Anime Bento

Hana yori Dango

2009-04-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

51 Episodes

Creator: Yoko Kamio
Opening Theme: Futsuu no Nichiyoubi ni (An Ordinary Sunday) by Tomohiko Kikuta
Ending Themes: Kenka no Ato de by Tomohiko Kikuta and Todoku ka na by CaYOKO

Plot Summary: Tsukushi Makino’s only wish is to peacefully graduate from rich and snobbish Eitoku High. When her friend gets in trouble with the F4 – wealthy, good-looking bullies at her school – her priorities change. When the F4 is against her, so is everybody. Now, Tsukushi’s school life is all about fighting the F4 and survive their horrible bullying. (from back of vol. 1 DVD)

Review: First word that comes to mind in describing Hana yori Dango is LONG! That's right, this series is really really long and drawn out. I was able to finish it, but it was just so . . . drama filled and took forever for the main couple to get together and stay that way. Talk about defeating adversaries in the the name of love.

However the characters are easy to love and hate. And the story really gives a good view on how selfish humans can be. Or that sometimes you just have to give in and forget about pride to be truly happy.

I loved the opening theme and animation. Along with the second ending theme. I got An Ordinary Sunday stuck in my head for days after watching so many episodes in one go.

As much as I enjoyed the story and the weird ending. I can't say that I'd really recommend this, however if you're willing to sit through 51 episodes of indecisiveness then go for it, because it is kind of worth it.

The Tower of Druaga; The Aegis of Uruk

2009-03-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

12 Episodes
Director: Koichi Chigira
Opening: Swinging by Muramasa☆
Ending: Tōchōsha-tachi (塔頂者たち) by Kenn

Plot Summary: The summer of "Anu": in a summer once every five years, demons in the mysterious Tower of Druaga lose their powers due to the magic spell cast by a god named "Anu". King Gilgamesh, ruler of the kingdom Uruk, uses the appearance of demons as an excuse to invade the tower and find out the construct's secrets. As 80 years passed, the Uruk army managed to fight back the demons and built a fortress city and safe haven on the very first floor of Druaga. (from back of dvd case)

Review: Aegis of Uruk part of the Tower of Druaga series is short with only 12 episodes, however the reason for this is that they focus only on the more important scenes and leave out the fillers. Each episode is important and each scene plays a large roll in the over all plot.

The only problem with such a sort season is that it's hard to feel any connection with any of the characters. There were a few hints as to what each character's past, but not enough to really make me feel much of a connection.

The animaiton is amazing however and the music is well placed. I really enjoyed the opening theme.

I would recommend this only because the sequel The Sword of Uruk is shaping up to be much more detailed and have a heavier plot then just 'lets get to the top of the tower together!'

Weiß Kreuz

2009-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

25 Episodes
Creator: Takehito Koyasu
Openings: Velvet Underworld and Piece of Heaven by Weiß
Closings: Beautiful Alone and It's Too Late by Weiß

Plot Summary: When the moon rises, the boys of Knight Hunters are the most vicious assassins the world has ever seen. During the day, they remain disguised as elegant florists with an eye for beauty. Led by the somber and silent Aya, the team consists of Ken, a wide-eyed former athlete, Omi, a young computer specialist, and Yohiji, a suave ladies man. Their four tragic pasts give them the passion to fight! (found on back of volume one)

Review: This series has to the most disappointing anime I've ever wanted to watch. I had to wait years before watching this but that didn't stop me from becoming a unofficial fan due to amazing fanfics and art. I was so exited when a friend handed me the boxset so that I could finally watch it.

It turned out to be horrible. It's been about a year since, so my memory is kind of rusty on all the reasons why I couldn't stand it. The one being that there is no blood, even in the original! Over dramatized, with everything exaggerated. Sure it was easy to like some of the characters, but then they got into situations that their reactions to were so unbelievable.

And the most annoying was how awful the animation and music was. Just thinking about the opening and ending themes gives me a headache. And the art could have been so much better, it's like they had interns draw the whole thing!

Basically I don't recommend this at all. It sucks!

Naruto

2009-03-01T06:28:00.000-08:00

103 Original Storyline Episodes
90 Filler Episodes
Creator: Masashi Kishimoto
Openings
Endings

Plot Summary: Deep within the Hidden Leaf Village, sharp and cunning Ninja carry an ultimate power while Naruto Uzumaki carries inside the ultimate secret.Twelve years ago, the fourth Hokage sacrificed himself and saved the village by sealing the Nine-tailed Fox Spirit an orphaned baby boy. Now, this plucky prankster must do what it takes achieve this life-long goal and become the next Hokage! (from back of volume 1 boxset)

Review: Naruto is one of my favorite animes to date. It never gets old, as it is one of the most original series out there. It's hard to imagine what type of imagination it takes to think something like this up!

Naruto is hilarious, it never fails in making me laugh. The comedy in Naruto is exaggerated and it does very well at looking at things from a young teen's point of view when it comes to the weird things adults do.

The fight scenes never get old and I can't help myself into cheering for my favorite characters whenever they battle. There are even parts that creep me out with how some techniques are used or injuries sustained. Just thinking about it gives me a shiver up my spine.

Naruto is also one of the most background detailed series I have ever come across. It has layers of history spanning decades! Almost all the characters are shown to have extensive detail dedicated to their pasts and there is still more to learn as the second installment continues to be released. This makes it hard not have favorites.

I am a more visual person and rarely give any mind to soundtracks, but it's hard to ignore Naruto's moving music. And I'm not talking about the opening and ending themes. I'm very sure that without the amazing songs, I wouldn't find this anime half as moving as I do.

Basically I could go on and on about how amazing Naruto is, but I think I'll cut this short and say that this is an anime that should be given a chance by every anime fan. Don't watch the dubbed because well it sucks. But really this series has something to offer to just about anyone.

Blue Seed

2009-02-28T23:05:00.000-08:00

26 Episodes

Creator; Yuzo Takada
Opening; Carnival Babel by Takada Band
Endings; Touch & Go by Megumi Hayashibara and Life by Megumi Hayashibara

Plot Summary: The countdown to extinction begins when the evil shape-shifting monsters known as the Aragami make their grand play to gain control of the earth. Humanity's only chance for survival rests on the shoulders of Momiji, a young girl carrying an unborn Aragami in her chest and Kusanagi, a servant of the Aragami rebelling against his masters in order to ensure mankind's survival. Watch the battle for earth's survival unfold in the groundbreaking anime series, Blue Seed! (from back of perfect DVD collection)

Review: Blue Seed is a big old favorite of mine. One of the last series that I watched entirely dubbed before even watching it in Japanese. When I watched the first few episodes, I was a little skeptical about how much I liked this, but stuck to it because back then anime wasn't so freely accessible. Plus it was about the only thing watchable at one in the morning.

But after a few episodes the characters and the interesting storyline had me hooked until the end. Sure it's pretty straight forward and kind of predictable, but it is different and fun to watch. Be it the awful sound effects or the terrible puns.

Momiji is easy to like as she like most staring leads for magic girl series, is a little clumsy, not so smart, but makes up for it with her courage and big heart. But you see her grow slowly into this amazing woman that . . . well that would be giving away the ending. Just know that you'll be rooting for her all the way through.

Though mostly an action comedy with a supernatural twist there is quite a bit of romance mixed in as well. Almost all characters are paired off near the end, in a cheese kind of way.

It is rare for me to watch anything more then once in a short period of time. And while I haven't watched this recently it's always something I can watch over and over. I recommend that everyone should give this a try, don't have to watch the whole thing. But give it a chance and see if you enjoy it.

Itazura Na Kiss

2008-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

24 Episodes

Creator; Kaoru Tada
Opening Theme; Kimi, Meguru, Boku by Motohiro Hata
Ending Themes: Kataomoi Fighter by GO!GO!7188, Jikan yo Tomare feat. SEAMO by AZU, and Kimi, Meguru, Boku by Motohiro Hata

Plot Summary: In the romantic comedy story, a high school girl named Kotoko finally tells a fellow senior named Naoki that she has loved him from afar since she saw him on their first day of high school. However, Naoki, a haughty "super-ikemen" (handsome male) with smarts and sports talent, rejects her offhand. Fate intervenes when a mild earthquake ruins Kotoko's family house. While the house gets rebuilt, Kotoko and her dad stay at the home of her dad's childhood friend...whose son is Naoki. (from Anime News Network)

Review: Itazura Na Kiss is a hilarious series. There wasn't an episode that I didn't enjoy. It is rare to like a charater like Kotoko, who is obsessed with a mean guy like Naoki. But you can't help but fall in love with such a stupid clumsy girl, who has such a big heart.

Don't think that Itazura Na Kiss is all laughs, there is also a lot of dramatic moments that might bring a tear to your eye. The more serious scenes come across as genuine and sincere, even if they have a little silliness to them.

Itazura Na Kiss is now a favorite of mine and something that I'd recommend to any that like comedy romance or heartfelt stories.