Anime Reviews

 

Alternative Name:  Blast Of Tempest
Years of Released:  October 5, 2012 – March 29, 2013
Episodes: 24
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Action, Shounen
Favorite Characters : Mahiro
My Rating: PG-14
Grade: A

Summary: The story revolves around Mahiro Fuwa, a teenager whose sister was mysteriously murdered one year before, and his friend Yoshino Takigawa. Mahiro is contacted by Hakaze Kusaribe, the leader of the Kusaribe clan who was left stranded on an unknown deserted island by her followers, and agrees to help Hakaze in exchange for her help to find out the culprit for the death of his family. Upon learning of his friend's intentions, Yoshino joins him on his quest to stand against the Kusaribe clan who intends to awaken the "Tree of Exodus" whose power can bring ruin to the entire world.

My review: A wild collision of two Sharspear's works - Hamlet and Tempest - with a Japanese animation twist on it. There is a lot going on in the show, the story progressing quickly and goes a long way since the beginning. The is magic, friendship, cult, pain, desperation, and love in it. I loved this show so much, especially the time travel part, although I think it could have been much and much better it they would just choose the target audience more clearly and make the anime for a specific age group. It touches very serious and dark themes but from time to time characters act out of character, too immature and animeish. In short, if it wasn't for fan service, it would be a much more solid show.


Recommend: For everyone

 

Alternative Name:  シュタインズ・ゲート
Years of Released:  April 6, 2011 – September 14, 2011
Episodes: 24
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Romance,
Favorite Characters : Okabe
My Rating: PG-14
Grade: A+

Summary: Steins;Gate takes place in the Akihabara district of Tokyo. On July 28, 2010, Rintarō Okabe and his friend Mayuri Shiina head towards the Radio Kaikan building for a conference, where Rintarō finds a girl named Kurisu Makise lying in a pool of blood. As Rintarō sends a text message about the incident to his friend, Itaru "Daru" Hashida, he experiences a strange phenomenon and the people around him disappear, with no-one else noticing anything had changed. After later running into Kurisu, who is strangely alive and well, and discovering the message he had sent to Itaru had arrived a week before he sent it, Rintarō soon deduces that the 'Mobile Microwave' he and his friends had been developing is, in fact, a time machine capable of sending text messages to the past

My review: It has been awhile since I have stumbled upon something as worthy as Stein;Gate. To tell the truth, I have almost given up on the show (which ironacaly had happened with Code Geass as well) but I'm glad I haven't committed such a crime. The show starts slowly. The first ten or so episodes are just setting everything up for second half of the show, which is much much move intence and the events are happening at a lightning speed, just barely letting your brain to catch up and analyze what is going on.
 What's more, some of the names, facts, and theories were actually taken from real live. Just try searching John Titor and you'll see what I mean.
The characters, who seem cliche at first, are shining bright as you look at each of them at a new engle at each parallel world. It gets very emotional by the end of the story.
All these facts give an amazing depth that everyone who likes a good story can appreciate - anime fan or not.


Recommend: For everyone

 

Alternative Name:  Mushi Master
Years of Released:  October 23, 2005 – June 19, 2006
Episodes: 26
Genre: Mystery, Supernatural, Drama, Fantasy
Favorite Characters : Mushi Master
My Rating: PG-13
Grade: B

Summary: he story features ubiquitous creatures called Mushi that often display what appear as supernatural powers. It is implied that there are many more lifeforms more primitive than "normal" living things such as animals, plants, fungi and bacteria, and Mushi is the most primitive of all. Due to their ethereal nature most humans are incapable of perceiving Mushi and are oblivious to their existence, but there are a few who possess the ability to see and interact with Mushi. One such person is Ginko, the main character of the series. He employs himself as a Mushi Master , traveling from place to place to research Mushi and aid people suffering from problems caused by them. The series is an episodic anthology in which the only common elements among episodes are Ginko and the various types of Mushi.

My review: I really liked the feel of the show, the music, the calmness it carries with it, however I wished there was more of the plot line throughout the show and not just random advantures of the master.

Recommend: Need to be in a curtain mood.


Where to watch:     RUS  Here                                          ENG Here 

 

Alternative Name:  Thriller Restaurant
Years of Released:  October 13, 2009 – June 8, 2010
Episodes: 23
Genre:  Horror, Mystery, Supernatural, Children literature
Favorite Characters : Ghost
My Rating: PG
Grade: A

Summary: There is a loose theme throughout the series of the "Thriller Restaurant", which is introduced in the first episode. The remainder of the series is a collection of ghost stories reminiscent of the Scary Stories anthology and Kwaidan.

My review:  Even though I'm way above this show's target audience, I found myself enjoing the series very much. I was looking for some scary anime to watch and found Thriller Restaurant - a fine find. Love the structure of each episode as they present each story as a restaurant menu (with a sweet and blood chilling desert in the end of course).
Recommend: Deffinenty


Where to watch:     RUS  Here                                          ENG Here 

 

Alternative Name:  (モノノ怪
Years of Released:  July 12, 2007 – September 27, 2007
Episodes: 12
Genre:  Mystery, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Favorite Characters : Medicine Seller
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A++

Summary: Mononoke follows a wandering, nameless character known only as the "Medicine Seller." The series is made up of individual chapters in which the medicine seller encounters, combats and subsequently destroys mononoke. The "mononoke" are a type of ayakashi, unnatural spirits that linger in the human world. The Medicine Seller always proceeds in the same manner, using his knowledge of the supernatural to fend off the mononoke until he can learn the spirit's shape (Katachi), truth (Makoto) and reasoning (Kotowari). Only then can he unsheathe his sword and exorcise the demon..

My review:  The best watch I have had in a long time. From the first seconds I was washed away by the variegated colors , traditional patterns, bold shapes, and  Japanese music. It is a very unique, intriguing, artistic, captivating work of art. There is no other way to describe this piece. I will definitely watch it again. I can't even find anything I didn't like about Mononoke. Although I wish such a delicious dish would last a little longer than 12 episodes

Recommend: For sport anime lovers


Where to watch:     RUS  Here                                          ENG Here 

Alternative Name: The Agent of Death
Years of Released: 25 February 2006 – 12 August 2006
Episodes: 23
Genre:  Cyberpunk, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Supernatural, Psychological
Favorite Characters : Re-l
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A++

Summary:  The story begins in a futuristic domed city called Romdeau, built to protect its citizens after a global ecological disaster thousands of years prior. In this utopia, humans and AutoReivs (androids) coexist peacefully under a total management system. A series of murders committed by robots and AutoReivs infected with the Cogito virus (which causes them to become self-aware) begins to threaten the delicate balance of Romdeau's social order. Behind the scenes, the government has been conducting secret experiments on a mysterious humanoid life form called a "Proxy." The Proxy beings (described as God-like and Immortal) are believed to hold the key to the survival of mankind.

My review:  I have been putting off watching this anime for a long time. It was one of those hard to get into and hard to get out ones for me. There are many things said about Ergo Proxy already so I won't be very original is I say that the story was well planned and thought through. Different unexpected plot twists let the mask of shallowness of the characters fade away, beautifully transforming their personalities, making them easy to understand. I will watch Ergo Proxy again and probably not just once, because it's one of those shows where the more you watch, the more you understand, see something you hadn't noticed, some new little detail that you missed. To make it short, great piece of art.            


Recommend: Highly recomended


Where to watch:                        RUS Here                                    ENG Here

Alternative Name: アナザー
Years of Released: January 10, 2012 – March 27, 2012
Episodes: 12
Genre:  Horror, Mystery
Favorite Characters : none
My Rating: R
Grade: B

Summary:  In 1972, Misaki, a popular student of Yomiyama North Middle School's class 3-3, suddenly died partway through the school year. Devastated by the unexpected loss, the students and teachers behaved like Misaki was still alive, leading to a strange presence on the graduation photo. In Spring 1998, 15-year-old Kōichi Sakakibara transfers into Yomiyama's class 3-3, where he meets the peculiar Mei Misaki, who is seemingly ignored by her classmates. The class is soon caught up in a strange epidemic, where its students and their relatives are caught up in mysterious deaths. Learning these deaths have something to do with the Misaki of 1972, it is up to Kōichi and Mei to discover the cause of these mysterious deaths and figure out how to stop it before it puts an end to them.

My review:
The beginnig of the series was wery promissing and I was excited to find out the truth until the very end but... was very dissapoined. I guess I expected something more mind blowing. Oh, well. I still think this is a great watch. Amazingly done.



Recommend: Yes

Alternative Name: Number 6
Years of Released: July 8, 2011 – September 16, 2011
Episodes: 11
Genre:  Action, Mystery, Sci-fi, Drama
Favorite Characters : Nezumi, Shion
My Rating: PG-13
Grade: A+

Summary: The story takes place in an ideal city known as "No. 6". Shion, a boy raised in the elite and privileged environment of his home, gives shelter to another boy, who only gives his name as 'Nezumi' (Meaning mouse or Rat) on the former's 12th birthday. After spending a rainy night with his new friend, Shion discovers the next morning that Nezumi has disappeared without a trace. Four years later, Shion experiences a spate of incidents around him in which a deadly infection by parasitic bees causes its victims to age rapidly. Shion's co-worker is one of the victims and Shion is arrested on suspicion of murder. While Shion is being transported to the Correctional Institute, Nezumi appears and rescues him. Shion begins to find out the hidden truth behind the Ideal City No.6


My review:
I loved it. I watched No. 6 a couple of times already. Lots of people are debating whether it is shounen ai or not? Was it just friendship or something more between Nezumi and Shion? I believe everyone can think whatever they want. And it doesn't really matter because you wouldn't even be bothered with such small details when you get into the world of No. 6. Amazing animation, unique drawing style, colorful backgrounds, and dynamic story line made this anime a big success.




Recommend: Everyone

Alternative Name: Kuroshitsuji, Dark Butler, Kuro Shitsuji
Years of Released: October 2, 2008
Episodes: 24
Genre: Comedy, Historical, Mystery, Supernatural, Dark Fantasy
Favorite Characters : Sebastian Michaelis, Ciel Phantomhive, Grell, Undertaker
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A+

Summary:
In a manor house on the outskirts of Victorian era London, butler Sebastian Michaelis serves Ciel Phantomhive, the twelve-year-old head of an English noble family as well as a toy and candy empire. Sebastian carries out any task required by his master and solves the problems plaguing England with ease and perfections because of his demonic lineage and Faustian contract with his master...

My review:
London, gothic set, dark humor with hardly noticeable tinge of shounen-ai and yet so obvious you should be blind not to see it...Very well made and thought of. You can't help but feel for young yet strong-willed Ciel. And let's not forget our perfect demon Sebastian who can fulfill his master's every wish. Their relationship is truly amazing. Ciel has to be cold and keep his distance from his butler knowing that if he shows a weakness he will devour him or lose interest in his soul and it will be over.
Second season was made mainly for fans in my opinion but I still liked it. New characters Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus were well played. Much more obvious shounen ai theme in second season is exactly what fans were waiting for. Even though I feel sorry for Alois the ending was quite satisfying leaving the needed room for imagination.

"...London bridge is falling down My fair Lady"

Recommend:
Cheak it out!

Alternative Name: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, When They Cry - Higurashi/Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai
Years of Released: April 4, 2006/July 6, 2007
Episodes: 26/24
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Favorite Characters : Keiichi, Mion, Rika, Rena
My Rating: R/PG-16
Grade: A/A

Summary:
On one hot summer day in 1983, a transfer student named Maebara Keiichi comes to a peaceful rural village in Hinamizawa. There, he befriends his classmates Rena, Mion, Rika, and Satoko. Accepted as a full-fledged member of the "club," Keiichi and the gang plays all sorts of activities ranging from card and board games to hide-and-seek. But just as Keiichi was beginning to be assimilated in simple rural life, he stumbles upon the dark history of Hinamizawa. As Keiichi dives deeper into the mystery, he finds that his new found friends may not be all what they claim to be...

My review:
One of the bests plot I've seen so far!!! I heard good things about it and started watching it a couple of times but couldn't get over a violence and blood that is the first thing you see. But finally I made and effort and I don't regret it at all!!! I thought anime was over after 4th episode but it kept going and I started to loose it. Did not get what's going on at all. Where is the truth and what's real and what's not. Then when I started to understand it a little and then I understood that I didn't understand anything at all!!! That's so awesome! My respect to authors. I'm so amazed who they could combine violence and kindness because it is one of the most violent and at the same time kind anime! The first season is just a mess. The second is not violent and explains what happened in the first one.
"Nipaah"

Recommend:
Check it out for sure BUT be ready for it!!!

Alternative Name: ,Pettoshoppu obu Horāzu
Years of Released: March 1999
Episodes: 4 OVA (25 min each)
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Favorite Characters : Count D
My Rating: R
Grade: A

Summary:
Count D is the mysterious caretaker of a pet shop in Los Angeles' Chinatown. Each of D's pets, which all have strangely humanoid appearances, comes with a contract with three major points. These points differ for each animal sold, and breaking this contract usually results in dire (and sometimes disturbing) consequences for the buyer, for which the pet shop claims no liability.

Individual chapters of Pet Shop of Horrors are often based on these consequences, and are each written as a stand-alone story, usually introducing one or more new characters in each chapter. With the exception of the main characters and their families, it is rare for a character to carry over to a later chapter, providing the series with a very episodic nature.

The detective Leon Orcot is used to tie the chapters together into an ongoing plot, usually in the form of a subplot within each chapter. Initially he suspects Count D of malicious criminal activity and using the pet shop as a front for drug trafficking. As the series progresses, he learns more about the pet shop and Count D himself, entering into a strange friendship of sorts with the Count as he works to uncover the truth.

My review:
 I enjoyed id.  Well done!

Recommend:
If you are looking for scary anime it's for you!

Alternative Name: Kikoushi Enma
Years of Released: August 2006
Episodes: 4 OVA
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Favorite Characters : Enma
My Rating: R
Grade: A-

Summary:
Enma has returned to the mortal world in order to get rid of the demons that have escaped from the underworld....

My review:
I think it was the first horror anime that I've seen and it turned out to be a good one. Nice plot and kinda happy ending :)) Good job! Very Recommended.

Recommend:
If you are up to something scary. But don't forget that it's really rated R !! And there will be blood...

Alternative Name: Death Note: The Last Name Live action
Years of Released: November 3, 2006
Time: 141 min
Genre: Detective, Drama, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A-

Summary:
An overachieving 12th grader, Yagami Light is an aspiring young man who seems destined for success. Unfortunately, his daily habits bore his incredible intelligence--So when a strange black notebook fell from the heavens during his class, it wasn't long before he had taken it. In his room, he finds, to his horror/fascination, that the Death Note is real, and owned by Ryuk, a Shinigami (Death God).
Any person's name written in the Death note will kill that person in 40 seconds.... without fail.
With this supposed gift of God, Light swears upon his grave that he will 'cleanse' the world of the evil and needless people that inhabit it, thus creating a utopia for all. With the world's greatest detective, L, hot on his tail, will Light's ideals prove too fantastic to realize, or will he succeed bringing justice?

Remake:
Death Note has been optioned for a live-action Hollywood remake. A 2007 article in The Star (Malaysia) states that more than ten film companies in the United States expressed interest in creating a remake.[6] Vertigo Entertainment is currently set to develop a US Death Note remake, with a tentative target date of 2010.

My review:
I've never seen that a movie that was better than anime. This time a miracle did not happened as well. But I'm not complaining at all. It was still great to see my favorite Death Note in Live Action. I didn't like an actor who played Light. L was great I thing. He new his role really well but Light... was a little disappointing. Oh well. Let's enjoy the things we do have. I can't wait for a remake! L is the BEST!
P.S. I liked the end in the movie better than in anime though

Recommend:
Check it out but don't expect too much or you will be disappointed.

Alternative Name: Desu Nōto, Death Note
Years of Released: June 17, 2006
Time: 126 min
Genre: Detective, Drama, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Supernatural
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A-

Summary:
An overachieving 12th grader, Yagami Light is an aspiring young man who seems destined for success. Unfortunately, his daily habits bore his incredible intelligence--So when a strange black notebook fell from the heavens during his class, it wasn't long before he had taken it. In his room, he finds, to his horror/fascination, that the Death Note is real, and owned by Ryuk, a Shinigami (Death God).
Any person's name written in the Death note will kill that person in 40 seconds.... without fail.
With this supposed gift of God, Light swears upon his grave that he will 'cleanse' the world of the evil and needless people that inhabit it, thus creating a utopia for all. With the world's greatest detective, L, hot on his tail, will Light's ideals prove too fantastic to realize, or will he succeed bringing justice?

Remake:
Death Note has been optioned for a live-action Hollywood remake. A 2007 article in The Star (Malaysia) states that more than ten film companies in the United States expressed interest in creating a remake.[6] Vertigo Entertainment is currently set to develop a US Death Note remake, with a tentative target date of 2010.

My review:
I've never seen that a movie that was better than anime. This time a miracle did not happened as well. But I'm not complaining at all. It was still great to see my favorite Death Note in Live Action. I didn't like an actor who played Light. L was great I thing. He new his role really well but Light... was a little disappointing. Oh well. Let's enjoy the things we do have. I can't wait for a remake!

Recommend:
Check it out but don't expect too much or you will be disappointed.

Alternative Name: Нелюбимый
Years of Released: April 2005
Episodes: 12
Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Shounen Ai(boys love)
Favorite Characters Ritsuka Aoyagi, Soubi Agatsuma
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A+

Summary:
Aoyagi Ritsuka is one troubled 6th grader. Two years ago, he mysteriously lost his memory and developed an alternate personality. His mother constantly berates (and occasionally beats) him, asking what happened to the "real" Ritsuka, and his only defender and friend, his older brother Seimei, was recently killed.
Suddenly, Seimei's apparent "friend," Soubi, appears. Soubi tells him that Ritsuka's true name is "Loveless," and that Soubi was assigned by Seimei to take care of Ritsuka and protect him. Ritsuka soon gets sucked into a bizzare underground society where teams of people, a "Fighter Unit," and a "Sacrifice," battle using elaborate and beautifully-phrased spells.
He seeks both acceptance of himself, and the answer to the mystery of who killed his brother and why.

My review:
Unbelievably beautiful and breathtaking story. It's like a dream you don't want to wake up from. It really seemed like a dream to me. Music is wonderful.... Oh, I love it so much! Also I loved the psychological part of Loveless. Ritsuka has an alternate personality and he asked his counselor very interesting questions. But it's not the best part of Loveless. The best part is a romance. So out of this world... LOVE IT!!!

Recommend:
Would not recommend to people who do not like genre Shounen Ai(boys love) which is actually for girls and women. But you'll never know if you never try, right? ^_^

Alternative Name: Desu Nōto
Years of Released: October 3, 2006
Episodes: 37
Genre: Mystery, Psychological, Shounen, Supernatural, Detective, Thriller
Favorite Characters : L, Ryuk, Mello, Matt, Light
My Rating: PG-16
Grade: A++

Summary:
An overachieving 12th grader, Yagami Light is an aspiring young man who seems destined for success. Unfortunately, his daily habits bore his incredible intelligence--So when a strange black notebook fell from the heavens during his class, it wasn't long before he had taken it. In his room, he finds, to his horror/fascination, that the Death Note is real, and owned by Ryuk, a Shinigami (Death God).
Any person's name written in the Death note will kill that person in 40 seconds.... without fail.
With this supposed gift of God, Light swears upon his grave that he will 'cleanse' the world of the evil and needless people that inhabit it, thus creating a utopia for all. With the world's greatest detective, L, hot on his tail, will Light's ideals prove too fantastic to realize, or will he succeed bringing justice?

My review:
This is an Epic anime... I saw many people who didn't like anime at all, and after they started watching Death Note they just couldn't stop. It really gets to you making you say to yourself "Just one more episode...". Fantastic plot, characters, and music. The best thing was a brain battle between L and Kira. It was really neat to be able to hear their thought when they tried to investigate each other. It added such an excitement. Good moral questions were brought forward. Pure Trill.

"L...did you know...that gods of death...love apples?"

Recommend:
"MUST SEE" anime