I look forward to this OVA simply because I can't get enough of Hyakko hence why I continued with the manga. I was delighted when I found out that Nippon Animation will once again bring this series back, despite that this is just a 10 minutes OVA.
As expected, there is no in depth story or character development.
The OVA in a nutshell: Touma and Torako spending their after school at a cake cafe and trying out all the type of cakes on display.
There are some funny moments, thanks to Torako antics. I also discovered that Touma has gay feelings towards the innocent Torako ^o^
Hyakko OVA is bundled with the fifth volume of the manga. It featured the same seiyuu as the TV series and I'm happy to report that the quality of the animation too remained the same. The ED theme is sweet, maybe to compliment the cakes that have been consumed?
I kind of disappointed with the outcome of this OVA but better than nothing, I guess.
Trivia: The most abused line in this OVA is Sacher Torte!
Kitsune!
Here is the OVA in glorious HD!
Art 7/10 Story 7/10 Sound 7/10 Character 8/10 Enjoyment 7/10 Overall 7/10
Yurumates (pronounced yuru-mates as mate in Halo thar mate!) is a series of unrelated shorts stories compiled in a 35 minutes or so OVA. It is simple, enjoyable and funny with the cast of four simple and standard archetype characters: Yurume, Sae, Kumi and Matsukichi. It encompassed everyday life storyline; from surviving the hot/cold to eat hotpot together with everything else in between. All these happened in a rundown low rent building where these four struggling students live. It may sound like you have seen all these jokes before but that does not mean that it is less funny. The story, as you would have predicted from the title evolved around Yurume, the country girl who is adjusting the life in the big city. Then you get introduced to Sae and Kumi who constantly tease Yurume for her naivety. I like Kumi a lot because one look at her, you would think that she is an airhead but the fact is she is more than meets the eyes. She also has a dark sense of humor compared to Sae. Matsukichi is the only male in the building and it is a nice change to see a non-perverted male character in a cast of women. He often comes in a tad too late, or a tad too early.
I also enjoy the cicada segment a lot. It is funny on its own.
Like everything else, the art is simple too. It fits rather well with the whole theme of the OVA in my opinion. They are also have that chibi like quality about them. The seiyuu performance managed to bring out the characters personalities and with the simplicity of the animation and the story, having strong voice performances was critical to its success. As for the ED, it is pretty catchy and adorable.
Overall, Yurumates is a really cute, fun and simple show. Like crazyanimegyrl who influenced me to watched this, I am glad that Frostii fansub picked it up. It definitely deserved to get more attention (hence why I am writing this review).
If you have zero sense of humor and personality, it is best you avoid it, since you are fucked up and wouldn't appreciate this show anyway.
Couple of years ago, a friend of mine lent me his DVD when I told him I was yet to be acquainted with Onizuka. He could not believe it and literally forced me to watched it right away. Putting aside my studies (Yeah, I was in college back then), I dedicated my next couple of days to finish the anime.
It was time well spent.
After watching the first episode, I was totally enamoured by Onizuka Eikichi and his ridiculous crazy ways of handling matters in life. Here he was, an ex-biker gang leader, an emotionally fragile loser with no life, less social skills and a good heart whose aspiration is to be a great teacher. Mixed that all up and you get one character that fucked up a lot and get carried away from time to time with violence yet can't help being a good guy.
Onizuka was thrown into a class where the students have to deal with their own set of problems (a sad accurate reflection of modern Japan youth). Between skirt chasings and torturing the student, he managed to help them solved those problems, using his unconventional (read: retarded) methods which provide plenty of comedy and humorous situations. Onizuka was in the heart of it all. He, more than anything, what makes GTO as much fun as it is.
He is a one man hero.
The story is somewhat cliche and is considered episodic where several different story settings take place. However they are some very clever surprises and plot devices to keep the viewer poised for more.
The art and animation was adequate for its time but comes across as kinda outdated in this modern days. Nonetheless it fits right in with the mood the show aims to give you.
The voice acting from everybody fits well too with the characters (i'm not talking about the dubbed version). The variety amusing mood-enhancing tunes for background music will perk you up. As for the OP and ED songs, they were decent selections.
While there is a certain moral message to the anime, watch it for the sheer fun value. It will make you laugh, that's for certain, or perhaps it might even make you cry.
I finished watching K-On! I actually saw it on the same day I wrote the First Look, but I wasn't in the mood of writing another review of it. Look, it's not bad. Maybe it's my fault for not understanding it, but honestly, I tried. I gave my best to utterly understand it, but I failed. This piece of shit is horrible. It has fucking nothing worth watching it. Not even its so-called gorgeous cast can't save this frigging wreck. Its an abomination of nature, and all the dvds should just fucking burn. It just shows that same stupid humor, over, and over, and over, and over again. No plot, no point, no nothing. Twelve episodes of pure mind rape, and they even bothered releasing an OVA. Like, fucking thanks for that shit. The series is very well animated, and some of the scenes are very lively and colorful. The music is horrible, although the anime is based on a band. By the end of the season, the band gets another member, a more retarded one than Yui. It keeps building up something until the festival. You see them practice, getting ready for the festival, bla bla, and then boom! and it is done. Six hours of my life I will never get back. If you're not a girl, please do not watch this. I beg you not to watch this. But you know what. Fuck that. I dare you to watch this shit, and come here, and tell me what you thought about it.
I was first introduced to this anime when it was shown on cable TV but unfortunately I was not able to follow the series. So I bought the DVD (both season 1 and 2) and once I started I could not stop. Never mind if I have to be awake at 4am in the morning as long as I finish it. I was addicted and with every chapter I fell in love more and more with the characters. This is the first anime that I do not have any antipathy towards at least one of the character. I never thought that it was possible! I can assure you that even viewers outside the target demographic attest to its greatness, pointing out its heartfelt storytelling and unique visual style. It was supposed to be just good enough for sophisticated female viewers—and it ended up being good enough for everyone. Funnier than most comedies and more touching than most dramas (even the live-action ones), Honey and Clover has emerged as one of the best anime I had ever watched, and I've watched plenty. The story begins right in the middle of things—Takemoto in his second year of college, Mayama nearing graduation, and Morita stuck in seventh-year hell. Then Hagu-chan came into the picture. She simply joins the cast, and the drama-go-round begins. There is no epic quest to fulfill, no convoluted conspiracy to unlock, no childhood friend to win over—it's just a bunch of college kids figuring out what to do with their lives, and it is fascinating. Every character gets a moment in the spotlight, with story arcs transiting flawlessly between each other. Even Takemoto, who spends most of the series as a neutral observer, closes things out with an inspiring personal triumph. The mood of the show switches effortlessly from madcap comedy to utter heartbreak and everything in between, yet nothing feels out of place. Within a single episode, a game of Art School Twister takes humor to new heights, and yet minutes later, Takemoto muses upon the meaning of friendship. Honey and Clover succeeds because of its characters' complex personalities. Morita emerges as a quick fan favorite with his bizarre antics and affinity for money, but to focus on him is to miss out on the intricate relationships between everyone else. I can see myself dating him in real life. My heart reaches out for Takemoto as well in his struggle to win Hagu-chan love. In particular, Ayumi's unrequited attachment to Mayama is sure to arouse plenty of indignation about the portrayal of women in Japanese entertainment. But maybe that anger is because Ayumi openly reveals everything we hate about them: weakness, insecurity, and the tendency to do really stupid things in the name of love. She is the most human character in a cast of incredibly human characters. If Honey and Clover has any faults, it's that you want it to keep going after it's over. It ends just like it begins—right in the middle of things, with so much more yet to be experienced. Without realizing it, you've become part of that circle of friends: you've shared their heartbreaks and triumphs, walked alongside them as they poured out their feelings, and watched each one of them learn a little bit more about themselves. Whether in school or not, who hasn't asked themselves at some point: "What do I want to do? Who do I want to be?" Honey and Clover may not have the answers, but it's all about trying to find them. The other thing I realized when I had finished this anime is this: people do drifted apart as we get older...
Another drama I am reviewing. I think it's a curse. Let me explain the title first: the movie is named 5 Centimeters Per Second for the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall, petals being a metaphorical representation of humans, reminiscent of the slowness of life and how people often start together but slowly drift into their separate ways. The storyline although not being too complex is very realistic and that is what actually makes it so easy to feel connected to the characters. You want him to get there on time. You want them to be happy. You want them to kiss. You are right there, with tears in your eyes hoping for a better tomorrow. Or if you're me, you're there scratching your balls thinking how the fuck did they manage to make something as sad as this shit. Many movies have those 'lucky circumstances', those unbelievably strange situations that are always nice to watch, because they are usually our fantasy-moments. This movie doesn't. And it's good, because some of us know deep inside, that those fantasy-moments will never happen so i guess that sometimes we even find ourselves wanting to see the 'real-life versions' of the plots...so no 'lucky circumstances', no happy-strange moments in this movie. This movie is all about real life... Yes, it may be sad. Yes, there might be no happy ending like in those Pixar and Disney bullshit fairy tales. But there will be something much better - a real life love story that will blow you away with it's amazing passion and animation. I only have one problem and you'll see what I mean if you're going to see the movie. In the first part, I really think the characters are waaaay to young for the romance. They are like 12-13 if I remember correctly. That is sick. They should have made them like 16. Would have made the story more passionate and in some ways more real. The sound is also gorgeous. I couldn't stop listening to the OST, so I really think you should check it out. I can't provide any information on the plot, because that would spoil it, and you don't want me spoiling this piece of shit for you, because you will watch it yourself. All I can say is that there are three episodes inside of this film; the second episode is set some years after the first episode, and the third episode is set some more years after the second episode. BTW Do not watch with you girlfriend. I thought it would be fun. It wasn't.
ps: I am sick of reviewing all the drama and romance shit..I am really scared that my balls will actually fall off any minute now...if you are interested in joining our team and writing some reviews in your free time please contact us at animenerdz@rocketmail.com
I am going to start by saying that "The Girl Who Leapt through Time" was the best anime movie I have ever seen. It doesn't have the best visuals in the world, but it has something that normal anime fail to deliver, and that is entertainment. You will be hooked in the story right from the beginning. With its lively and interesting backgrounds, lush colors and detailed animation, the film is really a joy to look at. Particular mention must be made of the time-leaping effect, which truly offers you a sense of breathlessness. The plot of the film is very simple and it would seem like a boring cliché, although it's not. It has a high school senior named Makoto Konno going through life, hanging out with her two best friends, and trying to cope with the pressures of being a student. So it is the same boring shit. Well until on a day, when everything is going wrong, Makoto suddenly discovers that she has somehow become able to leap through time. She falls over some kind of walnut and it gives her the ability. Seems stupid and retarded but they will reveal everything in the end. The ending is gorgeous. So suddenly able to relive great days or correct past mistakes she thinks she has somehow managed to find a way to make her wishes (and those of her friends) come true. But as all the movies involving time travel always thought as, it soon becomes clear that some of the changes have consequences that she never intended. It is a really a beautiful story that actually teaches us to embrace things the way they are and to try to make thing better but to understand that what has already happened can't and should not be changed or redone. The movie has two parts: the science-fiction part which starts right there in the beginning, and the melodramatic romance which ends the movie. And yes, I almost cried in the end. Almost did.
Tanaka Yukio, better known by his nickname Koyuki is a 14 year old who feels disconnected from life in general. Through the act of saving a mismatched dog, he meets guitarist Minami Ryuusuke, and becomes involved in Ryuusuke's new band BECK. Koyuki's life starts to change as the band struggles towards fame.The story focuses on the trials and tribulations of their rock band named BECK, and an important plot that deals with Koyuki's relationship with Ryûsuke's sister, Maho.
Yeah, the plot is very simple, but don't be fooled by it's simplicity because simplicity is what makes the series great. I will admit this, that there were a couple of episodes when it felt like the plot was dragging along, but overall it was a great ride. I actually found Beck to be a cool series and enjoyed its focus on music. The focus is only on rock music which could have been BECK's only flaw. Not many anime viewers actually enjoy rock music, so this could have made BECK not as popular as it would have been with some pop shit flying around. Nevertheless, for me BECK was perfect. It had that strange mixture of rock, love and passion. Let's admit it, everyone dreamed of being a singer. Part of a rock band. I even bought a guitar after I saw BECK, that's how bad I liked this anime. The sound in the series is awesome, the songs are great and I think that most fans of modern rock music will really enjoy it. The animation in Beck is pretty decent. It has nothing spectacular which is truly understandable. Why? Well because they made something about music. There was no point in investing into visuals really. I found the story and character development both to be good as well. There are really no flaws within its core. The only thing that could make you stay away is the rock music and the large amount of slice of life, which I found sometimes misplaced. Overall I guess Beck is a solid series, definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of rock music and slice of life anime.
Kitsune!
