NOOOOO! I LOST THE GAME! Argh!!
(Betting who would post first.)
Anyway, since i had to start a review from scratch, you all better read this!
Yes, it's the anime Usagi Drop! / うさぎドロップ!! (Bunny Drop) NOT UNAGI (EEL) DROP
A solemn occasion. A funeral is being held. Everyone in black suits, gathering around the coffin. They all mourn for the old man. But a girl is present at the funeral, that is nobody's child. A small girl with blonde hair stands next to a field of flowers
Who is the small girl?
Oh. She's the illegitimate child of the old man. HUH? SHE'S THE OLD MAN'S SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER?
AND YES, the story roughly begins like that. When 30 year old Daikichi Kawachi returns to his home, he discovers Rin Kaga, who's mum has ran away.
"She is an outsider!"
"She doesn't belong here!"
"Who will raise her up?"
And that was the final straw. Annoyed by their attitudes, he decides to take care of Rin HIMSELF.
And so the hardships of being a single parent begins. Leaving early from work, fetching Rin to the daycare centre, ending work late and fetching her back. Providing meals, schools and a place to stay for Rin.
Daikichi retires from his post in his job and transfers to another department. Oh the sacrifices. Still, he has to find out who is Rin's mum and why did she abandon her? From the old man's house, a modem appears, and a folded piece of paper in Rin's health booklet. What is going on?
Now from the look of the manga, it looks like this anime will cover the ENTIRE STORY of Rin growing up, from 6 years old to high school (SORRY FOR THE SPOILER OK?).
And I will do a category analysis. (sheesh DarrenW.)
Plotwise Usagi Drop isn't very original, for there are other similar stories of children being outcasted during funerals. BUT, AN ANIME WITH THE CHILD GROWING UP IS RARE.
I would definitely agree its theme is the BEST! The heartwarming scenes of Daikichi and Rin are definitely must-watch! This sort of real-life situations are not common in animes!
And Rin is SO CUTE (errr. explains why DarrenW picked this anime... *whistle*whistle*). Certainly better than that other girl!
If you are looking for humour, heartwarming anime with no ECCHI, then this is the anime for you. This anime is for all ages!
Usagi Drop premiered for Summer 2011 and has 11 episodes (so little!). It premiered from July 8 this year. If I'm not wrong, it also has been GREEN LIT. Yes, it's becoming a movie!
It is fansubbed by Chihiro, Commie, Doki, Hatsuyuki, Oyatsu, and Taka. (wow a lot)
It has a very nice and catchy OP & ED, though i hope "high-high-high" does not mean the "high" in drugs. If you want spoilers go ahead and read the manga!
I don't know about you, but this is DarrenW's fav anime this season, apart from Steins;Gate.
Over and out!
Yes, its a Hidan no Aria review again!
This means we are finally writing off final reviews for spring 2011!
As you all know from the famous light novels and manga, that this anime has a pretty good plot, as well as being very original in content.
Ok, to be frank, i'm not the kind that watch a lot of action animes. (The only ones being "To Aru Majutsu no Index I & II" , "To Aru Kagaku no Railgun" and "Sekirei S1 & 2") However, this does not mean i'm not going to give an informed review.
So Hysteria...
So Hidan no Aria / 緋弾のアリア is an action anime, where there is a school that specially trains students, called "Butei". People nationally qualified to use weapons to catch criminals. It was established to counter the worsening crime situation. However, there are many complications and people like the "Butei Murder" show up.
The main character, Kinji Toyama, is one of these Butei, but is an E grade (lowest rank) Butei, because he skipped one of the final examinations. Weirdly, (but sorta expected), he has a unique and powerful ability, which he calls "Hysteria Mode", where his cognitive and physical attributes suddenly spike around 30 times his normal state, when he is.... yes... sexually aroused.
"Hysteria Mode" allows Kinji to feats that are near impossible in reality, such as dodging a spray of bullets, and shooting into the muzzle of guns.
Kanzaki Holmes Aria IV
He meets the second main character, Aria Holmes Kanzaki, by a chance encounter when he is attacked by the "Butei Murderer". Aria is a S grade (highest rank) Butei. Her skill of being able to wield two guns or two swords (katanas) at the same time, gives her the title of Quandra. And as you can see from her name, she is the direct descendent of the famous Sherlock Holmes.
Oh my gosh....
The two adventure out on their first case, which is to solve the mystery or the Butei Murderer. The Butei Murderer has already destroyed a cruise liner, attempted to assassinate Kinji on his bike, hijacked a bus, and in the latest episode, hijacked a plane, all for the sake of killing Buteis... Or is it?
I hate to say it again three in a row, but SHES SO CUTE! First Ohana, then Victorique, and now Aria! It's times like this when the anime producers love to show those cute faces, even though she's like, a super assassin... Lol.
You are WARNED, it contains ecchi!
And i forgotten to mention who is Riko. Riko Mine is one of the main charcters in HNA. Suffering a cruel upbringing, her only mission was to defeat Holmes, for she is ARSENE LUPIN'S descendent! By defeating holmes, she will have done something no other Lupin has done for generations. She has a cool aura and can fight good, but her character is... quite provocative.
And who is the blade wielding girl? Well she is Hotogi Shirayuki. One of the last few Hotogi Shrine girls, she is also Kinji's childhood friend and "self-proclaimed" girlfriend. All you need to know is she is very protective, and she always has a double personality.
On a final note, Hidan no Aria's main strength is its action, awesome final action scene in episode 12. Once enemies for generations combining forces for a greater good. HOWEVER, after i finished watching it, THERE ARE TOO MANY ECCHI SCENES.
Do be warned that Riko appears so many times in... ahem.. (Yes you get the idea)
and everytime Kinji goes Histeria, it gets worse, and worse in degree, especially the last few.
Still, it wasn't very satisfying. The only time I managed to see cool action shots were in episode 1 and 12.
And here are the scores:
You can get fansubs from Chihiro, Doki, gg and UTW. Hidan no Aria has 12 episodes, with 1 special, and premiered from April 15 to July 1
Please note that there is also a light novel & manga for Hidan no Aria, which i presume contains more content than the anime.
Also, the Hidan no Aria Opening Credits managed 2nd PLACE for the OP & ED positions. Its an awesome song by May'n...
Yes! Its the review that WWHCurrent forgot to write a week ago,
By the way, it is I! The new fabulous (self-proclaimed) author of WWHCurrent, MedusaS! WWH (let's call him that from now on) is taking a short break for a while up to next Saturday and I'll be filling in for him!
So today I have to write about Bungaku Shoujo... The Literature Girl! 文学少女
It is one of those "interesting" animes again, where there are perceived differences in this anime that makes it different from the rest!
So what makes this anime different? Well the fact that the girl EATS LITERATURE! (Haha was not expecting that were you?)
A book Similar To The Sky is launched, and it gains popularity instantly around Japan. Who is the author, Inoue Miu? Everybody starts wondering. A girl, a boy? Who is able to write such fanciful tales?
In the foreground, a boy suddenly appears. Konoha Inoue. He walks past our main heroine, Amano Tooko, who is sitting under a tree, tearing pieces of paper out from books and devouring them! (Uhhhh. I would get a stomachache). For Amano Tooko, books are her supplement just as food is ours.
Amano Tooko
Her dark secret is revealed! She mustn't let Inoue get away with it! Of course, he doesn't and ends up joining her Literature Club, which has a population of erm... 2.
Konoha goes along with it though, and it is revealed that he too likes literature, that one time he even wrote a masterpiece, but due to a traumatic incident, has stopped writing. So Tooko's mission is, to make him write again! She orders him to write her compositions everyday in the club room, of which she will eat as snacks after that! Ewww...
But as the story progresses and all is peaceful in the literature club of 2, a message suddenly appears, in the form of a drawing. It is the image of some weird creature (which i have no idea what it is) that is featured in "The Night Of The Galactic Railroad", a very famous literature text in JAPAN!
For those who don't have the SLIGHTEST IDEA, explanation is here.
YOU WILL NEED IT, TRUST ME. IF YOU WATCH THE MOVIE BLINDLY YOU WON'T MAKE HEADS OR TAILS OF IT UNLESS U KNOW A BIT ABOUT THIS TEXT.
The story is revealed, bit by bit, of the horrifying accident that happened oh so many years ago to Konoha.
U MAD?
Not to be a spoiler like our dear WWHCurrent (Which i think he will change his name soon), I will simply give an honest review!
Plot:
The plot is very well made, (well duh, it's called literature for a reason!) as the movie progresses, you really feel the climax building up, however, was quite displeased with the ending. Well don't expect anything spectacular.
However, I think you will more likely be confused instead of understanding the plot.
Theme:
The theme of friendship, love / romance, betrayal, jealousy, and letting go of the past is very apparent in this anime. Good job producers!
Atmosphere: Well crafted, like all movies, the atmosphere of this movie is sometimes sweet and bright, but sometimes cold and dark. Still, you can really feel it!
OH AND THE LAST PART IS THE BEST. Those who follow the manga like me, you will LOVE IT!
And you have to love Amano Tooko! She looks so cute! And very rare do I get to see braids.
Now I'm supposed to paste that score determining thing here:
Bungaku Shoujo is a MOVIE in 2010 (Those who can't read titles) and has 4 OVAs prior to the movie, called "Bungaku Shoujo Memoire". Best place to find it, DOKI!
And yes, I'll be writing the next review!
Support us!
MedusaS
wwhcurrent@gmail.com (No I'm not giving you guys my e-mail! Use the website one!)
Good Evening readers, (Morning to those in the US)
This is your chance to decide what WWHCurrent looks like. As it has been about over 2 months since our relaunch of WWHC, we have decided to change the wallpaper (above) ^ to another mascot! This is your chance to decide which wallpaper should be used as our new website header!
We will be avaiable, just e-mail wwhcurrent@gmail.com and attach your image.
Please make sure it is at least 72 dpi and has a blank space to put the title. :)
If you like the way our current header is though, don't hesitate to tell us.
WWHCurrent will be posting several posts later in the week regarding the final impression reviews on the SPRING 2011 ANIME. (Since a large traffic of visits are there)
Listen you lowlifes who will never amount to anything!
Hi readers (Jokes aside),
Aye! My memory has been really bad recently, even forgetting two animes on my watching list! <---
So today I will review an interesting anime, Mawaru Penguindrum! (輪るピングドラム)
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:
[Video "ROCK OVER JAPAN" has been removed due to copyright violations. _|_ Bandai]
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 have ANY idea what this is.
And they have to follow a girl called Ringo Oginome for she posseses that drum. The problem is, they don't know what it looks like!
And there are three penguins to help them! How cute!... I mean... WTF?
On an initial impression, it is VERY psychedelic, the last anime i saw this psychedelic was "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya". There is also quite a strong link with the subway, not really sure why, but there must be some significance. The art is also very closely similar to "Eden Of The East"
Plot wise, it's a very good job, so far, though episode 4 was quite... overwhelming. The theme is definitely family & friendship, how we treasure them, and FATE. For those looking for an INTERESTING anime, got nothing else to watch, or like ECCHI (I guess there are some scenes), this one is ALL4YOU!
So far, it's only at episode 5, so I probably do a later review when it's done!
Mawaru Penguindrum is currently premiering, and has 24 episodes. Fansubs are provided by gg, Nutblazer and ZUM.
e
Another review later today!
Hint: Ahh! I dropped my unagi!
And yes the previous hint was wrong! I forgot all about that review! Forgive my forgetfulness!
Oh here we go, wasn't sure of how to write on the first review for the VERY FIRST anime i watched.
Yes from that you can draw how young my anime life is!
From all the mass of K-On! (けいおん!) merchandise and wallpapers, all my otaku friends will definitely agree. A must watch. At the time I JUST started watching anime, i was not very sure of the standard, so i couldn't make a value judgement. But now I can!
In essence, K-On! is a very simple an ideal representation of school life with music. Possible the FIRST in innovating a student band group. K-On's direct translation is "Light Music Club", but of course, it isn't. Their music features what i like to call "noisy" and punk rock. :P
The story all begins with Yui Hirasawa, a normal student just beginning high school life. The problem is, she doesn't have a club that she likes! That is, until Tainaka Ritsu and Akiyama mio come in. They have been trying to revive a club that is about to be terminated. K-On, DUH.
Yui joins the club, and meets Tsumugi Kotobuki, who was "forced" by Ritsu to join. The stage is set, for the new light music club! Yui feels that it would be a perfect club to play castanets, but the club thinks she is a guitar prodigy!
Is K-On going to survive?
The win-win situation for this anime is MOST probably due to its theme and that its associated with music. The simple theme of growing up, girl's life and running a music club, along with exploring music culture in Japan, and moe?
You have to give it to the producers of this anime. They KNEW what they were doing. Everyone is so cute!
Season 1 starts with the girls in their 1st and 2nd year as high school students. The music pieces in the anime are cute, but the EDs are always hardcore.
And the main characters are:
Yui Hirasawa, the most energetic girl in the club, who plays the lead guitar role. She uses a Gibson Les Paul Standard Electric Guitar, which is A VERY EXPENSIVE guitar, and names it as Gita (Pardon if i got it wrong). Though she is easily distracted and likes to laze around, her intentions are good and she is able to always show a cheerful face. She works extremely hard to learn the guitar, which pays off later in the season.
Akiyama Mio! The shy girl who plays bass. She plays a Fender Jazz Bass, which is also named; Elizabeth. She is was forced to join the Light Music Club by her childhood friend, Tainaka Ritsu. She gets embarrased EASILY and is scared of a lot of things. Oh, and she has a fanclub, of which how it was formed i probably shouldn't say.
Tainaka Ritsu. Yes! The K-On president! (*cough* Self-Proclaimed *cough*) She has a similar personality to Yui, energetic that is, and plays the drums! Yamaha Hipgig Drumset. Though she is always energetic, she often... rephrase. Always forgetting important dates and forms that the club need. And she is probably the reason why Mio is so shy, due to her teasing.
Tsumugi Kotobuki, the ojou-sama in this anime. Honestly, without this girl the club wouldn't even exist. She is a piano prodigy, which explains why she plays the keyboard. She plays the KORG Triton Extreme 76 keyboard. With a cheerful and bright personality, she often is a mother to the club, making tea and snacks, and also providing them with villas to stay at when the club goes on vacations. However, she is weirdly excited when two girls get together. (YURI?)
Azusa Nakano. OMG is that the cutest thing in the world? Especially with cat ears, *fainting from moe*. Azusa joins the club the following year, as a kouhai (junior) and says that the K-On club's music moved her. She idolizes Mio for her maturity. Like Mio, she also tries to get the club to practice, as they laze around all day, but is often teased at instead. (Feel very sorry for her). She plays a Fender Mustang Electrical Guitar, which she calls Muttan.
Sawako Yamanaka
Aye... This woman, is probably the most confusing and misleading character in this anime. Definitely due to her double personality. Originally the wind club instrument's advisor, she was blackmailed into being the K-On's one as well, foe a dark secret she had before... All I have to say is, is she really the kind and passionate teacher that everybody in school views her as? 0_o?
K-On!, surprising for its lack of a strict plot structure, manages to score very well for its music (DUH) and creativity, for the fact that it managed to impress me very much with its unique plot and development. Well a school-based structure may be not very unique, but a club which plays music for concerts is.
Though the anime is mostly a story about slacking members trying to gain fame by playing well, it features other values as well. It manages to bring out the ordinary life of a high-school girl and their different takes on music. Friendship is an ongoing theme in this anime, and so is camaraderie. Though its certainly seen in many other animes, the style in which K-On! presents it to us is just simple simple, and superb.
Many a time some animes get us aggrevated, some have intense plot structures with a sudden climaxed or anti-climaxed ending, some have no sense whatsoever, but K-On! is different because it just aims to please. No bs, no complicatedness, just "watch" and enjoy the show.
Some of you might ask why music gets such a high score, and the very simple reason I can give to you. The OPs and EDs are badass. Though I don't like some of Yui's songs, the majority of the songs featured in the anime are very nice, and all have a certain warm feel to them.
Certainly a must watch. And for me, certainly an unforgettable first anime ever watched.
K-On! aired in 2009 with 13 episodes, from April 3 to June 26. It also has an OVA in DVD. It also has a second season K-On!! which aired the following year. (Review will be done soon)
Its the holidays, but due to the large workload IRL, my books are pilling up in front of me, which explains why I've been writing less reviews recently.
Yea, I look like Kamijyo Touma right about now.
So during the holidays I aim to write more! Onward!
See you soon!
All cosplay lovers & those with maid-fetishes, the time has come! For the maid that all girls love, "Kaichou wa Maid-sama!" (会長はメイド様!)
This anime, which all my friends tell me about, is definitely very popular, similar to the levels of "K-On!".
So why is it so popular? Because everybody loves a maid anime! It is rare that there is an anime, purely focused on maids, instead of the occasional school fair types.
So what's it ABOUT is probably the question probing in your heads. Well, it starts off, as usual, in a high-school setting. "Ayuzawa Misaki" is Seika High School's student council president, where the majority of the students are boys. She is known in the school as every boy's ultimate nightmare, but every girl's saviour. That's right, Misaki has the strongest will in the school, and nothing can stop her!
...except for a part time job.
Yes, who is this charming guy in the picture? It's Takumi Usui! The perverted, outer-space alien, who discovers Misaki's other life! A cosplaying maid! Oh noes! Now she has to listen to everything he orders her to, in order not to damage her reputation!
Plot wise, there isn't much to go on, but this anime is highly commendable, for being able to portray a hugggge amount of comedy, and able to cater to almost every target audience available.
Theme wise, its okay i guess. The maid part is clear and well illustrated. School life is very well shown, with countless events and activities that any school should have, just not blown out of proportion as this one. The theme of friendship trust are all very apparent in here. AND YES
ROMANCE of course.
Be it tsundere, cosplaying boys, sissy boys, gay scenes, beach vacation, the edo era, school life, butler competitions, school festivals, they got it ALL COVERED. Expect laughs all around when you watch this anime, from the outrageous emotions and reactions in the anime.
And Takumi Usui is as usual, so monotonus but funny and irritating towards Misaki, lives up to his nickname.
Kaichou wa Maid-sama has a whopping 25 episodes to reach the final conclusion, which is: (Spoiler Alert) (Spoiler Alert) (Spoiler Alert). Ok?
It premiered in Spring 2010, from April 1 to September 21.
Oh yes! And now I have a new feature for all animes. It is my personal ranking system, which i go by 5 attributes. It may be bias, but meh! who cares?
I probably will post another review tomorrow, seeing as its the holidays now.
Daikichi retires from his post in his job and transfers to another department. Oh the sacrifices. Still, he has to find out who is Rin's mum and why did she abandon her? From the old man's house, a modem appears, and a folded piece of paper in Rin's health booklet. What is going on?
Now from the look of the manga, it looks like this anime will cover the ENTIRE STORY of Rin growing up, from 6 years old to high school (SORRY FOR THE SPOILER OK?).
If you are looking for humour, heartwarming anime with no ECCHI, then this is the anime for you. This anime is for all ages!
For those who don't have the SLIGHTEST IDEA, explanation is here.
