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Synopsis:
"Life is so dull. I just wish one day something amazing would happen that would change my life forever." is probably what 75% of the worlds population is thinking right about now. Well, so is 16 year old Tomokazu Mikuri, moaning and complaining about his upcoming birthday and to top it all off he doesn't even have a girlfriend. After his usual boring day Tomokazu drifts off to sleep but ends up having a very bizarre dream where he wakes up in some bizarre world in which he sees a young girl fighting some unknown enemy. However, the mystery girl takes a hit and falls from the sky landing in Tomokazu's arms which seems to give the young lady a second wind and with an enthusiastic "MONE!" (pronounced by her as, MOE-NEH) and a smile, she attacks her enemy again and utterly defeats it. When Tomokazu wakes from his strange dream he tries to decipher his vision he soon realizes that he's not alone as the dream girl is lying next to him in bed and greets him with a "Mone!" Oh yeah, Tomokazu got his birthday wish alright as life will never be dull again.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 12
Review:
Ah, harem comedy animes... I never get tired of them. A bunch of cute girls, some doof, and a brainless comedy routine that will make you laugh or at the very least smile in some way or another and Yumeria is no different. But Yumeria does try to stand out a little by using a somewhat uncommon group of girls, 2 lolis, 2 buxom curvaceous teens, and a milf, now... before you say "Lolis? Oh yeah, bring this on!" I gotta tell you straight up that the story that brings everyone together falls a little on the idiotic side of things. So much to the fact that this series feels like it almost didn't want to use the plot about dream warriors at all but would have rather focused on one guy dealing with this wide age range of ladies all sharing the same interest in one guy. Because, after it uses this plot device to bring everyone together the show disregards it goes on to focus on home life, school life, and everyone getting along as one happy family. The few episodes that do delv into the dream world are very rushed and really serve no other purpose than to show girls in scantily clad outfits that always get a second wind and wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop. Is this a bad thing? Well... no, but you can't help but get the feeling that it's tacked on somehow and almost comes across as pointless.
Yumeria is the type of anime where you really have to go into it not expecting much at all because that's what you'll get in return and with that mindset you may enjoy it more than you probably thought you would. It's main plot about dream warriors and their challenge to save the Earth seems pushed aside and far from being the main focus as it's group of girls seems like what the show wanted to spend more time on and it did to some degree. Unfortunately, this anime can't seem to get it's focus straight as to how it wants to present itself to the audience and falls back on trying to use cute girls to divert your attention away from it's poorly told story and very loose ended characterization. And you know, it almost worked. In the end Yumeria is what it is and that's fun... just good, stupid, fun... and nothing more. Now, if you'll excuse me... I'm gonna go take a nap and see if I can pull a girl out of my dreams. Hey, why should only Tomokazu get to be so lucky?!?Yumeria (opening)Recommendation: |Average|
Synopsis:
Momo Adachi has a slight "problem", she tans more easily than all the other girls in school. Well... she considers it a problem anyway because she heard the guy she likes, Toji, doesn't care for tan girls. To try and rectify this problem, Momo refuses to join the swim team she has been with for so long and also cover up as much as possible when out in the daylight just to get Toji to like her. But when her so-called friend Sae, who's actually more of a sadist that enjoys seeing Momo in emotional distraught, tries to find out who Momo likes Momo points to a boy named Kairi Okayasu just so Sae doesn't attempt to claim Toji for herself. Of course, Okayasu finds out about Momo's fake attraction to him and begins to tease her constantly about it even though he knows that Momo will only yell at him. But when Sae does eventually find out about Toji and tries to take him for herself, Okayasu is there to help Momo any way he can even if it means turning the entire school against Sae. Momo begins to think that there is more to the self centered jerk that Okayasu pretends to be.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 26
Review:
DRAMA!!!
Peach Girl (opening)
Recommendation: |Low|
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Hm? Oh, you need a little more detail then that eh? Well I thought that explained everything pretty well but alright. Peach Girl, as you can tell, is another romance anime but the thing that makes it stand out somewhat is the fact that it over-dramatizes everything heavily and then places situations like romance, jealousy, betrayal, discontent, and good ole angst in the hands of teenagers but mixes in comedy by using exaggerated facial expressions at just the right moment. I couldn't help but thinking while watching this that most people would have rather killed themselves than put up with the crap that Momo dealt with through the entire series and the comedy element starts to get phased out as the series progresses. But even my sympathy for Momo having to endure all this started to wane because more often then not... she brings emotional distraught upon herself. You watch Momo come to some realization every couple of episodes that she loves this guy, no... that guy, wait... maybe she was kidding herself all along and doesn't need anyone. Oh the turmoil! After a few episodes of this you'll be shaking your head in disbelief and ask "What the hell are you doing?"
I will say that Peach Girl did start out quite well. It began pulling me into the series as I initially liked Momo and I felt bad for her dealing with Sae's sadistic intent and Okayasu was hilarious and an easily likable character. And this was all well and good... for 5 episodes. After those first 5 episodes told a small tale of Momo trying to relay feelings to Toji but Sae making trouble for Momo and Okayasu causing trouble for Sae acting as Momo's revenge. After that, everything just turned into over-dramatized crap. Seriously, I could have dropped the series after the first DVD and not missed a thing and may have had a better overall outlook on this show.
With animation that makes you ask "What's with coloring everyone's upper lip black?", a ridiculous amount of drama, a plot that could have been finished in 5 episodes, and an opening that reminds you of the Ambiguously Gay Duo, Peach Girl holds about as much realism as a mid-day soap opera and makes you ask yourself "Do people really put up with this crap?" Recommended? Not really, unless you want to insult the shows characters while watching how much shit they deal with that makes your life look like a ride on cloud 9.
Synopsis:
A hulking mass of a man that wields an abnormally large sword named Guts that calls himself "The Black Knight" takes the audience into his estranged past through medieval times filled with fighting, bloodshed, pain, and why he has a personal vendetta against demons.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 25
Review:
Think of Berserk as one big flashback because, well... it is. It gives you a little taste of The Black Knight's current lifestyle in the first episode and then delves into his past for the remainder of the series. The thing is, within that one episode, Berserk manages to raise enough questions that you'll want to know the answers to. Who is The Black Knight? Where did he come from? Why the big-ass sword? What is he so pissed off about? What's with that necklace thing? What happened to his eye? And the list goes on and on. Luckily, Berserk manages take all those questions and answer them with one hell of a compelling medieval anime that will never lose your interest the entire time. Not only can it keep action fans occupied with epic sword-fights and massive amounts of bloodshed but it also combines that with some remarkable character depth. From the moment Guts hits the screen this anti-hero's presence alone makes this series worth watching but when allies such as Caska, Judeau, and the homoesque Griffith become part of his life through forced intervention... things only get more interesting. Guts doesn't need anyone nor does he want anyone in his life but when people start forcing their way in he quickly builds up the emotional barriers but yet still holds respect for his allies and starts to acknowledge them on the battlefield as Guts begins to leave his self-centeredness behind. You'll see that the more Guts changes, the more he stays the same. Because, you'll never tire of seeing Guts cut someone in half with that huge sword.
Don't let the age of the series turn you away as it has some truly great animation and put with it's hand-painted backgrounds Berserk is one fantastic looking anime. Action, blood, a magnificent plot, enough character depth to bury you, and one of anime's greatest anti-heros, Berserk is one series that should not be passed up. The only downside here is that there is no sense of closure and will have you clamoring for a second season but since it's been over ten years things were looking bleak... until recently. Rumors of another season of Berserk have risen along with a few stills of the show but nothing has been confirmed. Maybe there's some hope after all. Berserk (opening)Recommendation |High|
Synopsis:
The girls that bring death to your doorstep are back for a second season. Bullets fly, knives cut, and the blood still flows... somewhat, but this time... we get to see the young ladies outlook on life on a more personal level.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 13
Review:
Short synopsis eh? But really, there isn't much more to it than that from season one as all this anime does is expand upon season one on a more personal level this time around. We still have our group of under-aged assassins but for the second season the girls have something extra added to thier character... personality. You're either going to like or just not accept the new attitudes as it almost doesn't fit but the thing is that was one of my main gripes with the first season as everyone had about as much enthusiasim as a cardboard box. This time the girls will giggle, laugh, smile, get angry, cry, even show a little jealousy. But it's not just our loli assassins either, the handlers (or fratello in this season which means brother) are actually showing some compassion towards their little cyborg killer this time around. Hell, even other members within their government agency even support the idea that of instead of hiding emotions to let it be known that the fratellos actually care for or love their deadly sidekick. Now this... this was a complete opposite from the first season where the agency wanted emotions bottled up so as not to let the girls soften and become sidetracked.
So, does the new angle of characterization work for Gunslinger Girl II? In a word, no... This entire season is about as boring as the first and any real progress is only made in the last two episodes. Watching Guise get closer with Henrietta, seeing Triela's softer side and her fratello Hilshire responding to it, even Marco's regret from season one with him coming back as a more supportive somewhat likable person is all rushed development in the last couple episodes. If this had been mixed in with the lame terrorist plot and strung along the entire season things could have been more interesting but as it is all of it was done out of order and never really gets your attention until it's almost over.
I will commend the new animation style that gives you a more welcoming presentation rather than the cold look of disparity the first season had. But, the only real reason to watch this is if you've seen the first season and now you want to see how the girls spend their leisure time and that even though they are cyborgs they also have emotions. Less action, less bloodshed, weak ass main plot, but more characterization still makes for a boring series that holds about the same amount of interest it's first venture.Gunslinger Girl II (opening)
Recommendation: |Below Average|
Synopsis:
Gunslinger Girl doesn't really have a main plot. It's more of a collection of different stories about a government agency that's called The Social Welfare Agency. They perform odd jobs, usually assassinations using adolescent girls as the killers. These girls have been brought back from the brink of death through cybernetic implants and brainwashing to clear their minds for training and mental conditioning. Each girl is assigned a handler (... huh-huh... handler...) that will train the cyborg girl in weaponry and also provide emotional stability so the girls won't let feelings crowd their judgment.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 13
Review:
There is nothing cute about Gunslinger Girl, it's the exact opposite. It's an extremely dark look at the behind the scenes life of being an assassin but in this case focusing on the mental impact it has on each one of these kids. There is some action but it's not the focus here nor do you see things like half of a city being destroyed just because it's about robotic children, there is not even a single hint of comedy to be found. The series plays out at different angles focusing on a different girl every episode or two and her relation with her handler and what she is doing affects her life and how she reacts to certain situations... there really isn't a main protagonist although about half of the episodes will be about Henrietta and her handler Guise.
Even though this might sound like a really good series, I was sort of put off by the pacing which is quite slow and there wasn't much variety of situations. It's usually the same thing just with a different girl and I was sort of expecting something different each time but it never happened. The characterization is hit and miss here as each cyborg girl has her own attitude that sets her apart from the others but all the handlers are cold and callous and treat their cyborg sibling as just that... a cyborg. Only Guise sometimes let's Henrietta be what she really is, an adolescent child but he never forgets the overall scope of his job. Gunslinger Girl has some great animation, decent plot (or plots I should say), even the English track is done well it's just that I found it slow moving and lacked variety between episodes but that isn't what Gunslinger Girl is trying to give you. It wants you to see the hard truths of how the world may be viewed by a killer that happens to be a soulless child.Gunslinger Girl (opening)Recommendation: |Below Average|
Synopsis:
Ah Tokyo, this large metropolis seems to be a magnet for all types of natural disaster. Well, it's also the center of attention for supernatural catastrophes as well as a strange anomaly dubbed as Hell's Gate appears in Tokyo destroying life, wreaking havoc on the landscape, and replacing the sky with it's own roof over the world. Along with this epic event strange individuals started appearing that displayed bizarre powers called contractors, but these powers have a price each time they are used... the cost of their own humanity. Hei, is one such contractor. Taking on the appearence of a kind-hearted man from China while "off duty", Hei is actually the masked assassin named The Black Reaper working for an unnamed organization simply known as The Syndicate eliminating any target set before him using the power of electricity mixed with his own quick reflexes. Along with fellow Syndicate members Yin (the spirit medium) and Mao (a talking cat), both working together to finish jobs assigned to them under the supervision of Huang who, unlike his team-mates, is not a contractor. Though through Hei's most recent assassination assignments his past and the mystery of Hell's Gate catches up with him dragging what few friends he has into the turmoil.
Reviewer: Endosanity
Number of episodes watched: 26 (25 + 1 OVA)
Review:
Trench coat wearing assassin dude with a mask named The Black Reaper that appears after something called Hell's Gate has opened. Sounds pretty cool huh? Well... it is. Darker Than Black doesn't waste any time in getting the audiences attention with it's cool looking protagonist and slick stylized battles with other contractors that posses some strange ability. But, after a couple of episodes of that, Darker Than Black knows that it already has your attention and can start presenting some of the more subtle elements of the story while keeping your attention at the same time. And this works, to a certain point. Eventually, you're going to start missing the energy that the first few episodes came across with which does return to some degree but what we're given just sort of feels that it's not enough. Luckily, Darker Than Black's mysterious plot line helps to replace that gap left by it's own introductory episodes to pull you along and find out just what they hell is going on in the world today. But, while you will start to learn about Hei the series will also branch off and start delving into each characters past which can get downright boring. Hey, I'm usually all for character development but it's usually if the people onscreen are interesting but here we're looking at... a talking cat, an autistic acting young girl, and a short fat dude with a big-ass nose. Sorry... not interested. Well... okay, Yin's story (the girl who's a medium) was a little interesting but it didn't clear up any mystery about her at all and the episodes spent showing you her past doesn't give you a conclusion that you already figured out on your own. For everyone else, what you have to sit through really isn't all that interesting and is just wasting time.
Darker Than Black, an anime that puts itself at a fork in the road and took the wrong path. Instead of working a bit more on the mysterious plot it presents itself with it opted for character development instead. Usually, that's the best option but with the level of complexity behind the story here this anime should have worked more on that than trying to explain it's lackluster side characters. In the end, I gotta admit, you're left wanting more because you will feel as if Hell's Gate wasn't explained enough but is that because of poor storytelling or the series just wasting too much time on unappealing characterization. Well, I guess that's what 2nd seasons are for which Darker Than Black has had it's announcement of. Will that explain what we really want to know? Who knows, as it is Darker Than Black is a decent series but don't be surprised if you're left with an empty feeling just because it was spending too much time showing you things that... you just didn't care about, leaving the more interesting parts rushed with no real sense of closure.Darker Than Black (opening)Recommendation: |Average|*Note - Well I'll be damned, no typos from FUNimation in the subtitles and they stopped using that idiotic angle option of the DVD player. Too bad it's wasted on an average series that doesn't deserve more than a rental.
