Swords and Panties

Mirai Nikki Episodes 2-6

Alright so after watching episode one I was hyped up about the fact that Mirai Nikki was looking like Eden of the East (which I strongly recommend). Despite the fact that they did have brainwashing, the godlike figure (in this case, god himself) reveals himself right at the beginning and so there is no sense of mystery. The show is action/horror all the way. Here's a run-through of what's happened:

The main character is constantly in whine and cry mode. He's a complete baby.

But sometimes he has to make decisions on a whim and he goes BAMF mode for a minute or two where he has perfect aim with darts. (Warning: I cringe a bit looking at the following .gif)

So he progresses through the episodes unsure of what to do with his life until he finally decides on a starter pokemon his feelings towards certain characters.

Luckily, this girl, Yuno Gasai, is in love with him. She's also yandere, so it scares him quite often.

Meanwhile, a bunch of bloody action is going on and minor plot twists occur (and one big one because he opens a door)

but basically the show has been showing personalities of the main characters while progressing through the game in which they must kill other players (and befriend[?] some).

Bakemonogatari (translate* to "I was born with a dislocated neck")

Where can I begin? I've only seen the first two episodes and one minute into the first episode the show had already twisted my head. I can certainly say that the soundtrack does not disappoint, I must also clarify that Bakemonogatari excelled at providing an introduction that pulls you from the start... A panty shot.

Don't let that previous statement scare you away (or raise expectation??), for to top it all off the animation budget isn't small and the directors seem to share a taste with the artists of Mawaru Penguindrum.

Symmetry, depth, and cleverly positioned camera angles serve to better alter the viewers understanding.

The writers also deserve an award for coining the phrase "prostitute-only virginity" and all the other pieces of genius hidden throughout the episodes. They're also a fan of drawing eyes for some strange reason (take a shot every time a frame is just a closeup of a characters eye) and their manuscript is still present in the episodes. On a more important note I should watch more than the first two episodes before saying anymore.

Overall Rating: 18 points.

Hana Yori Dango 花より男子 (Season 1&2) 

J-Drama

I know this is an anime review blog, but I mean, there is an anime for Hana Yori Dango!!! So technically, I am allowed to review it (even if I watched the AMAZING Japanese drama instead!).

ANYWAYS...back to its review.

IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! I loved it! It keeps you on the edge of your seat craving to know what is going to happen next! There are many plot twists, so don't dare think you know what is going to happen next. There are 9 episodes in Season 1 and 9 episodes in Season 2, each packed with a lively story. 

The main character is Makino Tsukushi.

Cute, right? She's also a very strong girl, literally. She can pack a punch, and she refers to herself as the "tough weed", which is a derivation of her name. No matter how many times people step on her (which is often, for she is a poor girl in a rich school named Eitoku Gakuen), she always rises up and stands strong. 

Eitoku High is a rich school ruled by F4, or Flower 4. F4 is a group of 4 boys who come from extremely rich families, and they bathe in luxury. I wonder if this is how real life rich people are...but I digress. The members are as follows:

Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group (and the male protagonist):

Oof. Matsumoto Jun. Girls...you already know. ♥ With his curly perm, he walks around like he owns the place. He is filled with pride and confidence, and is selfish as well. He has a very complex character, and you see all sides of him throughout the series. I didn't like him at first, but that's the way he was made to be; as the series progresses, he becomes more human (you'll see why!) and thus more lovable. 

Next is Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company:

He is your typical knight in shining armor, your prince that every girl dreams to be with. He is a complete sweetheart. I fell in love with him at first. He's moody and a loner, but he's smart and sensible. Plus, Oguri Shun is a total cutie!

Next is Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school:

WHAT A PLAYER! But as the series progresses, and into Season 2, you see why he is the way he is. He has a temper, but he's very soft and sensible too. He rides a motorcycle like a cool guy, and he doesn't let any girls ride on the back because it seems he is reserving the seat for someone special. Also, Shota Matsuda looks really good in his traditional hakama. 

Lastly is Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground:

He is the most level-headed of F4. He is very kind and helps out people who are in need. He is always breaking up fights or acting as the referee between F4. He only dates older women and is a huge player. He is played by Tsuyoshi Abe. 

In this crazy school whose structure you will only find in an anime, if a student gets on the F4’s bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school. Of course, Makino Tsukushi gets a red notice and that is where the series begins!

WATCH IT. 

I am aware there have been remakes of it EVERYWHERE: Korean, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese now too. THERE IS A REASON IT IS SO POPULAR. You will love it! 

Just a few extras:

Season 1's opening song Wish by Arashi (of which Matsumoto Jun is a member, in case you did not know!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izp4XvtOzFw

Season 2's opening song Love So Sweet by Arashi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzAbItPTARI

And...more pictures of Matsumoto Jun (I wonder if I will be scolded for this XD):

High School Debut (高校デビュー Kōkō Debyū) - Live Action Movie

I have no complaints whatsoever. :) It stuck to the plot of the manga, albeit it stopped in the middle of the series, for obvious film-making purposes (had it run the length of the manga, it would have been 3 hours long, or more!). The way I pictured Haruna in the manga was exactly as she was played by Ito Ono in the movie. And oh my goodness...Yoh. Girls, Junpei Mizobata is one sexy man. 

He is even better in the movie playing as Yoh (as if Yoh wasn't already sexy enough). Like, as all Tumblr users shall understand, "asdfghjkl;". 

They got the key scenes in the first half of the series on point. For example, this scene (no spoilers!):

Makes you squeal like a fangirl. ( > v<);;

Ano Hana

Mawaru PenguinDrum

Natsume Yuujinchou San

Madoka Magica

Hanasaku Iroha

Fate/Zero

Usagi Drop

Tiger & Bunny

Steins;Gate

High School Debut (高校デビュー Kōkō Debyū

This is probably one of the most real-life shoujos I've read, because it deals with issues that normal couples have (not extravagant situations like The Wall Flower or something of that nature). Being so, the plot is a very rocky path filled with dilemmas, and a lot of crying. I don't think it will necessarily make the reader cry, but it definitely keeps you hooked to see what will happen next!

The main character, Haruna Nagashima,

was a tomboy-type girl in middle school who was very into her softball. When she gets into high school, she wants to change that and find herself a boyfriend. This desperation leads her to meet Yoh Komiyama,

a real cutie. He might be what is considered "tsundere", but he's a sweetheart. It just takes time cracking his shell open. They are the protagonists of the story, and the manga revolves around their relationship.

Ain't they cute?

His sister, Asami Komiyama, is super pretty but super jealous. I think many girls can relate to her. 

Haruna's best friend is Mami Takahashi. She is also a bit of a tomboy, having been on the softball team all throughout middle school. 

Two of Yoh's friends are Fumiya Tamura and Yui Asaoka, respectively.

Read the manga, you'll like it. ^.^

I've also been informed there is a live action movie, and I am definitely watching it. Here are some screenshots...(the actor who plays Yoh is REALLY hot ;D)

(he looks like Izaya here, oh my gosh ♥_♥)

(Izaya-kuuuuun ♥o♥ and for those of you who don't know Izaya Orihara, he is from an anime called Durarara!! which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone in the world).

Click the link for the trailer of the live action movie. ^-^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dIUjweniJeQ

Nnnn ^o^ Enjoy!

Mawaru PenguinDrum 

Fate is cruel. That's the simplest way to describe the inspiration for this show. It's the tale of two brothers whose younger sister, Himari,  has fallen victim to a mysterious disease with her death inevitable. It's source is pink-haired-goddess' retribution for their parents crime. 

The show begins with Himari's final day, but to the brothers surprise she awakens once more with the assistance of an unkown spirit. Who in exchange for their sister's life, the bothers must retrieve the PenguinDrum (whatever it is).

In truth it is merely an extension of the pink-haired-goddess' punishment.

Who is hinted to take the form of Sanetoshi, a librarian that Himari randomly encounters one day. He's the only character in the show to break beyond the fourth-wall and has great interest in the human world. He's also obsessed with testing the limits of "fate" and curious as to what will be the result of the brother's struggle.

There's also a great deal of characters entangled in the brother's fate who are also pursuing after the PenguinDrum.

Mirai Nikki (Future Diary)

Saiyan here! I just finished watching episode one of Mirai Nikki and I have nothing else to do so I figured I would spend my time doing something helpful (I think?)

So the show starts off with this kid who doesn't socialize at all but instead spends every waking hour writing down what he sees. When he gets home he chats with his imaginary friends who happen to be gods. One day one of his friends (that robot dude in the picture) decides to make a game where the protagonist's diary and eleven other diaries start telling their respective owners what the future holds. Also, the main kid and his new girlfriend break this other player's phone which is then unable to tell the future of it's holder and so that dude dies.

Now is the important part. The game is explained at the end of the episode:

This powerful figure

makes a game in which the main guy and his girlfriend end up in the middle of.

The game is run by phones which contain infinite wisdom

and the players are forced against each other until they get eliminated.

I've never seen anything quite like it.

Prétear - The New Legend of Snow White

Also known as, 新白雪姫伝説プリーティア "Shin Shirayuki-hime Densetsu Purītia". A manga I just started reading, it is very cute and nostalgic! My friend once told me it resembled Sailor Moon...I see why now! It has an art style like mangas and animes of the 90s; something like Fushigi Yugi, if you've ever read/seen it. 

Basically, this girl Himeno Awayuki is chosen to be the Pretear. As with any other manga with this type of title, she has to save the world! She is given powers and with these she must fight off the Princess of Disaster who poisons the world with "Red Snow". 

Of course, Himeno herself is having a hard time with her life, so she hesitates before she accepts this responsibility. She has a wicked stepmother (sound familiar? Like Snow White, perhaps...I myself am re-watching Snow White to find all the references) who is always trying to oppress her, and 2 evil stepsisters (this sounds a bit more like Cinderella now...) who are always trying to get her in trouble.

All the guys, who are like the 7 dwarfs of Snow White, are Knights who control some aspect of nature. The main guy is Hayate, Knight of the Wind, who is quite tsundere...but we all know they are going to fall in love. All the guys are really cute, though. ^.^ 

I've only read the first volume so far...so I'll keep updating as I read it! There are only 4 volumes, after all. 

♥

Kaichou wa Maid-Sama!

Disclaimer: If you are allergic to cuteness, please disregard the next few lines.

IT WAS SO CUTE OMG I DIED MY HEART DIED TOO FLUTTER FLUTTER FLUTTER AWAY MY SWEET BUTTERFLY HEART DAISUKIIII~ >.<!!!

Ahem. 

Literally, The President is a Maid!, this show is a shojo that started off as a manga. I have heard that the manga is better than the anime, but I can't compare them 'cause I haven't read the manga.

First off: GIRLS, BRACE YOURSELVES TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, TAKUMI USUI. 

He's jealous. He's possessive. He's strong. He's handsome. He's smart. He's athletic. He's madly in love with Misaki-chan.

Misaki Ayuzawa. The girl all girls envy. She's hot. She's smart. She's athletic. She  can fight for herself. She's strong in character. She's focused. She is also in love with Usui-kun (but she's very much in denial about it).

So basically, you have the cute and the sexy.

The cute:

And then you have the sexy.

Girls, you will DIE watching this show. Kawaii as f***.

Guys, you will love the funny plot lines. It's not just a girly shojo full of corny pick-up lines. Usui makes it work. Trust me. 

It will have you on the edge of your seat and laughing too.

Lastly...

Sukūru Ranburu!!!

...is the Japanese pronunciation, 'cause you know how them Japanese do.

School Rumble....ah what to say, what to say. IT'S HILARIOUS!!! EVERYONE, BOY/GIRL/ALIEN (and once you watch the show, you'll get that reference) should watch it. It's a happy, hyper, feel-good anime that'll have you laughing throughout the series. 

So basically, you have different characters, each with their own funny story and personality.

You've got some hardass mother f*ckers, like Harima Kenji.

You have Tenma-chan.....ahem. (I had to)

You have the girl all the pervies like...Eri-chan

You have guys that are weird as fuh...(Karasuma-kun)

And then you have a whole array of secondary characters that are aaaaall very hilarious. 

Like, REALLY funny. There they are.

It's sort of a slice of life, but with very dramatic plot lines. You know how animes tend to over-exaggerate things. The main focus is the ironic love triangles between all the characters. I don't want to give away who likes who because therein lies the heart of the anime, but once you watch it you'll find out!

GURUGU MAWARU!

No. 6

So, Diverges ask me if I could write a final review of this anime. I happily complied and said yes right away, all the while secretly hoping he wouldn't realize what exactly he asking me to do and stopped me before it was too late.

He didn't.

Hehehehhahahaahaha

Ahem, anyway...

No. 6 is all about plot, man. It's set in this utopian city/future

or Dystopia, actually. The government is hiding a big, dark secret from their residents

who live the life depending on how smart you are. For example, geniuses like one of the main female characters, Safu

live without a single worry in their mind because they are able to think of the greatest pick-up lines.

The main character is Sion who I didn't remember much of. Miguel told me he liked dogs...

I trust him.

The plot kicks in when strange deaths occur. People die really quickly, by aging really quickly.

Sion is somehow involved with the deaths, and it's up to his lover/soul mate/other half friend Nezumi to save him

Nezumi takes Sion out of the city walls and into the real world where Sion learns 

about the sad truth

... of how other people...

...live...

uh...

Ah, what the hell

Persona 4: The Animation - Episode 3

This is almost like the last episode except with more fanfare and it's now the third secondary character's turn to get her god card. I also can't seem to remember her name so I'll call Sakura until further notice.

To start off Sakura saw her friend in the Midnight channel and is now worried that she will go missing. So everyone decides to head back for the night and watch Mawaru Penguindrum:

I have that same reaction and it's not like things improved the next day. Yoku shows off her martial off moves and then never uses them for the remainder of the episode, especially when they're all in danger.

A day later the gang decides to do something about obscure character #4 that has gone missing. (I think it was the dog, you know the fat one at the beginning?)

Wait a minute. Did Diana edit these subs?

I'll ignore it for now.

A couple of bad bear puns, more fan service, epic mecha scene, and climax later they finally encounter the final boss. Shadow Zelda!!!

My thoughts exactly! And if Misty doesn't pull herself it will be the end of us all! But she does and then an epic attack later that scoundrel is defeated!

And Yin's persona is...

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!? THAT'S NOT FABULOUS-MAX! TAKE IT OFF! Who designs these Persona's anyways?

Persona 4: The Animation - Episode 2

Since Diana will eat my soul if I don't do this I have decided to finally write about this show that I under my own free will watched (Is she gone?). On a more serious note this show is actually not what I expected, even though I've never actually played any of the Persona games most of the lore was quickly explained.

As a recap, in episode one Sora is chosen by the keyblade and given the unfortunate fate of traveling between worlds.

This show is also not influenced by Diana in any way shape or form.

Anyhow, my understanding of this series is that each member chosen by fate must encounter the darker side of themselves in some parallel universe.

Then all hell break loose as they fight their evil "self", unfortunately victory is not something they can hope for unless they are willing to accept their replica. Who represents what the "self" rejects, in a less confusing manner, they have to accept who they are to win. Then you use cheatcodes...

And collect the next Clow Card.

As much of a joke Mawaru Penguindrum's plot appears to be, there's always that underlying philosophical and omnipotent view Sanitoshi holds over the world.

He's practically a God that wishes to break beyond the bonds of fate. To test the balance of the universe and deliver his justice on the world.

Persona 4: The Animation

(P4A for short)

Episode 1 - "You're Myself, I'm Yourself"

WHERE CAN I START

Let's go through some basic stuff, yes?

Persona 4 is originally a video game developed by ATLUS for the PS2 in 2008. 

The story/game is about this guy named main character/MC/Souji Seta/Yu Narukami that moves to this town in the middle of nowhere because his parents need to travel abroad because of their jobs.

But right after he moves strange things happen. 

There's this magical TV channel

and mysterious murders

and the ability to levitate Tarot Cards

"Oooh, Shiny~"

Good stuff.

Anyway, the video game was SO POPULAR that the ATLUS team decided to adapt it into an anime. 

ANd re-release it it for the PSVita. And make a fighting game of it.

ANYWAY 

Episode one is filled with:

Lots and lots of butt

Adorable mascot character

not to mention

UNNNNF ALL OVER MY SCREEN

And

The most badass Persona EVER