Taisho Yakyu Musume
Alternative title:
Taisho Baseball Girls
[starrater]
School
School Days
[starrater]
A-Channel
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: Apr 2011
Episode Length/Run-time: 12 Episodes
Summary:
Tooru who has just entered the same high school as her best best and childhood friend Run, who is now a second year, and Run’s friends Yuuko & Nagi in their daily lives.
Review:
I feel like this anime is supposed to be really funny, or, at least, a little funny. But the problem remains I found myself SO bored watching it. The characters are the normal funny formula, the young one, the bookish one, the ditz, the well-meaning screw-up, perhaps I’m jaded but it all just falls flat. The slice-of-life doesn’t really help either, because there’s no real conflict, or overarching plot, or real antagonist, just random stuff happening one thing after another. For example, there is an entire episode about sneaking into the school at night, and not even for a fun reason, they just forgot something. I had foolishly thought that there may be some semblance of a story or at least relationship building throughout the show, given the relationships at the beginning and the cute girl crush one of them had, but that was foolish thinking. The love just serves as a plot device to have one girl be all protective and have some slapstick humor as she punches people who get too close away. The style of the show is nothing to write home about either. Everything looks chili, even the adults are done in a very simplistic style… Though I suppose on the bright side they don’t look the same age as their students, so thats a pro for the show. But they have things like montages during stupid little songs, the budget is too low for a montage I tell you! Animate everything! I suppose this is one of those anime that you just have to be into to want to watch. If this is the kind of stuff you like, random acts of girl/Moe cuteness with little else than this really delivers. I suppose its not too Moe that non-Moe fans will not upchuck after a minute, but its still pretty solid Moe stuff left to right, up to down. The biggest thing I enjoyed personally was the opening, its a good song and good animation, otherwise I found myself dragging my bored feet through this show.
[starrater]
His and Her Circumstances
Alternate Titles: Kareshi to Kanojo no Jijou
Original Japanese Release Date: October 2nd, 1998
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes
Summary:
This is the story of Miyazawa and Arima, two model students with a secret; they aren’t really the people they pretend to be. At school they are perfect, but outside of the classroom they are just normal, fun loving, silly people. After discovering each other’s secret, the two fall in love begin dating. Of course, they’ll have to defend their relationship against many people including their parents and teachers.
Review:
His and Her Circumstances is one of those rare lovestories that actually delivers a believable set of characters and circumstances. Much like Kimi ni Todoke, it is one of those shows where two characters know that they love each other and the show takes off from there. Kare Kano starts out with two characters with strong personalities actually disliking each other. They both put on this facade for their public school life that isn’t anywhere near their real selves. After divulging their true personalities to each other in a VERY interesting way, the two fall in love. It’s rare for anime, but soon after, the two are kissing and fighting for their relationship against those that do not approve of it. This kind of thing is seen rarely in anime as its even rare for the characters to develop a relationship at all.
Still, Kare Kano is an interesting show in that it gives such incite into the personalities of the two main characters. They do this through monologue and through a great deal of on screen text. The latter of the two certainly offer both pros and cons. It can be very inciteful to see into the minds of the characters but unfortunately, especially subtitled, it can be difficult to read all the on screen text and the subtitles at the same time.
While the first half of the series is filled with wonderful romance, comedy and drama, the second half of rife with filler episodes, recap episodes, and in an, oh so typical Gainax way, an ending mostly unfinished. Think Evangelion; crayon and pencil. Still, I don’t want to emphasize the last 13 episodes of the series because the show’s first 13 episodes are some of the best in all of anime. Still, it cannot be completely overlooked. As a warning, be prepared to be enthralled and ultimately disappointed by Kare Kano.
[starrater]
Azumanga Daioh
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: April 8th, 2002
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes
Summary:
Cooking is so fun…cooking is so fun…now it’s time to take a break and see what we have done.
Review:
The best way to breakdown this anime’s story is to explain the characters. You have the child genius, Chiyo-chan who is about half the age of everybody else (And half the height), but shes twice as smart and of course cute, then there is Tomo Takino, the tom boy, who is always full of energy and also a total dimwit. She often copies homework on her friends and her energic personality adds a lot of spice to the series. The other key characters of the series include, Sakaki, Osaka and Yomi. Sakaki is a tall, sporty, girl who loves cats. The only problem is that the cats always seem to bite her! It is hilarious! Osaka is the awkward, really dumb girl who comes from Osaka and as a results shes a little backwards, including her southern accent!
As Azumanga Daioh is based after a manga, the series is broken down into short 3-5 minute episodes that stitch together seemlessly to form a story, an often times random story. This anime is incredibly random, from a floating cat that is apparently Chiyo’s father to crazy occurances in the classroom, Azumanga is one of the most random and as a result one of the funniest animes out there. It is a total classic. In addition, the humor in Azumanga Daioh, continually hits the nail on the head, unlike some other anime which fall flat over and over again.
I truly recommend Azumanga Daioh to people of any gender, of any age. It is a classic comedy that is timeless and as a result, it shouldn’t be missed by anybody and deserves a place on everybody’s anime shelf. Display it proudly.
[starrater]
Mitsudomoe Zouryouchuu
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 2011
Episode Length/Run-time: 8 Episodes
Summary:
The continued antics of the Marui Triplets. Futaba is the tomboyish one, Hitoha is the quiet pervert, and Mitsuba the self-proclaimed princess employ their antics and wreak havoc in a comical manner on everything around them.
Review:
The second season of Mitsudomoe follows much the way of the first season. Each episode is broken into two, generally three, vignettes that follow a slice of life of the Marui triplets. While there is a lose overall story of their day to day lives and the passing of time represented by seasons and events there is no overarching plot with a set beginning, middle, climax, resolution, and end.
In this way though, Mitsudomoe is one of the most fantastic pick up and go shows you can find. Each episode goes from garnering a sincere chuckle to side-splitting hilarity. While I expected the antics to get tired and boring, after all there’s only so many jokes about a girl being a perv (right?), they never got to that point. Somehow the writers continued to find ways to make the content new and fresh while still being funny. No small feat, I assure you.
The animation or music is nothing to swoon over, but that’s clearly not the point of this series. Pouring money into a high animation budget would’ve likely detracted from the home-grown silly that the slightly cartoonish style produces.
You can completely watch this season without seeing the first. But why would you want to? Sure it’s not chronological but you may as well start a good thing from the beginning. However, if you do decide to pick this one up in the middle the only thing you may not understand (and the only thing I didn’t really like) is the first episode. The first episode is a mock TV show referenced throughout the series called the Gachi Rangers (much like the power rangers). This episode seemed less funny and out of place, but it hardly detracted from the overall quality of the show.
On a humor scale, this anime easily gets a 5/5.
However, I try to score like a critic, and since it doesn’t really have a plot it’s bumped down to a 3/5 on an overall scale. Bur seriously, if you like funny you do not want to miss this one.
[starrater]
Bamboo Blade
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 2007
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 Episodes
Summary:
Toraji is a high school Kendo teacher makes a bet with his friend who is also a kendo teacher that if Toraji can assemble a team which defeats his team then he will give Toraji free meals at a sushi restraunt for a whole year. Now Toraji is focused on finding girls to join the club, driven by the need for food. In doing so an unlikely group of girls with their share of quirks are assembled for the kendo team.
Review:
The best way to describe this anime is a harem with no romance. It’s one guy, a lazy dude bringing a bunch of girls together for food, bringing a bunch of girls together. And even though it’s about a sport it doesn’t seem to be the focal point of the series. The relationship is really what’s important between character to character.
This anime is not really about the kendo, don’t walk into it expecting to learn something about kendo. The Kendo does go through the motions but it’s not really focused on the actual action. It’s focused on the mental aspects of the game and less on the movements.
As far as plot it’s hard to describe, being a heavy slice of life anime. The kendo doesn’t come up all that often surprisingly, and trying to get the team together is most of the anime. Most of the footage is on the girls lives and their day to day lives. It really attempts to be a slice-of-life anime despite having the sports persona.
It’s enjoyable, yet average.
Reviewed by Neokage from the Otaku Momentum Podcast
[starrater]
Kimi Ni Todoke 2
Alternate Titles: Reaching Out to You
Original Japanese Release Date: 2011
Episode Length/Run-time: 12
Summary:
Kimi ni Todoke 2 is a continuation of the original Kimi ni Todoke series. It follows Sawako, meaning “happy child” who is nicknamed “Sadako” from the ring due to her extreme lack of social ability and a number of misunderstandings. Her two friends, Chizu and Yano, after bringing her out and helping her become accepted by the class in the first season see to it to help the delicate and budding romance between her and the most popular boy in class Kazehaya. However, will Sawako be able to overcome her insecurities and will the interference of others like the lovely Kurumi or the playboy Kento get in the way?
Review:
May I please take a moment to express, as a girl, how much I LOVE this series. It’s now 36 episodes long in total, counting both the first and second seasons, but the second season is a convenient 12 episodes. Anything longer than that would’ve been excessive and have gotten into the way. The series is produced and completed by the same people as the first with Studio Production I.G. at the helm it follows the 13 book manga that started in 2005 and is still ongoing. There is also a light novel series which started in 2007.
Now I feel I must preface this review by saying that some of it will be spoilers from the first season just because it is a direct continuation, so if you’re planning on watching the show I leave you with a strong recommendation and telling you to stop here.
So in the first season it was well established that Sawako and Kazehaya had feelings for each other. They were both generally in love but both too quiet about it to make it obvious. Or, when one of them did say something it was misunderstood by the other. Sawako being the main culprit. This season opens with Valentines day, and the painful experience of Sawako not being able to give chocolates to Kazehaya because they meant far too much. Thanks Kurumi, yes, she’s back.
The series goes on and Sawako continues to become more accepted by the school on the whole, to the point that she even has another suitor. But instead of dragging out twisted love triangles to the point of disgust the series takes a realistic approach (I feel) to how the characters interact with each other. Kazehaya is not pleased of course in the situation and acts how a normal boy would. Sawako does continue to eff things up though which is borderline annoying. But as more people in the show begin to see what’s going on between them their assistance helps Sawako and Kazehaya realize the misunderstanding s that have been happening between them.
Is it too late at that point to salvage their budding love? I’m not going to tell you! Watch the series. But what I will say from start to finish, first OR second season this series won’t let you down. The 12 episode length is perfect for the second season, and I almost think they could’ve condensed the whole show down to 24. The shorter length really forces them to focus on the core of what’s going on and that alone makes it a nose above the first season. Plus, how they wrap everything up with a neat little bow and just enough to make the fans happy on top of that was a nice touch.
This show really is worth your while if you’re a fan of the slice-of-life comedic romance. Highly recommended and worth the investment of your time.
[starrater]
Hanamaru Kindergarten
Alternate Titles: Hanamaru Yōchien
Original Japanese Release Date: 2010
Episode Length/Run-time: 12 Episodes
Summary:
Anzu, Koume, and Hiiragi are three kindergardeners with different personalities, however they all share one want: to attract attention from their teacher Tsuchida. It’s Tsuchida’s first year teaching and aside from keeping his head above water he’s only interested in the lovely Yamamoto who is the teacher in the classroom next door.
Review:
(Reviewed by Gia from the Anime Vice Podcast)
Studio Gainaz produced this anime and the director is equally wide ranged having worked on the original FMA and Gundam 00.
The main character Tsuchida is lovable and entertaining, having chosen to become a kindergarten teacher to pick up the chicks. There’s a good deal for example, because Anzu the main character of the students decides she will marry Tsuchida. But it’s important to note that this is cute, and not pedo. This anime is innocent and lovable, not designed for peverseness or fanart.
Each episode has a different end sequence which is cool and interesting and it just shows the level of detail what is put into this series. Its a great sweet slice-of-life series and does have a lot of entertainment factor.
[starrater]
Vampire Knight (Reviewed with Vampire Knight: Guilty)
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 2008
Episode Length/Run-time: Vampire Knight: 13 Episodes, Vampire Knight Guilty: 13 episodes
Summary:
Yuki Cross is the adopted daughter of the headmaster of Cross Academy, a special school with two classes the night class full of vampires and the day class full of humans. Designed to show that vampires and humans can live together Yuki is a peacekeeper in the school being one of the few who knows the school’s secret. However Yuki’s own past is shrouded in secrets and mystery as her earliest memory is of blood covered snow and being rescued from a vampire by another more powerful vampire, Kaname. Now Kaname is at the school and Yuki feels torn between him and the secret of her dear friend Zero.
Review:
Vampire Knight is enjoyably average. It reminds me of the kind of generic you can expect from old school anime. Girl caught in a love-triangle, the scenes that give you just enough of what you want (I.E. a relationship) that you keep coming back for more, and dark “secrets” that are so obvious that you think the characters of the show must be absolutely daft for not seeing them.
Yuki is your stereotypical well meaning anime girl who is annoyingly non-committal. However, I will say that there are a few breaths of fresh air throughout this series. Yuki eventually does make a decision and there are twists which even I didn’t foresee coming. And in an anime where you handily think you have it “all figured out” being surprised is even more impressive.
I reviewed the first and second season together because the first has no ending, it’s not really designed to be stand-alone. The ending of the first season is practically “there’s more!” So if you’re interested in the series and it sucks you in plan to be in for the long haul (though 26 episodes aren’t so bad).
This anime is great for girls who are looking for romantic fluff. It has enough that you’re satisfied with comparatively minimal moments where you want to strangle the carelessness of the main characters. Enjoyably mindless and average.