Rita’s name has been cleared and her country saved, but she isn’t quite ready to settle down just yet. Instead, the intrepid princess decides to accompany her friends on a quest to track down the man who killed Tina’s parents- but along the way they will run into conspiracies, a love triangle and any number of trials that will test their friendship to the limit.

With the first season of Sisters of Wellber proving to be entirely average, I was expecting the second to offer more of the same bland inoffensiveness. Unfortunately, what I hadn’t counted on was that the series was now so practised at being dull that the second batch of thirteen episodes would be even more underwhelming than the first.

Whilst it was never anything to write home about, I at least felt able to pay attention to the plot of the first season, but this time around it seemed more lacklustre than ever. The bulk of the season meandered around with a pointless revenge story, but since that obviously wasn’t considered mind-numbing enough on its own, we were treated to yet more ‘fascinating’ plot elements. After inserting a painfully irritating love triangle involving Galahad, Rita and Tina (come on, we all know Rita and Tina are meant to be together!), the series tried to enliven itself with the kind of twist that you wish would end with the main characters shouting at each other on the Jeremy Kyle show. Unfortunately, the series opts for a more conventional finale, leaving you to wonder why you even bothered in the first place.

As before, the characters prove to be little to write home about; the main characters are just as uninteresting as they were before, whilst the antagonists (in particular the ‘final boss’) are little more than laughable. The most interesting bit of character development in the whole series is an episode detailing the origins of talking tank Cyrano de Bergerac, and even this is hardly worth taking the time to watch.

Visually, the animation quality is much the same as last season- decent enough, but nothing special. Background music is as forgettable as ever.

Final Thoughts

Average as it was, the original Sisters of Wellber was still just about watchable, which is more than can be said for this utterly bland second season. Even at the best times it struggled to keep my attention- even if you made it all the way through the first season, there is no reason to subject yourself to this.

Tier: Wood

Reviewed this week: Antique Bakery 8, Detroit Metal City 2-3, Gunslinger Girl- Il Teatrino 8, Hidamari Sketch x365 8, Itazura na Kiss 21, Koihime Musou 8-9, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 18, Love GetChu! 11, Nabari no Ou 20, Natsume Yuujinchou 9-10, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu 9, Ryoko’s Case File 9, Sisters of Wellber Zwei 5, World Destruction 9-10, Xam’D 8

…and in manga: Doubt 14, Elfen Lied 105, Emma Bangaihen 11-12, Minami-ke 37-9, Sketchbook 19-22, Slayers Revolution 4, xxxHOLiC 164

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Chi’s Sweet Home (1)- cuteness overload
2. Hidamari Sketch x365 (2) – 365 times the fun
3. Soul Eater (3) – Krona
4. Xam’d- Lost Memories (5) – Humanform
5. Natsume Yuujinchou (4) – can a fat cat get too fat?
6. Detroit Metal City (6) – I’m gonna f***ing raep you!
7. Wagaya no Oinari-sama (7) – pure white oni
8. Nabari no Ou (8) – tranquil aid to meditation
9. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (9) – cliché
10. Slayers Revolution (10) – Dragon Slave
11. Koihime Musou (11) – Sun Shang Xiang
12. Antique Bakery (12) – father
13. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (13) – Fantastic Voyage
14. Someday’s Dreamers ~Summer Skies~ (14) – magic can’t do everything
15. Ryoko’s Case File (17) – attack of the killer mangrove
16. Itazura na Kiss (18) – dislikeable cast
17. World Destruction (19) – some stuff happened
18. Chocolate Underground (21) – chocolate is forbidden

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (1)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Love GetChu! (2)- voice acting isn’t easy
3. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (4)- Claes
4. Sisters of Wellber Zwei (3) – love triangle
5. Himawari!! (5) – needs less plot
6. Real Drive (15) – demoted to slow
7. Himitsu (6) – demoted to slow
8. Allison and Lillia (-) – demoted to slow

Antique Bakery 8: It’s time for an unexpected revelation and evidence of STRAIGHT as a young girl gets fed up with her mother and asks to stay with her father for the night- that father being Chikage. As it turns out, Chikage fathered a child because one of Tachibana’s friends wanted to beat the biological clock, creating a soap opera style situation that is only exacerbated by the fact that the daughter in question is a 10 year old with the body of a high school student. It almost makes you long for the days when the series was plain, simple HARD GAY.

Detroit Metal City 2-3: After covering the rest of the material from the special, DMC is finally ready to forge ahead, as Negishi tries to keep Krauser in control whilst his agent decides to visit his home and help him lead the bona fide death metal lifestyle. By all rights, this series should be puerile and offensive, but I have to admit I find the mismatch between Negishi and Krauser to be rather entertaining- I just have to make sure I watch this when no one else is around.

Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino 8: They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and it even applies to anime, making one actually look forward to a rare episode of a mediocre series. This episode is basically an expanded version of a manga chapter about a day in the life of Claes, roping in minor cyborg Beatrice (who appeared very briefly in manga volume four) as she undergoes tests, plants her garden, reads her book and has her erased memories stirred by a visit to the firing range. Unfortunately, this season is never going to be able to live up to the manga, so it’s a bit of a waste of time for anyone who’s already read it.

Hidamari Sketch x365 8: In the long overdue next instalment of Hidamari Sketch, it’s time for Sports Day, which for some reason in Japan always involves throwing balls into baskets, cavalry battles and so forth. Of course, we’ve all seen more than our fair share of anime sports festivals, but when it’s Hidamari Sketch, you can’t complain because it’s just as much fun as ever.

Itazura na Kiss 21: It’s taken 21 episodes, but Naoki’s stopped acting like a complete and utter jerk- so that someone else can take his place. As I predicted, ill pop star Nobuhiro is indeed the same Non-chan who Kotoko and the Iries once befriended in hospital, but the years have transformed him into the kind of selfish and spiteful bastard this series seems to specialise in. It’s a shame that no story arc in this series can be constructed without this kind of hateful character, but at least we’re near the end- just stop Hanners if he tries to test his theories of what would happen to someone who watched the whole series in one go.

Koihime Musou 8-9: Episode eight introduces another new party member in the form of Sun Shang Xiang (aka Sun Ren), the latest in a long line of lolis that tag along with Aisha/Guan Yu. No sooner has she joined, however, than the group become embroiled in an assassination plot and have to save archer Huang Zhong from murdering the feudal lord’s new husband by rescuing her daughter from some generic archers. After this is resolved, it’s time for the obligatory hot springs episode- except that the hot springs have dried up, forcing Aisha, Cao Cao to compete against each other to find a new spring whilst Yuan Shao bumbles about looking for treasure. I am slightly confused, however- does Liu Bei play any part whatsoever in this series?

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 18: Given the kind of poor fare this series serves up, this episode didn’t actually seem too bad in comparison- at least at first. Ouka has fallen ill with a cold, and so Kyouka takes it upon herself to organise the household to compensate for his absence, only to get bored and go on an Indiana Jones style adventure to rescue an artefact that could cure him. Naturally, this only makes the situation worse, ultimately seeing the family make a Fantastic Voyage into Ouka’s brain in order to destroy an invading nanomachine. I can’t deny there were some amusing moments earlier on such as Kyouka squeezing lemons and Hyouka breaking the bath taps, but the episode packed in so many changes of direction that by around the 15 minute mark I just wanted it all to be over.

Love Getchu! 11: Now that our leads have skipped ahead of basic training, the time has come to apply for a proper voice acting role- but can Momoko and the others make an impression with just the line “I’m sorry- goodbye”? Naturally, Momoko has to go through the usual angst and finding her own path route that most main characters undertake, but loses out in the end anyway because the anime’s original creator wants a different actress (if that was the case, why didn’t he say so before they held auditions?).

Nabari no Ou 20: It’s been a while, but now more Nabari has come our way, as Miharu and Yoite decide to find Oda (yes, I thought she was out of the series, but it seems the plot needed her once more) so that they can communicate with the Shinrabanshou and find out how to use it. Unfortunately, not only does the Shinrabanshou have a personality and agenda of its own, but Kairoshuu have sent the Tategamis out to eliminate Yoite. Yes, things are actually happening now, but it’s still hard to see how the series can fill up six more episodes with content.

Natsume Yuujinchou 9-10: Natsume has been pretty much alone in his ability to see spirits, and even when he meets someone else who can just about see them, he doesn’t like to admit the truth. This time around, however, Natsume finally meets someone who not only realises his secret, but who wants assistance on a particular case. This change in pace injects some variety into the series, but the ending is nonetheless fairly predictable, whilst the high point is discovering that Nyanko-sensei has become so fat that he has to go out on walks, lest his moving around at home gets mistaken for an earthquake!

Unfortunately, episode 10 has much less Nyanko-sensei, but it does provide another interesting variation as Natsume gets possessed- by the spirit of a woman! Asagi wants just one more chance to play her koto, but can Natsume help her fulfil her dream even as his friends wonder why he seems a little more girlish than before? This series could easily go to 26 episodes, so why is it ending soon?

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu 9: Now that Yuuto is working with Shiina to help out with the school festival, he has less time for Haruka- so naturally, she jumps at the chance to help him pick out reference material for the cosplay café their class will be putting on- even if it means breaking a promise to her father. Aside from the threat of further craziness from the father and a cliff-hanger ending that will almost certainly turn out to be a misunderstanding, this was actually a rather pleasant episode, plus I’m now in a position to appreciate the Onegai Teacher reference in the preview.

Ryoko’s Case File 9: When Ryoko disappears, poor Jun’ichiro is like a dog without a master, even going so far as to wait on Ryoko’s rival. Worse yet, the press has begun attacking Ryoko for her practice of poaching ex-police officers for the family company just when she isn’t around to defend herself. As it turns out, however, this episode is just a rather dull prelude to a longer arc that may actually prove to be more worthwhile than anything involving enlarged lizards, sentient plants and suicide-inducing bugs- although I probably shouldn’t get my hopes up.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ Zwei 5: Despite his general lack of personality, Galahad has managed to end up at the centre of a love triangle as both Rita and Tina develop feelings for him (you fools, you’re meant to be HARD YURI for each other!), but since he can only reciprocate the feelings of one girl, how will it all end up? Meanwhile, Greedom and Wellber’s kings have a laugh together and Sherri falls ill, necessitating an RPG style trip to find a cure.

Love triangle summarised

Tina: Broke up with Jin because she loves Galahad, tries to confess but quickly changes what she said after blurting it out so he doesn’t realise. Later tells Rita her feelings for Galahad.

Rita: Loves Galahad, but becomes unable to admit it after Tina admits her feelings. Rejects him for Tina’s sake.

Galahad: Loves Rita and ultimately confesses to her after angsting about how Jamil was his one true love last season, only to be rejected. Has no idea about Tina’s feelings for him.

World Destruction 9-10: There are two kinds of World Destruction episode- the mediocre and the forgettable. Episode nine is definitely the latter, featuring a stop at a town where humans and beastmen live in harmony, Morte angsting over past and present, and very little else (or, if there was anything else, I can no longer recall it). Episode ten is slightly more memorable, featuring a town of robots that was clearly inspired by Wall-E, but ultimately it dragged on for so long that I had to split my viewing into two halves, separated by many hours.

Xam’D- Lost Memories 8: With the help of his newfound allies, Akiyuki manages to make it to his meeting with Haru, but whilst she still believes him, Furuichi feels otherwise. Having been cast as the anti-hero, Furuichi has no qualms about turning against the friend who believes betrayed and abandoned them, but even he is just another cog in the machinations of the authorities, who are currently interested in a giant green soulstone.

Really?

MANGA

Doubt 14: After dragging it out for as long as possible, the wolf is finally revealed, but just why did they kill everyone anyway? With his life literally hanging by a thread after he gets tied to the top of the staircase, Yuu’s only chance of survival may be to understand the motives that drive the murderer, but can anyone think straight under these circumstances? Now we’ll have to wait again to see what happens next.

Elfen Lied 105: With the realisation that she is dying, the remains of Lucy/Nyu begin lashing out at everyone around, with only a small portion of her consciousness left to protect Kohta. Can Kohta fulfil his promise to kill Lucy now that she has lost control? If so, he’d better hurry up, as the series is rapidly drawing to a close.

Emma Bangaihen 11-12: In this two-part story, we take to the theatre to follow the careers of three young singers- George, Allen and Louise. I can’t recall how or even if this relates to the original Emma characters beyond them going to the theatre at one point, but as always it’s so worthy that I wish these characters had their own series.

Minami-ke 37-9: Volume two draws to a close with these chapters, which fit in a bit of the ‘Banchou’ storyline before sending the Minami sisters off to beach with Takeru and some friends. The most amusing segment, however, is an omake chapter set in Chiaki’s school in which crossed wires lead to one boy in class getting the wrong idea about how far his female classmates have gone. An old joke, perhaps, but still amusing in the right places.

Sketchbook 19-22: It’s time for more random fun with Sketchbook, complete with the introduction of a character everyone should remember from the anime- English girl Kate. It’s not all (or even mostly) about her, though- there’s still time for oddities such as a plush screwdriver, a calendar that starts on Wednesdays and other quirks that will bring a smile to your face.

Slayers Revolution 4: The manga is quick to catch up with the anime once again as it strips away the fluff and skips straight to Lina and co having been captured by Xellos and sent to Gioconda’s castle. What follows is basically the same as episode nine, although I must say it’s easier to digest in 30 page rather than 25 minute chunks.

xxxHOLiC 164: I felt as if I was reading a cookery book in this chapter as Watanuki explained how he taught his new client how to cook potatoes (wait a minute, even I can cook potatoes), but when Doumeki gives the food the all-important taste test, something seems amiss. Am I really supposed to take Doumeki’s food criticism seriously in connection with spiritual and supernatural issues? Then again, in Ryoko’s Case File, bad cooking caused explosions, so who’s to say what imperfectly prepared food can do?

Reviewed this week: Antique Bakery 7, Chi’s Sweet Home 77-83, Chocolate Underground 7, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 16-17, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu 8, Ryoko’s Case File 8, Slayers Revolution 8-9, Soul Eater 21-2, Telepathy Shoujo Ran 10, Sisters of Wellber Zwei 1-4, World Destruction 8

…and in manga: backlog continues to pile up

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Chi’s Sweet Home (1)- cuteness overload
2. Hidamari Sketch x365 (2) – 365 times the fun
3. Soul Eater (3) – Krona
4. Natsume Yuujinchou (4) – Nyanko-sensei forever!
5. Xam’d- Lost Memories (5) – Humanform
6. Detroit Metal City (6) – I’m gonna f***ing raep you!
7. Wagaya no Oinari-sama (7) – pure white oni
8. Nabari no Ou (8) – tranquil aid to meditation
9. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu (10) – ridiculous
10. Slayers Revolution (9) – Dragon Slave
11. Koihime Musou (11) – Xu Chu
12. Antique Bakery (12) – domestic violence
13. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (13) – everything at or below this line is wasting my precious life!
14. Someday’s Dreamers ~Summer Skies~ (14) – magic can’t do everything
15. Real Drive (15) – flashback
16. Allison and Lillia (17) – plane crash is the new train wreck
17. Ryoko’s Case File (18) – attack of the killer mangrove
18. Itazura na Kiss (19) – dislikeable cast
19. World Destruction (20) – some stuff happened
20. Telepathy Shoujo Ran (21) – meaningless <- dropped!
21. Chocolate Underground (22) – chocolate is forbidden

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (1)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Love GetChu! (2)- light entertainment
3. Sisters of Wellber Zwei (-) – it’s back!
4. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (3)- licensed
5. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot
6. Himitsu (-) – demoted to slow

Antique Bakery 7: Despite being particularly unseasonal, Antique Bakery decides to throw in a Christmas episode in which Tachibana decides he must dress as Santa and personally deliver everyone’s cakes. Before that, however, everyone must go intense training in everything from caramel decoration to waiting tables. To be honest, this is the least interesting episode of the series so far, although the main cake of the episode did look a lot like one due to appear in next week’s episode of The Hairy Bakers.

Chi’s Sweet Home 77-83: Batches of Chi’s Sweet Home will never be unwelcome, and this one is as packed with cuteness as ever as Chi gets trapped in a drawer, meets up with the black cat once again and generally charms everyone with her antics. The tagline for this series should be ‘cats have never been this cute’.

Chocolate Underground 7: Smudger, Huntly and Louise need to learn how to make chocolate out of the raw ingredients they have found, but obviously such recipes aren’t just lying around- they’ll need a reliable contact. Fortunately, given their tendency to discuss their top secret plans openly, the local bookstore owner proves to be most helpful in their search for chocolate recipes and a chocolate radar proof place in which to prepare and sell it, allowing the series to magically jump ahead to a time when our heroes own Chocolate Underground is going strong. Wow, that was fast- especially when compared to the non-development that has characterised much of the series so far.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 16-17: Just when you thought that the humans turning into animals plot was over, it turned out that the last couple of episodes was just a warm-up for the same thing happening all over again- and sadly, this tiresome development detracts from what could have been an interesting look at Teika’s past. Whilst Teika and old friend Madara re-enact The Lion King, however, Kyouka manages to mess it all up with her over-energetic insanity- I really want to like her, but she makes it very hard.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu 8: After the disappointment of last episode, this instalment seems almost tranquil in its safe, unremarkable nature. Having realised that she’s never been on a date, Mika decides to take Yuuto out so she can teach him how to make a move on Haruka, but of course in the process she realises she’s rather enjoying her time with ‘onii-san’. This episode adds absolutely nothing to my experience of anime thus far, but by the same token it is at least inoffensive.

Ryoko’s Case File 8: We’ve had giant reptiles and killer plants, so of course the next logical step is a deadly insect- the Ultrasonic Bug. Said bug has the ability to emit inaudible frequencies which cause people to feel depressed and suicidal, but could its release be the work of an obviously suspicious mad scientist? Well, that question answers itself, but I have to admit that this episode had some decent background music and an unintentionally amusing quality to it- I almost look forward to seeing what ridiculousness the writers can come up with next.

They’re going to kill us all!

Slayers Revolution 8-9: When their way is blocked by a giant fortress created by Wiser, our heroes give the inspector the runaround- which suits Xellos just fine. Ultimately, however, it’s time for everyone’s favourite ‘priest’ to step in, forcing Lina to surrender- which will at least get her straight to Gioconda’s boss castle. What follows includes skirmishes with underlings (including an assassin and an android) plus a Flashback Mode for Pokota as he relives the days when he wasn’t a stuffed toy. Even so, the series still isn’t grabbing me in the way its predecessors did.

Soul Eater 21-2: Maka has descended into madness in order to combat Krona, but never fear, my friends, because not only is there very little actual fighting, but everyone comes out of it as good friends in preparation for the next arc. Before that, however, this arc must be completed, and with all the distractions, our heroes seem unlikely to make it in time as Medusa’s underlings prepare to free the Demon God from imprisonment in a bag made of his own skin (no, really). It could do with a bit more action, but overall this remains the cool and enjoyable show it always has been.

*DROPPED* Telepathy Shoujo Ran 10: Where Ryoko’s Case File and World Destruction are at least merciful in their relatively brief length, the thought of watching another 16 episodes of this tripe finally caused me to snap- especially with this one giving me a headache. In this utterly pointless instalment, Midori wanders around town by herself because she’s too proud to admit she’d rather spend the time shopping with Ran and Rui, before finally meeting up during the evening’s fireworks festival. I suppose they weren’t unnecessarily meddling in other people’s lives this episode, but that’s small consolation for a series so dull I fear my IQ has suffered from watching it. Lol I like animes yeh.

*NEW* Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ Zwei 1-4: Going back to Sisters of Wellber is like booting up an old school RPG and listening to the tinny music as you play through the standard plot devices- which is to say it’s watchable, but as mediocre as ever. This season, the focus is on Tina as she aims to get revenge for her parents’ murder, complete with stops by NPC homes and the abrupt realisation that she loves Galahad, causing her to break up with Jin (what about the status quo!?). It’s hardly remarkable, but at least it passes the time- not that I need any help with that right now.

World Destruction 8: On the way to the imaginatively named Autumnland, our heroes collapse in the desert and end up getting rescued by some sort of sandship- which promptly has an accident and ends up trapped under the surface. Naturally, I was hoping that the entire main cast would get crushed by the sand so that the series could end early and put us out of our misery, but it was not to be, and thus there are five more episodes to go.

When Princess Rita of Wellber stabs her fiancé, there is no time to hang around and explain why she was forced to take action- instead, her only hope of survival is to flee in the company of female thief Tina. Now, Rita and Tina have only a matter of days to elude their would-be captors and reach the country of Greedom- because if they fail, Rita’s life and the peace of an entire nation will be at stake.

In the great realm of anime, there’s a series for every extreme; from the heady heights of Dennou Coil to the murky depths of Shining Tears X Wind, every possibility is covered. And whilst it is easy to rave and fangirl or rant and tear apart, one thing is much harder- stringing together a few sentences about a series as completely and utterly average as Sisters of Wellber.

Some series from the lower tiers get recommended here at Azure Flame because they actually have some merit as light entertainment- shallow and guilty pleasures though they may be, they at least have some merit as the kind of diversions that help you relax and unwind after a long day. Unfortunately, Sisters of Wellber is so rooted in mediocrity that it cannot even provide that function; every single episode covers some mundane and generic aspect of Rita and Tina’s journey from Wellber to Greedom, complete with villages of the week, villains who must inevitably be thwarted no matter what they try, and all sorts of clichéd storylines from “our two heroines fall out over a lack of trust but make up again” to “an evil mayor oppresses a village for no real reason”. It’s the kind of thing that people tell you will improve later on, but the sad fact is that each episode is as dull, forgettable and throwaway as the last.

Unsurprisingly, the characters are just as uninspiring- leads Rita and Tina aretoo bland and generic to care about, whilst their companions Sherry the green fairy and Cyrano the talking tank are simply irritants to be brushed aside. On the side of the villains, we have the laughably unbalanced Prince Gernia (a man who slaughters blue-eyed women because they remind him of his adulterous mother) and his two deputies Galahad and Jamille, each of whom spend every week failing to do much to stop our heroines. Each character seems like little more than a reject from other, better series- they go through the motions and act out the story given to them, but there is no reason to empathise with them or care about their situation.

In keeping with its content, visually, Sisters of Wellber is solid but not outstanding- character designs are reasonably attractive but nothing special, whilst simplistic CG effects abound. Background music is likewise fitting for the series without being particularly inspiring- only the faster paced parts of the ED theme are even vaguely memorable.

Final Thoughts
Unlike lesser series which can at least be watched for light entertainment, there is no real reason to devote time to Sisters of Wellber- it is just too generic and mediocre to justify spending 325 minutes of your life on it. No, it isn’t among the worst that anime has to offer, but that doesn’t mean there’s any particular merit in watching it.
Tier: White-

• Fat cats: really, what better reason could there be to watch a series than because it has overweight felines in it? It was this that brought me to Stratos 4, and kept me going with Mai-Otome.
• Title: if the mere title of a series sounds interesting, or simply vaguely like something that I already like, I feel oddly drawn to it.
• Music: a good OP sequence or soundtrack is a sure-fire way to draw one into watching a particular series.
• Promotional artwork: likewise, I’m a sucker for a nice character design, although after various eroge adaptations I’ve learned to be more wary.

So, does anyone else experience this, or am I alone in my strange need to pick series based on such flimsy reasoning?

Sisters of Wellber 13

Gernia offers a perfectly logical reason for murdering women with blue eyes.

“What else could I do except re-enact the ending of School Days?”

Erm, I hate to say this- but you’re talking to a doll.

“I shall not permit any man with a Zhuger Liang than mine to live!”

“Won’t you stay for a cup of tea?”

“Sorry, Gernia, but it’s HARD GAY time!”

Here we see the characters escaping from the burning castle by having their tower shot down- don’t try this at home.

Dragons’ Den
Welcome to our regular feature based on the TV program of the same name, in which anime characters try to market their great idea to five fat cats of anime! President Aria made his fortune in the gondola industry of Neo Venezia, and is now CEO of a well-known company. Mikoto started her business in the capital of Wind Bloom, and is now a trusted advisor to the queen, with business partners scattered across the world. The Admiral’s first business venture was to invest in a Chinese restaurant, but a meteor threat to Earth saw her buy shares in ground and space based defence technology, which she currently administers with her protégé “The General” (aka Shogun). Mr Tibbs started his career as a tea cat for the bank, but his sound grasp of finance saw him rise up the ranks until he became one of their most prominent managers. Finally, The Cardinal is the world’s most powerful fat cat, with a wide range of business interests that ensure that he has a paw in every pie (often literally, depending on his appetite). These five cats represent some heavyweight investment clout in every sense of the word, but is any deal attractive enough to get them to roll off their backsides and shake paws with a budding entrepreneur?

Next into the Den is Roger Smith from Big O, who is here to sell his unique selection of gadgets. The Dragons are known for liking technology which makes life easier for them, but will Roger’s selection of goodies tickle their fancy?

Roger: Hello Dragons, I’m Roger Smith and I’m here to ask for investment in my unique selection of gadgets, including the colour-change armoured car, the jet propelled suitcase, the wristwatch communicator and our main product, the Big O.

Cardinal: Hmm, I’m very interested in the armoured car, but how does the deal work? Do we get a share in all these products, as well as any future ones developed by your company?

Roger: Right now, I’m pitching for the products you see in front of you- we’d have to negotiate anything else on a case-by-case basis.

Aria: Punyu? [How much time do you intend to spend on developing new products and marketing the existing ones?]

Roger: Well, marketing is basically handled by going out in Big O and fighting giant monsters- it’s hard work, but pretty high profile.

Mikoto: Hmm, I’d like to hire you to fight the giant monsters that keep showing up in and around Wind Bloom.

Roger has an offer already, but will any of the other Dragons offer a more tempting deal?

Admiral: Actually, I’d like to use the Big O to defend the Earth against meteors.

Mr Tibbs: I hear that he once defended a bank against having its printing plates stolen, so I’m interested too.

The Cardinal: I would also like to express my interest.

Aria: Punyu. [I’ll make this easy for you- this isn’t something I can sell in Neo Venezia, so I’m out.]

Four Dragons have now made offers, but which will Roger choose?

Roger: I’d like to thank you all for your offers, and I’m sure we can work out something where we all benefit.

With his negotiation skills standing him in good stead, Roger is on the verge of making a record-breaking deal in the Den! Will the next entrepreneur fare as well?

This Week in Anime

Ever since they took centre stage in Romeo X Juliet, anime characters have been keeping a close watch on grape affairs.

New mecha design comes with inbuilt ‘melons’

Lemon trio enjoys a romantic lunch.

An apple reconnaissance squad is caught and confined to a basket after a failed mission.

How many times do I have to remind you not to get gremlins wet?

Fruit basket spotted hiding amongst the flowers.

“I have to admit I’m getting sick and tired of the apple diet.”

“Must…finish…shogi…game…before…I…die…”

Ogiue tries some Disgaea cosplay.

Another orange returns from the Antarctic mission.

Who needs an Apple when you can have a Cherry?

“Noooo- why did you eat so much cherry pie?”

“Yeah, he’s a novice at HARD GAY.”

Another victim of cherry pie addiction is discovered.

“…we won’t improve our waltz if we don’t practice every day.”

Kaiji auditions for a role in the new Alien movie.

“Coming soon to cable and satellite- When Big Butts Go Wrong.”

Flash Game Review: Chocolatier
If you love chocolate, what could be more fun than trying to revive a world renowned chocolate company? Well, lots of things, actually, but Chocolatier (deluxe trial – crippled free version) is an interesting diversion. The idea of the game is to restore the former greatness of a chocolate company by travelling the world, collecting ingredients and recipes, and then going back to your factory to create delicious products for sale. This story mode makes up half the game play, but the full version also allows you to go into the factory and set the rate of chocolate production by firing ingredients into the machine in the right proportion- the more complete sets you make, the faster the automatic production rate will be. It is this combination of action/puzzle and story mode elements that makes the game so fun, although it can sometimes be irritating when you don’t know where to go to advance the story, or you can’t remember which city to visit to pick up the cacao beans you need (especially as specialty ingredients deteriorate over time, and each ship journey to a new port costs precious cash). Nonetheless, despite these slight annoyances, the ability to play a game about delicious chocolate is well worth indulging in.

Mini-rant: Why I hate the castle levels on Samurai Warriors
Forget pseudo-intellectual arguments; this week I need to have a good old rant, unsurprisingly about the titular castle levels in Samurai Warriors. Now in fact, I haven’t played Samurai Warriors in a while, but my hatred of the castle levels remains strong, and for that reason, I shall not shy away from complaining about them.

As most will already know, the –Warriors (aka –Musou) series of games are all based on one simple gameplay idea- taking a named character and carving up hordes of enemy troops on level upon level. So far, so good- it may be repetitive, but it also happens to be highly addictive, so much so that dedicated fans will buy add-ons and minor upgrades of what is effectively the same game time after time. Unfortunately, when it came to the Samurai Warriors series, the developers decided to add a little variety- in the form of indoor ‘castle levels’.

Castle levels bring a whole new brand of evil to the game, for not only are they more strictly timed than outdoor levels (and completely lacking in the option to save in-level), but they also seem to have been designed by a uniquely cruel bunch of sadists. Whilst the time ominously ticks down in the upper right hand corner, you find yourself trapped in a maze-like construction of identical rooms, all filled with enemies and generals. You must hack and slash your way through multiple floors of the castle- all the while trying to avoid such innovations as spiked floors and various other traps- in a desperate attempt to complete the level before either your time runs out, or your precious health bar depletes to zero. You can’t even enjoy the wholesale slaughter of generics, because the stress of the time bar forces you to devote your energies to running away so that you can get through the level as quickly as possible- although of course if you then fail to kill a particular general, you’ll probably have to go back and find him to open up the passageway onwards.

Much as they were meant to be a refreshing new angle on gameplay, then, the verdict on castle levels can only be a harsh one- the are neither fun nor enjoyable, merely an evil that must be cleared as quickly as possible, and then left well alone.

Reverse Harem of the week: Kou Shuurei (Saiukoku Monogatari)
In the Land of Many Coloured Bishies, the brave and idealistic Kou Shuurei was able to amass quite a harem, whilst still leaving men over for the other female characters to choose from.

Harem
Ryuuki: Emperor of Saiunkoku, Ryuuki falls in love with Shuurei when she first comes to the palace, and pursues her from then on.
Seiran: Childhood friend and protector.
Ensei: The rough around the edges older man who is solid, dependable and supportive.
Kouyuu: Claims to hate women, but is a candidate for an arranged marriage with Shuurei.
Reishin: Shuurei’s uncle, he has an overprotectiveness towards his niece that includes vowing to marry her to keep her safe from other men.
Ryuuren: An eccentric genius who considers Shuurei one of his soul friends.
Sakujun: A creepy bishounen who falls for Shuurei’s innocent charms.
Santa: A minor character and possible arranged marriage candidate.
Tan-tan: Accompanies Shuurei in the latest arcs, his job is to counter her naïveté by showing her how the world really works.

Rivals
Jyuusan-hime: The ‘thirteenth princess’ of the Ran clan, a proposed bride for Ryuuki.

For some reason, over the past week or so I have developed a renewed interest in Facebook, and so I must invite you all to come and social network with me, should you so desire. In the meantime, let’s get back to the important business of discussing anime.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 10, SaiMono II 38-9, Shigofumi 10, Shion no Ou 18, Shounen Onmyouji 24, Spice and Wolf 10, Sisters of Wellber 13

..and in manga: Busou Renkin 38, HxH 272

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – Al and Aika, sitting in a well…
2. Spice and Wolf (2) – debt
3. Kaiji (3) – ざわ, ざわ…
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ryuuki <-complete!
5. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (5) – mind-altering drug
6. Shigofumi (6) – Fumi+Mika=Fumika
7. Persona Trinity Soul (7)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (8) – Hani Meijin’s secret videos
9. Minami-ke Okawari (9)- not quite the same
10. Clannad (10) – drop kick
11. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (11)- Marco
12. Mokke (12)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (1)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Himawari!! (2) – needs less plot
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – drinking tea can be dangerous <- complete!
4. Love GetChu! (4)- light entertainment
5. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- end in sight?

Aria the Origination 10: With Alice having become a prima, her workload dramatically increases- and whilst there is no doubt that she is good at what she does, sometimes her nerves do get the better of her. What better way to relax, then, than an evening watching the stars with Aika and Akari- at least until Aika heads out to pick up Al and ends up falling down a well with him. Having heard about this manga chapter, I was wondering when it would appear in the anime, but even though it is another solid instalment in a highly worthy series, I still can’t adjust to the idea of Aika X Al- no matter what his real age is, he still looks and talks like a shota. Still, it was a bold and unexpected move to see him grasp Aika’s hand at the end, and President Maa’s antics were highly amusing.

*COMPLETE* Saiunkoku Monogatari II 38-9: Alas, SaiMono II has finished, and what a packed season it has been- often too packed for my meagre raw viewing skills (thanks again, Impz, your summaries have been invaluable). Anyway, as the series draws to a close, Ryuuki takes the first steps towards becoming the true emperor, realising he has to rule for the people, not just Shuurei- and even taking Jyuusan-hime as a wife. It’s been a period of growth for everyone, and despite the immense volume of new characters and the sheer mind-hurting web of events the series tries to present, I’ve enjoyed myself overall.

Shigofumi 10: Fumika takes a backseat in this episode, which instead focuses on thirty-two year old cancer sufferer Takehiko, a man who has quit his job and alienated his friends and family to the point where all he has left to do is look after a neighbour’s child (also named Fumika). Although it was somewhat bizarre how Takehiko randomly ended up looking after Fumika II all the time, the largely formulaic episode saved itself with a poignant and sad ending. Still, I’m not sure what to make of the series as a whole; it’s really been all over the place in terms of atmosphere and presentation.

Shion no Ou 18: As the Shion versus Satori match heads into its closing stages, the Hani brothers undergo a strange reversal; Satoru is now less a figure of hatred than one of pathos, whilst Hani-meijin is becomier creepier by the minute, stalking around watching videos of Shion’s past whilst keeping Ayumi by his side like a chained lover. Meanwhile, Satoru sees something of his brother in Shion’s shogi, and we know that she learned vital shogi lessons from the murderer- but if the Meijin is the culprit, then what was his motive? All shall be revealed within the final four episodes- at least, one assumes it will.

Shounen Onmyouji 24: The time has come to head out and confront the evil, but meanwhile, Kazane is about to realise that her creepy, cackling master is not quite as benign as she might have thought. It’s another average instalment, but then as I said last week, the goal here is mere completion.

Spice and Wolf 10: Poor Lawrence, everything was going so well- right up until the point where he learned that armour has become massively devalued and that he now has two days to pay back a massive debt- can even Horo the Wise get him out of this, and will she want to after he takes out his frustration on her? Presumably all will come right in the end, but the interesting thing will be seeing how it pans out.

*COMPLETE* Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber 13: Ah, another mediocre series can be crossed off the list, although it does mean that the second season beckons. This episode basically wraps up Gernia’s story and indeed his life, complete with a ridiculous collapsing tower sequence that makes you wonder why you should ever be worried about being trapped in a burning building. Meanwhile, Gernia’s father is still as desperate for war as ever, which is presumably what season two is all about (I’ve been too apathetic to read any plot summaries).

MANGA

Busou Renkin 38: The assault on the school continues as it did in the anime, with Kazuki’s friends banding together to support him as he fights the Futakoi Alternative reject monsters outside. As so often happens, there’s not much more to say that I didn’t say when I was covering the animated version.

Hunter X Hunter 272: With excruciating slowness, the battle between Yupi and Shoot continues, up to the point where Knuckle decides to reveal himself. Do we care anymore? Do we even remember anything other than the names of these minor characters? Bigger fans than I do, perhaps, but I cannot bring myself to care anymore.

• Each episode must begin with a 5-8 minute recap of the previous episode, and also conclude with a recap of the episode in case anyone forgets what happened.
• Flashbacks of each scene from varying points of view (i.e. negligibly different camera angles) will be heavily used.
• After each new line of dialogue, characters will ask “what did you say?”, and be treated with a flashback.
• Whenever characters ask questions relating to the past, they will be answered via flashback, even if said question is just “what did you have for breakfast this morning?”.
• After each blow, there will be a flashback so that the opponent can analyse it and choose their next move.
• Characters will frequently have flashbacks about having flashbacks.
• Every third episode will be a full-on recap episode.

Sisters of Wellber 11

Galahad decides to try the Harvest Moon life.

As with any Harvest Moon game, he has to start from scratch, on a farm that has practically nothing.

He also needs to find a bride in order to clear the game.

Angry knife gets serious.

“Sorry, but Gun beats Knife every time.”

Some say Gernia is a little unbalanced, but where is the evidence?

Stop, those are Sunrise magic mushrooms!

“Can you really survive on Hyper Self Pleasure alone?”

“That enables me to have HARD GAY!”

Dragons’ Den: The Dragonaut Boob airbag
Welcome to a new feature based on the TV program of the same name, in which anime characters try to market their great idea to five fat cats of anime! President Aria made his fortune in the gondola industry of Neo Venezia, and is now CEO of a well-known company. Mikoto started her business in the capital of Wind Bloom, and is now a trusted advisor to the queen, with business partners scattered across the world. The Admiral’s first business venture was to invest in a Chinese restaurant, but a meteor threat to Earth saw her buy shares in ground and space based defence technology, which she currently administers with her protégé “The General” (aka Shogun). Mr Tibbs started his career as a tea cat for the bank, but his sound grasp of finance saw him rise up the ranks until he became one of their most prominent managers. Finally, The Cardinal is the world’s most powerful fat cat, with a wide range of business interests that ensure that he has a paw in every pie (often literally, depending on his appetite). These five cats represent some heavyweight investment clout in every sense of the word, but is any deal attractive enough to get them to roll off their backsides and shake paws with a budding entrepreneur?

This week in the Den we have the mysterious yet well-known entrepreneur Melons, who is attempting to increase her assets by pitching a brand new product- the Dragonaut Boob Airbag. Will the soft and yielding Melons be able to impress the hard and unyielding Dragons?

Melons: Hello, my name is Melons and I represent the interests of Boobonaut: the Melonance. I’m here to pitch for investment in our new invention, the Boob Airbag. As you can see from these images, the immense size of Dragonaut Boobs makes them the perfect airbag, offering soft yet sturdy protection against shocks and impacts.

Aria: Punyu! [Can they really be that big?]

Mikoto: What about storage? These seem a little large to be stowed away in the dashboard- or indeed anywhere in the car- without suffocating the passengers.

Melons: Well, storage is an issue, but many male drivers have said that they like having them in the car.

Mikoto: I’m sure they do, but as a woman, I’m not interested- and that’s why I’m out.

Admiral: I’d like to declare myself out too.

Two Dragons are out already! Has Melons’ sexist pitch destroyed her credibility with the Dragons?

Aria: Punyu. [This isn’t the sort of image Aria Company wants to associate itself with, so I’m out.]

Cardinal: I can see great potential in your product, but at the same time when I have my underlings ram someone’s car, we don’t want them to survive, so there’s a conflict of interest there for me. I’m going to have to declare myself out- although I wouldn’t mind a sample airbag.

Only one Dragon now remains, but will the strait-laced Mr Tibbs be interested in investing in a product that will affect the reputation of his bank?

Mr Tibbs: I have to admit that I’ve been looking for ways to revitalise the image of the bank, but when I think of the consequences of associating myself with Dragonaut and hence Studio Gonzo, I have to say that it’s not in my interests.

Melons has crashed out of the Den without a single offer of investment! Will the next entrepreneur fare any better in the Den?

This Week in Anime

The future of HORSE is so terrifying that we must fight against it at all costs.

Apples reach unprecedented new sizes.

The police force tries a personal approach to recruiting with their new “I Need You!” posters.

According to a poster in the background, cats in boxes are prohibited.

These brightly coloured drinks remind me of the jelly desserts in Stargate SG-1.

Pizza Hut unveils its latest product.

In the new intense farming version of Harvest Moon, crops are grown by the hundred.

Ginko from Mushishi is spotted on Mokke.

Yes, many of us felt that way about the Bokurano anime.

I can’t help feeling that cinemas just aren’t as sophisticated as they used to be.

If in doubt, there’s always tea.

“Are you talking about…Hyper Self Pleasure?”

President Aria’s previously unknown black brother made his fortune in the thermo-logistics business.

Everyone thinks they have what it takes to become a Bartender.

“Apple or orange- which should I choose?”

Mai Tokiha reveals where she ended up after HiME ended.

Flash Game Review: The Impossible Quiz
If you like quizzes, then why not try your hand at the Impossible Quiz (or its successor), both designed to test your sanity and patience to the limit. Far from being straightforward, the Impossible Quiz is like that annoying kid in the playground that continually asks you trick questions and then treads on your toes when you get the answer wrong. Even so, there is still the compulsion to get as far as you can as you try to figure out the trick behind each question- through trial and error if nothing else. Good luck!

Mini-editorial: Blog posts- long-term vs. immediate value
Not quite a rehash of the tired old “editorial vs. episode summary” argument, the question here is about the value of a blog post versus time. Naturally, when any post first appears, it will draw attention from regular readers, aggregrator browsers and the like, but after that it slowly drops deeper and deeper into the archives, perhaps never to be read again. But which blog posts are more likely to escape internet oblivion?

The answer, of course, isn’t too hard to work out- parodies and reviews are likely to attract attention from Google searchers looking for opinions, whilst things like the weekly round-up, news posts and even Tuesday Rumble tend to be regarded more as products of that particular week. Months after it aired, no one cares about Clannad episode nine, but if they happened not to watch the series, they may want to check out a Clannad series review. Editorials are trickier to place, since it depends on their content (some topics are timeless, others are a reaction to the state of anime and the blogworld at that time).

The question then is this- should we consider the long-term value of our posts when we write them, or should we just stick with their immediate value? Does it really matter if our work sinks into the archives as long as it achieved its purpose at the time it was posted? Or is it depressing to think of the hundreds of thousands of words we poured our hearts into now lying abandoned and unread? Should we be putting our effort into something a little more permanent? Perhaps we must just go back to the old answer- we should be blogging because we enjoy it, without worrying about any higher-level reasoning behind it.

Reverse Harem of the week: Kuuya (Utawarerumono)
Determined to rival the lead and find peace through genocide, Kuuya surrounded herself with men, but ultimately failed and ended up with her mind reverting to that of a child.

Harem
Genjimaru: The wise older warrior and bodyguard.
Hien: The young and stoic one.
Hauenkua: The psychotic, gender-confused one.
Dii: The mysterious bishie who only pretends to be a part of the harem to further his own goals.
Hakuoro: The lead, Kuuya tries to recruit him but ends up joining his harem instead.

It’s a unique opportunity to be able to post this on February 29^th, which also happens to be the day when we girls can propose- possibly why they told me not to come to dancing on Fridays anymore.

Reviewed this week: Aria 8, Himawari!! 2, Kaiji 20, Persona 6, Shion no Ou 17, Shounen Onmyouji 21-2, Spice and Wolf 8, Sisters of Wellber 12

…and in manga: Elfen Lied 82, Erementar Gerad (Elemental Gelade) 27, Mozart Doesn’t Sing Lullabies 9, Nodame 107-8, Ten 1, Tsubasa 183, Twin Spica 8, Yostuba&! 53

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – banana peel
2. Kaiji (3) – ざわ, ざわ…
3. Spice and Wolf (2) – drunken wolf
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ran clan
5. Shigofumi (5) – Fumi+Mika=Fumika
6. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – mind-altering drug
7. Persona Trinity Soul (7)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (8) – die, Satoru!
9. Minami-ke Okawari (9)- not quite the same
10. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (10)- Marco
11. Clannad (11) – drop kick
12. Mokke (12)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
2. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- mediocre
5. Love GetChu! (6)- light entertainment

Aria the Origination 8: Yet again I am saddened by the impending conclusion to this series, because this Athena and Alice-centric episode only proves how much more there is to experience in Neo Venezia. This week, Alice becomes upset when Athena is too busy to go on a picnic with her, leading to Athena epically slipping on a banana peel and pretending to lose her memory. It’s not the best episode of the season, but is an enjoyable outing nonetheless, with plenty of Martian cat action from Presidents Maa and Aria, whilst next episode promises the emergence of the “Orange Princess”.

Himawari!! 2: It’s time for another episode and another bizarre enemy as Himawari!! presses on- this time with a weird mushroom that spells disaster for Hayato and Shikimi (when will people learn not to eat strange mushrooms?). There are starting to be hints that some of the mysteries set up by the first scene of season one might actually be addressed this time around, and while I’m not too hopeful on that count, it would at least make up for having a shadowy villain and some sort of main plot this season.

Kaiji 20: At the beginning of this episode, Kaiji is busy getting violent in the bathroom- has he finally lost it, or is it part of a plan to frustrate Tonegawa’s cheating? It’s funny to think that one round of a simple card game can be elevated to such tension-inducing heights, but that’s exactly what Kaiji excels at, and even though it isn’t hard to guess the outcome, it will take a particularly disconnected person not to get pulled along on the emotional ride. Bring on episode twenty-one.

Persona Trinity Soul 6: It’s time for an episode away from the main plot (or indeed any plot at all), as Megumi and Kanaru become ‘Chief for a Day’ at the police station to replace an idol who cannot make it, and Ryou dons a bear suit with which to anonymously fight off minor villains. It’s throwaway in the general scheme of things, but it does provide a welcome let-up from the more serious side of this series.

Shion no Ou 17: The fated rematch between Shion and Satoru is here, and it’s time to inject a bit more depth into Satoru’s character- he may be a complete and utter bastard, but he has issues. There’s also an interesting revelation when Shion starts regaining her memories, and although I’m still more interested in the shougi side of things, this twist makes the murder storyline more appealing than it has been up to now. Surely the series can’t be ending soon- my appetite for it is only increasing.

Shounen Onmyouji 21-2: Another two episodes of Shounen Onmyouji have been cleared, and now the forces of evil have managed to take control of Guren, ensuring that there will be a massive mid-boss and final boss showdown come the end. It’s as mediocre as ever, but the end is now in sight, and those evil demons will surely be vanquished.

Spice and Wolf 8: If you’re wondering what happened to episode seven, wonder no longer- for some reason it’s a DVD only episode that we won’t be seeing until the end of May (why they couldn’t just call this episode 7 and make the DVD only one episode 6.5 or move it to 13, I can’t explain). Anyway, it doesn’t make much difference to this episode, in which Horo consumes copious amounts of alcohol before helping Lawrence profit in his pepper sales. Coincidentally enough, I’m currently reading a book on ‘behavioural economics’ at the moment, which includes a chapter on relationships based on market norms and social norms; who knows, I might start analysing Lawrence and Horo’s relationship and become a full fledged member of the blogworld intelligentsia instead of an irreverent faker!

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 12: This is one of those episodes that makes you wonder what the point of everything that preceded it was, for having spent most of the season running away from Sangatras and trying to reach Greedom, Princess Rita now attempts to end things by giving herself up. Will she be able to sway Gernia, or will his ruthless father and mother-complex conspire against her? Well, we all know nothing too drastic can happen, or there wouldn’t be a second season.

MANGA

Elfen Lied 82: It’s the calm before the storm in this episode as everyone comes home for a quiet dinner together, and Nozomi awaits the results of her music college entrance exams. It’s one of those chapters where nothing really happens, but it gives readers a pleasant break right before the action steps up again.

Erementar Gerad 27: Volume seven finally begins, and it is clear that the manga is about to go head and shoulders over the anime from now on. Whilst Viro continues to be evil in quiet corners, Coud and the party trek through the woods until they reach a broken cable car- can Coud use his mechanical skills to fix it? It may not sound like much, but as it is better paced and presented than the anime, it already has my seal of approval.

Mozart Doesn’t Sing Lullabies 9: After deciphering the secret message in “Mozart’s lullaby”, Beethoven and the others are led to the statue of Prince Tomino- a character from The Magic Flute- but what about this statue could be so important that one person has already lost their life trying to uncover it? It’s been hard to maintain the flow of this series with chapters coming out so slowly, but nonetheless the mystery is still intriguing enough to keep me coming back for more.

Nodame Cantabile 107-8: Having missed her recital, Chiaki can’t help feeling guilty, and after apologising to Nodame, he invites her to come to Vienna with him- but with both their lives getting steadily busier, is it folly for Chiaki to think Nodame will always be around for him? Meanwhile, these two chapters also see the reintroduction of Kiyora Miki, who is still having problems breaking past the barrier of good playing and achieving a truly great competition-winning performance.

*NEW* Ten 1: Set twenty-three years after Akagi, Ten tells the tale of a very different mahjongg player- an easygoing man who nonetheless has the balls to cheat even yakuza. In this first chapter, Ten meets and plays a young man whose cold and logical skills make him seem more like a computer, and after losing to him time and again, Ten has to pull his cheating move in the last round. It’s not quite as exciting as Akagi’s actual skill, but you can’t help admiring the blatant cheating whilst hoping Ten has more tricks up his sleeve.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 183: The time has come to return to Clow Country (yes, that’s where it all began, and like me, you might wonder why we bothered to actually go anywhere in the first place), and in order to get our heroes back there, Yuuko and the Mokonas must expend all their energy, whilst Fei Wong waits patiently in his chair. That’s pretty much all that happens in this episode- after all, we wouldn’t want to take things too quickly now, would we?

Twin Spica 8: As volume two concludes, the evil Beruze teacher continues his plan to get Asumi to drop out of space school, calling her up for a private meeting and destroying her self-confidence with some unpleasant home truths. The evil teacher is my least favourite part of the series, so I hope that we can move on from him soon.

Yotsuba&! 53: Yotsuba and Jumbo have been left to look after the house together, but when Yanda comes round, the usual brand of randomness ensues. This isn’t among my favourite chapters, but it’s still a strong instalment- it hardly seems as if this series can do any wrong.

Reviewed this week: Aria 7, Clannad 18, Kaiji 19, Mai-Otome 0 S.ifr 1, Minami-ke Okawari 7, SaiMono II 36, Shigofumi 6-7, Shion no Ou 16, Shounen Onmyouji 20, Sketchbook 13, Sisters of Wellber 11, Zoku SZS 4

…and in manga: Doujin Work 1-19, Minami-ke 1-21

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – the Single life
2. Spice and Wolf (2) – wolf in the sewers
3. Kaiji (5) – ざわ, ざわ…
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ran clan
5. Shigofumi (3) – Schrödinger the cat
6. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – mind-altering drug
7. Persona Trinity Soul (8)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
8. Shion no Ou (12) – die, Satoru!
9. Minami-ke Okawari (7)- not quite the same
10. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (10)- Marco
11. Clannad (11) – drop kick
12. Mokke (13)- rainy season

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Sketchbook ~full color’S~ (1) – lots of cats <- complete!
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot
5. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- mediocre
6. Love GetChu! (6)- light entertainment

Aria the Origination 7: If you’ve ever wondered about the humble beginnings of the mighty President Aria, then this is the episode for you. Before he built up his multi-million pound empire he was just a naked cat looking out to sea- until the fateful day he met with a young Himeya undine known as Akino (known to us as Grandma). Alongside this flashback, we also meet Alicia’s senpai Anna, who worked for Aria Company until she got married and had a child, and just like Akari, I can’t help realising how much there is I still don’t know about Neo Venezia, and how much I just want to stay there forever. In some ways, this is my favourite season of all, and I shall unashamedly bask in fangirlish emotion about it.

Clannad 18: It only just began, but Tomoyo’s arc is wrapped up in this episode, whilst Ryou gets “friends” compatibility with Tomoya and even Kyou bursts into tears. I can’t help feeling it was a bit pointless setting everything up with an air of importance in the last episode just to arbitrarily wrap it all up here, whilst the baseball challenge felt like the biggest plot cop-out ever. How are we supposed to care about these generic, overly fast-paced events?

Kaiji 19: There are four rounds left, and three more millimetres for Kaiji to wager; if he wants to keep his eardrum, he’ll have to win at least once, but how can he beat the ‘invincible’ Tonegawa? Fortunately, all is not as it seems, and even though the explanation behind what’s going on seems a touch farfetched, who can’t love the prospect of Kaiji making a comeback? And even though the preview shows the side of his face bleeding, we can assume that’s deliberate misdirection.

“With it, he could tell the time!”

*NEW* Mai-Otome 0 S.ifr 1: I don’t know why, but I’m feeling benevolent towards Mai-Otome at the moment, and so despite this new OVA’s lack of fat cats or any real story, it somehow didn’t seem as bad as the forgettable Zwei. A prequel to all previous Otome stories, S.ifr focuses on a new set of characters, including the titular Sifr/Sifuru, various Otome, King Bruce of Windbloom and a young Rena. For antagonists, we have the younger John Smith and his Schwarz allies up to their usual tricks, plus a brand new android for our heroines to fight. I can’t say it’s good, but it’s still the best thing the franchise has offered in a while.

Minami-ke Okawari 7: Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and so our named characters all decide to get together at the Minami house and make chocolate. Again, this is a rather standard piece in the grand scheme of episodes, making it mildly entertaining in the way of most episodes this season- although the sight of Mako-chan in a maid costume cannot be missed.

Saiunkoku Monogatari II 36: Three episodes before the series ends for good, and sadly we are unfortunate enough to be landed with the season’s third recap episode. Worse yet, this is a recap that goes right back to the first season, covering Ryuuki’s experiences of being Emperor ever since we first met him. Yes, there are some cute pandas for him to talk to, but come on, let’s end the series on a bang rather than a whimper.

Shigofumi 6-7: Episode six seemed to promise a return to form for Shigofumi, with a story about bullying and abuse that is actually quite difficult to watch (although that may be because of my feelings on the subject). Unfortunately, whilst episode seven promises further unravelling of Mikawa’s past, it is let down by her over-the-top father, a character obsessed with beauty and perfection. I must admit to feeling for his newly-appointed editor, however, simply because her bosses think she’s useless.

Wait, didn’t we have this game in Kaiji?

Shion no Ou 16: Ayumi’s mother has died, and with her passing there is no further need from him to cross-dress, but will he still keep up the shougi? I’ve been wanting Ayumi to come clean for a while now, and so a change that will let him play honestly is most welcome, even though he looked good as a trap.

Shounen Onmyouji 20: I’ve finally managed to fit in another episode of this series, and it must be said that it was as underwhelming as ever. This time around, we learn that the main villain has an entirely predictable past connection with Seimei, but that skeletons in the old family closet mean that he has, of course, turned mindlessly evil. Now to resolve the confrontation with him in the next six episodes.

*COMPLETE* Sketchbook ~full color’S~ 13: Sketchbook has finally come to an end, with a reflective episode in which Sora spends an afternoon alone in the afternoon, painting her friends whilst they pass through. I know I have accused the series of trying too hard throughout its run, but nonetheless this was a worthy conclusion to the series, with Sora finding the strength to grow a notch or two at the end. I guess I wouldn’t be averse to a second season after all, especially if it has cats.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 11: Months after my last Wellber experience, we come to this episode, which tells the past story of Galahad and Jamille in what is probably meant to be a touching build-up to their inevitable confrontation in a duel. What a shame, then, that it is all so predictable and on the rails that no one could really care- all I can say is that it’s a good way to waste an episode.

Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 4: There seems to have been an element of randomness missing from my week of late, but luckily it’s back for the moment, with another instalment in the crazy life of one Itoshiki Nozomu and his off-kilter class. This time around we meet a couple more new characters (including one who can read anything- even hearts) and learn what happens when you diverge from the main point. There are no laugh out loud moments this time, but there is consistent entertainment, and that will do for me.

MANGA

*CATCH-UP* Doujin Work 1-19: My experience with 4-koma has been a bit hit-and-miss so far, but happily Doujin Work is proving to be one of the better ones of the bunch. Although it takes much the same overall course as the anime, some of the specifics are different, with the overall effect being to replicate the feeling of light entertainment without seeming stale.

*CATCH-UP* Minami-ke 1-21: Whilst not a 4Koma, Minami-ke does go for the short chapter approach that many comedy series use, and this time it is just like the anime- or at least season one of the anime. So far, then, it is proving to be just as entertaining, but many more chapters will be needed.

• 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.