This review has been updated. For final impressions "Another", click here.
January 31, 2012 Posted by DarrenW
Hi all! Hope everyone had an enjoyable Chinese New Year ?!
Yes, its the first Winter 2011 season review! Let's start with the bone chilling anime by P.A. Works & I.G. Productions, "Another"!
It is 1998 in the small town of Yomiyama, of which a regular student attends highschool. Her name, Misaki, Misaki Mei. Just like your regular high school student, she takes her usual stroll to and from school everyday. Only one problem.
She's already dead.
Sakakibara Koichi
More than 25 years ago, the same girl had passed away in an unspecified accident. However, her lingering presence always remains a 'curse' of class 3-3 of Yomiyama North High School.
Today, a student by the name of Sakakibara Koichi has just started life in Yomiyama, his birthplace and the home to his late mother. Though warmly welcomed by his new classmates at Yomiyama North, there is a weird presence among them. A fear.
Mei. Misaki Mei.
Intrigued by the girl in the eye-patch (Misaki), he decides to know more about her. Apparently only he is able to see the ghost but no one else can. What will happen next?
Class 3-3 Students
Yes, this anime had only developed up till there, because most of the time is taken up by the building up of suspense. Very well done actually, though many of the times in the middle of a suspense filler, I was expecting something to jump out and I'll get a heart attack! XD
The anime revolves around mannequin dolls (I hope thats correct), which is supposedly representing people's lives.
From my impression, it seems like people are going to die in this anime, its just a matter of how many episodes more. Expecting slightly less horror than CCube here!
Art wise, it has been drawn extremely well (Good job P.A. works!) that it complements the eerie mood of the anime
And personally, I find Misaki so cute! OMG why do horror animes have such cute cast?
Another is being fansubbed by Commie, Hadena, Underwater, WhyNot, AniYoshi, Taka and CTSS (WOW) and contains 12 episodes in total.
Hey guys!! Missed me? DaBrenz here and I’m back with another review of my absolute favourite and current obsession for BOTH manga and anime because it is one of THE MOST UNCONVENTIONAL MANGA/ANIME I have ever read/watched!
Well, who’s ever read this quote? “ Tall girl + Short guy = Awkward :|
Tall girl + Tall guy = Cuteee :D
Short girl +Tall guy = Adorable ♥
Short girl + Short guy = Awwhh :) ”
I confess, I used to think along these lines, until I came across today’s highlight: "Lovely Complex!"
I hereby proclaim this to be the most unconventional manga/anime, because it actually features what is supposedly the most “Awkward” relationship of them all. Even though I was a little out of my comfort zone, I LOVED IT. (Still love it.) I definitely think differently of tall girl/short guy couples now!!!
Author: Nakahara Aya
Artist: Nakahara Aya
Introducing Koizumi Risa, our headstrong protagonist, standing tall at 170cm. Her hilarious ways and antics have gotten her into loads of trouble: which has earned her a rightful place as half of the comedy duo “All Hanshin-Kyojin.” The other half of “All Hanshin-Kyojin” is quirky basketballer Otani Atsushi standing at 156cm. (Not to mention that their height difference is similar to that of the actual All Hanshin-Kyojin.)
Their heights bring about some rivalry between the two, but the unfolding of many events brings about common ties like Umibouzou, showing many quirks and characteristics that both Koizumi and Otani share. This changes Koizumi’s perceptions of things: what is the ideal relationship / what is an ideal boyfriend for someone of her stature. This allows Koizumi to see past their surface relationship and consider her true feelings for Otani. While Koizumi has made her feelings clear as day, she finds her efforts fruitless, because the dense Otani just doesn’t get it!!
Koizumi is greatly supported by their close group of friends, consisting of Nobuko Ishihara, Heikichi Nakao, Ryoji Suzuki and Chiharu Tanaka (whereby Nobu and Nakao, Suzuki and Chiharu are couples). With help from friends and love rivals alike, (gradually introduced into the story), watch the crazy chase that is her love story, as Koizumi falls in love, undergoes numerous trials and tribulations, all while never giving up, finally attaining a love relationship with Otani.
This manga and anime isn’t just about two people overcoming their shyness for one another. It's about one party severely disliking the other, only to have a miracle occur which allows them to fall in love.
Lovely Complex is a story about the stereotypes and conventions of society, of accepting and being accepted. It is about gradually realising the feeling of love blossoming between two best friends: about stepping out of the Friendzone and becoming lovers. It is about differentiating and discovering the difference of the meaning of “like” and about growing up. It encompasses many aspects of being in a relationship, holding many surprises and twists.
With 61 chapters, Lovely Complex is complete!! Scanlated by a few parties, the complete series of Lovely Complex can be found on MangaEden! Take note of Lovely Complex Plus, which also contains a few short stories about Koizumi and Otani. Lovely Complex also has an ANIME!!! Released in 2007 with 24 episodes, it is complete!! One interesting aspect of the anime is that the characters all speak in Kansai-Ben, which is uncommon for anime! There is also a Lovely Complex game and a Lovely Complex live-action film (whichever floats your boat).
So let us put our perceptions aside and allow love in its truest form to carry us away~ I hope you enjoy this series as much as I did!
DaBrenz, signing off! ☺
P.s- If you’re a sensitive soul (like me hehe), prepare a box of tissues! You might need em when the time comes!!
P.p.s- Do check out the polls by the side of the web page, and do give us your opinions in the comments section or in the chatbox! Cheers!
Next review: Boys, you’ll enjoy this one greatly!! Girls who wish to have a conversation with that hunky basketball boy, you’ll find this useful too!!
December 7, 2011 Posted by DarrenW Yes, if you guys are wondering: "Where are my Winter 2011 Initial Impressions?" Well, its coming soon! Yes, today we finish up with: "Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai"!
Okay, so its ECCHI, but what's the story? Well, first things first, have you ever wondered what would happen if you have NO FRIENDS? Well what do you do? That's easy! Just join the "Neighbour's Club"!
Poster for Neighbour's Club
What's that? Well basically, its a club that helps promote its members to have more friends. From episode 0, it looks awesome! Everybody's having a good time together, and enjoying themselves as best friends...
Kodaka Hasegawa
All right, let's cut to the chase. Starting from episode 1, everything changes. It begins with our protagonist, Kodaka Hasegawa, who has recently transferred to the St. Chronica's Academy. Unfortunately for him, he has no friends, due to his inherited hair from his mother, and his fierce looking eyes. Yup. All that equates to looking like a Yankee (Bully).
Kodaka's sister.
So how did all this Neighbour stuff come up? Well, one day, Kodaka 'accidentally' finds the equally lonely Yozora Mikazuki... talking to her imaginary friend, "Air Friend" (OMG). They then realized that both of them have no social life. So they decided to form the Neighbour Club! With 2 members...
Yukimura Kusonoki, a guy.
Sena Kashiwazaki
BEACH POSE FAIL.
Well, the good news is that in the later episodes, 5 new members join the club! Woohoo! But... They all have their 'problems'. Firstly, the arrogant and drop dead gorgeous Sena Kashiwazaki, who has no female friends due to her popularity with all the boys (Plus she plays eroges and is a lolicon...). Secondly, the girly Yukimura Kusonoki (Yes, the one that is always in the maid outfit), who looks and acts like a girl but isn't one... Thirdly, the TEACHER, Maria Takayama, who is some 10 year old nun that looks COMPLETELY LIKE INDEX (same voice actor as well). Fourthly, the young scientific genius Rika Shiguma, who gets excited over weird stuff... And lastly, Kodaka's sister, who by far is one of the more normal characters, even though she dresses up like a vampire.
NO SHIT.
However, a plot DOES appear. Aparrently, Yozora and Kodoka have met before, 10 years ago! In the end, the club tries to achieve a strong lasting friendship by going out on normal club activities, like karaoke, going to the pool together, going to a private beach and celebrating an autumn festival together.
Rika Shiguma gets
excited over robots...
Yeah, so as usual, ECCHI animes don't have enough significant plot lines for me to discuss, but in this anime... sigh, yeah not much. Though for theme, I would say they do portray people with no friends well, and that the anime is able to explain why so. One of the more valid observations is that this anime is able to make you laugh a lot. Although it does include the usual random plots for one episode, it's certainly a good watch if you feel like letting loose of those stressful plot animes and just wish to watch something funny. But its really irritating because both Yozora and Sena like Kodaka, but the anime really doesn't want to show who is with who at the end of it all! Rrrrr... I would also like to comment that the ECCHI here is a bit over the top, so I would advice viewer discretion on episodes 9 and 10 I guess.
Yozora Mikazuki
Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai premiered on October the 7, and there are 12 episodes, with 1 OVA next year. It's been fansubbed by Doki (Dropped), Chihiro and Mazui.
Listen you lowlifes who will never amount to anything!
Hi readers (Jokes aside),
It's been a LONG journey. Wow it seemed like yesterday that I was watching the very first episode of this anime.
So today I will review the final impressions of "Mawaru Penguindrum!"
Fate. If our lives are already set in stone by fate, then why are we even born?
Initially, the story starts off with a emotional death of one of the main characters, Himari Takakura. She has been suffering from a terminal illness in which she only had until a certain day in which she would eventually pass away.
And that day was Himari day, the day that she could get anything she wanted. Disappearing from her two brothers, Kanba and Shoma Takakura, she collapsed outside an aquarium, only to die in hospital a few hours later.
But, she suddenly awakes from her hospital bed? She's healthy and her condition is stable. It's a miracle! OR IS IT?
Himari wakes up with a penguin hat that they bought at the aquarium earlier, and she suddenly shouts "SURVIVAL STRATEGY!"
In all honesty, my mouth is always OPEN when I'm watching the transition scene. What in THE WORLD is this? You can have a look, this is clip of it:
But i assure you, by episode 3, whenever this happens, you will just go "meh."
So the girl in the video, who looks like Himari had actually extended her life and would continue to let her lead her life, but on ONE condition. The two brothers have to seek out something called the PENGUINDRUM, and bring it back to her. Yes, none of us except the producers & directors of this anime have ANY idea what this is.
And there are three penguins to help them! How cute!... I mean... WTF?
The story continues when they find out that Oginome Ringo. Ever since she was born, her deceased sister, Momoka Oginome (Looks exactly like her), had given her her personal diary, with the ability to change the fate of people, even from the brink of death. The Penguindrum.
It then becomes very clear how the story is progressing. The boys have to get the diary otherwise their sister is going to die!
However, its complicated. Why I use that word is because everybody in this anime is either a) retarded, b) even more retarded. Why so? Well, first thing is Ringo's love for Tabuki Keiju, her school teacher, which goes HARDCORE wrong, to the point where she dressed up in bed as his fiance to have FABULOUS MAX.
And she isn't the only one. Tabuki tries to kill Himari, the fiance, Yuri Tokikago, loves Momoka to the extent she drugs ringo and almost has FABULOUS MAX in bed. Kanba's biological sister does nothing but shoots people till they forget their memory.
To keep in summary, the boys did not meet the deadline to obtain the penguindrum, and Himari collapses. However, she is saved by a weird doctor by the name of Sanetoshi Watase, electrifying isn't it? He has pink hair, and promises to save Himari from certain death by prescribing medicine to her.
The diary was also torn into half over the struggle.
It is also revealed later that a long time ago, a terrorist attack on the local train lead to hundreds dead, of which the cause was the terrorist organaisation KIGA, carried out by none other than the Takakuras' father. To obtain money for the medication, Kanba takes on his father's role in KIGA, and becomes more and more crazy by the episode, sacrificing everything (to the extent of shooting his brother) in order to save Himari's life.
Also, Sanetoshi was the leader of KIGA, and almost succeeded in the bombing operation, but was stopped by Momoka, who failed when conjuring the whole spell to prevent people from dying, and in result, both of them were killed.
In order to prevent Ringo from completing the spell, Sanetoshi gets Kanba to trick Ringo into bringing the other half of the book, and then, burnt both halves of the book into ashes.
In the finale, it comes as an epic and ultimately sad ending, as Kanba and Shoma sacrifice their own lives for Himari's happiness, and vanish from existence in the world.
Himari and Ringo continue their lives, not remembering that there were two important people in their lives. The two boys have changed their fates, and ultimately, saved everyone's fate, on the expense of their own.
Plot-wise, WOW. The development of this anime is truly fantastic, and appears to have been carefully thought over time and time again, to give watchers the sense of confusion, so that you will be thinking about what is going on in the anime and what will happen next.
The theme of family protection, friends and self-sacrifice never gets more projected by this anime than anything else.
Atmosphere wise, the way the different scenes are previewed to the watcher really gives you the sense of excitement of "whats going to happen next?" The music really complements the mood and setting, of which the art is simply astronomical.
Personally, I love this anime for the fact that it had a very twisting plot, slowing unraveling to you by each episode, with you confused and at the same time, thrilled that the result is completely the opposite of what you thought.
Another side-note, the music in this anime is truly fantastic. Especially the song they use for the epic scenes, "Children Of Fate". Oh my goodness, its the BEST soundtrack piece ever written! Make sure you guys check it out.
However, I have to say, watching this anime is sometimes irritating, because most of the people in the show are DEPRESSED or CRAZY. Another thing noted is some imagination scenes that I don't really get, like super random and lame scenes. Lastly, the constant constant CONSTANT use of 'UNMEI', or 'fate'. Please also expect loads of flashbacks. (with subway siren sounding every time).
For those looking for an INTERESTING anime, not wanting to commit suicide, or like FABULOUS MAX, this one is ALL4YOU!
Mawaru Penguindrum ended on 23rd December 2011, and had 24 episodes. Fansubs are provided by gg, Nutblazer and ZUM.
Gosh, I must crush them soon!!
Hint for next review: What do I do when I got no friends?
It is 1998 in the small town of Yomiyama, of which a regular student attends highschool. Her name, Misaki, Misaki Mei. Just like your regular high school student, she takes her usual stroll to and from school everyday. Only one problem.
The anime revolves around mannequin dolls (I hope thats correct), which is supposedly representing people's lives.
