Rurouni Kenshin (Live Action Movie)
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R
RIN – Daughters of Mnemosyne
Alternative titles:
Mnemosyne – Mnemosyne no Musume-tachi (Japanese)
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Redline
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Ro-Kyu-Bu!
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Rozen Maiden
Alternate Titles: Meitantei Kun-Kun
Original Japanese Release Date: 2004
Episode Length/Run-time: 12 Episodes
Summary:
Jun Sakurada is a middle-school aged boy who refuses to go to school due to some past trauma which occured there. To pass the time he orders products on-line which he returns before their trial period is up. One day, he recieves a box prompted by a strange letter possessing a beautiful doll. When the doll springs to life she introduces herself as Shinku and forces Jun to enter into a contract with her to save his life from a sudden attack. Jun is pulled into what is known as the Alice Game.
Review:
I didn’t expect to like this anime, in fact, I walked into it expecting to flat-out hate it. But this anime really ended up taking me by surprise by the end when I actually ended up both feeling for the characters and feeling sad that it had ended.
At first it seems cliche, Jun is an unhappy teen, his sister is ditzy and well meaning to the point of frustration since she seems to not care when Jun walks all over her, and every episode appears to be introducing a new doll with a little battle of the “Alice Game.” But the story seems to run much deeper than that. As the story progresses there are heavy under and over-tones of self-worth and psychological battles that people face. A person’s true meaning is called into question and how people handle mental battles is emphasized as just as important as how they handle the physical ones.
The “Alice Game” is something all the “Rozen Maiden” dolls engage in. Each given a power the one to collect them all will become Alice, a girl so pure and innocent that she is the most beautiful creature in the world. Suiseki is the main villan of the story, a Rozen Maiden bent on becoming Alice to gain the love of “father” their creator.
Shinku is also an enjoyable character. Rather than being soft spoken and demure she doesn’t put up with anything and is willing to tell it like it is. A nice change in the anime world. It’s also great that they keep the doll theme, they are the size of dolls and never become human sized or any cliches like that.
Even though it’s full of cliche, and some filler that’s unnecessary, it’s still a good watch. Definately above-average compared to most.
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Ranma 1/2
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 1989
Episode Length/Run-time: 161 Episodes
Summary:
Saotome Ranma is a skilled martial artist along with his father. One day he travels to China with his father to a forbidden training ground, the legend of this ground is that if you fall into the pools of water you inherit the form of the thing or creature that had died there. Ranma falls into a pool which a young girl died in and his father falls into one which a panda died in. Following this any time they have cold water poured on them they turn into the respective beings. This is enough of a problem on it’s own but when Ranma is engaged to Tendo Akane by his father, a girl who hates boys, the fun really begins.
Review:
(Reviewed by Felix from Prime Time Geek)
This anime is unarguably a classic. While it may seem riddled with cliches just by the description you have to keep in mind the time which it came out. The animation style is simplistic and looks dated, but it really ends up making the anime look charming and classic over “old.”
The primary story really revolves around Ranma’s and Akane’s relationship. They get put together because of Akane’s distaste of men and so they figure since Ranma is half woman they figure it’ll be a good fit. This of course does not work out at first but over the series they of course develop feelings for each other. Most of the story is just this back and fourth around them but it’s done very well and in an interesting manner.
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Revolutionary Girl Utena
Episode Reviewed In: EMAIL CHIAKI IF YOU KNOW THE EPISODE – use the contact form
Alternate Titles: Ursula’s Kiss, Utena, Girl Revolution Utena, Shoujo Kakumei Utena (少女革命ウテナ)
Original Japanese Release Date: 1997
Episode Length/Run-time: 39 Episodes
Summary:
When Utena Tenjou was a young girl her parents died and during her despair a prince on a white horse gave her a ring, telling her to never lose her nobility and strength. She was so impressed by him that she decided to become a prince herself and dresses as a boy at her school, Ohtori Academy. One day she observes what seems to be a lovers quarrel involving Anthe Himemiya and Saonji, a member of the student council. When she approaches Saonji she is swept into a world of duels because of her ring surrounding Anthe, the “rose bride” and the power to revolutionize the world. What these duels are, who the mysterious letter sender known as “End of the World” is, and Utena’s place in it all remains a mystery.
Review:
How to make this review not a small novel will be a mystery for me. It’s no secret that this is likely my personal favorite anime of all time. But, even if this wasn’t the case this anime is so full of symbolism, story, and general “WTF?” that it’ll be hard to keep this review short(er). But, here goes nothing…
The anime is, foremost, a Shoujo anime. Despite having its share of action in the duels and sometimes hostile relationships between the characters the anime is primarily relationship driven. Utena’s role is similar to what the main character of a Shounen anime would be. Strong, determined, kind-hearted, yet naïve in a way that often times will land her or those she cares about into trouble. Despite this she retains her femininity often times through the affections of other masculine characters. However, to say it is “relationship driven” is well, an understatement. The relationships in Utena are so jacked that it’s one of the hardest things to follow. To illustrate this or perhaps help some confusion I made a relationship map of the most basic of relationships, and even then there are some question marks.
The series is broken up into three arcs. The first arc is about 12 episodes and this is the “Rose Bride” arc. This sets up the characters, world and the duels. As this arc ends the world is thrown into chaos through the second arc the “Black Rose” arc, about another 12 episodes. This arc brings forward sub characters to duel Utena for Anthy’s hand. The final arc is the “Apocalypse Saga” where the conclusions of the series are drawn.
This series could’ve done fine without the Black Rose arc and duelists. They do bring out backstories for each of the characters, and provide some further detail on the story, but beyond that they’re next to filler, making the series even more episodic. And the series is pretty episodic to begin with. The other problem with this arc is things begin to get really cracked out and crazy (dueling on convertibles anyone?).
The ending is complex, and is something most people debate. That’s one thing I love, this series is steeped in symbolism and every person can have an equally valid interpretation of it.
It is mature content which I wouldn’t recommend for younger viewers. Otherwise, I personally recommend this series as a favorite that everyone checks out.
Rosario + Vampire
Alternate Titles: None
Original Japanese Release Date: 2008
Episode Length/Run-time: 13
Summary:
Tsukune Aono is your standard, slightly wimpy yet good hearted anime guy who is generally incapable of getting good grades. As a result he is unable to get into any private high school. One day, he stumbles upon an invitation to a mysterious private school. His parents, so happy he got into anywhere, agree to send him off. However, it ends up being a school for Youkai, demons. At first he wants to leave, but after meeting the beautiful Moka Akashiya, who is also a vampire, he decides to stay and masquerade with the other students as a demon in human form.
Review:
The music is generic at best, and eighties synthesizer at worst. They have about 4 themes that get re-used every episode. One theme if it’s romantic or touching, another if it’s comical or childish and so on.
Animation style is standard from what you’d expect, the big eyes and brightly colored hair. But the anime is clearly low-budget. The animation is at times clunky leaving some images to linger a bit too long or look odd. Or they have cheap outs by repeating cels, having the character cover their mouth with their hand, or even have the mouth not moving at all (like a monster’s mouth just sitting open)
The fan service in this anime is off the chart’s ridiculous. Even in touching moments they have a panty shot, it’s like a quota they have to fill every episode, and that quota is about three every thirty seconds, CAMERAS DON’T GO THERE! I decided just for the sake of justifying my argument, I would count the number of panty shots in a single episode. There were easily over 40 panty shots in a single episode
Every title is something + A Vampire and the “something” is just ridiculous. How much do you expect from something called “A school swimsuit + A Vampire?” (and guess what this episode is about? Swimming! Guess what the girls do, dive in his face with their boobs and crotch and have their tops fall off all episode) After this episode, episode 5 I was like please, please, make it stop?! They had a whole interlude of just singing and the girls romping around in bathing suits.
Character wise, Moka is the main female character, but if you don’t like her don’t worry she’s just part of a harem. She’s kind of multiple personality, the strong vampire person and the weak human side. Of course, they’re both beautiful, the human side is cute, sincere and slightly clumsy. And the other side is the bitchy powerful side who doesn’t like the lead.
Vampires are allergic to water in this series because it has “purifying effects” and it makes them be all electrocuted. But don’t worry; they pulled over a thin explanation to this thin plot issue. When she does stuff like washes her face “it’s neutralized with herbs.” But this weakness is crazy, just being splashed drains her power
Tsukune is the main male character and is just as pathetic and generic as every other male character you see in anime. I feel like he’s there to just get his ass kicked. Granted he is fighting deamons as a human, but even if he wasn’t he would still likely get powned.
Each episode is formulaic: Random fan service excuses happen that they attempt to call a plot or story, one of the students turns into their monster form and tries to kill someone else, a touching moment, then when they’re about to lose the battle Moka changes form and wins the battle for everyone. And nothing ever happens. Oh wait, something does, they add more girls every episode or two of a different generic anime female variety (you know, cute, aggressive, childish, standoffish, ect…) to appease the fan and add to the already cliché harem.
Nothing about this anime is enjoyable, if you want something this close to hentai there is something better out there. Or just watch hentai, seriously. There’s no plot anywhere in this series and it just drags from the first episode on. Watch the first episode and if you love it then you’ll like the series, if you don’t like it there’s little hope. They try to slap something together before the end of the show which actually was interesting. But two episodes, mediocre in execution at best, was too little too late.
I wouldn’t wish this on even my worst enemy…. Well… Maybe my absolute worst….
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