Friday, 5 November, 2010
Review: Ayumi recently transferred to Kamizono School as a high school freshman. Kamizono is a large school attended by more than 3000 students from elementary to high school. Ayumi is a rather silent girl who has problems speaking up her mind. She is determined to change, but still has problems doing so. On this big school ground she gets lost, but soon meets 3 other girls who share her fate and possess very different personalities. They soon become friends; but will they be able to help each other, or only get into more trouble.
Hyakko is a very funny school comedy anime with girls as main characters. It’s one of many shows recently with little story but enjoyable character and lots of comedy. Definitely worth watching for anyone who loves school comedy without any romance.
Rating: 8/10
Friday, 5 November, 2010
Review: Sixteen year old Sora grew up along a small country side in Bie, Hokkaido. A town with 4 streets and a bit of magic. Well, the magic is mostly in Sora and her town is about to get a lot bigger. Having just been accepted to the Bureau of Magic’s internship program, Sora is about to see the great big world of Tokyo for the first time. As if the experience itself wasn’t overwhelming she quickly develops a rivalry with her fellow classmates and her new co-intern, a mysteriously cold young boy, already hates her. So much for meeting new friends. But life is about trial and error, you can’t run away from it.
The title translates to “Things That Are Important to a Mage ~Summer Skies” Better known as “Some day’s Dreamers 2” in North America. On the first look the animation quality might seem artistic and astonishing, but if you look closer it isn’t any good at all. All the backgrounds are actually real-life photos poorly edited by a photoshop filter to make it look a little more like animation, and the cars and people they actually animated by themselves are done rather poorly and often do not fit in with the background. It doesn’t live up to its manga in any sense. The story is a bit immature but may turn out complex with Sora’s love interest and many jealous competitors. It’s not a direct sequel and it is completely redesigned.
Rating: 6/10
Friday, 5 November, 2010
Review: Spice and Wolf plays in a distant past and tells the story of Lawrence, who is a knowledgeable traveling merchant. One night he finds a beautiful naked girl with wolf ears and tail inside his wagon. Her name is Horo and she is a wolf god in human form and used to help the local peasants with their wheat. She decided she wants to leave the town and travel the world with Lawrence. In her own way she helps him to gain profit, while they always have to be careful not to let anyone see that she is a wolf girl.
Spice and Wolf offers an interesting view on the life of a merchant along with a nice developing story.
Rating: 8,5/10
Friday, 5 November, 2010
Review: Minami-ke portrays the (ordinary?) daily life of the 3 sisters Haruka, Kana, and Chiaki at home and at school. Even though they are sisters they possess very different personalities.
This series is mainly about comedy and comparable to shows like Azumanga Daioh and Ichigo Mashimaro. So even if there isn’t much of a development, it can perfectly live only on comedy.
Rating: 9/10
Thursday, 4 November, 2010
Review: Izumi Konata is a hopeless otaku totally into anime and games. Still, without studying and always copying homework from her friends, she always gets good grades.
This anime is, same as Azumanga Daioh, based on a 4-panel-manga and portrays the daily high school life of Izumi and her friends. All of them have unique and funny characteristics and make up an interesting combo. The different scenes might seem random and unconnected at times as it is based on a 4-panel-manga, but it is very funny none the less, especially the Happy-TV special at the end of each episode and its funny moderator. Being made by Kyoto Animations it is already certain to become a cult hit, yet I feel sad that they decided to make a cheap moe anime instead of another dramatic fantasy anime with high quality animations.
Rating: 9/10
Wednesday, 27 October, 2010
Review: This OVA series is based on the popular shoujo novel series of the same name and continues where the first 2 popular seasons Maria-sama ga Miteru (08.01.2004 till 01.04.2004) and Maria-sama ga Miteru: Haru (04.07.2004 till 26.09.2004) left off.
Fukuzawa Yumi is a cute first-year student at Lillian Girls’ Academy. This catholic school has a special student council that is admired and famous among all the students. Usually this student council is composed of 3 senior students who take special flower titles: Rosa Gigantea (white); Rosa Sinensis (red); Rosa Foetida (yellow). Each of them can take a second-year student who then is referred to as “Rosa … en bouton”. Each “en bouton” is also allowed to pick a first year as a “petite soeur” (little sister). The 9 girls hold meetings in a special small house on the school grounds. Sachiko, the “Rosa Sinensis en bouton”, suddenly asks Yumi, who has always admired her, to become her “petite soeur”. This romantic, dramatic and heartwarming story revolves around the lives of the 9 girls of the student council and focuses on their relationships and circumstances.
Rating: 9,5/10
Wednesday, 27 October, 2010
Review: This is one of the more unique anime this season. It is about a very skilful bartender who solves his costumer’s problems by tasty cocktails and a little bit of conversation. Later on the ingredients of those cocktails are shown. I respect the originality of this show, but its originality does not make up for its boring construction. Most probably only those who have a strong interest in mixing and drinking cocktails will find an interest in this show.
Rating: 3/10
Tuesday, 26 October, 2010
Review: Binbou Shimai Monogatari is a heartwarming story that revolves around the 2 sisters Kyou (15) and Asu (9). They live on their own in an old apartment because their father left them and their mother died from an illness. They live a basic and poor yet happy life and are very close to each other. Together they overcome all sorts of daily problems, make new friends and keep trying hard.
In my view this anime show is a little bit childish and has no point to it, but it has those cute and heartwarming aspects, so there might be people who enjoy this show.
Rating: 4/10