Manga by : Ryu Fujisaki, (based on Fuyumi Ono’s novel)
Synopsis:
During a fiercely hot summer, a mysterious family moves into the quiet little village of Sotoba. At the same time, a wave of unexplained deaths begins. The deceased all showing signs of anaemia and what look like insect bites. Sounds familiar? , some of you are no doubt thinking "Oh, it’s another vampire story”. Shiki certainly is that, no doubt. But, at the same time it is a refreshingly new and engaging story. Once you look past some of the more quirky character designs, Shiki's appealing side appears. The vampires, called ‘shiki’ in series are not your obviously evil, soulless monstrosities of tradition. Nor are they the sparkling EMO teens of modern literature. They are people, each one a unique individual. The struggle for survival is played out from the perspectives of both humans and the shiki. The shiki are simply trying to survive and find a safe place to live. The humans are simply defending themselves. So which side is the audience supposed to root for? Not an easy question to answer. By the end, both sides have quite some blood on their hands,and have done some very questionable things. The cast is large and diverse, the plot is well paced and ultimately, Shiki is a dark and compelling tale.
'No one knows what the future holds. That's why its potential is infinite.' - Rintarou Okabe (from Steins;Gate)
SYNOPSIS
The movie is set one year after the events in the anime series. After going through what had seemed like, a never ending journey, Okabe Rintarou had landed in the Steins;Gate world line where neither Mayuri Nor Makise Kurisu are dead. A world where SERN is not in power. Makise Kurisu Returns to Japan for her seminar and comes to attend a reunion with the others. During the party on the roof, Rintarou starts to feel the side effects of his endless time travel, more pronounced than ever before. And that marks the true beginning of this thrilling, romantic and beautifully heart-warming epilogue.
Youtube Link
MAL Rank : 27
KAC rating : 3/5
Thoughts : In my personal opinion, the movie is not as brilliant as the series itself, but it does justice to the story non the less.
Worth watching? : Yes. However, I will suggest people who are going to watch this, not to expect a lot out of it.
Ten years ago, a region of anomaly called ‘Hell’s Gate’
appeared in Tokyo (along with a corresponding ‘Heaven’s Gate’ in South America).
The stars in the sky disappeared and were replaced with fake stars. People
with special abilities known as ‘Contractors’, and passive mediums called ‘Dolls’
began to emerge. Their abilities came at the expense of their humanity- they
lack human emotions and are cold, emotionless, rational beings with no
conscience or overriding sense of loyalty. The governments of the world use
Contractors and Dolls extensively as spies, often resulting in deadly
confrontations, all the while keeping their existence a secret from the public.
They are called Contractors because each has a remuneration (also called
“price”) they are compelled to perform after they use their powers, and because
they have no loyalty or obligations beyond their current employment.
The story follows a young Contractor named Hei who, while working for
the Syndicate in Tokyo, is trying to uncover what happened to his sister
Pai. Pai had disappeared five years before the start of the series during a war fought
over Heaven's Gate.
Youtube link
Thoughts:
The story started out slow in my opinion, but
eventually picked up pace. The animation is very beautiful and fluid and I
enjoyed the heavy atmosphere of the show! The ending, although disappointing in some people's opinion, was perfect to me.
Rating: 4/5
Worth watching? :
Definitely.
Post by : Shuvo Das
[N.B : Darker than black has since, released a sequel 'Darker than Black: Ryūsei no Gemini' 2009.]
Staged during the mid 15th century Japan, Asura is the survival story of a boy born in extreme harsh conditions and left to fend for himself. In an age when flood, draught and famine had left Kyoto barren, Asura is forced to learn the means of survival in the wild. Asura's savage soul is saved by a young girl named 'Wakasa' and a monk who teaches him the first words of salvation and later encourages him to fight the beast within.
Animation :
Another non-main stream animation, it is an interesting take on the story. Excellent cinematography and staging.
Youtube trailer :
KAC Rating : 4/5
Is it worth the watch? : Hell Yes.
[Note : This movie contains heavy gore and traces of cannibalism. Definitely not recommended for Children bellow 13.]
Red Data Girl : - Released in Spring 2013, this animation is a production of P.A WORKS Studio, Story Conception by Noriko Ogiwara Directed by Toshiya Shinohara. Ranking among the top 20 animation of Spring 2013, here is a better look at what this anime is about. EPISODES : 12 (Completed) SYNOPSIS : The story is about a god vessel living in the shelters of a mountain in the country side, and of a mountain monk. The story sees the character development of an indecisive girl who wants to change and of a boy who does not want his life to be decided by his father. Their natural dislike for each other start to change as both face an ordeal during their school trip to Tokyo. TEAM : Original creator: Noriko Ogiwara (novel) Original Character Design: Mel Kishida Character Design: Minako Shiba Art Director: Junichi Higashi Chief Animation Director: Minako Shiba Art design: Mayumi Miyaoka 3D Director: Yoshimasa Yamazaki Sound Director: Kazuhiro Wakabayashi Director of Photography: Yukiyo Kajiwara Executive producer: Takeshi Yasuda Producer:Ai Matsuki Kenji Horikawa Extra thought : If you have liked Mahou no shoujo : Madoka, then you might find this series interesting. Tags : Time travel, Shinto fantasy, shrine maiden, monk, spirit, high school, magic. ANN Link : http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=14862 Youtube Trailer Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCe8R73tHe4&feature=youtu.be
AniDB description - The coming-of-age story of love, friendship, and music follows a
naive boy and a scruffy boy in a provincial town in Nagasaki Prefecture
in the late 1960s. In the early summer of 1966, Kaoru
transfers to the local high school from Yokosuka. Thanks to his
family's nearly constant cycle of moving from town to town, Kaoru has
only known school as a difficult place for readjusting every time.
However, on his first day at this new school, he meets Sentarou and takes a new direction in life.
Anime about music are few and far between. Same goes for anime with good music. Of course, there are enough anime with good OSTs.... but they are usually either piano based instrumentals, or techno/electronica, or some form of rock which might or might not be hybridised with Japanese music, or simply J-pop. But anime whose music really stands out as something unique are not all that easy to come by. Similarly, I have not yet come across any other anime till date which is set in the backdrop of 60's Japan. My knowledge of that period comes only from Murakami books. So when I read about this anime and found out that it is going to have a lot of jazz, I was really excited. Especially with the 60's connection, since those were the heydays of jazz in the west.
Then I read about who will be the director and the music director, and the names Watanabe Shinichirou and Yoko Kanno left me stumped (if you don't know why, just read up on them). I have been waiting for this anime for quite some time now.
People who were expecting a jazz version of Beck or Nodame would be disappointed. This is less of that and more of a slice of life anime. But jazz permeates it to the very core. Can you think of Cowboy Bebop without jazz? No, right? Same goes here. Like the music that is present in our day to day lives, jazz is present in every frame, every note of this anime. When it is not the protagonists jamming to some hard bop and getting lost in the music, jazz is still there in the background, setting the environment and pushing the story along.
The story is a simple enough slice of life. The backdrop gives it a tint that one would normally not find in most anime. The era and the atmosphere have been faithfully recreated. As have been the differences between the 2 main characters, Kaoru and Sentarou. Everything about this anime is so believable that it takes us no effort to immerse ourselves in the music.
And yes, I keep coming back to the music. This anime would be a pretty decent story even without the music factor. But the music is what really sets it apart. Without the music, the story would have to revert to a either a lot of melodrama or to tons of gags, but the tension and the sheer energy of the jazz duo and the jazz quartet is enough to make all that unnecessary. Bonding over music is one of the most natural things in the world, and that has not been forgotten. In this setting, Sakamichi becomes a story of growing up, of friendships and love, and of inexplicable forces that bring people together and also tear them apart.
I loved the detail in this story. Everything, from life in the 60's, school uniforms, family reaction to rebels, to the cover sleeves of the jazz albums, everything has been researched thoroughly. Right down to one of the characters mourning Coltrane's death, and another guy who intends to use Beatles' mania to be popular with the girls. The visuals, too, were gorgeous. The character design made me really glad, since most characters in almost every anime look very similar nowadays. The characters in Sakamichi looked like real people and not like anime stereotypes. The plausibility of Sakamichi makes it a delight to watch.
From the point of a music lover, this anime is a treat. There are some really famous tracks rearranged and played. This is vintage Yoko Kanno. I especially fell for this anime due to the choice of two tracks which form, in a manner, the motifs for this anime. My favourite things (Gone with the Wind) and Moanin' (art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers) are repeated time and oft', and make for amazing hearing. All the tracks, including ones which are covers and ones which are OCs, makes the OST flawless and makes you go back and listen to parts again and again.
Even though I am completely sold to Sakamichi, the anime is not without flaws. Just like Beck, the end is rushed. I heard from people who've read the manga that they have compressed a lot into around 3 episodes, and it did feel like that. the last episode itself spans around a decade. Even though the ending was quite good, I would have liked to see it fleshed out for a few more episodes. That would also have given more space for some more music (I would never get over this music). But then again, extending it to 20+ episodes might have turned it into a bit of a drag. At 12 episodes, this series is a bit short (maybe 13-15 would have been kind of perfect), but I was comfortable with the pacing of this anime in general.
Sakamichi no Apollon is not perfect, far from it. But it is definitely something special. It evokes visions of a world faded away, a world that actually was. This anime is not make believe. It is very real, and it definitely deserves the attention and the applause it has been getting.
Synopsis (AniDB): Rune Ballot is a down-and-out teen prostitute in Mardock City. One day,
she's picked up by an ambitious casino manager named Shell who gives her
everything she could want. Renewed by a false innocence, a false past,
and now the false life Shell has given her, Ballot feels grateful.
However, she can't help but be curious about why he's done so much for
her, so she does some research about his past on a computer. This turns
out to be a mistake which will change her life greatly. When Shell finds
out what she's done, he attempts to burn her to death by blowing up her
car.
Due to the high crime rate in Mardock, a new law called
"Scramble 09" has given police carte blanche to take extreme and
otherwise illegal measures to revive crime witnesses. With this in mind,
they allow a professor to bring Ballot back from the brink of death by
reassembling her entire body with reinforced synthetic fiber. When she
finally wakes up, her confused mental state eventually turns toward
revenge as Shell is revealed as her killer.
Review: The first thing that hits you is the gogeous animation, then the disturbingly calm way sex and violence is introduced. All within the first 5 minutes of this hour long anime. The dark, gothic scenery, dystopian and glorious at the same time, a million sparkling lights. Then the brilliantly written screenplay which has not a word less, not a word more than needed, using pregnant silences to deadly effect at times.
I shall not go much into the story. This first of three movies does not go into much detail about the overall scheme of things. What it does is give the audience bits and pieces of the plot while all through being gripping, whether by witty dialogue, laugh out loud sequences (yes, there are a few of them), or the brilliantly executed action scenes. There are not many of them except near the climax, and it was mind blowing, fast, intense and brutal.
I expect big things of this anime. It is hard to rate it as it stands now, since it is just part 1 of 3 and ends with a cliffhanger too. As much as I want to rate it generously, there is always the risk of it falling flat later on, for cliffhangers are like double edged swords.
This is an intense anime. Does not back down and is not watered down to accommodate audiences. At some point of time, I would also like to read the books it is based on. But till then, this shall have to suffice. A girl with a vendetta, the world against her, a mad scientist and a golden mouse the only two by her side. If you like seinen, you should definitely not miss this anime.
I was asked to write a review, so, here goes nothing. Unlike the other writers, I won't be breaking stuff up. You'll get the idea as we go on.I haven't been watching a lot of anime recently; however there were a couple of series that caught my attention.
Kill me Baby tells the heartwrenching story of one Yasuna, and her best friend, Sonya. Sounds pretty normal, doesn't it? Well, it is, until you find out that Sonya happens to be an assassin. Much to the chagrin of those around her, Sonya's assassination skills don't quite do what they're supposed to. As if that weren't bad enough, Sonya's joined by Agiri, a trained ninja, specialised in confusing people with elaborate 'ninjutsus'.
Now before we move on, I'd like to take a moment to state that comedy happens to be one of the most subjective things known to man; you might find it funny, rude, or even offensive. As such, writing a review for a comedy anime is quite a tough job. In addition, the animation for Kill Me Baby isn't top tier, it's one of JC Staff's side projects after all, but they do manage to squeeze laughs into every scene (Some of them have been copied directly from the 4koma strip, or so I've been told).
The story isn't anything new. If you've watched Mitsudomoe, you'll recognize the setting almost immediately. A funny airhead, an serious girl, and Sonya. (Sonya keeps reminding me of Mortal Kombat, aww yeah). The story's simple. Very, very simple. Character development is nearly 0 (which in fact, is a very good thing). No elaborate battles and stuff, yeah, you can put those arms down now, no charging spirit bombs over 10 episodes any more. I do feel a little bad over Yasuna breaking her wrists and neck, though :(
The soundtrack's okay, not too bad, the OP is kinda wtf, and the ED is well, catchy. The best part of the whole show, is the unused redhead, voiced by Kugimiya Rie. The world can use more of her. She's the best, seriously. All your VA's can lick Rie's feet. The BGM reminds me of my kindergarten days, which suits the show well.
All in all, KMB, isn't a bad anime. It's definitely suited for people who want a short and light anime to kill time with, without scowling at the screen every 30 seconds trying to figure out wth is going on and why that ninja fox in an orange suit's trying to grope that emo guy. It's childlike, that's all I can say about it.
Rating: (7+1)/10.
+1 thanks to Kugyuu. (I'd give +2, but the other guys would kill me)
"Don't judge a book by its cover.." - Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica profoundly stands up for this statement. At first glance it seems like a cute comedy with moe girls & a typical magical adventure, but one needs to watch the entire show to understand what this anime is actually about!
For those who are confused or curious whether to watch it or not, this trailer might help a bit -
:Trailer:
Plot: In the Madoka Magica universe, strange creatures exist who grant one particular wish to a chosen girl. In return the girl must make a contract of becoming a magical girl (mahou shoujo) & fight witches who cause suffering such as murders or suicides, in short - any kind of negativity.
In the city of Mitakihara, two schoolgirls, Madoka Kaname & Sayaka Miki are approached by such a creature named Kyubey. But a classmate of theirs' named Homura Akemi keeps preventing Madoka from communicating with Kyubey. On the other hand, Kyubey keeps trying to convince Madoka that she can become the most powerful mahou shoujo in history. Following various circumstances, Madoka & Sayaka meet Mami Tomoe who is already in a contract with Kyubey. She teaches them the aspects of being a mahou shoujo. Consequently, Sayaka becomes a mahou shoujo and faces competition from Kyoko. As the plot progresses the story of Homura unfolds. Meanwhile, the reason behind the creation of mahou shoujo, magical creatures and how the balance of the universe is related is revealed leading up to a dramatic climax which is sure to surprise you.
Characters:
Though the series consists of only 12 episodes, the characters go through an enormous amount of change, especially the protagonists. Homura’s backstory is also brilliantly characterized. Madoka – as the main protagonist, is lovable and altruistic. Kyoko, originally self-centered, is the enigma of the show. Viewers can sympathize with Mami when she explains the burdens that one has to bear when they become a mahou shoujo. Kyubey is another interesting aspect of the series. The supporting cast, such as Madoka’s mother Junko Kaname, Sayaka’s friend & love interest - Tatsuya Kaname & others are well portrayed. The interaction between the characters & some of the dialogues are quite moving.
Some Quotes from the series:
"We're fighting for our own wishes. It's normal not to get noticed or remembered." -Homura
"In our culture, the phenomenon called emotion is only a mental disorder" -Kyubey
"It sucks, but you can't reach a happy ending just by doing what's right all the time. Actually, the more people get stubborn and insist they're in the right, the further away happiness gets." -Kanami Junko
"Don't forget. Always, somewhere, someone is fighting for you. As long as you remember her, you are not alone." - Epilogue
Art: Each anime production company usually has its own unique style of art. Madoka Magica is produced by SHAFT which previously made commendable series like ‘Bakemonogatari’, ‘Arakawa Under The Bridge’ etc. The factor which stands out the most among the unique art style of Madoka is the characters appearing as moe, cute; as if they are hand drawn & pencil-shaded while the background looks maturely animated. Another interesting phenomena is, when the mahou shoujos enter the inner world of the witches to fight them, the background completely changes & looks abstract! Also, when the characters are feeling a certain emotion i.e. fear or anger, the background particularly concentrates on one certain colour. Thus, the all-over animation is quite excellent.
Sound & Music: When Yuki Kaijura (Kara no Kyoukai, Tsubasa Chronicles) is the music director of an anime it is evidently phenomenal! Background music is aptly present during almost every sequence & gives a unique feel to every situation. The OSTs are divided into 3 volumes & my personal favourite will be the theme of Kyubey.The OP theme is “Connect” by ClariS and ED is “Magia” by Kalafina. The OP and ED contrast sharply as the OP is pleasant and catchy whereas the ED has underlying dark tones.
Overall: This has to be one of the most intriguing short anime productions I’ve watched so far. Another interesting aspect of Madoka Magica is probably its antagonist(s) who keep you guessing their ulterior motives. The series contradicts the ‘blessed magical girl’ trope by deconstructing the concept and not shying away from the despair and anguish in the life of a mahou shoujo However, the unpredictable ending of Madoka Magica generously makes up for what seems to be a first a typical moe production. This dark masterpiece of Urobuchi Gen even with just 12 episodes, will keep you hooked to the plot, constantly reinventing itself. Overall, a captivating series which definitely deserves to be on the recommendation list.
Synopsis: The story of Steins;Gate takes place in Akihabara and is about a group of friends who have managed to customize their microwave into a device that can send text messages to the past. As they perform different experiments, an organization named SERN who has been doing their own research on time travel tracks them down and now the characters have to find a way to avoid being captured by them.
(Source: AniDB)
Plot: Steins;Gate (シュタインズ・ゲート, Shutainzu Gēto) was originally a visual novel described as a ‘hypothetical science adventure game’. The anime adaptation takes off from the same premise. Okarin, Mayushii and Daru experiment in their ‘lab’ to create futuristic gadgets, such as the Mobile Microwave. On a visit to the Radio Kaikan building, Okarin finds Makise Kurisu lying in a pool of blood. As soon as he sends a text to Daru informing him about the incident, Okarin finds his surroundings altered, with no one remembering anything. And from here begins a mind-twisting journey involving CERN, time travel, otakus, moe culture, and love which lasts beyond world lines. Any more details would be major spoilers. The story involves plenty of arcs and subplots. But they are connected perfectly to the main plot, in ways you’d least expect. Full of surprising turns and unknown motives, this is treat for mystery-lovers. But behind all the fast-paced action and sci-fi thrills, the anime also deals with serious issues, such as the consequences of your actions, the philosophy of life, and the anguish of being defeated by fate, time and time again.
Rating - 9/10
Characters: The best thing about the characters of Steins;Gate is their uniqueness. Every character is distinct and evolves throughout the story, including the supporting cast. The relationships between the characters are constantly developing, not one of them is ignored. The lead pair develops beautifully. And some other character connections are sure to surprise you later on. Although the anime was a tad stereotypical when it came to the lead tsundere, I never got tired of Okarin’s mad scientist persona, Kyouma. Overall, an engaging cast. Tuturu~
Rating – 8.5/10
Animation: The animation was just right for this series. A restrained color palette, but brilliantly done. Symbols were used very subtly, you have to keep your eyes open and they won’t make sense until the later episodes. The angles were innovative. The action scenes and the world line sequences were done very well. Certain mature scenes involving violence and/or death were similarly handled smoothly.
Rating - 9/10
Music: The OP, ‘Hacking to the Gate’ by Kanako Ito is apt in both music and lyrics, and suits the tone of the anime. The ending theme however is darker and uncertain, which is probably for the best since every episode ends with a cliffhanger of sorts. Background music is minimal, but effectively utilized. This anime takes its music seriously, with poignant silences in many key scenes. Voice actors did a flawless job.
Rating - 9.5/10
Overall – A rollercoaster. Sounds cliché, but an apt description. The anime takes twists you didn’t even know were there. Every episode ends with a cliffhanger. Things which seem out of place in the first few episodes gradually begin to make sense in the last couple of episodes. A must-watch for mystery and thrill seekers. Steins;Gate is definitely sci-fi in genre, but it doesn’t limit itself in terms of exploring other topics. There may be a few plot loopholes, but they’re not noticeable. With outstanding plot progression, this anime is a struggle against dystopian fate which refuses to be altered. Steins;Gate is a series which definitely messes with your head, and definitely should be watched.
