“…because quite frankly, I’m too cheap to buy her anything.”

Reviewed this week: Allison and Lillia 8, Amatsuki 6, Baccano! OVA 3, Chi’s Sweet Home 33-6, Himitsu 5-6, Kaiba 6-7, Kurenai 9, Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 6, Nabari no Ou 8, Persona Trinity Soul 11, Shounen Onmyouji 25-6, Soul Eater 7-9, Spice and Wolf 7, Toshokan Sensou 8, Wagaya no Oinari-sama 7-8, xxxHOLiC Kei 7-9

…and in manga: Chi’s Sweet Home 42, Minami-ke 29, Spiral Alive 17-18, Tsubasa Chronicle 191

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Kurenai (2) – if I can’t do this much…
2. Chi’s Sweet Home (1)- Chi scratches
3. Kaiba (3) – feelings and memories
4. Nabari no Ou (4) – sayonara, Frosty-san
5. xxxHOLiC Kei (5) – Kohane-chan
6. Wagaya no Oinari-sama (6) – fox trap
7. Soul Eater (8) – Bones does shounen
8. Real Drive (7) – sunglasses
9. Persona Trinity Soul (9) – catch-up, start!
10. Himitsu (12) – everything at or below this line is poor
11. Amatsuki (14) – the new Shounen Onmyouji
12. Itazura na Kiss (13) – I hate Naoki
13. Toshokan Sensou (10) – library wars
14. Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (11) – senseless
15. Allison and Lillia (15) – yawn

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shion no Ou (1) – final match
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
3. Love GetChu! (3)- light entertainment
4. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (5)- licensed
5. Shounen Onmyouji (6)- done and dusted after all these months <-complete!
6. Himawari!! (4) – needs less plot

Allison and Lillia 8: if the stupidity of an episode ever had to be seen to be believed, then it was in this case, for this arc-ending instalment has truly broken the boundaries of sense- so much so that I now know I would be derelict in my duty if I didn’t parody it. Anyway, with the help of an engraved medallion and a cufflink, Fiona manages to persuade the crowd (who seem to represent the country’s entire population, or at least the only ones whose opinions actually mean anything) that she is Princess Francesca, and that Nihito is the one who killed her family. Our villain of the arc then decides to make his escape by kidnapping Fiona, pulling some knives out of nowhere (courtesy of the JML Insta-Knife) and heading for the roof, where escape is waiting nothing is waiting except a dead end. Nonetheless, the wake from Allison and Wil’s hastily launched plane is somehow enough to blow him off the roof and to his doom, enabling Fiona to become Princess Francesca even though she is actually Francesca’s previously unmentioned twin sister (the royal family only being allowed to have one child for some reason). To be honest, it would be easier and quicker to list all the valid plot points than it would be to point out all the holes.

Amatsuki 6: Given all the disappointing episodes of anime that have appeared lately, this instalment of Amatsuki actually didn’t seem too bad in comparison, even if it can’t be said to be particularly good. After some exposition scenes about how being a weak person can actually be turned into a strength, Shinshu implores Toki to break the curse on the Princess, but since he can’t use his geass at will, he calls upon Bonten instead, breaking the shrine’s barrier in the process. Since Toki hasn’t yet agreed to go out with him, Bonten isn’t about to provide unconditional help, but he does offer a clue as to what to do next, thus ensuring that the plot won’t stagnate. Given the length of the series, I’m assuming the rest of it will be about breaking the curse and then going home to modern day Japan, which shouldn’t be too painful to watch.

*COMPLETE* Baccano! OVA 3: The Baccano! OVA is over, and it has brought with it as much fun and insanity as the series that preceded it. In this episode, we see the outcome of the great domino set-up (no, really, catch up with Rachel and Rail Tracer, and get back to the people who were wondering about the main character way back in the very first episode. It finally feels like everything’s come full circle, and it’s been an enjoyable ride indeed.

Chi’s Sweet Home 33-6: In this next batch of episodes, Chi takes an interest in sitting up at the window and looking outside- hardly desirable when the Yamadas live on the first floor and cats are forbidden. Having read this part in the manga, I knew what was coming, but nonetheless it’s an entertaining segment with an inspired solution.

Himitsu 5-6: After the laughable disappointment of episode four, my hopes weren’t high for the next arc of Himitsu, although as it turned out, it was at least better than its predecessor. In this arc, the team investigate the brain of a serial killer who has just died in prison, but as they delve deeper into his past, it seems that he may not have been the culprit after all. Cue a rather unpleasant series of revelations that could have come from any episode of CSI, and you have an arc that barely scrapes ‘solid enough’.

Kaiba 6-7: Kaiba is still travelling in Chroniko’s body, and when you’re a man in the body of a woman, your biological rhythm can get a bit messed up- something that Gel, a woman in the body of a man, knows all too well. Gel is immediately drawn to Kaiba, but is there more to their connection than either of them realises? And could Kaiba really be Warp, the cruel prince of this society? Whatever the case, when Kaiba and Vanilla are named as accomplices in a terrorist act, they have no choice but to go on the run on a water planet, but in the face of relentless pursuit, sacrifices will have to be made. Not only were these two episodes highly enjoyable (and thanks for the tip on rewatching episode one, Machi, I’ll give that a go this weekend), but they really added something not only to our protagonist, but to Vanilla, transforming him into something more than a hulking, intellectually challenged law enforcer.

Kurenai 9: Kurenai has always been good, but the intensity of this episode has moved it up a notch, and even secured it a place amongst my all-time favourites. The idyllic days are over, and Shinkurou and Murasaki have no choice but to leave the apartment behind, but the first the terrible truth behind Murasaki’s place in the Kuhouin family must be revealed. For reasons that could only be plausible in anime, the Kuhouins can only breed amongst themselves, and thus the women are sequestered in the Inner Sanctuary and forced to breed their relatives’ children from the age of thirteen, whilst the men take an ‘official wife’ to disguise the truth of their actions. Not only does this cast a whole new light on Murasaki’s own parentage, but it spells a terrible future for her, and one that her brother is determined to make sure she obeys. With that in mind, the tension is high in this episode as Shinkurou unwisely risks one last night at the apartment with Tamaki and Yamie, and surely than can be no one who isn’t desperate to see how things work out in the next few episodes.

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki 6: I should have known better than to think KKN was going to bring us an amusingly zany brand of humour, because in the vein of Kamisama Kazoku, Disgaea and all the rest before it, it has become disappointing, dull and downright juvenile (aagh, stop this alliteration!). This episode resolves Yuuka’s capture and the monkey situation by having Kyouka win them over with fine foods, leading up to the most ridiculous deus ex machina ever in the last two minutes (was that meant to be Gekka?). In the old days, I would have dropped the series at this point, but for some reason I feel chained by completion of late.

Crossdressing aside, I want a dress like that.

Nabari no Ou 8: The time has come to confront Mr Frosty and steal the technique of delicious ice lollies assassinate him, but does Thobari really have it in him to take another’s life, and what is Oda’s motivation for wanting to bring the Frost(y) Company down anyway? Although there was something slightly unrealistic about alternating between the brief bursts of action and standing around waiting for the next turn to come around, this was a strong episode overall, as well as a reminder that everyone has their own secrets and motivations that may well put them at odds by the end of the series.

Persona Trinity Soul 11: Unbeknownst to everyone else, Kanaru has become addicted to shadow-stripping/extraction, and now all her friends can do for her is try to help her break the habit. It’s nice to see Kanaru being given something to do other than hover around as a supporting character, although the addiction storyline is dealt with a little heavy-handedly, with lines such as “we just got her clean!” coming across as amusing rather than serious.

*COMPLETE* Shounen Onmyouji 25-6: Shounen Onmyouji is finally done, and as you might expect, these last two episodes wrap up the final confrontation and conclude the Chishiki no Guuji arc with the evil man defeated, Kazane dead and Guren/Mokkun left without memories. The final battle is amazingly (even refreshingly easy), and even the last three Shinshou get a couple of lines- their first contribution to the series. With only two arcs covered, I’m sure there’ll be a second season at some point, but until then we can put this mediocrity aside.

Soul Eater 7-9: Soul Eater takes a more sinister turn in episode 7-8, as Maka and Soul stumble upon a weapon who has been fused with his master, creating a being that could become a Demon God at any time- and what no one realises is that Shibusen’s Doctor Medusa is the one responsible. Whilst the end of this arc spells trouble in the future for Soul, however, in episode nine Kid and Black Star go off on a more light-hearted adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur- only to discover just why even Stein couldn’t master it. I’m still enjoying the series at this point, which is a good sign for the future.

*SPECIAL* Spice and Wolf 7: Since this episode had too many apples for TV, it became a DVD-only release and an annoying gap in my schedule- until now. An enjoyable return to the world of Spice and Wolf, the episode sees Horo trying to eat a hundred apples, whilst Lawrence heads out to buy her some new clothes with a little trading on the side. I can’t say I understand how selling items at a loss can also be considered a massive profit (unless it’s something to do with groundwork for future transactions, or a knock-on effect on prices?).

Toshokan Sensou 8: Whilst Kasahara is whisked off for interrogation, some other things happen, but it’s hard for me to care anymore- the only thing of note is that our heroine finally discovers the identity of her Prince Charming, something we all saw coming about five minutes into the first episode. Other than that, this series has become incredibly pedestrian, but I’ll see it through since it should be ending soon.

Wagaya no Oinari-sama 7-8: Episode seven ups the cuteness factor by having two young foxes come to stay with the family for a while, whilst a clam monster targets Tohru. The next episode picks up the threads from that episode as the god of the neighbouring region shows up in search of the Reversed Circle, an item stolen by the clam- only to become convinced that it has somehow become lodged in Tohru’s head. Although nothing special, it’s entertaining stuff, and like Shrine of the Morning Mist, it seems that we aren’t meant to take the antagonists too seriously.

xxxHOLiC Kei 7-9: Episode seven sees Watanuki asked to fetch water from a well, but with a strange woman looking out of a nearby window, his constant worry is that he’ll get caught. In the manga, the water was for the X world of Tsubasa, but in order to erase any connection with its bastard cousin, here it’s to rescue a drowned kitten. Meanwhile, episode eight jumps ahead in the manga, leaving the “Himawari brings bad luck” story as we turn our attention first to a girl who wants her house to stop being scary, and then to poor Kohane-chan, who is receiving abuse and hate mail. Oddly, unlike in the manga where this happened after she disagreed with other psychics, this time people start hating her for no reason, and only then does she start disagreeing with the others. Still, it’s a decent enough adaptation and much better than season one, so I’ll go with it.

MANGA

Chi’s Sweet Home 42: When the landlady drops by unexpectedly, it seems that the Yamadas might finally be caught- can they hide away Chi in time? Although I do wish that somehow the rules about keeping cats would be relaxed so that the Yamadas don’t have to worry anymore, this was an entertaining chapter, if all too short.

Minami-ke 29: It’s time to meet Mako-chan in the manga, and although Okawari generally made me tired of that joke, here it’s fresh and new again. Hopefully the manga can continue to heal the damage caused by the anime’s second season.

Spiral Alive 17-18: Whilst the villain behind the incident with Amane’s family nine years ago makes a move and the Blade Children fend off an assault at their apartment, the time has come to wonder- has Kiyotaka made a rare error in judgement, or is her playing a game too complex for anyone else to grasp (oh come on, it has to be the latter). With the plot thickening like this, this is no time for chapters to come slowly- the mangaka must be made to work on it day and night so that we can know the truth.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 191: It’s another flashback to Sakura-hime and Syaoran Jr’s early days in this chapter, before the Tsubasa manga takes a break so that CLAMP can ‘collect data’ (that’s hastily make up new plot twists for you and me). In the meantime, Syaoran Jr only has seven days to spend in Clow Country before he has to go back, but what happened to get things to the stage they were in chapter one? And can it possibly ever make sense again?

I’m not being lazy by posting this late; I just haven’t been able to get on the internet all weekend.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 5, Clannad 15-16, Gunslinger Girl Il Teatrino 4, Koutetsu Sangokushi 21-2, Minami-ke Okawari 5, Mokke 14, Persona 5, SaiMono II 34, Shigofumi 4, Shion no Ou 14, Spice and Wolf 5

…and in manga: Claymore 77, REC 37, Spiral 67-8, Tsubasa 182

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Aria the Origination (1) – the Single life
2. Spice and Wolf (2) – wolf in the sewers
3. Shigofumi (3) – man-hater
4. SaiMono II (4) – Ran clan
5. Kaiji (5) – zawa, zawa
6. Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – mind-altering drug
7. Minami-ke Okawari (7)- not quite the same
8. Persona Trinity Soul (8)- Mushi-Uta’s successor
9. Sketchbook ~full color’S~ (9) – lots of cats
10. Gunslinger Girl- Il teatrino (10)- Pinocchio
11. Clannad (11) – the world is made of invisible harps
12. Shion no Ou (12) – die, Satoru!
13. Mokke (13)- magical staff

SLOW RANKINGS

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

Aria the Origination 5: I can’t help the fangirling, I really can’t, for I love Aria so much. In this episode, Aika becomes depressed after seeing Athena and Alicia’s godly skills in action- if that’s what it takes to be a Prima, will she ever make it? Only a Flashback Mode story from Akira (looking rather snazzy with a new hairstyle and an injection of animation budget) can allay her fears, but it also gives us viewers something to think about. There’s almost inevitably a point in your life when it becomes difficult to graduate from one thing and go onto another, so who can’t sympathise with Aika (and in the past, Akira)? Aria, I will love and worship you forever if you will just let me live and work in Neo Venezia.

Clannad 15-16: I’m not sure why I forgot to write about Clannad last week; perhaps it’s some sort of side effect of trying to forget about Fuuko despite the creators’ insistence that she be shoehorned in at every opportunity (way to take away any meaning her story might have had). In the meantime, Kyou is busy ruining any potentially romantic moments between Tomoya and Nagisa, whilst the named characters use the power of destiny to challenge the basketball team to a three-on-three match- if they win, the Theatre Club can get an advisor. Somehow I can’t bring myself to care too much.

Gunslinger Girl –Il Teatrino 4: Angelica is back in action this episode, but with an uncertain recovery and an addiction to pills, can she really help out in the latest mission? I have to admit that this was a better episode than the last few, but the all-new Marco seems a little too boorish and one-dimensional compared to his previous incarnation- can this really be the same Marco who created “The Prince of the Land of Pasta”?

Koutetsu Sangokushi 21-2: Guan Yu the horse monster has been vanquished, but this isn’t the end- first Zhang Fei goes on a HARD GAY rampage to avenge his brother, before Liu Bei takes the ridiculousness to still higher levels by somehow transforming into a giant ice dragon. Angry at not being selected for Yu-Gi-Oh, the dragon freezes a Wei stronghold before assaulting Wu and effectively taking out most of the named characters- what can Lu Xun do against this God Mode boss?

Minami-ke Okawari 5: Kana and Chiaki find themselves in trouble when they break a glass rabbit pendant belonging to Haruka- can they fix it or find a replacement before she comes home and discovers what they’ve done? All in all, this was a very predictable episode that basically repeated a pattern we’ve seen many times before, rendering it fairly entertaining but still not up to the level of the first season.

Mokke 14: It’s another average tale of the supernatural in this episode as Mizuki finds a staff that she believes will give her magical power- but what are the consequences of relying on such an artefact? As ever, it’s a pretty predictable and on-the-rails piece- more something you watch to pass the time than something you must prioritise.

Wait, didn’t we already have Mushishi and Mushi-Uta?

Persona Trinity Soul 5: Things are starting to make a bit more sense as Persona moves into its fifth episode, with more named characters gaining Personas and the action content taking off. The winter setting is making all the school scenes somehow reminiscent of Kanon, but this comparison aside, the series remains watchable if not outstanding.

Saiunkoku Monogatari II 34: The series is picking up again as the Ran arc gets properly underway- Shuuei is back home with the bittersweet attention from his brother’s wife, whilst Ensei is about to step up for some more screen time, even indicating that he too might have feelings for Shuurei (I see them more as a love born from admiration and respect than outright romantic feelings). It’s sad that there are only five episodes left, but better that than reams of filler.

Shigofumi 4: It seems as if nothing can top Shigofumi’s opening arc, but nonetheless this is another strong and welcome entry into the series’ logbook, revealing a little more about Fumika’s past, introducing a second mail carrier and fitting in a whole new one-off storyline about a girl who receives a Shigofumi from her estranged mother. The “my mother ran off with another man so I must turn HARD YURI” angle has perhaps been a little overdone in recent times, but I’m still enjoying the series; on an unrelated note, the soundtrack is worthy of note too.

Shion no Ou 14: I hate Satoru so much- he’s just the kind of annoyingly smug and manipulative little bastard you want to punch in the kidneys. When he’s not trying to expose traps or shed his blood all over a kifu, he’s busy mocking everyone and bullying poor Shion, and for what? Is he angry because his character design is so generic? Does he want a bigger role, maybe a bigger Liang? Either way, I hope his comeuppance is just around the corner, because the last thing I need is to punch through the screen of my laptop in an attempt to land a blow on his face.

Spice and Wolf 5: With Horo captured, Lawrence and his allies have to undertake a mission to rescue her- all the while trying to keep the upper hand with regards to their position and financial dealings. Much as I love this series, I have to admit that this instalment did suffer a little from ‘episode five syndrome’, but again there were some touching character moments as we again saw that even Horo the Wise isn’t invulnerable. Based on the preview, however, we might get to see her wolf form properly next week, which should be interesting.

MANGA

Claymore 77: With Galatea impaled and Miata deep in her own mental instability, only Clarice is still able to fight, but what sort of chance is the weakest Claymore going to have against an Awakened One? Under these conditions, the conclusion of this chapter is pretty predictable, but it’s a solid enough entry in the story nonetheless.

REC 37: As was inevitable since the beginning of her arc, Ao finally patches things up with Aka and cancels her claim on Matsumaru in this chapter, marking a predictable end to a predictable story. It’s times like this when I wonder what the true worth of reading this manga actually is- every arc follows exactly the same pattern, and no doubt it will long continue to do so.

Spiral 67-8: Volume fourteen of Spiral gets underway with these two chapters, in which the identical DNA of Kiyotaka&Ayumu and Yaiba&Hizumi is explored further whilst the endgame draws ever closer. I’ve already read what happens in this section of the story, but despite some disappointment at this whole story arc, I must continue with the series until the end.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 182: Kurogane gets a whole chapter in which to bid farewell to Tomoyo and pick up his father’s sword this time around, before everyone changes back into their initial costumes in order to visit Fei Wong in his sealed off timespace. In fact, that’s pretty much all that happens here, a sure sign that CLAMP will be dragging out every aspect of this series’ development for a long, long, long time to come. Then again, what did we expect?

Fellow anime fans, heed my words- never, ever let a massive backlog build up, for it will crush your very soul. Sadly, there is still much I have to catch up on, but in the meantime enjoy my coverage of what I have managed to get through since mid-December.

Reviewed this week: Aria the Origination 1, Baccano! 13, Clannad 8-12, Dennou Coil 21-6, Genshiken 2 7-12, Himawari!! 1, Kaiji 7-13, Minami-ke 7-13, Oh! Edo Rocket 21-6, SaiMono II 27-31, Spice and Wolf 1, Tsubasa OVA 1

…and in manga: .hack//Link 1, Akagi 7-8+108-9, Chokotto Sister 48, Clannad 5, Claymore 75-6, Elfen Lied 79-81, HxH 267-70, Kaiji 1, MariMite 23-4, Meine Liebe 7-8, Nodame 94-9, Oniisama E… 10, REC 34-6, Risky Safety 2-3, Solanin 10-28, Spiral Alive 11-16, Spiral 60-66, Tsubasa 172-7, Yotsuba& 49-50

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – a great series from start to finish <- complete!
2. Aria the Origination (-) – PUNYU! <-new!
3. Oh! Edo Rocket (2) – I love this show! <- complete!
4. SaiMono II (4) – Jyuusan-hime rocks!
5. Kaiji (3) – human racing
6. Minami-ke (6) – Ichigo Mashimaro II <- complete!
7. Baccano! (5) – the end of the line <- complete!
8. Spice and Wolf (-) –spicy wolves make for interesting chilli <-new!
9. Genshiken 2 (7) – graduation <- complete!
10. Moyashimon (8) – cute microbes
11. Shion no Ou (9) – it’s a trap
12. Sketchbook ~full color’S~ (11) – lots of cats
13. Clannad (12) – sad girls in springtime
14. Mokke (10)- magical cat

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (1) – I’m in despair!
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- is this ever going to be subbed?
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Himawari!! – needs less plot <- new!
5. Koutetsu Sangokushi (4) – pure HARD GAY
6. Shounen Onmyouji (5)- mediocre
7. Love GetChu! (6)- light entertainment
8. Romeo X Juliet (7) – WOOD

*NEW* Aria the Origination 1: Having a new season to watch is so great that I just want to roll around like President Aria, but instead I will try to put those feelings into words. Spring is coming to Neo Venezia, and even though the snow hasn’t quite melted yet, Alicia gets a gift of sakura tea and jam which she decides to share with everyone. Cue a nice, fluffy tea party in which the amazing feats of the three Primas are discussed, from stopping an idiot falling overboard to cheering up a baby with funny faces. And as the icing on the cake, President Aria is up to his usual antics, although his poor flabby stomach has already been bitten twice.

Remember, don’t eat too fast.

*COMPLETE* Baccano! 13: The tale of immortality and numerous characters in the 1930s finally draws to a close in this episode, which ties up the insane number of plot strands in the best way it can, sees justice served to certain characters, and ends on a high in the way only Isaac and Miria can manage. Yes, it was confusing along the way, but with so much packed in it was also highly entertaining- I can’t request a second season enough times.

Clannad 8-12: Episodes 8-9 see the conclusion of the Fuko arc, with everyone slowly forgetting about her in the run-up to the wedding- can they remember in time to show up? Whilst it was hardly enough to make me cry, I did feel a pang of emotion at this arc, which made going into the next one a bit of an anticlimax to start. This time around, the focus is on genius girl Ichinose Kotomi, who seems almost unbelievably socially ill-adapted to start with, but whose story is slowly picking up now. It does seem a bit of a sci-fi

*COMPLETE* Dennou Coil 21-6: I already reviewed Dennou Coil in its entirety, so all that’s left to put here is how satisfying the ending turned out to be. Yes, if there was more time some elements could have been expanded upon, but the later revelations were still a lot more substantial than many other series, and overall there was a feeling of satisfied completion rather than a need for more. A most excellent series indeed.

*COMPLETE* Genshiken 2 7-12: Genshiken 2 is over, and it’s something of a bittersweet ending- practically everyone has settled on their future career and is ready to commence life in the ‘real world’, although of course they’ll never forget their otaku roots. There’s still content here for those looking for comedy, but an almost Honey and Clover-esque feel crept into this season- university graduates should be able to identify with it.

*NEW* Himawari!! 1: At long last, the second season of Himawari!! is being subbed (yes, I could watch the raws but I’m being lazy), and although I have little hope of it proceeding at any speed, it can fill a gap here and there. Unfortunately, whilst meeting up with the characters is like slipping back into a comfortable old set of clothes, the fact that this season seems to contain a main villain with his underling monsters of the week does not fill me with optimism. I like Himawari when it’s just episodic light entertainment, but introducing low-budget enemies such as this episode’s gum-chewing boy adds an air of tedium to the whole thing.

Kaiji 7-13: The Espoir arc finally concludes in episodes 7-9, with Kaiji suffering both betrayal and the Room of Naked Men before finally coming out on top- at least until he realises the whole thing has left him with twice as much debt as before (poor guy). Then, after an episode of trying and failing to fit in with normal life, our hero is whisked off for another night of gambling, only this time he is the horse in a ‘Human Derby’. The even sees Kaiji and other debt-ridden young men walk across a thin beam suspended over a twelve foot drop, but even if you manage to get across without being pushed off, there’s worse to come when they have to do the same again across and electrified beam suspended between the twenty-second floors of two high-rise buildings. It’s addictive, MANLY stuff, but are we really halfway through already?

*COMPLETE* Minami-ke 7-13: I finally found the time to watch the second half of Minami-ke’s first season, and happily, it was everything I expected it to be. As the adventures of the Minami sisters continue, more amusing everyday antics ensue, more friends get drawn in, and they even meet another Minami family consisting of three brothers and a younger sister who Chiaki adopts as her little ‘brother’. Not since the days of Ichigo Mashimaro has everyday life been so entertaining, but I’m approaching the second season with trepidation- how will the staff changes affect the tone of the series?

*COMPLETE* Oh! Edo Rocket 21-6: Another excellent series goes out with a bang (no pun intended) as Oh! Edo Rocket draws to a close with a packed final stretch that showcases everything that is so great about the series. From comedy and hilariously out of place pop culture references to darker and more serious storylines, Oh! Edo Rocket somehow manages to have everything, and it even achieves an ending entirely appropriate to the tone of the series. Move over FLCL and Pani Poni Dash- this is how it’s done.

Saiunkoku Monogatari II 27-31: The overload of new characters arc has finally come to an end as the anime moves into new territory with the arrival of Shuuei’s sister Jyuusan-hime. Jyuusan-hime has been sent to become Ryuuki’s concubine, but with assassins after her life, Shuurei ends up becoming her body double (sometimes even main characters get the short straw). Despite my aversion to having so many new characters dumped on us of late, Jyuusan-hime is a most welcome addition to the cast- she’s beautiful, tough and more mature than the still naïve Shuurei, and since she’s also adopted, her apparent feelings for Shuuei aren’t as incestuous as I first thought. Meanwhile, poor Shusui seems to have fallen under the influence of the voices in her head- what will become of her? Whatever the case, the anime is not only almost at an end but has also drawn level with the novels- so we’ll either have to have a huge break before any potential third season, or move into the realm of occasional OVAs.

SaiMono goes all Dynasty Warriors.

*NEW* Spice and Wolf 1: For a multitude of shallow and tenuous reasons, I loved this series before I even watched it, and happily I still feel the same way after episode one. Having completed Okami the night before I watched this, I was all too ready for more content about wolf goddesses, and so when trader Lawrence Craft found one in his cart, it made for interesting viewing (even with the random fanservice). Provided it doesn’t turn into the new Sisters of Wellber, this should be a great series, and since the original material is apparently about economics, it’s like entertainment’s next step from Dragons’ Den.

*NEW* Tsubasa Chronicle Tokyo Revelations 1: My relationship with the Tsubasa TV series ended in a filler fest of pain and suffering, but with Production I.G. taking over the reins for this three episode OVA covering the X-Tokyo arc, I figured it wouldn’t be so bad (let’s forget that they did that pointless movie). Happily, unlike Bee Train’s efforts, this version of Tsubasa actually has revolutionary new concepts like proper movement and animation, and whilst the story is essentially flawed, this is the fault of the original manga and not really something the studio can do much about. If the rest of Tsubasa must be animated, let’s keep it to OVA format (I notice that the final image in the closing appears to be from the Infinity arc- a sign of things to come?).

In the latest manga chapters, Mokonas’ earrings actually have previously unmentioned plot importance.

MANGA

*NEW* .hack//Link 1: Although it might sound like a .hack/Legend of Zelda crossover, the franchise’s latest cash-in manga is set in a brand new iteration of The World- R:X. Tokio is the typical annoying shounen hero who has cleared every other game around and wants to play the newly relaunched The World, but since access is restricted, he can’t get his hands on a copy of the game. Fortunately, a new transfer student at school lets him use her copy- but it proves to be an edition of the game that transfers him into The World itself! I don’t see this offering anything new, but it should be interesting enough to follow.

Akagi 7-8, 108-9: Like the anime, the Akagi manga doesn’t seem to feel the need to rush anywhere, and so we’re still on Akagi’s first match- although we’ve just reached the point when Akagi is playing rep player Yagi with their fingers at stake. For a beginner at Mah-jongg, watching this sort of thing in animated form is easier than slogging through explanatory text for each match, but even so it’s still an enjoyable manga.

Meanwhile, an anonymous scanlator has decided to pick up where the anime has left off, so I’ll be covering that as well. 108-9 commence volume 13 and cover the last part of the anime, where Akagi throws away his blood and challenges Washizu to play for the last part of his fortune. Having waited so long to see what happens next, we are now on the verge of this exciting new territory, and hopefully it will be as good as ever.

Chokotto Sister 48: When Konatsu catches mumps and falls in, it becomes a perfect opportunity for her to slip into a Flashback Mode, in which she relates a typical tragic past of being abandoned by her parents and Haruma promising to always be by her side (which she takes to be one of those standard childhood marriage proposals that have so much more meaning in fiction than real life). Everything is proceeding along the rails for the moment, but I’m becoming increasingly disturbed about Choko’s origin- just where did she come from? (Smart alecks need not respond).

Clannad 5: When I read the first four chapters of Clannad, the anime was months away from airing, but to go back and try another chapter in the middle of it run is a slightly strange experience. Fortunately, whilst Clannad the anime is nothing special to me, watching it seemed to make this chapter seem better than its predecessors, even though it only covers the early anime content of Tomoya trying to help get the drama club off the ground.

Claymore 75-6: As it turns out, the blinded Galatea wasn’t hiding from the organisation- she wanted them to send Claymores out to her so that they could help her defeat the latest Awakened Being- former number 2 Claymore Agatha. As the battle begins, however, it remains to be seen if they will offer assistance or just blindly follow orders, culminating in a cliff-hanger ending for chapter 76. As always, I’m not particularly impressed by the action scenes, but I’m still interested in seeing what happens next, and oddly having just one chapter a month helps to enjoy the series since I’m always hungry for more.

Elfen Lied 79-81: We may be getting close to the end of the series, but the story is still ready to throw us a few more twists and turns- not to mention some fresh characters. Whilst Kouta laments the loss of his harem due to the disappearance of Lucy/Nyu, Nana and Mayu, elsewhere yet more plans are being made to recapture Lucy- using obedient clones of Mariko. In charge of them is the latest eccentric scientist and his tough-as-nails bodyguard- it’s a familiar formula but hopefully this is all slowly building towards a conclusion.

Hunter X Hunter 267-70: Having put all his efforts into getting the chapter count up to a nice round number, Togashi has retired to his deathbed once again, leaving the series on yet another indefinite hiatus. Perhaps it’s just as well, as the excruciatingly slow pace and intensely detailed narration of the first phase of the attack on King has really put me off this arc, to the extent where I have to wonder if I even care any more. All I want now is for the series to properly end, but at the current rate I could be in my thirties before that happens (a scary thought indeed).

*NEW* Kaiji 1: As with Akagi, the Kaiji anime has basically followed the manga word for word, so all this first chapter provides is a recounting of how Kaiji came to be offered a place aboard the Espoir, with less technically accomplished art. Even so, it’s an enjoyable enough way to relive the series, and hopefully more chapters will be available soon.

Maria-sama ga Miteru 23-4: We’re already at the start of season two, with Yumi, Yuuki and Rosa Gigantea spending the night at Sachiko’s house for the new year, complete with some “Kashiwagi is HARD GAY” and Sei teasing Yumi scenes that never made it into the anime. As always, this manga complements the anime nicely, but I’m increasingly noticing the poor standard of the artwork compared to the anime character designs, whilst for some reason Yuuki has black hair in this version.

Meine Liebe 7-8: First off, a big thank you to “Meine Liebe Project” for picking this up- it may not be the best manga in the world, but I at least want to read the second half of it. Anyway, chapter seven sees Erika get picked to be Orphe’s dance partner for his grandmother’s party, but much to my disappointment, no actual dancing was seen- surely a whisk or throwaway oversway wouldn’t have been too much to ask for? Wasted opportunities aside, as we go into chapter eight, it becomes clear that Erika’s feelings for Orphe are deepening, but with the likelihood that he may be her brother ever increasing, romance could turn to incest. In fact, since it’s being played so obviously, they probably aren’t related, but we’ll see in the coming chapters.

Nodame Cantabile 94-9: Chiaki’s goal is to move ever onwards and upwards, but when his father shows up at one of his performances, it puts him off guard- and proves that Chiaki isn’t as indifferent towards his parent as he might claim. Meanwhile, poor Nodame is beginning to feel like she is left behind- if Chiaki’s goal is his father, then her goal is Chiaki. Even though the “estranged parent” storyline is nothing new, I’m still intrigued by the continuing development of Chiaki and Nodame’s characters as they enter another growth phase. In particular, Chiaki seems determined to move far ahead in order to accomplish his goals, but at the same time he seems to expect Nodame to be waiting for him, even though she is busy with her own agendas. Are they just not destined to be together?

Oniisama E… 10: The second volume of the angst-driven manga continues as Kaoru gets injured during a basketball match and Nanako fangirls over Saint-Juste some more- it will all be familiar to anime viewers, but told in a much abbreviated form. Now to wait another year or so for the next chapter.

REC 34-6: If there’s one thing you can count on with REC, it’s that if something can go wrong, it will. Take Matsumaru, for example- all he wants to do is help Ao get through a cold, and the next thing he knows she’s undressed him whilst he’s asleep, taken a nude picture for Photoshop purposes, and left the door open so Aka can walk in. Naturally, Ao isn’t just your typical ‘other woman’- she has past issues, but it’s all so painfully predictable- and yet somehow I can’t just give up the series and walk away.

Risky Safety 2-3: I can’t even remember when I read the first chapter of this (memory supplies a date of around August 2006), but I’ve finally tracked down another two instalments of the series. Unlike the anime, the manga isn’t exclusively about Risky and Safety- in fact, they don’t appear at all in these two chapters. Instead, we get two stand-alone stories- one about a puppet girl named Fuzzy who will become a real human if she can just make one boy happy, the other about a mysterious new transfer student who may be attacking fellow classmates with demon blood. As short stories, they are both enjoyable (if much like various similar manga), but the chances of reading more any time soon seem slim.

*COMPLETE* Solanin 10-28: I’m happy to report that at long last I’ve been able to finish this manga, and that it was good enough to be worth the wait. With a spoilerific twist at the end of volume one that I can’t reveal, the second half of the series sees Meiko put in a position where she must make a decision about her future, but will she choose something constructive? I don’t want to give away too much here, but suffice to say that this is one series worth reading, and that a proper review to that effect will appear soon.

Spiral Alive 11-16: Whilst Kanone and Eyes step forth to make an appearance, the story continues to move on, and it all seems to be centred on a particular file that can disclose the identities of the hidden and dangerous Blade Children. It’s good stuff (although I wish Kousuke would let Ryoko help out instead of trying to protect her), even if there are a few too many feints and conflicting motives to get to grips with at the moment.

Spiral 60-66: This is the point I feared, where the series starts to lose its way, for whilst Hizumi makes a move by killing Kanone (NOOOOOO!!!!!!), the truth about Ayumu and Hizumi’s origin seems about to come to light, and it seems something of a cop out. Thanks to Hinano, I long knew it was coming, but even so it’s like that infamous spoiler from Star Ocean 3- you just don’t want to believe it until you’re confronted with it. Oh well, the artwork is still nice.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 172-7: I don’t really know what’s going on in Tsubasa anymore, and the sad fact is that I can’t even say that I particularly care (but I must keep reading, for like Macbeth I’ve come too far to go back now). After randomly showing up, Syaoran-clone decides to pick a fight with the real deal, whilst Fei Wong decides he only wants Sakura for her body (understandable, since her mind isn’t up to much). It’s just a shame that CLAMP have got so into drawing epic fight scenes (large explosions, tiny characters) that they’ve forgotten about the concept of including a plot.

Yotsuba& 49-50: Fifty chapters in and I’m still far from tired of Yotsuba- after all, we still have to see her go to school. In these two chapters, we see Yotsuba still enchanted with the farm after coming home, before she and her father head out to a restaurant for lunch, with the usual hilarious consequences.

Damn you anime, I want to live! Due to an unmanageable amount of releases this week, some titles have been postponed until next round-up.

Reviewed this week: Baccano! 8, Doujin Work 8-12, ef- a tale of memories 1, Gundam 00 1, Kaiji 1, Koutetsu Sangokushi 14-15, MariMite OVA 5, Mokke 1, Mononoke 10-11, Oh! Edo Rocket 19-20, Rental Magica 1, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 8, Shana II 1, Shounen Onmyouji 19, Sisters of Wellber 10

…and in manga: Chokotto Sister 46, Claymore ES 4, Spiral 58-9

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – the best of the best of the best, sir!
2. Oh! Edo Rocket (2) – I love this show!
3. SaiMono II (3) – four men in a closet
4. Baccano! (4) – eternal life
5. Kaiji (-) – gambling boat <-new!
6. Mushi-Uta (5) – best episode yet
7. Mononoke (7) – bake-neko
8. Mokke (-)- seven flowers of autumn <-new!
9. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – I’m in despair!
10. Clannad (9) – sad girls in springtime
11. Gundam 00 (-) – double balls <-new!
12. Doujin Work (10) – light entertainment that was actually entertaining <- complete!
13. Rental Magica (-)- generic but new light fun <-new!
14. ef- a tale of memories (-)- three shows in one? <-new!
15. Koutetsu Sangokushi (11) – pure HARD GAY
16. Shakugan no Shana II (-)- way to reuse old events <-new!
17. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (12) – Takano meets Hitler
18. Seirei no Moribito (13) – the egg must hatch
19. Romeo X Juliet (14) – what’s the point anymore?
20. El Cazador de la Bruja (15) – the end is in sight

SLOW RANKINGS

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

Baccano! 8: It’s back to the train as the main focus in this episode, although there’s also plenty more going on as usual. This time around, we get another look into the exploits of the delightfully eccentric Isaac and Miria, who among other things, once robbed the Genoard house. I’m probably speaking too soon, but I’m slowly getting a handle on what’s going on, and happily, it still remains as enjoyable as ever. I want more right away, and more than that, I’d love to read the original novels, which look delightfully complex in their mix of characters and timelines.

*COMPLETE* Doujin Work 8-12: The light fun continues apace in this unprecedented five episode spree that brings this short summer series to a close. First up is an episode which sees Najimi and Nidou compete once again to sell the most copies, before everyone heads to the beach for a spot of relaxation that swiftly turns into an unproductive doujinshi drawing camp. Meanwhile, the final three episodes set up a short arc of sorts, in which Hoshi’s manga editor brother shows up, causing Hoshi to persuade him that Najimi should be given a chance to debut as a professional artist. As always, it’s on the rails stuff with a predictable outcome, but unlike most series that try to offer light comedy, Doujin Work has actually been funny. I wouldn’t actually mind a second series of this.

*NEW* ef- a tale of memories 1: I should have known it was a mistake to look forward to this one too much, for although I didn’t dislike it as much as I feared after reading Hinano’s write-up, but even so, what the hell is going on? I feel like I’m watching three different shows here, each of them populated with rip-offs from Air, Kanon, Tsukihime and Polyphonica. The animation is also rather strange; not just because of the odd visual quirks that are SHAFT’s stock-in trade, but because everyone seems to have massive eyes (even by anime standards) stuck onto thin faces. Anyway, from what I can gather, there’s a girl who hangs out at an abandoned station and randomly meets a guy there, and her two older siblings, one of whom is a secret manga artist. He too randomly meets a girl, and so the stage is set for our various story threads, wherever they may lead. And what was up with the random Touhou playing?

*NEW* Gundam 00 1: Ah, good old Gundam Double Balls, I was determined not to like you, but I have to admit the first third or so of this episode at least was actually rather good. Then of course it degenerated into the usual confusing mass of factions, mobile suit battles and an organisation who wishes to put a stop to war- by beating everyone to a pulp with their mobile suits. Still, overall this opening episode wasn’t too bad when compared to expectations, but I have to ask- does anyone else experience what I have decided to call “mecha blindness”? For sufferers of this condition, it becomes nigh impossible to understand the convoluted underlying plots of mecha series such as Gundam due to character and faction overload.

Kaiji 1: Akagi was legendary, awesome, MANLY and GAR, and now that it has long concluded we have its brother series to enjoy- Kaiji, another Madhouse production originally created by the same mangaka. This time around, our lead is Itou Kaiji, and unemployed, disillusioned bum who amuses himself by vandalising cars- at least until he gets saddled with a 3.8 million yet debt from acting as guarantor for a friend’s loan. Desperate to get it paid off quickly, Kaiji agrees to board a special boat where he can gamble against other debtors in the hopes of winning the money he needs- but what kind of unpleasant surprises await him on board? It’s obvious that this is going to be slow-paced like its predecessor, and I do hope that the entire series isn’t about this boat, but this was nonetheless a good opening episode, and I’m confident this will be one of my favourites of the season.

Koutetsu Sangokushi 14-15: It’s a double bill of HARD GAY this time around, and somehow the series is still managing to break new boundaries without ever becoming true yaoi. In episode fourteen, everyone mopes over Zhou Yu’s death and the fact that he is only good for CORPSE now, whilst fifteen sees Zhuge Liang set up the country of Shu with Liu Bei et al, whilst Lu Su plans to steal the Lord’s Cube in order to earn his idol’s affection. I guess there is a vague adherence to the broadest of historical events, but the amazing HARD GAY-ness of this show has to be seen to be believed- what other show could make Loveless, Meine Liebe and even Busou Renkin look STRAIGHT?

*COMPLETE* Maria-sama ga Miteru OVA 5: Well, this has been out for ages already, but thanks to my completely failing to notice, I’ve only just got around to subjecting myself to the final fifty minutes of HARD YURI antics from the girls of Lilian. This time around, the second-years are off for a school trip to Italy, and whilst it lacks the out-and-out bizarre-ness of the school festivals, I never realised it was possible to make a visit to Italy so boring. In between all the angst, HARD YURI and hotel room scenes (not as corrupt as they sound), however, it is quite a tedious fifty minutes, with the only consolation being that this marks the end of this long and drawn out OVA. I only hope the return to TV series format in the fourth season will help this series return to form.

*NEW* Mokke 1: When I heard that Mokke was a series about a girl who can see spirits and her sister who gets possessed by them, I had high hopes for it- surely it would another Someday’s Dreamers. In retrospect, it could easily have turned out to be as awful as Yume Tsukai, but if this first episode is anything to go by, it is closer to the worthy end of the scale. In this episode, the younger sister is desperate to collect the ‘seven flowers of autumn’ for her grandma before the imminent harvest moon viewing, but in order to get the last one, she will have to venture into the mountains, home to a dark force that can suck away the life of the unwary. It’s too early to assess Mokke’s full potential, but this is a promising first episode, and if the series continues in this vein, it should be another charming magical outing. It also helps that Grandpa reminds me a lot of an older version of Mushishi’s Ginko for some reason.

Mononoke 10-11: The final arc of Mononoke begins here, and in an homage to Ayakashi, the Bake Neko is back. This time around, the feline strikes on a train journey, isolating six passengers who all have a connection to a mysterious suicide- can the medicine seller figure out the truth behind it? Although this won’t rank as my favourite arc, this has the right level of mystery and creepiness, and will ensure that I want a second season of this series as well.

Oh! Edo Rocket 19-20: Oh! Edo, in my eyes you can do no wrong- after all, who can’t love a series that’s joking around with pop culture references one minute, and then showing the villainess casually ripping out someone’s eye the next? Anyway, in this double bill, Akai’s actions are exposed and we learn the truth about the blue beast’s crimes, before that particular storyline is resolved in an appropriately flashy and completely-out-of-place-for –a-historical-drama fashion. Now all that remains is to send Sora home, but are Seikichi and his friends up to the task? In a series where even bullet-proof vests can show up, anything’s possible.

*NEW* Rental Magica 1: In the first few minutes of Rental Magica, we see magicians-for-hire Astral hunt down a dog monster in an action-packed car, broomstick and other vehicle chase, and for those few moments, I thought that maybe this wouldn’t be too bad after all. Unfortunately, after a promising opening, the series lapses into something safer and more generic, with Astral taking on a new job on behalf of a girl who lost her grandfather. That’s not to say it isn’t watchable, but at the same time, everything about this series seems to have been derived from somewhere else, with such character types as the weak harem lead President of Astral, who is useless until he exposes his bizarre right eye (I’m guessing his dead father gave it to him). So far I count Ghost Hunt, Aria and Shrine of the Morning Mist amongst the show’s influences, although there must be more.

This guy uses cat shikigami.

Young Alicia from Aria lands a new role in this series.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 8: Although this was certainly better than the last episode I watched, my relationship with this series seems to have cooled a bit- it remains entertaining, but I no longer feel any need to laugh out loud the way I did with the first few episodes. This time around, Sensei ends up in despair about how deeds can so easily be overshadowed- all the while failing to notice that one of his own students is so insignificant that no one ever notices him. The second half of the series focuses on ‘criticism training’- the idea of criticising someone so that they will get used to it. I have to admit that the first half was better, whilst the second seemed rather distasteful even for dark humour.

*NEW* Shakugan no Shana II 1: It’s a new season of Shana, which means more addictively excellent animation and a whole new wave of depressingly mediocre story- which isn’t even from the novels this time around. To kick off, we have a lacklustre introduction in which Yuji gets trapped in a world that repeats events from the first season (I once joked that Friagne would be back, but I never imagined that it would actually happen); also, depressingly enough the romantic situation has been reset, and will now be put on repeat for the entire series. I think I will watch this one raw- having to concentrate and not understanding it all should improve the experience.

The animation is the only thing I like.

Shounen Onmyouji 19: After the pointless episode we had last time, I was hoping for something of a return to the main plot here, but even though we get back to the antics of Kazane and her boss, it still isn’t very exciting. Whilst Seimei provides a bit of obligatory back story on this most heinous of villains, Kazane opens a gate to the underworld and Masahiro is left to protect everyone, despite only being a junior onmyouji. It looks like this episode is starting the slow build-up to the final confrontation of the series, but worryingly, we haven’t even met three of the Spirit Summons yet. Mediocre as this may be at times, I still want to see another season.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 10: What happens after two lead characters decide to go their separate ways? If you answered “they angst about each other until a convenient series of events allows for forgiveness and reunion”, give yourself a gold star, because that’s exactly what happens in this episode. With the help of some returning characters from earlier episodes, Tina tries and fails to get on with her life doing honest work with another woman, whilst Rita learns that she mistakenly accused Tina- the only problem is, now they only have a single day to reach Greedom. Can they make it in time?

MANGA
Chokotto Sister 46: The fanservice breaks new records in this chapter, despite the inclusion of a completely useless police tape censor on one double page spread. This time around, Choko and Konatsu apprehend a thief who had made off with Kakeru’s sister’s bag (it’s a small world), thus earning themselves a free trip to her family’s bathhouse- complete with all the nipple shots and gratuitous nudity you could hope for.

Claymore ES 4: At long last, it’s the story I’ve been waiting for- Claire’s life after she first joined the organisation. Here we get to see her both in training and on the day when she took the test to become a true Claymore, and as always, these side stories interest me far more than the main series.

Spiral 58-9: In a rather bizarre turn of events, Ayumu’s destined rival Hizumi actually comes to live with him at this point, leading to a chapter of him settling in before starting at Ayumu’s school. There, Hizumi quickly gains popularity with his generic classmates, and even the usually unpopular Ayumu is able to ride the wave and enjoy being in the limelight for once. It seems like an oddly light turn for the series, but the darker undercurrents thankfully remain.

Reviewed this week: Baccano! 7, El Cazador 24, Clannad 1, Darker than Black 24-5, Higurashi Kai 12-13, Mononoke 9, Mushi Uta 11, Oh! Edo Rocket 16-18, SaiMono II 20, Seirei no Moribito 24

…and in manga: Bartender 2, Chokotto Sister 45, Spiral Alive 8-10

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – the best of the best of the best, sir!
2. Oh! Edo Rocket (3) – I love this show!
3. SaiMono II (2) – four men in a closet
4. Baccano! (4) – eternal life
5. Mushi-Uta (5) – best episode yet
6. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (6) – I’m in despair!
7. Mononoke (7) – incense
8. Darker than Black (8) – it’s over <-complete!
9. Clannad (-) – sad girls in springtime <- new!
10. Doujin Work (9) – this is becoming a guilty pleasure
11. Koutetsu Sangokushi (10) – pure HARD GAY
12. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (11) – evil uncle
13. Seirei no Moribito (12) – the egg must hatch
14. Romeo X Juliet (13) – what’s the point anymore?
15. El Cazador de la Bruja (14) – the end is in sight

Baccano! 7: It’s a change of pace this week in Baccano, as we jump back in time over 200 years, to a stormy night in 1711 when a bunch of seafarers eagerly awaiting alchemist Maiza’s attempt to summon a demon and thus gain the knowledge of the Elixir of Life. Although it doesn’t really help me with unravelling the plot in the present, it’s good to have an episode where I can actually follow what is going on, as we learn of the truth behind the immortality elixir, as well as Szilard’s origins and the reason for the ‘incomplete product’ of earlier episodes. It’s somewhat odd that what I thought was going to be a straightforward historical series has now taken such a definite turn into the realms of fantasy, but I’m all for it if the result is good.

I should also remember this time around to comment on the show’s music, which has some good tracks mixed in.

El Cazador de la Bruja 24: The time has come for Nadie and Ellis to confront Rosenberg in the shootout of all shootouts, in an action-packed episode filled to the brim with gunfights and tension…but then again, we could just have a dull exposition-filled exchange before Rosenberg goes off to have HARD GAY with LA and set him up to kill Ricardo (if you’re in any doubt as to which option was chosen, you clearly don’t have the first inkling about this series). I have to admit the first part of the fight between LA and Ricardo had the one tiny piece of decent action we’ve had all series, but once again it was a struggle to sit through the entire episode without wanting to resort to self-mutilation.

*NEW* Clannad 1: Since I randomly felt like watching this raw, the first episode of Clannad has been watched, and whilst it didn’t wow me on any front, it was entertaining enough to warrant continuing with. Although not as visually accomplished as Kanon or as blessed with good story as Air, Clannad gets off to a reasonable start with some light-hearted content (and hints of not-so-light-hearted back story), as well as the new fetish food of the season- anpan (throw out that taiyaki and those choco cornets).

Yay, a cat.

*COMPLETE* Darker than Black 24-25: It came in with a bang and out with a whimper (get your minds out of the gutter, people), but now Darker than Black is over, and for me, it was a journey not unlike that of Noein (without the ridiculous wait for episodes to be subbed). For the first few arcs, I adored this series, but in due course all its “1337er than 1337” seeped away, leaving only “duller than dull”. Call me foolish, simplistic or unaccomplished for not appreciating the second half of this so-called masterpiece, but it truly did waste its potential (ironically after FUNimation announced the license), dragging itself over the finish line in such a way that made me cease to care about the characters and the world they inhabited. Better luck next time, BONES.

“Don’t mind us, we’re naked.”

The Naruto cosplayers are out in force.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 12-13: I think my enthusiasm for Higurashi can be plainly seen by the way I acquire episodes and then forget to watch them for at least a week, resulting in these staggered double bill reviews. Anyway, in between bouts of laughing at the ridiculousness of ‘Hinamizawa Syndrome’, I made it through another two episodes, in which Takano reveals herself to be a shallow gwakaka-class evil, before everyone dies…again. I guess this whole arc would have been more interesting if I hadn’t read detailed spoilers beforehand, but there you go.

“Gwakaka, I am evil! I bet you didn’t see that one coming!”

Mononoke 9: The incense arc concludes in this episode, in which the medicine seller must unravel the mystery of the mansion, with a few twists that you may or not guess before their revelation. This has truly been my favourite arc so far, and it’s at times like this that it seems a shame that Mononoke only clocks in a twelve episodes total- unlike Ayakashi, it had the potential to go on for a lot longer.

Mushi-Uta 11: It’s the penultimate episode (of the first season, at least), and Mushi-Uta isn’t about to hold back in putting its lead characters through hell, as Rika finds the odds stacked against her at GARDEN, Shiina meets up with the ‘Voracious Eater’ who helped to create Hosts and Daisuke reaches his limit. It’s a bold move for a series that’s secured another season, but it does make for some good action and drama, with a few revelations about the origins of Hosts and an evil bishie thrown in for good measure.

Oh! Edo Rocket 16-18: It’s time for another welcome triple bill of Oh! Edo Rocket, and with the series well into its second half, our characters are about to learn that some secrets cannot be kept forever. Naturally, the status quo (such as it is) is turned entirely upside down when Ginjiro’s identity as a Man in Black and Sora’s true form are revealed, but how will our eclectic cast react to these discoveries? Will Akai and the blue monster turn over a new leaf, or is any act of kindness on their part just a means to an end? Will Seikichi lose heart, or is he still up for finishing that rocket to the moon? Will the magistrate ever bother to update his review blog? Find out all this and more on Oh! Edo Rocket, the only show that can bring you action, drama, comedy and some darker moments, all wrapped in one well animated package.

Saiunkoku Monogatari II 20: After all the drama and seriousness of people dying, SaiMono is plunging straight into a lighter arc, involving fake paintings, our new characters, and a reminder to Shuurei that career may not be the be all and end all of life (even so, the last thing I want is for her to give up her ambitions). Although much of the humour cannot be appreciated at my low level of comprehension, no translation is needed for a hilarious scene in which Ryuuki, Shuuei, Seiran and Kouyuu all end up in a small closet together. Parody was born for moments like these.

Seirei no Moribito 24: Since my harsh words on Seirei last week upset David, I’ve decided to present my views in a more euphemistic way this time around. This week, our leads spent a solid amount of time in reasoned and stationary debate, before proceeding forth to find Chagum and La Lunga before the poor boy gets ripped apart. Unfortunately, there are still more details to be revealed about the nature of the egg within Chagum, and when it seems as if it will be problematic no matter what, Torogai must decide what to do next. In the meantime, the flowers that made a brief yet important appearance in an earlier episode now prove to have some relevance to the main story, which would be a nice touch if this were two hour movie and not twenty-six episodes of measured pacing.

MANGA
Bartender 2: It’s been a while, but I finally have another chapter of Bartender to read, and happily it remains a lot better than the animated version. In this chapter, our eponymous bartender must try to guess the favourite drink of a particularly hard-to-please customer, who wants it made just like “the master” used to. Well, it’s the same old formula, but at least here the bartender isn’t invincible, and the conclusion is rather amusing.

Chokotto Sister 45: It’s crunch time in this chapter as Haruma’s cousin teases Chitose by pretending to be his pregnant lover, leading an exasperated Makoto to tell the rather dense Haruma that Chitose has feelings for him. Once again, it’s standard fare, but at least the story has inched ahead here.

Spiral Alive 8-10: Rio shows up in this triplet of chapters to assist Kousuke with his investigation into the murders, but how will Ryouko fee; about being left out of developments- even if it is only to protect her? Meanwhile, Kiyotaka is finally properly seen “on-page”, but as always- what is his master plan? With so many familiar faces now in play, the series has really picked up momentum, and the next chapter is nigh essential.

Mahou Shoujotai

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

Master Keaton

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

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

Mushishi

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

NieA_7

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

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

Ouran High School Host Club

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

Pani Poni Dash!

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

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

Planetes

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

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

RahXephon

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

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

Saikano

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

Saiunkoku Monogatari

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

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

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

Someday’s Dreamers

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

Sousei no Aquarion

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

Spiral

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

Tactics

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

Texhnolyze

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

Twin Spica

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

Victorian Romance Emma

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

Windy Tales

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

Witch Hunter Robin

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

Wolf’s Rain

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

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

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

Zettai Shounen

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

Zipang

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

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

Reviewed this week: Baccano! 5, Doujin Work 6-7, Oh! Edo Rocket 2-6, Seirei no Moribito 21, Sisters of Wellber 8

…and in manga: Akagi 5, Aria 24-5, Spiral 53-6, Tsubasa 166

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – Don’t make me wait!
2. SaiMono II (2) – I need the next arc, and soon
3. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (3) – I’m in despair!
4. Baccano! (4) – I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it
5. Oh! Edo Rocket (9) – bizarre yet fun
6. Mushi-Uta (5) – best episode yet
7. Mononoke (6) – masks, and lots of them
8. Darker than Black (7) – caring at minimum
9. Doujin Work (8) – this is becoming a guilty pleasure
10. Koutetsu Sangokushi (10) – pure HARD GAY
11. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (11) – evil uncle
12. Seirei no Moribito (13) – Flashback Mode
13. Romeo X Juliet (12) – what’s the point anymore?
14. El Cazador de la Bruja (14) – useless Nadie

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shounen Onmyouji (1)- now getting its own musical!?
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- demoted to slow
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Love GetChu! (4)- light entertainment

Baccano! 5: It’s been a while since I had any new Baccano, and whilst I still don’t have much idea of the overall story, it remains highly enjoyable. Whilst the events on the Flying Pussyfoot continue on course, elsewhere we learn more about the product that can render a person immortal, as well as see Firo join up with a mafia group. Memorable scenes include the well-choreographed knife fight, an evil boss sucking in this body and memories of an underling through his hand, and of course any scene in which the energetic Isaac and Miria appear. More of the same, please.

Doujin Work 6-7: It’s been a while, but now we have a double dose of Doujin Work, in which Najimi continues to pit herself against her newfound rival. Whilst episode six, in which both Najimi and Rival attempt to improve their drawing skills, is merely passably entertaining, the true hilarity returns in episode seven, in which Rival gets the wrong end of the stick and becomes convinced that Hoshi is HARD GAY for Justice. Yes, this joke has been done before, but somehow the series makes it amusing again.

*SLOW CATCH-UP* Oh! Edo Rocket 2-6: Oh! Edo Rocket is a strange series; along with the likes of FLCL it should be completely random and nonsensical, but somehow its bizarre elements combine to make a greater whole. Alongside the story of fireworks maker Seikichi trying to make fireworks that can go to the moon, we have sky monsters, Men in Black (complete with transformation sequence), a raccoon fetishist, chibis and much more, and yet despite the complete disregard for conventional storytelling or even the period it is supposed to be set in, the series seems tailor made for the more random side of my personality. The only reason I haven’t caught up yet is a simple lack of time.

Seirei no Moribito 21: This week on Seirei no Moribito, Balsa sits down and talks- about her past with Jiguro. Actually, I have to admit to a soft spot for this sort of character developing flashback episode, and with the return of decent action scenes for the first time since episode 3, this actually marks an improvement from “completely dull and pointless” to “largely dull and pointless with one or two good parts”.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 8: Whilst Rita and Tina decide to speed things up by taking a boat to Greedom, our evil megane villain decides to return to the plot- only now he genuinely wants to marry Rita. This is another mildly enjoyable episode with some potential for parody, but the series still isn’t breaking into the league of true worth.

MANGA

Akagi 5: Very little happens in this chapter, in which the Yakuza guys call their rep player and Akagi explains his reasoning in the previous round, but as always, the series manages to be both absorbing and enjoyable. This is truly one series that can get away with being slow paced.

Aria 24-5: Volume five concludes with these two chapters, which again cover stories we’ve already seen in the anime- first we see Akira giving Akari and the others a training session, before Akari spends a pleasant afternoon at the Café San Marco. Once again, since Aria is so good, there is no problem in experiencing the same material twice, although I also yearn for new stories.

Spiral 53-6: Kudos to the scanlators for keeping up an insanely fast pace in translating this series, enabling us to reach the end of volume eleven only a week after I read volume ten. Sadly, these chapters are basically one long round of exposition, explaining the origin of the Blade Children, as well as Kiyotaka and Ayumu’s place in the grand plan- somehow, with all these revelations, the series is starting to lose its uniqueness, and so I fear this is the turning point where it all begins to go downhill.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 166: Ah, Tsubasa, I now see that the reason for reading you is to see how many ridiculous plot twists CLAMP can throw in before the end. After the death of King Ashura, a secondary curse that was apparently set by Fei Wong activates, trapping our heroes so that they cannot move on to the next world- cue a scene in which Kurogane slices off his own arm to give vampire-Fye (it’s okay if you’d forgotten he was a vampire) the power to set them free. Syaoran-real is also supposed to be taking white Mokona’s earring to black Mokona for some reason, although I’m not sure what bearing this has on anything.

Reviewed this week: El Cazador 21, Darker than Black 21, Higurashi Kai 9, Mononoke 6-7, Seirei 20, Wellber 7

…and in manga: Claymore ES 3, SaiMono 8, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 7-11, Spiral 51-2, Tsubasa 165

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – Don’t make me wait!
2. SaiMono II (2) – I need the next arc, and soon
3. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (3) – despair!
4. Baccano! (5) – I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it
5. Mushi-Uta (6) – best episode yet
6. Mononoke (7) – masks, and lots of them
7. Darker than Black (4) – caring at minimum
8. Doujin Work (8) – this is becoming a guilty pleasure
9. Oh! Edo Rocket (9) – bizarre yet fun
10. Koutetsu Sangokushi (10) – pure HARD GAY
11. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (11) – evil uncle
12. Romeo X Juliet (12) – what’s the point anymore?
13. Seirei no Moribito (13) – standing and talking
14. El Cazador de la Bruja (14) – useless Nadie

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shounen Onmyouji (1)- a new episode after so long
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (2)- demoted to slow
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – predictable but fun
4. Love GetChu! (4)- light entertainment

El Cazador de la Bruja 21: Ah, the boredom, the exquisite experience of having monotony raised to an art form- I’d like to say that in a perverse way, I’ve come to welcome it, but that would be a complete lie. In this episode, Nadie and Ellis fall for a conman’s trick and spend the entire twenty-four minutes trying to catch a vulture, whilst Blue-Eyes waits over a nearby ridge with orders to put a bullet in Nadie. Naturally, with Nadie’s main character protection there’s no tension whatsoever, only the faintest flicker of amusement as something obstructs the sight of Blue-Eyes’ rifle for the umpteenth time. Poor as it was, even Madlax had some semblance of a plot going by now, but a scant five episodes before the end, and El Cazador makes its leads catch birds. It’s .hack//Roots all over again.

Darker than Black 21: There comes a point in certain series when you realise that you’ve weathered so much disappointment and loss of quality that you simply do not care anymore- and for me, this episode was that point. Featuring the return of the evil Chinese contractor, alongside a blonde with a fondness for getting naked whilst teleporting, it seems as if the series is ready to use any tricks it can to keep viewers’ eyes from wandering. Sadly, it now looks like the finale will be a “one faction attempts to destroy the gate, it disappears but Hei somehow sacrifices himself to save Tokyo, only to turn up in the epilogue” affair, wrapping things up in a way that explains none of the mysteries that drew me into the series in the first place. There’s still a chance of recovery in the last five episodes, but count me both disappointed and pessimistic about any possibility of a return to form.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 9: It’s “let’s save Satoko” week on Higurashi, as practically everyone in town bands together to convince the child protection agency to do something about her uncle’s abuse. There’s just something superfluous and out of place about the whole child abuse storyline in this series; I can’t put on my finger on it, but the way it is handled feels wrong, and ultimately leaves me feeling irritated rather than at all sympathetic to what’s going on.

Mononoke 6-7: Another arc comes and goes in these two episodes, in which the medicine seller ends up sharing a prison cell with a woman convicted of murdering four people. Suspecting that there is more to this case than meets the eye, the medicine seller concludes that a mononoke is involved, and resolves to exorcise it as per usual. Although there was a slight overuse of certain flashback scenes and a bit too much “is it this? No, actually it’s this” to get your head round, this was a solid and enjoyable arc overall, and probably represents the average standard of Mononoke as a series.

New record set for world’s largest RAGING HARD-ON.

Seirei no Moribito 20: Had enough of sitting and talking? Maybe you’d like a spot of something more exciting? Never fear, because Seirei has just the antidote for you- standing and talking! After opening with an eight minute scene in which Torogai stands and talks to the Eight Evil Men (one does draw his sword, but after standing motionless he puts it away again), our heroes trek up to Hunter’s Cave, where they start laying in supplies for the winter- exciting stuff, eh? Yes, there are nice shots of scenery, but it’s hardly worth sitting through twenty-five minutes of monotony just to see them.

It’s shots like this that make you feel really up close and personal with regards to the action.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 7: It’s another on-the rails episode of Wellber, in which a pickpocket steals both Rita’s gold coins and the very petition she is supposed to be taking to Greedom, resulting in ‘hilarious’ consequences as they try to recover the lost items. There’s a definite and even slightly painful air of having seen it all before in this episode, but as always it remains mildly entertaining and thus a grade or two above the RxJ/Seirei/El Cazador tier.

MANGA

Claymore ES 3: The third Claymore side story proves to be as enjoyable as the other two, filling in another gap as it explains how Priscilla came to meet with Isley. As before, I’m enjoying this more than the main storyline, although admittedly I would like to get back to that soon and see where it plans to go next.

Saiunkoku Monogatari 8+extra: Whilst chapter eight ties up the last loose ends from the first arc and gives us a closer look at the character’s emotions (Shusui’s especially) than the anime did, the extra story is the real draw here, offering something we haven’t seen before as we learn how Shouka and young Ryuuki struck up a friendship, with the help of Shuurei and her mother’s manjuu buns.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 7-11: With these five chapters bringing us to the end of the first volume, all the characters have been introduced in brief chapters which pretty much follow the anime word for word. I’m eager to get to a point where the manga goes beyond what I’ve seen in the anime so far, but it’s still entertaining enough to be worth experiencing in both anime and manga form.

Spiral 51-2: In the aftermath of the battle with Kanone. Ayumu and Madoka have both been hospitalised, but it won’t be long before events start moving again, as the ‘devil’ to Kiyotaka’s ‘god’ prepares to take centre stage. In the meantime, Ayumu decides to confess his feelings to Madoka- not because he wants to act on them, but because he must put them aside before he delves even deeper into the mystery of the Blade Children. This is, I believe, a prelude to the arc where the series is said to go downhill, but I’m going to keep enjoying it right up to the point where it really jumps the shark.

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle 165: I still don’t really know why I’m reading Tsubasa anymore- by this point, each chapter barely makes sense. After some sort of confrontation, Ashura dies (no, Fye didn’t kill him), leading into yet another flashback to the Fye/Yuui days, before Fei Wong claims that everything is still going to plan. Yes, Fei Wong, you sit in your chair supping wine, watching magic CCTV and taking inconsistent and irregular action, so of course everything is going to plan!

Reviewed this week:

…and in manga: Spiral 49-50, Tsubasa 163-4

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – recap episode? Don’t make me wait!
2. SaiMono II (2) – who will win Eigetsu’s heart?
3. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (3) – despair!
4. Darker than Black (4) – not bad, could be better
5. Baccano! (5) – I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it
6. Mushi-Uta (7) – best episode yet
7. Mononoke (6) – siscon
8. Doujin Work (9) – this is becoming a guilty pleasure
9. Oh! Edo Rocket (-) – bizarre yet fun <-new!
10. Koutetsu Sangokushi (11) – pure HARD GAY
11. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (10) – “dull, dull, dull”
12. Romeo X Juliet (12) – what’s the point anymore?
13. Seirei no Moribito (13) – an exercise in monotony
14. El Cazador de la Bruja (14) – useless Nadie

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shounen Onmyouji (1)- a new episode after so long
2. Tetsuko no Tabi (8)- demoted to slow
3. Sisters of Wellber (3) – Rita gets a new job
4. Love GetChu! (2)- light entertainment

ANIME

Baccano! 4: I may still have only the faintest of ideas as to what is going on, but Baccano remains enjoyable despite its incomprehensible nature. Whilst this episode largely focuses on Ladd, a psychotic character who, as the title tells us, likes both talking and killing a lot, we continue to follow the threads of various other cast members, both on the Flying Pussyfoot and in events beforehand. Once again, Isaac and Miria remain the most memorable and likable pair, although really aside from the strange names it’s all good.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 8: After a good pair of episodes, Higurashi has become dull again, with Satoko’s evil uncle returning once again to abuse her and lead to a series of events much like the one in a previous arc. I know I should care about Satoko’s plight, but it’s hard to do so by this stage, whilst reading detailed spoilers for this arc means that there are no surprises to liven things up a bit.

Koutetsu Sangokushi 12: Koutetsu seems to fluctuate between genres with each passing episode- just last time it all turned into sentai Pleasure Rangers, and before that it was Dynasty Warriors-based and shounen, but now it’s gone back to full on HARD GAY (more so than most parodies). In this episode, Lu Xun gets desperate when Zhuge Liang skips out on a night with him to enjoy some dangerous Pleasure with Zhou Yu, leading to various declarations of love and a scene in which a half-naked Zhuge lounges on a bed and encourages Zhou Yu to take a look at something nestled in his crotch.

Mononoke 5: The second arc concludes in this episode, in which the character of the arc admits the feelings of siscon that lie at the root of the current Ayakashi. Whilst it isn’t as good as episode four, this is at least a solid conclusion to the arc with a little twist post-credits; certainly this arc has been better than the first, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the next one brings.

Mushi-Uta 8: Poor Asami; she was all cut out to be an inconsequential friend of the important female characters, but instead she finds herself a target of Psychotic Blonde and her team, leading to an exciting chase through the world inside a video camera. I’m actually surprised at how much I enjoyed this episode; from its confusing beginnings this has really picked up, and I’m looking forward to watching the rest.

*SLOW CATCH-UP* Oh! Edo Rocket 1: I didn’t have time to watch 2-10, but I’ve started on the previously ignored Oh! Edo Rocket, and whilst it isn’t top tier, it’s a lot better than certain other titles on the list. Although the core story is about an era where luxuries are banned in Edo and a fireworks maker who flouts this law, there’s also a lot more going on, from strange Men in Black to battles between giant blue and white monsters (extremely well animated battles at that). It’s entirely bizarre in a way that threatens to eclipse even Futakoi Alternative, but at the same time that’s the draw- you just have to keep watching to see what happens next.

Romeo X Juliet 19: After many episodes of nothing much happening, Juliet and the others put on a play that echoes the main story and sparks a revolution- one that could have happened thirteen episodes ago. Whilst Juliet becomes the Red Whirlwind once more, allies and their pegasi show up from nowhere to help storm both a hidden fortress and the walls of Neo Verona itself, whilst Montague’s well trained soldiers come under fire from such deadly projectiles as cut roses. I should be happy that events are least moving forward now, but I’ve been so dulled by the episodes of inaction that I cannot rouse myself to care anymore.

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 5-6: In an unprecedented turn of events, not one but two episodes of Wellber were on offer this week. First up, our heroines try to cross the border, but with Galahad on their tail and yet another troublemaker of the week seeking to turn them in, they will have to rely on some predictable tricks to make it past the checkpoint. Next, a blizzard separates Rita from the others, leaving her alone with Galahad and a bunch of poisonous spiders. There are no real surprises to be had here, but these two are certainly an improvement on the prostitute episode, moving the series from barely entertaining to mildly so (and on its worst day, it remains more watchable than a certain series about a bounty hunter and a witch).

A shame no one told this to the cast of Seirei no Moribito.

MANGA

Spiral 49-50: Volume ten and the Kanone saga finally come to a close here, with everything going down to the wire as the last moves in Ayumu’s plan are played out, and Kanone meets his fate. As always, the series puts in even more twists than you were expecting, and whilst this confrontation has arguably gone on for a bit longer than necessary, it remains a strong conclusion to a generally enjoyable arc. I’m approaching the next part with both anticipation for new material and a certain degree of trepidation, given both Hinano’s warnings and the spoilers I’ve read.

Tsubasa Chronicle 163-4: There are times when I wonder if it’s even worth continuing with this series anymore, and this is one of those times. In these two chapters, Ashura confronts Fye (or should that be Yuui now that we know the truth) and starts hurting his friends in an attempt to get the magician to kill him, even bringing out Sakura’s soulless body to up the stakes. The trouble is, with so many twists adding unneeded baggage to what was once a simple and straightforward story, everything threatens to collapse under the weight of its own inconsistency and unanswered questions- and worse yet, the treacle pace has become so slow that it takes weeks for anything of note to properly occur. Nonetheless, I shall continue for now (didn’t I once say this about the now abandoned School Rumble?).

I’ve been awfully negligent about these introductions lately, haven’t I? To make up for it, here are links to some amusing videos- Minesweeper the movie and Facebook Off. Trust me, they’re worth clicking on.

Reviewed this week: Baccano! 3, Darker than Black 20, El Cazador 20, Higurashi Kai 7, Koutetsu Sangokushi 11, Mai-Otome Zwei 4, Mononoke 4, Mushi-Uta 7, ROTK 47, RxJ 18, Seirei no Moribito 19, Sisters of Wellber 4

…and in manga: SaiMono 7, Spiral 48, Twin Spica 5+flashback

ANIME

CURRENT SERIES RANKINGS

1. Dennou Coil (1) – no more until the 25^th? Don’t make me wait!
2. SaiMono II (2) – who will win Eigetsu’s heart?
3. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei (3) – despair!
4. Darker than Black (4) – not bad, could be better
5. Baccano! (5) – I don’t know what’s going on, but I like it
6. Mononoke (6) – what do you fear the most?
7. Mushi-Uta (7) – stabilising in the pretty good zone
8. Tetsuko no Tabi (8)- train adventures
9. Doujin Work (9) – this is becoming a guilty pleasure
10. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai (10) – Hanyu makes it all better
11. Koutetsu Sangokushi (11) – pure cheese
12. Romeo X Juliet (12) – what’s the point anymore?
13. Seirei no Moribito (13) – an exercise in monotony
14. El Cazador de la Bruja (14) – useless Nadie

SLOW RANKINGS

1. Shounen Onmyouji (1)- a new episode after so long
2. Love GetChu! (3)- light entertainment
3. Sisters of Wellber (2) – Rita gets a new job
4. ROTK (4)- done and dusted <-complete!

OVA RANKINGS

1. MariMite (2)- more HARD YURI than ever
2. Mai-Otome Zwei (3)- white cat <-complete

Baccano! 3: With this episode, I have even less of a grasp of what is going on, but much like Iroha in its day, I am enjoying myself nonetheless (in fact, I’d go so far as to say that this has the potential to be better than Iroha. In this episode, we follow the threads of various characters, as criminal activities mix in with a mysterious ability to cheat death. I may not know what’s happening, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Darker than Black 20: Another arc concludes and we’re still no closer to finding out the truth about this world; instead, the episode is spent trying to rescue Shihoko and getting to Alma. Some interesting contract remunerations are revealed, but aside from that, there’s not a huge reason to care about the deaths of yet more characters we just met. Although I’m appreciative of how this arc fleshed out Huang beyond his initial shallow and dislikeable image, it once again feels like something we should have seen nearer the beginning of the series, not six episodes from the end.

El Cazador de la Bruja 20: After nineteen slow, boring and pointless episodes of El Cazador, the twentieth episode marks a change by being…slow, boring and pointless. Having succumbed to the green-eyed monster of jealousy when he sees how close Ellis and Nadie have become, L.A. decides to enlist the police to capture and kill Nadie, only to change his mind and decide to kill her himself mere minutes later. Meanwhile, Ricardo and Lirio show up to help out, Blue Eyes appears to observe and Nadie proves herself to be so useless that even a generic can cause her to trip over a dustbin lid. Whatever immunity I had last week also seems to be breaking down, as this once again felt like about fifty minutes rather than twenty-five.

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai 7: Unlike previous worlds, everything seems to be conspiring to make sure that none of our leads spirals off into a psychotic rampage- thanks to dream-memories of earlier tragedies, each takes the action needed to prevent disaster. Even so, Hanyu is sure that this world will end in failure as well, and even though detailed spoilers tell me how everything will turn out in this arc, it is still proving to be more satisfying than Higurashi has been in a long time.

Koutetsu Sangokushi 11: It cannot be denied anymore- Koutetsu Sangokushi is not just cheese, it is pure unadulterated mature cheddar. In this episode, our heroes condense the historical battle of Chi Bi into a battle against Wei’s implausible ship, the Red Cliff, and never have I seen something so unintentionally hilarious. After a lot of HARD GAY innuendo and predictable moves by our characters, our six main heroes actually get teleported inside the Sovereign’s Seal (or, as I call it, the Lord’s Cube), where they are each given magical Gundam Musou Dragoon Ranger powers, and the whole thing turns into a sentai show. As always, it’s not what I was expecting when I started this show, but the whole thing is a laugh riot.

*COMPLETE* Mai-Otome Zwei 4: I think it’s time to accept that Mai-Otome will never leave my life, but that doesn’t mean we have to be comfortable bedfellows. I want to leave the full shredding to its own dedicated post, but suffice to say that this final instalment in the Zwei OVA is basically a boss battle against the evil shadow Otome (now in the shape of giant Fumi), and Arika and Nina defeat it (Nina makes a contract with Mashiro) whilst Mai fights Kagutsuchi and the other Otome tackle nameless monsters off screen. It’s poor quality, senseless and largely pointless, but because it actually has fighting scenes, it is one of Otome’s better moments. And as if the wasn’t enough, a new prequel OVA(?) is said to be coming soon- Mai-Otome S.ifl. More on that this Sunday.

Mononoke 4: The good yet bizarre second arc of Mononoke continues in this episode (and yes, it’s definitely to be continued), as an Umizatou (basically a monstrous fish man with hideous smacking lips) boards the ship and asks everyone what their greatest fear, before showing them a disturbing and hideous illusion. By the end of the episode, we discover who brought the ship to this place and why, but on the way there’s plenty of creepy and borderline imagery to see- and to my surprise, I’m actually enjoying it.

Mushi-Uta 7: Whilst three new characters arrive in town to search for Fuyuhotaru, Asami continues to adjust to her new powers- and it seems certain that the various factions will be coming after her soon. I finally feel as if I have a somewhat more solid (if not complete) grasp of what is going on, although as before I am more drawn to the character interactions and their double lives than to the whole Bug Master aspect that I initially expected to be the most appealing element.

*COMPLETE* Romance of the Three Kingdoms 47: Well, it’s finally over, and with that this series can be put to rest. In this episode, the battle of Chi Bi concludes with the fire attack on the Wei ships, and although the narrator tells us that this is only the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era proper, as far as this series goes, it is the end of an era of mixed cheese, unintentional hilarity and stretches of boredom. No one else should ever attempt to watch it.

Romeo X Juliet 18: Francisco and Conrad have ordered some swords for the previously unmentioned mounted cavalry strike on Neo Verona, but since doing such a thing would advance the plot too far too fast, everyone decides to break off and perform one of Shakespeare’s plays (that’s the Shakespeare in the series, not the genuine article). Meanwhile, Romeo and his prisoner friends start making the abandoned village prosperous again- if this was some kind of simulation game, it might be enjoyable, but this is an anime, and right now it’s anime that’s going nowhere, and will probably continue to go nowhere right up until the end.

Seirei no Moribito 19: This week on Seirei no Moribito, the exciting crunch time continues as our characters try Sitting and Talking! Talking! Talking! Try not to fall off the edge of your seat as our undefeated heroine Balsa seats herself on a mat and takes on Tanda in the mightiest conversational battle you’ve ever seen! Tremble with fear as no fewer than Eight (that’s Eight, ladies and gentlemen) Evil Men skulk around the edge of a village and politely ask questions about our heroes! Feel the adrenalin flow as Chagum tries to Slowly Walk Away From Home with a village girl, only to meet Balsa in the Showdown of the Century! Will he run her through with her own spear so that he can go home to Mummy and Shuga, or will she easily deflect the untrained boy, slap him in the face and tell him to stop being so Damn Annoying? Find out by calling your cable provider and asking them to hook you up to Seirei no Moribito! Don’t watch this all in one go, because the excitement will Blow Your Mind!

Wellber no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~ 4: It’s been a while since we had any Wellber, but now episode four has appeared, in which Rita is forced to hide in what turns out to be the red-light district. Naturally, Rita’s complete lack of understanding first sees her almost getting employed as a prostitute herself, before deciding to campaign against the evils of women selling themselves (surely a counterpart to the recent TV show Anne Widdecombe vs. Prostitution) and then ultimately leaving all the characters of the week behind to continue her mission. It’s all rather standard and not particularly exciting, but the occasionally parody-worthy nature of this show has inspired me to consider “Saturday Special”, where I parody hand-picked episodes from various series.

MANGA

Saiunkoku Monogatari 7: It’s all the way back to the first arc once again in this chapter, as Shou Taishi’s scheme is revealed and Sa Enjun takes the fall- with his life. It’s good to relive these early parts of the story in such a compact form, although it would be even better if it was getting released a bit faster. Yes, this manga may be a mere extra course to the main meals of novel and anime, but it’s still worth having around.

Spiral 48: The confrontation with Kanone is, er, still going on, but luckily for Spiral, it remains good enough that we can pretend not to notice how long this fight has been dragging on for. Ayumu and Kanone are face to face once again, but whilst Kanone is certain that nothing can deflect the predetermined future where Ayumu kills him, our hero is about to play his last few cards. Everyone will be walking an extremely thin tightrope, but if everything comes together, their plan might just come together. I’m guessing it will, but that doesn’t make it any less interesting to read.

Twin Spica 5, flashback 2: After another flashback in which Asumi nearly drowns and visits the world between life and death (complete with some familiar faces), it’s time to get on with the present story in chapter five, which sees our heroine travel to Tokyo to start her first term in Space School. I’ve seen this all before in the anime, but even so Twin Spica is good enough to make it dramatic and heart-wrenching all over again.