Anime Reviews

Alternative Name: テニスの王子様
Years of Released: October 10, 2001
Episodes: １７８ + 26 Ova + Extras
Genre: Sports, Shounen, Comedy
Favorite Characters : Fuji Syusuke, Echizen Ryoma, Kikumaru Eiji, Akaya, Atobe, Kaido Kaoru, Tezuka, Inui, Momo
My Rating: PG
Grade: A++

Summary:
The series is primarily set in Tokyo, and centers around Ryoma Echizen, a tennis prodigy who attends Seishun Academy or Seigaku (青学?) for short, a private school famous for its strong tennis club and talented players. Ryoma quickly defeats numerous upperclassmen shortly after entrance to secure himself a spot as one of the team's regulars. In pursuit of their ultimate goal of winning the National Middle School Tennis Championship, members of the team make new friends while learning and mastering increasingly complex techniques. Ryoma also begins to develop his own style of tennis, and eventually realizes what the sport really means to him.

My review:
 Anime is about friendship, how to never give up, to chase your dream or sometimes finding another, to always aim high because there are no bounders. "Fly high and Sky high" as one of the opening songs is saying. It is very inspiring. Loved it. It is very funny and even if you are not really into sports anime genre I'd recommend to give it a try. Prince of Tennis or PoT as fans call it is one of those anime I want to watch over and over again.

Recommend:
Highly recommended

Alternative Name: Darker Than Black: DARKER THAN BLACK-流星の双子-
Years of Released: October 8, 2009 – December 24, 2009
Episodes: 12
Genre: Neo-noir, Supernatural
Favorite Characters : Hei
My Rating: PG-13
Grade: A

Summary:
Sequel to Darker Than Black

My review:
First imprecision was great. Very nice quality, great animation, good plot. I would've gladly give it A++ IF not the ending. It seems like producers love ruin endings in Darker then Black series. It's so frustrating, darn it!

Recommend:
Highly recommended

Alternative Name: Fuyu no Semi 冬の蝉
Years of Released: 2007-02-23 – 2007-04-27
Episodes: 3 OVA
Genre: Romance, Yaoi, Samurai
Favorite Characters : Kusaka, Akizuki
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A+

Summary:
This three part yaoi story spans the war torn era when the Japanese turned from a Shogunate to Imperial rule and entered trade with the rest of the world (1862-1869). While the story unfolds historical dates and important figures are given while the characters give even more bits and pieces of this period during dialog.

My review:
Amazing story. Beautiful and so sad. The combination of well made animation with thought of plot which is rare to come across. Very worth watching.

Recommend:
Definitely for shounen-ai or yaoi fans

Alternative Name: 闇の末裔, Yami no Matsuei
Years of Released: October 2, 2000 – December 18, 2000
Episodes: 13
Genre: Bangsian fantasy, Occult detective fiction
Favorite Characters : Mizuki
My Rating: PG-13
Grade: B-

Summary:
Asato Tsuzuki is a shinigami with 70 years' worth of experience. He has the power to call upon twelve shikigami, mythical creatures that aid him in battle. The shikigami reflect actual historic religious beliefs—such as Suzaku and Byakko. The manga portrays Tsuzuki's relationship with the shikigami in much more detail. Tsuzuki is the senior partner of the Second Division, which watches over the region of Kyūshū...

My review:
Well I didn't expect much of it and I was right doing so. There are hints of shounen ai but not nearly enough. It was somewhat entertaining so it was not a complete waste of time.

Recommend:
Shounen ai fans

Alternative Name: サムライチャンプルー
Years of Released: May 20, 2004 – March 19, 2005
Episodes: 26
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Martial Arts
Favorite Characters : Jin, Mugen
My Rating: PG-13
Grade: A

Summary:
A young lady named Fuu is working as a waitress in a tea house when she is harassed by a band of ruffians. Another customer, Mugen, offers to take care of them in exchange for food, but ends up instigating a brawl. Jin, a stoic young ronin in samurai garb, enters the tea house in the midst of the fight. Mugen attacks Jin after he proves to be a worthy opponent and they begin fighting one another, ignoring a fire that started during the brawl. They both faint from smoke inhalation. When they awaken, they find they have been arrested for the murder of Shibui Tomonoshina, the magistrate's son who had burned to death in the fire, and are to be executed. With help from Fuu, they escape and Fuu asks them to travel with her to find "the samurai who smells of sunflowers," a mysterious man Fuu can give little description of, but whom she insists she must find. They agree to join her, with Fuu making only one condition: they are not to duel one another until the journey is done.

My review:
Very well done. I like characters and plot. Very interesting. Animation was quite impressing. I liked how animators used very odd angles for some shots. It added to animation. Loved Mugen's fighting style. The ending though was a bit disappointing. I expected something more but beggars aren't choosers, right?

Recommend:
highly recommended. good humor and fighting