Natsu no Arashi

Synopsis: Yasaka Hajime’s Cutie Strawberry-chan stirs a ruckus at his house and at the cafe where he works. Despite the cute name, Cutie Strawberry-chan is actually an improvised bomb made to look like a real strawberry. He enlists the help of Arashi and her time traveling powers to undo some of the damage. Things only escalate when Kaya, another time traveler with a major sweet tooth, goes off on her own time warping rampage to recover her lost strawberry shortcake. Let’s just say things ended with a bang!

The OP character designs were off-putting, but it somehow became palatable in the episode itself. Kaya, most especially, and Arashi were quite attractive. However, the same can NEVER be said for Hajime and his protruding bellybutton. Nothing can be done about his ugliness, so let’s move on.

The animation was stellar and there’s certainly scenery porn. I’m happy to say there weren’t any abrupt or distracting scene transitions that usually plague other SHAFT shows. The humor, mostly slapstick, wasn’t as funny as I hoped, but it had its moments. My favorite would have to be when Jun showed his *ahem* girly side. The real hook to this show would be the time traveling aspect, but it was carelessly used for such mundane issues this time that it lost its kick. I hope that SHAFT won’t be too self-indulgent with the inside jokes and extreme otaku references, but a little Zetsubou Sensei won’t hurt anyone.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Interesting.

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Queen’s Blade

Synopsis: Burdened with the responsibility of being the heir of the Banse family, Leina runs away. During her escape, she meets a pink-haired bunny girl with acid-spewing knockers who attacks her in the name of the Queen’s Blade. On the brink of defeat and complete loss of clothing, rogue bandit Risty comes to her rescue and returns her to her household. Instead of getting a reward though, Risty ends up in prison, but escapes later on. Soon after, Leina defeats acid boobs in a deciding battle, marking the start of her journey with her newfound resolve to live her own life.

I know the show is about fighting and boobs, but I didn’t actually think there’d be fighting boobs. Well… technically it was acid-squirting ones, but those were boobs that can fight.

The first time I tried to watch this, I stopped after a full upper frontal from Leina just merely minutes into it. After a night’s rest and some mental preparation, I managed to finish it. The fan service was just crass and tasteless. Seeing someone wet themselves from fright (twice!) was just sad and disgusting. Animation and character design were nothing special. Exciting storyline? The climax was Leina suppressing the acid from coming out the enemy’s boobs till it exploded. It’s stupid, that much is obvious.

# of times I used ‘boobs’ in the above entry: 5

Rating: ? out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: CRAPTASTIC! 

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K-ON!

Synopsis: Drummer Ritsu and bassist Mio take charge in saving the school’s dying Light Music Club. However, they need at least two more members to revive it. In comes keyboardist Mugi, who initially wanted to join the Chorus Club, but falls trap to the comical Ritsu-Mio duo. Together, they try to find the last missing piece. On the week before the complete disbandment of the club, Yui enters the Music Room to cancel her application, but comes out a full-fledged member as lead guitarist. All is well, except that Yui’s entire musical repertoire consists of… well… castanets.

The OP was unspectacular in KyoAni standards. The ED though, I liked. It played out like a real music video with the girls in stylish gothic-lolitaesque wardrobe, very cute sexy. The pop rock Engrish song sticks to you as well. I can tell Mio will win the hearts of thousands, please include me in that statistic.

They made Yui a bit clumsier than her 4-koma counterpart, making her even more moelicious. Baby Yui with the castanets was just too adorable; it’s death by moe!!! The whole episode was lighthearted and the characters were appealing. It’s just something you watch to relax. It’s uncomplicated and just generally pleasant. There was a short performance towards the end, but it was nowhere near the godly animation in Haruhi Suzumiya when they performed God Knows and Lost My Music.

Though the first episode was pretty toned down and there wasn’t much comedy, I am already too far-gone in-love with the 4-koma. I’ll be sticking with this to the end because from here on, it will only get better.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Cute!  

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Asura Cryin’

Synopsis: Gay-haired Tomo and ghostly Misao get a mysterious metal suitcase from Kurosaki, a friend of Tomo’s brother. A miko with heterochromatic eyes attacks Tomo that night, asking the whereabouts of the Asura Machina. Sensing that the metal case could be the source of all the recent odd happenings, Tomo seeks out Kurosaki, who promises to help him if he joins the Chemistry Club. Not long after, more people wanting to take hold of the suitcase come after Tomo. Under the dire circumstances, he opens the case and out comes a black substance that turns into a mecha, the Asura Machina.

Rating: 1 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Forgettable.

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Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~

Synopsis: A man without memories or name wakes up in an abandoned facility. Even knowing nothing of himself, his desire to live pushes him to fight for his life against a masked woman. Using only his instincts and innate fighting prowess, he somehow reaches the exit alive. The woman gives him his new name, Zwei, and reveals her own, Ein, before shooting him down with a tranquilizer. Hereafter, both work as Inferno’s top assassins they call as Phantom.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Passable.

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Arad Senki

Synopsis: A party of four sets out to kill a demon. The monster overpowers them, forcing Roxy to release the limiters on her arm, making her fully demonic. After striking down the enemy, strange glowing snow falls, a curse that will bring forth terrible changes. Years later, Baron is traveling to find a cure for his accursed demonic arm with his companion, Roxy. He unwittingly falls into a trap one day and his captors imprison him. Despite that, he saves them when a pack of monsters threatens to overrun them earning him his freedom and a new companion for his journey.

Rating: 1 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Boring.

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Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Synopsis: The Flame Alchemist, Colonel Roy Mustang, heads the operation to capture a certain former state alchemist who is able to manipulate water. With the help of the Elric brothers and Major Armstrong, they save Central City from the Ice Alchemist’s plan of destruction and the culprit meets his demise in the hands of President Fuhrer. In another town, malevolent beings continue to lurk in the shadows waiting for the ripe opportunity to strike.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Nostalgic.

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Saki

Synopsis: A friend from middle school drags Saki to the Mahjong Club. She plays three games with the club members, each time scoring a zero, neither a win nor a loss. Just breaking even seems unspectacular at a glance, but not in the trained eyes of the Mahjong Club president. Consistently getting a zero is a godlike skill that requires both ability and the devil’s luck. In a later game, Saki continues to display her amazing gift despite unfavorable odds, crushing all doubts questioning her talent.

This, my friends, was AWESOME. Best-looking Gonzo anime out there this season (except maybe for Shangrila, which I will review soon). They did well in blending the 3D and 2D elements. They didn’t skimp on frames when animating the play sequences and game tiles. The high-tech mahjong table was equally fascinating, but what’s even more amazing is when you see it in live action.

The art came off as cute and the animation was consistently pretty all through out. I was really impressed technical-wise, but the story just blew me away. Who knew scoring a zero would be even harder than winning? I didn’t! The show held my attention and left me wanting more.

The members of the Mahjong Club were all quirky, in a good way. Saki was adorable in downplaying her unusual ability. While watching her play in the later part of the episode, it gave me waves of goose bumps. The well-endowed Nodoka seemed like the quiet princess type, but she’s actually very competitive and even has a mean streak in her. There’s some weird tension between Saki and Nodoka, as a little service. They threw in a lot of mahjong terms and it got confusing, but it didn’t dither my enjoyment.

It might sound weird but, this show is about mahjong and its unexpectedly FUN!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: EXCITING!  

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Basquash

Synopsis: The people of Rolling Town like their basketball with giant robots, troublemaker Dan DJ hates it. With the help of a childhood friend, he crashes an ongoing game piloting his own mechanical baller. He almost wipes the floor with them, until the Iceman rains on his parade. The authorities imprison him for his stunt and all his past crimes. After a year in prison, he discovers that he is now a legend, as the boy who revolutionized Big Foot Basketball.

One thing I noticed right away was the stunning visuals. The floating moon city with the colorful lights and the futuristic, hip, urban, semi-ghetto appearance of Rolling Town were beautiful and creatively done. The animation was fluid and the movements were high in detail. I found the humor too childish though. It can’t be helped, since this show was made for the younger male audiences.

The main character, Dan, was sadly an annoying Naruto clone, loud and abrasive delinquent. His annoying voice just grated on my ears. It was high-pitched and hoarse, the kind of voice boys have when it’s ‘breaking’. It didn’t help that he was shouting most of the freaking time! Then, there’s Coco, Dan’s little sister, who didn’t seem to care for anything. Her rather cold nature was a result from her accident with Big Foots at a younger age, paralyzing her from the waist down. She’s not the moe imouto you would hope. Fear not boys because this show has Miyuki, Dan’s childhood friend. A busty girl with a penchant for robots (I like girls who know their way around machines) who provided the fan service and sexual innuendo.

So, was the basketball any good? Uh… Not really. If I had to say, the raciest thing in the episode was a close-up of Miyuki’s scarcely concealed jugs, bouncing and jiggling for a good 10 seconds. The basketball was just too short for me. Maybe, we’ll get our fill in the second episode.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Flashy.

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Pandora Hearts

Synopsis: Hours before Oz Bezarius’s coming-of-age ceremony, he and his attendant, Gil, fall into a pit when the ground suddenly collapses under them. Before their eyes, a golden pocketwatch dangles around a tombstone. As he clasps the locket, Oz finds himself in a room where a girl comes out to greet him. Her sweet welcome turns sour when she starts threatening his life. As she’s about to drive a dagger into him, he snaps out of his reverie. As Oz prepares for the night’s event, he senses something ominous is about to happen.

This was really good for my shoujo-loving self.

I liked the cute super deformed comedic moments as much as I gravitated towards the dark fantasy feel of it. They managed to strike a balance between the comedy and the heavier themes. The slow build up of the tension effectively held my attention. The characters were interesting, the most fascinating being the maniacal Alice.

Despite the conventional animation, the beguiling story and likable characters more than made up for its shortcomings. On a last note, if it is relevant to your interest, I read that there’s going to be tsundere.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Promising.

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Eden of the East

Synopsis: On a little Washington side trip, Saki Morimi runs into some police trouble, when she tries to throw coins over the White House gates. Help comes from a naked stranger, who has no recollection of who he is, carrying only a gun and a phone. She chases him back to his apartment, after accidentally handing over her passport to him. The young man, with a highly probable criminal past, takes on his new identity as Akira Takizawa. Dragging along the innocent Saki, he cons the embassy for two free tickets back to Japan.

It was a totally different experience altogether.

The opening sequence was a digital collage of various imagery and texts that seemed religious in nature. The song was a purely English track from the British rock band, Oasis. I liked the drum-and-guitar-heavy beat of ‘Falling Down’. The more I listened to it, the more it seemed to suck me into its psychedelic rhythm. Combining both visual and aural aspects, I get the feeling of foreboding of things ending, a sense of helplessness, and the desire for a savior. It might be a subtle hint on what’s to come for this show, and I would love to hear your thoughts and analysis on this.

The ED was very reminiscent of Honey & Clover’s bizarre OP of dancing food. Only here, they used paper instead of clay. There were cutouts of the characters running, crumbling paper-thin buildings, and exploding pencil missiles. I couldn’t think of a more creative or imaginative way to waste pristinely white paper and perfectly usable pencils.

I loved how P.I.G.’s was hell-bent on spoiling us with rich and realistically rendered visuals and remarkably detailed artwork. Aside from the eye candy, what really made this episode soar were the charming characters and their delightful chemistry. I adored Akira’s audacity, wit, and charisma. He could probably sweet talk a random passerby to giving up his pants for him. Oh wait, he did! The lovely Saki was precious, and I couldn’t help but smile every time she’d go stiff at Akira’s flasher tendencies. Individually, they were already good characters, but when they played off each other, they shined.

Even though there’s already so much going for this episode, they still pushed it further with some good sense of humor. I have a small list of favorite scenes that were so amusing in their absurdity. The little movie references and white doodle censor cloud were a nice touch too. I can only expect big things from this title, especially when the political conspiracy and action kicks in (HELL YES! We’re waiting for the awesome fight scenes P.I.G.).

No, this is not your ordinary anime. Yes, you will like it probably.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Standout! (Pun intended, if you know what I mean)

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07-GHOST

Synopsis: Vivid dreams of a man he does not know plague Teito Klein’s sleep. Shortly after passing his final test for graduation, he chances on a conversation involving his past. Once he takes sight of a necklace said to belong to the King of Raggs, he recognizes the mysterious man in his dreams as his late father. In a sudden fit of rage, he charges towards his father’s killer, Ayanami, but is quickly subdued. Through the help of his friend, he flees from the academy, narrowly escaping certain death.

Oh, a pretty boy! Hey, there’s another one. LOOK! HAWT MAN! HAWT MAN! Over there! More! More! MORE!

It was just one pretty boy after the other, sauntering to the screen. Sure, they slapped some magic and deceiving action shots in there, but it was hard to notice with all the dazzling boys on parade.

The protagonist, Teito, was not the effeminate character I envisioned him to be. Rather, he was strong and slightly detached, but still compassionate. His traumatic past will serve as a solid springboard for some possibly good character development. I did find the little vow between Mikage and Teito, to die together on the battlefield, just a tad bit too cheesy for my brand of male bonding and friendship.

The action was on the dull side. A simple hand gesture was often enough to decide a match. The fights relied heavily on magical combat rather than physical, thus limiting dramatic movement. However, the fast becoming complicated plot and fantasy setting was a plus.

There are still a ton of characters yet to be introduced and they barely showed the fantasy world where all of this drama is taking place. Those and the promise of hawt evil man going after the pretty boy with lovely emerald green eyes in a sizzling chase is enough to keep me going, for now.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Bishiessssssssssssssssssss!

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Ristorante Paradiso

Synopsis: Abandoned as a child, Nicoletta moves to Rome to face her estranged mother. They inevitably meet in a restaurant with an unusual attraction–a staff full of handsome spectacled older men. She soon frequents the Casetta dell’Orso, the restaurant her stepfather owns, enjoying everyone’s company and of Claudio’s, in particular.

This was unexpectedly good. It was like Ouran, but instead of the adolescent and somewhat childish pretty boys, we get refined and surprisingly sexy older men. The European backdrop, instrumental music, relaxed pacing, elegant movements, and pastel artwork, all made for a very romantic atmosphere.

I could easily understand how Nicoletta would be so smitten with Claudio or any of the men. In an age where chivalry has suffered a thousand deaths, it’s nice to see men treating women with such grace and courtesy (even if it’s just 2D). Such the idea of a gentleman was most enthralling for me. No doubt, this was aimed at the hardly-tapped josei anime market.

This different take on the reverse harem formula will not win the nods of many (boys, I’m looking at you). But, for those wanting a cut above all the rehashed offerings of the season should give this mature slice-of-life story a try.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Delectable.

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Higepiyo

Synopsis: Hiroshi longs for a pet that has a healthy appetite, strong desire for social awareness, high alcoholic tolerance, dissonant breathing during sleep, love for nasal hygiene, loafing expertise, and criminal good looks. Higepiyo is a chick that possesses all these wonderful qualities and a surprising amount of facial hair. A fated meeting, a beautiful encounter brings their hearts together.

Translation: I AM IN DESPAIR! This show about a bearded chick, bought for Y500, that eats too much, hogs the newspaper and TV, drinks sake, snores, picks its nose, lounges around the house like an old man, and looks like a gangster has left me in despair!

If you’ve got the time and up for 5 minutes worth of fowl gags, and chick antics, then why not spend it with our little friend, the escaped laboratory experiment gone wrong, and the unfortunate family that adopted it. It’s too short to cause permanent mental damage and too nonsensical to pass up.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: SILLY.

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Marie and Gali

Synopsis: After briefly arriving in an unnamed city, Marika meets Galileo Galilei and both race to the top of the not-so-leaning Tower of Pisa in hot pursuit of a rather animated plushie. One explosion later, the trio plummets down the now-leaning Tower of Pisa, illustrating the salient dynamics of gravity, free fall, and air resistance.

Rating: 1 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: ZZzzZzzcientific.

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Shangri-la

Synopsis: In the jungle city of Tokyo, an unscrupulous business deal shakes the precarious carbon dioxide economics in the jungle city of Tokyo. The Atlas military raids Duomo, home of the anti-government movement, and blames them for the unexplained market spike. When Kuniko Hojo clashes with Major Kusanagi, it sets off a chain of events causing a rain of destruction to fall from the sky.

I had to watch this twice, half of my brain was sleeping the first time, and I ended CO2NFUSED because of the carbonomics (saves me a couple of key presses compared to carbon dioxide economics… but I typed it anyway BAH). Some advice: watch with your working brain cells ready for the onslaught of technical mumbo-jumbo coming your way.

The episode introduced a huge cast of characters, mostly female (some pretending to be), a handful of which are lolicon-worthy. Let’s have a little who’s who: Kuniko is the reluctant successor of a leftist group called Metal Age, Ryoko is a sadistic military bitch overlord, Karin is a conglomerate child prodigy, and Mikuni is a cute aristocrat of something they didn’t bother telling. Those four were, I think, the main players for this could-be-epic show.

GONZO has serious money riding on this title. They upped their game, delivering a lush and majestic world to serve as Kuniko’s playground. Kuniko’s usage of the big bad orange boomerang was refreshing and her fight with the military had moments of brilliant choreography. Character designs, however, were a letdown. They should have just gone all the way and tried to capture as much of the aesthetics of the original designs. But, I’m getting a bit picky here, the production levels were actually high, overall.

This could have been a great first episode. What ruined it for me were the heavy political theme and carbonomic conspiracies. What this show needs is MORE FIGHTS, less talk.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: CO2MPLICATED!!!

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Guin Saga

Synopsis: The last standing royals from the ruined kingdom of Parros, Rinda and Remus, face death in the hands of their Mongaul pursuers. A man with an affixed leopard mask single-handedly saves them, overwhelming the hunters with sheer strength and power. Unlikely bonds form when the regal twins nurse the amnesic warrior, Guin, to health when he collapses after the earlier scuffle. Come nightfall, the haunted forest brings forth a slew of monsters and ghouls, chasing out the odd trio to seek refuge and answers elsewhere.

Almost everything felt a bit too flat for something that was supposed to be epic and legendary. The drama was ill timed, the voice acting lacked emotional intensity, and the animation was at times not up to par with the ambition of the story. This throwback to classic heroes and fantasy did boast of grandiose landscapes and a score created by music virtuoso, Nobue Uematsu. A few shining moments also came from Rinda and Guin. Princess Rinda was poised and courageous, truly bearing the countenance of an aristocrat, unlike the spineless git called Remus. While seeing Guin castrate his enemies with pure raw power was the most awe-inspiring and surreal thing I’ve seen yet this season. I’m talking about HARD-HITTING EXPLOSIVE GAR ACTION (I can almost hear the muffled weeping of the Sengoku Basara boys over the emasculation).

Rating: 3 out of 5 (Mostly because of Guin’s man-burying karate chop)

Bite-size Wrap-up: Kickass!

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Sengoku Basara

Synopsis: In an age where anarchy and superpowered “manly” men roam freely in a warring Japan, Sanada’s twin spears crosses passionately with Date’s six blades, causing a local nuclear explosion. Ok, I give up. I’m not gonna hurt myself trying to come up with an intelligible summary for this show anymore.

This was GAY.

Not GAR, no, definitely, definitely GAY. Quite surprising when everyone else was worshipping all the so-called testosterone-charged atmosphere, manly epic battles, badassiest weapons, and everything GAR GAR GAR. Didn’t anybody else see those groovy dance moves in the OP? Or Kenshin’s queer fashion sense and pretty eyelashes? Oh, and there’s all that “Oyakata-sama! Yukimura! Oyakata-sama!!! Yukimura!!! OYAKATA-SAMA!!! YUKIMURA!!!” crap. It was like the endless loop of ‘Miyaka x Tamahome vomit-inducing love-love syndrome’ hell. Don’t forget Sanada and “Date’s blades set my soul on fire. Ah… my chest hurts so much. Is this… could this be… it must be… Yes! It has to be! LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT!” Obviously, all these people were GAY and mancrushing on each other. I don’t know whether the writers were drunk or on crack or both when they made the script. But, for sure, they were high on something because this had some of the CHEESIEST dialogues I’ve heard in a long time.

All the absurd theatrics, the flamboyance, the parody, Date’s bastardized English, the happy explosions, the homoeroticism, Date’s horse (yes, the thing with motorcycle handles and exhaust pipes!), the infectious soundtrack, the gaudy costumes, the over-the-top and superfluous hyperbolic fights, and a wholllleeeeeeeee lot more of stuff that made this into the crazy episode that it was, I loved it all. P.I.G. has done a splendid job of making this a deliciously exaggerated visual treat and a big fat farce. Don’t think too hard about the plot–it doesn’t exist.

Sengoku Basara has unmatched brazen flair. It flaunts and shoves it in your face every chance it gets, but you’ll be too busy laughing at its expense to care. Just relax and enjoy the insanity.

Rating: 10^23%*9×10~23LOLOLOLOL out of ROFLMAO4*172^7/2

Bite-size Wrap-up: RETARDED!

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Hanasakeru Seishounen

Synopsis: Plucked from her ordinary student life in Japan, Kajika is tossed into a real-life otome game, where she is to win the heart of one of the three men her father especially chose for her, and be able to unlock the mystery behind the fate laid upon her. Catch is, she doesn’t know who these guys are, and neither do they. Armed with nothing else but her Eye for Great Men and her Extraordinary Pheromones, Kajika is set on winning, but will she?

This one sure lives up to its title, literally translated as “Flower-blooming [young] boys” (it can also mean, ‘boys who can make a name [in the world]‘ or something like that, figuratively speaking). As such, one should expect no less than sparkly bishies in full blossom. Ah yes, springtime is here indeed~ Strap on your suspension of disbelief, and enjoy the bishie-filled ride. This is a pretty straightforward series, nothing much else happens apart from what we can see (yes I’m totally contradicting what I said in my disillusioned first impression comment), take it as it is, enjoy it as it is. Makes for easy digestion that way, to those who can take the cheesiness, and absurdity of the plot thereof.

But is it just me or was the first half of episode 1 quite a segue? The intent behind Kajika’s sudden transfer to Japan and her brief time in the school seemed nothing else but show us what makes her so Great, like how her pheromones can lure both guys and girls, excels in sports, strong-willed, can easily intimidate people… Read: “Yessss, fearrrr the mighty Kajika, bow before her greatness!” It could’ve been done more subtly and elegantly, not spoon-fed like this. If she really is that great a character it will show in her actions and what we’ll see of her sooner or later, but oh well, beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll cut the mangaka Itsuki Natsumi some slack too because this is one of her first works, like almost two decades ago, preceding her more known works (shall we say ‘obra maestra’?) OZ and Jyu Oh Sei.

That said, I thought this was quite an interesting series, despite it being somewhat of a ‘guilty pleasure’. The premise is intriguing enough to warrant a closer look, see what lies ahead, bearing in mind that reverse-harem events filled with facepalm-worthy moments will be unlocked later on, while keeping an eye out for possible plot twists that awaits us sooner or later, if there actually is. Who are these gorgeous men Kajika will meet?! Who is she gonna choose?! Is there a three-some or four-some path in this real-life otome game she’s in?! Will there be a possibility of this turning into an otomeroge with a smutty path?! If these questions alone are enough to get you hooked, then this show was made for you.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Bite-size Wrap-up: Intriguing.

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