Chihayafuru
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C
Copihan
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Chouyaku Hyakunin Uta Koi
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Chrome Shelled Regios
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Chi’s New Address
Alternate Titles: Chi’s Sweet Home: Atarashii Ouchi, Chi’s Sweet Home: Chi’s New Address
Original Japanese Release Date: Mar 2009
Episode Length/Run-time: 104 Episodes (3 minutes an episode)
Summary:
The lovable kitten Chi has moved with her family the Yamadas to a pet friendly home. Now Chi has a yard and lots of local animals to play with and can go outside as she pleases, no longer in hiding from the landlady.
Review:
There isn’t too much to say about this show, it is basically the same premise as the season before it with the aforementioned changes. That being said the changes breathe new life in the new possibilities of the neighbors pets and her freedom to go outside. Chi is still adorable, and cat owners and lovers alike will revel in her cat antics that are innocent and lovable. This show is very simple and the four minute episodes make it easy for a shot of cuteness whenever you need it. I don’t know what else to say really, its simple and perfect in what it is and does what it set out to do, be adorable. If youre studying Japanese try watching it without subs as the language is very simple it could be good practice. I laughed, I cried – really I did, and I squealed with delight at the cuteness of this show. It only gets a low score because I try to score critically, and no its not amazing, nor does it really have a plot. But, on a personal enjoyment level I love this show so much and on a personal scale its one of my favorite anime ever, easily a 5/5.
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Code Geass
Alternate Titles: Code Geass – Hangyaku no Lelouch, Code Geass – Lelouch of the Rebellion
Original Japanese Release Date: 2006
Episode Length/Run-time: 25 Episodes
Summary:
With the aid of gigantic robotic robots known as Knightmare Frames colonialism has taken new meaning and the Empire of Britannia has invaded Japan and placed it under colonial rule. Lelouch a Britannian living in Area 11 (Japan’s new name) vows to free Japan and overthrow the Empire. One day after school he stumbles upon a military secret which happens to be a young girl named C.C. She gives him the power of Geass which can be used on any person only once to make them obey any order. With this weapon Lelouch’s rebellion begins.
Review:
Code Geass, reviewed here in full (both first and second season) is a very well done anime. While plots of overthrowing governments, coup de etats and war is nothing new to anime Code Geass brings lively characters and it’s own interesting spins to the rehashed themes in such a way that it feels fresh and new. One of the fantastic things about this anime is the pacing. It moves at near breakneck speed wasting no time to get to the meat of the show. From there on they don’t dally with stupid antics (okay, they do very rarely) and focus on progressing what they set out.
The mech battles in this show are really well executed and Lelouch’s character as the ringleader is perfect. Possible best friend to Light Yagami Lelouch is calculating, careful, cunning, and slightly cocky in just the right ways. While we’re on the subject of characters they are just the right mix for everyone watching. Enough bishonen to go around, cute girls ranging from well endowed sexy to loli and your stereotypical characters thrown in there to round out the mix nicely. Sometimes the stereotyping is taken a little too far and the acting could be seen as borderline corny. But generally speaking it’s done at the right times and I feel it’s presented in such a way that works for the series overall.
The one thing that really docks this series overall is the fights in the second season. Throughout the whole series there is gray area moral dilemmas argued and a clever cat and mouse both on and off the battlefield between Lelouch and Suzaku. However, in the second season Suzaku, apparently, closes the mental gap rather quickly on Lelouch. All of a sudden he, quite annoyingly, shows up out of the blue at just the right moment to squah Lelouch’s plans and win or thwart the battle. As a viewer it not only screams unrealistic, but it screams annoying.
Despite this, the series is very well executed and has something for everyone. The animation is clean and crisp and the music does not disappoint either. With the characters and engaging plot I’d easily classify this anime as a gateway drug into the world of mecha for any fan or fan-to-be.
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Cat Soup
Alternate Titles: Nekojiru-so
Original Japanese Release Date: 2001
Episode Length/Run-time: 34 Minutes
Summary:
A cat is trying to save his elder sister from death. When he does her soul is ripped into two. He returns half her soul to her but it is not enough to bring her back all the way and she becomes a shell of her former self. He then embarks on a journey to return his sister to her former self.
Review:
I’m just going to say it on this one. Cat Soup is one of those anime that no one has any clue what’s going on. But, because it is presented in a surreal, whimsical, and many times lovely in that odd psychological way people suddenly seem to think it is deep and rich with story and purpose. Because it presents itself as an intellectual soiree into some deep and engaging subject matter or commentary the educated minds that watch it feel as though they are missing something (I’m sure) so to cover and not appear stupid they praise its value and its deep presentation.
Really, Cat Soup is 30 minutes of “huh?” Pretty in many ways, but still “huh?” Random scenes are thrown in there to evoke feeling such as the atomic bomb blowing up, a pig eating itself, prisoners of war being shot. But it’s thrown together in such a haphazard way that it leaves the viewer being more confused than evoked. I get that they’re going through a dreamscape, but nothing other than the fact that it’s a dreamscape really seems to have anything to do with the protagonist or his sister.
What I can, however, praise it for is that it did have a beginning, middle, and end. For 30 minutes, this is pretty good. Even if the presentation came off very animation student project trying out different things for their final requirements it did have the bones of something over being nothing other than those random scenes. The anime also lacks dialogue, which is also impressive to convey a story under such circumstances.
It was directed by Tatsuo Sato, who really hasn’t done much other than being the series director of Ninja Scroll, which could explain a lot now that I think about it…
Overall, this series isn’t a total waste of your life given that it’s only 30 minutes. But I likely wouldn’t buy it from a bargain bin.
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Cowboy Bebop
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 1998
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 ( 25 mins ea. )
Summary:
Spike Spiegel, a bounty hunter, travels around space attempting to collect bounties, either succeeding some or not at all. With the help of his friends Jet Black, Faye Valentine, Ed, and Ein (the dog), their adventures from planet to planet begin!
Review:
What a classic anime. Most everyone has heard of it, and for good reason too. Cowboy Bebop is one of those animes that manages to have episodes that can stand alone (such as when its aired on TV), but overall come together to fill in the greater picture of the story. The story is depicted in space and on a variety of planets, with Jet and Spike traveling in what they call their “junker” spacecraft. One of the cool things about Cowboy Bebop is that each colony they travel to is not some upscale sky scraper ridden place; rather they are filled with their own kind of cultural themes and problems. Realistic, no?
The characters are also realistically depicted, which is great for viewers that relate to their characters. Spike is no pretty boy, but rather a lanky handsome fellow. Faye, the provocative character of the show, is a sexy, curvy character but not some huge breasted stereotypical anime character. Jet is big and burly, almost russian-like. As for Ed…. well. Shes a scrawny adolescent tomboy whos brain and technological knowledge is only matched by her extreme wildness and bursts of energy. Ein is a welsh corgi that is so cute that he’ll have you squirming. Too bad Welsh Corgis are like $3000.
Now, onto other things. The animation you ask? How is it? Fantastic! Cowboy Bebop uses CG graphics, but does so in such a fantastic manner that you may not even be able to tell. You know the typical bad CG where the foreground looks seperate from the background? Yeah, you won’t have that ever in Cowboy Bebop. Sweet right? I know. Cowboy Bebop’s artwork and animation are full of life and realism.
Oh yeah, and if you like Jazz mixed with blues, you’ll find yourself buying Cowboy Bebop’s soundtrack after the first episode or two. Why? Because its AWESOME! And on top of awesome, its classy, and it fits perfectly! Its so filled with emotion, that the saxophones and horns very well might make you explode. I looked around, and couldnt really find any bad music that Yoko Kanno has done.
Also, the character development is great as well. This anime is a must see, but chances are you’ve already seen it cause its pure awesome in a DVD case. Plus it was airing on Adult Swim for years!
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Chobits
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 2002
Episode Length/Run-time: 26 ( 26 mins ea. )
Summary:
In the future, computers have evolved into “Persocons”, which are mobile computers that look like human beings. The story begins with Hideki Motosuwa, a prep school student, wanting to buy a Persocon but not being able to afford one. One day, he happens to stumble upon a Persocon that was dumped on the side of the road in the trash, so he decides to take it! After turning her on, he discovers that all she can say is “Chi”, and hence she is named as such. As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that perhaps Chi is actually a “Chobit”, a more advanced, independently thinking Persocon.
Review:
I remember buying the first DVD of this series for Mitsugi as a joke for Christmas (the cover looked like something he would hate). After watching it on Christmas day, we both loved it! We immediately went out and bought the entire DVD series and started watching. This show is very cute. The development of the adorable Chi throughout the show is accompanied by the “warm fuzzies” as she learns about new things (seeing as how she appears to be broken right off the bat).
The story begins when Hideki stumbles upon a beautiful long haired Persocon that had been dumped in the trash. He takes her home, awkwardly figures out how she is turned on, and discovers all she can say is “Chi”. Hideki’s friends look her over and determine that she has no programs installed, however she must have some kind of learning program based on her behavior. A large part of the plot is Hideki teaching Chi different things and behaviors since she is basically child- like at this point. As the story progresses, Chi develops feelings for Hideki, which Persocons are not supposed to be capable of, and he struggles with his feelings for her. Later on, Chi begins to explore her mysterious past as she encounters multiple picture books. Together with Hideki and the knowledge gained from the books, Chi is able to unlock her true identity and why she is so special.
This series was excellent, cute, and surprisingly addicting.
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Canaan
Alternate Titles: 428 the animation
Original Japanese Release Date: July 4th, 2009
Episode Length/Run-time: 13 Episodes
Summary:
In a near present time, Shibuya Tokyo was assaulted by a bioterrorism attack using the deadly Ua virus. Maria Osawa should have been killed by the first but she learns that she survived because her father immunized her from the virus prior to the attack. Later, Maria meets up with an old friend, Canaan, who is a given assassin on a special mission.
Review:
The first thing you’ll notice about this anime is that it has a badass opening theme. The song “Mind as Judgement” by faylan is very good. Also, the show kicks off with a bang. What is more exciting than a bio-terrorism attack in a crowded city area? The attacks follow with an exciting action sequence that really shows you what the show is made of. Canaan flipping over rooftops, dodging bullets, scaling buildings, shooting guns, etc…It feels like the video game Mirror’s Edge a little bit. This all sounds great but unfortunately, what it does is set the bar incredibly high for itself. A bar that for most viewers, the anime will never live up to.
The story has pretty decent pacing. It doesn’t give away all the plot points all at once and will help the viewer along with good action scenes while the story slowly reveals itself. The bad thing about the plotline is that as I already previously mentioned about Mirror’s Edge, this anime doesn’t feel very original. The assassins and the high pace action makes the anime feel like you’re watching a high budget Noir blended with free running.
In the end this is a show you will love or hate. It’s got great action and the plotline is just good enough to not be a failure but the anime doesn’t feel like it is it’s own unique creation. It will feel lie you’ve seen it before. So give it a try but just try not to be fooled by the high starting expectations.
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