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

After being abandoned by her owners one rainy night, “Chibi-Neko” the kitten is saved from an untimely end when a student named Tokio picks her up and takes her home. Despite the fact that his mother is allergic to cats, Tokio’s parents decide to let him keep Chibi, in the hope that caring for her will help alleviate his depression over failing to get into college. For her part, Chibi comes to adore her new owner, and in her naïveté, she hopes that she will one day turn into a human so that they can always be together. Even so, the world has many lessons for a young kitten to learn, and it seems for sure that she will one day realise that no cat can become human.

As a cat lover, there are some things which it is almost compulsory to watch, and as a film where the main character is a kitten, The Star of Cottonland must surely be one of them. Produced way back in 1984, the film presents feline life with what was then a rather unique twist; all the cats in the film are portrayed as humanoids with ears and tails- the early form of what was to become the familiar catgirl (and boy). To the humans in the film, their feline companions just look like regular cats, but the viewer sees them as they perceive themselves- as just a slightly different sort of person.

With our furry friends thus transformed, The Star of Cottonland starts off less as a movie and more like a documentary into the mindset of the cat. Ever wondered why your feline companion acts like she does- well, puzzle over it no more, because with this film, you can understand her that much better. It’s largely amusing and entertaining fare, only soured by one element- Tokio’s mother. Less allergic to cats than she is completely “nekophobic”, this is a woman to whom the sight of one kitten can induce trembling, screaming and fainting fits- a somewhat implausibly extreme reaction that goes beyond even the classical image of an entire generation of women screaming and climbing on chairs at the sight of a small rodent.

Even so, this one blot cannot really dampen the enjoyment of seeing the world through a cat’s eyes, but it does have to be admitted that the film loses a little in its second half. Yes, it is still a fun family film, but when push comes to shove, the focus starts to wander a bit. One minute, Chibi is trying to become human so that Tokio will like her instead of the girl he has a crush on, then she immediately switches to trying to get him together with said girl before leaving the household completely to go on a journey of her own with wildcat Raphael. This journey is supposed to be a search for the mythical Cottonland of the title (a sort of feline paradise), but when Raphael doesn’t show up, it becomes more of a random tour through town with the aid of various wildcats, which ultimately turns into Chibi and another cat trying to get to Persia. In the midst of all this, the film also has a tendency to digress into somewhat bizarre dream sequences, which only heighten the sense of not really knowing where the film is going.

Character-wise, this is truly Chibi-Neko’s story, with other characters generally tending to come and go, although some focus is placed on Tokio. A young man who has reached rock bottom after failing to get into college, he tries to study but lacks even the motivation to go to prep school, but who will be his salvation- Chibi-Neko or the braided girl he has a crush on? Other interesting personalities include Raphael the elegant wild cat, and “Neko Maniac”, a man obsessed with capturing Raphael so that he can hug him and generally give him a life of ridiculously over-the-top luxury.

Since it was made over twenty years ago, The Star of Cottonland is understandably not the most visually impressive of series, but nor does it look as bad as you might expect- with a movie budget behind it, the animation is generally clean, and Chibi-Neko’s character design is nice even if everyone else’s is somewhat pedestrian. The music is not particularly memorable, but suits the tone of the movie well.

Final Thoughts
Despite its tendency to wander off on any and every tangent in its latter half, overall The Star of Cottonland is an enjoyable family film that will capture the hearts of adults and children alike. Whether you plan to use it to convert younger relatives to the ways of anime, or just fancy some easy viewing to entertain yourself, this is one movie that deserves to be checked out.
Tier: Silver-

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.

My love of gentle and charming slice-of-life series has taken me through the likes of Aria, YKK, Kokoro Library and Someday’s Dreamers, but until recently, Windy Tales had passed entirely under the radar. Other than the fact that I had barely heard anything about it and there were always plenty of other things to watch, there was no real reason for this, but when I finally learned some actual details about the series, I came to realise what a terrible oversight it had been to neglect it for so long.

Much like the aforementioned Someday’s Dreamers, Windy Tales is a series that blends simple yet captivating everyday events with just a touch of magic, transforming the trivial into the absorbing. From the exhilarating rush of wind felt from the back of a motorcycle to an attempt to capture an athlete in training in a single photograph, Windy Tales takes a simple moment and displays the emotions that surround it for all to see and share in. All but the most hardened of hearts must surely be swept along on the tides of this beautiful tale, and if all that isn’t enough to bring a smile to your face, then it also has a trump card in the form of flying cats- hundreds of them.

As with most thirteen episode series, there isn’t really time for extensive character development, with each episode acting as a snapshot into the middle school days of the characters rather than continuously building story. Even so, the leading personalities are well defined, with snatches of dialogue here and there building up their characters as much as is possible within the constraints of the series. They may never become terribly complex, but the cast of this series will always be both likable and memorable.

When it comes to visuals, Windy Tales has a highly unique look- character designs are simplistic and angular to the degree of looking like paper cut-outs, whilst the sky is like a brush painting with gaps for the clouds, and the all-important wind is a set of coloured squiggly lines. It may look and sound unattractive at first glance, and indeed, there are some angles that make the protagonists rather ugly, but give yourself a chance to get used to it, and you’ll start to appreciate an art style which is refreshingly different from the norm and a good reinforcement for the tone of the series. Similarly, the background music retains the gentle and charming aesthetic of the series, frame by a thoughtful OP and an energetic ED.

Final Thoughts
Windy Tales is a series that has received far too little in the way of attention, and it is surely time to right that wrong, because while it may not be flashy and filled to the brim with action, it is a delightful series that will put a smile on the faces of anyone who ever professed to like Aria and its brethren. Fans of slice-of-life should do themselves a favour and watch this sooner rather than later.

Stratos 4: The Admiral

Fat cat fans- rejoice at the release of this new Stratos 4 OVA, starring The Admiral herself! As this OVA reveals, the series’ chubby feline is actually a real admiral, and now it is up to her to save the earth from the largest meteor yet- by going up into space. With General/Shogun as her co-pilot, The Admiral will brave high altitudes in her experimental new ship, boldly going where no cat has gone before! Look forward to it!

Red Garden: Setting the bar for angst
Want to know the best excuses and situations for angst? Look no further.

1. Your mother is ill and your father is working away from home, forcing you to look after your increasingly irritating siblings.
2. The man you like is actually evil, whilst your HARD YURI sorority fellows are continually checking on your activities.
3. You find all your friends irritating and shallow no matter what they do, but in order to get decent conversation, you must drink bitter coffee with your teacher and get accused of having an affair with him.
4. You barely have enough money to pay the rent, but pride insists that you quit your job (only to return later), live away from your father (but borrow money from your brother) and skip classes since education and qualifications could not possibly land you a job better than flipping burgers.
5. Your previously nameless and generally bland brother has just died, but you must continue to fight despite the hindrance of your oversized lips.
6. Your cousin is dead and your sister is dying, but since you are surrounded by an evil faction, all you can do is be evil.

Zipang Pick ‘n’ Mix

The generics sense that a HARD GAY encounter may be imminent.

The named characters remain evasive for fear of having to invite the generics into their bed.

“Your HARD GAY is now most impressive.”

“The only way to find out is to go to the bedroom and try them for ourselves.”

“Before that, I have to know if you are even up to the task of matching me in the bedroom.”

“I would hate for either one of us to die because of improperly performed HARD GAY.”

This one says it all.

Short parody: Escaflowne

Allen: I am bishie and I think I love you, Hitomi- what more do you need?

Hitomi: I’m sorry, but I prefer Van.

(Van: Damn women- the only lover I need is the Escaflowne itself).

A report comes in that a town has been attacked.

Hitomi: Oh no, it’s all my fault!

Allen: Damn, my lottery ticket wasn’t a winning one.

Hitomi: I’m so sorry, it was all my fault!

Van: You know, I never did get that toy sword I wanted as a child.

Hitomi: That was my fault too! Everything that has ever gone wrong in the history of humanity happened because of me!

Van: You know, maybe we should deal with your ego issues before we continue this quest.

The history of the moon in anime
Although it is most often confined to a presence in still shots, the moon has always held importance in anime. From wars between the Earth and the moon in the likes of YoakeNa and Turn A Gundam to visiting bases on the moon in Kurau and Planetes, the satellite remains the closest and more convenient place for off-world activities in science fiction. Perhaps surprisingly, however, the moon has also brought its legacy to Earth in the form of Busou Renkin’s Moonface (aka Lunar Nicholai), a man whose head can resemble any of the phases of the moon.

HARD YURI corner: Red Garden
Thanks to her insatiable love of HARD YURI, Lise took four separate lovers- Claire, Rose, Rachel and Kate. Following her death, the other four turned to each to form a HARD YURI unit, unaware that they were not mere HARD YURI lovers, but resurrected young women tasked with fighting men so that HARD YURI could flourish. Although they were initially scared to become experimental in their intense bedroom encounters, at the urging of their pimps Lula and JC, they learned to become more daring with their HARD YURI, with even the quiet and submissive Rose showing some spirit.

Unfortunately, everyone around them remains jealous of their HARD YURI bond, forcing them to stand up to young men fearful of HARD YURI and the HARD YURI members of the school’s Grace. Can their love survive?

OST Spotlight: Sousei no Aquarion OST 1
Yoko Kanno is certainly one of the most well known names as far as anime music goes, but when it comes to praising her work, the Aquarion soundtrack has yet to receive the attention it deserves. Although this OST is more skewed towards the classical side of her work, Kanno’s skill is still very much in evidence, proving that classical-style anime music does not have to be dull, repetitive or restricted to piano and strings. Alongside the slower and more grandiose themes, there is a healthy mix of catchy faster-paced tracks that carry the listener along for the ride. A strong offering, and one that is highly recommended to anyone who listens to anime music, however infrequently.

Notable tracks: Sousei no Aquarion (onii-sama to), Macho Battle, Max Bomber Girl, Michelle, Kikaitenshi Aquarion, Brown Horses, Dragon Reika, Pride~journey of grief, Omna Magni

Licensing Reactions

• Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (Geneon): Although it’s possible that they also have MariMite, SaiMono and Nanoha, I won’t talk about those until it’s official; however, as the presumable answer to the ANN competition, Higurashi at least must be a sure thing. Although I was temporarily won over by the creepy first arc and the goriness of Shion’s rampage, in retrospect Higurashi simply had too many weak points to be worth investing in.

Mini-rant: What’s my license?
Ah, who doesn’t remember the good old days? Chocolate bars were bigger, the internet was slower, and companies actually came out and told us which series they had licensed. In this new age, however, that is no longer the case- instead we have to be subjected to tedious viral marketing campaigns and “Guess the license” competitions at Anime News Network. Now, whilst this may have been an interesting gimmick to some when it first started, it seems I’m not the only one to be getting thoroughly fed up with it by now. All I care about is what has and hasn’t been licensed, so just announce it already! Do we expect to see “guess where the rapist struck?” or “which crime do you think this man committed?” on the news? Admittedly, anime licensing is less important, but do we really need to jump through hoops just to learn when a particular series is coming out on DVD? Just tell me straight how much to pay and when to pay it (if it is indeed worth buying at all)- that’s all I need to know.

In Your Reflection

This week’s head to head is between Chrono Crusade’s Joshua and Scrapped Princess’ Forsyth. Both are the blond haired brothers of the respective female leads, who are essentially good natured but have been forced by circumstances to live with the leads’ enemies.

Fashion police: Peorth
Ah, Peorth, I like your hairstyle, but why did you have to dress like a bondage queen? No doubt many people like it that way, and I have to admit it doesn’t look too bad if you glance at it out of the corner of your eye, but sadly, it doesn’t stand up to close inspection. The basic black bikini would be fine for a swimsuit episode, but aside from the fact that it looks a little too chilly and revealing for day to day wear, it is only made worse by the hideous orange buckle and strap combination (luckily she’s a goddess so we don’t have to worry about its defiance of the laws of physics). Unfortunately, the fingerless gloves and short boots in the same colour just serve to make the overall effect worse.

Fashion sense: D

Amusing Search Terms

ONE TOO MANY: Better cut back.

how to save in the diary on harvest moon: Sorry, but I can’t believe that someone is so incapable as to be unable to save their game in Harvest Moon.

Summer Days Episode: Ah yes, I remember that exact episode.

mai breast: Coming soon, Mai-Breast- all fanservice and no plot! Oh wait, that was Mai-Otome.

word round up: In the Word Round-Up, I review the most commonly used phrases of the week, such as “Hello”, “I’m fine”, and “I promise it will be done by next week”.

December 1^st: A truly great day, December 1^st, for it is the first of December. Don’t tell anyone I told you, though.

“Love it or loathe it”: marmite?

sei4C: I wish I could say something witty about this.

NOIR / WE HAD TO LET YOU HAVE IT: This must be a line from the HARD YURI Noir sequel.

game maker sprite flames: Will RPG Maker sprite Robespierre do?

Lolicon: it’s getting popular again, to the extent of 50 searches on some days.

you toube basketball: It’s good to see you toube continuing to evolve.

large boobs: more H-cup.

Busou renkin hentai doujins: No, please…no.

how can use my audition perfect hack: I don’t know.

Harvest Moon gay love: Anton loves his wife, his horse and his chickens, but not other men.

auditionsea cash hack: Did I hear you say cash?

game characters: How specific.

My Meine Liebe Wieder: Yours? Are you the creator?

Dangerous love: Is it worth the risk?

Those who recall my Stratos 4 TV review will know that I was none too impressed by the series; aside from the presence of fat cat the Admiral, I had few positive things to say to it. Nonetheless, with the spectre of completion looming over me, I decided that I may as well try my luck at the continuation of the series- ten episodes released across three OVAs. These episodes promised more fanservice, more fat cats, and a continuation of the various weak story threads that Stratos 4 is forced to call a plot.

To be fair, the OVAs are more enjoyable than the TV series that preceded them, and whilst this may not seem to saying much, it is the difference between falling asleep in front of the television and staying alert enough to watch the whole thing. In some ways, it feels as if the writers have realised the ridiculousness of their initial plot about alien parasites, and have done their best to drag it into more respectable and less paper-thin territory. Admittedly, it doesn’t always work, with some plot points (such as the shadowy motives of Headquarters) feeling more tiresome than interesting, but despite the sense that the story isn’t finished even now, there are still some interesting threads.

Perhaps surprisingly, however, the series is at its best when it isn’t bothering about the plot at all; not because of any fanservice, but simply due to a sense of nostalgia for the likes of Top Gun. Regardless of their reason for going up there, seeing the pilots undertake their missions is oddly addictive; I’d even go so far as to say that were it a standalone series about individual piloting missions, I might enjoy it even more.

One of my complaints after the original TV series was that there were too many characters to possibly develop over the course of thirteen episodes, and at first glance, it seems as if the OVAs only exacerbate this problem by introducing yet more additions to the cast. Fortunately, despite the lack of any overtly character-based stories, it is finally possible to get a handle on the supporting cast, to the extent of even remembering their names after the show has finished.

Visually, the OVAs retain the clean, bright but somewhat generic looking designs that characterised the TV series. Background music and the OP are also carried over- after all, it wouldn’t be Stratos 4 without Melocure singing ‘First Priority’ at the beginning.

Naturally, no review of anything Stratos 4 related would be complete without mention of chubby feline the Admiral and her continuing efforts to get taken into space. Veterans of the TV series will recall that the Admiral gained a kitten protégé named Shogun/General way back in episode six, and now a somewhat chubbier Shogun accompanies the Admiral on all her exploits. Of course, the fat cat content is not quite as high as it could be, but it is of course better than nothing.

Final Thoughts
Although it is hardly going to be remembered as anything particularly special, the Stratos 4 OVAs are at least an improvement on the original TV series, and as such just about fall into the category of light entertainment. Despite the disquieting feeling that there are going to have to be more episodes to continue the story, the OVAs do at least offer a low impact way of occupying some spare hours.

Mikaze Hanjyou is a trainee pilot for the Meteor Sweepers- part of the ground-based defence line for inbound comets set to impact with the surface of the Earth. At first, it isn’t a job that she particularly cares for, but a high altitude mission gives her a taste for the dizzying heights of space, she finally gains some enthusiasm for her work. Now determined to become one of the prestigious space-based Comet Blasters, Mikaze attacks her duties with a renewed commitment, but will that be enough to ensure she fulfils her ambition?

When I first heard about Stratos 4, my plan was to give it a miss; I hadn’t heard anything particularly in favour of the series, and it hardly seemed worth the effort. Everything changed, however, when I learned that Stratos 4 did indeed have one thing to its credit- a fat cat entitled The Admiral. Although the cat was not destined to save the day as I had initially hoped, her bulk was not to be overlooked, and so it was that I embarked on a journey to see more of her.

Unfortunately, aside from its immensely huggable flabby feline, Stratos 4 does not have much to recommend it. The paper thin plot seems to meander from one place to another, starting off as ‘Mikaze’s coming of age’ before travelling through a pointless midsection to a ridiculous final arc that takes a clichéd story and somehow makes it even worse. The characters are little better; not only are there far too many for a thirteen episode series, but hardly any of them receive anything in the way of development- in fact, even now I’m hard pressed to remember more than a couple of their names.

The sad result of all this is that Stratos 4 is an entirely average effort; a series so mediocre that it cannot even be said to offer some light fun. Unsurprisingly, the best moments of the show are indeed those which feature The Admiral, with the series’ best episode being one that tracks her adventures when she ends up on the base. Amusingly as this episode is, it is perhaps a little worrying that a side story about the adventures of a cat is vastly more appealing than the main storyline.

Visually, Stratos 4’s animation is always clean and bright, but is otherwise unremarkable; most character designs are as generic and simplistic as the personalities they correspond to. Background music is generally unremarkable, although one track seems to be a poorly disguised remix of Top Gun’s ‘Take My Breath Away’; this was presumably intentional given the series’ focus on aerial exploits.

Final Thoughts
Firsthand experience with Stratos 4 could only confirm what I already knew- aside from the cat, there was precious little else to make it noteworthy. Nonetheless, as generally drab as it turned out, I must move into the OVAs if I wish to see more of its starring attraction.

Given the short runtime of each episode, it’s no surprise that Nekojiru doesn’t deign to concern itself with trivialities like plot and character development. Instead, we are treated to a series of one-off stories, each one violent, puerile or distasteful in some other way. Blood, intestines, vomit and faeces all make their appearances here, with pigs getting an especially raw deal; not only are they frequently abused, slaughtered and eaten, but even the police react with “it’s only a pig” and walk on by. Presumably, such antics are meant to be amusing, but unless you have an exceptionally strong stomach and an undying love of low brow humour, there are only one or two mild chuckles to be found in the entire series.

Visually, Nekojiru doesn’t have much to boast of in the way of quality; the whole series could well have been drawn in thick felt tip pens by enthusiastic primary school children. For a series as rough as this one, however, it would probably be unrealistic to expect high art.

Final Thoughts
An unholy fusion of South Park and Hello Kitty, Nekojiru is an intense but thankfully brief bout of puerility that will offend the sensibilities of anyone who watches it. If there are any foolish souls out there who are still determined to watch it, all I can say is this: you have been warned.

A 32 minute OVA, Cat Soup seems to fall into the category of what is usually described as experimental anime, in an “the production staff must have been experimenting with certain illegal substances when they made this” sense. The OVA loosely follows the adventures of a pair of feline siblings, where by ‘adventures’ I mean ‘a series of unconnected and bizarre events whose meaning escapes me’. The younger cat seems the more energetic of the pair, ruthlessly poking and prodding into everything he sees, whilst his older sister appears entirely spaced out and only barely aware of her surroundings. Together they journey through various worlds and scenes; at one point, they are at a circus where a mysterious old man breathes out a putty-like substance and turns it into forms suggested by the audience; later on, they wander the desert together with an elephant made entirely out of water, to name but a couple.

The OVA is made even more impenetrable by the fact there is no dialogue to speak of- there are a few speech bubbles here and there, but aside from a few meows, no one actually speaks. Instead, all focus is on the visuals, which fortunately, are well up to the task of portraying this bizarre world. The animation is fluid, smooth and effective drawing the viewer into the action even when it is impossible to understand what is going on.

It should also be noted that Cat Soup contains a fair amount of violence, most of it casually perpetrated by the feline leads. At the circus, they watch impassively as the blood of a performer spatters over them; on a fishing boat, they cut meat out of a pig, cook it, and feed it back to him; in the desert, they ride inside the removed part of the pig whilst beating him over the head to produce lumps- all in all, this is definitely not an anime for those of a delicate disposition.

Final Thoughts
Cat Soup is quite possibly one of the most bizarre selections that anime has to offer- completely incomprehensible, yet at the same time, oddly compelling. Those who shun gratuitous violence or a demand a structured storyline would do best to avoid it, but if you are in the least intrigued about this anime acid trip, then it is worth watching for its sheer “wtf!?” nature alone.