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| Ai Yori Aoshi (TV) |
Good |
It really pains me to have to give this a good rating, but the reason will come. Going by just the first 3 episodes, this show is amazing, the love story between to 2 main characters is very good and very sweet, but come episode 4 it gets destroyed by the influx of massive fanservice and harem nonsense. For a story that had as much potential as the first 3 episodes, this made me want to cry. Of course, the love story stays intact, but you only really get to see it for maybe 30 seconds to about 3 minutes per episode, with a few exceptions. So if you can wade through the nonsense to get to the parts that the couple spends together you'll be rewarded as it is very touching, but cherish those moments because they don't come very often. |
| Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ (TV) |
Good |
I actually liked this more than the first one, although part of that might be because I knew what to expect from this one. That being said, it did feel as if Kaoru and Aoi spent a lot more time together in this one, which was cool. Even when they weren't, the asides and comedy parts seemed a little more lighted hearted I guess I can say. They didn't seem to be as fragrantly trying to wedge the two apart as in the first one, which is good. Most of the show still was harem-esc comedy at hot springs and the like, but as a non-harem fan, I can say that it wasn't too bad. There was quite a lot of fanservice in this one, which isn't ALL bad, but most of it was rather unnecessary. Fortunately the show doesn't really have the kind of serious air about it were this could break it. Artwork and music about the same, even if you were like me and weren't crazy about the first one, you could probably give this one a go. |
| Air (TV) |
Very good |
The story is kind of strange at times, and even at the end i'm not quite sure i grasped every little bit of it. None the less it was pretty cool, although it was really emotional towards the end (sad). The animation is extremely pretty too, i was rather impressed by it. |
| Air (movie) |
Good |
Wasn't quite as good as the series, but it was still an ok watch. It has an entirely different feel to it, from the animation to the flow of the story, the two sides are alot more intertwined and connected than they are in the series. Pretty much all the characters had radically different approches and different personalities from the series as well. |
| Air In Summer (special) |
Good |
I wouldnt even really call it a spinoff, so much as it tells a part of the original story in a little more detail. There isn't a whole lot to it really, but it does have some rather funny moments, and it does stay pretty true to the mood of the series. It does, also, retain the pretty animation. |
| Akira (movie) |
Decent |
Don't have much to say here, i saw this movie years ago before i can really say i was interested in anime in the first place. I dont remember being too impressed, but seeing as how i cant remember if i saw it subed or dubed, thats about all i can say unless i decide to watch it again sometime. |
| Angel Beats! (TV) |
Very good |
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| Arakawa Under the Bridge (TV) |
Good |
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| Azumanga Daioh (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Amazing comedy. All of the characters grow on you in their own little way, some are just plain funny, and other are outright hilarious. I spent most of my time laughing, and doesn't that make it worth it? A must see. |
| Baccano! (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Banner of the Stars (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Banner of the Stars II (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Banner of the Stars III (OAV) |
Excellent |
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| Black Cat (TV) |
Good |
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| Black Lagoon (TV) |
Very good |
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| Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage (TV) |
Very good |
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| Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody |
Very good |
Not a bad stand-alone story at all. From that standpoint actually, I thought it was pretty good. The pacing really felt as if it fit a movie, and there was enough something there to get sorta into it. The art quality definitely felt as though it got kicked up a few notches for this movie, which is pretty cool. Other than that, the feel isn't too much different from the series, music stays mostly the same as well. Only thing that I personally didn't really like about it, but is to be expected from a movie like this, is how everyone sorta had to have their moment in the spotlight; that isn't really all bad, because it gives the ending a lot of nice action, but also sort of made it feel a little rushed, or condensed, to fit it all in there. If you're a bleach fan go for it, even if you're not you'll probably enjoy it. |
| Bludgeoning Angel Dokuro-chan (TV) |
Very good |
This is just out right hilarious. Granted that some of why its funny is that its so outrageous, but still - watch it. |
| Bokura ga Ita (TV) |
Very good |
Overall, a very good romance show, for those who like the genre anyway. It deals with the relationship thing rather seriously, and of course there are plenty of comical moments that really give the show its atmosphere. The animation is very simple, but I actually kind of liked the artwork itself, it's very different from the norm, and I think that only enhances the show and its story. The story is also enhanced by the characters, they're like real people, and they all have quite their share of flaws. The interactions between them too are really fun to watch, because it seems like something that would actually really happen, there are no over the top actions or unbelievable reactions to things. It does get pretty mushy at times, but if you're a hopeless romantic, that only makes it better. It is a rahter slow moving show generally speaking, but that's not all bad, as it's a rather nice thing to just relax too. In the mid teens episode wise, it felt a little weaker with the story kind of flip flopping between the same two points every episode, but it wasn't too bad, nor did it last very long. Although not for everyone, if you like romances, definitely check this one out. |
| Buso Renkin (TV) |
Good |
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| Cardcaptor Sakura (TV) |
Very good |
I very much enjoyed this, so this might be long~ First things first, I don't want to say that it starts off slow, because it really doesn't. It does, however, start in a way where during the first few episodes I wondered if that method would keep and engaging show going. Well, it did that and more. Even though virtually ever episode is a story in itself, with a clear beginning middle and end, they all connect to each other amazing well, and reference each other very well. Furthermore, the development of each episode is very good, although sometimes the action at the end feels a little compressed, but thats generally because of an expanded story in the middle, which I can get over easy. The show is really broken into two parts, the first being gathering cards and the second being "changing" them (worded to avoid spoilers hopefully?) I had become so in love with the first half, I worried about the second half, but the character development skyrocketed, and I loved it even more. Since thats said, the characters in this show develop and change A LOT, characters who were one dimensional, annoying, and easy to hate, become fully flushed out, and great lovable characters. The lead is also an amazing character, there is so much about her that makes her likable. The relationships that go on here feel real, and there is virtually no repeated anything unless its needed. It has the art and animation feel of an older show, but it doesn't affect it in the slightest. The music was great, everything was great, if I didn't think this falls into a kind of "niche" this would be a masterpiece. |
| Cardcaptor Sakura: The Movie |
Decent |
Sooner or later. |
| Chobits (TV) |
Good |
In progress. |
| Clannad (TV) |
Excellent |
First things first, here. As to be expected of KyoAni and Key, the production elements of this show are outstanding. The artwork is beautiful and detailed, the animation is smooth, and the music is fantastic. When it comes to the meat of the show, I have just as much praise. I really liked the characters in this one. While they are very cliche in some respects, they all have bits that make them unique, and I didn't feel like there was anyone who was just completely over the top. They all work together throughout the series, despite some obvious conflicts between a few of them. The development of all of the girls was very good, and I pretty much feel in love with them too. While a good part of the core of the show is obviously the romance bit, there is a very good amount of well done humor as well. I spent quite a bit of my time watching this show in fits of laughter from all of the "jabs." Both the romantic and comedic elements are well developed and well balanced, so the show doesn't feel like it is too heavy on either end. Even though I found it pretty obvious how the show was going to end from early on (even when it came to the individual arcs, the story wasn't usually very complicated or tricky) I still enjoyed watching it unfold. I was slightly confused by the last episode, and sort of saddened because it was the ending I personally would have hoped for since it had my favorite girl in it. I'm definitely looking forward to the after story now though. |
| Clannad After Story (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Wow. The first season was excellent, but after story was something else. To get it out of the way, the production qualities are just as stellar as they were in the first season. The models are beautifully detailed and colored, the animations are smooth, and the music is amazing. The story picks up pretty much where season one left off, and the general atmosphere is the same as well. The underlining serious story line progresses steady, punctuated by some really well done comic relief. I really haven't laughed harder at some of the straight comedies I've seen. The relationships continue to build and mature, particularly between Nagisa and Tomoya. The latter third of the show, however, is of a whole different world. After an event done so well I'm pretty sure I almost cried, the entire show takes on a complete different mood. This transition is done so well, and the emotion effects of it are so powerful that it makes this truly one of the best series I have seen to date. To not spoil anything, I will refrain from any specific mention of the ending, but that too left me satisfied. You can't see this without watching season one first, but I strongly recommend that anyone even remotely interested in the genre pick it up. |
| Claymore (TV) |
Very good |
Overall, I like this a lot. It took me a few episodes to really get into it, as it starts off kind of ... stereotypically weird? I guess. After the first few episodes the story kind of takes off, and it gets very interesting. The main characters are kind of iffy personality wise, however, which is one of my big dislikes about the show. None of them really display much of a change, and some of them are just down right annoying and/or completely insane (in a bad way for character development). There's a lot of one track minds at work, which kind of takes away a bit for me. The main character herself isn't too bad, and kind of works to hold everything up. After it diverges from the manga at episode 22 (whether you think this is bad or not) the method of storytelling is obvious different, and that bothered me. The artwork is rather unique and good looking, and for the most part its smoothly animated as well. The music also adds a lot to the show, and if it weren't for the characters getting a little boring to me, this would probably be rated higher. Its still very good, though, worth watching. |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (TV) |
Excellent |
Pretty good show, overall. The story is actually pretty deep at times, and the main character is pretty interesting to watch. It has alot of really good action, and the characters get developed pretty well so that you can really understand the interactions between them. The artwork was also pretty good, actually reminded me alot of nana with most of the characters being really tall and slender. At the moment the last 2 episodes are on hold til sometime this summer or something, but no reason to not watch whats out because it's probably worth it especially if you're into actiony stuff. Last two episodes out, can you say cliffhanger? we need season 2! |
| Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (TV) |
Masterpiece |
As good, I think, as the first season. Clearly a bunch of things happened that they don't show us, because it took a little while for me to get re-oriented. The show retains its great sense of mental warfare, and there is a lot more "actual" warfare in this one as well. There were a number of developments that just took me completely off guard, which is something that I like, especially in a show like this one. The art and music styles are pretty much carried right over from season one, which for me at least, works just fine. As I finished the show ages ago I leave it here for now; if you enjoyed the first season absolutely go on to this one - it won't disappoint. |
| Crest of the Stars (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Cross Game (TV) |
Very good |
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| Darker than Black (TV) |
Excellent |
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| Darker than Black - Kuro no Keiyakusha: Gaiden (OAV) |
Very good |
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| Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor (TV) |
Very good |
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| Death Note (TV) |
Excellent |
Seeing as how raging popular this show got, you've probably already heard of it. It is very good, i got hooked on it really fast. The intilectual battles that go on in the show are really fun to watch, and probably the reason why i ended up liking it so much. The art style and music both do wonders to complement the sense of urgency in the show, and the whole way it is done does a really good jon in setting the proper mood for everything. For the most part this show keeps the pace up throughout, there are a few middle episodes where its a little slower, but thats to be expected really. |
| ef: a tale of melodies (TV) |
Very good |
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| ef: a tale of memories (TV) |
Masterpiece |
This is a show that I downloaded on a whim a while ago and finally got around to watching, and it totally blew me away. This is one of the more unique shows that I have seen when it comes to the story telling itself. The core of the story follows two different sets of protagonists in parallel. While they are both connected in some ways, there is never any implicit interaction between the two arcs, but at the same time they mirror each other amazingly. As I have alluded to in pretty much every review of something romantic, the music is again a great driving force in this one (a particular scene late in the show nearly put me into tears!). The art style, while fairly simple, is at the same time complex and deep; you can tell that a lot of thought and work went in to everything. The way the episodes are cut also feel this way. The first few episodes confused me a little, they felt almost random, however, as the show progressed I realized just how interesting the way the two stories intertwined really was. I would also put this way up in my list of romance shows, since it does an amazing job of that as well. The character development is stellar across the board, and their interactions drive the show. You don't need anyone to come out and say "suki desu" to figure out what is going on. I loved this show, if you have any tolerance for romance stuff at all, you should give this a shot. |
| Emma: A Victorian Romance (TV) |
Very good |
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| Emma: A Victorian Romance Second Act (TV) |
Very good |
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| Eureka Seven (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Mech fighting, sort of a coming of age / growing up thing between the two main characters. Its got some action and some funny moments, and the story, while kind of hard to fully grasp at some points, is very good. Also sports some pretty awesome music. After just finishing the series (finnaly) I just have to add that the last few episodes were amazing, and really brought the series to a close. |
| Excel Saga (TV) |
Very good |
All out slap stick comedy. Makes fun of classic anime points and such, and theres sort of a extremely loose story thing going, watch it for laughs. |
| Fafner (TV) |
So-so |
Lets start by saying that this is far from the best thing I've ever seen. For a greater portion of the first 2 thirds of the show, it just felt like things were just thrown together, everything moved extremely fast and before you could really comprehend on huge development there was another. The characters often displayed really strong emotions, but I had a hard time recipricating, because most of what they were upset or sad or happy about wasn't really even explained, it felt like there was alot to the story that simply wasn't there. For the good stuff, the animation was pretty smooth and detailed, and some things looked down right pretty. There are a large number of action sequences (most feel like they're just thrown in there but hey), but they too feel kinda of rushed and aren't very extensive. The last few episodes did have a rather decent story in and of themselves, and they were the only episodes where I felt compelled to see the next based on the ending of the previous. |
| Fate/stay night (TV) |
Very good |
The story line here is nothing really new, but i think its told pretty well. Character development isnt the greatest either i suppose, but the music is good and it does have some very cool action sequences. I enjoied it alot. |
| Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works (movie) |
Good |
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| Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (movie) |
Very good |
It is final fantasy and all, and the CG is incredible, also the return of all the beloved 7 characters in all their beauty. Theres cool action sequences too and all, i just didnt really think the story line was all that great, but i guess it doesnt really have to be huh |
| FLCL (OAV) |
Very good |
In progress. |
| Full Metal Panic! (TV) |
Good |
Mech fighting, hilrious bouts of comedy, short skirts and more! To me, the biggest reason i enjoied this series is for the comedy aspect, but there are a number of episodes that are more focused on the military side of the story, so it should appeal to a buncha different tastes. The characters are awesome. |
| Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (TV) |
Good |
Kind of an extension of the first season, only this one is more on the mithril side of things than it is with sagura in tokyo. Even that withstanding, it does still retain its comical elements, while pulling off some pretty ok action plots and such. There were also a couple emotional type things going on, but done well enough that it wasnt bad or anything :p |
| Full Metal Panic! The Second Raid (OAV) |
Very good |
Well, if you like the series (in particular tessa like i perhaps might ;o) then this little short is quite awesome. Its really just an comedy episode FMP style, but with alot of tessa~ |
| Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (TV) |
Very good |
The first series minus the serious fights. Brings back your favorites for many little short story lines, a few of which span a couple episodes - pure comedy really. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist (TV) |
Masterpiece |
What can i say about this one? FMA is the reason i got into anime in the first place, the story line, the music, the animation, the character development are all top notch. I absolutly loved every minute of this series a definate must see. |
| Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (TV) |
Masterpiece |
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| Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie - Conqueror of Shamballa |
Excellent |
While not as good as the tv series, the movie still delivers as it does bring back all the characters you grew to love during the run of the series. It also brings a better feeling of closure to the whole thing (although i would have perfered a slightly different ending :p). What i think the movie does kinda of lack is a real concrete story, what was there was good, but i just cant help but feel like it was kind of missing something. |
| Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo (TV) |
Excellent |
For starters, it has a very unique animation style, so much so that it really took me a few episodes to get totally used to it, but it deffinately gives the whole thing a different feel. The story line is rather amazing, seeing how everything comes together in the end. It has a few well done action sequences, but on the whole its more of a serious story driven series. The music was very good too, and really helped to set the mood throughout the series, if you haven't seen this one you should. |
| Ghost Hound (TV) |
Very good |
In progress. |
| Ghost Hunt (TV) |
Very good |
I actually liked this show quite a bit. It wasnt the best thing i've ever seen, but for a small title like this it was very rewarding. You dont see very many serious ghost based shows like this, so it was refreshing in that matter. There are some cool character relationships that unfold during the show, but nothing too serious i guess, in fact sometimes the personalities of some of the characters got a little annoying, but it wasnt out of taste. The real strong point of the show i think is the sense of mystery you get from it. For the most part it isnt really a horror, although there are a few times when i could see it being really scary. The artwork isnt anything really special, but it gets the job done, and i actually think it gets the job done well. The music was good as well, as i think it really has to be to set the mood in this kind of show. I'd say check it out, its way better than the attention it got. |
| GTO: Great Teacher Onizuka (TV) |
Good |
In progress. |
| Gurren Lagann (TV) |
Good |
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| Haibane Renmei (TV) |
Very good |
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| Happiness! (TV) |
Decent |
In progress. |
| Hellsing (TV) |
Good |
Kinda of a strange anime, the animation is rather different, but i liked it. Theres some kind of attempt at a story, but its kinda weird and tough to follow. It does have alot of action, which is really what the series is about, and its a good view for sure. |
| Hikaru no Go (TV) |
Masterpiece |
This one is kind of hit or miss i suppose. It IS an anime about go, which is kinda similiar to chess but not really. If you can get past that, the story line is pretty cool, and the series has awesome music. There is a period in the latter half of the series where the episodes become almost painful to watch, but the ending is worth it. There was just something about this one that made me fall in love with it, you might not but i say give it a shot. |
| His and Her Circumstances (TV) |
Good |
This, like Ai Yori Aoshi, could have been so much better than it was. For the good stuff, I really liked the story. It was rather different from others in this genre in that the leading couple are actually together throughout most of it, and while there are some hardships and such, they certainly don't get blown apart as they do in alot of other shows. There is actually alot of time that they spend together, and it can be rather touching; however, it does get a little repetative sometimes. The rest of the story is actually quite comical and I like the way they approached that part of it. On the down side (and there's alot :/) the animation was really bad. Frames were constently jumping around, and a great portion of each episode was black and white manga stills, or a really poor drawn version of a character against a white background. One episode was entirely done with cardboard cutouts on sticks, and the last episode was barely more than a narrated slide show. Also, for a show of this length, there was an amazing amount of filler. Two full recap episodes, two full episodes of filler that have nothing to do with the main story, and each individual episode has probably between 30 seconds and 4 minutes of recap at the beginning. Now that I've thouroghly trashed it, I do think it was worth watching if you are into romance shows, because it is rather refreshingly different from a story stand point, its just that the production of it was seriously lacking. |
| Honey and Clover (TV) |
Very good |
Well, it certainly wasnt bad, and it really did have a number of moments that made me just laugh out loud. But i just cant put my finger on it, maybe i was just expecting more due to the rave reviews id see on it and the high ratings and such, but something just didnt click for me. Its deffinatley worth giving it a shot however, see what it does for you. |
| Honey and Clover II (TV) |
Very good |
I actually like it more than the original series. It just felt like everything was a bit more condensed (in a good way) and that stuff actually happened. Part of this may be because its closing out the stories of the characters you got to know thefirst time around, but I found it more interesting regardless (you will have to see the first season before you watch this). The music and animation were basically the same as the first time around, the music is pretty good but I'm not really a big fan of the animation style myself. |
| Ichigo 100% (TV) |
Decent |
Forthe most part, its just your proto-typical harem. In that respect it wasn't really bad at all, but I just can't really seem to get into most harem shows - I just Im more of a straight roamance guy. As far as this show, the story was ok, and there was quite a bit of good comedy in it as well, so it wasn't like I hated watching or anything, but I never was glued to it either. My biggest problem with it is that the leading guy is just so amazingly indecisive that it goes beyond funny and into outright annoying. The personalities of all the girls too didn't do much for me at all, and the two least annoying ones (in my opinion anyway) had the smallest roles and you were stuck with the story of the others. As far as animation and music, neither were amazing, but they weren't bad either. I did kind of like some of the character models, and the ending theme is pretty cool. In closing, if you like harem shows, then you might very well enjoy this alot, if you're more like me, however, it might be harder to get into. |
| Initial D (TV) |
Very good |
For starters, the first season has some really horrible animation, i mean it sucks. The CG stuff is pretty horrible to, at least by todays standards, i dont know about when it first came out. But past that the story develops nicely, and the music is cool (if you like eurobeat stuff anyway, regardless i think it fits the situations where they use it). Also it is about cars racing down mountains at night i mean cmon :p |
| Initial D: Fourth Stage (TV) |
Very good |
Again the same as the others really, by now the CG animation actually qualifies as "pretty" and the story centers around the growth of the two main characters as racers as they go around their area of japan challanging people. |
| Initial D: Second Stage (TV) |
Very good |
The animation improves ALOT from first stage to here, fixing what was really my only complant about it. The story continues to develop and the races start to get more serious. |
| Initial D: Third Stage (movie) |
Very good |
Same as second stage really, only the pacing is changed alot since it is a movie and not a bunch of episodes, there are also a few big story developments here. |
| Intrigue in the Bakumatsu - Irohanihoheto (TV) |
Excellent |
All in all, a very good historical fiction. It takes place during the Meiji Restoration, specifically the Boshin war (1868 and 1869, historically). The show has an interesting story line of its own right, even though it does generally follow the big events and turning points of the war. Some prominent historical figures also make appearances, although they aren't always as they really were. The story line follows some fictional characters as they exert their influences on the changing nation, and the super-natural "Lord's Head" which is the series's main antagonist and fiction source of the war. You don't really need any knowledge of Japanese history to enjoy the show, it really only uses history as a backdrop, although knowing a bit about it before will probably increase your comprehension a bit. The art and animation are fairly simple, although they fit the tone of the series and time period, and I thoroughly enjoyed them both. The fictional bits of the story are interesting, and the series kept me entertained throughout. The main characters are all fairly mysterious, but you end up liking them anyway - the character development is quite strong. The music is also splendid, it is reminiscent of that time period and it provides some really strong emotion for the series. Overall, this isn't something that will appeal to a wide audience in America, but I would recommend taking a look at it. |
| ItaKiss (TV) |
Good |
Despite the "good" rating, there were quite a few things that I liked about this show. There are of course enough flaws that I didn't rate it super-high, and it also probably doesn't have mass-appeal anyway. The love story that develops is actually very good, and for the most part I think it is fleshed out well. It is also refreshing to see a show that takes part, for the most part, outside of the cliche high school years. The show makes several big time jumps, which, for better or worse, let you follow the relationship from grade school where it starts, through their adult lives. Unfortunately the show is plagued by a relatively weakish and meek leading lady, but this is to be expected from Japan, so I need to get used to it :). That being said, I did fancy her as a person, and I liked the way they portrayed the guy as well. As with many of these romance-heavy shows it seems, the art work is relatively simply, but that is far from being a down side; it is by no means bad. I really liked this show, and if you are a fan of romances you most likely will too. |
| Kaleido Star (TV) |
Good |
This again is probably a hit or miss deal. Certainly isnt a very manly series at all, dealing with gymnastics really. But i found it both touching and funny. There is a good portion of the second season that was really hard to watch (first season is all goodness though). In fact, if it was for my friend goading me on the ending was worth it, i might have stopped half way through the second season. He was right though, as the ending of the series is worth seeing. Like HnG, give it a shot at least. |
| Kanon (TV 1/2002) |
Very good |
An interesting little short series. Has some kinda supernatural stuff mixed in with the slice of life stuff, but the characters are all touching in their own little way, and you kinda grow to like them all really. Not the greatest thing i've ever seen, but it has a little something that makes it worth seeing. |
| Kanon (TV 2/2006) |
Masterpiece |
Well, wow. This version is so many worlds better than the 02 version that I don't know where to start. For starts, since is KyoAni, the animation and artwork are both absolutley amazing. While all of the character modles (except Yuuichi) are basically the same as 02, the difference in quality is still amazing. The pacing of the show is also very good, the way in which everything unfolds, intertwined and with heavy use of symbolism and foreshadowing makes this in to an incredible story, even for someone who knew, for the most part, what was going to happen. The music was also superb, adding the final touch to the number of emotional scenes throughout the show. Simply put, the way this show is presented is powerfull, and i have nothing bad to say about it. |
| Kanon Kazahana (special) |
Good |
Nothing tremendously new, but if youve seen the series this is a nice way to end it, it kind of adds a little more closure to some of the characters stories. |
| Karin (TV) |
Very good |
This is another quaint little show that I enjoyed watching a lot. Its a bright show about a "reverse vampire" who needs to inject blood, instead of suck it. It is really quite funny, and the tone is rather different from a lot of things that I usually watch. While the primary arc of the show is the growing relationship between our leading guy and gal, it doesn't get too serious to interfere with the comedy aspects, or visa versa. The artwork and music are generally bright and cheery, as the general mood of the show is pretty light. The story isn't too involved or deep, but the show is good entertainment, easy to watch, and will probably leave you feeling pretty good. |
| Katanagatari (TV) |
Masterpiece |
|
| Kekkaishi (TV) |
Very good |
This is another show that surprised me a lot. I can in not really knowing what to expect, but I ended up being extremely fond of it. It sort of has a similar feel to most super-natural shows; the main characters are from a line of people with "abilities" that they must use to protect someplace from "ayakashi" (demons, basically). This aspect of the show takes a while to develop. The better part of the first half of the show is devoted to, mostly, single episode encounters with random monsters. I don't really see this as a bad thing though, because it is used to set up the arc that takes place over the latter half of the show, serves to familiarize you with the world and the different powers, and really helps to grow the main characters. On to the main characters - I really like them. They have very polar personalities and skills, for the most part, but at the same time they share a special relationship. The way their relationship grows and deepens throughout the show is another area of interest for me, even though it is subtle and sometimes passive. The art style is very good too, it has some of the more modern feels to it, which may or may not be all good, but I liked it - it seemed to fit what was going on. The music too is very fitting for the show, its upbeat rock-like. It might not be deep or "good" from a technical stand point of music, but it certainly does its job in the show well. |
| KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple (TV) |
Very good |
I'm getting quite the kick out of this show. At points its just so typical shounen, that I find it hilarious (whether or not this is intended or not, I can't quite tell but its still great). Beyond that, it does have a lot of real, obviously intended comedy too, more than in any other shounen I've seen which i think sort of sets it apart and keeps it interesting. Of course equally important are the action aspects of the show, which slowly start to become less comedic and more serious as it moves on, and those parts of it are pretty cool too. There are actually a lot of likable characters in this show, from both sides of the spectrum, and I find the artwork and music to be rather well done as well. It does of course have the stereo-typical weak, wussy, (annoying), hero character, but thats pretty much to be expected in this kind of show. By the end, there is actually a rather decent amount of growth in the main characters, and it continues to move towards a more serious feeling show (although it keeps the comedy that makes it special, so don't worry). The ending was very good, rounds out a nice series. |
| Kurenai (TV) |
Good |
|
| Last Exile (TV) |
Excellent |
Over all, this was a pretty awesome show. The story is very strong throughout, and it doesn't have any points where it moves really slowly - although there are a few times when it moves really fast. The two main characters are developed very well, and I really grew to like and sympathise with them. The animation and artwork are fantastic, and the CG parts blend in with the traditional animation very well. All of the ships are very detailed, as are the character models. The music, too, was most excellent. It really set the pace for the show and realy added to the overall feel. On the downside, there was a very large cast, and some of the characters just aren't developed quite as much as you would like; I found myself wishing I knew more about certain people. Some parts of the story I would have liked to seen explained a little more thoroughly, and the last episode felt a little rushed as far as closing out people's stories. Regardless, it was a very good show and I was very much impressed, I definately recommend it. |
| Last Order Final Fantasy VII (OAV) |
Good |
Doesnt really bring anything new to the table for fans of seven because pretty much everything there was at least hinted at in the game. But its still cool to see it really acted out, which is done pretty well (although i think there are a few places where it controdicts the game~) |
| Living for the Day After Tomorrow (TV) |
Very good |
Overall, a pretty good show. Its mostly a kind of light hearted slice of life comedy thing, but there are a few parts where it gets kind of dark and serious, which is good because it sets it apart from most others. The story centers around the supernatural event that switches the ages of a 12ish year old girl and a 24 year old girl, and the things that happen as a result. The characters get developed fairly well, and its easy to see why what happens does. The artwork is also pretty good looking, along with fitting music. On the less-good side, some of the characters have rather one track attitudes that they stick by regardless of anything for way too long, and that gets a little annoying at times, but its not too bad, nor does it happen often. This isn't a fast paced show, but it's really nice if you're just looking for a peaceful, mostly warm hearted show to fill up some time, you'll probably like this too. |
| Love Hina (TV) |
Excellent |
Another rather hilarious series, your classic harem type show (the classic harem? ;o). As with most of these shows its largely episodic so you can probably get away with watching an episode just for its comedic value, although there is also a loose story that unfolds over the series and there could be a few multi-episode arcs I don't really remember. |
| Lovely Complex (TV) |
Very good |
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| Mahoraba ~Heartful days~ (TV) |
Very good |
I enjoyed this series quite a bit. For the most part its pretty simple, and just about every episode has its own little story line to it, while at the same time carrying out the broader progression of the storyline of the series as a whole. All of the characters are funny in their own way, even the "extras." There were a couple of times where I thought that certain things were carried on for a little bit too long, but overall it wasn't that bad at all. This is kind of at the high end of what I would rate very good it pretty much just missed an excellent. |
| Mahoromatic - Automatic Maiden (TV) |
Good |
Nothing too special about this one really, nothing i have to complain about either. Certainlly wasnt great but i didnt waste my time watching it either. |
| (The) Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Just from looking at the episode list, you can see that it progresses in a very strange order. Only a few of the episodes are in the right chronological order, which kinda makes it feel weird at times. Beyond that, its HILARIOUS, truely one of the funniest things ive seen in a while. Must see, theres just something about it. |
| Minami-ke (TV) |
Good |
In progress. |
| My-HiME (TV) |
Very good |
Kinda strange at first, girls fighting with these (for the most part) huge ... transformer like things. Beyond that there is an interesting story development, even if the story itself isnt something to set itself apart as different. Cool action sequences and some laughs. |
| Myself; Yourself (TV) |
Good |
In progress. |
| NANA (live-action movie) |
Decent |
Just a live action rendition of the first 15 ish episodes of the anime (even though this did come first). Its kind of cool to see it acted out live, but I didn't really think that the production was that great. I'm definately more partial to the anime than this, but its not necessarily a bad thing to see if you're interested in the story. |
| NANA (TV) |
Masterpiece (sub & raw) |
I've fallen in love with this show. Everything about it just appeals immensely to me. I love romance shows, and there is no shortage of it here - and its very well done for that matter, the relationships between the characters are all very deep, and they draw you in. The characters all have personalities that just draw you into their world and allow you to easily relate to them on some level or another. The other side of the story, the story of the two bands TRAPNEST and BLAST is equally good. It provides great background on the relationship between the two groups (well, between their members really), not to mention the fact that it produces some awesome music. To cap it all off, the animation is simply stunning, everything looks amazing - you need to see this. Finally got around to watching the last few episodes, and while of couse this isn't the end yet (i hear they're supposed to be making another season or something) the way that they ended this set was pretty good considering nothing was really resolved. The show just got better as it went on and i just fell more and more in love with so many of the characters, superb. |
| Naruto (TV) |
Very good |
Has its ups and downs. When its going good, there are great laughs and some really cool fight scenes and animations etc. Problem is that the series starts off really slow, and even when its in full swing, stuff seems to take forever to happen. Fights will run the course of 3-8 episodes and such, which is a little much to me. Now its been in a bunch of HORRIBLE and i mean HORRIBLE filler arcs for like a year now, and ive given up on it until (if) the real story gets going again. Bottom line, its definatly worth watching until the filler crap starts. Well, now that the new, non-filler season has started, I declare that I have seen all of this thats worth watching, and then some. |
| Negima! (TV) |
Good |
Another kinda "kiddy" comedy series, even the action sequences here are based off of the comical element, and sometimes it gets to be a little much. All in all i enjoied it, as i do most short one season comedy shows, since laughs are always worth it :p |
| Negima!? (TV) |
Good |
In progress. |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV) |
Very good |
Well, I've finally seen it, and I'll try to write this knowing how old this show is. First off though, is the meat of the show itself. I actually felt as though there really wasn't much TO this. There is of course a massive amount of information thrown at you throughout the show, but you never really get a good picture of any of it, and its really more confusing than anything. You do, however, get a good enough idea of whats going on to enjoy the show, and some people might look at this as kind of a good thing, theres a lot of room for you to decide for yourself whats happened. Beyond that, though, the show really just feels like a long string of "oh its another enemy, lets fight it" then something goes wrong to make it different and interesting. It really kind of reminds me of Fafnir a lot in this respect. There is always actually a pretty strong physiological undertone, but this is taken to an extreme in the last 2 episodes, in what I can really only describe as a massive acid trip. Theres a lot of information there, but i just feel as though the mental elements are just repeated and repeated throughout the whole show, and by the end there really isn't even a horse left to beat anymore. No one's outlook or personality really changes at all, they just grapple with it a few times, seem to come to a revelation, then end up right back where they started, which is kind of frustrating, to me at least. Given the shows age, the animation is actually pretty good, as is the artwork, but there is quite a lot of cheating with black and whites and silhouettes and such (a bit more than I think can be justified as "artistic"). The music is also ok, certainly not bad, but I wouldn't call it great either. In closing, this is without a doubt one of the pioneers of its genre, and anyone who is a fan of mecha style shows, or really anime in general, you will probably enjoy it. |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion: Death & Rebirth (movie) |
So-so |
Well, if you haven't seen the series, maybe? If you have well then, you'll probably be like me and feel like this was a huge waste of time. It's basically just clips from the series itself, in some sort of half-assed chronological order, strung together with a bunch of text inserts. Having seen the series, nothing was new, and even the way it was put together felt very weak to me. If you want to see NGE, watch the series, don't bother with this unless you're some sort of huge fan, in which case, you probably wouldn't be reading this anyway. |
| Nodame Cantabile (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Nodame Cantabile: Finale (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Nodame Cantabile: Paris (TV) |
Very good |
|
| Noein - to your other self (TV) |
Excellent |
Wow? I was very impressed by this, and I don't really know why I let it sit on my "want to see" list for as long as it did. I really enjoyed pretty much every aspect of this show, so here we go. First off from a story standpoint, it felt very unique. Although the underlying morals are somewhat in line with other shows like this, the approach in this one was quite different. There was actually a lot of fancy quantum physics talk in here, which i suppose could be kind of confusing if you hadn't had an exposure to the theories before (not that I can make a stand as to how scientifically accurate some of this stuff was, but still). The character development was also top notch. I felt like you really got to know everyone in the main cast really well, even some of the more supporting characters were very defined. The main character herself I liked a lot, very different from the normal mentality you'd see here. On to art work and animation, both of these were.. interesting. Most of the time it was good, especially the environments, those were also very pretty, but sometimes the character models took a serious dive, to such an extent that I wonder if it was on purpose. It doesn't happen that often, and in the situations where it does, well maybe I'm trying to make excuses. Music was also very good, really gave the show a lot of feeling. See this. |
| Ōkami-san & Her Seven Companions (TV) |
Decent |
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| Ouran High School Host Club (TV) |
Excellent |
This show is super funny. Its actually really moe (super cute etc) and you might have to be a little more open to accept everything in the show without judging it, since some of the things they do are kind of strange, especially by american standards. Past that however, it is one of the more funny things that i have seen in a while, and this is in part because of the relationships between the charcters. They each get their own unique personallities established early, and therefore the stuff that goes on between them later in the series really becomes just that much more funny. I am a fan of the artwork, for a show like this it was rather detailed and pretty, the music too, was pretty good. The only things about the show that were kind of annoying are that, especcially in the beginning, they seemed to introduce some new side-ish characters every few episodes, but it wasnt that bad at all. Some of the side characters just had roles that didnt really appeal to me at all, but thats a matter of my preferance really. This definately gets a recommendation to pretty much anyone. |
| Passage of the Stars - Birth (special) |
Very good |
|
| Planetes (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Romeo × Juliet (TV) |
Excellent |
After Gankutsuou, I had no doubts that a deep, old, story such as this would make a great anime if done right. And, well, this was done right, as far as I'm concerned. Obviously from the title you can gather mostly whats its about, but they do a great job of mixing it up, and keeping a classic like this very interesting and new, while at the same time familiar with what you expect. The characters and development, as is to be expected, as top notch. There is also a lot in there that differs from classic renditions, giving the characters and the situation a uniqueness that I think is very important. There is a strong focus on the love story (obviously) but there is also a lot more going on, namely the sometimes thrilling action in a very well done fantasy setting, which is done in such a way that I think it does nothing but enhance the story. The artwork in this is simply beautiful, and extremely fluid. I think the style fits the story very well, for reasons that I don't quite think I can get out here, but it appeals. The music is also fantastic, and really makes some parts touching. The ending too, has a nice little flare on it to close the show out with a bang. Fans from across genres will enjoy, definitely give it a look. |
| Rumbling Hearts (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Horribly sad story line really, but its told extremely well and you get to know the main players pretty well. There are definatly some tear-jerker moments but thats what makes it good. And as thouroughly depressing as most of the series is, the ending is rather good and doesnt leave you feeling something horrible happened. |
| Scrapped Princess (TV) |
Excellent |
I was rather impressed. There were alot of things about this that I liked. The story was very engaging, though it did take a little while to get into the heart of the plot. Even so, the beginning already had me hooked on the show, as you get introduced to the main characters, and they are all pretty good. The older brother and sister in particular, show amazing reslove from the start, and they have some rather impressive fighting skills to complement that. Our Scrapped Princess herself develops quite a bit by the end too, but it takes a little longer for that part of her to show. There are a few holes in the story, and there were also some parts that just didn't sit well with me, but they don't really have any effect on the outcome of the show. The artwork and animation are both pretty good, the characters look great - although I guess the backgrounds tended to be no so filled with stuff; regardless I liked the way it looked. The music too was good, I really liked the opening theme, but the soundtrack is rather nice sounding as well. |
| Shakugan no Shana (TV) |
Good |
I didn't find anything extremely new about this, which is both one of its strong and weak points. The story, certainly, isn't something hugely original; its rather reminiscent of the basic plot you'll find in a number of shows in the genre. For the most part the characters didn't feel too "unique" either. They are, of course, their own people, but their bases seem similar to many others at the same time. That being said, I kind of grew attached (or at least came to like) some of them, so they DO have unique points and identities that are developed enough. The story too, while for the most part following a basic blueprint, manages to stay interesting enough to keep you involved (I knocked it out in 2 days so, theres that). Like many things these days, its pretty so you have that to look forward to as well. Music also carries its weight, this is certainly worth taking a look at. |
| Shangri-La (TV) |
Good |
|
| She, The Ultimate Weapon (TV) |
Very good |
As much as I have a huge soft spot for romance shows, for whatever reason I had a pretty hard time getting into this one. I don't know if its because of the extremely odd circumstances, or that I think the main characters fall a little flat in the beginning episodes. By the end, I felt as though it had gotten a bit more engaging, and it definitely gave some serious personalities to the leading duo. Still, I feel as though the personalities of the two (they were both kind of weak and timid toward each other, and that gets annoying when its stretched out over a whole show), as well as their actions when they were supposed to be "in love" made me feel a little less sympathy for the whole thing. Also, I do try not to judge shows by their animation and artwork TOO much, and generally I don't, but when there is a serious lack of quality (which isn't really the case here), or when the style just seems... not to fit (which is the case here) I find that it really effects my ability to get into the show (see Honey and Clover perhaps?). The music here was pretty good in trying to make the emotional scenes just that however, and is one of the strong points of the show. If you're going to give this show a shot, try to get through the first few episodes before really judging it too much. |
| Sky Girls (OAV) |
Decent |
Not really bad, not really good. Pretty much what you could expect from a "teenage girls pilot mechs to save the world" kind of thing. Story certainly isn't original, and at least the OAV is basically a fanservice show, but thats not really all that bad. From the side of performances and artwork, its actually rather decent. Entertaining enough to watch, kill some time. |
| Strawberry Marshmallow (TV) |
Very good |
This is a very very funny show. Its totally episodic in nature, some episodes sort of lead into the next, but they are all basically contained story lines. All of the main characters, 4 grade school girls and an early 20s one, are very likeable and funny, but they are all rather unique as well. Basically its just the 5 main characters running around doing daily type things, but the humor in everythign that happens is unmistakable, and I loved every second of it. The artwork is nothing special really, very simple for the most part, but its not bad by any means. I can't really think of anything to say about the music, but that pretty much just means that it did its job, which is all you really need in a show like this. Most of the comedy comes out of a Japanese slice of life type thing, so if thats not your thing you might not think it as funny as me, but give it a shot anyway. |
| Strawberry Marshmallow (OAV) |
Good |
Has the same feel as the series did, a bunch of light headed comedy with the same characters. Its kinda like 3 more episodes of the show, so if you liked the series go for it, if not, dont bother. |
| Student Council's Discretion (TV) |
Good |
|
| Suzuka (TV) |
Good |
I pounded this show out pretty quick, its rather full of the romance stuff that I just love. For the most part its a pretty good show, and there are any number of really good interactions between the characters. It does seem to suffer from some of the problems that most shows of this genre do; the main 2 characters just keep going back and forth between 2 rather disparate extremes, sometimes annoying or cheesy side characters and the such. Overall though, these aren't as bad as I've seen, and although you could certainly make the argument that this show doesn't really do anything new or bring new content to the genre (although it does do a nice job of integrating the spots thing I think) I still enjoyed it a lot. Artwork and animation aren't anything special, but they're certainly good enough. I actually kind of enjoy these shows with simpler models and stuff, assuming its done right. Music is also decent, does a good job of fitting the moods but its far from extraordinary. Overall a good show if you're into the romance ones. |
| Tokyo Majin (TV) |
Good |
This is an... interesting show. Its pretty action packed, which helps to keep it fairly interesting throughout, which is a plus. The artwork is also very well done, but I kind of think the animatation falters every once in a while. There is a lot of pure randomness in this show as well, there is next to zero sense in the first 6ish episodes (not that they're really that bad), and the action itself really makes little sense most of the time too, regardless its pretty entertaining. Towards the latter half of the show the story starts to pick up a little bit to the point where it tangibly exists. The biggest downer in this, in my opinion, is that most of the characters are pretty one dimensional, there isn't really anything else to them beside that surface they through out, and even that doesn't really change over the run of the show either. Regardless, its a rather entertaining short little action show, good for killing some time. |
| Toradora! (TV) |
Excellent |
|
| Trinity Blood (TV) |
Very good |
After seeing this, I have to wonder why I've seen some much negative talk about this as a "Hellsing wannabe" or "a vampire show wannabe." While there are no doubt some holes in the show, I was actually kind of impressed with it. The overall plot that is kind of eluded to during the show is never really explained at all, it feels as though there was a very rapid jump as far as that was concerned near the end of the show. What is there, however, I find to be pretty engaging in its own right, and more than enough to justify whats going on. The main characters are really about as deep as you can expect from a show like this, and I think they play their roles pretty good (although some are a little to dense for my tastes). As far as the show itself, the animation and artwork are both really good, putting both Hellsing and its OVA to shame, in my opinion. The music you can't really compare, because the styles are just too different, but Trinity Blood's soundtrack does a very good job in its own right, and rounds out the show. If you're looking for some good entertainment and action, you can definately check this one out. |
| Welcome to the NHK (TV) |
Good |
|
| When They Cry - Higurashi (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Damn good series, took me a while to really catch on to the way they were telling the story and all, but its very well done. There are some rather violent and uh.. grusome parts, but its all part of the story, cant have a murder mystery without murders eh? |
| When They Cry - Kai (TV) |
Very good |
Done in mostly the same stye as the first one, but you get a very interesting different angle from early on here. As yet i can't quite tell how new its going to be, because its riding on the edge between just replicating the first series and being something totally diffnerent. It is stil early yet though of course, just after the first chapter so it does look promising. |
| Yakitate!! Japan (TV) |
Excellent |
Like HnG, you have to get past the fact that this one is about making bread... Once you get past that the main characters are great, and most of the episodes are hilarious. There are a number of things that are kinda of way over the top for the premise of the series, but its still worth it. You'll probably enjoy it more if you have a better grasp of japanese culture and language since a great number of the jokes are puns aimed at popular japanese culture elements, and at similarities in written and spoken words in japanese. Even if you dont have this knowledge, the subtitles do a great job in explaining it all, though youll likely have to pause playback to read the little info blurbs they use. |
