Parasyte

Parasyte has got to be one of the most surprising shows I've watched this year.

The anime follows the life of Izumi Shinichi, whose right hand had been forcefully taken over by a parasite aptly named 'Migi'. Shinichi struggles to coexist with the new creature that has replaced his hand, Migi's cold and apathetic personality constantly clashing with his own caring and kind-hearted one.

But trying to keep this new secret from getting out may be more difficult than expected when Shinichi finds out that Migi is not alone and that his own kind, dubbed 'Parasites' are  all over Japan.

Story-wise, I am pleased to say that Parasyte was pretty interesting and kept me guessing. As our main character Shinichi tries to hide his new 'friend' from the people around him, other parasites which have successfully taken over the host (by reaching the brain) also pose a threat to him, since Migi is deemed as a failure of sorts by his own kind.

The pair face many obstacles, and in between Migi's search for truth about his existence and Shinichi's ongoing struggle to survive what comes his way, they meet many dangerous characters ranging from a intelligent parasite and a notorious serial killer.

I like that Parasyte kept me in suspense most of the time, the foreshadowing was done fairly well and there are many emotional moments and amazing action sequences that'll leave your jaw hanging. Seeing as the parasites can take the form of anyone or anything, fights never get boring and the creative use of their shapeshifting abilities was a spectacle to behold.

This is not to say that the anime is without any downsides though, but it isn't anything so remotely bad that it would turn you off before you even started. Parasyte started out slow, but in my opinion it did it's job of creating tension and had good payoffs in the end. While the tone of the show did get draggy and slower toward the end, it didn't take away any enjoyment I'd experienced in the previous episodes!

The characters in parasyte are no pushovers. I like how Migi and Shinichi's personalities  balance each other out. After the first few episodes, I began to realize that Shinichi's reckless and self-sacrificing behaviour is more or less kept in check by the cold and rational Migi. I can't count how many times Shinichi might have gotten himself or someone else killed without the parasite's intervention. But that's not to say that Migi is without his flaws too!

Also, you could also say that Migi is the physical manifestation of Shinichi's consciousness. You know, that nagging voice in the back of your mind, the one that warns you before you pull some stupid shit.

Parasyte is quite dark too. Not like 'Madoka magica' dark, but something comparable to that of 'Psycho pass'. As the anime goes on, I came to see that many of its characters, both antagonists and protagonists, are not bound to the norms of 'morality'. Despite his protests, Shinichi himself operates in a morally grey area, and even the police have questionable ways of trying to rid Japan of parasites.

Parasyte shines because of it's brilliant characters, and most, if not all, are fleshed out during the course of the anime. There are some cliched stereotypes here and there, but that is to be expected. The main thing, is that the characters are not confined to roles of the 'bad guys' or 'good guys'.

Let me just say that Tamura Reiko is my favourite character in Parasyte. She's one of the characters who can keep Shinichi on edge, and the reactions she can get out of him is always a treat. Her social faux passes gave me good laughs time and time again simply because it's so amusing to see a 'superior' species struggle with mundane stuff and saying things weird things out of the blue. There were a few moments in which Tamura Reiko stole the show, and I absolutely adore her for it!

Animation is done by Madhouse and while it's not as gory as some have claimed it is, there is several disturbing moments that made my stomach turn. But fortunately, nothing so utterly horrible that it would scar you for life. I give the anime props in how they designed the parasites; indeed there are generic looking ones but for the most part they vary in looks, and it did creep me out at some points.

Overall: Parasyte was a pleasant surprise. The ending was kinda meh in my opinion but to its credit, it did tie up most of the loose ends and was fairly satisfying.

 Must watch : 4/5

Sword Art Online 2 (GGO arc)

Ah, SAO 2. You were much better than I had expected.

I took quite some time to finish this sequel, and I attribute this to somewhat bad pacing. Not horrible, just bad. The first few episodes were quite interesting, but there were definitely some things I hated about SAO 2.

I'll be talking about sao 2 in two seperate arcs, the GGO Arc and the Mother Rosario Arc. Cramming all that into one post doesn't seem like a good idea, anyways.

Story: 7/10

Firstly, the story. For the most part, it keeps the audience shifting nervously in their seats but like the first season of sword art online, the best scenes are often the action sequences. Despite having a bad impression of the show due to how they portrayed Asuna, I think they did a nice job of the GGO arc. Sinon was a fantastic character, and I am quite embarrassed to admit that I was one of those SAO fans who hated on her without even watching the show. But thankfully, I was able to set aside my bias and enjoy the anime, and Sinon has become one of my favourite female characters other than Asuna.

The emotional scenes are really well done, and it was a joy to watch whenever I was given a chance to watch from Sinon's POV. We also get to see how she helped Kirito in his moment of need, and while I wished it had been someone else, she did a pretty swell job of helping him out. The search for the mysterious killer 'Death Gun' was very good in introducing intense scenes and a few nail biting moments. Much like season 1, Sword art online 2 has little to no re-watch value, Most of the action scenes rely on shock factor. The bursts of adrenaline will only come once, and I can guarantee you that with each consecutive replay of a fight scene, you'll be less impressed than you originally were. But for the most part, the GGO Arc was decent. Though you'll be wondering how the heck Kirito's deductions hit so close to home. Maybe he should quit playing games and start working as a detective instead.

Characters: 6/10

Kirito has little to no growth from SAO. He still remains his usual lackluster self, and while he does have a few good moments, I do wonder what others see in him at times. But still, he is a fun and interesting character, and keeps the anime from being 'enjoyable' to 'boring'.

Sinon has brilliant character development, though she did have a cliched tragic backstory, her cool personality was likeable and paired nicely with Kirito. I can only thank my lucky stars that the two had good chemistry because of their 'rivals' dynamic.

Asuna on the other hand. Ugh. I just...ugh. They reduced to her to nothing more than a Kirito fangirl, and had her cheering for him on the sidelines while he was out gallivanting with another girl. I know it sounds bad and many people would defend him with stuff like 'But he was just trying to protect her!' but I don't believe in any of that crap. First of all, Asuna isn't some damsel in distress, is everone forgetting that she was in the death game, Sword art online? Or the fact that she was prominent figure of said game? As a Asuna Fan, I am very saddened to see her acting...so unlike herself in SAO 2. Instead of helping Kirito, or at least doing something to help him, she sits among their group of friends and sighs to herself, praying for 'Kirito-kun'.

I hated how her voice sounded here, so air-headed and lacking of depth. She sounded so 'fake' and the forceful cheer of her voice did not really help matters either. It pained me to watch the scenes she was in, always inwardly cringing at how she sounded. I would have given characters a 7 or a 8, if they had portrayed Asuna properly.

The rest of the cast were pretty much just there for the sake of being there. The story wouldn't have changed regardless of whether they were there or not. They could have been replaced by completely different characters, and sad to say, I couldn't have cared less.

Animation: 8/10

The ending song is one of my favourites.The opening and endings had amazing color schemes, and were honestly quite creative.  It goes the same for the rest of the arc too. Gun Gale has a pretty grungy colour palette, but it was not drab or boring at all! The fight scenes especially, it just got my blood pumping so well. Even minor details, like Kirito having to push aside his long bangs, stood out really well and added a nice touch. The quality did drop a little in the last few episodes of this arc though, but that's about it.

All in all the first arc was pretty entertaining.

To be continued in Mother Rosario arc review. 

Akuma no riddle

I am having mixed thoughts about this.

Plot: 6/10

I really wanted to like the story. Honestly. It had plenty of potential to succeed, but unfortunately, the anime was hindered by too many stupid plot twists, a rather 'cliche' setting, and an overall very disappointing ending. I can tell that the show is trying to be profound and philosophical, and while it was interesting for the first few episodes and relevant to the episodic nature of each episode, it slowly became somewhat of a joke.

The riddles which previously held meaning in letting me dechiper the characters' motives became extremely relevant. And for that I am sad and disappointed. There's a large amount of foreshadowing in Akuma no riddle, but the sin is that non of these little 'hints' even mattered because it did not contribute to the ending AT ALL! So much potential, wasted. And to add insult to injury, despite it being a show revolving around death and killing, there sure is very little of it. Knife? The main character was more likely to die by strangulation than by bullet wounds or knife wounds.

Characters: 6.5/10

There is too little known about the characters. And there are alot of plot holes, and i mean A LOT. Why is Haru being targeted by people of the same clan if she wasn't part of the main family; aka. the heir? That's just one of the many questions that will be rolling around in your head after finishing the last episodes.

Other than being there to move the plot forward, the other assassins are pretty much useless. You could have replaced them and not even blinked an eye. Tokaku could have been switched out with any one of these characters and voila, the show would have had the same outcome/ending. It pretty much says alot about the importance of characters here.

Animation and OSTs: 9/10

The fights scenes are splendid to watch and the characters are all animated beautifully. Sharp features, the way the characters killer intent were shown through the eyes was just wonderful. Another thing the anime had going for it was the music. Twelve different endings for twelve different characters. The way the music managed to make me scared or excited is also a plus point. It's too bad the cons outweigh the pros.

Recommendation: 1/5

Some forgettable characters and a very unsatisfying ending. Unless you like animes wherein the main character cannot be killed (she fell of a building for pete's sake) and are just there to appreciate the amazing character visuals, I advise that you not watch this.

Selector Infected Wixoss

Motherfucking plot twist. That's all i can say.

The basic premise of the show is that the main character, a girl by the name of Ruko, gets a deck of cards from the recently popular card game, WIXOSS (pronounced we-cross) and finds a LRIG in one of the cards. Henceforth, Ruko becomes a 'selector' and is able to battle other girls in order to fulfill their 'wishes'. However, as the show goes on she starts to discover the darker side of this card game and the consequences that follow.

I quite enjoyed the anime, despite the irregular pacing. Many accuse the show of being a Madoka Magica ripoff but let's face it, most animes are never original. Usually, they're inspired by other shows of the same genre, so there's no point in pointing out how X and Y parts of Selector Infected Wixoss have the same vibe/psychological theme as Madoka Magica. But enough of my rambling and let's get on to what I liked about the show.

PLOT: 7/10

It started off as your usual generic magical girl anime (but replace magic with LRIGs) with Ruko coincidentally finding Tama, an adorable white haired girl, amidst her deck of Wixoss cards. From then on, the plot begins to take shape. However, the ball doesn't start rolling until episode 2 or 3, not surprising as it only has 13 episodes. Overall I liked how the story defied my expectations. The plots twists were well executed and not so unrealistic that it made you go 'wtf' while watching.

The ending was extremely unexpected as well, one would've never thought that the anime would end in such a way. Though i should be angry at the cliffhanger the show left off with, I think it made me more hyped for the second season. Though the story had many good twists, there were also many unanswered questions, due to the show breaking some of it's own rules.

Satisfying? No.

 Enjoyable? Yes, definitely. 

CHARACTERS: 6/10

Look, I love the cast of characters. I really do. But there's a fine line between being 'generous' and 'stupid' (Yes Hitoe, I'm looking at you). I felt that Ruko didn't have much development. I mean sure, she eventually realized what she wanted and etc. but overall, it was predictably generic and i could sense what was coming from a mile away. Not only that, they focused much of the development on the supporting cast instead of their own main character.

Yuzuki's development was brilliant, and honestly, it was heartbreaking. Her fiery and determined personality makes a nice balance to Ruko's occasional airheaded moments and serves as a good contrast between them; Ruko having no wishes and Yuzuki with a wish that she's willing to do anything to fulfill. I loved the dynamic. She's my favourite character in the show, with Ruko right behind her. At best, Ruko's development was sort of meh. Some small flashbacks here and there, but not much. Although, the relationship with her grandmother really shines through. It was flawlessly executed, and i found myself wishing to see more of those heartwarming scenes.

Hitoe on the other hand...

I felt that the spotlight was focused on her. I didn't particularly like it or hate it, but i wished they had concentrated more on Ruko instead. Yes, I sympathized with Hitoe and her position, and yes i do respect her wish, but i felt that she was a pretty generic character. Her development was pretty predictable, and it was what it was. The plot was also quite heavily centered around her, which can be a good or a bad thing based on how you feel about her.

All i can say is that I hope Ruko gets more development in the second season. And also, that cute little chibi at the extreme left of the poster? Yeah, she only appears in one episode so you can forget about watching Selector Infector Wixoss if you want the spotlight to focus on her. Yet another 'silica' if I have to compare her to someone.

OSTs: The ending really suits the somber and dark theme of the show. The music at times can be forgettable, but the more intense scenes is where it shines. Opening was enjoyable, but the ending really takes the cake for me.

ENJOYMENT: 7.5/10 

Some parts shined through while others just sort of flew over my head. It's a good anime to pass time but  not especially spectacular. It was a fun and mind bending ride and i would watch again if I'm in the mood for angst.

Psycho Pass 2

And so, after much time wasting, i finally got around to finishing Psycho pass 2.

PLOT: 7/10

I think we can all agree that there are an extremely, extremely small percentage of sequels that truly outshine the original material. And sadly, I feel that Psycho Pass 2 is not one of them. Despite its best efforts, the story is not as good as the first. The pacing is slightly off and there is a lot of complicated dialogue thrown in. I've actually had to pause and rewind some parts of the show, because I simply could not understand what the hell the characters were talking about!

You really need to think when you watch, and if you're not in a mood for a much thinking (trust me there's a lot of thinking) and are looking for something fun to kill time, don't even think about watching this. On a side note, I found the talk of paradoxes and Omnipotent gods quite interesting. I find that the way the anime manages to fit this in is quite fascinating, especially with everything that is going on.

"The moment the Omnipotent god creates a rock so heavy that even he cannot carry, he is no longer omnipotent. But if he cannot create that rock, he is also not omnipotent."

"A paradox."

(That is so not what they said, I'm just quoting from memory. The real thing is soooo much better)

Characters: 7/10

Akane: Akane is a badass inspector, even without Kougami. At the end of Psycho Pass I wished that we could've gotten to see more of this new and 'mature' woman that she had become. Psycho pass 2 has fulfilled this wish. Her good leadership skills and level-headed thinking are clearly showcased throughout the show, ad not only that, her attitude towards Enforcers and Inspectors alike have gained her both respect and disdain. In a way, I feel that Akane has been forcibly isolated from her team. Because no one will ever know what has happened between Kogami and Makishima, except for herself and Sibyl.

Not only that, she also makes mistakes. That is what makes her a believable character, not just some cut and paste powerful main character. The anime shows that she has flaws, and how she constantly works to overcome them.

Mika: Oh how you annoy me, Mika. I think they inserted her into this anime purely to make us sympathize anyone working with her, and that is NOT an understatement. It would be fine if se actually contributes to the Plot, but she mostly just hinders it (much to my frustration). I  really tried to like her, but all her actions are carried out on the basis of trying to one-up Akane, despite the fact that she's her senior and has more experience in the field, and ends up digging her own grave.

Despite all of it however, the ending made me pity her. That scene was heart wrenching, and despite the fact that I would give to see her get punched by an enforcer, I wouldn't wish that on her. I feel that she represents 'what could've happened' to Akane if she had been arrogant and overstepped her boundaries. In a way, I'm glad that Akane did not end up like this.

Kougami: Many kougami fans will be pissed to find out that he only makes Cameo appearances in the anime. However, I can honestly say that he helped Akane more than Mika ever did. In a way, it shows that even if he's gone, Akane still draws on his previous lessons and applies them.

Supporting characters: Since it only has 12 episodes, I'm glad that they didnt try to expand on the old and new cast of characters. I hoped to see more of Ginoza, Shion and Yayoi but sadly, they were put on the back burner for Akane and Mika. It frustrates me somewhat because they had so much to work with! Instead of just focusing on the backstory and development of the antagonist(s) I felt that they should have put in more work on the Enforcers. Oh well, no use crying over spilt milk.

Music: 8/10

I very much prefer this opening over 'abnormalize'. The ending is so-so, and as for the OSTs, i would say that they did a pretty sound job of conveying the right emotion at the correct times.

Enjoyment: 8/10

It was a fun ride, and while i think it could have been done better (damn you Mika) it's a pretty good sequel. Unfortunately, most fans seem to think that a sequel should have not been made but i disagree. It was nice to see a sort of 'what happened after' the events of Psycho Pass. I would recommend fans to watch this but ONLY if you discard all notions that this is going to be the best sequel ever, or that you'll be able to see Kougami return and sweep Akane off her feet.

I'm seriously looking forward to the movie.

Psycho-Pass

When i first heard of this show in 2012, I stayed far, far, far away from it. This was because I heard that the first episode consisted of a rather brutal rape scene. It was enough to turn me away, but seeing as the sequel came out this year, I thought that I'll brave this show to see exactly why Psycho-Pass was as revered as it was. I wasn't disappointed.

This show is not for the weak hearted. The anime can be very violent at times, the brutality of the killings was enough to make my stomach clench. Also, viewers should be prepared to have their hearts ripped out, stepped on and thrown into the blender because Gen Urobuchi was in charge of writing the script. The uro-BUTCHER has struck again. 

One thing i loved in Psycho Pass was the development of one of the main character's Akane Tsunemori. It wouldn't be a far cry to say that most animes have a rather weak female lead who is always is in need of saving. There have been an increase in anime series with strong female characters, however, it is still not the norm. Yes, there are some episodes where Akane gets saved by the other main character, Kogami, but usually it isn't done so overtly and Akane doesn't blindly walk into traps or suddenly lose her common sense.

It seems to me that the characters in the show are only a small part of what makes it interesting. Their world, the seemingly 'Utopian' society is also what keeps me on the edge. I got to see how their brand of law up keeps peace and at other times, fails to do so and results in dangerous homicidal murderers. The show starts off slow, introducing the characters and the world they live in and what part they play. After the fourth or fifth episode, the pace begins to pick up, and from there, you better grab on to your chairs because it is one damn fine roller coaster ride.

Plot: Slow pace at the start, many great twists in between and a ending that leaves you somewhat satisfied but still has some unanswered questions. Overall, I enjoyed it very much. 8/10

Characters: Main characters are throughly developed, and the dynamic between Kogami and Akane, Kogami and Makishima is fantastic. The supporting cast could have gotten more development however, I would have loved to see Kagari's backstory for one. 8/10

OSTs: Suspenseful and exciting at the appropriate moments. Bloody enjoyable openings ad endings. 8.5/10

Recommendation: For those looking for a intelligent thriller/action anime. Extremely violent and should be avoided if one cannot stomach things such as decapitation, rape and mind fucks among other things. Not for everyone. 2/5

RWBY - Season 1

Okay, so this is a series i've been waiting to start on since it came out. Of course, being the horrible procrastinator i am, i decided to pursue this series when my major examinations are less than a week away. To tell you the truth, i did shy away from this series at first, simply because i heard the words 'American' and 'Anime' in one sentence. I will admit i'm one of those people who consider 'anime' anime only when it's made by Japanese people.

From Wikipedia.org

I would say that RWBY still needs a shit ton of work. It has the potential to evolve into something spectacular, but as of now, i would say that it is pretty okay. But one thing's for sure, is that RWBY is unique.

PLOT - 6.5/10

I would say the story is mediocre at best. Although it is interesting, it is also pretty cliche and predictable. The formula of 'Heroes going on a journey to save humanity' has been so overused that i'm actually quite surprised that RWBY didn't fall flat on its face. This show/anime is indeed enjoyable and was better than what i was expected. But by the time Season 1 was over, i felt that nothing big was accomplished. It spent majority of it's time fleshing out the characters and sorting out the dynamics between the various characters.

CHARACTERS - 7/10

RWBY has an interesting cast of different characters with their own unique quirks, back stories and weapons. However, the characters still feel very cliched and one dimensional. Anime fans will watch this and know what i'm talking about. Alot of them feel like cutout boards of various anime stereotypes such as the tsundere, the ditzy but powerful one, the calm and collected one with a mysterious past, the seemingly promiscuous and flirtatious one and even the useless but lovable character. They still need a lot of character development in order for the not-really-fans to form emotional attachments with the characters.

But one thing is for sure, is that the characters all look very pretty. Waifu material if you will.

ANIMATION: 7/10

Let me just say now, that i am definitely not a fan of 3D animation. I utterly detest anime which try (and fail) to integrate 3D with 2D animation. Or even worse, when they create an anime fully using 3D animation. Cough-Unbreakable robot doll-Cough.

I was pleasantly surprised however, when i watched RWBY. Although there are some instances where the animation feels blocky or chunky, it looks pretty damn good most of the time. The action scenes are glorious and i often find myself replaying those parts over and over. The trailer is a good example of this. I recommend watching the season 1 first and then watching the trailers. I promise it would be a much better experience.

The character designs are pretty good too. The weapons are fantastic and very, very creative. Who knew a scythe could also be a high velocity sniper rifle?

SOUNDTRACK: 10/10

I am 100% in love with RWBY's soundtracks. I recommend watching the series before listening to them, for a bigger emotional impact. Their individual character songs are perfectly suited for their characters. I cannot tell you how many times i replayed 'Red like roses' and 'From the shadows'. Goldstar material, these soundtracks are.

The opening song is nothing to scoff at too. 'This will be the day' seriously gave me an eargasm. 'I may fall' is very touching too, i admit. I have to give credit to RWBY for having such an amazing soundtrack. The voice needs some work, but it is mostly so-so. Not really on par with usual animes but the dialogue is hilarious. This show has comedy down to a T.

Oh, and i just discovered that there is going to be a Japanese dub version. Those who prefer japanese to English would be better off watching that one.

RECOMMENDATION: Would i watch this again? Yes, of course. I recommend this to those who are looking for a short but entertaining series. I suggest those who are looking for complex plots and characters to ultimately stay away.

Strike witches The Movie

Now let it be said that this is not the first time i have watched this movie.  But damn, it is good.

I am a sucker for these types of anime. Moe overload and the entire cast are mostly girls, my favourite kind of anime. I know i kind of sound like a pervert here but i enjoy an entire female cast more than a co-ed cast is all i'm saying. The dynamic is completely different but i am a complete sucker for it.

Strike witches the movie is a sequel to Strike witches season 2, picking off where the anime ended. For those not familiar with the anime series, i recommend that you watch it first because the characters will be less unfamiliar and more enjoyable for you. The feeling i get when watching Strike witches (the entire series) is very similar to the feeling i get when watching Girls und Panzer. Moe, check. Military, check. Possible yuri pairings and shoujo ai explosion, check.

The movie is extremely enjoyable for fans of the series like me, and i am happy to say that although it is not the best anime movie i have ever watched, it manages to hold its own. The last 30 mins of the movie is fantastic and very high octane and did i mention that i love friendship between moe girls? Seriously, this stuff is fodder for my imaginary moe world.

Plot: Picks up from season 2 of strike witches. Like all the animes of this genre, it gets boring sometimes but the overall experience is good. 7/10

Characters: This is where strike witches shines. A great cast of fully developed characters (from the anime) with individual personalities and quirks. Outstanding. 9/10

Music: The movie ending is pretty good and fits the overall feel of the series ( not only the movie). The opening is generic but still good. 7/10

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Welcome to the world of Madoka Magica. We hope you survive the experience. Seems harmless at first sight doesn't it? Cutesy moe girls with frilly clothes transforming to fight for the world! For Justice! Love! Friendship!

Hah! All that cutesy moe stuff? You're looking in the wrong place because Madoka Magica, is truly terrifying and tragic. Don't believe me? Just go see for yourself. My review is supposed to help you make a decision after all. You mentally prepared? Okay, let's get moving.

The show starts off light, giving viewers the illusion that this was just going to be your average, no-brainer magical girl anime. All the character introductions are made, all revolving around Madoka Kaname and her friends. But one day, a girl she sees in her dream appears in her class as the new transfer student. Homura Akemi is pretty, athletic and cool, but there's something off about her. When Homura asks to be accompanied to the nurses office, Madoka does so (hesitantly).

To her surprise, the new girl knows the way there surprisingly well and she asks Madoka a very weird question. Something about miracles. Madoka doesn't dwell too much on it, but one day after school she hears a voice in her head calling out to her. She manages to rescue a cute animal called Kyuubey. From there, the mysteries start to unravel.

Who is this creature? What does it want? Why is it here?

One thing i love about this anime series is the unpredictable plot twist and how each character propels the story forward. Not only that, the seiyuu's have done an extremely good job in potraying the characters. Every sob and scream seems to tear out your very soul. The OSTs for this anime is incredible. Actually incredible doesn't even begin to cover it. Yuki Kajiura is a genius. How she creates this stuff, i will never know. The battle themes are able to bring up the tension, and the emotional scenes are even more heart rendering when combined.

The animation is done by shaft, which is notorious for finishing their work hours before the deadline, ultimately leading to half-assed scenes. However the release of the Blu-ray seems to have fixed all their mistakes (thankfully). Personally, i love Mami and Homura the most out of all the characters because i became somewhat emotionally attached to them during the show.

Plot: Executed perfectly and more than a little tragic. 10/10

Characters: Personally i found Sayaka somewhat annoying. But she did worm her way into my heart a little. Just a little i swear! 8/10

Animation: The original broadcast wasn't very good but the blu-ray release was great. 9/10

Soundtracks: Yuki freaking Kajiura. Battle themes. Op and ending. Need i say more? 10/10

Overall: Deconstruction of the magical girl genre which is interesting and different. Not for the faint hearted. Also, prepare a box of tissues. 5/5

Mushibugyou

So we all know Shingeki no kyojin. What about Mushibugyou?

The spring animeline up consists of many underrated anime series because they were all overshadowed by Shingeki. Mushibugyou was literally hiding right under their noses.

When i first started watching this, i expected it to be a hit and miss. After all the entire story was going to be set in ancient edo....with characters battling giant insects. I was pretty sure it would be those ridiculous stories with over the top characters shouting out fancy names for their awesome fighting styles. To my amazement, it was all that.....and more.

One thing that really caught my attention was how unexpected the story was. There are two story arcs. The first few episodes were dedicated to introducing the characters, showing how they and the main character's friendship would bloom. You know the usual stuff. Jinbei himself reminded me of a typical shonen character, but surprisingly, he was thankfully imbued with good comedic sense and just a little bit of pervertedness that made mushibugyou interesting and funny.

After all that layman stuff was over, the show started to pick up speed, and got the ball rolling. From there it was a non-stop pleasant experience for me. Samurai anime's are usually overdone so i threw away my common sense and enjoyed the show even more. Another thing about that stood with mushibugyou is their characters. Each one was given a distinct personality and to make things better, their voice actors did an amazing job portraying them.

However, their fight scenes were a little to dramatic for me. Some of their attacks were little too over the top and only several fights were especially good. But if you overlook all the flaws, i can say that Mushibugyou would be close to perfect. It really exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to rewatching it again soon.

Plot: Great and better than i initially expected. 8/10

Characters: The main characters had an impact on the plot on a very personal level and their past were explored intimately, something that really made the show better. 9/10

Animation: Pretty good.But the character designs threw me off a little, they were abit too comical for my tastes. (Mugai and Kotori hairstyles.)  7/10

Soundtracks: A little repetitive but all openings and endings were pretty amazing. 7/10

Overall: Takes a long while to get to the real plot but you will be rewarded. 3.5/5

Redline

Redline is the most deadliest racing tournament in the whole galaxy. Racer JP is about to compete in Redline, however he finds himself falling for his racing rival; a beautiful woman named Sonoshee. Basically, that is what the entire movie is about, racing and romance. However, despite the typical cliche story line, it wouldn't be too far off for me to say that this movie, KICKS ASS.

This movie is executed perfectly, the story flows smoothly and there is not a dull moment, The impeccable animation coupled with amazing soundtracks will make this movie a eye opening experience. The animation is done by Madhouse with second key animation by Gainax which assures us that this will be an extremely heart pumping, adrenaline filled film. There is nothing much to say, except that you should be experiencing this for yourself, because Redline cannot be put into mere words.

Redline also consists of a large amount of interesting characters, however the information given to us is minimal, but enough to join the show. Only the main characters get their break and show us pieces of their oh so mysterious past. Personally, i wanted to see more of JP's past but sadly i can only take what i get.

Plot: Typical but better than average. 7/10

Characters: Interesting characters but very superficially explained.7.5/10

Animation: Unqiue and eye catching but top notch.  10/10

Recommendation: Suitable for almost anybody. 5/5

Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu

Nowadays, light novel adaptations are becoming increasingly common. This is good, because light novels usually have a deeper story and characters (eg. Kemono Souja Erin, Yahari ore no seishun, Guin Saga). However! This poses some problems because the anime itself may not be able to finish the entire story, and one such product is this; Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsuu.

This series is absolutely amazing, however the abrupt ending only serves to agitate us, and leaves us wanting for more. It is more painful if the anime has been freaking awesome, only to get cut off at the 24th episode or so. Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu is good. But the ending, to put it bluntly, sucks eggs.

Ryner Lute, Ferris Eris and Sion Astal are the main characters in this adventure anime and present to us a wonderful story filled with deep characters and solid pacing. As the series progresses, you can see that these characters begin to show their vulnerable sides, and how they manage to grow into better people. The majority of the show is spent introducing us to other characters and their interactions but once that is over...BAM! The story erupts into a roller coaster ride filled with betrayal, fights and mayhem. That is where the real action starts.

The animation is pretty good, the character's movements are quite natural and the fights are well done and executed fluidly. The backgrounds are eye-popping and more than often catches your eye. Although there are times where the animation teeters of the line of good into bad but it manages to get back on its feet again.
The plot itself is good (it is from a light novel after all) but the ending is disappointing.

Overall, this anime is pretty good and watchable, IF you can endure the abrupt ending. The show is sometimes pretty dark, and there is a good amount of gore and fights for shonen lovers, but there is also subtle traces of romance. I was sometimes thrown off by how fast the atmosphere changes from light and fluffy to dark and tense. I wouldn't really recommend it to any story buffs because of the ending.

Plot: Average as any adventure anime goes.7/10

Characters: Large plethora of different characters but manages to give them good depth. 9/10

Animation: Great but becomes bad towards the final episodes.  8/10

Recommendation: 2.5/5

Claymore

After the horrible exams, i have finally finally finished another series.

Firstly let me start by saying that this anime is not your typical shonen anime. The main character, Clare, is part of an organisation which hunts yoma which are also known as demons. Yoma prey on humans and eat their guts and are also capable of transforming into a human in order to take shelter in towns without being suspicious.

The plot is mostly pushed forward by clare and her comrades, as they discover several distasteful secrets about the organization they are working for. However the main point of the story, is Clare's thirst for revenge. When she was younger, clare was saved by the number one claymore of that time, called Teresa of the faint smile. (Bisho no Teresa)

Eveuntually, teresa abandons the organisation to lead a life of peace and fufilment with clare but is hunted down by other claymores for her betrayal. A claymore called Priscilla manages to kill teresa in her moment of weakness and awakens; becoming a one-horned yoma or more easily known as the awakened ones. What surprises me, is that Claymore has a fucking shitty ending. Those who have read the manga would be better off skipping the ending. On the other hand up until the last few episodes, i am glad to say that everything else was amazing.

The story would have been much better if the ending was more thought through, and the soundtracks that play during the anime is perfectly suited in their roles. The fights were exciting and further propelled in intensity by the fact that the characters are not too overly powerful and Clare grows mentally and in skill as the show progresses.

Overall i would say that this is one of the best shonen anime i have seen because it doens't have most of the typical overblown shonen traits. The characters are also well developed and show us Clare's past very early in the anime, making the story seem more heartwarming. I have to disagree with the saying that Raki is one of the major characters because he was completely useless. I'm sure that after watching you would understand my woes.

Plot: Would have given it a nine if not for the ending. 8/10

Characters: One of the good aspects of the anime. Very deeply developed and emotional characters. 9/10

Graphics:  Very good. The landscapes are greatly detailed and so are the characters. 9/10

Recommendation: 4/5

Hataraku Maou-sama

Finished another series, Yay for me!

The 13 episode series was certainly long, in more ways than one. When i first started watching it, i found it refreshing. The comedic sense was good and the characters were certainly a blast to watch as they tried to adjust to their new surroundings.

Maou Sadao is actually the Demon overlord Satan from ente isle, who escapes into the modern world with his sidekick, Ashiya. The first few episodes show how maou gets a job at McRonalds (i laughed when i saw it) and Ashiya becomes a 'male-wife' who does the chores in their itty bitty rental house.

Maou bumps into a red headed girl at the traffic light and lends her his umbrella because of the rain. However, the red-headed girl discovers his identity and turns out to be the Hero who drove Overlord Satan into escaping; Emilia. I don't want to spoil the story for you so i will just summarize the first few episodes. Now for my thoughts on this anime.

Although i had to admit it was interesting, the story became stagnant after the fifth or sixth episode as the characters had already adjusted to their new lives. It tried to revive the story by adding several new characters such as Lucifer and Suzuno, but the plot had already went past the point of no return. I enjoyed the fantasy added into this anime because it spiced it up alot. But to my dismay, there wasn't many action scenes and majority of the episodes revolved around Maou working at McRonalds with Chiho or Emilia constantly checking up on him.

The second last episode started out good....before its bubble popped. One thing i had a problem with was the fact that Maou was ridiculously overpowered. I understand that he is the demon overlord but what use is an evil villain if we all know he's going to be defeated so easily? The fights last for about 2 to 4 mins max.

I have mixed feelings for this anime, however it proved to be a delight and a disappointment. My opinion is that they should have at least sent Maou back to ente isle for one episode instead of repeatedly showing the same thing; He goes to work, Emilia stalks him, they fight, he goes back home OR Bad-guy appears, beats him, Maou gets his powers, thrashes them and goes home.

I would say that the fantasy aspect of this series should have been brought out more, because it got boring midway through. HOWEVER, it was still enjoyable but i wouldn't want to watch it again. Though the fights were freaking awesome.

 Plot: The story hits a block. Refreshing at first but downhill after five to six episodes. 6/10

Characters: Pretty developed. They managed to explore Emilia's past, it was really touching.  8/10

Graphics: The fights were cool, but there were too little action scenes. The transformation of Maou was kinda overboard but Emilia's archangel form suited her well. 7/10

Recommendation: It was good, but for those who want a good plot, you better try something else. 3/5

Jormungand: Perfect order

Greatest ending that i have seen in years. Finally a anime which actually ends properly.

Alright so this is the second season of Jormungand, and i must admit that it is much better than the first season. My kinda anime! Now it is one of my favourites!

So the second season introduces to us a new array of characters, most of them obviously deadly and complete nutjobs. But of course it makes the show interesting so who gives a flying damn. The first few episodes were especially good, i won't give you any spoilers but i can say that it will definitely make your nose bleed. Hohoho!

Moving on, this season gradually begins to reveal koko's ambitions and i found it jaw-dropping. Simply awesome!! The characters are doing an even better job at making me laugh, cry and grip my bunny in excitement. I don't want to divulge any information so i'll make this quick.

Plot: Outstanding, i love it so much. 10/10

Characters: They are whacko, and their pasts are revealed. Who am i to complain? 8/10

Graphics: Same as the first season. 8/10

Recommendation:  I don't care if you hate violence. Just watch it. 5/5

Jormungand

Hey hey i finished another anime. I love this one.

Alright so i completed another series, this one is notably exciting and i'm on a roll.

The story revolves around Jonathan Mar or Jonah for short, who is hired by an arms dealer Koko Hekmatyar. The first episode reveals that jonah hates arms dealers because his parents were killed by state-of-the-art weapons used by the attackers. As the show goes on, i could see that his icy demeanor is slowly broken down by koko, helped by her personal elite bodyguards.

I would say that the characters make this anime more enjoyable and surprisingly enough, it has its own brand of humor and comedy. The jokes aren't really over used, and i kept laughing when the team realized that Jonah had no education at all! Their reactions were first class!

Another thing i love about this anime is the action scenes, it can be extremely exciting most of the time, but also horrifyingly suspenseful. I love how valmet fights, her knife action always makes me squeal like a fan-girl! Koko is also another one of my favorite characters, she seems mysterious and aloof but it is apparent that she loves her team very much and treats them like her family. I kinda guessed that she was seriously dangerous, and i think she has another motive for selling weapons.

Its time for a hunt boys.

Anyway, the graphics are really good and i say this because the gun fights and knife action is amazingly fluid. Awesomness overload. The way their feelings are shown through their faces is also great, a double bonus for me! Whoop whoop!

Plot: Interesting. 8/10

Characters: They make the show better, and they are understandably awesome. Respect. 10/10

Graphics: Fantastico! 8/10

Recommendation: If you liked black lagoon, you'll definitely like this one. 5/5

Black Lagoon (season 1&2)

I feel so guilty for not watching anime recently. By recently i mean 3 days, thus i suffered from anime withdrawal. I happened to come across one of the animes which i watched when i was younger.

The first i time i watched this series i didn't find it all that amazing. But rewatching it made me think of it in a new light. I understood the plot much more and somehow started liking the violence and bloodbaths this show provided for me. The action is probably the best i've seen so far. Best as in giving me a heartpounding experience and making me squeal in delight as the characters kick some butt.

This story starts out with Rokuro Okajima, a salaryman in Japan who is sent to deliver an important package under the instructions of his bosses. Unfortunately, the trip was hijacked by pirates who were hired to steal that package. And even worse for him, they take him hostage. Meanwhile his superiors decide that the best way to deal with this unwanted situation is to dispose of the package, along with their worker.

They send men from ex special forces to eliminate the pirates with him on board. He decides to help them as he feels some sort of a connection to these people. The crew of lagoon (boat), Dutch the captain, Benny the brains and the notorious as well as dangerous Revy- also known as two hands. Referring to him as Rock, they opt to follow through with a insane plan to kill their pursuers.

After coming out in one piece they arrive at the dock where they give the package to their client. Rock is  then approached by his boss to go back to Japan. Rock has a change of heart after the blood pumping experience with the crew of black lagoon and returns with them instead, to the fictional town of Roanpur.

Although some parts of the anime may be gruesome, i think its a good classic which never fails to bring up that prehistoric side in all of us, the side which just loves cruelty and bloody violence. If you are looking for a action piece, this is definitely the one for you.

Dangerous but sexy gals of Black lagoon

The fights are not just limited to guns, there is also a fair amount of different killing weapons such as knives, chainsaws, blowtorches and even bare hands. Revy's cutlass action is awesome and Balalaika is the scariest woman i have ever seen. Period.

The woman i admire the most is obviously Revy, though i second Balalaika. Okay let's admit it, revy is a sexy beast and have you heard her logic? Respect dudes, respect. Oh and have you seen Eda's blue eyes?

Plot: 7/10

Characters: 8/10

Graphics: 9/10

Recommendation: Highly recommended. 4/5

Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari

Hmm  have i been watching too much anime recently?.....NOPE lets continue!

So many pretty girls! 

So i decided to watch some harem anime this time, and i can say that i feel delighted after watching this. I love the mix of fantasy and fighting action but hey! The romance is pretty good too! This is actually a spin-off from Tenchi Muyo! but i decided to just watch this.

This anime is actually rated R17 but before you go running to your burrow or calling me a pervert, this anime isn't really that bad. Sure there are some nude scenes and maybe a little (or alot) sexual innuendo here and there....but i've seen worse in some of the PG13 ecchi animes. Compared to that, this one is like wearing bloomers down at the beach.

Okay, maybe that was a bad visual but you get my point.

Kay moving on.

This series is about a boy who is seemingly transported from an alternate world into the current one. There he receives orders to assassinate the Queen....who is a twelve year old girl. Riding on a battle machine called "Seikishi" he attacks the ship (floating island?) along with his mysterious captors who promised to send him back if he managed to kill the queen.

However they fail when a hidden body guard disrupts their plan, and as the boy, Kenshi, corners the queen, he gives up because he refuses to kill someone. The queen becomes interested in him, and takes him in.

Well thats the lowdown, but i love how this anime manages to throw in comedy that is genuinely funny. Not like other crappy fanservice animes which just make jokes out the girl's chest and or butt.

The plot is also quite good and i found that it became more enjoyable after the first few episodes. Not to mention that they also have some really hot girls. Hey, seeing several pretty faces won't hurt. And while we are also on the subject, i proclaim my self as a fan of mexiah and lashara!

Plot: Interesting and funny. But most episodes were about him adjusting to life at the other world. Bah who cares i love it. 8/10

Characters: Too many characters but many of them are pretty cute. Unfortunately, doesn't explain much of Kenshi's past. Kenshi is so goddamned cute and innocent! 7/10

Graphics: Love how the seikishi is drawn. 7/10

Recommendation:  5/5

Well see you next time Zamasu!

Girls und Panzer

Yohalo! dofu's back from the dead guys! Since exams are over, i decided to take up the long awaited anime, Girls und Panzer!

I really enjoyed this series alot, for several reasons. One of which is because i love anime's with only girls! Good lord i sound like a pervert.

This is so fucking moe.

Anyway, i really enjoyed it mainly because this anime manages to integrate school life, tanks, cuteness and action all in one! Whoever made this is a freakin genius. I would also like to add that this anime is very popular in Japan and topped the Oricon charts.

Well basically its a rather enjoyable series, although the plot line is easy to follow but it is also very predictable. But no matter! After the first episode your cliche thoughts will be flying out of the window! The graphics are awesome and the tanks are very detailed and look absolutely amazing. 

Another downside to this anime is that it has too many characters and if you are bad at remembering names like me, you'll probably give up at the 3rd episode or so. The last few episodes had a few rag-tag characters thrown in but it didn't affect the plot that much. Fret not! Because none of these details will prevent you from enjoying this series! Now onto the review!!

Plot: Simple but interesting. An anime which perfectly fits the quote "Its not the destination that counts, its the Journey." Love it! 8/10

Characters: These highly lovable characters bring the show to new heights. Unfortunately, their background is not really clear with the exception of several characters like Miho and Hana. Their teamwork is great too! So i'm just gonna be a little generous for this one! 8/10

Graphics: Truly deserves some praise. 10/10

Music: I like the fact the they had several languages mixed in and who can forget the anglerfish dance! 7/10

Highly recommend watching this series if you're into comedy/action/moe girls! I love them, their so cute!

If you watch the video i linked, you will know how enjoyable this anime is!!

[C] Money of soul and possibility control

Hehe i finshed another anime series. Well i'm short on time because its exam period so i apologize if it seems too short.

Very epic anime, and the storyline is completely original. It wasn't adapted from any manga. I think that's part of the charm. Now onto the reveiw.

Plot: I would say its very interesting but it can be hard to follow. Some episodes were pretty confusing.7/10

Characters: I quite admire Kimimaro, he sacrifices so much in the show, and learns from his mistakes. I also find Mashu quite cute. 8/10

Graphics: One of the few animes which really has some awesome backgrounds. The financial district is simply mind-boggling. 9/10

Music: I warn you, you will be addicted. 9/10

Well there you have it! On a side note, the opening was sung by  Nico touches the walls, and i must say that it is pleasing to the ears.

Gah so moe!