in the strange plot, Ayumu has no choice but to go on fighting battles of wits to keep himself alive when he becomes the target of the mysterious Blade Children.

live action Akuma to Love Song Chapter 51

2011-04-20T03:45:00.005-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/akuma_to_love_song/

If you recall from the first episode, some lady-thugs have burned down a village. Being the chipper do-gooder she is, Hideyoshi realizes that the best way to cheer them up is to roll up her sleeves, help them pull up some radishes, and make them laugh. Because even though their entire village and livelihood has just been razed to the ground, all they need is a song and dance, and a feather in their caps. Good ol’ Hideyoshi. If she were King, there'd never be any sorrow in this heavy world of ours. But to add insult to injury—injury being the assumption the creative staff has made that all their viewers are mindless twits who will consume anything they cram down our collective throats—later in the episode, we find out that Hideyoshi is actually somewhat proficient in kung fu, because she once saw it in a TV show.

The creators of Battle Girls - Time Paradox seem to care so little about this brainshart of theirs that at some point, they probably had a writers meeting in which someone intrepid intern said, “Wait, none of this makes sense.” And then the senior writer said, “Yeah, I don't care. People will watch it anyway, and we'll sell body pillows, and it'll be fine. Go get me a latte.”

This is the last episode of Battle Girls - Time Paradox I will ever watch in my entire life. All the riches in Atlantis could not prompt me to watch another minute of this show, and I will be the merrier for it.

Anime Kono Oneesan wa Fiction desu!? Chapter 5 6

2011-04-20T03:45:00.004-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kono_oneesan_wa_fiction_desu/

Look, if someone from the future strolled into your house waving some fancy future technology around, you would flip out. Your first question would be, “What on Earth is that?? Why can it read my mind/teleport food/whatever-future-whoop-de-doo??” And then maybe you'd ask, “Wait, what the hell are you doing in my house?” This is what normal humans do. Don't tell me that if someone rolled into Sengoku Era Japan that nobody would care about a cellphone. This is two episodes in a row now of Battle Girls – Time Paradox where nobody is even remotely curious about this magic future technology. In this episode, Hideyoshi even uses her cellphone to play some chirpy J-Pop for some villagers, and they just think, “Oh, hey, music.”

Is there a gas leak in my apartment? Why doesn't anybody care about this?

I am willing to suspend the majority of my disbelief for any given series. I completely believe that Hideyoshi fell through a giant plot hole into ancient Japan. I completely believe that there is a talking dog, and that the entire country is populated by woman. That's fine. But dammit, don't tell me that someone pulls out a cellphone and people don't have a billion questions. All I ask for is a tiny shred of internal logic, because everything else in this show is so preposterously stupid that I am owed at least that.

Anime Nyotai-ka Chapter 25

2011-04-20T03:45:00.003-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/nyotai_ka/

It also helps that Steins;Gate is pleasant to look at. The low-contrast artwork gives the series a hazy dreamlike quality, but there's still an almost obsessive attention to detail. Take the landlord's shop, for instance. By day, he also runs a TV repair shop. The animators at WHITE FOX could've easily just given the storefront a generic reflective glare, but even with the in-series sun shining brightly on the store, you can still see hints of old TVs through the window. If I was in charge of this show, I sure as Hell wouldn't make the effort to draw that. It's tiny things that one would never think to actually look for, but that's when it's the most impressive. If you can't tell they put any extra work into it, then it looks natural. Not bad for a relatively young animation studio, whose only other big projects were Tears to Tiara and some key animation here and there.

Even though only two episodes have been released, Steins;Gate is already in my Top 5 for shows to follow this season. The storyline is intriguing, but most of all, Okabe is intriguing. I can't tell if he's a joke or not, and that uncertainty has me asking for more. That, and the nerd part of me really wants to hear more about this time travel theory of theirs, because I've always referred to it as the 12 Monkeys Theory. Which, by the way, predates John Titor by five years, so he can go hang.

anime AKB49 - Renai Kinshi Jourei Chapter 8

2011-04-20T03:45:00.002-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/akb49_renai_kinshi_jourei/

Does it still count as madness if the person everyone thought was crazy was right all along? It's a little hard to tell with Okabe, the self-proclaimed mad scientist of Steins;Gate. On the outside, he looks mad, acts mad, and even says he's mad. But the Organization that he's been muttering about all this time may actually be tampering with his stuff, and his microwave… well, if it's not a time machine, then it's something strange. Though at the same time, he is taking most of his research cues from some fraud on the Internet, so the odds are split on if he's a kook or a genius.

The great thing about Steins;Gate is that even though it's still an ever-widening canyon of mysteries, it doesn't really feel like it's tricking people into watching. It's not using any cheap hooks to keep viewers glued to the show. Sure, there are plenty of unanswered questions, but to be fair, the characters don't know what's going on either. So instead of being duped into watching a show where the writers just flat-out refuse to explain something, we get to learn everything at the same pace as Okabe and his crew. Who was the weird girl that bumped into him on the street, looking for that IBM? We don't know, but he doesn't know either. Why did his goo banana reappear on the bunch? Nobody knows. But I trust the series to tell me once Okabe figures it out, so I feel fairly confident that this show isn't going to be a waste of time in the long run.

Anime Movie Initial D Chapter 584

2011-04-20T03:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/initial_d/

Like most bishoujo-game-turned-Kleenex-poppers of its ilk, A Bridge to the Starry Skies reliably delivers some key traits. For starters, it's very good looking. The characters are perpetually fresh-faced and well-coiffed, and have been keeping up a rigorous exercise and diet plan. All the backgrounds are effortlessly beautiful. The orchestral score is magical and tinkling. Everything looks and feels like it came out of some kind of fairytale, where poverty and anguish don't exist, and sunshine grows on trees. It's the ultimate feel-good anime.

But it's also incredibly trite. There is not a single drop of creativity in this used-up storyline. I'm sure at some point in the season, they'll all go to the beach. Maybe one of the girls will make Kazuma some food while she blushes. It doesn't really matter. Presumably, the only thing keeping people watching is wanting to know which girl he ends up with. But it's irrelevant. Who he chooses doesn't matter—what matters is which girl the viewer chooses. And with a script as painfully dull as A Bridge to the Starry Skies, they may as well save some effort and just send out slideshows on CD-ROM.

OVA Code Geass: Shikkoku no Renya Chapter 9 10

2011-04-20T03:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/code_geass_shikkoku_no_renya/

It may actually blow your mind to learn that A Bridge to the Starry Skies is an adaptation of an adult bishoujo game. I know. I couldn't believe it either when I found out. I mean, nothing in the first episode gave it away at all, so I was pretty lucky that I was sitting down when I heard the news. Here, I thought I was watching an avant-garde piece about a high school boy who moves to the countryside with his sickly younger brother, and ends up living in a rustic inn with giant baths, and befriends three cute girls by the end of the episode. Spoiler alert—they all have different wank-ready stereotypes! Double spoiler—there's a wa-wa-waaaaacky monkey character who's probably going to come back in later episodes! Hold on to your hats, folks!

Kazuma's little brother wasn't holding onto his hat when the monkey took it, so that's how all sorts of shenanigans start. Our strapping hero soon meets cute with a strawberry blonde whom he accidentally trip-kisses, then gets kicked in the face by The Feisty One. I'd continue to summarize the story, but I'm afraid I'd accidentally be giving away the plots of a dozen other anime series exactly like this one. Boy, I'd sure be surprised if more ladies didn't move into that big empty inn.

Last Inning Chapter 75 Anime

2011-04-13T01:00:00.004-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/804/last-inning.html

It's said that Harumi's elementary school is haunted by a bizarre collection of subterranean Japanese demons. When her and her friends set out to investigate these paranormal rumors, they not only find out that they are true, but that a face stealing yokai is on the rampage. Teaming up with some of the more bizarre looking, if friendlier, supernatural beings, they attempt to take it down and banish it back to hell.

This is the third attempt at adapting Go Nagai's classic children's horror-comedy manga into an anime, and the fact it is being tried yet again shows how popular his work still is in Japan. I've always considered Nagai to be an interesting parallel to “God of manga” and Astro Boy creater Osamu Tezuka – while both wrote stories for all age groups from small children to adults, Nagai's approach was always a little more edgy. Nagai's children's works are almost a response to the sensible, intelligent kid's tales of Tezuka - and that's evident here. It's loud and bawdy instead of clever and moralistic, with its fair share of naughty, puerile schoolboy humour jokes - but they feel fine here in this context, as this is a show primarily for naughty puerile schoolboys. If I were eight years old watching this now, I'd probably be rolling round the floor in fits of snotty giggles and screaming for more.

Mayoi Neko Overrun Chapter 11 OVA

2011-04-13T01:00:00.003-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/1308/mayoi-neko-overrun.html

Maybe that is a little harsh – SKET Dance does exactly what it sets out to do: create a thoroughly safe, wholesome and unchallenging show for tweens that want to be teens but are understandably a little bit scared of the whole business. It takes them by the hand and reassures them that life will be fine, and when you get bigger you'll still have good friends you can have fun with. At least I hope that's who this show is aimed at. The rest of us can learn one interesting thing from this first episode: that the making of generic, unchallenging children's’ TV is the same the world over – dominated by old men in suits that still believe kids are happy with just competent production values and bland 80s pop-rock soundtracks.

Baby Steps Chapter 41 Anime

2011-04-13T01:00:00.002-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/1096/baby-steps.html

Generic anime setup number 5: Shy boy is transferred to a new school in a new town, within minutes of being there bumps (literally, and hopefully in some slightly embarrassing way involving a misunderstanding) into an excitable or kooky girl that in turns introduces him to her group of friends. This group of students then spend the rest of the season bonding and getting past social differences and problems, before becoming BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!

SKET Dance bills itself as a comedy, which is where the problems start. It's just not funny. The group that new kid Teppei falls in with are the SKET (Support Kindness Encouragement Troubleshoot) club, and while their character designs suggest they might be a bit edgy and crazy, they are actually just three rather dull do-gooders. Helping other school kids out with problems with bullies and school life is an admirable and wholesome activity, but sadly it doesn't leave many opportunities for comedy or action. I mean, it's not like they're secretly ninjas. Or that the school bullies ride cool mecha. Or that the school is actually built on the site of an ancient massacre where a group of bandits were wiped out by a noble lone samurai, who it turns out is an ancestor of Teppei, and now the bandits’ souls are rising up and possessing the bodies of the bullies so they can take bloody revenge. Or, you know, anything interesting.

Y+M Chapter 56 anime

2011-04-13T01:00:00.001-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/1105/ym.html

As well as being funny the show looks pretty good too. I'd always thought these half length shows looked crappy because of budgetary restrictions, so either Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san has been given an extravagant purse or its staff are just more experienced and talented. The latter could certainly be true, considering this comes from famed studio Production I.G – which in itself is enough for most anime fans to want to check it out.

Chibi Vampire Chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Anime

2011-04-13T01:00:00.000-07:00

Young girl Sakuma has a part time job working for the mysterious Black Jack like detective Akutabe, who summons demons to help him with cases. When a furious housewife comes to him to get revenge on her cheating husband, he gives Sakuma the use of the Azazel, a lust demon whose formidable power is underplayed by the fact he manifests as an adorable kawaii plushie. Hilarity ensues.

Which is a bit of a relief, as most of the 12 minute comedies this season – of which this is also one – have been quite lacking in laughs. Yondemasuyo, Azazel-san brings the funny with a bunch of gross out sight-gags, mainly based around blood loss and humping, but also has a far more knowing and witty streak. It seems to taking aim at not only the horror genre but also anime in general – this first episode makes fun of fan service as well as the way moe otaku seem obsessed with their heroines remaining virgins at all costs. It's refreshing to see some adult humor that doesn't rely on sexual embarrassment for once.

http://www.mangareader.net/317/karin.html

Zero no Tsukaima Chevalier Chapter 5 Anime

2011-04-13T00:59:00.002-07:00

What did surprise me about Hen Zemi was how slightly sinister it felt at times. The girls in the show are depicted as nothing but objects, which the male characters try to manipulate and pressurise into ‘owing’ them favors or letting them grope them. Again, it's a short gag show, but this kind of tiresome misogyny is probably one of the main reasons it's not in the slightest bit funny.

If sex is something distant and alien that you still snigger about, then Hen Zemi might have something for you. Everyone else should probably stay away, unless you really must see the cheapest looking 12 minutes of animation this season.

http://www.mangareader.net/370/zero-no-tsukaima.html

B.O.D.Y. Chapter 29 Anime

2011-04-13T00:59:00.001-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/1129/body.html

Nanako is a college student who, despite seeming to be a well adjusted and shy girl, is attending a class on hentai. Why is she doing this? Is it because she has an interest in the cultural significance of pornography? Or because she wants to major in psychology and work in the area of sexual development? Don't be ridiculous! This is anime! Nanoko is a girl! She is doing it because there is a boy she likes in the class.

This season's reoccurring theme seems to be anime comedies that are not actually funny. Hen Zemi is the latest addition, and at just over 12 minutes long there's no reason to expect any depth from this simple gag show. Just make sure you don't expect any laughs either.

Maken-ki Chapter 35 Anime

2011-04-13T00:59:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangareader.net/671/maken-ki.html

In fact, the inclusion of the sexual aspects of Asarotte's TO-Y baffles even more on further reflection. If 2D underage succubuses (Succubae? Succubi?) are your fetish then I'm sure Google is your friend – the internet must be full of actual hentai anime and manga that will float your boat. Similarly, if you live in Japan (well, not Tokyo perhaps) you can probably pick far more explicit stuff up at your local manga store. It seems that the only real reason for this show's premise is to draw attention and create a minor controversy.

Which is probably exactly the reason it might gain a fanbase outside of Japan – it'll appeal to that highly vocal minority of foreign otaku that still view anime as some kind of outrageous novelty product, who like to jump up and down point at the crazy Japanese cartoons. You know the type – the kind of self proclaimed otaku that see their fandom as some kind of strange rebellion against everyone, and as a way to draw attention and create a minor controversy. Not that there's anything wrong with that at all – rebellion in itself can be extremely healthy and refreshing – but you'd just wish people could find something a little less generic, disposable and tame to rebel with.

Magician Chapter 35 scanlation

2011-04-10T22:59:00.008-07:00

Then again, these deficiencies in story are easily overlooked when one is being distracted by a healthy dose of eye candy. There's no shortage of attractive characters here, although the male-to-female ratio is clearly a bit skewed. The specific roles of each Wonderland character also result in distinctive costuming, from cat and rabbit ears to more conventional modes of 19th-century dress. The sharp linework and visual clarity also help to keep the story understandable—when people talk to each other, they actually talk to each other, rather than disappear in a shower of tones and special effects. The panel layouts, too, maintain a strict rectangular form that's more pleasing to the eye than an overload of decorative clutter. The only situation where this restrained style might be a drawback is in the backgrounds, which are perhaps too sparse to put the "wonder" in Wonderland.

Wordplay is pretty much a lost cause in foreign interpretations of Alice in Wonderland, but this English translation of a Japanese work at least tries to spice up the text. It's most noticeable in the White Rabbit's dialogue, as he occasionally lapses into poetic rhyme. By some kind of linguistic miracle, though, it hardly ever sounds forced; in fact, many of the rhymes find a clever way to fit themselves into the script. The other characters aren't quite as ornate with their words—it's mostly standard conversational English—but it still leans more towards formal speech patterns that would have made sense in Victorian times, rather than loose sentence fragments or slang. Sound effects, on the other hand, are handled with less care: if it's a big noise or something essential to the plot, the translation is there, but a lot of times the minor sounds are simply left untranslated (not that they have much impact on the story anyway).

http://www.mangareader.net/1655/magician.html

Bobobo-Bo bo-bobo Chapter 123 scanlations

2011-04-10T22:59:00.007-07:00

In the first volume of the series, for example, Alice learned that the lovesick denizens of Wonderland were a result of her subconscious desires (an explanation that obviously works best with a manga-fied teenage Alice, not a seven-and-a-half-year-old child). This time, it's the bizarre cycle of life and death in Wonderland that adds a new wrinkle to the story—a cycle involving spectral beings, timepieces left behind by those beings, and the clockmaker that Alice is staying with. It also explains why everyone is so gun-happy in this strange world: after all, why worry about the value of human life when there's always a way to get it back? Philosophical explorations such as these, and the strange behaviors that they lead to, help to give the series new points of interest that go beyond Carroll's original creation.

http://www.mangareader.net/642/bobobo-bo-bo-bobo.html

Lets Lagoon Chapter 16 scanlations

2011-04-10T22:59:00.006-07:00

In the true spirit of "nonsense" literature, however, the story keeps wandering off in new directions—and thus fails to follow up on many of the earlier plot points. Remember how Alice was supposed to get home? By collecting a bottle of liquid symbolizing her interactions with Wonderland's inhabitants? That happened in the series' first chapter, and hasn't been mentioned since. We haven't heard from the mysterious pretty boy in her dreams, either (another original creation that seemed so promising). Instead, this volume is content to pass Alice on from one bishounen to the next, and that's why the story, despite its wild flights of fancy, lacks a true sense of drama. Instead we're supposed to be content with disjointed scenarios like a re-creation of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, or the White Rabbit's ever more threatening (yet comical) advances toward Alice, and maybe some hints that the characters are more sinister than they seem. But when is the series going to pull it all together?

http://www.mangareader.net/986/lets-lagoon.html

Oyasumi Punpun Chapter 85 scanlations

2011-04-10T22:59:00.004-07:00

After all, Alice in Wonderland (or more correctly, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass) is not simply the quintessential children's book. It's also a spoof-take on contemporary Victorian culture, a deft exploration of mathematics and logic, and a towering feat of wordplay. Most people who try to put their own spin on Alice have enough trouble just nailing down the story part—and even that, Carroll already perfected. Anyone who dares to play with the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit and the Queen of Hearts is only going to end up with hollow replicas of the originals.

http://www.mangareader.net/763/oyasumi-punpun.html

Bokura ga Ita Chapter 65 scalations

2011-04-10T22:59:00.003-07:00

Alice's life has been a mess ever since she got kidnapped by a young man with rabbit ears and taken to the strange realm of Wonderland. It's a world where territorial factions are at war, where people pull guns on each other at a moment's notice, and where all the guys are madly in love with Alice. Or maybe just mad. However, after a midnight tea-party with some of Wonderland's inhabitants, Alice starts to think that they're not so bad after all. Even Ace, a soldier for the scheming Queen of Hearts, is willing to defend Alice against the White Rabbit's inappropriate advances. But nothing can protect Alice from the shocking secret she is about to discover—a secret that has everything to do with life and death in Wonderland.

http://www.mangareader.net/1055/bokura-ga-ita.html

Shingeki no Kyojin Chapter 11 scanlatons

2011-04-10T22:59:00.001-07:00

This version of Toradora! also benefits greatly from Zekkyō's artwork which brings an energy to the story that the plot itself can sometimes lack. It's cute, lively and oftentimes hilarious, especially given the weird expressions on the cast's faces, Taiga's in particular. The style lends itself best to her, especially when she's having scattered moments of teary-eyed sadness or an honest smile, all of which are given special attention by the artist.

Toradora! won't win many points for originality yet its eccentricities make this a decent first volume. Both Taiga and Ryuuji have their own special issues played for our entertainment. It's amusing seeing how they clash. The story's romance is a little hard to care about though when there's more chemistry between them than the targets of their affections. But that's likely intentional, as we can see a relationship between the Palmtop Tiger and her servant coming a mile away. It's this feeling that Toradora! is just another trope-coasting plot that holds it back. Thankfully often over the top characters and cute artwork prove how this kind of otaku-targeted material still manages to find an audience nearly every time anyway.

http://www.mangareader.net/shingeki-no-kyojin

The Meteor Chapter 21 scanlations

2011-04-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

By this point readers have been given just enough reason to care about how things play out for Ryuuji and Taiga. It's easy to pity Ryuuji for what he goes through with Taiga, and surprisingly easy to feel sympathy for Taiga for her earnest, tongue-tied attempts to talk to Kitamura. At the same time the plot itself still feels uninspired – haven't we read similar stories far too many times before?

Fortunately Seven Seas does a great job playing up the series' stronger points with exceptional adaptation work. There was a lot of care taken with the way characters speak, including the use of bolds and italics to put emphasis on specific words. A little bit of slang and intentionally sloppy grammar tailor the speech perfectly to teenagers as well.

http://www.mangareader.net/the-meteor

Shiawase Kissa Sanchoume Chapter 49 scanlations

2011-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Were women not already enough trouble in Ryuuji's life, you also have his mother. Her simple role as the busty, blush-cheeked eye-candy is as transparent as her lacy undergarments. She's selfish, lazy and just lays around the house whining cheerfully for Ryuuji to feed her. It's almost impressive that despite this, her airheaded-nature somehow makes her hard to hate. Still, you'll be grateful she's only there part-time.

Kitamura and Kushieda are prominent in the book, but even they develop little past being one-dimensional plot devices. Kitamura is easy-going and good with girls, in contrast with Ryuuji. Kushieda is the very definition of peppy and gets along with everyone, which contrasts with Taiga. The two spend quite a bit of time together as members of the student council and there's an underlying sense that they know more of what's going on than they let on. Or perhaps it's something else altogether. Either way the volume ends on a cliffhanger when readers see Kushieda being a lot more serious than we were lead to believe was possible.

http://www.mangareader.net/686/shiawase-kissa-sanchoume.html

Live in Concert by Ray Charles - Listen

2011-04-03T07:39:00.001-07:00

Even so, IGLOO would be mildly interesting entertainment were it not for one minor problem. Its visuals are a disaster. Cutting-edge CGI definitely has its uses—in IGLOO it's the battles, which are dynamic and spectacularly bombastic, despite the mobile suits' plastic-model articulation and look (they were actually designed using commercially available Gundam models as their basis). The problem arises when those same techniques are applied to human movement. Director Takashi Imanishi used motion capture and professional actors to create his characters' expressions and body language, and the actors, spurred on by some unknown stimulus (perhaps the fact that their faces will never be connected to their performances), charge headlong for the wall dividing forcefulness from caricature and go straight over the top. Characters roll their eyes like mad cows, gnash their teeth, over-emote, and just generally ham it up. It's a completely new concept: bad physical acting in anime. To be fair, it isn't entirely the actors' fault. Characters' faces are at that creepy, waxy mid-point between artificiality and realism, and the computer has not yet been invented that can handle the insane subtleties of human expression, even with the help of real human models.

Live in Concert by Ray Charles

Blood Pressures by The Kills - Listen

2011-04-03T07:39:00.000-07:00

A universe as expansive as the Gundam universe is bound to have a few oddities. Take the silly cartoon educational videos on the 08th MS Team DVDs or the absolutely bizarre SD Gundam. Though it isn't exactly hobnobbing with SD Gundam, MS IGLOO's ill-fated experimentations with fully 3D CG animation and motion-capture acting so overpower its modest merits that it is more of a footnote than a landmark in the history of the Gundam franchise.

Set in the original and most realistic of the many Gundam universes, the series forgoes the franchise's customary evenhandedness to focus exclusively on the Zeon forces, but is scripted with a sympathetic eye for the little tragedies of those left behind by a war that created bigger heroes and claimed more important lives than their own. And that's where the praise ends. The series rehashes many of the ideas that the franchise has been kicking around for decades (war is tragic and pointless. Revelation city.) and it obviously thinks killing off newly-introduced characters each episode (another hoary Gundam cliché) is a more effective dramatic device than it actually is. Each episode follows a rigid formula: the 603 unit receives a new technology along with its last-of-the-cowboys operator; Oliver tests it but something goes wrong; the vehicle and its pilot get thrown into real combat, during which they prove themselves but perish in the process. It's stiff, hidebound, and thoroughly unimaginative.

Blood Pressures by The Kills

See My Friends by Ray Davies -Listen

2011-04-03T07:38:00.003-07:00

See My Friends by Ray Davies

The cause, however, is beside the point. The effect is all that matters, and the effect is devastating. Already endangered by their short introductions and habit of dying quickly, the characters quickly become unintentional jokes under the influence of their stilted performances. However, as ripe as Hemme's mad-dog barking or Sonnen's neurotic twitching are, it's Imanishi's habit of retaining the compensatory stylistic exaggerations of two-dimensional anime that pushes the unintentional humor from merely amusing to gut-bustingly bad. Freezing the camera on the faces of two characters as they mime surprise at their recognition of each other is bad enough (in photo-realistic 3D), but the slo-mo sparkly hair-flip during Commander Cadillac's introduction nearly put me in traction. When you seek to bring animation as close to live-action as possible, you must accept that the rules of live action—in acting and in direction—hold sway, not the rules of animation. Imanishi doesn't, and MS IGLOO suffers as a consequence.

Though a fitting score for a mecha drama—it includes all of the rousing action and lonely sadness one could desire—and blessed with a pretty, melancholy opening theme, IGLOO's music is so bluntly wielded that it leaves a much worse impression than it should. Imanishi keeps his musical support quiet and often silent, but when it does come out to play, it's the clumsy, obvious play of a schoolyard bully.

Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition by Rush - Listen

2011-04-03T07:38:00.001-07:00

Moving Pictures - Deluxe Edition by Rush

Behind the big events, overlooked by the powerful forces of war and forgotten by history, the 603 Technical Evaluation Unit spent the tumultuous months of the One Year War supporting the Zeon war effort by testing its army's newest weapons for battle readiness. On a beat-up converted passenger spaceship, frighteningly Teutonic but essentially kindhearted Engineering Lieutenant Oliver May puts technologies that may never see a real battlefield through their paces. Cooperating with a sharp-tongued Special Operations officer with the unlikely name of Monique Cadillac, he comes into contact with a range of proud but outdated specialists who have pinned their hopes on the new technologies he is testing. Unfortunately for them, characters left behind by the times, as any aging movie-cowboy will tell you, tend to die messily.

The Best of Leon Russell by Leon Russell - listen

2011-04-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

This DVD contains one of the most entertaining extras to ever accompany an anime release: voice actress Yui Horie (Jiyu/Jubei-chan) takes beginner's kendo lessons with actual swordsmen from the Yagyu school. Not only does she discuss the history of the real Jubei, but she learns a few basic moves from the masters. Sure, you could look at the art galleries too, but make sure not to miss this fun little foray into kendo.

With Jiyu trying to escape her destiny as Jubei-chan and her pursuers trying to force it upon her, this series needs a good dose of comedy more than ever, and somehow it works: absurd antics right next to revenge-driven drama. Even with all that, there's still time for blistering duels between friends turned into bitter enemies. How can one series do so much? It's all about exploring the consequences of history converging upon the present. Consequences that can be sad, sweet, strange, or silly—and consequences that will depend on the choices of one young girl.

The Best of Leon Russell by Leon Russell

Steady As She Goes by Hot Tuna - Listen

2011-04-03T07:30:00.004-07:00

Steady As She Goes by Hot Tuna

Although the urgent, wordless theme song is still an essential part of the soundtrack, it's no longer as much of a repetitive nuisance as it was in the first four episodes. The music branches out into more styles, and while most of them are just simple melodies repeating in different ways, the unique arrangements help to set the mood. The fight scenes in particular are marked by heavy percussion, resembling traditional Japanese music that the original Jubei himself might have listened to.

Despite this show's strengths, it's let down by an English dub that fails to make the characters real in the way the story does. All too often the voice actors trip up over the phrasing and dismantle any natural flow of dialogue. Even when it's to sync with mouth movements, there's something about the way the words are arranged that puts pauses in all the wrong places. Maybe the script is to blame, taking a free-and-easy approach with the original translation and rearranging much of the dialogue. Shades of meaning get lost or conversations take a different turn because the dub script refuses to agree with the subtitles.

Tron: Legacy Reconfigured by Daft Punk - listen

2011-04-03T07:30:00.003-07:00

Tron: Legacy Reconfigured by Daft Punk

For those averse to prolonged melodrama, however, the comedy sequences balance things out at a breakneck pace. Kita Furo's encounter with a tree in Episode 6 would normally be just an ordinary gag, but the timing makes it ten times funnier. Or just when Jiyu/Jubei-chan is about to get into serious trouble, we're suddenly whisked away to a ridiculous scene of the guys from school stalking her house. These rollercoaster mood swings—contemplative one moment; zany the next—can be either imaginative or confusing, depending on your viewpoint. But never let it be said that this is a mediocre show: it does wacky comedy better than most, being sassy rather than stupid, and it does drama better than most, going deep into the characters' issues of vengeance, family, and life's purpose. Sometimes the two even collide in the strangest places: who would have thought that Freesia's tragic back story would involve being raised by a community of talking, singing forest animals?

Madhouse's animation style is as daring as the storyline itself, jumping between art techniques as often as the series jumps between moods. When Jiyu's father loses himself in the samurai novel he's writing, a montage of traditional feudal art complements the scene; the Siberia Yagyu clan, even at their most serious, still have that one guy who's drawn really weird. The studio's only misstep is experimenting with CGI—there's a mascot character that's supposed to be the Siberia Yagyu's spy, except it looks more like a reject from the Toy Story cast. Luckily, the character only appears in one episode here (perhaps the animators also realized that it wasn't working out). The simple, rounded character designs may look like kids' stuff, but there's a certain craftsmanship in being able to render Jiyu and Freesia's features with just a few bold lines. Further craftsmanship comes out in the action scenes—in Episode 7, the transformed versions of Jubei-chan and Freesia duke it out in mid-air, twirling and slashing away in a swordfight that rivals any of the more conventional action series. Best of all, the fights don't take three episodes to finish, so you can be guaranteed of the story moving along.

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert - Listen

2011-04-03T07:30:00.002-07:00

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert by Original Broadway cast

There are plenty of humorous ninja shows in anime. There are plenty of serious ninja shows. But few of them can cram those extremes together like Jubei-Chan 2, which bounces between comedy and drama like a warrior traversing the rooftops. Friendly characters and bright colors welcome you in with a smile, and then ... BAM! Suddenly it's all action and battle and fear and death. It takes a lot of guts to pull off something like this, where silliness and despair share such close quarters. Luckily, this is one series that meets the challenge.

Being a reincarnated swordsman is serious business. Yes, even if that swordsman now occupies the body of a cheerful teenage girl. Two of the three episodes on this disc begin in a reflective mood—Jiyu sitting on the rooftop, contemplating her dual identity and how much she just wants to be herself. Fans of ninja Jubei-chan need not worry, though, as Jiyu is forced into transforming a couple of times and still displays her usual swordfighting skills. The direction of the storyline isn't too surprising—everybody wants to fight her, while Jiyu just wants to live her life and be friends with Freesia—but each scene makes the most of its dramatic potential.

How To Become Clairvoyant by Robbie Robertson listen

2011-04-03T07:30:00.001-07:00

How To Become Clairvoyant by Robbie Robertson

Jiyu Nanohana has renounced her status as the reincarnation of legendary swordsman Yagyu Jubei, but that doesn't stop Jubei's old enemies from hunting her down. The renegade Siberia Yagyu clan wants revenge, but that may be tricky if Jiyu refuses to fight them. Meanwhile, Freesia, who claims to be Jubei's true heir, is still after the Lovely Eyepatch that turns Jiyu into Jubei-chan. Unable to hold back her grudge any longer, Freesia reveals that the only reason she hangs out with Jiyu is because she wants the Eyepatch. But that isn't the only shock in store: when Jiyu learns that her father lied to her, she runs out of the house and straight into the clutches of Yagyu rebel Kita Furo. The more she tries to stay the same, the more she has to change ... into the warrior Jubei-chan.

Songs for Japan by Various Artists listen

2011-04-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

So where does this show fail? The viewer is stuck with the English dub, so she has no idea what the original intentions were for this show. Being a typical fan, she'll probably want to know if these are the original names for the characters and if the translation is staying true to the original release. Considering the fact that this show definitely feels like its being targeted towards kids, it's a safe bet that the translation is nowhere near the original script.

The DVD itself is nothing to write home about. It contains the first four episodes with appropriate chapter stops. The closest thing the viewer gets for extras would be the previews for other ADV releases.

Overall, the show has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, it's being released without any information on the original Japanese version. True fans of anime will probably not waste their time with this show. The show will only do well, if it manages to find a nice spot on some afternoon block of cartoons.

Bakuman Chapter 127 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:23:00.005-07:00

The show itself follows the line of the standard quest show. The heroes' father has gone missing on a quest for Power Stones, seven stones with mystical powers. There are the typical characters: a faithful butler, mysterious mystic, two ninjas and a rival samurai, which all add up to a good start for a quest story.

Production values are very high for this show. The artwork and animation are gorgeous. Bright colors create the necessary atmosphere for this light quest comedy. The character designs do lean towards being childish in nature, but again only add to the overall atmosphere.

Bakuman Comedy, Romance, School http://www.mangahere.com/manga/bakuman/

Air Gear Chapter 312 manga Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:23:00.004-07:00

Power Stone: Mystery of the Stones is the first volume for the Power Stone series based on the CAPCOM Video Game of the same name. Art and animation are done by Studio Pierrot based in Japan. Lacey Entertainment has licensed Power Stone for release in the U.S. and Canada. DVD production is being handled by A.D. Vision.

Right away, you can tell Lacey Entertainment is targeting kids with this release and trying to ride the coattails of other Japanese fads. The opening song harks back to the songs for other imports like Pokémon and Monster Rancher. There is also no Japanese language track available, so viewers are stuck with the English dub.

Air Gear Action, Comedy, Drama
http://www.mangahere.com/manga/air_gear/

Kunisaki Izumo no Jijou Chapter 18 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:23:00.002-07:00

Everyone wants to be a hero, and Edward Falcon isn't shirking his dream to become the top fighter in the world! The only problem is his nagging butler wants Edward to search for his father, who disappeared while looking for the mysterious powerstones. Edward finds himself in the middle of trouble when he receives one of the stones. Now, he is chased by a mysterious band of ninja and an honorable samurai.

Will Edward find his missing father and discover the secret of the Power Stones?

Action, Comedy, Gender http://www.mangahere.com/manga/kunisaki_izumo_no_jijou/

Judge Chapter 10 manga Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:23:00.001-07:00

The extras are very minimal to say the least, including the clean opening and closing videos as well as a handful of Madman previews. Other than missing out on some foil effects for the cover, Madman's release is completely identical to its US counterpart.

Whether you will enjoy Air Gear or not certainly rides on your tolerance for light hearted anime and interests in the Air Treks. Despite showing itself to be a fun and amusing title during the first disc, Air Gear makes it quite obvious that the series will ride a very formulaic wave that we have seen done countless times.

Drama, Horror, Mystery http://www.mangahere.com/manga/judge/

Magico Chapter 2 0 1 manga Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangahere.com/manga/magico/

Right from the start Air Gear does not disappoint in the music department. The opening theme "Chain" by Back-Off is an absolutely rocking track that will continually have you turning the volume up so you can rock out to it, whilst the closing theme “SKY-2-HIGH” by skankfunk is certainly one for the electronica fans out there. The background music is also just as good, keeping itself varied whilst playing a lot of pumped up tracks that suit the show very well. The only issue, which is probably a production fault, is that the 5.1 surround channel is absolutely blaring compared to the 2.0 Japanese track, so it may pay to turn the volume down slightly prior to watching this dvd.

The English dub may not light your ears on fire, but it certainly is above average compared to most of the anime we see coming out in recent times. Jay Hickman's British accent for Spitfire was certainly one of the best surprises along with John Gremillion's take on the Rez-Boa-Dog's leader Inuyama. The English script is fairly run of the mill, adding and changing slang and profanities to sound more suitable with the Western language, whilst keeping the substance of the Japanese script intact. At the end of it though, there is certainly a feeling of enjoyment that comes from the English dub, a feeling that fits the show's image wonderfully.

Working!! manga chapter 59 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:16:00.005-07:00

Ikki decides to take a set of AT's out for some fun, but it quickly becomes pear shaped as he not only gets mistaken as a member of the Sleeping Forest, but also gets taken to a Storm Rider meeting and subsequently picks an Air Trek battle with the Skull Saders, a gang in which Ikki has had some prior run ins with. Despite not knowing any rules and putting his caretaker's group at risk, Ikki's brashness gets the best of him and soon his inexperience finds him in alot of trouble. It is not long though before the sisters show up to help bail Ikki out of trouble, giving him a much needed chance to catch up and rejoin the race. It is during this showdown though that we first witness Ikki's untapped potential, subsequently performing an advanced technique without realising and passing the Skull Sadder leader to win the race. It is not long though before Ikki decides to create his own Storm Rider team and begin making his way to the top.

Thankfully Air Gear makes up for its lack of plot with some interesting character models and some great visuals. The main cast themselves are unsurprisingly bland in terms of design with some fairly run of the mill looks that do not try to be original most of the time. Simca is pretty much the only standout main character in terms of design right now, however being one of the main female cast members its understandable. The gangs however are a different story, each being pictured in relation to their gang and personal traits, which leads to some quite amusing scenes with the Rez-Boa-Dogs and their dog masks, as well as large Buccha's AT's appearing as massive tanks from time to time. The art however is where Air Gear begins to shine, containing some of the most detailed background art around that goes brilliantly with the character animations. CG also makes a fairly common appearance and very rarely looks out of place.

Working!! manga
Comedy, Gender Bender, http://www.mangahere.com/manga/working/

Oumagadoki Doubutsuen Chapter 24 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:16:00.003-07:00

High speeds, big tricks and humourous situations are all in a days work for Air Gear, the latest sports crazed anime to hit our shelves in recent times courtesy of Madman Entertainment. Don't be fooled into any insecurities though as Air Gear is as formulaic as they come, combining the best clichés the shonen genre has to offer with fanservice, bad jokes and a plot which rivals that of a childrens show. Despite all of this though, Air Gear still manages to ooze enough 'coolness' from its music and animation that it is quite easy to forget many of its flaws whilst your reaching for the remote to turn the volume up during the rocking opening theme.

Air Gear is based around Air Treks (ATs) a modified set of roller blades containing a small motor which gives riders the ability to achieve high speeds and big airs. These 'Storm Riders' have formed an underground competition of sorts, allowing groups to compete against one another in order to move up the rankings and gain better status. As is tradition with these types of plots, a poor sapless down on his luck guy is given the lead role and is poised with an untapped potential set on sending him to the top. Air Gear does not disappoint one bit, introducing us to Itsuki Minami (Ikki) an 8th grade freeloader living with four sisters due to some undiscussed reasons. One night Ikki decides to venture into a forbidden room he comes across in the hallway, unsurprisingly discovering a number of AT's and an emblem for the sister's group Sleeping Forest.

Graphic Novel book
Oumagadoki Doubutsuen
Action, Comedy, Fantasy http://www.mangahere.com/manga/oumagadoki_doubutsuen/

Rain Chapter 6 manga Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:16:00.001-07:00

Ride Hard, Fly High! Welcome to the world of Storm Riders, where motor-powered inline skates called "Air Treks" take extreme sports to a whole new level. Those who dare to ride with these high tech devices risk life and limb in a struggle for fame, power and wings to take to the sky.

Enter Ikki Minami, the toughest fighter on the east side of town. He rules his school, takes on violent gangs single-handedly and lives with the Noyamanos; four sexy sisters with a surprising secret. And after a humiliating defeat to a terrifying gang of Storm Riders, the sisters welcome him to the world of Air Trek, where his strength, speed and ambitions soar to brand-new heights.

Now, with powerful new wings, he must protect his friends, his school and his pride in fierce Air Trek battles known as "Parts Wars." One mistake could cost him everything, but each victory brings him one step closer to becoming the king of the sky.

Rain
Action, Adventure, Fantasy http://www.mangahere.com/manga/rain/

Genshiken Chapter 63 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Other than clean versions of the TV and OVA opening and closing sequences, the only extras on this set are the uncut versions of the Extra Stage OVAs. The OVAs themselves are a pair of side-stories about Mako, who D'dites might remember as Iketani's one-time girlfriend. They offer a single decent race and a good deal of perspective on what was going on on Mako's side of the relationship, as well as where she went afterwards, but are otherwise pretty disposable. The uncut versions remove some steam from the episodes' shower and bath sequences, which fans of fan-service will appreciate (frontal nudity, boys; have at it!) but won't make or break anyone else's experience.

While Takumi mentally overcomes all the bad stuff thrown his way this season, none of it actually gets resolved until the Initial D movie (located chronologically after these episodes, but released earlier). And the relative dearth of nerve-punishing racing action doesn't get resolved until the television series following that. Still, a pair of excellent races and some surprisingly well-written character drama make this a worthy view, even if it weren't necessary to fully appreciate the high-octane gearhead action of the next season.

Comedy, Romance, Seinen http://www.mangahere.com/manga/genshiken/

Arago Chapter 62 Graphic Novel book

2011-04-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

On a purely technical level, this season is an improvement over the first. The characters are still flat and ugly as sin, and the 2D animation isn't much prettier, but the 3DCG is definitely improving. Lines bend more gracefully and there are fewer obvious CG polygons in both the cars and their surroundings. When a tailpipe moves, you can still see that it isn't round like a tailpipe should be, but at least they aren't octagonal any more. The physics engine is also better, so the cars are less atrociously unreal in their movements, as are their engines during the sprinkling of intern-o-cam engine shots. The all-important soundtrack adds a few more roaring guitars but otherwise remains the same electronic rave-up it has always been.

Even improved, though, there's nothing particularly attractive about any of it—save the soundtrack. When the series is trying to get at Takumi's inner turmoil or get us to feel Mogi's pain, the stylistic decisions it makes—particularly as regards to those hideous, immobile character designs—are undeniably unfortunate. That said, during the races the intense character designs, slick CGI cars, and techno-thumping eurotrash soundtrack make perfect sense, colliding to create thrilling automotive ballets that maintain high excitement for improbably long periods. Which just makes it that much more unfortunate that there's so few of them this season.

Arago
Action, Mystery, Romance http://www.mangahere.com/manga/arago/

Seishun Pop! Chapter 11 eng

2011-03-25T03:35:00.004-07:00

q

Seishun Pop!
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/seishun_pop/

The dialogue throughout this volume is decidedly in-your-face, with confrontational language and an assortment of swears. The commentator for the battle is particularly colorful with his choice of words, and this translation sprinkles in some Japanese words ("Ikku yo!" "Sugoi!") to give his speech patterns an idiosyncratic quality—but some may find this more annoying than quirky. Some may also be surprised to find that the dialogue can get quite wordy, as the characters discuss their tragic past or their fighting techniques. Sound effects also play a big role here, transcending the line between text and artwork, and the graffiti-inspired lettering can be so overpowering that any attempt to provide a translation on the page pretty much gets lost in all the action. At least the glossary is more noticeable, covering various pop-cultural references throughout the story.

Tsumi to Bachi Chapter 2 1 0 eng

2011-03-25T03:35:00.003-07:00

Oh, but there are other very good reasons for characters like Ringo to show up. Air Gear would not be what it is without the T&A factor, and Ringo's ridiculous outfit provides plenty of curvaceous eye candy for those who find such things to their taste. The same can be said for Gorgon Shell, whose battle gear of choice involves a thong and pasties. However, the fanservice goes on hiatus after about the first quarter of the book, to be substituted instead by the trademark action scenes that make the series unique. Visual metaphor comes into play many times here, often in intense detail: Onigiri as a pig, Gorgon Shell as a snake, Ikki as a crow, Akira as a mecha-monster hybrid. Add in the tilted angles, exaggerated sense of perspective, and uncountable speedlines, and the fight scenes are no less than a masterpiece, especially with the full-page spreads. There's just one little problem: with the chaotic scenes and highly detailed style, it can become a nonstop visual assault, with little room to rest the eyes.

Tsumi to Bachi
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/tsumi_to_bachi/

Shibariya Komachi Chapter 15 eng

2011-03-25T03:35:00.002-07:00

If it's not bad enough that the fight drags on without purpose, the scene transitions wreck the flow of the story as well. Managing two battles at once (Ikki's and Agito's) is not an easy task, and jumping haphazardly between them doesn't work at all. A number of quick flashbacks to Agito's past also make the storyline even more fractured than it already is. Amidst all this chaos and lousy plotting, one thing seems to have gone forgotten: Ringo, who supposedly came by to provide some kind of support, but instead ends up standing idly by with no impact on the fight. It's not like she provides very much useful commentary; in the end we're stuck with a side character who's so far off to the side that she might as well have not bothered showing up.

Shibariya Komachi
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/shibariya_komachi/

Jio to Ougon to Kinjirareta Mahou Chapter 25 eng

2011-03-25T03:35:00.000-07:00

How do you know you're in an Oh!great manga? When the first page consists of a girl's naked butt right in your face! Yes, folks, the fanservice flies thick and fast in this one, but only for as long as there's a female character involved. Otherwise, it's typical fighting-action fodder, and unfortunately, that seems to be making the series worse. The hyperkinetic visual style may be unlike anything else out there, but it's a waste of creative energy if it's all going to be spent on guys powering up, discussing how ridiculously superhuman their abilties are, and yelling out the names of their attacks. When did Air Gear turn into yet another drawn-out fighting tournament series? More importantly, when are we going to get out of this interminable Behemoth battle arc?

This volume isn't entirely terrible, though. The first few chapters show a fight done right: Onigiri versus Gorgon Shell, where our hero is thrown into peril but overcomes the odds through his own innate skills and a touch of psychological warfare. After that, however, things quickly take a turn for the worse as Ikki and Agito's respective fights turn into some kind of double feature that drags on and on and still isn't over by the end of the volume. That, in itself, is not the problem—anyone who's ever been exposed to anime or manga should be familiar with fights that span multiple volumes or episodes—actually, the real problem is that the Behemoth fight is long for the sake of being long. There is no sense of escalation, no epic struggle; the guys just keep duking it out for over a hundred pages without ever getting anywhere.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/jio_to_ougon_to_kinjirareta_mahou/

Hajimete Datteba! Chapter 3 2 1 0 eng

2011-03-25T03:32:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing that's consistent about Air Gear, it's that it continues to provide nonstop eye candy—whether that comes in the form of buxom girls in various stages of undress, or supercharged guys in various stages of battle. But amidst all this mind-blowing action, the story has taken a sharp turn south, wallowing in the mediocrity that we know as the fighting tournament format. It was okay the first few times, when Ikki and friends got into battles that lasted maybe several chapters at the most, but when you start measuring the length of a fight in volumes, that's when things get tricky. Either it's an epic battle that gets crazier and more imaginative with each new move ... or, as it turns out in this volume, it's a fight that's long for the sake of being long, and you only wish it would end already.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/hajimete_datteba/

Imouto wa Shishunki Chapter 43

2011-03-25T03:31:00.005-07:00

From the moment Itsuki "Ikki" Minami first put on a pair of Air Treck powered skates, he entered a world of extreme sports—as well as extreme combat. Now Ikki and his team must face a series of one-on-one cage matches against the fearsome Team Behemoth. Can Ikki's pudgy school friend Onigiri survive against the feminine wiles of Ryou Mimasaka, the so-called Gorgon Shell? Or will Ikki's gal pal Ringo have to step in and save the day? Meanwhile, Ikki must dodge the deadly punches of his opponent Bandou, and team leader Agito goes up against Behemoth's top guy, Akira. Things don't look very good for these one-on-one matches, but Ikki and Agito might have a fighting chance if they team up...

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/imouto_wa_shishunki/

Hell Blade Chapter 7

2011-03-25T03:31:00.004-07:00

While the show is mostly harmless, what GUNxSWORD stands for is rather frightening; the show is obviously pandering to an American audience, directly stealing concepts from other shows that the States managed to make successful. If we're going to see more and more shows like this, series that directly try and appeal to American tastes, then it would be for the best if we saw less shows like GUNxSWORD, which are simply trying too hard to pander to their intended audience and fall very, very short. Original productions with an international audience in mind are great, but something like this – that simply tosses in everything they know works with an American audience with little regard for the story or the execution – is best left on the shelf. Aside from a terrific dub that transcends the source material, you might be better off skipping GUNxSWORD and not encouraging the Japanese to churn out more shows like it.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/hell_blade/

Legend of Tyr Chapter 17

2011-03-25T03:31:00.003-07:00

Still, GUNxSWORD isn't all bad; the animation quality is surprisingly good; it's very fluid, and the combat scenes are lovingly rendered (if a bit unimaginative). The storylines are very, very silly, which might be good for a laugh if you're in to that sort of thing; few things are as enjoyable as sitting around the TV ruthlessly mocking something with good friends, after all. Special mention must go to the dub, which New Generation Pictures knocked out of the park. We're used to very good work from this studio, and this show is no exception; Van's American voice actor channels a very convincing and very appropriate Christian Bale; even Wendy, who had the most potential to have a seriously terrible English voice, is performed with just the right tone. Some of the cursory characters – Lucky, the villain in the first episode in particular – could use some work, but it's difficult not to blame the questionable dialogue rather than the actors themselves. I mean, how easy can it be to deliver the line “You stole my luck!” convincingly? Given what they had to work with, the dub for this title is a diamond in the rough.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/legend_of_tyr/

Legend Hustle Chapter 8

2011-03-25T03:31:00.002-07:00

Ultimately, though, the real problem with this series is the lead character, Van. Van (pronounced Vaughn) is a direct lift of Vash the Stampede from Trigun, complete with wicked weapon, amazing talent, easygoing demeanor, and bizarre eating habits. He's wearing black instead of red and his head resembles Spike from Cowboy Bebop moreso than Vash, but he's the exact same character. If you've seen Trigun before – and I'm hard pressed to think of an anime fan who hasn't – then you're going to pick up on this immediately, and everything else in the show that's a blatant lift of an element from another successful anime will suddenly become very clear to you. It's derivative and unoriginal to distraction and odds are you're going to spend most of your time figuring out where they stole their concepts from rather than actually enjoying the show.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/legend_hustle/

Yukemuri Sanctuary Chapter 5 4 3 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:31:00.001-07:00

Right off the bat, it's very obvious that GUNxSWORD was designed with Americans in mind; it's as though the Japanese creators sat down and examined the last 5 or 6 anime series to hit big in America and tossed them all into a blender. What we get as a result is almost pure nonsense. Basically, Vash – er, sorry, Van, badass dude with a black trenchcoat, a dark past, a quest for vengeance and a magic cloth-sword-thing that allows him to summon an Evangelion-looking robot at the end of every episode to deliver the coup-de-grace, travels the globe looking for the guy who killed his bride. Along for the ride is Wendy, the Matilda to Van's Leon (for those of you who are fans of Luc Besson's Leon: The Professional), a little girl with ridiculous pigtails who follows Van for her own personal reasons. Together they fight ridiculous villains in exotic locations on the planet of Endless Illusion, which sounds like what Bon Jovi would name a planet if they were given the chance. Silly enough for you yet? No? Well, the second episode involves Van and Wendy fighting off a team of guys with superpowered moustaches. Still not strange enough for you? Well, the hero can also summon a robot (which is, to be honest, the most out-of-place and confusing element in this series)! While it might sound like it's a parody, it isn't, and that's part of the problem; in spite of how silly the proceedings are and how impossible it is to take any of this seriously, the show plays it straight and doesn't let on at all that the writers in on the joke. There are enough “serious moments” where it's clear that this is in no way intended to be satire.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/yukemuri_sanctuary/

Dekisokonai no Monogatari Chapter 5

2011-03-25T03:27:00.000-07:00

On the planet Endless Illusion, a mysterious man named Van wanders the wasteland searching for the man who murdered his bride. Armed with a magical sword that can change itself into a sash and a robot he can summon from the heavens, Van is joined by Wendy, a plucky little girl with nothing to live for who follows him on his adventures.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/dekisokonai_no_monogatari/

Golden Days Chapter 19

2011-03-25T03:26:00.000-07:00

Kaname also shines in her one episode of exposure, as the fearfulness that gripped her at the end of episode 7 carries over into episode 9. Though not directly cognizant of the threat to herself, a “spider sense” kind of reaction to impending danger eventually provokes her to take bold and desperate action. Lacking fancy moves, dramatic combat-application powers, or fancy equipment, Kaname must rely only on her own cleverness, which makes her action scenes all the more compelling because the danger to her feels so real. Capping the scene's chilling resolution is the much-hinted-at arrival of an important new character and a resolution of sorts between Kaname and Wraith, one which indicates that we have not yet knowingly seen Wraith's true face.

As before, the English dub proves more than up to the task of supporting the writing, especially in the tricky emotional scenes. Hilary Haag sounds a little more credible as Teletha than the too-cutesy performance by seiyuu Yukana, Luci Christian nails Kaname's tearful and fearful moments, and Blake Shepard gives “Mr. Silver” a sly and smooth sound that departs a bit from the original performance, while Lt. Clouseau is delivered in a fashion more befitting an American black military officer, which fits English better than the Japanese approach. In general, tones and inflections are adjusted enough to make the whole thing sound excellent in English. The English script still rewords things substantially, giving the dialogue speech patterns and slang usage more befitting the English language, but it is handled well enough that it is unlikely to bother anyone beyond the most diehard purists. The one flaw which prevents the English dub from being given a higher grade this time: one scene in episode 8, where Sousuke is in his cockpit, has a few lines of dialogue by the A.I. completely eliminated in English, for no apparent good reason.

Golden Days
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/golden_days/

Kimi Koi Limit Chapter 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:25:00.002-07:00

Once again all three episodes have audio commentaries by pairs of key seiyuu, and parts IV and V of the annotated Hong Kong location scouting seen in earlier volumes are also present. The only other extras are the textless opener and closer. The standard Mithral Report booklet provides a wealth of additional detail on fictional and nonfiction locations, personnel and equipment profiles, and call signs used in the various FMP series. . . if you can read it, that is. The miniscule font size and questionable use of background coloring previously cited as problems are even worse here, often making trying to read the entries an eye-straining experience.

Only three episodes coming out at a time may be a pain, but at least they're quality episodes. Though basically humorless, it is still one of the best FMP volumes to date.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kimi_koi_limit/

Maomarimo Chapter 3 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:25:00.001-07:00

As with the previous volume, the soundtrack shakes up its musical score quite a bit. Most of the traditional FMP themes have been set inside in favor of entirely new batches tailor-made for each episode, ones which favor a mix of dramatic sci-fi tones and horror themes for episode 9 and more general drama elsewhere. The effectiveness of the new themes is mildly mixed; often they're great, but at times you may be left wondering at the music director's choices. The soundtrack still knows well when to be quiet, too. Also especially noteworthy is the use of sound effects, particularly involving the gun used by Yu Lan. Special effort clearly went into making it sound authentic. Opening and closing themes have not changed, but their lyrics now speak more to what the main characters are going through than before.

FMP series have always looked good, and this volume maintains the franchise's high artistic standards. Well-drawn and interesting-looking characters, sharp (if not entirely original-looking) mecha designs, good backgrounds, and well-handled CG effects are all strengths, and although there's no actual nudity this time, episode 9 provides some quality Kaname-based fan service. Good animation supports effective and exciting action scenes, although this volume has less of such content than the norm for the series.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/maomarimo/

West Heaven Garden Chapter 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:25:00.000-07:00

Volume three proves that volume two was no fluke: when allowed to take itself sufficiently seriously, FMP is capable of some damn fine drama. The introduction of the ball-busting new Lieutenant may be stereotypical, but the examination of the impact their forced spilt has on both Sousuke and Kaname, and the tactical consequences for both, uses the franchise's best writing to date.

Although Tessa finally gets to speak her heart and Lieutenant Clouseau reveals that he isn't a one-note character, FMP has not changed from being the Sousuke and Kaname Show. Instead of spreading itself thin by splitting its focus between the diverging but still connected story threads, each episode focuses solely on one of the main characters, with Sousuke featured in episodes 8 and 10 and Kaname getting full viewer attention in episode 9. Sousuke has always been so single-mindedly devoted and sure of himself that watching him struggle to reconcile his unacknowledged feelings towards Kaname with his duty, and his troubles mastering Arbalest and what his failures mean to his team, is quite fascinating. This is a gradual but full-blown meltdown in action, albeit one of a diametrically contrary nature to Asuka's famous mental collapse in Neon Genesis Evangelion; whereas she projected outward, Sousuke purely internalizes. That's hard to do convincingly in animation, but FMP has accomplished it.

West Heaven Garden
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/west_heaven_garden/

Haru to Natsu Chapter 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:24:00.000-07:00

Angry about being pulled from his Kaname-protecting duty so he can concentrate only on mastering Arbalest, Sousuke's confrontation with Tessa over it goes even worse than it did with Wraith. He fares little better in his first encounters with Lieutenant Clouseau, his new SRT commander, who seems determined to push him hard. Weighted down by his mixed feelings and inability to get Arbalest's Lambda driver to engage, things come to a head for Sousuke when his unit is sent to deal with an AS on a rampage in Hong Kong, one piloted by Xu Fan as part of the twins' scheme to get revenge on Mithril. Xu Lan, meanwhile, has gone to Japan to seek out Kaname, who, without Sousuke around and with Wraith incapacitated, must conquer her fears and act as needed to survive. In the process she encounters a strange man who claims to be in love with her, one who reminds her greatly of Tessa.

Haru to Natsu
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/haru_to_natsu/

Chibi Miku-chan Chapter 5

2011-03-25T03:22:00.005-07:00

As always, Right Stuf's production values are excellent. All of the titles are replaced with English ones, and although the post-production shows signs of shearing every now and then, overall the video is fine. The translations a la Neil Nadelman are excellent (although I disagree with how some name suffixes are handled), and overall, Tylor makes up a very impressive package. I'm hoping for a DVD box... is that too much to ask? :)

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/chibi_miku_chan/

Kanamemo Chapter 16

2011-03-25T03:22:00.004-07:00

Meanwhile, Tylor & co. is offered a new ship, the Aso (which is kick-butt by any definition), but Tylor is intent on resigning. Yuriko is pressured to take a desk job, which she reluctantly accepts (while thinking about what the future holds for him), but finally grasping what the good captain was all about gives her the urge to go off in search of him. He's already left, however.

I won't try to describe the heart-to-heart Tylor and Yuriko have later, but it is truly one of the most moving scenes in the entire series.

While I never thought Tylor to be very funny, the series has always been special not as a comedy, but as a space opera. Tylor makes his trademark by being a total enigma: totally unpredictable, totally lucky, and totally average. This volume adds "totally human" to that list. Seeing Tylor so totally crushed -- even during his drunken stooper accompanied by the omnipresent Sesame Street music -- is incredibly moving. The space backgrounds are beautifully rendered and present a truly nostalgic picture of the future, and the rest of the art is truly OAV quality. Given that this series was produced some time ago, this puts it well ahead of its peers.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kanamemo/

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria Chapter 8.6 9

2011-03-25T03:22:00.002-07:00

This volume marks the final and immensely fitting end to The Irresponsible Captain Tylor series, and is possibly the most thought provoking of the series. It's a very fitting end to a truly unique series.

The tape starts off with the welcoming of the Soyokaze crew by Headquarters after the stunning series of victories. Tylor finds no reason for celebration, however, after finding out that his most important friend, Commander Hanner, has died. Tylor's mental state is made painfully clear by his bizarre (even for him) behavior at a banquet in his honor, but the funeral service is made more special by some surprise visitors...

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/valkyrie_profile_2_silmeria/

Senshuuraku Made Matte Chapter 5

2011-03-25T03:22:00.001-07:00

With a greater focus on characters casually living their objectively bizarre lives, and less sci-fi bombast, fewer excruciating plot contrivances and no endless transformations, this is perhaps the first volume that doesn't trigger a storm of guilt for enjoying it. Don't take this as unconditional praise. This is a show that peaks at a B- and until the end is filled with much that is offensive, poorly executed, and downright idiotic. Even its restful rhythm is but the palest shadow of similar tactics used in far superior works of magical realism such as Kamichu! and Someday's Dreamers. Enjoyable it may be at times, but this isn't a work of any kind of skill. Though if the shocking eleventh hour twist of fate that caps off this season is any indicator, the writers may have promising careers in magic, provided they learn to pull things besides plot twists from their rears (like perhaps a string of flags or Jimmy Hoffa's skull).

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/senshuuraku_made_matte/

Dokidoki Renai Chapter 7

2011-03-25T03:17:00.001-07:00

There isn't a whole lot wrong with the English version that isn't wrong with the Japanese version. English Big Valkyrie continues to be a comparative treat, Little Valkyrie sounds a tad older, and the rest of the cast (perhaps due to the length of time they've been working on this title) have gotten nicely comfortable with their roles. Perhaps a little too comfortable. Some rather questionable changes are made in the name of adding extra laughs (Spot's dialogue, turning the robotic railroad employees into metrosexuals) and Laine is actually brattier in English than Japanese.

The extras available will be familiar, once more, to those who've made it this far. The messages from the voice actors are from the English actors this time, fashioned after the drawings and comments that were customary for the Japanese versions of the same extra. The Valkyrie World Notes are a collection of explanations for various aspects of the episodes, cultural notes dealing with parodies and cultural references, and fairly lengthy written comments by original creators Kaishaku.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/dokidoki_renai/

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha - Vivid Chapter 20

2011-03-25T03:17:00.000-07:00

Nevertheless, the improvements made this volume are manifold—there're no repeated transformation sequences, the naked little girl quotient is far lower, and the tendency towards painfully over-the-top sci-fi hijinks only rears its ugly head at the end of the sixth episode—and they clear away enough of the truly awful material to allow the series' one overriding positive quality to shine. There's a laid-back rhythm to life in UFO UMV, in which characters take even the most outrageous developments (time-traveling massage treatments, pirate attacks, Valkyrie's condition itself) in stride, blithely accepting them and getting on with enjoying their lives. It's a surprisingly seductive worldview, one that is capable of turning a hideously abrasive character like Laine into a sympathetic lead once she succumbs to its calming effects and spends time just hanging out with Chorus. Under its influence previously inexplicable quirks of the show's production make more sense. The focus on background artistry and incongruously atmospheric set-pieces over animation (which is only slightly improved by the OVA budget increase) emphasizes the magic that the characters take so utterly for granted. Kenji Kawai's uncharacteristically frivolous score, a forgettable collection of silly fluff compositions, actually seems appropriate, as a strong, memorable score would undermine the easygoing core to the show.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha - Vivid
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/mahou_shoujo_lyrical_nanoha_vivid/

Kanojo wa Kannou Shousetsuka Chapter 33

2011-03-25T03:16:00.001-07:00

Enjoy the series as one may, there's no escaping the fact that much of UFO Ultramaiden Valkyrie is complete crap. Even as the series gears up for a big wedding, it's impossible to actually care whether or not Kazuto and Valkyrie can achieve wedded bliss, in part because of misgivings about the wedding of a teenager and a woman who is half preschooler and half over-ripe submissive sex-object. Attempts at gentle humor often don't register as humor at all (though blatant laughs, like Sanada's newfound cosplay habit, do work sometimes) and each episode is peppered with gags that may or may not be intentional (a wedding chapel that has more laser defenses than the Death Star anyone?). Attempts to play the heartstrings are either so obvious as to be crass or so precious (Laine and her friend as preschoolers) as to induce diabetic shock. And stupid is the only way to describe the plotting, rife as it is with artless plot devices and complete lapses in narrative logic—there's no explanation for why Laine is so different from her past incarnations, and don't even think about counting the time-travel paradoxes without an abacus in hand. Even the omnipresent fan-service is poorly integrated—slapped in at random intervals with no discernable purpose—and suffers from the generic look and sometimes odd proportions of the characters.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kanojo_wa_kannou_shousetsuka/

Arinoe's Monk Chapter 3 2 1 0

2011-03-25T03:16:00.000-07:00

As if two Valkyries weren't enough, Laine goes back in time—thanks to a super-dimensional massage machine—and ends up in her own company two times over. While the three Laines go around wreaking mild havoc and doing unspeakable things to the laws of causality, they may just have the chance to facilitate a long-ago meeting between little Laine and her best friend that was originally never to be. When an argument over snacks gets nasty, Little Valkyrie runs away... sort of. But, to everyone's surprise, after returning she runs away again, this time as Big Valkyrie. And then it's time for Kazuto and Valkyrie's big day as the season ends with the one event that every good story ends with... a giant space battle.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/arinoe_s_monk/

Kono Oneesan wa Fiction desu!? Chapter 4

2011-03-25T03:14:00.002-07:00

Extras: previews, textless opening (the "Tsukuyomi Mode" version from episode 14) and closing, and character profiles that don't tell you anything that you don't already know.

While MoonPhase does tread the fine line that separates cute from creepy, it most often comes down on the cute side. Though it has pushed things a tad too far in the past (e.g. Hazuki's fashion show in the previous volume), this volume has little time for such shenanigans, occupied as it is with supernatural showdowns and its steadily increasing dramatic potential. This is, far and away, the best installment of the series to date.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kono_oneesan_wa_fiction_desu/

Ark Chapter 5

2011-03-25T03:14:00.001-07:00

The score contains a relatively limited number of themes, with suitable variety: from piano solos, ominous orchestras, and (of course) organs to electric guitar. They are all used to maximum effect, though Shinbo has confidence enough in his cast to let them carry entire scenes with no musical cues whatsoever. More remarkable than the BGM are the translucent, whispery closing theme and the bizarre spoken-word opening with its surreal visual accompaniment.

This particular dubbing effort by Funimation falls squarely in the "spiced up" category. Dialogue is considerably altered, most noticeably during humorous scenes, so as to punch up the more minimalist Japanese script. It rarely alters the tone of a scene or the overall feel of a character, but it is definitely an alternate take on the material. Which version one prefers will probably be split firmly along the usual dub/sub battle lines, but both versions have their own strengths and weaknesses. The English version adds a lot of verbal sparring to juice up the dry, deadpan humor, with occasionally spotty results, but it is also performed in an overall lower register, making it easier on the ears of those with low squeal tolerances. As expected from Funimation, the acting is thoroughly professional, if not quite on par with their best work.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/ark/

Cinderella Fella Chapter 16.3 17

2011-03-25T03:14:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/cinderella_fella/

While Kyohei is still less than prepossessing, Hazuki has grown into a weirdly effective heroine. She's a veneer of physical cuteness wrapped around a spoilt, demanding, bad-tempered, and terminally naive personality that somehow—shrill, diamond-edged line delivery and all—still emerges thoroughly sympathetic: a lost, struggling child rather than a witchy shrew or subservient jailbait. She also, contrary to all previous impressions, proves to be a thoroughly reliable pillar of strength during crises. The script isn't as kind to the supporting characters. The twin priestesses come across as a whispery non-presence and a bully, Elfreide is still something of a cipher, Seiji hasn't demonstrated much personality after his hospital outburst in volume two and Gramps is as spunky as ever but little else. Luckily, even when doing little, they look absolutely fabulous. The twins are adorably rosy-cheeked, Seiji is the epitome of the anime pretty-boy, Elfreide's flowing, shockingly yellow locks and turquoise eyes somehow complement her air of mystery, and Gramps proves to be perhaps the world's buffest old dude. Once again, only Kyohei comes up short, though even he has moments in which he approaches handsomeness.

Kaibutsu Oujo Chapter 60

2011-03-25T03:13:00.001-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kaibutsu_oujo/

Up until the arrival of Count Kinkel, the series relied heavily on the skills of visual freakmeister Akiyuki Shinbo, the man who almost single-handedly transformed Soul Taker into a virtually incomprehensible mash-up of abstract gothic imagery. Luckily his worst impulses have been curbed; his visuals court abstraction to the point of impeding understanding only occasionally. Instead he focuses his considerable energies towards other ends. This volume volume features such continued inspirations as Kyohei's cutaway house (a novel way of creating spatial continuity) and the constantly shifting opening sequence, as well as a deadly serious conference in the dark in which everyone (including a tiny shikigami) lights their faces with a flashlight ghost-story style, and a frantic dash for help by Hazuki. In slo-mo. In a supremely ugly cat suit. The confrontation with Kinkel gives Shinbo an excuse to break out the magical action, whereupon his experimental impulses almost immediately get the better of him. The two-episode battle is filled to bursting with expressionistic touches. Low angle shots of faces and bodies are the norm, people and their backgrounds are lit in contrasting primary colors (reds, yellows and blues), and shadows stretch into infinity, pointedly obscuring eyes and faces. Color schemes reverse with changing camera focus; the camera shakes and loses focus. Meanwhile the characters walk, run, leap and fight through one skewed, twisted setting after another. It's a kind of quality that transcends budgets and animation studios, the kind only possible under the supervision of a driven, inventive director with an overpowering personal vision. It's a form of gothic-noir action so distinctive that it all but screams its director's name.

Seikon Sacrifice Chapter 6

2011-03-25T03:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/seikon_sacrifice/

Count Kinkel plots his comeback as Hazuki and company lick their wounds. When Kyohei's grandfather is abducted by their nemesis, Hazuki, Kyohei, and Seiji head out to reclaim him. But what can one mystic, a half-grown vampire girl and one super-dense photographer do against a cruel master vampire? Later Hazuki wakes up as Luna. Or is she?

Toritsu Mizushou! Chapter 38

2011-03-25T03:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/toritsu_mizushou/

That said, like the series as a whole, Ohta isn't quite working at full capacity. His visuals lack that indefinable spark that lets you know an artist is truly enjoying his work. It shows in the lazy ways he uses the Marui father's inherently funny design, in the less than convincing way that characters interact with their frankly mediocre surroundings, and even in the occasionally pedestrian usage of composer Yasuhiro Misawa's otherwise refreshingly well-deployed assortment of silly themes and tongue-in-cheek mood music. But mostly it shows in the comic timing, which only periodically matches the lethal effectiveness of the first season's.

Zōryōchū's dilemma can be summed up very simply. Mitsudomoe's one overriding advantage was that it was all kinds of funny; Zōryōchū is fewer kinds of funny. And that's a big problem. If it doesn't shape up before its end, Zōryōchū will be one of those sequels that feels more like an extended extra than an extension of the original. It had better hurry. With a mere eight episodes planned, it's already halfway there.

Sengoku Chapter 26

2011-03-25T03:10:00.001-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/sengoku/

As Mitsudomoe's first season wore on it introduced a strain of simple character development. While it may not have been meant as insurance for a time when pure humor could no longer support the series, it pays off here as if it was. For a bunch of one-trait wonders with hideous designs (think grown-up kewpie dolls with buck teeth and bobble heads) they're a pretty enjoyable bunch, and discovering new facets of their various relationships is a surprising amount of fun. The Marui sisters of course remain the main attraction, their believably fraternal mixture of camaraderie and unhesitating cruelty saving a good many otherwise poor gags. But lesser relationships—the unexpectedly tender support Miyashita lends to Yoshioka, Futaba and Shin's baggage-free friendship, Shin's exasperated boy-bond with Chiba—also do their share of rescuing. To be sure we'd rather be laughing our collective asses off, but there is something to be said for just hanging out with the Marui triplets and their screwy classmates.

The moments when we are allowed to laugh our asses off are thanks as much to Masahiko Ohta's visual instincts as the inherent humor of a given joke. Incongruously good animation adds just the silly punch that Mitsuba's nighttime race astride Futaba (and Futaba's freakishly fast swim technique) needed. Spot-on emulation of shoddy sentai filmmaking, including obvious stunt men and questionably choreographed superhero poses, adds considerably to the first episode's already estimable fun. A smartly employed Titanic parody not only makes the pool episode a riot (you know Hitoha is in trouble when her inner tube floats past a quartet of violinists playing "Nearer, My God, To Thee"), but also segues into a lengthy and inventive violation of the featured hymn.

Doraemon Chapter 91

2011-03-25T03:10:00.000-07:00

That still leaves a lot of room to be funny, however. The new ways it invents to get Shin caught panting in panties are genuinely hilarious. The punchline to the ripped-swimsuit sketch is as mean-spirited as anything season one devised. And the entire first episode, during which the series indulges in a beautifully pointless sentai parody, is a kick. Much of it is artless—a strange thing to say about a series that made its bones on pee jokes, I know, but there is an art to transgressive humor—and even more of it dishearteningly sanitary. Nevertheless it's rarely anything less than amusing, and occasionally is outright uproarious. And the sanitization makes the gags—lightly recycled and unambitious though they are—easier to stomach for those who were put off by the series' enthusiastic vulgarity. Though it is still vulgar. Nothing with a sixth-grader sporting enormous fake breasts (the better to pass for eighteen and buy porn) could be called anything else.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/doraemon/

Minami-ke Chapter 138

2011-03-25T03:07:00.001-07:00

There's a scene early in Mitsudomoe Zōryōchū! when Yabe walks into his classroom to find his students burning "cursed" photos on a sacred pyre They're also crying puddles of tears, arguing the finer points of panty shots, and generally generating chaos. "Mm," he nods, satisfied. "Just like always." It's a pretty funny scene, but it's also an implicit acknowledgement of what makes these four episodes inferior to the thirteen that came before: Mitsudomoe has gotten predictable. Rather than invent new comic atrocities, it's content to revisit past successes. There's an athletic festival, a Christmas episode, more of Chiba's doomed girl-harassing techniques, and more opportunities for Shin to deepen his reputation as a panty fetishist. They say familiarity breeds comfort. They also say comfort is comedy's natural enemy. Watching this you can believe it. It's hard to shake the feeling that the show is too busy contentedly basking in its cast's established quirks to properly execute the deadly comic escalations, elaborate contrivances and proliferating perverse misunderstandings that gave season one its down and dirty comic kick. Whether you buy that is up to you, but the fact remains that nothing here matches the first season in either height or consistency of hilarity.

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/minami_ke/

Daydream Nation Chapter 7

2011-03-25T03:07:00.000-07:00

Daydream Nation
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/daydream_nation/

Sixth grade continues. For hapless rookie teacher Yabe that means getting mocked and humiliated by his students, mistaken for a pervert, and beaten to within an inch of his life by the Marui triplets' burly father. For the Marui sisters that means alternately wreaking havoc on their classmates and having it wreaked on them. New "erotic ninjutsu" will be tested (and fail). Horrifying things (ripped swimsuit butts! catastrophic float failures!) will happen at the pool. Mitsuba will attempt to turn Futaba into a weight-loss device. Hitoha will break her father's heart (several times over). Futaba will try her hand at homemade pornography. Who said childhood was a time of innocence?

Wild Life Chapter 60

2011-03-25T03:03:00.006-07:00

Wild Life
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/wild_life/

Comedy fans will definitely want to stay far away from this show but if you like your anime dark with a bit of adventure and a bit of style, Now and Then may be the title for you. It's one of the best newer shows I've seen in a while. Despite not having an overly complex plotline, it remains very involving. The exact target audience this show reaches to is a little hard to pinpoint but some people will certainly to love this one. Fans of Green Legend Ran must definitely check Now and Then out. Galaxy Express 999, Battle Angel, and 3x3 Eyes are somewhat similar shows as well. If you think you can handle it, go ahead and view it.

Oton Chapter 3.2 4

2011-03-25T03:03:00.005-07:00

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/oton/

When you're not watching to embrace some weird political commentary and you don't want to just salivate over ninjas chopping each other up, likable and real characters are a must. They must be well developed and interesting or else the series becomes nothing but a waste. Thankfully, Now and Then, Here and There excels exceptionally well in this area as well. However screwed up they are, the main characters have real personalities and do grow a bit or get more extreme as the series moves on. They are each intriguing and are sure to keep the interested viewer absorbed throughout each episode.

As it must be mentioned, Now and Then, Here and There is very atmospheric as well. The camera occasionally pans across scenery and characters just enough to create a vibe for the show but never long enough to become annoying. Akitaroh Daichi did a very fine job despite normally working with comedy series. The soundtrack matches the mood and helps to absorb viewers as well. Occasional fight scenes are dramatic and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Now and Then is an all around very fine anime.

Hanada Chapter 7

2011-03-25T03:03:00.004-07:00

Hanada
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/hanada/

Despite Now and Then being as mature and dark as it is, the series' main target audience seems to be much lower than one would normally expect. With its twisted characters and mass killings, Now and Then would seem as if it'd be adult only with no exceptions. Most often, series of this nature seem to feature hard-to-follow story lines and have very little to please the younger crowd. But that's definitely not the case here. It's like Future Boy Conan on acid; the plot is easy to follow, not too complex, and is much like an adventure story. The only difference is the characters constantly get the tar beat out of each other and there are rarely any happy moments.

Not having a complex plot does not necessarily mean that the plot is bad. In fact, Now and Then, Here and There's plot is very involving and will definitely hit home with a number of the sci-fi people out there. After main character Shu stumbles across a strange yet mysterious girl, he gets pulled from his carefree life and is thrown into a futuristic world where most of the Earth's population is dead. He's forced to live in a large mechanical structure of a town, where everybody is part of the military with kidnapped children making up the bulk of it. Not very many people like him, either. Shu's main goal is saving the girl he once came across and getting the hell out of where ever he is. Each episode continues his desperate adventure of trying to do so.

Kono Negai ga Kanau nara chapter 9

2011-03-25T03:03:00.002-07:00

Kono Negai ga Kanau nara
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/kono_negai_ga_kanau_nara/

Now and Then, Here and There is definitely the sleeper hit of 2002 in the United States. With Akitaroh Daichi at the helm as director for Japanese animation studio AIC, one would naturally think Now and Then would almost have to be some sort of lighthearted comedy romp. Afterall, Daichi's most famous past works include fan-favorites Child's Toy and Jubei-chan, while AIC is well known for recreating the same series over and over again with series such as Tenchi, El Hazard, and Dual!. However, AIC has pulled a strong 180; Now and Then, Here and There is dark, serious and grim. Much in the same light of Green Legend Ran, except even more extreme.

Now and Then's utmost dark tone makes it a real oddball among the rest of the top tier titles which have come out recently. You won't find any Cowboy Bebop or Trigun comedy elements mixed in here. With the exception of occasional short yet optimistic speeches by Shu, Now and Then is serious and depressing. Brutal beatings, torture, twisted characters, feelings of hopelessness, rape, murder; it's all here. Episodes, more often than not, end in a negative light, which could leave viewers on a bit a sad note. While there will surely be fans of Now and Then who will hold the show in their most highest regard, it is not a happy-fun series.

Onikirisama no Hakoirimusume Chapter 16

2011-03-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

Onikirisama no Hakoirimusume
http://www.mangafox.com/manga/onikirisama_no_hakoirimusume/

Dragged through a time warp by a giant machine, Shu is thrust into a hellish future just as it explodes into war! He is caught in the carnage as a tyrant unleashes deadly force against a rebel army. But Shu is not alone… he is surrounded by courageous soldiers, a battalion of enslaved children, and enigmatic wanderers, each with their own fascinating story. Together, they face the ultimate challenge of survival in a world gone mad!

Ubel Blatt Chapter 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

2011-03-14T23:29:00.007-07:00

Author(s) Shiono Etorouji
Artist(s) Shiono Etorouji
Genre(s) Action, Adult, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Mature, Seinen, Supernatural
ÜBEL BLATT Manga ユーベルブラット; 魔域英雄传说; Evil Blade; Evil Sheet; Ubel Blatt

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/bel_blatt/?no_warning=1

The second of manga-ka Shioko Mizuki's shojo manga titles to see release in the U.S., CY-Believers somehow manages to be far more entertaining than it feels like it should be. It offers nothing special conceptually, fails to impress artistically, and throws out lots of traditional shojo romantic comedy hooks, including spunky heroines, beautiful guys sweeping the heroine off her feet (literally, at one point), school-based buffoonery, and even a bit of a shonen ai vibe. It does, however, prove that putting the right combination of quirky characters together in quirky situations, and giving them snappy dialogue to toss out, goes quite far in making up for any other inadequacies. Despite blatant shojo conventions and situations, even male readers may find this one juicy enough to warrant a taste.

And the characters are what will win readers over and keep them coming back. Natori is one of those deliciously evil characters you love to hate, with an attitude that might be compared to an abusive boyfriend if the content took itself even slightly more seriously. (“You don't need human rights,” he says to Rui at one point. “Just obey me.” But then he says he'll die to protect her if she does that.) Dark-hair Azumi, meanwhile, has this thing about 107 spirits hanging around him, while lighter-haired pretty boy Rio has a tendency to flip out if he doesn't take his pills. The three senior girls in the Believers, all deliberately designed to be barely distinguishable from one another, are basically a cute comical chorus existing to counterpoint Rui's spunk. A loony class president rounds out the core cast.

Ubel Blatt Chapter 106 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.006-07:00

Author(s) Shiono Etorouji
Artist(s) Shiono Etorouji
Genre(s) Action, Adult, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Mature, Seinen, Supernatural
ÜBEL BLATT Manga ユーベルブラット; 魔域英雄传说; Evil Blade; Evil Sheet; Ubel Blatt

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/bel_blatt/?no_warning=1

The writing gives them some great things to say, too. “Natori Nijo might possibly be a little bit dead in there,” Rui says at one point after fending off Natori's amorous advances. Just as snappy are the things the characters do. Yeah, none of this progression is all that credible, but it isn't supposed to be. Few manga get more effective value out of milking exaggerated scenes for humor than this one does. Naming the school after the legendary opulent villa the Roman Emperor Nero built in the wake of the Great Fire of Rome in 64 A.D. is also an interesting move.

Although not bad, the artistry does not represent one of Mizuki's strengths. Most characterized by light lines, bizarrely long bowties on both guys and girls, and a girl's school uniform specifically designed for a robot-like effect, her artistic style does not stray far from shojo artistic norms. Most characters (especially male ones) have traditional lanky, long-limbed builds, most of the guys have the typical bishonen look, and numerous scenes pose characters in classic shojo romantic style. The way Mizuki handles Natori, especially with his wicked expressions, does distinguish her work some, and deliberately giving the Believers' senior girls a consistent generic appearance is an amusingly satirical touch, but the high striped socks that contribute to the girl's uniform seem a bit out of place and backgrounds get little attention.

Ubel Blatt Chapter 105 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.005-07:00

Ubel Blatt Chapter 104 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.004-07:00

Ubel Blatt Chapter 103 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.003-07:00

Author(s) Shiono Etorouji
Artist(s) Shiono Etorouji
Genre(s) Action, Adult, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Mature, Seinen, Supernatural
ÜBEL BLATT Manga ユーベルブラット; 魔域英雄传说; Evil Blade; Evil Sheet; Ubel Blatt

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/bel_blatt/?no_warning=1

Do anime fans ever really skip recap episodes? No, like the diehards we are, we watch the stupid things, hoping against hope that there is some invaluable extra scene hiding in the 20 minute dearth of enthusiasm and piles of recycled footage. Sometimes there is and we are rewarded, but we're always angry that we had to watch it to find that extra nugget of entertainment. That's kinda what watching Death Note Relight is like, although it does have a bit more to offer than that. The movie opens with despondent-looking detective L introducing the characters and retracing everything that took place. (Yep, a recap of a recap movie in another recap movie. We're through the looking glass here, people.) Thankfully, the sharp editing and L's mellifluous, droll narration make it quite painless. Far better, what follows is a treat: nearly 20 solid minutes of new footage.

To be strictly accurate, the story has not been changed, and the new scenes are not monumental in that regard, but neither are they superfluous. The special begins with the extra graveyard scene from the first ReLight movie (making that film even more pointless as that was its only new scene,) which transitions into Light's rise to power. The introduction of prodigies Near and Mello follows and it's old news but the scene immediately after is a juicy one: a flashback to L tutoring at Wammy's House. One of the children asks him if there's anything he can't do or that frightens him and, surprisingly enough, he has an eye-opening answer that reveals a great deal about his character and his real relationship with Light. Besides that, it's a very poetic little soliloquy all on its own, certainly the most sensitive that Death Note ever gets.

Ubel Blatt Chapter 102 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.002-07:00

Author(s) Shiono Etorouji
Artist(s) Shiono Etorouji
Genre(s) Action, Adult, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Mature, Seinen, Supernatural
ÜBEL BLATT Manga ユーベルブラット; 魔域英雄传说; Evil Blade; Evil Sheet; Ubel Blatt

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/bel_blatt/?no_warning=1

It also serves another purpose. The iffy jump in logic that Near reached to learn so much about Kira in so little time is mostly buttered over with melodrama in the TV series. Following L's speech in this version however, Near lays out the facts alongside a better understanding of his mentor's nature to arrive more naturally at his suspicion of Light. Their first conversation is also altered significantly to make “L #2” even more suspect and at last, Near's thought process actually makes sense...at great detriment to Light's intelligence, however.

Actually, the few changes made in this new introduction dumb Light down quite a bit and also make his character more psychotic, as he revels in a gore-tastic new scene more reminiscent of Final Destination than Death Note when Mikami publically “deletes” anti-Kira debaters live on NHN in…creative ways. The TV series made it clear that Light would not normally condone such wild behavior, but hey, at least it's entertaining, as is Mikami's equally bloody assault on the SPK, also completely reanimated to be better than it was visually and narratively. (Why not write in the notebook: “…and shoot anyone else left alive before killing themselves” if not all the SPK members are known? The movie addresses this.)

Ubel Blatt Chapter 101 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.001-07:00

Author(s) Shiono Etorouji
Artist(s) Shiono Etorouji
Genre(s) Action, Adult, Adventure, Ecchi, Fantasy, Mature, Seinen, Supernatural
ÜBEL BLATT Manga ユーベルブラット; 魔域英雄传说; Evil Blade; Evil Sheet; Ubel Blatt

http://www.mangafox.com/manga/bel_blatt/?no_warning=1

Mikami and Takada are both introduced in quicker new scenes right at the beginning because Mello's arc with the mafia has been completely removed, and the death of a key member of the Kira Task Force that took place during that arc is only mentioned in passing once during the film. Unfortunate that this character was utterly discarded, but this choice only makes it obvious how unnecessary those episodes were, along with 75% of Near's arc that has also been cut. Where such abridging would normally be confusing, this particularly bloated arc of Death Note is actually much more enjoyable in condensed form, and the new scenes add clarity to the end result, although those that know the series well will quickly point out the plotholes left by eliminating Mello's involvement until Takada's kidnapping. After the initial slough of new scenes, the movie concludes with a replay of the last two episodes, only marginally cut for time, and we realize we've been watching a recap movie once again. At the very least the ending is spectacular, even in slightly abridged form.

The artistry of the film is equivalent to that of the TV series and it's just as exquisite as it always was. The very premise of the series doesn't really call for spectacular flashy animation, but the gorier scenes in this film give the animators more to do, to say nothing of the powerhouse finale. The only drawback to the gothic vogue style is that it's hard to keep consistent. It certainly looks better close up than it does at a distance where the dark lines can mesh and result in odd, stiff expressions. (Save for their flapping mouths, Aizawa and Mogi's faces nearly disappear in one long shot that could have used a redux.) These are minor complaints for a movie that, like the manga, sports a look that grabs the viewer and shakes them with only a still frame and a dramatic voice.

Ubel Blatt Chapter 100 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

Ubel Blatt Chapter 99 ユーベルブラット魔域英雄传说

2011-03-14T23:28:00.000-07:00

GE - Good Ending Chapter 60 61 62 63 64 65 66

2011-02-26T00:28:00.000-08:00

GE - Good Ending Chapter 77 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.006-08:00

GE - Good Ending Chapter 76 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.005-08:00

Read GE - Good Ending Manga Scans Online!

Good Ending follows the main character Utsuki 's interactions with Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the school tennis team, in order for Utsuki to confess his feelings to the captain of the tennis team.

Author: Sasuga Kei

Category: Romance , School Life , Shounen , Sports

http://www.mangadaddy.com/ge_-_good_ending

In fact, the thoughtfulness of the Mirai's new mission also pervades the entire series. It allows a very honest look at the situation, not only from the perspective of the Mirai, but from the view of Admiral Yamamoto, his officers, and Major General Vandergrift, the commander of the U.S. Marines expedition landing on Guadalcanal. This isn't a series about who's right and who's wrong, or who's the enemy and who's the ally, but about practicalities. If you want sensationalism or high-spirited action, look elsewhere. The writing also doesn't miss an opportunity to put characters in uncomfortable situations about how much they can or cannot reveal about the future, such as one scene where Oguri tells undercover Japanese soldiers about how Japan ultimately becomes a great prosperous nation while dodging the issue of Japan's total defeat at the hands of the Allies, or the Japanese officer who mentions that his family lives in Hiroshima. (But you had to see that one coming at some point.) Also telling are comments made by Kusaka and Tsuda about how “Westernized” modern Japanese are compared to their 1940s-era compatriots; a not-so-subtle jab at changing Japanese cultural identity, perhaps?

A hallmark of the series so far has been its displays of military tech, and episodes 9-12 offer an ample amount without overtly showcasing it. 1940s-era Japanese patrol planes, cruisers, and the legendary battleship Yamato all get to strut their stuff, while the Mirai gets to show off its rotating-wing VTOL plane, Harpoon missiles, laser targeting capabilities, night vision scopes, and advances radar and communication equipment. As always, all of the equipment, down even to the rifles and hand guns, is beautifully rendered and well-animated. Painstaking effort has also been devoted to accurately reproducing both modern and period uniforms, and even character designs and scenery look good despite a predilection for mild caricatures.

GE - Good Ending Chapter 75 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.004-08:00

Read GE - Good Ending Manga Scans Online!

Good Ending follows the main character Utsuki 's interactions with Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the school tennis team, in order for Utsuki to confess his feelings to the captain of the tennis team.

Author: Sasuga Kei

Category: Romance , School Life , Shounen , Sports

http://www.mangadaddy.com/ge_-_good_ending

The soundtrack also continues to do an excellent job of supporting the drama, especially in peak moments, with an opener and closer that remain unchanged. The same, unfortunately, can be said about the English dub, which continues to be the series' most glaring weakness. It isn't a Fantastic Children level of awful, but it isn't good, either, with much too much emphasis placed on inventive accents over smooth delivery. The script stays acceptably accurate, but the effectiveness of the casting varies dramatically, from good (Kadomatsu and Kusaka) to ridiculously bad (Admiral Yamamoto). The only place where the English dub shines even a little bit is in more convincingly making Vandergrift and a couple of his officers sound more American, but that isn't anywhere near enough to balance out deficiencies elsewhere.

As with previous volumes, Geneon's idea of providing Extras is to offer English translations of the opening and closing credits. Shameful, given the potential for informative extras that could have been included here.

If you have at least tolerated the series to this point, volume 3 will win you over completely. It is everything that one could ask for (except for a decent dub) in a thoughtful time-travel story about a modern ship transported back to the days of WWII.

GE - Good Ending Chapter 74 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.003-08:00

GE - Good Ending Chapter 73 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.002-08:00

Read GE - Good Ending Manga Scans Online!

Good Ending follows the main character Utsuki 's interactions with Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the school tennis team, in order for Utsuki to confess his feelings to the captain of the tennis team.

Author: Sasuga Kei

Category: Romance , School Life , Shounen , Sports

http://www.mangadaddy.com/ge_-_good_ending

Religious vocation is not an easy career choice. It requires dedication, self-sacrifice, and—if Tetragrammaton Labyrinth is to be believed—the physical strength to take on a full-grown demon. Yes, we've got ourselves another nuns-with-guns title here, spiced up with extra gore and a scythe-wielding nymphet on the side. For a supernatural action-adventure fix, this one certainly fits the bill—but it's hard to find anything that truly sets it apart. Is the first volume setting the stage for a deeper, darker story? Or are we consigned to flashy, empty displays of violence starring cute girls in fancy outfits?

The signs from the opening chapters are not encouraging. Meg and Angela's very first escapade is cookie-cutter to the core, with the obligatory young female victim, an evil scheming genius, and a final solution that involves blood, guts, and painful sacrifice. Everything is arranged so predictably that you can call the next plot point from five pages away. The two-part story after that is more of the same: another victim, another sacrifice. Things do change gears a bit in the second half, with the cursed sword storyline involving a possessed object rather than a person, although the inclusion of a miko character is awfully gimmicky. (Hey, it's a Japanese comic about a British demon hunter, so let's have a cameo featuring a Japanese person! Groan.) The one truly interesting plot point arrives in the final chapter, which provides a glimpse of the secret organization that Meg and Angela are connected to.

GE - Good Ending Chapter 72 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.001-08:00

Read GE - Good Ending Manga Scans Online!

Good Ending follows the main character Utsuki 's interactions with Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the school tennis team, in order for Utsuki to confess his feelings to the captain of the tennis team.

Author: Sasuga Kei

Category: Romance , School Life , Shounen , Sports

http://www.mangadaddy.com/ge_-_good_ending

Still, that one hint of a deeper storyline isn't much payoff for a whole volume of mindless action. With so much focus on demon-slaying, the pace of the story takes on a very monotonous rhythm, plodding onward from one kill to the next. It doesn't help either that Meg and Angela are given just the barest form of back story; so far we only know that Angela is some kind of immortal part-demon and that Meg's "need" for her is the one thing keeping her alive. Every now and then they share a sentimental moment, but it still feels more like a logistical connection rather than an emotional one. If you want to believe there's truly something special going on between the two, that's going to take a lot more reading between the lines.

Even the series' strong emphasis on action is lacking in polish, with the battles between good and evil looking messy on the page. Sure, the graphic content results in plenty of gruesomely memorable images—Angela's immortality means she can use her disembodied body parts as weapons—but all the blood, debris, and awkward angles make for some head-scratching visuals. It wouldn't be a surprise to read a battle scene and suddenly think, "Is that an arm?" and "Who attacked whom right there?" Layouts work pretty well, though, with big panels to show off the most dramatic moments. The flavor of 19th-century London is reflected in the backgrounds and costuming, although only at a superficial level: cobbled roads and row houses establish the cityscape, and Meg and Angela's outfits look more like cosplay fantasies than historically researched material.

GE - Good Ending Chapter 71 translate

2011-02-26T00:27:00.000-08:00

Read GE - Good Ending Manga Scans Online!

Good Ending follows the main character Utsuki 's interactions with Kurokawa Yuki, a member of the school tennis team, in order for Utsuki to confess his feelings to the captain of the tennis team.

Author: Sasuga Kei

Category: Romance , School Life , Shounen , Sports

http://www.mangadaddy.com/ge_-_good_ending

If there's one thing that helps in enjoying those bloody, brutal fight scenes, it's the oversize page format (which also helps in decoding some of the more confusing artwork). Overall this is a well-presented volume, with translation notes in the back and sharp print quality. Dialogue is decidedly middle-of-the-road here, neither too formal nor colloquial, and the spellcasting sequences manage to pull off the feel of Biblical English without sounding awkward. Thank goodness for writers who know how to use "thee" and "thou"! Sound effect translations are practically raised to an artform here, with a variety of sizes, fonts and styles to make them look like they'd always been there in the first place. However, this does mean that the original Japanese characters have been deleted in some cases, and other times left alone—a compromise between authenticity and readability.

Tetragrammaton Labyrinth isn't horribly bad or anything—it's just that the events of the first volume leave little to get excited about. To be fair, the story does have all the genre elements in the right place: a butt-kicking heroine, a sidekick with mysterious hidden powers, secret organizations and the occult, and hack-and-slash battles against a host of gruesome monsters. But actually using those elements well is a different matter entirely, and this series just flubs it when trying to make Meg and Angela's adventures interesting. Aside from the ramp-up near the end, each chapter is just a dreary exercise in action-adventure formula, so be warned: those who show up expecting Nuns With Guns will only get stuck with Nuns Performing Repetitive Tasks.