Anime Series of the Genre: “Action”

Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis – Anime Review

Sunday, 15 February, 2015

screen-Shingeki-no-Bahamut

Kaiser and Favaro are both bounty hunters within a world shared by humans, angels and demons. They were close friends in their childhood but turned into enemies after the events in which both of their fathers were killed. Being of fundamentally different character they now once again have to cooperate as they both promised to help the mysterious demon girl Amira on her journey to Helheim. Things get even more complicated when word spreads that the first half of the key to the seal of Bahamut, a monster that laid waste to the world 2000 years ago, was stolen.

Shingeki no Bahamut Genesis is set in a quite interesting medieval fantasy world. The dispute between angels and demons is overshadowed by the fear of the possibility of Bahamut’s return, while there are different fractions that each has their own agenda that is slowly revealed to the viewer. Humorous characters are used to lighten up the mood within the story, which otherwise could have been more dark and epic. If this is for better or worse is for the viewer to decide. There clearly went a lot of work into the design of the different characters, races and costumes, yet a 12 episode series can only offer a small glimpse into such a rich and interesting universe. Many things that are introduced to the story are only briefly glossed over or are left unexplained. More episodes or a second season would have offered more opportunities to delve deeper into this world and its characters.
Rating: 8.5/10

【神撃のバハムート GENESIS】プロモーションムービー第2弾

Shingeki no Kyojin: Atack on Titan – Anime Review

Wednesday, 30 April, 2014

screen-Shingeki-no-Kyojin

The story is set in a world inhabited by humanoid titans that hunt and devour humans without reason or remorse. For more than one hundred years humanity could only survive within a country surrounded by thick concentric walls. One day an especially tall titan called the Colossus mysteriously appears and breaches the outermost wall, Wall Maria, enabling smaller titans to invade. Many lives are lost and the whole area has to be evacuated behind Wall Rose, the middle wall. Young Eren Yeager and his adopted sister Mikasa Ackerman lose their mother on that day and join the military to pursue their revenge on the titans.

Attack on Titan is arguably the best anime of 2013. The tense and hopeless situation of the people living in this ruthless world portrays an astonishing dark atmosphere. As even the military is no match for the titans, even many main characters die after being introduced, which makes for an unpredictable story. As it unfolds, many mysteries regarding the titans, the walls and this world are revealed and keep viewers interested. Action-filled, dark and bloody animes with solid plots tend to be popular especially among international anime fans. Still, Attack on Titan is not only successful because it fits perfectly into this slot, but also because it does so well in animation and its implementation. Therefore I think this anime deserves its hype.
Rating: 10/10

Zetsuen no Tempest – Anime Review

Monday, 21 January, 2013

zetsuen no tempest screenshots

When Yoshino visits his friend’s family grave, he is suddenly confronted by an armed woman who wants to know the whereabouts of his friend. His friend Mahiro left a month ago in a vain attempt to investigate the triple murder incident his parents and sister fell victim to. Since then he was seen at various locations that are now under quarantine. His sudden reappearance here is as unexpected as the magical powers he uses to save Yoshino. Mahiro’s powers are borrowed from talismans that belong to a trapped sorceress princess he made contact with through the help of a wooden doll. In exchange for his help she promised to use magic to solve the triple murder case Mahiro is so obsessed with. She claims the quarantine is due an epidemic curse that turns living things into metal, which is a side effect of the Kusaribe clan’s plan to revive the Tree of Zetsuen and the reason they trapped her. Yoshino decides to help them, but has his own reasons for doing so.

Zetsuen no Tempest is based on a manga of the same name. It is the dark and mysterious story of two friends who try to reveal secrets that are beyond their understanding. Many open questions and interesting and credible character designs leave viewers hooked to this original story line. The brilliant animation quality underlines its role as an adequate and noteworthy adaptation.
Rating: 9/10

High School DxD – Anime Review

Saturday, 20 October, 2012

screenshot-high-school-dxd

Hyoudou Issei is your usual hormone-driven high school boy. When asked out by a beautiful girl from his school, he quickly accepts without second thoughts. However this girl turns out to be a sadistic fallen angel, who proceeds to killing Issei on the night of their first date. Laying in his own blood with deep regrets Rias Gremory appears and ressurects him as a demon serving as her pawn. She is from a high ranking family of demons and the head of his school’s Occult Research Club. In his new life he helps people who try to call forth demons and assists in Rias’ quarrels with other demons and fallen angels.

Being based on a series of light novels,  there certainly  is an unfolding story line that is interesting to follow, yet not too original or breathtaking to be praiseworthy. After all High School DxD’s main selling point seems to be the hilarious comedy and the extensive fan service. Still, the annoucmet of a second season proves its success among viewers, so fans of this genre should defenitly risk a glimpse.
Rating: 8/10

Mirai Nikki – Anime Review

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011

mirai nikki anime

Yukiteru is a silent boy who doesn’t take part in any of his classmate’s activities and doesn’t have any friends at all. The only two things that bring him joy in life is writing banal notes about his surroundings into his cell phone diary and talking to his imaginary friend Deus Ex Machina. As it turns out Deus Ex Machina is in fact very real and Yukiteru is drawn into a secret survival game, where each contestant is given a cell phone diary that contains notes about the future, yet each according to different rules. Armed with his Future Diary Yukiteru has a hard time surviving the numerous attacks of the other contestants. To his Luck the contestant Yuno, who had a secret crush on him, uses her strength to protect him and defeat his enemies.

Mirai Nikki is based on a manga of the same name. The good animation quality and the absence of censored blood or violence make it into an adequate adaptation of an original story. Fans of thrilling mystery animes like Death Note, should also give this one a try.
Rating:
9/10

Freezing – Anime Review

Sunday, 13 February, 2011

freezing anime screenshots
Review: The story takes place in a world that is under threat of invasion from giant nova creatures. The only ones who are able to fight them are genetically enhanced girls called Pandoras. When Aoi Kazuya enrolls to an academy where young Pandoras are trained and educated, he instantly develops an affection for Satellizer el Bridget; the strongest but also coldest of all Pandoras in her year. Genetically enhanced boys may also visit this academy to be chosen by Pandoras as their Limiter and assist them during fights with their freezing ability. The distant and seemingly cold hearted Satellizer however doesn’t seem to have any intention of teaming up with anybody.

Freezing is based on a popular manga of the same name. Similar to Sekirei this anime has lots of action and fanservice in decent animation quality. Yet, there is also a solid story that develops slowly, while in the beginning the focus lays within the development of relationships. Let’s hope there will be more than 12 episodes so that the story will actually be going somewhere.
Rating: 8/10

Dragon Crisis – Anime Review

Wednesday, 19 January, 2011

dragon crisis anime
When Ryuuji was a child he saw a girl hatch from a giant egg in the mountains, but told himself that it must have been a dream. 10 years later he meets her again as he saves her from black market dealers. From that day on she becomes attached to him and follows him around everywhere. Later he finds out that she is a young dragon that has supernatural powers. However, there are other dragons as well, who try to take her away from him.

Dragon Crisis is based on a Japanese light novel series of the same name. It’s the story of a boy deserted by his own parents and now forced to act a parent for a dragon girl who can’t even talk yet. The story takes place in contemporary Japan, but with the existence of magic and supernatural powers. Ryuuji seems to be a very skillful user of a certain ability that isn’t further explained at this point. The animation quality and special effects are very well done, especially during fights. All in all it seems to be a decent fantasy novel adaptation with interesting settings. Sadly as the story progresses it becomes exceedingly weak and repetitive.
Rating: 6/10

Sekirei – Anime Review

Friday, 5 November, 2010


Review: Minato is very disappointed to have failed the college entrance exams twice, but his failure life style is about to change as he meets Musubi, a mysterious girl who is suddenly attacked by two other girls using weird lightning powers. Minato decides to help her and finds out that she is a sekirei and part of the sekirei plan, an unknown operation planned out by the MBI Corporation which controls this whole city. There are 108 sekireis and Minato seems to possess the Ashikabi gene to become a master of sekireis and awaken their powers to the fullest. Musubi now is his first sekirei, but being a peaceful guy he cannot understand why sekireis have to fight each other. What will he do?

Sekirei is a harem fanservice comedy action spectacle with a plot that isn’t too shabby for this kind of genre. Being a big fan of the Sekirei manga I had my doubts whether this anime will live up to my expectations. But unlike many other recent manga adaptations, this time they did a pretty decent  job. Animation and script are of a quality adequate for telling the sekirei story. However, those who read the manga will certainly find a few things that are missing or are not presented adequately, to say the least.
Rating: 8/10