Monday, January 25, 2010

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 2

Hey look! A NERD!

Alright. It’s episode 2 go time. This single episode is broken into two stories in which one has nothing to do with the other. This tactic a typical move in slice-of-life shows. The first part is about the first real day of school, I guess, and the second part is about Hiiragi and newcomer Kenji, who is apparently jealous of Hiiragi’s smarts.

She is a monster, I'm sure of it.

And if she was a zombie, she'd have easy access to brains

To be Frank, there’s nothing really going on. I’m not surprised. Watching this show is more like watching little animals which resemble the human form run around and go “wai!” and shit like that. That’s fine. When you first see this show you don’t come to it expecting anything else. I was just hoping it would actually have more gags and other things like characters getting themselves into crazy situations and finding unusual ways to get out of them. The only kind of jokes we get are few and things we’ve seen and heard before. If the show could just explore the idea of the kindergartners learning more about the world around them (and experimenting with it) this show could go more places. They did show us a little something about one of the characters, and that’s the redeeming trait of this episode.

Even though the show pushed a little in this episode, the first half was completely wasted with nothing moving in any direction. I might be expecting too much though. We’re only on the second episode of a cutesy slice of life series. In this respect the show delivers plenty of moments for the characters to look and act cute. If that’s what you came for you’ll be satisfied but you still might wish for a bit more like I do. I’ll sit and watch patiently, but this show isn’t really growing to be anything I’d recommend. For now, I’ll save my breath until next time. If you’re interested in watching, check crunchyroll.

Now say "nyan" and our hearts will explode.

This is normal.

These kids get to wander around at night without parental supervision. Crazy

Don't be a pussy, Koume.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Episode #53 – Sengoku Basara

Yes, he is standing on two horses while they are running up a castle.

Originally recorded January 17, 2010.

I promise you we’re going to review something good next time.

Note: I frequently said that this was based during the 1600s. I should’ve said 16th century because the 1600s was when Japan was united. My bad history buffs.

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Opening song: JAP by Abingdon Boys School
Ending Song: Just Like Heaven (GermanNintendoGamer 8bit version) by The Cure

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten (Repost)

Repost ~

REPOST:I apologize. I wound up reposting because something broke when uploading the pictures. Guess it’s been so long I forgot the right way to do things…

I’m back writing again and this time I’ll cover the newest thing to come from GAINAX, Hanamaru Kindergarten! Hanamaru Kindergarten is based off a manga by the same name which was written and illustrated by Yuto and published by Square Enix. The TV director is Seiji Mizushima, who doesn’t seem to have done anything relatively big in his short line of work. Notables are Full Metal Alchemist and Slayers Next(as director). As for why GAINAX decided to pick this up is beyond me.

Anyway, the show obviously revolves around kids and misadventures they’ll be having. We learn mostly about Anzu this episode, who is the blond/brunette energetic and adventurous type with a bizarre misconception that she should marry her teacher, Tsuchida, because her mother married her teacher when she was in high school. Two other characters - Hiiragi and Koume - are introduced as well. Hiiragi seems to be the well disciplined and smartest of the bunch while Koume seems to be the very shy and klutzy one. Other notable details learned are that the teacher, Tsuchida, is on his first day of work as a teacher and falls for another teacher at the school, Yamamoto, and that Tsuchida is also friends with the mother of Anzu, who was his senior in high school.

Manners?!

Yo! The first episode moves pretty quick by setting the scene and the characters. Although at first you might feel weird watching a show about kindergartners, the show is very innocent and doesn’t seem to foray into any disturbing sexual themes like the similar show Kodomo No Jikan. The kids are kids and are very simple and naive like children should be. This on top of the cutesy character designs easily sell to those looking for a light slice-of-life show with adorable characters. The comedy seems a bit dry, but I believe they can go further in the next few episodes by showing us more of the characters and what makes them tick. The characters themselves don’t seem so generic and off-putting that I wouldn’t want to watch the next few episodes. Also, some of the jokes seem painfully old and obvious, but I think if they handle them right it can crack a smile or two from me. Animation and other such art related things seem to be decent for the kind of show we’re watching, it’s just nothing special. All in all, the show has good potential from mega-studio GAINAX and I look forward to the next episode.

P.S. If you decide to watch this show, check it on crunchyroll and support the legal streaming and subbing of anime!.

What is this moe ?

Is that a hat?

Maybe dad will tell you why your hair is like this

Women. Taste the rainbow

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Episode #52 – K-ON!

I was thinking about posting a band picture, but then I realize that this picture summarizes the entire show better.

Originally recorded January 10, 2010.

I don’t even know why we reviewed this. Moe! Moe! Moe!

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Opening song: Cagayake! GIRLS by Aki Toyosaki with Yoko Hikasa, Satomi Satou and Minako Kotobuki
Ending Song: Just Dance (NESsongsrus 8bit version) by Lady Gaga

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Episode #51 – MD Geist II: Death Force

If I could sum up the entire movie in one image.

Originally recorded January 4, 2010.

Dangerous! Most Dangerous!!!!

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Opening song: Violence of the Flame by Yoshiaki Ohuchi
Ending Song: Poker Face (8bitsbrothers 8bit version) by Lady Gaga