I must admit that around half of the series I’m watching at the moment are rather forgettable- if I’d know in advance how poor they would be, I would never have even started them in the first place. Of course, once you make headway into a series, it becomes very difficult to drop it, but in a few weeks’ time I should be released from the chaff in time to sample the best (and most likely the worst) of the autumn season.

Lucky Star OVA

Ah, I can hear the fanboys stirring over this one- as you know, personally I wasn’t too impressed by Lucky Star (Hidamari Sketch was far superior in presenting an amusing tale of everyday life), but I may watch this for completion.

Hakushaku to Yousei

Also known as “Count and Fairy”, this is actually the tale of a 19^th century count and fairy knight and doctor on a quest for a legendary sword. Despite the generic premise, I’m torn between expecting this to be a solid historical fantasy in the vein of Chevalier and fearing that it will actually be the next Allison to Lillia.

Akane-Iro ni Somaru Saka

Another eroge adaptation with nice character designs, this time about a new transfer student who happens to be the arranged husband of the girl he manages to piss off by kissing her (apparently to save her from danger, however that works). I can’t help thinking of Full Metal Panic, and to be honest, unless this can make itself into the next True Tears, it may as well be left alone.

Shikabane Hime: Aka

We’ve had Murder Princess, Sister Princess and so forth, but now the Corpse Princess has joined in the fun. Our undead heroine must hunt down 108 corpses if she wishes to go to heaven, seemingly a recipe for a near endless series. With Gainax at the helm, there’s bound to be some degree of hype, but even if you subscribe to the Eva and Gurren-Lagann fanclubs, please remember that they did bring us Koni Mini and Mahoromatic as well.

Toradora!

A kind-hearted guy with the looks of a delinquent becomes the personal servant of the ultimate tsundere and the two become allies in an attempt to share their respective crushes. I can’t help thinking of Midori no Hibi with a splash of Nogizaka Haruka, and if, like those series, this is only 12-13 episodes, I might indulge- but I don’t have the time or inclination to tackle anything longer.

Rosario to Vampire Capu2

As always, a second season I only mention for completeness, since I didn’t watch the first season and have no intention of doing so.

Hyakko

A series about four schoolgirls and the people they interact with, this series isn’t handled by SHAFT, but it sounds so much like Hidamari Sketch meets Pani Poni Dash that it really should be. This kind of series is usually good fun, so I may take a punt on this one.

Clannad After Story

The hyped KyoAni series of the season, the long awaited After Story begins with Tomoya X Nagisa getting together, and depending on which game path it follows, can either be miserable or utterly depressing. Still, as it’s focusing on the Clannad relationship that I like the best, I’m willing to follow it through (although I have a good idea of what could happen thanks to some of Hinano’s game spoilers).

Tales of the Abyss

Let’s not bother with the plot (something about a destined hero) and focus on just one thing here- this is an RPG adaptation, and I think I may have finally learned my lesson about their generally poor quality. With that in mind, and with Sunrise’s involvement not inspiring much in the way of confidence, I’m going to leave this well alone.

Hokuto no Ken Raoh Gaiden Ten no Haoh

You might have thought that Hokuto no Ken had had its day, but from out of nowhere this spin-off manga about Kenshiro’s brother Raoh has appeared. Bringing this sort of ultra-retro series into the 21^st century probably isn’t the best of ideas, and even if I felt tempted to watch this any time soon, I’d leave it until I’d watched the rest of the earlier series.

Kuro Shitsuji

The butler genre gets a new entry in the form of “Dark Butler”, the tale of a perfect servant and his twelve year old master. I’m not sure what to make of this, as it could either be amusing or entirely dull- perhaps it’s best to watch it based on the blogworld’s reaction to the first couple of episodes (go forth, my fellow bloggers, and sacrifice yourselves for my sake!).

Casshern Sins

My sole experience of this franchise comes from watching and reviewing the OVA “Casshan: Robot Hunter”, which I will always remember for having a DVD menu that loaded with the epic battlecry “I am- Casshan!” As a remake of a 70s series about a robot hunter fighting an evil empire of artificial lifeforms, surely even Studio Madhouse can’t elevate this beyond the level of retro cheese.

Yozakura Quartet

After acquiring some artwork from the original material, I became rather interested in watching this for shallow reasons, but in true Terry Pratchett fashion, my Second Thoughts told me that looking forward to it on such a flimsy basis could only be a recipe for disaster. The fact that the eponymous quartet consist of one normal boy and three girls with superpowers also has those alarm bells ringing- isn’t this just the dull Telepathy Shoujo Ran all over again? And yet, even with all that in mind, I feel that I must at least try it.

Kannagi

The tale of a sacred tree that turns into a girl and a guardian deity who wants to be an idol, this sounds like another light entertainment shrine maiden series in the vein of Shrine of the Morning Mist. I’m keeping my expectations grounded, but I’ll certainly give it a try.

Kurogane no Linebarrels

A typical shounen story about an underachiever who finds a giant robot and then has his life changed, this sounds like the kind of thing I can easily live without.

Tentai Senshi Sunred

At first glance, I would have passed over this as an out of place sentai series, but apparently it’s actually a spoof of all those retro Japanese clichés, and with that in mind, it could be quite amusing. Then again, I can spoof things quite happily on my own.

Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae

Will the hellish trip through the excruciatingly dull world of Jigoku Shoujo ever end? One season was too much for me, but somehow they came up with a second, and now a third is on its way. Good luck to anyone still following this.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 2nd Season

Gundam 00 continues after a time skip of some four years, but since I gave up on the first season after three episodes, I’ll need to catch up if I ever want to be ready for this- and right now I don’t have the time or inclination for that.

Kemeko Deluxe!

How many times can a high school student meet a mysterious alien who claims to be his destined bride? Apparently, there’s still room for more, with Sanpeita meeting a mecha musume fiancée in her own mobile suit. It may be light entertainment and amusing, but it sounds like the sort of thing that should be watched after it has aired rather than be worried about catching it every week.

To Aru Majutsu no Index

Another light novel adaptation, this one takes place in a world where supherhuman powers and magic are just par for the course. Our protagonists are a boy with a hand that can negate magic and a nun with forbidden magical texts in her head- think Chrono Crusade meets Getbackers, Johnny Mnemonic, Rental Magica, Polyphonica and god only knows what else. In other words, whilst it may look appealing, I’m also concerned that it will be a generic, cookie-cutter experience.

Noramimi 2

Apparently the original Noramimi was very underrated, but until I have the opportunity to watch it, I won’t be indulging in this second season.

Inazuma Eleven

An RPG adaptation with childish character designs- strike this one off the list immediately.

Macademi Wasshoi!

Thanks to the success of one Harry Potter, magical academies will probably never go out of fashion, with this series showcasing yet another one. Our hero manages to summon up a girl who has the power to destroy an entire country- now only her loyalty to him can avert disaster. I can’t help thinking of Zero no Tsukaima added to Hibiki’s Magic, and to be honest I’m not terribly interested.

Ga-Rei: Zero

A boy, a girl and a ‘Ga-Rei’ team together to destroy evil spirits in something that looks and sounds pretty generic. I may watch it, but it depends on the rest of my viewing schedule.

Skip Beat!

Although I haven’t read it myself, this is one those manga series that is so all-pervasive that you expect it to have had an anime adaptation already. The series focuses on a girl who follows her singer boyfriend to Tokyo, only to discover that he thinks of her as little more than a convenient housekeeper. In an attempt at revenge, she decides to become more famous than him, but without the ability to love, she doesn’t quite have that ‘x-factor’ needed to succeed. This sounds like it could be a painful example of generic shoujo, but there’s always the chance that it might actually be worthy.

Kyou no Go no Ni

Although fifth graders indulging in sexual innuendo always sounded rather disturbing to me, I now have the OVA in my possession, and so I can sample that before the series begins to see if it’s my thing. Should it prove to be amusing, then I’ll take a chance on the TV series.

Vampire Knight Guilty

The bishies return for a second season of shallow shoujo antics; if you liked the first season you’ll no doubt go in for more of the same.

ef – a tale of melodies

Whilst my fellow bloggers may have waxed lyrical on the perceived complexity of ef’s first season, I put it on hold after three episodes and still haven’t felt like getting back to it. If the backburner has a backburner, then that’s where this one is going.

Mouryou no Hako

Apparently this series starts with a private investigator looking into a case involving dismembered schoolgirls- to be honest, from that alone, it sounds like it could be the next Kara no Kyoukai movie. I’m not sure whether the series will be about that one case or whether it has more tricks up its sleeve; either way, if it can pull off a decent horror story, it might be worth looking into, but if not, it’ll just be another Ryoko’s Case File.

Stitch!

I’m not sure how a minor Disney character got his own anime series, but here it is, although as I wasn’t a particular fan of the original movie and imagine this will be rather childish, it’s not going on my to-watch list.

One Outs

On first glance, an anime about baseball and gambling doesn’t sound terribly appealing, but you factor in the obvious MANLINESS and the fact that the same team who worked on Akagi and Kaiji will be handling this, it suddenly sounds like it might have a chance of being oddly compulsive. With that in mind, I must at least sample this- or get someone else to sample it for me.

Tytania

A space opera from the brains behind Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Tytania promises to be a complex epic that should please everyone who loved both the aforementioned and the ever popular Seikai series. This time around, count me in from the start!

Chaos;Head

A visual novel adaptation starring a boy who cannot tell reality from delusion yet believes he is being pursued by a murderer, this sounds a lot like this season’s answer to Higurashi. I must admit I’m tempted, but I’m also wary.

Nodame Cantabile: Paris-Hen

Nodame Cantabile may not be one of my favourites, but I did generally enjoy the manga and the first season of the anime, and so even though I’ve read the material that will be turned into this season, it’s been long enough that I can enjoy it again in animated form. A decent silver level series.

Kurozuka

A story of love and obsession that spans the generations, Kurozuka sounds somewhat reminiscent of Otogi Zoshi, although it’s hard to tell just where it’s going to fall in the quality spectrum. At only 12 episodes in length, however, it’s tempting to give it a try.

Junjou Romantica 2

Another second season of a series I haven’t seen- first season viewers only need apply.

Michiko to Hatchin

Move over all other anime partnerships, Michiko and Hatchin are here- a sexy diva and a little kid on the run from her foster parents. Exactly where their story will take them is a matter for debate, but I assume it will be some sort of Sisters of Wellber type affair. At any rate, I can live without seeing this one.

Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

Zetsubou shita! The fact that this is only a two episode OVA has left me in despair! Still, I’ll take what I can of Sensei’s bleak antics, and hopefully they will be as hilarious as ever.

Switch

A typical detective odd couple take to the streets as drug busters, up against a new super-addictive substance that has taken hold of the life of a popular actor. I’m not sure what to make of this one- it certainly sounds like something more suited to primetime TV, but can it work in animated form?

Zettai Shougeki: Platonic Heart

An OVA about eleven women chosen to search for a jewel that can grant any wish, this sounds highly generic. AniDB has also tagged it as ‘paper clothes’, which suggests that this will be Ikki Tousen’s spiritual successor.

Ikkitousen: Great Guardians

It’s already started airing, I know, but I won’t be watching even the first episode- the senselessness and gratuity of Ikki Tousen put me off long, long ago. One for the fanservice fans only.

Telepathy Shoujo Ran

A series about a girl with telepathic powers, Telepathy Shoujo Ran sounds like the coming season’s answer to the episodic supernatural genre. Bearing in mind that the last series of this type I watched was Mokke, I’m not expecting this to go above mediocre, but I may give it a try.

Sekirei

We’ve seen harem and battle royale series aplenty, but like Fate/Stay Night, this anime combines the two, introducing the typically useless male lead into a world where bishounen and beautiful girls battle each other with special powers. I suppose if it’s well animated it could make for a staple of the light entertainment category, but can it really offer us anything we haven’t seen before?

Koihime Musou

An eroge adaptation which promises to remake ROTK with cute girls, Koihime Musou seems destined to be the bastard child of Koutetsu Sangokushi and Ikki Tousen, but even so I adore the character designs. I know I should resist as I’ve been burned before under almost exactly the same circumstances, but I may not be able to help myself.

Ultraviolet: Code044

A series about a genetically engineered warrior who ends up fighting both modern day vampires and the government who created her, Ultraviolet does have Studio Madhouse’s involvement to boast about, but even so it hardly smacks of originality. I’m on the fence as to whether to try it.

Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora

For those of you who are unfamiliar with its Japanese name, this is the latest Someday’s Dreamers spin-off series, based on new main character Sora. Although I wanted to see the Spellbound manga animated, this new series will serve just as well- I’ve always enjoyed the tranquillity and beautiful artwork of the franchise, and the first chapter of the manga was worthy enough to make me want to know what happens next.

Slayers Revolution

Slayers has always been good fun, and even though it’s not based on the novels, this new series should deliver us some more tongue-in-cheek fantasy action from our favourite characters (although I hear it’s hinted that Xellos will be taking over from Lina as the main character). Whatever the case, this should be the perfect series to kick back with over the summer months.

Hidamari Sketch x 365

Like the Xbox 360, the second season of Hidamari Sketch jumps ahead a bit numerically, and whilst I’m ashamed to say that I’m only just about to begin watching the first season, I hope to have it complete in time to jump on the bandwagon for this second outing.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

A light novel adaptation, this series has echoes of Kare Kano about it, with our male lead discovering that the school’s perfect princess is actually a closet otaku. Fair enough, but where does the story go after that? I may watch it, but it’s not a must-see.

Antique Bakery

If I told you there was a manga about four gay guys running a bakery, would you laugh? If I told you that this anime is the adaptation of that manga, would you start believing me? Either way, I’m not making this up, and I have to admit that this does sound a little like the gay cake version of Bartender, but since it might be a nice little episodic slice-of-life piece, I feel compelled to give it a try- I at least want to see some tasty cakes.

Strike Witches TV

Gonzo doing a mecha series- isn’t that always a recipe for disaster- even if it is mecha-musume rather than the conventional mobile suit? And yet the character designs are so appealing that I’m going to have to take care, or I’ll end up watching this and falling into disappointment (and perhaps despair) once again.

Tetsuwan Birdy Decode

A remake of an OVA about a guy and a girl who end up in the same body, not only does the TV series lack Madhouse involvement (Il Teatrino, anyone?), but the visuals look far inferior to the original. Anyway, I need to watch the OVA first to decide if I like the franchise.

Yakushiji Ryoko no Kaiki Jikenbo

A light novel-based series about a beautiful detective who has to deal with a male rival and all sorts of supernatural phenomena, this is yet another one of those series that sounds like an amalgam of things we’ve all seen and heard before. One to perhaps watch only if the viewing schedule is light.

Zero no Tsukaima: Princess no Rondo

Yes, ZnT has a third season and no, I won’t be watching it. If you stuck it out for two seasons, I’m sure you’ll want another, but if not, there’s no point in bothering.

Neo Angelique Abyss: Second Age

Why oh why do they even keep making Angelique series? I must admit that at least this season has a cat in the promo artwork, but can that even be enough to overcome the deficiencies of bishounen-heavy, plot-light Neoromance series? Somehow, I doubt it.

Mission-E

Just as I was thinking to myself “hmm, this sounds like it could be a sequel to Code-E”, I looked it up and realised that yes, it is actually a sequel to Code-E. Since I didn’t watch the former series, there’s hardly any point my picking this up.

World Destruction

Do I hear the cries of “oh no, not another RPG based series” resounding across the land? Based on an upcoming DS title set in a world where humans are the slaves of beastmen, World Destruction focuses on a committee who want to do just that, using the power of a destined main character. Presumably by destroy they simply mean putting an end to the current beastmen regime rather than destroying the entire world, but either way I’m not particularly interested in this one.

Natsume Yuujinchou

In a sort of reverse Card Captor Sakura, this series sees a main character using his ability to see spirits to dissolve the contracts with spirits whose names are written in his magical book. Apart from the idea of returning things to where they belong instead of collecting them, this doesn’t sound particularly original, but because the main character has a spirit cat at his side, I’ll have to watch it.

Blade of the Immortal

Normally you might expect a series about a man who has to kill a thousand enemies to be packed with action and bloodshed, but the fact that Bee Train is animating it probably means that he’ll be killing them offscreen on a bus somewhere. I must not be sucked into watching this, unless it is for the great parody cause.

Mahou Sensei Negima!: Shiroki Tsubasa Ala Alba

Another Negima OVA; I may or may not watch depending on my mood at the time of release.

School Rumble: San Gakki

Once, I would have jumped for joy at a School Rumble OVA, but these days I barely care- as I understand it, this OVA covers the trip to England, which I’ve already read about in the manga, and which I don’t really need to relive. I may watch for completion, but School Rumble has long since lost its lustre for me.

Gag Manga Biyori 3
I’m still waiting for Gag Manga Biyori 2 to be subbed in its entirety, but this offbeat and random comedy series has always been a fun diversion, and hopefully it will continue to be so.

Chi’s Sweet Home
I just had to mention this one because it’s about a lost kitten who finds a new home- it will probably get totally ignored by the anime viewing world, but the artwork is cute. Should I watch it just because I’m a cat lover? Perhaps.

Nijuu-Mensou no Musume
Also known as Chiko, Heiress of the Phantom Thief, this series is, unsurprisingly, about a girl who is the spiritual successor of a notorious phantom thief. I quite like her character design, but until someone reports otherwise, this seems like it will be a rather generic bronze-tier outing.

To Love-Ru
This is one those series that you automatically expect to have an anime adaptation already, but as it turns out, it’s only just about to get one. The series takes on the generic “alien girl lands in boy’s bathtub, leading to a series of events that ends up with him unwillingly getting engaged to her” story, presumably complete with the clichés that have been around since the days of Urusei Yatsura. Unless someone tells me that it’s good to parody, I don’t plan to waste my life on this one.

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D
Yes, it’s the one you’ve all been waiting for- a subpar spin-off of a card game anime, complete with new characters and a new way of playing cards- via motorcycle. I’m not sure I quite understand how that works, but this is going to be so splendidly awful that I almost feel like trying it- almost, but not quite. The insanely spiky haired character designs also remain oddly appealing in a perverse fashion.

Kyou Kara Maoh! season three
For better or worse, Kyou Kara Maoh seems to be one of those things that go on forever, and now it has thirty-nine more episodes to come. Presumably, if you’ve seen seasons one and two and still have an appetite for more, you’ll want to watch this, but for everyone else it’s just something else to ignore.

Allison to Lillia
What happens when you take two light novel series about girls named Allison and Lillia- and put them together to form one anime? The answer, of course, is Allison to Lillia, a series about both of their adventures. Although I know very little about it, it does give off a positive Last Exile vibe, and the fact that the original material was written by the author who brought us Kino’s Journey is a big plus point in its favour. I’ll be keeping my eye out for this one.

Kure-nai
On the surface, this sounds like another potentially interesting episodic light novel based series, this time about a mediator who negotiates squabbles between people. Unfortunately, there also seems to be a proliferation of seven year old characters, which makes me worried that it will either be a loli-fest or about as deep as Chokotto Sister.

xxxHOLiC: Kei
Much as I enjoy the xxxHOLiC manga (even though I haven’t bothered to read any new chapters in months), the anime was incredibly dull and poorly animated, leaving me unenthusiastic about a new season. Should I watch it for completeness? Perhaps, but then I remember the struggle of staying awake as season one progressed, and I think that I should just leave well alone.

Kanokon
Typical high school student meets a girl who is actually a fox goddess and builds up a harem with her and supporting characters- this sounds like Inukami for 2008, only probably inferior because it’s been done before. I may watch it once it’s finished airing, but it’s probably not something I’ll keep up with on a weekly basis.

Amatsuki
Boy who hates history gets caught in a historical simulation VR game- seems like a fairly standard setup that will produce a solid but not outstanding result. I may or may not watch, depending on early impressions and time available.

Druaga no To: the Aegis of Uruk
“Thus begins the story of a warrior named Gil who, finding companions along the way, embarks on a quest for the fabled Blue Crystal Rod”- is it me, or does this sound like yet another generic fantasy waiting to happen? And, given that it’s being animated by Gonzo, it seems unlikely to contain much originality or innovation.

Itazura na Kiss
Another romance series; this time about an ice-cold model student and the girl who relentlessly pursues him; it would sound like an immediate throwaway, except for apparently the story continues after they get married. For that reason, I may give it a go, in the hopes that it will at least be reminiscent of the greatness of Kare Kano.

Blassreiter: genetic
When I was reading the synopsis for this series, I thought like it sounded like the worthy successor to Persona and Mushi-Uta, containing as it does zombies and people with special powers. Then I saw that not only is it a Gonzo production, but that said people are meant to participate in a battle royale, and somehow all the potential just melted away.

Zettai Karen Children
Although the title draws me to this series (simply because it reminds me of Zettai Shounen), I feel I must resist, since it seems to centre on three young girls with ESP who are hired by the Japanese government. I sense magical girl, and whilst that doesn’t necessarily make it bad, I can’t say this particular setup is very appealing.

Kamen no Maid Guy
A masked burly maid guy- I don’t know whether to laugh or run away in fear. It will probably be amusing in a “light on the brain” fashion, but it hardly seems like something to clear a space in a packed schedule for.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki
Forget Kamisama Kazoku and its family of gods, this series has a makeshift ‘family’ of beings with the potential power to destroy the world, including, for some reason, a lion and a jellyfish. It could be fun, but it could also be juvenile, so I’m remaining on the fence until it actually airs.

Da Capo II Second Season
Another one I’m just reporting in case anyone doesn’t know of its existence- as I haven’t watched season one, I won’t be seeing this any time soon.

Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
I can feel the Code Geass fanboys gathering around already (Hanners, are you reading this?), but since I didn’t complete season one, I won’t be picking up this one either. And what’s this I hear about Lelouch’s previously unmentioned brother showing up?

Neo Angelique Abyss
Didn’t we already have two Angelique TV series? Weren’t they more than enough? Somehow, however, another series with a new set of bishies has made it into existence, although if it’s as lacking in plot as its predecessors, it can be happily forgotten.

Wagaya no Oinari-sama
With Spice and Wolf having concluded, I need another worthy series with a furry lead, and so what better than one with an unsealed fox god who can take the form of either a man or a beautiful woman? As it’s light novel based, I’m getting good vibes already.

Special A
No, this isn’t a new type of cereal or vitamin supplement; instead, the Special A is an elite group of students who get such good grades that they don’t even have to attend classes. Nonetheless, our main character does go to classes, because her goal is, unsurprisingly, to beat the male lead. It sounds like a bit of a mishmash of other shoujo series, with little merit to watching it.

Soul Eater
Shinigami are always a popular subject, but here we have a slightly different spin on the topic, as weapon technicians try to turn their zanpakuto human weapons into proper Death Scythes by collecting the souls of evil people. Will it be an interesting take on a tried-and-true concept, or is it just the latest shounen series to star shinigami? Only time will tell.

Nabari no Ou
I almost wish that this was a spin-off of Shion no Ou, but instead it’s about a boy with destined powers and the two ninja clans who end up fighting over him. The latter sounds disturbingly similar to Basilisk (especially as the Iga clan shows up in both series), but I’m still undecided as to whether to try this.

Vampire Knight
I’ve long thought about reading the manga for this bishie vampire series, but all signs pointed to it being generally shallow and more about looks than story. I’m still oddly drawn to the series, but I can’t help feeling I should start with the manga rather than going to the anime- simply because it reminds me a little of the underwhelming Zombie-Loan.

Monochrome Factor
Having ruled out one possible Mushi-Uta/Persona successor, could this series be the destined heir instead? This time around, we have a high school student who is told he must acquire destined powers and use them to restore the balance between the human and shadow worlds- to be honest, it sounds pretty generic, but there could be a smidgen of potential hidden in there somewhere.

Crystal Blaze
A city with secrets, an ex-policeman turned detective, a woman with no memories- do they get these setups from a standard book of storylines? Nonetheless, this could be the Heat Guy J of 2008, so if it isn’t too unbearably MANLY and cyberpunk, it might actually be a solid outing.

Real Drive
I’m a sucker for series that promise to blend reality with the virtual world, especially when this one is very similar to a story idea I had several years ago (I must write that story!). Having been instantly drawn to the promo artwork, I know I must pursue this series, so my only hope is that it delivers on its potential instead of turning out to be unbearably cryptic and pretentious.

Kaiba
It may have ‘cutesy’ artwork and sound like another Yu-Gi-Oh spin-off, but again the idea of digitising memories draws me to this series like a moth to a flame. It may well be an offbeat classic, but of course there is always the chance that it’s the one that everyone wants to be an offbeat classic but isn’t actually very good. Still, I’m staying optimistic for now.

Toshokan Sensou
When the government starts getting heavy-handed with the regulation of information, who can you count on to save the day? As it turns out, the answer is the book soldiers of the local library, which is an original premise if not one that seems to hold much long-term story appeal. It could be the spiritual successor to Read or Die, but I’m going to keep my expectations reined in.

Golgo 13
Didn’t this series already have an OVA or something? Anyway, it now moves into TV series territory, with the titular Golgo 13 apparently being a womanising top assassin, who is most likely a less suave James Bond. It looks a bit too MANLY for me, although I’m not ruling it out entirely.

They said it didn’t need to be done, but it was- a prequel to the greatest trainwreck of all time, Mai-Otome 0. And thus, in true Azure Flame tradition, we could not merely let the situation pass- for where Otome exists, so does parody. So, join us as we delve into the past, to the days of Rena Sayers and the King of Windbloom- to a terrible era devoid of fat grey cats…

The future John Smith (currently known as ‘Kiddo’) plots to kidnap the main character and take her place.

“Sorry, but I indulged in a spicy curry on the way here.”

“Never, ever mess with a woman in a maid costume!”

“Give her back! I must become the main character!”

“No way! Even Sunrise won’t give in to your demands!”

Bruce decides to indulge in a spot of power-throwing.

When your Master is a nun, you have to wear the Robe for the part.

“Look, I can fly!”

“…sorry, I was cheating- I had an invisible Otome catch me.”

Go forth, new characters!

Now for a history lesson. Pay attention everyone, as we go back to days when generics rose up and threatened us all.

In desperation, the people turned to HARD YURI.

In this way, maid power was released and Otome were born.

Here’s some gratuitous Otome-service that has no real connection to anything.

Now back to business- let’s properly meet the lead, Sifr Flan.

Already she has the obligatory tragic past, with a deceased mother.

Here we see her being auditioned for the role of main character.

“Hello, I’m Rena and despite the earring, maid costume and back story revealed in the original series, I am most certainly not an Otome.”

“We’re actually from Mai-HiME Destiny, but they let us have cameos anyway.”

Another new character arrives for some screen time.

“Rena, we must have HARD YURI at once or the fans will get upset!”

“Ladies, if you wish to do that sort of thing, might I suggest you retire to the bedroom?”

“Can you help us? We’re looking for screen time.”

Gone are the fat grey cats- in their place we have a thin one called Nina.

Could it be that Sifr was inspired to name her daughter Nina after rescuing this cat?

Falling from any height is rarely an issue in Mai-Otome.

At last, the cat is safe again- but for how long?

After DVD special 4, it’s best not to even speculate what the creators were thinking at this point.

When in doubt, there’s always fanservice.

An action scene at Garderobe? This is so rare that I must record it!

In the background we have what appears to be a young Miss Maria.

“I really wish I had bought more furnishings for this office.”

“Oh well, I’ll just have to make do with some phone yuri.”

“Phone yuri with the headmistress is always so tiring.”

“I don’t care what they say- it isn’t as good as the real thing.”

“Wait a minute- how did I suddenly end up on Strictly Come Dancing?”

“Would you care for a foxtrot?”

“Wait a minute- that isn’t Bruce Forsyth!”

“Never fear, my tiny pistol shall protect us against this immense monster!”

“I think you’d better let us handle it- activate special Jewellery Channel earrings!”

But which is better? Ugly monsters…

…or Otome? There’s only one way to find out-

FIGHT!!

Oh, sorry, when I said fight what I actually meant was ‘run away’.

“Named characters, feel the wrath of the oppressed generics!”

“Oh by the way, you know when I said I wasn’t an Otome, what I meant was that I actually am an Otome.”

“Sorry, I don’t have the Blue Sky Sapphire yet- oops, you’re not supposed to know about that.”

“Damn you, I hate named characters!”

“I told you we shouldn’t have bought our weapons from the discount store- look what’s happened to them!”

“Take a look at this, John Smith! This is the power of the named character!”

“NOOO!!! What is the obsession with tentacles in this show?”

This man is the John Smith of the era, and subtle hints lead me to believe he may be evil.

No Oto-HiME era would be complete without an artificial life-form, so meet M-9.

“Charging- R-Blade!”

“That move is so 2005!”

“Now, talk to the hand!”

“KAMEHAMEHA!”

“Now who’s being old-fashioned?”

“Flare Arrow!”

“For the sake of everyone I must kill Sifr and prevent Nina from ever existing!”

Don’t you just hate it when you get a power over-lod?

“We’ve done Xenosaga, Dragonball Z and Slayers- now let’s go for the Ikkitousen look!”

“Hey, is it okay if I stop standing around and actually participate in this battle?”

“Tremble in fear at the playing of my invisible piano!”

“Looks like it’s time for ridiculously huge weapons!”

Now to end with a gratuitous character shot.

Next time: Hime and Otome- why am I not enthused at the prospect?

• Ayakashi: Hmm, another series named Ayakashi- when will they ever learn that this name brings nothing about bad fortune? Apparently this time around, the Ayakashi in question give special powers to their hosts in exchange for draining their life force- sounds a lot like Mushi-Uta. The series has already started, so it shouldn’t be too much effort to try episode one…eventually.
• Kimi ga Nozomu Eien- Next Season: The Haruka route for KgNE- I’m slightly scared to watch this in case I find that my feelings towards the franchise as a whole are soured.
• Sisters of Wellber 2: I still haven’t finished season one, but even though Wellber is more mildly entertaining than good, I’ll probably stick with it throughout season two- if nothing else, it should be good for some unintentional humour.
• Rosario+Vampire: A series about a human boy who ends up attending a school full of demons (including a pretty vampire girl), this one puts me in mind of a cross between Karin and Magical Pokan, and based on that, it will probably provide light entertainment and nice character designs without being anything too special. I’m wary of Gonzo’s ability to animate anything these days, but it may be worth a look.
• H₂O ~Footprints in the Sand~: It’s another eroge adaptation, and what have we learned about eroge adaptations over the last two years, children? Yes, that’s right- they’re often disappointing, and so I shall probably steer well clear of this one.
• Kimi ga Aruji de Shitsuji ga Ore de ~They Are My Noble Masters~: In a world where harem series are ten a penny, and butlers ever increasing in their numbers, a series about a young man who ends up as the butler to a wealthy heiress and various other women hardly seems to break the bounds of originality. Another one to pass over, although the designs are rather pleasant.
• Major season 4: This is still going on? I guess tj han will be pleased, at least.
• Hatenkou Yuugi: Rather cruelly, a girl gets kicked out by her father and told to see the world, although happily she gets a male companion to journey with her- and as a bonus, both have magical powers which they use to help people along the way. I’m getting vibes of Kino’s Journey, Someday’s Dreamers and Hibiki’s Magic, so this one must be tried.
• Persona- trinity soul: A sequel to the Persona 3 game, this supernatural story is said to have input from a Chevalier writer, but even though it looks a cut above the average RPG adaptation, the general lack of quality in that genre makes me cautious at best. And since I haven’t even played the game yet, there’s no real reason for me to jump straight in and watch it.
• Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Dainiki: Need I say anything about this? I enjoyed the first season, and since the manga goes on forever there must be plenty of good material for another thirteen episodes. Another anticipated series.
• True Tears: Another game-based series with a potential for harem- I’ll be leaving this one alone unless early reports from other viewers are positive.
• Porfy no Nagai Tabi: At 52 episodes, they weren’t kidding when they called this “Porfy’s Long Journey”. Apparently this one’s a family show about a Greek boy travelling around Europe to find his sister- I suppose it might have some nice locations but if locations are all I want to see, I may as well watch live action footage of it.
• Shigofumi: A series about a girl who delivers the last letters of the dying (the titular Shigofumi), this light novel-based series sounds like it could be this year’s Shinigami no Ballad. I’ll be giving it a look.
• Minami-ke Okawari: I enjoyed Minami-ke, but it does seem slightly odd to be getting not a sequel, but an alternative version just one season after the original aired. The character designs appear to be closer to the original manga, but hopefully the content is on a par with season one.
• Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-: Even though I already know what will happen from the manga, I was really looking forward to this one, but the fact that the voice cast and director have been changed makes me a little wary that it won’t live up to the reputation of the first season. Well, I guess it shouldn’t be possible to make something bad out of Gunslinger Girl, so I’ll stay optimistic.
• Aria the Origination: Yes, yay, hooray- what more can I say to the prospect of more Aria? The manga is finishing soon, and that means that this will probably be the last season of the anime- with that in mind, I’m going to savour every minute of it. And I may as well watch it both raw and subbed this time, for no one ever died of a surfeit of Aria. Bring it on, punyu!
• Wolf and Spice: Since I’m playing Okami at the moment, the idea of a series about a travelling wolf goddess seems perfectly timed, and the title is beautifully evocative of all kinds of quality (although the official website “spicy-wolf.com” sounds like some kind of dubious takeaway operation). I hope it can live up to expectations.
• Noramimi: To me, this looks like the Japanese equivalent of “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends”, a show which I suffered through when my brother and sister had access to Cartoon Network. With no desire to revisit such days in any way, shape or form, I must steer well clear of this one.
• Hakaba Kitarou: This seems to be related to GeGeGe no Kitarou (which itself is still airing), but even though it has scored a place in the hallowed noitaminA block, it doesn’t stir any interest for me.
• Yatterman: A remake of the original seventies Yatterman, this series seems less likely to drag the concept kicking and screaming into the twentieth-first century than it does to flood us with seventy episodes of retro cheese. One to avoid.

Kaiji’s take on Rock-Paper-Scissors

Rock-Paper-Scissors is a staple of anime, but even the tournaments of Hunter X Hunter couldn’t elevate it much beyond a simple game of luck. With that in mind, could any series possibly make something more of rock-paper-scissors, and if they did would anyone actually be interested enough to watch it?

Enter Kaiji, a series that promised to once again unite the abilities of Studio Madhouse and mangaka Nobuyuki Fukumoto as the successor to last year’s Akagi. Dripping with manliness and yet oddly compulsive nonetheless, Kaiji offered a whole new angle on what was once a straightforward game- “Restricted Rock-Paper-Scissors”- ensuring that instead of switching off in boredom, the game had enough twists and turns to keep you watching for episode upon episode.

How to play Restricted Rock-Paper-Scissors

1. Get into serious debt with the Yakuza, and agree to spend a night gambling on their ship, the Espoir.
2. Before you even find out what you’ll be playing, borrow anything from one to ten million yen from your hosts- this money (plus interest compounded at 1.5% every ten minutes) must be paid back alongside the original debt at the end.
3. Now the game proper begins- each player receives three stars and twelve cards (four rock, four paper, four scissors). To “survive”, you must get rid of all your cards whilst retaining at least three stars within the game’s four hour period. Stars and cards can be bought and sold, but losing all your stars or destroying cards results in instant disqualification and two years spent in a forced labour camp.
4. Happily, you don’t have to just rely on luck- team up with other desperate people, manipulate or scam them, and you too can come out on top. Just be warned that everyone else will be trying to do the same to you, and pay special attention to named characters- they will pose more of a threat than generics.

So there you have it, a fun and wholesome party game that can be enjoyed by you and your friends! Join us after Kaiji’s next arc for some more gaming ideas.

How Minami-ke made beach episodes good again

Beach episodes, cross-dressing and other events in the daily life of three school age sisters inexplicably living without their parents- hadn’t we seen all this in anime before? And by now, weren’t we all more than a little fed up with the clichés they entailed? It seemed as if that must surely be the case- at least until Minami-ke came along. Just like Ichigo Mashimaro before it, Minami-ke takes everyday situations (everyday in an anime context, anyway), and uses distinctive characters, well-timed delivery and a healthy dose of humour to make them oddly interesting and addictive to watch.

Recipe for three sisters living on their own

1. Who needs older relatives? Don’t bother explaining where parents or guardians might be; everyone knows school age children can support themselves without any significant source of income- in fact, only the unluckiest ever have to take on occasional part-time jobs.
2. Get things started with a smart and sarcastic younger sister- wise beyond her years, her vanilla taste is curiously addictive, but when mixed with the other sisters, it produces an even worthier combination.
3. Flavour with a loud and boisterous middle sister; her presence will spice up any situation, but overuse can lead to a food fiasco..
4. Balance the taste with an older sister who is motherly, caring and generally unaware of her effect on other people. Her delicate flavour can only be brought out by including her with the others.
5. Finally, stir in a bunch of assorted friends, classmates and potential love interests- leave to simmer and see what happens.

Remember Kanon vs. Air? How is Clannad faring?

Hard as it is to accept that so much time has passed, a little over a year ago, I pitted Kanon against Air, and concluded that while I enjoyed the latter, the former did very little for me. Now, however, a third “KeyAni” contender has entered the ring- the much anticipated and almost constantly talked about Clannad. Forget sad girls in summer or sad girls in snow- these are sad girls in springtime, and it is once again up to one man to tie all their stories together. Seven episodes in, and Clannad has established itself as somewhere in the middle of the road- it lacks the emotional impact of Air, but somehow manages to keep me entertained far more than the underwhelming Kanon ever did. Even Tomoya, despite being something of tease and practical joker, lacks the aggressive sarcasm and browbeating of Yuuichi, making him into a far more likable lead.

Tomoya’s Harem Diary

Having read up on all the exploits of the harem masters who came before me, I’ve decided not to pursue this whole thing too aggressively- down that road lies madness and far more stress than I want to deal with right now. Besides, what none of the others realised is that the girls don’t need to be reeled in- they’ll just come to you of their own accord. Certainly it’s working for me right now, and besides, if I play things casually I can easily extricate myself from any unwelcome relationships. My only worry is that no one is going to care about my situation because it’s just a rehash of stories that have been used before- how many times can comatose girls in hospitals send out their spirits to roam the local area?

Why Shogi isn’t grabbing me the way Go and Mah-jongg did

To the unitiated, the idea of watching a board game based anime must surely sound like the last refuge of those with nothing better to watch. As it turns out, however, both Hikaru no Go and Akagi are highly regarded amongst their fans with good reason- distinctive characters, well thought out pacing and some interesting situations all came together to prove that yes, you could watch many episodes of people playing Go and Mah-jongg, and still be up for more.

As the third title in this unofficial set, Shion no Ou instantly commanded high expectations, but would a shougi anime prove to have the same appeal? So far, it would seem not.

Whilst it surely doesn’t help that I know even less about shogi than either Go (which I can actually play, albeit not well) and Mah-jongg (which Triad kindly led me through the nose with regards to the basics), Shion no Ou’s problem seems to be that it doesn’t even know exactly what it wants to be. Is it the tale of a prodigious shogi player, or a murder mystery spanning eight years? The answer seems to be both- and neither. Whilst the shogi side of things is often glossed over (one minute you’re in the middle of a match, the next thing you know it’s all been resolved off screen), the mystery elements are equally frustrating. Everything from the staid detective and all-too-nosy reporter to the creepy stalker, everything is just a little too by-the-book. Still, it’s early days yet, so perhaps Shion no Ou can still pull it out of the bag.

Some ideas for other board game based anime

1. Snakes and Ladders: a tense game with everything to play for- can our hero roll the right numbers to make it up the huge ladder, or will his dreams be crushed by a slithering snake?
2. Cluedo: our hero begins solving the whodunit murder mystery, only to realise that it echoes the mysterious death of his own father seven years ago.
3. Scrabble: join in the stress and excitement of trying to master that all-important feat of putting down all seven letters on a triple word score.

Looking for your next dose of the mystical?\

There’s something about supernatural series that always seems to draw an audience, but separating the wheat from the chaff (or at least the mildly palatable chaff from the completely dry stuff) can often be a painful process. To help you along, here’s a quick guide to some of the new supernatural series on the market this autumn.

The one to avoid- Rental Magica: With a milquetoast lead who can invoke god mode powers when the plot demands it, and a supporting cast of powerful girls with past issues and a crush on said lead, it was clear that this tale of renting magicians was never going to be much more than mildly entertaining. Unfortunately, it quickly slipped from even that mediocre position to something so unexciting that even paying attention to an episode became a chore. Don’t watch unless you have unexpectedly high amounts of time on your hands.

The one to try- Mokke: It may not be anything special, but Mokke at least has one thing to its credit- aside from the incredibly boring episode five, its episodic tales of the supernatural are at least entertaining. There’s nothing particularly ground-breaking or original here, but it’s typical bronze tier material.

Why cats will always make anime worth watching

Aria and YKK perfected slice-of-life, and it seems hard to imagine that anything could ever top them, but even so, it’s nice to dabble in other entries from the genre from time to time. One such series is Sketchbook ~full colour’S~, a peaceful tale of quiet girl Sora and her time in the school art club. To be perfectly honest, Sketchbook does try a little too hard to recreate the gentle atmosphere of a slice-of-life series, but it does have one trump card to play- a glut of furry, huggable felines. For a cat lover like myself, seeing so many of them is a real treat, and it truly proves the old adage that “fat cats make anime better”.

Microbes can be cute too

If someone had told me a few months ago that I would ever find microbes cute, I would tell them that they must have had a bit too much to drink- surely the likes of Aspergillus oryzae could never be described as such? Then Moyashimon came along and my outlook was changed completely- unrealistic as it may seem that anyone could see microbes, if they could, at least they had a certain charm. As the latest entry in the legendary noitaminA block, Moyashimon had to live up to the likes of Honey and Clover, and whilst it isn’t quite up in that tier, it is holding its own so far.

Second seasons: the good and bad

These days, every season seems to bring a sequel to a popular (or not so popular) series, and Autumn 2007 is no exception. Given my unhealthy fascination with second seasons, it seems only right to rate the current crop.

The Good- Genshiken 2: Watching the exploits of a group of otaku university students was never as entertaining as it was in Genshiken, and after so many false starts with regards to a second season (first we had a Kujibiki Unbalance TV series, then an all too brief OVA), fans finally got what they had been waiting for. With even its filler episodes proving to be enjoyable, Genshiken 2 has managed to keep the series very much alive and well, developing characters both old and new along the way.

The Bad- Shakugan no Shana II: Whilst it seemed good enough at the time, I have to admit that in retrospect, the animation was really the only thing I loved about Shana. The villains were underwhelming, the jokes and harem elements a little too repetitive- all in all it wasn’t bad for watching once, but it wasn’t something I wanted to buy on DVD to see again and again. Nonetheless, with franchise completion at stake, I resolved to try the second season, only to discover that it was a fillerific experience with little new to offer. The action scenes that might have saved the series were nowhere in evidence, whilst the good old love polygon was beginning to tire thanks to the introduction of a “not so new really” new character stereotype and a “you didn’t hear me confess, let’s pretend it never happened” moment.

If you enjoyed this, also try…

Can’t get enough of the Autumn 2007 anime season? Well, you could of course watch more episodes, but why not spend your time reading the doubtless superior posts my fellow blogworld members have constructed instead? Here are some links to get you started.

a stone and a small ripple | Anime Diet | What is eternity doing tonight? | The End of the World | Hige Vs. Otaku | far away no where | nirai kanai | Cruel Angel Theses

Mahou Shoujotai

What’s it about?: Alice has always believed in magic, so when she is transported to a world of witches and wizards, it should be like a dream come true. Unfortunately, contrary to her idealistic vision, the people of this world do not use magic only to bring happiness, and so Alice feels compelled to make everyone listen to her optimistic views- and, naïve as they may seem, they may be the only hope of finding a way to save a dying world and ward off a plan to use powerful black magic.
Why watch it?: A new type of magical girl show, Mahou Shoujotai may sound a bit saccharin, but in fact it proves to be a quirky and rewarding series from the minds at Studio 4^oC. Complete with a unique and oddly appealing art style, Mahou Shoujotai animates the world of magic we would all have liked to visit as children, but adds in tension, drama and challenges to pit our young heroines against.
Devil’s Advocate: The pacing and story development does feel a little too swift for its own good at times, although this can most likely be remedied with a re-watch to catch everything you missed the first time.
Final verdict: A highly unique series, Mahou Shoujotai redefines what it means to be a magical girl, and raises the bar for everything to come.

Master Keaton

What’s it about?: In his trademark suit and tie, Taichi Hiraga-Keaton may look like just another office worker, but this half-English, half-Japanese man is no ordinary person. After graduating from Oxford University, he served in the SAS, before becoming both an insurance investigator for Lloyd’s of London and a researcher and lecturer in archaeology- all the while making sure to spare some time for his daughter from a failed marriage! With a background like that, it is no wonder that both Keaton’s personal and professional life is filled with incidents and adventures, some of which he almost doesn’t make it through in one piece.
Why watch it?: As I said in my review last week, Master Keaton is a series good enough to recommend to anyone- regardless of whether or not they are an existing anime fan. Fronted by one of the most well developed characters to ever appear in anime, Master Keaton has it all- action, ingenious tricks, memorable situations and settings, and the ability to tell a fully fledged story within the space of twenty-five minutes.
Devil’s Advocate: Although it doesn’t detract from the quality and enjoyment of the show in any way whatsoever, it should be noted that there is no overall plot, and that the series remains entirely episodic throughout.
Final verdict: An excellent series through and through- don’t hesitate, just watch it.

Monster
What’s it about?: Kenzo Tenma had it all- a beautiful fiancée, a bright career as a surgeon, even the chance of one day becoming hospital director- until the day one simple decision changed his entire life. In the short term, the decision to save a young boy named Johan instead of a more prestigious patient sees him fall out of favour with the director, but the long-term cost is far more devastating- for, years later, Johan has grown up into a clever yet amoral murderer. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Tenma is forced to go on the run, with the only hope of clearing his name being to find and confront the true killer- Johan himself.
Why watch it?: If Master Keaton is the epitome of episodic anime, then Monster sits at the opposite end of the spectrum, presenting a complex and well woven story that kicks in from episode one and barely lets up on the quality and suspense. Never short on development for both characters and plot, Monster must rank as one of only two occasions where seventy-four episodes actually didn’t feek like enough (the other being Hikaru no Go).
Devil’s Advocate: Again, there’s not really anything to say against this series, except that it slows down a little around episode twenty when the focus moves more onto one shot characters than the leads for a few episodes.
Final verdict: An excellent mystery series that sets the bar high for the rest of the genre.

Mushishi

What’s it about?: They are known as Mushi- a range of primitive life forms close to the ‘source’ of all living things. Most people cannot see them, but they exist all around us, and their effects are often labelled as supernatural or simply inexplicable phenomena. There are, however, a select few- known as Mushishi- who devote their lives to studying Mushi and dealing with the problems they cause. Ginko is one such Mushishi, and as he travels from place to place, he not only encounters many differents kinds of Mushi, but all the people whose lives have been affected by them.
Why watch it?: Another worthy episodic series, Mushishi takes a simple formula and applies it to great effect, presenting a collection of folk tales that combine drama with fantasy to great effect. The mushi and their effects are always interesting to see, and the setting for the whole series is nothing short of breathtaking.
Devil’s Advocate: Since the very best episodes are so good, it does mean that there are those that feel weaker in comparison- in any other series, they would be fine, but Mushishi’s standard is so high that anything less than perfection seems a little disappointing.
Final verdict: An excellent and immersive series that by rights should go on forever.

NieA_7

What’s it about?: It’s hard enough being a penniless college student, but Mayuko has more problems than most- for one thing, she has a freeloading alien named NieA living in her closet! Despite being an “Under Seven” (the lowest class of alien), NieA is positive and upbeat- the exact opposite of her unwilling roommate. Can NieA help to brighten up Mayuko’s life a little, or is she just an unwanted nuisance with a propensity for building UFOs out of junk?
Why watch it?: Based on a doujinshi drawn by Yoshitoshi ABe, NieA_7 proves to be a nice counterpoint to the dark themes of Lain and Texhnolyze, offering a lighter blend of comedy and slice-of-life. That being said, there are more serious character-based themes running through the series which give it more grounding than simple light, throwaway material.
Devil’s Advocate: After going to the trouble of including these more serious undercurrents, some of them remain woefully unresolved (such as a plotline about the mysterious alien mothership in the sky).
Final verdict: A bright and breezy comedy with strong, memorable characters- complete the ABe quartet by watching it.

Now and Then, Here and There
What’s it about?: Shuzo ‘Shu’ Matsutani lives a normal life in Tokyo until the day a chance encounter with a mysterious girl named Lala Ru results in him being sent billions of years into the future, to a time when the Sun has expanded and the Earth has become a desert world. Now, Shu finds himself caught up in a mad king’s quest for power, and a war that has raged so long that even children are conscripted into the army.
Why watch it?: It may not be Grave of the Fireflies level in terms of harsh realities, but NTHT is a strong and powerful series which conveys the effects of war without ever seeming forced or preachy. Brought to life by its distinctive and memorable characters, NTHT doesn’t hold back on putting its characters through hardship, and yet you cannot help but stay glued to the screen, rooting them on.
Devil’s Advocate: Like Fantastic Children, NTHT can be accused of quite simplistic character designs, but whilst it isn’t the strongest on the visual front, it more than makes up for this with the story.
Final verdict: ‘Children at war’ has never been done so well.

Ouran High School Host Club

What’s it about?: For the idle rich attending the exclusive Ouran High School, the resident Host Club offers the ideal way for beautiful ladies to while away the hours being charmed by handsome men. It certainly sounds like the last thing less well-off student Fujioka Haruhi would be interested in, but after accidentally breaking one of their expensive vases, Haruhi is forced to pay off the ensuing debt by becoming a host- the only catch being that Haruhi is actually a girl! Now, Haruhi must play the part of a gentleman in order to fulfil her obligations, but will her straightforward personality win over the Host Club’s men as well?
Why watch it?: Although it seems to have all the elements of a typical and perhaps not-too-enthralling “odd one out” comedy, Ouran carries itself off with an incredibly infectious enthusiasm that permeates most scenes and makes you want to laugh at the absurd antics of the characters.
Devil’s Advocate: Unfortunately, comedy is the most subjective of genres, and Ouran is no exception; not only will the humour not appeal to everyone, but even fans will tire at times- especially when overdone elements such as the Lobelia Girls’ School start outstaying their welcome.
Final verdict: Put simply, it’s over-the-top fun and no more.

Pani Poni Dash!

What’s it about?: Rebecca Miyamoto is a genius who graduated from MIT at the tender age of eleven, but now she’s about to face her greatest challenge- teaching at a Japanese high school. Join Rebecca, her eclectic class and the perpetually ignored rabbit Mesousa as they prove that high school life can sometimes prove to be anything but routine.
Why watch it?: The craziest and most random high school comedy and parody anime out there, PPD beats out the competition by simply not caring about plot and narrative conventions- each episode proceeds at the whim of the writers, surging at breakneck speed through character exchanges and references to other series. Rather than alienating viewers, however, the series is filled with such energy and vitality that you get swept along for the ride.
Devil’s Advocate: It does take a few episodes to adjust to the randomness and generally bizarre nature of the show, and it has to be admitted that it doesn’t take a great deal to tip the balance in certain episodes and turn the amusing into the slightly tiresome- even so, the hits largely outweigh the misses.
Final verdict: A bit of an acquired taste, perhaps, but certainly the best parody anime series out there.

Paranoia Agent
What’s it about?: An urban legend, or something more? For those who find themselves in desperate situations with no way out, Shounen Bat is their salvation- a juvenile baseball bat wielding attacker who seems to target those most in need of him. But just who or what is Shounen Bat exactly, and what relation does he have with Tsukiko Sagi, creator of iconic mascot Maromi and the first in a long chain of victims of the underage assailant?
Why watch it?: A TV series made up of the leftover ideas that Satoshi Kon couldn’t put into his films, Paranoia Agent uses the ‘relay method’ of storytelling to pass the baton of main character from one person to another as the series progresses, all the while unfolding a mystery that extends into the realms of the psychological. It won’t make sense first time round (and we can even assume it isn’t meant to), but it remains compelling nonetheless, with plenty of replay value.
Devil’s Advocate: The relay method also has a weakness in that a character you particularly like in one episode will most likely be gone or reduced to minor role in the next. Episode five also deserves note for being particularly weak, with its Millennium Actress-esque part-real, part-fantasy trip through an RPG style reconstruction of events not working very well in the context of the series.
Final verdict: Although its events extend into the realms of the bizarre, this is still a well done mystery series with some innovative storytelling ideas.

Planetes

What’s it about?: In the year 2075, humanity continues to follow its dream of branching out into space. Unfortunately, the final frontier is not as glamorous as some would believe, and among its many hazards is space debris- the accumulated junk over a hundred years of space exploration.

Hachirota “Hachimaki” Hoshino is a debris hauler living and working in space; together with his somewhat eccentric colleagues in Technora’s Debris Section, it is his job to clear up all the unwanted items floating in Earth’s orbit. As he works hard at his job, Hachimaki dreams of one day buying his own spaceship, but how will the arrival of fresh-face rookie worker Ai Tanabe affect not only his daily life, but perhaps his future as well?
Why watch it?: Unlike most space adventures, Planetes is a very human tale about the ‘nuts and bolts’ of going out into space, neglecting the grandiose in order to focus on the real problems people would face- from political issues to smaller day-to-day concerns. Rather than making it dull and pedestrian, however, this focus on realism and human drama actually makes Planetes one of the better sci-fi series out there, as you join the leads on their coming-of-age journey and learn, as they do, that space, whilst a worthy goal, isn’t all about glamour.
Devil’s Advocate: As an incredibly idealistic character, Tanabe can sometimes become irritatingly sentimental, in particular during an episode about the treatment of an astronaut’s remains. Overall, however, these moments are in the minority compared to the worthy content.
Final verdict: A strong space drama with memorable characters- another one that’s recommended for all sci-fi fans.

RahXephon

What’s it about?: Years ago, Tokyo was sealed by the alien Mu, who surrounded it with a barrier that made time run more slowly inside. For those inside, life continues much as normal, and Ayato Kamina is no exception- until the day he meets Haruka Shitow, a woman from the outside. Swept up in a series of events that involves those closest to him, Ayato becomes pilot of the mecha RahXephon and begins a new life on the outside fighting the Mu and their powerful song-controlled weapons, the Dolem.
Why watch it?: Although so many have lambasted it as a mere clone of Evangelion, RahXephon is actually strong enough to stand on its own two feet, even surpassing its predecessor in the opinions of many. Alongside straightforward mecha action and a story that will take several viewings and visit or two to wikipedia to get your head around, RahXephon manages to weave in character development and revelations for pretty much everyone in its extensive line up of personalities- not to mention an increasingly complex love polygon.
Devil’s Advocate: Yes, there are elements that are reminiscent of Eva, but as mentioned above, despite the strong early similarity, RahXephon soon moves off on its own track. The main complaint, therefore, is that the complexity of the storyline can sometimes get a bit too overwhelming for its own good, although this can be remedied with multiple viewings.
Final verdict: Not quite my favourite mecha series, but certainly in the top three.

Requiem from the Darkness
What’s it about?: Lacking the desire to work for the family business, Momosuke Yamaoka chose to become an author instead, but writing riddles for children isn’t exactly what he had in mind. Instead, Momosuke dreams of writing a book of ghost stories- the Hundred Stories- and so it is that he sets out to investigate the various strange tales and rumours of the supernatural that occur across Japan. Along the way, however, he becomes drawn into the affairs of a mysterious trio of people who use their otherworldly powers to investigate these paranormal incidents for themselves and administer their own brand of justice to any wrongdoers responsible. Time and time again, Momosuke crosses paths with this trio, but what are the consequences of spending too much time in their grey world that intersects those of the living and the dead?
Why watch it?: Solid and stylish, Requiem from the Darkness sidesteps the usual blandness or poor execution of many horror series in order to deliver some worthy episodic outings that gradually build up into an overall plot to be concluded at the end. With its striking imagery and memorable stories (each with their own unique twist), this truly is supernatural horror done right.
Devil’s Advocate: Whilst the weakest part of the series is no doubt its CG effects, these are rather insignificant in the overall picture.
Final verdict: Well planned and well executed- a strong horror series overall.

Saikano

What’s it about?: Shuji and Chise are a typical teenage couple- not even sure whether their friendship is ready to be deepened into love, but ready to give it a go and see how their relationship evolves. Theirs is not to be a normal romance, however, for whilst their sleepy Hokkaido town is untouched, the rest of the world is at war, and Chise has been chosen to become an Ultimate Weapon, a living being who can transform into a killing machine at a moment’s notice. How do you cope when your body is changing in ways you can’t understand, and what do you do when you’re the boyfriend of that person, able only to look on without comprehending?
Why watch it?: A heart-wrenching series about romance tested by unusual circumstances, Saikano focuses less on its setting than on the people affected by those events. Never short on the character drama, Saikano is more than the average coming-of-age tale, for these are young people who must face challenges greater than anything most people will ever encounter- and it is seeing them persevere and explore their feelings in the face of adversity that makes for such gripping material.
Devil’s Advocate: Although the ending will not sit well with everyone, the biggest complaint that can be levelled at the series is that key elements are left unexplained- why is Chise chosen as an Ultimate Weapon (admittedly addressed in the OVA), why aren’t more of her made, and what exactly is this whole war about anyway? Ultimately, however, such things are not what the series was ever meant to be about, and so if you can put those questions aside and focus on the story, it will be a worthy experience.
Final verdict: An excellent tale of drama and romance, with a unique and memorable setting.

Saiunkoku Monogatari

What’s it about?: In the country of Saiunkoku, the Eight Families of Colour are the most highly ranked in the land, but that doesn’t necessarily make them particularly well off. In particular, the household of Kou Shouka and his daughter Shuurei has fallen on some hard times, and so it is that Shuurei eagerly accepts a highly paid if somewhat unusual job to enter the palace and try to drum some knowledge and motivation into the current emperor, Shi Ryuuki. It will be no easy task, but little does Shuurei realise it will be only the first step on a long and arduous journey to fulfil her dream of becoming the country first female official.
Why watch it?: Much more than the mere reverse harem series it might appear to be, SaiMono is a tale of drama and politics with a splash of intrigue and fantasy, set in a world that has its own fully realised history. The true draw, however, are the strong and memorable characters, especially Shuurei herself, a strong and determined female lead who is nonetheless likable and very human in her doubts, emotions and fears.
Devil’s Advocate: Although some will initially be put off by the large number of bishies that appear from the start, the true weakness of the series comes in the second season, which, while it is still airing and has plenty of time to redeem itself, has been known to slow the pace a little too much to prevent catching up with the original novel material.
Final verdict: Get over your fear of bishounen and step into one of the best series to air in the past few years.

Scrapped Princess
What’s it about?: When she was born, a prophecy claimed that Princess Pacifica would bring about the destruction of the world on her sixteenth birthday, and so the king made the terrible decision to have his own child killed. Even so, through the intervention of those who could not bear to murder a baby, Pacifica survived and grew up under the protection of the Cassul family, but when assassins come after the fifteen-year-old girl, she and her adoptive siblings are forced to go on the run. Can the princess who was scrapped at birth uncover the truth behind her own destiny?
Why watch it?: Although it quickly gains sci-fi elements, Scrapped Princess can still be considered as one of the best fantasy series out there, almost qualifying for that fabled fantasy series we all hoped for thanks to its memorable setting and characters (who are generally likable if not especially complex). If you want a tale of swords and sorcery that stretches the genre beyond the clichés of Lodoss War and its clones, then this is the one to try.
Devil’s Advocate: That being said, Scrapped Princess is far from perfect- the plotting is almost too convenient at times and certain elements remain a bit too generic, whilst the inclusion of sci-fi elements in the main plot is a little disappointing.
Final verdict: Although not without its flaws, it remains an enjoyable series overall.

Serial Experiments Lain
What’s it about?: These days, everyone’s Navi (computer) is hooked up to the Wired (Internet), but for Lain, such things have never really interested her- at least until the day a classmate who committed suicide somehow sends an email to everyone after her death. Intrigued to learn where reality ends and the virtual world begins, Lain purchases her own Navi and begins surfing deeper and deeper into the Wired- but how far will she need to go to understand the nature of existence itself?
Why watch it?: Each episode of Lain is known as a ‘layer’, and as you watch the series, it is easy to find an interpretation as to why that is- starting from base reality, every instalment takes us deeper into the internet, offering plenty of food for thought along the way. Like several of the other series listed here, it won’t all make sense first time (or perhaps ever), but it is still an interesting outing.
Devil’s Advocate: Sadly, the visuals aren’t quite up to par with other ABe series, with a rather grey-brown colour scheme washing out the beauty of the original designs. Again, it also won’t sit well with people who need definitive answers and a clear plotline.
Final verdict: An interesting look into a world where reality and the internet have blended together.

Someday’s Dreamers

What’s it about?: Yume Kikuchi is an apprentice magic user who has gone to Tokyo to finish her training under qualified mage Masami Oyamada. Under Masami’s tutelage, Yume learns how to use her powers to help people, but can she ever heal the pain that lurks in the heart of her own tutor?
Why watch it?: A sweet and charming tale that combines magic with slice-of-life, Someday’s Dreamers must be the very definition of healing anime, presenting its tales with a skill that will soften even the coldest of hearts. Complete with a breezy soundtrack and beautiful visuals based on soft watercolour designs, Someday’s Dreamers is like a breath of summer in the midst of a cold winter.
Devil’s Advocate: Compared to the original manga, the series can feel a little too saccharin and sentimental at times, and some of the changes to character back stories may annoy purists.
Final verdict: A worthy healing series whose magic will brighten anyone’s life.

Sousei no Aquarion

What’s it about?: Millennia ago, humanity did battle with the mighty Shadow Angels, and now the battle has begun anew. The only hope for humans to prevail this time around is the mecha Aquarion, comprised of three separate modules piloted by teenagers believed to be the reincarnations of those who fought in the original battle. Unfortunately, the battle has not been going well, and the latest hope for a successful comeback may lie with a feral boy named Apollo, who might just be the reincarnation of the fabled Apollonius.
Why watch it?: Aware that mecha series are all too prone to taking themselves too seriously, Aquarion lightens up enough to tell a good story whilst being able poke fun itself and its pretentious fellow mecha series. Production values are also generally high, leading to top notch animation and a worthy classical-style soundtrack from the talented Yoko Kanno.
Devil’s Advocate: The only real chink in the series’ armour is ‘experimental’ episode nineteen, which uses a simplistic and disappointing animation style to complement its bizarre, drug trip story.
Final verdict: They say it’s a long journey if you can’t learn to laugh at yourself, and Aquarion is all about teaching that lesson to the mecha genre.

Spiral

What’s it about?: Who are the Blade Children? Two years ago, Kiyotaka Narumi disappeared whilst investigating that very mystery, and now it seems as if his little brother Ayumu is about to be caught up in too. Starting with a incident in school, Ayumu finds himself drawn into the world of the ‘cursed’ Blade Children, but can he really save them from their fate?
Why watch it?: An intelligent mystery series, Spiral weaves a compelling tale as it progresses, impressing viewers with its many twists, plays and counterplays. Never has a battle of wits been so well plotted and engaging, and with strong characters and worthy designs, it just gets even better.
Devil’s Advocate: Sadly, the series does lose momentum in its final arc, and since it doesn’t cover the later revelation arcs of the manga, none of the bigger questions are really answered. Treat it as Ayumu’s coming-of-age story, however, and it doesn’t work too badly.
Final verdict: An excellent mystery series, only slightly let down by an inconclusive ending.

Tactics

What’s it about?: Kantarou Ichinomiya is a writer who specialises in folk tales, and he has a special advantage in the field- he can see goblins and spirits. Together with fox spirit Youko and “goblin eating tengu” Haruka, Kantarou investigates various supernatural stories across Japan.
Why watch it?: Although it is largely episodic and highly criticised for diverging from the manga, Tactics is simply a lot of fun- and whilst Kantarou is rather dislikeable, Haruka more than makes up for it. If you want some period fantasy and supernatural that is never too demanding, this is the series to choose.
Devil’s Advocate: Tactics is another of those “Marmite” series- you’ll either love it or find that it’s nothing special. I have to admit that most people will probably fall into the latter category, but for those who appreciate its charm, Tactics is an enjoyable little series.
Final verdict: At least give it a try, because if it takes your fancy, you’ll like it a lot.

Texhnolyze

What’s it about?: In the underground city of Lux, various factions vie for power, and in the ensuing conflicts, limbs are often lost. Fortunately, those with the luck or the means can get replacements in the form of Texhnolyze, artificial limbs whose controls are keyed into the brain. After losing both an arm and a leg, fighter and loner Ichise is given new limbs, but his struggle to adapt to his nbew limbs and find purpose in his life is but one small part of a conflict that will eventually engulf the entire city.
Why watch it?: Texhnolyze is an interesting and unique series not just because of its setting, but because of its bold and unique style of storytelling. After opening with several episodes in which barely any dialogue is used, Texhnolyze tells its story through bold and vivid scenes, leaving much to the interpretation of the individual viewer.
Devil’s Advocate: Yet again, those who clamour for definite and entirely coherent storytelling will probably not gel with this series, which largely leaves the viewer to find their own answers whilst puzzling over whether what they thought just happened was really the writers’ intent.
Final verdict: You may not have any clue as to what is going on, but you’ll enjoy yourself anyway.

Twin Spica

What’s it about?: From an early age, Asumi Kamogawa has dreamed of becoming a “rocket driver”, but if she wants to have any chance of doing so, she’ll first have to go to Tokyo and enrol in Space School. With the support of her father, teacher and the masked ghost of a deceased astronaut known only as “Lion-san”, Asumi applies to do just that, and, together with the friends she makes along the way, she takes the first steps towards achieving her dream.
Why watch it?: Like Planetes, Twin Spica is a more realistic space tale, focusing on the harsh training required to become astronaut. Character drama is plentiful, with the ‘present’ story being interspersed with flashbacks that gradually provide insights into Asumi’s past and the seeds of her ambitions.
Devil’s Advocate: Whilst the ‘evil teacher’ storyline that surfaces in places is a little pedestrian, the true disappointment is that at only twenty episodes in the length, the series is unable to cover all of the manga, and is most definitely over far too soon.
Final verdict: Another strong character-drive piece which uses its sci-fi elements to drive the story rather than dominate it.

Victorian Romance Emma

What’s it about?: Victorian England may technically be a single country, but within it dwells two worlds- that of the commoners, and that of the nobles. In an era where status and the opinion of society counts for everything, a romance that breaks class boundaries seems almost impossible to countenance- at least until it actually happens. The feelings between Emma, the maid of a retired governess, and William Jones, son and heir of a wealthy businessman, cannot be denied, but can the couple ever really hope to have a proper relationship?
Why watch it?: With its appealing historical setting and solid tale of romance and drama, Emma scores highly on two fronts, and the combined result is highly enjoyable. Brought to life with the aid of a melodic Celtic-style soundtrack and some technically accomplished animation, Emma is always worthy- in its first season, at least.
Devil’s Advocate: Now, whilst the second season isn’t exactly bad, it does have a little too much material to pack into twelve episodes, and a disappointing filler opening episode does little to help matters. Ultimately, a lot is left out or changed from the original manga, and overall it doesn’t live up to the original material the way the first season did.
Final verdict: Although let down by a weaker second season, Emma is a worthy slice of historical romance.

Windy Tales

What’s it about?: Ueshima Nao loves taking photos of the sky, all in an attempt to catch the elusive wind on camera. Imagine her delight, then, when she discovers the existence of Wind Manipulators, people who can call up the wind and control it themselves. And when Nao and her friends learn to manipulate the wind themselves, they realise how everything from the gentlest breeze to the strongest gale can affect people’s lives.
Why watch it?: Another entry in the ‘gentle and charming’ slice-of-life category, Windy Tales takes the simple concept of enjoying the wind, and with the help of a touch of magic, spins it into all sorts of entertaining tales. There’s something here to bring a smile to the face of every viewer- especially if you have a weakness for wave upon wave of flying cats.
Devil’s Advocate: Another series which is hard to fault, the only thing that may turn people off is the simplistic ‘paper cut out’ animation style, but if you can stick with it, you’ll learn to like it- and it certainly fits the series well.
Final verdict: A hidden gem that stands alongside Someday’s Dreamers in terms of simple, quiet and magical tales.

Witch Hunter Robin

What’s it about?: The job of the people at the STN-J is to hunt down witches as part of an ongoing effort to restrain those people whose supernatural powers go out of control. Their newest recruit is Robin, a craft user whose fire powers will come in extremely handy to the team- that is, if she can ever prove herself to her partner Amon. But even as Robin struggles to fit in at her new workplace, she also finds herself questioning what happens to the captured witches sent to the ‘Factory’, and just how much of a line separates her from the ones she hunts.
Why watch it?: A stylish tale that evolves from a monster of the week format into something darker, Witch Hunter Robin delivers on both the action and drama front, offering both enemies to fight and plenty of introspection moments for the lead. With skilled animation and Taku Iwasaki’s deft hand composing the score, Witch Hunter Robin is often compelling, and always atmospheric.
Devil’s Advocate: Even dedicated fans of the series have to admit that in the time allotted, the development of the series is a little uneven- supporting characters never get much of a focus, and even in the last few episodes it remains difficult to see how everything will be wrapped up in time. Fortunately, the overall product is strong enough to withstand the effects of these few flaws.
Final verdict: It could have done with more episodes to develop the story and cast even further, but what we do get is still very good.

Wolf’s Rain

What’s it about?: As the world draws to end, humanity can only spend its final days waiting for the inevitable, but for the wolves, there is still hope. Widely believed to be extinct, and possessed of the ability to pass themselves off as humans, wolf-kind has the ability to find Paradise, and although most have given up on the dream, one young wolf still believes. His name is Kiba, the white wolf, and both humans and wolves will become caught up in his seemingly impossible quest to unlock this fabled land.
Why watch it?: Wolf’s Rain is one of those series that brings a smile to my face every time I put it on- not because it is particularly cheerful (indeed, some moments are positively heart-wrenching), but because it is so well done that I love it all. Although the initial premise makes it sound as if it is going to be thirty episodes of chasing leads to Paradise and inevitably failing until the end, Wolf’s Rain is much more than that, able to invest every scene with beauty and emotion.
Devil’s Advocate: Apart from those sadly unavoidable four recap episodes (at the time, the SARS crisis prevented the studio from making any new episodes), Wolf’s Rain main issue is that it feels that there should have been more- not because the ending doesn’t wrap everything up, but because it would have been nice to have more time to explore certain characters and revelations along the way. What we have is very good, but still the urge for more of the same cannot be denied.
Final verdict: A powerful and moving story that knows just how to press viewers’ buttons, Wolf’s Rain remains one of my absolute favourites.

X TV
What’s it about?: The end of the world is nigh, and Tokyo is to be the battleground for an epic struggle between those who wish to protect the world, and those who want to scrap it in favour of a new one. Returning to Tokyo after the death of his mother, Kamui Shiro must decide which side he wants to be on, even as those who would be his potential allies and enemies gather in the city to take on their own roles in the coming battle.
Why watch it?: One of the better action series out there, X TV does its best at telling an unfinished story and investing it with plenty of grandiose battles and special effects. It even manages the amazing task of making sixteen or so named characters memorable in the space of only twenty-four episodes, surely a commendable achievement for any series.
Devil’s Advocate: Sadly, with the original manga unfinished, the director has to take liberties in coming up with his own conclusion, and certainly it does get a little cheesy by the end.
Final verdict: Ignore the ending and enjoy the drama and action along the way.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou OVAs
What’s it about?: Comprising four episodes over two OVAs, YKK takes selected chapters from the original manga and brings them to life, telling the tale of Alpha, a robot who runs a café in a quiet post-apocalyptic time known as the Twilight of Humanity.
Why watch it?: Although only possessed of a portion of the greatness of the original manga, YKK makes a worthy effort at bringing Alpha’s adventures to screen, giving prospective readers a visual taster of this, the epitome of slice-of-life series. Enjoy the simplicity of everything from brewing a cup of coffee to slowly expanding the scope of your world beyond your own backyard.
Devil’s Advocate: Since anime forces you to take it at a set pace instead of your own, there are times when the first OVA in particular feels like it could have been trimmed down a little. Nonetheless, fans of the manga will clamour for more.
Final verdict: A nice introduction to a venerable slice-of-life franchise.

Zettai Shounen

What’s it about?: Ayumu Aizawa expects to have nothing more than a quiet, boring summer when he goes to visit his father in the sleepy village of Tana, but as he gradually discovers, there is something more going on than meets the eye. Who is the mysterious little boy named Wakkun who keeps insisting that he comes to play with him in the woods? What are the bizarre mechanical creatures that most people can only see in reflections or out of the corner of their eye?
Why watch it?: A most unusual mystery series, Zettai Shounen takes a calm and tranquil setting and injects it with a touch of the supernatural. It’s unlike anything seen before, and for that reason it becomes entirely compelling and addictive, with each episode urging you on to discover what happens next. The characters are strong, and each scene is atmospheric and memorable- truly a recipe for success.
Devil’s Advocate: There’s nothing much to criticise here, except that the jump from the first arc to the second may be a little jarring and unexpected.
Final verdict: An excellent mystery series that everyone should try.

Zipang

What’s it about?: For the newly commissioned cruiser Mirai, it was meant to be a straightforward trip from Japan to Pearl Harbour, nothing more. Certainly no one on board could have anticipated the storm that would envelop them once they got out to sea- a storm that would send them sixty years into the past, right into the middle of 1942’s Battle of Midway. Now trapped in an unfamiliar era amidst a globe-spanning war, the Mirai must tread carefully, for any action they take could alter the course of history and make returning to the twenty-first century impossible.
Why watch it?: Although it may sound like a dull WWII military epic, Zipang is actually an absorbing character drama that becomes increasingly fascinating as each of the Mirai’s actions has a slow but sure ripple effect that begins altering the course of history. With careful pacing and a noteworthy attention to detail, the series always has something worthy to offer.
Devil’s Advocate: Once again, due to the length of the manga, the series ends rather abruptly with no real conclusion- a second season is sorely needed.
Final verdict: Even if you shudder at the thought of military-style WWII-based series, Zipang is good enough to be tried.

And there you have it- a list that won’t match anyone else’s tastes exactly, but might help a few people pick out what to watch next. Come back again soon(ish) to pick up some manga recommendations, not to mention find out which anime I’d prefer to have avoided entirely.

On a side note, don’t expect the likes of Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop and Evangelion to appear on here. Whilst the first two at least are certainly solid enough, they appear on recommendation lists throughout the land, and it’s time they stood aside to let worthier series get some of the spotlight.

The Grand List Part One: A to L

Of course I wanted to include Dennou Coil on here, but since it hasn’t finished airing yet, it’s a bit too early to pass final judgement.

Air

What’s it about?: When travelling puppeteer Yukito comes to a new town, his only thought is earning enough to eat, but in short order he finds himself drawn into the mysteries of the inhabitants. Based on an eroge by Key, Air is split into three arcs- the Summer arc, in which Yukito becomes entangled in the life and back story of the various female protagonists; the Summer Arc, which goes back a few centuries and explores the lives of the previous incarnations of the protagonists, and the Air arc, which concentrates on main girl Misuzu as sickness threatens to consume both her life and her bond with her adoptive mother.

Why watch it?: Far more than a simple harem series, Air unites a likable lead with a group of girls whose stories are far more compelling and heart-wrenching than the standard “mother died and father disappeared” of so many series. Coupled with the beautiful visuals and poignant music, the series creates an atmosphere that inevitably draws you into its world and makes you care about what is happening onscreen (unless of course you happen to be Owen).

Devil’s Advocate: With only twelve episodes to fit everything in (the thirteenth and final episode is a mere recap), it isn’t surprising that the anime has to proceed forward at a brisk pace, sometimes to the detriment of letting a point sink and truly make sense. Even so, when you consider that 24-6 episodes could have made the whole thing painfully slow, and that the Summer arc at least got two special episodes to help expand it a bit more, maybe its current incarnation is all for the best.

Final Verdict: Atmospheric and beautiful- an eroge adaptation done right.

Akagi

What’s it about?: One rain-soaked night in the 1960s, a teenager named Akagi Shigeru lights up the underworld by winning a high stakes mah-jongg match- despite having never played the game before. From then on, Akagi’s rare talent and unique genius for risking everything blazes a trail through the underworld as he becomes involved in a series of increasingly high-stakes matches.

Why watch it?: An entire series based around mah-jongg may sound dull, but Akagi proves to be a compelling series that draws you into its world regardless of whether you have any prior knowledge of the game. With its expertise at creating tension, Akagi can make you care far more about the flip of a single tile than some series do about the death of a major character.

Devil’s Advocate: Yes, it’s ugly, MANLY and the ending is inconclusive, and for this reason most people will be put off before they even begin. Even if such things aren’t to your taste, however, I must urge you to put aside your preconceptions and at least try the first few episodes.

Final Verdict: It may look like an unattractive testosterone fest, but Akagi’s extreme mah-jongg action can draw anyone into its world. Sit back and enjoy the ride- and maybe learn something about the game along the way.

Aria

What’s it about?: On the terraformed planet Aqua (formerly Mars), beautiful gondoliers known as undines ply the canals of Neo Venezia, a recreation of Earth’s Venice. Having come to Aqua from Earth, Akari Mizunashi works and trains hard for the day when she too will become a full-fledged undine, although on the way there is plenty of time for her and her friends to explore the secrets and wonders that their world has to offer.

Why watch it?: Aria is the epitome of slice-of-life- gentle, tranquil, charming and yet never dull. Thanks to the sense of wonder that infuses the entire series, even the simplest of actions seems fresh and new once again, and with such delightful characters exploring a beautiful city, it seems impossible to tire of their adventures. Oh, and there’s a fat cat too- what more can you ask for?

Devil’s Advocate: For those who aren’t as enamoured of the genre, Aria may seem a little slow and boring, even the most dedicated of followers cannot deny that there are moments when the whole thing becomes a little too saccharine and sweet.

Final Verdict: Though not quite perfect, Aria is still very good, and if you have any liking at all for quieter anime series, you must absolutely give this a try.

Azumanga Daioh

\r\nWhat’s it about?: Six very different girls are attending high school together- ten-year-old prodigy Chiyo, loud and energetic Tomo, completely spaced out Osaka, hard-working Yomi, quiet cat-lover Sakaki and sports jock Kagura. Accompany them through their high school years and experience everything from everyday events to the downright bizarre.

Why watch it?: It may not be Pani Poni Dash or early School Rumble, but Azumanga’s randomness and running gags are a lot of fun. Even though on the surface it doesn’t seem to go anywhere, Azumanga guides us through three years of high school antics, whilst sparking all sorts of oddball encounters and random conversations through the combination of six very different personalities.

Devil’s Advocate: The way the series moves from one short skit to another will not sit well with viewers looking for something more continuous, and even fans may have to admit that showing similar events occurring in the girls’ first, second and third years is more a route to repetitiveness than amusement.

Final verdict: Yes, not every part hits the mark, but when you consider that each episode is divided into five five-minute sketches, it is still quite impressive that so many of them manage to amuse.

Beck

What’s it about?: Koyuki is a bored fourteen-year-old who feels distanced from life- at least until her meets the dedicated yet eccentric Minami Ryuusuke, a young man looking to set up his own band, Beck. Gradually, Koyuki finds himself drawn into the world of rock music, eventually joining Beck as the band struggles to make a name for itself.

Why watch it?: Most music-based anime are hopelessly idealistic, with the lead becoming a star mere moments after they first pick up a microphone- not so with Beck, which aims to give a more realistic portrayal of the difficulties of breaking into the industry. Victory is not inevitable here, and so for once you can really throw your lot in with the characters as you long for them to overcome the odds and finally succeed.

Devil’s Advocate: On the flip side of the coin, because things can and do go wrong so often, it can sometimes be a little painful wondering if the band’s latest success will only be a fleeting one.

Final verdict: Even if you don’t like rock music, I urge you to give this a try- unless you are completely apathetic and dead to the world of music, you will find yourself drawn into the world of Beck.

Berserk

What’s it about?: Feared as the Black Swordsman, the mighty warrior Guts roams the land in search of revenge on the powerful Griffith- yet once, Guts and Griffith were comrades and fellow mercenaries in the Band of the Hawk. What was it that drove the two men apart?

Why watch it?: Berserk may look like a sausage-fest of manly men wielding large swords in an age of gore, but beneath this off-putting exterior, it truly is very good. An immersive tale of the lives of its characters, Berserk may be explicit, but such things seem vital to the nature of the story rather than gratuitously included for the shock value. Just like Guts’ bulging muscles and mighty sword, this is a story that is solid as iron and substantial through and through- you’ll get so drawn into its world that you will absolutely need to keep watching.

Devil’s Advocate: Admittedly, with all the gruesome monsters and bloody battles going on, this is not for the faint of heart, and there are many who dislike the turn taken by the conclusion of the story (although personally, whilst those scenes are quite disturbing, I accept them because that it where the story was going all alone). Also, the anime only covers the flashback arc of the manga, with the ongoing present day events left out through lack of time.

Final verdict: One of the rare series that manages to be MANLY yet worthy, Berserk will gleefully welcome you into its world of extremes, and may never let you go.

Big O

What’s it about?: Forty years ago, a disaster occurred that changed the face of the planet and left the survivors without any memory of their past; now, gathered together under the domes of Paradigm City, humanity tries to live as best it can, but fragments of memories have a way of resurfacing. As a Negotiator, Roger Smith acts as a mediator in various cases throughout the city, but when things turn ugly, he must rely on the assistance of Big O, a giant robot that answers to his call.

Why watch it?: Big O is one of those delightfully complex series that packs in everything from giant robot battles to a deeper mystery that examines the nature of self and memory. From memorable moments such as Roger re-spraying his car on the fly to elude pursuers to the deeper questions as to what the whole series was about (whole internet sites are devoted to this topic), Big O certainly leaves you with enough food for thought to mull over long after you finish watching it.

Devil’s Advocate: By the same token, Big O is confusing- so much so that it’s debatable whether anyone other than the writers knows what it was really meant to be about. This is not a series that takes well to casual viewing- you will need to invest a bit of effort to get the best out of it.

Final verdict: It may be confusing, but with such uniqueness in both storytelling and visual style, it stands apart from the crowd and is thus worthy of attention.

Binchou-tan

What’s it about?: Binchou-tan is a tiny girl who lives on her own in the forest and spends her days gathering necessities from the surrounding area, heading into the nearby town to work, or just taking time out to relax. Join Binchou-tan and her equally diminutive friends as they fill their days with both work and play.

Why watch it?: Binchou-tan is epitome of “simple yet sweet” slice of life, whose quietly charming approach and beautiful settings make it addictively cute rather than saccharine. With each episode only running to ten minutes in length, it never has time to get boring or outstay its welcome.

Devil’s Advocate: That being said, just because I didn’t find it dull doesn’t mean others will take to it as warmly- Sasa for one lost interest in it early on, and others may find themselves put off by the moe aspect and extremes of chibiness.

Final verdict: It’s not Aria, but nor is it as sickeningly cute as you might think- instead, this is a nice little slice-of-life series that should satisfy most fans of the genre.

Boogiepop Phantom

What’s it about?: Something changed the night the white light was seen in the city. People started evolving, gaining new abilities beyond those of normal humans, whilst all across the city, strange phenomena began to appear. What triggered these changes? What is the truth behind the mysterious Towa Organisation and their interest in evolved humans? And just who or what is the shinigami of urban legend known as Boogiepop?

Why watch it?: A series that combines horror, mystery and the supernatural, Boogiepop Phantom is just one part of a much larger franchise, but even taken on its own, it proves an intriguing and absorbing series. With individual stories told from different perspectives and often encompassing different time periods, Boogiepop slowly but skilfully builds up the bigger picture whilst simultaneously delivering content that works on an episodic basis.

Devil’s Advocate: Unsurprisingly, this is another series that only rewards concentration and multiple viewings- without them, it can be hard to even remember the bulk of what happened, let alone grasp the overall story. It also has to be admitted that not all the episodic elements are up to par- episode three in particular stands out as a poorly done and largely pointless piece.

Final verdict: It is a bit inconsistent in places, but overall Boogiepop Phantom is a quirky and unique series that stands as one of the better horror and supernatural offerings out there.

Le Chevalier d’Eon

What’s it about?: The year is 1742, and the body of Lia de Beaumont has just been found in a coffin floating down the Seine- and for her brother d’Eon, it signals the start of a journey. Possessed by Lia’s restless soul, he finds himself driven to find the cause of her death, and in so doing, he and his comrades find themselves travelling across Europe and uncovering conspiracies and agendas that permeate even the highest of authorities. Can d’Eon survive long enough to uncover the truth, or will he fall victim to mysterious powers possessed by the many forces seeking to advance their own agendas?

Why watch it?: Historical series always have the appeal of letting us relive another time and place, and Chevalier is no exception, combining drama and politics with a splash of fantasy for generally positive results. It may teeter on the edge of the realms of cheese, but somehow it always pulls itself back from the brink with strong performances that bring a little piece of 18^th century France, Russia and England to life.

Devil’s Advocate: Much as I love it, I would be the first to admit that Chevalier is not without its flaws. On close inspection, several key story elements seem questionable (especially the ending), and certainly those looking for more mindless action and less introspection may find themselves disappointed- it also won’t go down well with the ‘history is dry and boring’ crowd.

Final verdict: A series that encourages you to overlook its flaws rather than dwell on them, Chevalier is the kind of series that breeds new addicts to historical fantasy.

Crest of the Stars

What’s it about?: When Jinto was just a boy, his father handed his world to the Abh Empire, a mighty stellar force of genetically modified human who believe their empire is the best buffer against instellar war. Flash forward a few years, and Jinto is now an honorary Abh being given the same off-world education as any noble in the Empire. On his way to military college, however, he not only undergoes a fateful meeting with the beautiful and proud Abh Lafiel, but becomes embroiled in the forefront of events when the so-called United Mankind decides to declare war on the Abh.

Why watch it?: Set in a well-realised sci-fi universe, Crest of the Stars proves to be an adept hand at presenting close-up character drama alongside space opera on a grander scale. Whether you like coming-of-age stories or simply yearn for aliens, politics and tense space battles, Crest of the Stars has it all, and it all makes for compulsive viewing.

Devil’s Advocate: Take on its own, thirteen episodes is really only just enough to get the series going rather than wrap everything up- for more of the same you’ll have to progress to the sequel series Banner of the Stars.

Final verdict: It may be getting on in years, but sci-fi fans will eat this one up.

Fafner

What’s it about?: The remote Tatsumiya Island is one of the last outposts left to humanity in its war against the alien Festum. The children of the island remain completely unaware of this, however, until the day a Festum attacks and the truth of their world is revealed. Now recruited into the battle against the Festum, teenager Kazuki Makabe and his friends must learn to pilot the Fafners, giant robots capable of holding their own against the enemy, but at a terrible cost to the pilot.

Why watch it?: I almost judged Fafner not quite good enough for this list, but even though objectively it can be considered a flawed and incomplete work, there is just something about it that makes it curiously compelling. Perhaps it is the glimpses of sheer potential seen in such moments as the death of a pilot, maybe it is simply the top notch presentation of battles between Fafner and Festum, but the series exerts pull beyond that of most mecha series, making one desperately want more.

Devil’s Advocate: Whilst I wouldn’t quite call it the bastard child of Evangelion and RahXephon as so many do, Fafner does suffer from a lack of overall cohesion- interesting story ideas are woven in, but inconsistent writing often makes it hard to penetrate the intent of a scene, or why the series as a whole took a particular direction.

Final verdict: Far from perfect, but possessed of an addictiveness few mecha series achieve and thus more memorable than the bulk of the genre.

Fantastic Children

What’s it about?: Throughout history they have a appeared- a group of white-haired children wise beyond their apparent years, searching for something they once lost. Who are they, what are they looking for- and why does their quest seem so intimately involved with that hazy and forbidden realm that separates the living from the dead?

Why watch it?: Although it’s hard to explain the story without giving away too much vital information, in some ways it is enough to merely say that Fantastic Children is sheer excellence. A carefully woven mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the end, Fantastic Children entices without frustrating as it slowly but surely places its cards on the table. With its strong characters and adeptness at handling everything from tense action scenes to lighter moments, Fantastic Children makes good use of every single minute of screen time.

Devil’s Advocate: The simplistic character designs may make the series look a little childish at first, but spend enough time with them and you will begin to appreciate their odd attractiveness.

Final verdict: One of the finest examples of anime to date, it may not have the visual allure of other series, but the story really packs a punch.

Fruits Basket

What’s it about?: When high school student Tohru Honda becomes a housekeeper for the Sohma family in exchange for a place to stay, she discovers that they are afflicted with a most unusual curse- when hugged by members of the opposite sex, they transform into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac! It may seem comical, but their unique condition has led this family to experience their own problems of fear and isolation; can Tohru’s optimism and kindness help them to open their hearts to others?

Why watch it?: It’s hard to find someone who has watched Fruits Basket and doesn’t love it, and even now it remains one of the best character dramas out there- delivering heart-wrenching serious content whilst knowing when to lighten up without destroying the moment or feeling too flippant.

Devil’s Advocate: Since it aired whilst the manga was still ongoing, the series covers less than eight of the story’s twenty-three volumes, but whilst this leaves it definitely unfinished, it has to be admitted that it prevents the anime from experiencing the same decline as the manga. There’s also some odd pacing in the last quarter of the series, possibly because these later episodes are drawn from the manga in a changed order.

Final verdict: If you can put aside the disappointment of the later manga volumes and just focus on the anime alone, this remains a worthy series.

Gankutsuou

What’s it about?: Loosely based on The Count of Monte Cristo, Gankutsuou takes the classic tale of revenge and sets it in a space-faring future. When the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo returns to Paris, young Albert de Morcerf is very taken with the rich and enigmatic noble, but beneath his fabulous wealth and genial outlook lurks a hidden past, and a deep need for revenge on those who once wronged him.

Why watch it?: Gankutsuou immediately captivates with its unique visual style and use of patterns and textures, but beneath this there is also plenty of substance. Yes, the sci-fi elements give away the fact that staying true to the book is not the series’ prime concern, but even so, it retains a strong and compelling story with an entire cast of distinctive characters.

Devil’s Advocate: Book purists will no doubt be put off by the sci-fi setting and changes to the original story, but overall there is little to say against this series.

Final verdict: Unique, stylish and one of Gonzo’s better efforts- why can’t all of their adaptations be like this?

Genshiken

What’s it about?: It’s not the anime club, and it’s not the manga club- this is “Genshiken”, the Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture. Looked down upon by their fellow university students, this eclectic bunch nonetheless strives to embrace the otaku side, indulging in everything from cosplay to doujinshi.

Why watch it?: Ever wanted to peek into the otaku lifestyle? Perhaps you just want to be reassured that, compared to some, your obsession with the hobby is really quite mild. Either way, Genshiken will do the trick for you, offering an amusing yet often disturbingly realistic glimpse into the lives of various otaku and the people closest to them.

Devil’s Advocate: The only downer is not from Genshiken itself, but from the accompanying Kujibiki Unbalance OVA, which is meant to parody various anime but actually comes across as quite dull and generic in the process.

Final verdict: Always good fun, Genshiken mixes memorable characters and apt observations to make a solid final product. Look forward to the upcoming second season.

Gungrave

What’s it about?: Harry McDowell is the chief of the criminal organisation Millennion, a powerful man who fears only one thing- his resurrected nemesis Brandon “Beyond the Grave” Heat. Yet these two men were once the best of friends- what could have happened to change things so?

Why watch it?: In its first sixteen episodes or so, Gungrave has the makings of a masterpiece, a tale of friends who must inevitably turn against each other, driven by ambition, ideals or just a desire to protect. The dialogue is incredibly well-written, layering each scene with a variety of intents and meanings, whilst the mafia setting allows for a healthy dose of action as well.

Devil’s Advocate: Sadly, once it hits the home stretch, Gungrave turns from a top notch character drama into a straight-out adaptation of the first game, thus offering little more than a series of successive boss fights. Yes, there are still good moments, but compared to what came before, it feels like a bit of an anticlimax.

Final verdict: Although it is let down by its later episodes, the mafia drama of the earlier arcs is enough to warrant investigation.

Gunslinger Girl

What’s it about?: Italy’s Social Welfare Agency- on the surface, it is an organisation dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and giving them a new lease of life. Whilst this not strictly inaccurate, however, what few people know is that the girls taken in by the Agency are actually turned into cyborgs and given training and conditioning designed to turn them into deadly assassins. The girls seem happy enough with their new lives, but can anyone justify robbing them of their childhood and turning them into mere tools to be used and discarded? Or is this the only way the Italian government can hope to fight back against the terrorists who would go to any length to ensure their message is heard?

Why watch it?: A strong character-driven piece, Gunslinger Girl combines the trials of adolescence with the unique condition of being a cyborg, trained to kill and show utter devotion to one’s handler. The true meat of the series comes from exploring the different cyborg-handler relationships, with a healthy dose of action and intrigue thrown in for good measure. Production values are also top notch, bringing Italy to life through both visuals and music.

Devil’s Advocate: Admittedly, some of the political elements are somewhat forgettable, and minor characters don’t really get much development- an unfortunate consequence of only covering the first two manga volumes. Happily, a second season is on its way.

Final verdict: Beautiful in every sense of the word, Gunslinger Girl is a must-watch for anyone who considers themselves an anime fan.

Haibane Renmei

What’s it about?: It started with a dream of falling, and then she woke up in a new world with no memory of what had come before. Given the name Rakka by her peers, the young woman grew wings and gained a halo, thus becoming a Haibane. Together with her fellow Haibane, Rakka begins living and working in this mysterious land within the walls, but it cannot last forever- for one day each Haibane must undergo the Day of Flight and finally move on…

Why watch it?: As well as carrying deeper themes that will give the viewer much to think about both during and after the series, Haibane Renmei is to be commended for its incredible attention to detail. Every piece of this world has been painstakingly brought to life, and you can do no less than completely immerse yourself in it from start to finish, sharing the emotions and experiences of its characters.

Devil’s Advocate: This is not a series for those who like clear, definitive answers, because for the most part, it leaves you to draw your own conclusions. Certainly it isn’t hard to put together an interpretation of the series, but if you yearn for explicit explanations of every single aspect of the series, then you will be left feeling frustrated.

Final verdict: Touching and heart-wrenching, Haibane Renmei is a series to be drunk in and remembered in all its vivid detail for a long time to come.

Hikaru no Go

What’s it about?: Whilst rummaging around in his grandfather’s attic, Shindo Hikaru gets more than he bargained for when he comes across an old Go board- a board that just happens to be possessed by the spirit of Heian Era Go player Fujiwara-no-Sai. Since his last chance to get out of the board and play some Go came over 140 years ago, Sai instantly takes the opportunity to possess Hikaru in the hopes of being allowed to participate in a few more matches. Unfortunately, Hikaru is not at all interested in Go, but as he reluctantly indulges his ghostly partner, he begins to discover a new appreciation for the game.

Why watch it?: I know what you’re thinking- a Shounen Jump series about a board game you’re probably unfamiliar with can’t be any good, right? Think again, for Hikaru no Go not only sidesteps the usual SJ conventions by offering a likable cast who are more than mere stereotypes, but it is also filled with an infectious love of Go that will make you want to play too. Instead of sighing at the cliché adventures of Hikaru and his friends, you’ll be urging them on.

Devil’s Advocate: Sadly, the later volumes of the manga are not covered by the anime, and even a New Years special only takes the story partway through the final arc. Another complaint which can be equally levelled at the original material is that the ever expanding cast means that certain characters get forgotten along the way, although efforts are usually made to check up on them later.

Final verdict: “SJ done right”; my favourite Shounen Jump series and a truly addictive one at that.

Honey and Clover

What’s it about?: Takemoto, Mayama, Morita, Hagu and Yamada are all attending art college and experiencing the same problems as students everywhere, from assignments and lack of money to deciding on a career and sorting out the love life. Join them as they go through the turbulent years that separate education from the “real world”.

Why watch it?: The events of Honey and Clover will ring true for anyone who has gone through even vaguely similar life experiences, ensuring that you cannot help but empathise with the characters as they undergo their own struggles. At times simple, funny, touching or just plain quirky, Honey and Clover always knows how to deliver on the emotional front.

Devil’s Advocate: The second season, sadly, is another matter, spending too long on minor characters and transforming some of the leads into simplistic caricatures (such as Mayama’s stalker tendencies). It’s also a sad fact that this series won’t even appeal to everyone in the first place- if you lack similar experiences, then you simply won’t “get it”.

Final verdict: A burst of nostalgia for those college years.

Hunter X Hunter

What’s it about?: After learning that his father is not only alive, but also a prestigious Hunter, Gon Freaks becomes determined to follow in his footsteps. At age 12, Gon leaves his home in order to take part in the Hunter Exam, a rigorous assessment of skill and stamina where even making it to the next exam is a test in itself. Together with the friends he makes along the way- hot-headed Leorio, logical Kurapica and youthful assassin Killua- Gon becomes determined to meet all the challenges that come his way, and prove himself capable of becoming a true Hunter.

Why watch it?: Another decent Shounen Jump series, HxH may get off to a slow start, but once it finds its feet, it proves to be a worthy adventure that combines elements of action and fantasy. With a fast pace that avoids the drawn out fights of other series whilst still getting in more detail and development than the manga version, Hunter X Hunter continually goes from strength to strength, proving to be an addictive experience fronted by likable rather than annoying characters.

Devil’s Advocate: The pace does slow a little in some of the later arcs such as the Sky Arena and Yorkshin auction, but this is only a temporary blip.

Final verdict: It may not be especially sophisticated, but HxH is plain good fun that rarely drags.

Ichigo Mashimaro

What’s it about?: Most sixteen (or rather twenty in the anime) year olds would choose to hang out with people their own age, but Nobue Itou is a little different. She would much rather spend time with fifth and sixth graders from elementary school- to be precise, her sister Chika, next door neighbour Miu, and friends Matsuri and Ana. Join this unlikely group as they while away the days amusing themselves with games, banter and all the other minor diversions that crop up in day-to-day life.

Why watch it?: Even though it isn’t really about anything and there’s no plot in sight, Ichigo Mashimaro manages to entertain rather than bore thanks to some smart pacing and comic timing. The observations are always amusingly apt, the jokes never drag on past their sell by date and the characters are most certainly distinctive and memorable.

Devil’s Advocate: The loli factor will certainly put off some (and indeed, Nobue’s obsession with the girls is a little disturbing at times) but if you can look past these moments, there’s a good slice-of-life series to be had.

Final verdict: It looks like it’s about nothing, but give it a chance and it proves to be an amusing experience.

Iriya no Sora, UFO no Natsu

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What’s it about?: After the summer vacation, a new student transfers into Asaba’s class- a mysterious girl named Iriya. A friendship quickly builds up between the pair of them, but as Asaba soon discovers, there is more to Iriya than meets the eye- for she is the pilot of the Black Manta, and the last line of defence in a war between aliens and humans that has secretly been going on for decades.

Why watch it?: Whilst the series may seem like a carbon copy of Saikano, Iriya brings its own unique flavour to the concept of a high school tied in with an alien war. A touching story set in an almost dreamlike environment, Iriya layers light and simple high school content like eating contests and club activities with darker undercurrents running just under the surface.

Devil’s Advocate: Due to its brevity, it is left to the reader to connect all the dots and figure out everything from the information presented, which means at least two viewings will be needed to gain a solid understanding of the series. It is also difficult to decide afterwards whether the ending was genuinely touching and emotional or just plain cheesy.

Final verdict: It may not always be clear just what is going on, but Iriya is nonetheless a compelling OVA that is more than the Saikano-clone it first appears to be.

Kare Kano

What’s it about?: A self-professed “Queen of Vanity” with an insatiable hunger for praise, Yukino Miyazawa spent years playing the model student, her facade so convincing that only her close family members knew the truth. When she enters high school, however, she finally meets her match in Soichiro Arima- an accomplished classmate who appears to be the real deal when it comes to being a paragon of virtue. Desperate to retain her position at the top of the class, Yukino declares Arima her bitter rival, but when Arima finds out the truth about her, it seems that matters can only get worse…at least until her anger and resentment start giving away to deeper feelings of friendship and even love.

Why watch it?: A cut above your average high school romance, Kare Kano takes strong characters with interesting quirks and back story, and puts them in a situation where they can naturally grow and mature. Nothing is abrupt or jarring0 instead, matters develop in a natural manner, with a healthy dose of comedy thrown in to prevent the series from ever getting bogged down in deep drama.

Devil’s Advocate: Not only does the anime stop rather abruptly less than halfway through the manga story, but budget issues mean that the animation is extremely short-changed, with much of the series relying on stills and other money-saving tricks. Although the inner excellence of the series still shines through, this lack of proper animation takes some getting used to, and early on it can even the alienate the viewer from onscreen events.

Final verdict: It may be a mere taster of what the manga can achieve, but that doesn’t stop it from being very good.

Kimi ga Nozomu Eien

What’s it about?: When Mitsuki helped her best friend Haruka to get together with classmate Takayuki, what she didn’t count on was falling for Takayuki herself- and when Haruka ends up in a coma after a car accident, she ends up being the one to help Takayuki get through it. Now, three years later, Mitsuki and Takayuki are an item, but when Haruka awakens from her coma with no knowledge of how much time has passed, he is to find himself torn between his past and his present.

Why watch it?: One of the rare worthy eroge adaptations, KimiNozo somehow takes a situation that should be totally laughable and ridiculous, and turns it into one where you actually find yourself on the edge of your seat as you wait to see what will happen to the protagonists. With its mastery of emotion, the series can make you laugh and cry in the same episode without ever feeling that the changes in tone are forced or abrupt.

Devil’s Advocate: That being said, there are many who find the entire series angsty and overdramatic, and indeed, even those who love it can see their point of view.

Final verdict: Like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it, but there’s no real way to guess which until you try it.

Kino’s Journey

What’s it about?: Kino is a traveller who journeys from country to country on her talking motorcycle Hermes; by her own rules, she must stay in one place no more than three days, but whilst there, she makes an effort to see everything it has to offer. Join Kino and Hermes as they turn up all the weird and wonderful things to be seen across the world.

Why watch it?: Although it is entirely episodic in nature, Kino’s Journey is hardly lacking in depth, with each episode introducing a new country and leaving the viewer with plenty to think about. With so many sights to see, and Kino acting as a thoughtful yet sardonic guide with a distinctive personality and back story of her own, it is impossible not to appreciate all the sights the series has to offer.

Devil’s Advocate: Although I can’t vouch for it myself, apparently the anime only draws from a mere fraction of the novel material, with some of the best stories to be found only in the original books.

Final verdict: A memorable series that leaves the viewer with plenty of food for thought, Kino’s Journey comes highly recommended.

Koi Kaze

What’s it about?: Koshiro and Nanoka are siblings, but thanks to their parents’ divorce and twelve year age gap, they haven’t seen each other since Nanoka was a baby. All that is about to change, however, for once she starts high school, Nanoka will be moving in with Koshiro and her father to avoid a lengthy commute each morning. Now, Koshiro will have to learn how to cope with this unexpected intrusion into his life- but will his relationship with Nanoka evolve into something beyond what is considered normal for a brother and sister?

Why watch it?: Incest is not something that very many viewers will be in favour of, but despite its controversial subject matter, Koi Kaze proves to be a highly worthy series. A touching tale of taboo feelings and the two people who struggle with them, Koi Kaze is so powerful that you will actually find yourself rooting for Koshiro and Nanoka in spite of their situation. To quote what I said in my original review, “The gentle music, minimal art and softly spoken characters weave a magic akin to that of any slice-of-life series, the perfect veneer for the tangled web of emotions that lurks beneath”.

Devil’s Advocate: There’s not really much to say against this series, unless you take such a violent exception to incest that a fictional and non-graphic depiction of such feelings cannot even be countenanced.

Final verdict: A series that all mature romance fans should try.

Kurau Phantom Memory

What’s it about?: When she was a little girl, a science experiment gone wrong saw the body of Kurau Amami fused with a pair of Rynax- life-forms from an alternate dimension. Years later, and the strange abilities Kurau has gained from the fusion have enabled her to become a special operative, but when the second Rynax emerges and takes a body of her own, the two women must go on the run from an organisation seeking to harness their unique power.

Why watch it?: A top notch sci-fi series from Bones, Kurau has everything- action, special powers, strong characters and an absorbing story. Instead of starting well and going downhill as so many sci-fi series are wont to do, Kurau goes from strength to strength, creating dramatic and emotional moments without ever going overboard, and including a memorable soundtrack to enhance every scene.

Devil’s Advocate: Finding fault with this series would be being picky for its own sake, so I won’t even try.

Final verdict: The best sci-fi series anime has to offer, and perhaps even one of the best series overall, even among its peers on this list.

Last Exile

What’s it about?: Claus and Lavie are best friends who dream of flying the farthest skies in their vanship like their fathers before them, but when they end up rescuing young Alvis Hamilton from a wreck, their lives are changed forever. Drawn into the battle that rages across the skies of their world, Claus and Lavie are taken on a journey filled with friends, foes, adventure and mystery.

Why watch it?: Another of Gonzo’s better efforts, Last Exile takes us to a whole other world, whose marvellous settings are limited only by the imagination. With everything from distinctive characters to tense airship battles, Last Exile weaves a compelling story filled with painstaking attention to detail.

Devil’s Advocate: Aside from the matter of a rather disappointing ending, Last Exile is one of those series that feels as if it just doesn’t have enough episodes- with so much potential in this world, it really needed more time to be explored further. The direction taken by certain characters is also questionable and a bit disappointing.

Final verdict: Although not without its flaws, Last Exile paints such a compelling world that I cannot help but love it anyway.

Come back tomorrow for part two of this article, covering Mahou Shoujotai to Zipang!

Moonlight Mile season 2

I did try to get on with the first season of Moonlight Mile, but after a barely comprehensible opening episode and warnings of extreme MANLINESS ahead, I never did continue with it. I’m not sure if anyone (other than Kryptfo?) actually watched to the end of season one, but if they did, they’ll probably be ready for more STRAIGHT adventures with the manly men of space.

Moyashimon

Also known as “Tales of Agriculture”, this may sound like some sort of Harvest Moon adaptation, but it’s actually about a boy who can see these rather cute looking bacteria and fungi with his naked eyes. It sounds quite quirky and interesting, although I’m not sure if I’m ready to believe the people who say it’s comparable to Mushishi (can it possibly duplicate Mushishi’s excellence?).

Kodomo no Jikan

So I previewed this for the summer and it got pushed back to autumn, but my comments from then still stand- it’s just not really my thing. I never did try the manga, so I’m not going to be trying this lolilicious anime.

Goshuushou-sama Ninomiya-kun

Based on a light novel series, this series seems to be a mish-mash of elements from different harem and romance series; we’ve got the typical high school student lead, a girl whose been sent to live with him to get over her fear of men, both their sisters, and a student council head who becomes their maid for some reason. It sounds like the typical light fare I tend to steer clear of these days, but the promo picture does have a blue-haired girl (for Necromancer) and a pink/red-haired girl for manga.

BLUE DROP ~Tenshi Tachi no Gikyoku~

A series about the growing friendship between a human girl who was the lone survivor of a mysterious incident and an alien sent to infiltrate human society prior to an invasion, Blue Drop’s synopsis pushes all the right buttons in terms of sci-fi and character elements, and whilst I haven’t read the original manga, I hope this anime can deliver.

Tobaku Mokushiroku Kaiji

From the character designs alone, you can tell that this series was from the same creator as Akagi, although this time the focus is on gambling rather than mah-jongg. I know it will be ugly and MANLY, but if it’s at all like its brother series, it should also be very good. I just hope they have some CG gambling chips or something.

Macross Frontier

Yes, Macross is back, and I still have all those discs of the previous Macross series waiting to be watched. I’ll probably give this a go because of the “it’s a big-name franchise and everyone else will be watching it” factor, but it remains to be seen whether I’ll stick with it for the long haul. At least Yoko Kanno’s music should be worth tuning in for.

Bamboo Blade

A kendo instructor has to put together an all-female team and train them to beat his sempai’s team- surely a recipe for typical five-girl character combinations if ever there was one. Even so, I’m getting slight vibes of Shrine of the Morning Mist from it, so it may be given a chance to entertain.

Sketchbook: full color`s

Sketchbook is the coming season’s answer to 4-koma based series, this time focusing on what seems to be short vignettes into the lives of high school girls. It looks like it will tilt more towards slice-of-life than previous comedic 4-koma based series, so I’m planning to at least give this a look.

Myself; Yourself

I have to admit I like the character designs for this series, but when I read that it was about a high school student returning to his hometown after a five year absence, I couldn’t quite stifle a yawn at the thought of Kanon Mark 58. I know it’s only thirteen episodes, but I’ve been down the “only 12-13 episode” route before, and it always ends in pain. Consider this one far from my potential viewing list.

Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro

The latest SJ series to get an adaptation, this series features a “riddle eater” who comes to our world to eat the ultimate mystery, forcing a girl to tag along and become a detective on the way. I’m afraid I can’t think of this series without remembering how Randall Fitzgerald recommended it for people with weird dental fetishes, and I have the distinct feeling that it’s one of those series that sounds fairly interesting but turns out to be dull Ghost Hunt/Zombie Loan fare. Chances of watching it are low.

Suteki Tantei Labyrinth

This one seems to be popular on a lot of Spanish blogs, but I couldn’t be bothered to either apply my rusty Spanish skills or use Google translator, so I’m not entirely sure what it’s about. Given the title, the blonde tea sipping boy is probably some kind of genius detective, but since both he and his supporting characters seem rather generic, I’m not terribly interested.

Night Wizard

This one’s an RPG adaptation, which immediately sets off alarm bells in my head despite the appealing character designs (minus the main guy, who looks too much like Kanon’s Yuuichi for my liking). I may have to try it anyway despite a generally pessimistic outlook, but I’m more interested in trying the PC game.

Dragonaut: The Resonance

I don’t really know much about this one other than it’s a Gonzo series with lots of rip-off character designs, but that seems enough to give it a middling to wide berth. Let us not forget the lessons of Kiddy Grade and its brethren when it comes to Gonzo.

You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle

I quite enjoyed the YUA OVAs, but as yet I haven’t got around to the earlier TV series- even so, I doubt the plot is complex enough for me not to be able to jump in here. The artwork certainly looks to have evolved beyond the old days, and so unless it’s another Ah! My Goddess season 2, it should be worth a look.

Shakugan no Shana II

It’s no secret that the first season of Shana disappointed me, but like a moth to our heroine’s burning flames, I shall no doubt end up at least starting the second season. Let’s hope that this time around the darker elements outweigh the harem ones, and that the villains aren’t so disappointing.

Clannad

I loved Air and hated Kanon, but where will Clannad fall in the spectrum? I did read Hinano’s lengthy post about the game, but have since forgotten most of the spoilers she mentioned- exactly how it will pan out on screen, however, is a different matter. It may be dramatic, heart-wrenching and all the rest, or it may be an excuse to post a new set of Harem Diaries.

Shugo Chara!

Another anime based on a Peach Pit series, this one sees a popular girl gains the aid of three magical Guardian Characters in her quest to unlock her true self. I can’t help feeling that Peach Pit have disappointed me too many times to take a chance on another of their series, and this one certainly has no great hook.

Gundam 00

Ah, Gundam, I never did jump on your bandwagon, and even if I had done so, Destiny would have made me jump right off again (come to think of it, I never did watch Stargazer). In any case, I must watch this in order to gauge how parody-worthy it may be, but if I get bored, it shall join Code Geass in the recycle bin.

ef – A Tale of Memories

There’s just something about this series- it sounds like a typical visual novel story and will most likely be one of those overhyped disappointments, but I can’t help really looking forward to it. There’s just something about the atmosphere that surrounds this series that makes me want to immerse myself in it as soon as possible.

Kimikiss Pure Rouge

The original game saw your character desperately trying to earn a smooch from one of six girls at school, and from this we can deduce that this will be yet another harem series. I have learned my lesson (?) about using this sort of series for light entertainment, so I will take care to avoid it.

Mokke

A seinen series about two sisters with spiritual powers, Mokke seems exactly like the series I quietly love, and so I hope it can take the place of Windy Tales and Someday’s Dreamers in providing me with charming, magical slice-of-life stories. A must-see for me.

Da Capo II

Well, this one is out as I have no familiarity with the games and I didn’t watch the first DC anime, but I feel oddly drawn to the character designs. Whether I’ll ever get around to even sampling the franchise remains to be seen.

Jyuushin Enbu: Hero Tales

I’ve already covered the run up to this anime with links to the character designs and so forth, and I have to admit that it looks pretty generic- yes, it does have the FMA mangaka behind it, but even so my hopes are distinctly low. I may try it anyway, but more to see how bad it is than out of any hope for something worthy.

Minami-ke

This one looks like another slice-of-life series, this time about three sisters and their everyday (or not so everyday) adventures. The character designs look good and I’m hoping it will be entertaining, but there’s also the fear that it could be dull Binbou style fare.

Genshiken 2

I loved Genshiken, and even though I haven’t watched the OVA yet, I’m looking forward to continuing with this enjoyable series. I should also invest in the manga at some point- you can never get enough of those otaku and their exploits.\

Prism Ark

As an eroge adaptation set in a fantasy world, it would be great if this series delivered what Utawarerumono couldn’t, but all signs seem to indicate that it will be light fluff rather than the worthy fantasy series I have been looking for. From a fanart perspective, however, I really love the character designs.

Shion no Ou

There’s a good chance this series could be to shogi what Hikaru no Go and Akagi were to Go and mah-jongg respectively, and for that reason alone, I shall certainly be giving this a try. Don’t let anyone tell you that board game anime is boring- there’s something oddly addictive about it, and the prospect of a female lead instead of the usual young man is just the icing on the cake.

Koharu Biyori

For this OVA, I just have to start by quoting AniDB:

“Set in a near future, a time where robots are common workers for their owners. Takaya Murase has just purchased a maid robot from a robotic doll distriubutor, MaidWorks. Ready to live a normal cleaning, cooking, and serving life to her owner, Yui is purchased, by Takaya but he has other plans for her…like dressing her up in dress-costumes of his fantasies and more.”

Yes, that’s right, this series goes beyond the tired old maid robot concept and introduces a robot maid whose master indulges in his fetishes. I almost have to laugh at this, but I certainly won’t be watching the actual OVA.

Ghost Hound

Based on a concept by Masamune Shirow, Ghost Hound follows three people who learn to separate their minds from their bodies and travel to an alternate world. Although I’ve never been the biggest fans of the likes of Ghost in the Shell, these sorts of ideas do intrigue me, although with Chiaki Konaka handling the script there are worries that the ending will be horribly disappointing and inconclusive.

Appleseed Saga Ex Machina

Again, I’m not the biggest Appleseed fan, but I did watch the first movie (that’s the recent film, not the twenty year old OVA), and so I may continue onwards to this one. Maybe I’ll understand it more this time.

Nasu: Suitcase no Wataridori

This one looks like a one-off OVA about cycling, which would normally put me off, but the prequel movie actually sounds somewhat interesting. I think I’ll give the original movie a go, and then perhaps sample this OVA.

Soukou Kihei Votoms: Pailsen FilesAnother one I previewed back in the summer- back then it looked too fugly and MANLY, and my feelings haven’t changed.

]]> http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/09/12/autumn-2007-preview/feed/ 11 http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/08/26/mai-otome-zwei-4-the-end%e2%80%a6for-now/ http://azureflame.dasaku.net/2007/08/26/mai-otome-zwei-4-the-end%e2%80%a6for-now/#comments Sun, 26 Aug 2007 21:00:36 +0000 Karura http://azureflame.ikimashou.net/2007/08/26/mai-otome-zwei-4-the-end%e2%80%a6for-now/ It’s been a long road, getting from there to here…and sadly, it is by no means over yet. As Mai- threatens to become a mega-franchise to rival the greats, we learn that Zwei is not the end, but merely the beginning of a spate of spin-offs and cash-ins that could last until we are all old and grey. More on that later, however, for now we must go forth and rejoice at the conclusion of this OVA.

OVA closing thoughts
As to be expected of an OVA sequel to a TV series, Zwei started off by introducing a previously unmentioned evil for our heroines to fight- in this case, a shadow Otome who petrified some named characters for no real reason and absorbed the appearance of Fumi Himeno, the first ever Otome. As we learn in this episode, our enemy is actually some sort of superweapon named Yuna who was sent into space by her creators, only to end up causing trouble for our leads. Sadly, thanks to all the time spent on bus hijackings and bathing scenes, there isn’t time to give Yuna much in the way of development- she merely appears, turns a few people to stone, and ultimately gets defeated.

Anyway, on with the plot, and for reasons that remain unclear to me even now, the strange plant things that appear all over the world open up to reveal Children, presumably included as a way of giving the supporting Otome something to do. In an homage to Mai-HiME, the Child that appears at Mai’s location just happens to be Kagutsuchi, letting the powerful cat goddess Mikoto step back and let her Otome fight it whilst she continues to nap.

Meanwhile, Yuna decides to transform into final boss mode, and by randomly using some source of power that just happens to be compatible with her, she transforms into a giant version of Otome Fumi, complete with a connection to the so-called ‘Administar’ in orbit of the planet. Yes, an alien weapon can now connect to a previously unimportant orbiting Shinso, whilst our own Otome are so unprepared for the loss of their Shinso that they have to use a barely functional surrogate system (what is the surrogate system, anyway?).

With the final boss in place, it is time for Arika to go to Mashiro, but whilst Lumen is willing to take her part of the way, once they meet up with Midori and Rad, Arika and Mikoto get stranded in the middle of nowhere for some reason. Not that I don’t understand the desire to leave Arika to perish in the desert, but when fat cat Mikoto is there too, it becomes a different matter entirely. Anyway, for reasons that I suspect will never make sense to me, Mikoto is somehow able to signal for a white dolphin by flashing light off her earring, enabling Arika to reach Mashiro just in time to stop FumiYuna from blowing her away.

Sadly, Arika in puffy pink mode is not enough to defeat the final boss, and so various convenient yet ultimately senseless things have to occur in order to avoid a game over. First, Nina, who just happened to wash up here at the end of last episode, carrying a book that oh-so-conveniently contains some long-lost Otome gems, makes a contract with Mashiro so that she too can join the fight in a brand new Robe. Then, determined not to be outdone, Arika decides to settle her differences with Mashiro with a mutual slap on the cheek, somehow magically re-enabling the much better looking Zwei Mode Robe. Finally, Nagi, who seems to know exactly what is going on despite being stuck in an Artai prison, phones up Natsuki because he somehow knows exactly how to Protect Break the enemies so that they can be defeated without continually regenerating. All I can say is- thank heavens for coincidences.

With all these pieces in place, FumiYuna is defeated, but by exercising her right to a second form, she is able to survive by absorbing Mashiro and turning into the true final boss, FumiMashiro. What drama, what excitement- oh wait, one attack each from Nina and Arika, and she’s been turned into green sparkles.

Meanwhile, Mai has been fighting Kagutsuchi conveniently off screen all this time, but now that we’re approaching the end, it is time to finish the job by pulling its sword out. For reasons that remain beyond my understanding, this causes Kagutsuchi to transform into a small white cat- cute, to be sure, but inexpliable nonetheless. Now, everyone can live happily ever after, and whilst Mashiro and Arika appear to be missing, they actually prove to be floating happily in space (as we have already seen, breathing in space and even entering the atmosphere whilst buck naked are mere trifles to Otome characters), contemplating how they would like to see more of the world.

And so, it all ends- or does it? For, post-credits, we see Ribbon-chan, who now resembles chibi-Erstin more than a black mage (she may even be the reincarnation of Erstin in some sense) resolve to become an Otome one day- surely a recipe for a sequel some day. And even before that inevitable sequel, we have a prequel to look forward to- Mai-Otome S.ifl.

Alternate Version

Natsuki is shocked and disappointed to learn that she must stay put with the nameless heads of state whilst everyone else gets action scenes.

“Should I wait in the dressing room until it’s time for my final boss battle?”

Let’s play guess the character! Here are a few clues- it’s a fire element Child whose name begins with K.

“Haruka, come back to me so that we can have HARD YURI once again.”

“ARIKAA!!!! Sergey is mine!!”

“Nina, it’s you that I love!”

“Oh, it was just a budget saving flashback dream.”

Time for some catservice.

“Who left the Book of Twilight here?”

“Launch Gundams, er, I mean Otome!”

“Arika, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here to take up screen time with main character type things.”

(“Damn, there goes my last chance of being able to do anything useful.”)

Nagi plans to make millions by publishing his “Smile Diary”.

“Rad, I wish there was some point to us appearing.”

“You think you’ve got problems- I lost my bishie body before the series even began!”

“Arika, here’s the script for the rest of the episode- written under the influence of sweet potato dango as usual.”

“Okay, we’re just going to fly off and leave you here now.”

“Can’t you take me with you?”

“Sorry, I can’t hear you!”

Bee Train must have assisted with this scene.

Mikoto to the rescue!

Her earring is able to signal for rescue.

Gathering apples is always relevant to the plot.

“Oh, by the way, I also have a Slave crystal- because I am the reincarnation of Erstin!”

“Oh come on- can anyone who isn’t called Mimi actually die in this series?”

“I must only use my powers for cooking!”

“Activate HiME-service and summon Kagutsuchi!”

“This seems familiar somehow.”

“We may be unimportant to the plot, but we’re still alive!”

“Quick, Mikoto, we must power up with HARD YURI!”

“Leave this to me- fans will appreciate the irony.”

“People have been complaining that we just fly around and use energy blast, so here’s an all-new Maraca Attack!”

“Minor Character Gratuitous Cameo Attack!”

“Final Boss Form One- Giant Winged Fumi!”

“Now to strike fear into the hearts of everyone by attacking nowhere in particular with my laser beam eyes!”

I don’t really understand how or why, but somehow “Fumi” is able to connect to the so-called “Administar”.

“Bad news, Natsuki- the plot makes no sense whatsoever!”

Enemies emerge to keep the lesser Otome occupied.

“You can’t attack me- I’m not an Otome!”

“I can’t be blown away- I’m too important! Don’t make me the first significant casualty!”

“Magical star dolphin ex machina!”

For some reason, the dolphin has a Mikoto-earring. If only Sunrise would explain these things.

“Play time is over- it’s time for you to face the main character!”

If there’s a Mikoto shot, you can be sure I’ll take it.

“Get me the director- I need to know why this OVA is so crappy!”

“Say what? If I don’t co-operate, I don’t get any HARD YURI with Shizuru?”

“Who is this, anyway?”

“Natsuki, I am the director!”

(“That explains a lot.”)

“Why am I losing? I thought I was the main character!”

“Nina, the plot needs you!”

“Thank god I have these conveniently procured GEMs.”

“Mashiro, let’s copy the manga and have you make a contract with me.”

“Okay, but let me get one thing straight- I am not a man in drag!”

“Materialise with all-new previously unmentioned GEM- Neptune Emerald!”

“I’m back- and this time I’ll make sure the audience doesn’t hate me!”

“Yay, Nina- let’s have HARD YURI!”

“Hey Mashiro, I can’t outdo Nina without the Zwei Mode I lost in episode one!”

“Fine- we can easily mend our relationship by slapping each other.”

“That feels much better.”

“Goodbye Arinko, hello Rena junior!”

This attack is called Dash Cold Water Spout (no, really).

Yes, everyone else is still fighting- and note how Akane is having the closest thing she will ever get to a sexual experience.

“Gwakakaka, I am the final boss- it will take more than flashy special attacks to destroy me!”

“Oh crap, why do you always lose reception when you need it the most?”

“Help, I’m dying- dying!”

“Oh wait, final bosses always get a second form- Mashiro Fusion!”

“Don’t worry about me- Sunrise surely wouldn’t kill me off now!”

“All right, let’s do some special attacks.”

“Yay, I get an even bigger sword!”

“Damn you- I just get this same old attack again!”

“Sorry, Nina, but the main character always gets the final blow.”

Ah, good old green sparkles.

For reasons it is best not to think too deeply about, when Mai defeats Kagutsuchi, it turns into this small white cat.

“Yay, this OVA is almost over!”

“Hey, since Shizuru isn’t around, what say you and I hook up?”

“Actually, everyone who was petrified has just woken up unharmed.”

“This isn’t the last you’ve seen of Sergey Wang!”

Mashiro and Arika- proving once again that in the Otome world, survival in the hard vacuum of space is nothing special.

“Looking down at the planet from up here makes me realise how petty and small we can be when we should be looking at the bigger picture, yada, yada, yada…”

Yes, “Otome wa do my best deshou?” is so good that it really needed a 2007 remix.

“I’m going to be an Otome some day, and have my own spin-off series!”- and yes, this is Ribbon-chan/Erstin/whatever she is.

Coming soon, Mai-Otome S.ifl!

Experience the early days of one John Smith!

As he faces off against Some Guy!

It’s not Chie and Shiho, but Mayo and Shion from the Mai-HiME Destiny novels.

Young Maria and Some Other Character appear.

The legendary Pillars of old don their robes…

…but are they any match for Rena? Who cares, really?

And no, I wasn’t joking when I said it was called S.ifl.