Summer 2010 Anime | Shiki Episode 2

Building on the intriguing first episode, Shiki's second episode really shines. In the wake of Megumi's death,  the mystery behind the mysterious deaths begins to take shape as the town's doctor begins to realize that of the recent deaths may be connected somehow. The causes of death are unknown, but the symptoms all seem to be the same. What could be causing this epidemic? Is it contagious? All of these makes for a genuinely creepy second episode.

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MANGA REVIEW: Peepo Choo, Volume 1

Age Rating: 18+
Story & Art: Felipe Smith
Publisher: Vertical, Inc.

Many North American anime and manga fans dream of one day getting a chance to visit their "mecca". What if you actually got a chance to visit Japan? What would your initial reaction be to finding out that you are going? What would you do when you get there? How would you prepare for such an experience? What you expect to see, hear, touch, taste and feel? Pretty exciting, right?

Taking this notion even further; what if you were a North American manga artist? Getting your work published in Japan would certainly be a dream come true, no? Well, what would you do if you had the opportunity to haved your manga published by Kodansha, Japan's largest publishing company? While actually living in Japan, no less? Well, just ask Felipe Smith, who has gotten the opportunity to do just that. The result? Peepo Choo, the zany fusion of Western and Eastern pop culture all into one series.

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Summer 2010 Anime | Kuroshitsuji II Episode 2, Occult Academy Episode 2

Kuroshitsuji II, Episode 2

A deer? In a tuxedo? HUH?

It is official: Kuroshitsuji is back in top form. Ciel has returned to join Sebastian (along with the series' comical supporting cast), meaning Kuroshitsuji II is back on par with the original. Of course, Claude and Alois will definitely appear again considering they are still featured prominently in the opening animation. Not that I really care though. Ciel and Sebastian are who we all REALLY want to see, am I right?

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Summer 2010 Anime | Sengoku Basara Two First Impressions, Highschool of the Dead Episode 2

Sengoku Basara Two | First Impressions

The colossus-like dude on the left not only is a giant, he has airbender-like abilities as well.

I did a mini-marathon of the final 4 episodes of the first season directly before watching the first episode of Sengoku Basara Two and I am pleased to report that the second season picks up directly where the first season left off. In fact, it even overlaps slightly because they re-animated the final scene of the first season to make the transition even smoother.

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FILM REVIEW: Keane

Every once in a while a film comes along that sticks with you long after it is over. Everyone who loves a good film experiences this phenomenon, and all good filmmakers strive to create a film that provides said experience. Being able to create something wholly memorable rather than something fleeting or easily forgettable is perhaps the single most important element of art.

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Summer 2010 Anime | First Impressions Galore!

Maya seems a bit overwhelmed by the large amount of simulcasts.
Seriously though, can you blame her?

Summer is here, and with it comes a new season of anime series in Japan. Are the new shows any good? You can find out after the break.

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First Look: Summer 2010 Anime

The lack of posts on here as of late is disturbing, I know; but what better way to get "back in business" then to preview the upcoming July slate of anime in Japan.

THE LINEUP

At first glance, this is a very nice change from seasons past. For the last couple of seasons my overall interest has been very, very low; but this time, I am actually interested in a good chunk of the series on that chart. Whether or not I will stick with them all is yet to be seen, but I like the fact that my cup runneth over with anime this summer. I will be listing the anime in the order in which they appear on the chart linked above, and you may continue reading after the jump.

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Video Games = Art? I say, yes.

Take a look at this screenshot from Okami and tell me this isn't art.

Originally I was  going to post this on my personal blog, but I actually think the subject matter better fits this blog.  That, and I'm also interested in hearing JayGee's and Ryuk1138's opinions on the matter based on the discussions they've seemed to have already had about it.

It was the latter's post on Facebook where I originally found out about this debate, and ever since then I've been trying to hunt down a good article to link too that goes into more depth about the subject matter and presents Roger Ebert's side of the issue.  Problem is I'd mostly prefer to see if I could find the original article by Ebert himself, but can't really seem to find one.  I do think the subject matter pretty much speaks for itself though.

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Yojo-Han Shinwa Taikei (Tatami Galaxy) | First Impressions

Believe it or not, that whole thing actually is his name. XD

From what little I've been able to observe of Masaaki Yuasa's works, it's a little hard to make much of a fair assessment of them based off of first impressions.  Because when you think he's pulled something absolutely brilliant and astounding out of his hat, he tends to go a bit downhill latter in the series.  Or at least this was the case with his previous work to this one in Kaiba.  I have yet to see Kemmonozume (which I do plan on delving into this summer), but from what I understand even it is quite underwhelming to his masterfully acclaimed film Mind Game (which I also have yet to see, heh heh ^_^' ).  But if he pulls all the same stops he did with the latter and keeps this thing as absolutely masterful as this first episode was, Yojo-Han Shinwa Taikei (titled in english as Tatami Galaxy) has every potential in the world not only to be by and far the best series of the season, and not only in heavy contention with also potential-heavy Despera as the best series of the year, but quite possibly the best series released within at least the last few years.

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House of Five Leaves | First Impressions

 

Masanosuke's character is a big part of what I really loved about this first episode.  Just about the most timid and kindhearted ronin samurai you'll ever hear of. :)

The closing words of this episode I believe puts into perspective what I ended up really loving about how this series has presented itself thus far.  After Masanosuke observes about Yaichi "That composure..... I'd like to smile like you do."  Yaichi then tells him in return "If you try, you'll find there's nothing stopping you."  For what you'd normally expect out of a typical samurai story set in feudal Japan, you really wouldn't expect something so lighthearted.  And this first episode seemed to be brimming quite a bit with it.  In a sense, I can see how something like this wouldn't pander to too many people's personal tastes.  Which is probably the reason why there hasn't been too many positive things said about the source material it's based off of, because I'm not too sure the sources JayGee and I got that general opinion from particularly have much of a taste for this kind of series.  But based off of the first episode anyways, I saw absolutely nothing wrong with it at all.  As a matter of fact, pending on whether or not this series will end up falling flat on it's face latter on, this could very well end up being my second favorite series this season (Yojo-Han Shinwa Taikei still needs to come out after all ;) ).  Which is far and above what I originally thought it would be.

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ANIME REVIEW: They Were Eleven

A relic from the now defunct Central Park Media, They Were Eleven is a very engrossing sci-fi tale. This 1986 anime film is an adaptation of Moto Hagio's 1975 manga of the same name.

Set in space at a unspecified time in the future, the story begins with a short bit of exposition on the current state of the galaxy before introducing the protagonist Tadatos "Tada" Lane, a hopeful applicant at the Cosmo Academy. He moves on to the final stage of the entrance exam, which is a mission with nine other applicants aboard a derelict vessel named Esperanza. Problem is, when they arrive it is discovered are actually eleven applicants onboard. This, coupled with the dangerous conditions of the Esperanza, ratchets the tension up quite a few levels.

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Heroman | First Impressions

Not only does Heroman come to life when struck by lightening, he also dons the American flag too!  

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