Anime Pulp

Fightbait Anime Club; I Don’t Like You At All, Big Brother! Ep.012

2011-09-07T19:18:00.001-05:00

Episode 12 of the Fightbait Anime Club and Episode 12 of Onii-Koto! If you’re wondering what this is, please see this post. You're still watching this, right?

Get the podcast
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Fightbait Anime Club; I Don’t Like You At All, Big Brother! Ep.011

2011-08-30T12:38:00.001-05:00

Episode 11 of the Fightbait Anime Club and Episode 11 of Onii-Koto! If you’re wondering what this is, please see this post.

Get the podcast
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Fightbait Anime Club; I Don’t Like You At All, Big Brother! Ep.010

2011-08-23T16:47:00.001-05:00

Episode 10 of the Fightbait Anime Club and Episode 10 of Onii-Koto! If you’re wondering what this is, please see this post. Damn, I wonder when I'll get back to releasing my own content?

Get the podcast
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Fightbait Anime Club; I Don’t Like You At All, Big Brother! Ep.009

2011-08-15T17:33:00.001-05:00

Episode 9 of the Fightbait Anime Club and Episode 9 of Onii-Koto! If you’re wondering what this is, please see this post. Guess what guys, this show still sucks!

Get the podcast
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Anime Pulp and Fightbait collaboration: "Fightbait Anime Club"

2011-08-12T21:03:00.002-05:00

Fightbait and I started doing something called “Fightbait Anime Club” awhile back. In Fightbait Anime Club, we place our audio track over the video of a bad anime as we provide running commentary for what’s going on screen. The purpose is to bring some interaction between the viewer and us, kind of like watching a bad show or movie with your friend. It could also just be a different way to experience the show we’re watching while listening to us make fun of it. As of this post, there are eight episodes out. A new one is put out every monday. (With the total backlist found here )

Anyway, podcast feed for audio alone can be found here. You can watch the video version here . Both are maintained by fightbait, but I’ll keep this site updated weekly every time we release a new episode. Not sure if blogger allows it, but I’ll guess I’ll try embedding it on the site too. Afterall, this is a thing the two of us do both of our sites need to promote it!

p.s. if you’re interested in anything else fightbait has done, you can find his site in the blogroll or here!

Episode #71 - Garzey's Wing

2011-08-06T11:31:00.003-05:00

Originally recorded July 26th, 2011.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Garzeys Wing - Comedy Gold
Ending Song: Aimo (TetoKasaneChimera 8bit Version) by Nakajima Ai

Episode #70 – The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

2011-07-26T19:32:00.000-05:00

Originally recorded July 6, 2011.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Bouken Desho Desho? by Aya Hirano
Ending Song: Yasahii Boukyaku by Minori Chihara

Episode #69 – Puella Magi Madoka Magica

2011-07-08T12:28:00.001-05:00

Originally recorded June 15th, 2011.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Connect by ClariS
Ending Song: Raiders Theme (dsdude1107 8bit version) by John Williams

Review: OreImo (True Route)

2011-06-17T01:41:00.000-05:00

KEEP ON RUNNIN'! *group jump*

Having recently completed the "Good End" of Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga nai (My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute) or OreImo for short, I've been tempted to delve into the "True Route", which is more or less an alternate and extended ending of the series. I have heard nothing but positive reactions.

Kuroneko after the jump YEEEAAAHHH!
Read more »

Episode #68 – Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door

2011-06-08T23:29:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded May 28, 2011.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Cowboy Bebop the Movie trailer
Ending Song: Feel Good Inc. (NESsongsrus 8bit version) by Gorillaz

Convention Report: FanimeCon 2011

2011-05-31T16:23:00.002-05:00

I recently had the joy of attending my first anime convention over this past weekend. The local anime club had a trip to FanimeCon in San Jose, California. I'm kinda glad my first con was a major one, not some dinkly small-time convention like New Mexico has. Regardless, I was VERY busy.

Read more »

Episode #67– Macross Frontier The Movie: The False Songstress

2011-05-27T19:12:00.001-05:00

Originally recorded May 24th, 2011.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Triangler by Maaya Sakamoto
Ending Song: Macross Theme (BlackitoOzora 8bit version)

Ryan Reviews: Renkin 3-kyū Magical? Pokān

2011-05-16T20:30:00.002-05:00

Renkin 3-kyu Magical Pokan (MagiPoka for short) is a 12 episode anime series produced by REMIC which aired on April 2006 and ended in June 2006. The director is Kenichi Yatani , who does not have any noteworthy titles under his belt. Magipoka caught my attention because I thought it might be a cute and light watch…

Ryan Reviews: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika (Polished)

2011-04-27T16:26:00.028-05:00

Mahō Shōjo Madoka Magica is a 12-episode anime series produced by Shaft and Aniplex which aired on January 6th, 2011 and finished its run on April 22nd, 2011. It is directed by famed Akiyuki Shinbo and the script is spearheaded by Gen Urobuchi . Because of their presence, the show had gained a bit of hype before its airing. Akiyuki Shinbo is well known for his use of surreal images and unique storytelling style. Character designs are done by Ume Aoki, who was also the character designer for Hidamari Sketch.

This review is SPOILER FREE. Hit the jump to read the review.

Read more »

The World God Only Knows II 1

2011-04-24T22:03:00.000-05:00

I wasn't terribly blown away by the first season of The World God Only Knows, but I did enjoy it. And when I saw that there was to be a second season, I was somewhat excited. I did write a short write-up of TWGOK for Project Haruhi, so I'm not entirely cold on this series. But enough about that. I have a review to write!

Spirits and demons, all after the break.
Read more »

Anime Pulp welcomes new writer/podcast members Yuri(Thomas) and Escap3st(Jared)!

2011-04-22T21:21:00.002-05:00

Anime Pulp has been at a standstill for some time now, and with podcast files once again missing it might be a long time until some new (read: old) backlogged episodes of Anime Pulp podcast show up. In an effort to add some flavor and bring some life back to Anime Pulp, I’ve been looking for new staff. I found my answer in two of my friends, Yuri and Escap3st. Yuri and Escap3st come from Stepping Up To The Anime Plate , and will be writing reviews of newly airing shows as well as appearing on the podcast on occasion. Make sure to treat them well!

P.S.If you are interested in joining the staff in some form, please leave a comment or write me an email at animepulp@gmail.com with information on how to contact you.

Episode #66 – Porco Rosso

2011-02-10T22:39:00.000-06:00

Originally recorded December 15, 2010.

Opening song: Porco Rosso Japanese trailer
Ending Song: Electro World (perfumemusiclove 8bit version) by Perfume

In This Season: Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica

2011-01-30T23:24:00.002-06:00

I've been watching Mahou Shojo Madoka Magica, airing this season. It is produced by SHAFT and directed by the reputable Akiyuki Shinbo. It follows titular character Madoka and her friend Sayako as they stumble upon a world in which magical girls do battle with "witches".The witches can not be seen by normal humans, and they cause despair and misery wherever they go. By making a contract with a strange creature called Kyubey, Madoka and Sayako can become Mahou Shojo to fight the witches, and at the same time are granted one wish of their desire. However, once in this contract they must lead a life of servitude; fighting the witches and collecting their grief seeds.

What makes Madoka Magica great is that its initial impression as a cutesy magical girl show is only the veneer to a darker tale revolving around young girls as they face certain danger and death. While other shows of its ilk take a much lighter approach; the tone of Madoka is very dark, and the choices carry heavy consequences for ones as young as our heroines. Combined with the aesthetic style of director Akiyuki Shinbo, who has a fondness for the odd and bizarre, create an atmosphere that is bleak from the first second to the last.

For many fans of the magical girl genre, this unique spin on the style can be a great refresher. For others, they may find it lacking in some departments. Up to this point, only four episodes have aired and each spends their time advancing characters through backstories and plot development. So if you came hoping for slice-of-life moments or fanservice you'll have to go digging up some other things. Madoka is sure to engage you in the story and its characters, one way or another.

Madoka is a must watch, not only because it is the best thing this season, but because it is one of the best anime to come out in a long while.

--To listeners of Anime Pulp Podcast.. I apologize for the lack of updates. Please hold on a little bit longer! We’ll be back soon!

Episode #65 – Starship Troopers

2010-10-08T13:27:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 15th, 2010.

Opening song: We Can Make It by Tsunoda Hiro
Ending Song: Cruel Angels Thesis (RavenLinage 8bit version) by Yoko Takahashi

Anime Pulp Promo

2010-10-05T00:45:00.004-05:00

After much procrastination and debating, Anime Pulp has finally constructed three promos we are not ashamed to release to the general public.

If you like us, please insert our promo somewhere in your podcast. Also, if you want us to put your promo into our podcast, send us your promo at animepulp@gmail.com.

To save, right click the link and click 'Save Target As'.

Promo

Louisianime

2010-09-18T11:39:00.002-05:00

Baton Rouge, LA
09.11.10

Episode #64 – Inuyasha: Affections Touching Across Time

2010-08-31T06:27:00.004-05:00

Originally recorded March 8th, 2010.

Sorry for people who might wind up getting this twice. We are just getting acquainted with the changes to our server.

Opening song: No More Words by Ayumi Hayaski
Ending Song: Baba O'Reily (Justice4AllOne 8bit version) by the Who

Episode #63 – A Wind Named Amnesia

2010-07-24T00:49:00.004-05:00

Originally recorded May 1st, 2010.

Episode #62 will not be posted because our sound files were lost to the podcast eating demons.

Opening song: True Love by Akemi and Takashi Tsushimi
Ending Song: Houkiboshi(Najitomeru 8bit version) by Younha

Episode #61 – Mind Game

2010-07-10T11:36:00.006-05:00

Originally recorded April 10th, 2010.

Opening song: Mind Game Trailer
Ending Song: Pinball Wizard (mountainhaze64 8bit version) by the Who

No Episode Release This Week

2010-06-27T12:47:00.002-05:00

Sorry guys, I don’t have a podcast episode to release this week. I do however have something else! A few days ago I recorded a podcast with none other than fightbait of fightbait.com. Our discussion was a bit random, branching from topics like Kazuo Koike and Rap Ladles. You can listen to the episode here on his website if you want to check it out.

Episode #60 – Gurren Lagann: Lagann-Hen

2010-06-12T14:04:00.004-05:00

Originally recorded April 3, 2010.

Opening song: Namida no Tane, Egao no Hana by Shoko Nakagawa
Ending Song: Scramble (8bitRadioStation 8bit version) by Yui Horie with UNSCANDAL

Episode #59 - Akira

2010-05-29T11:51:00.005-05:00

Originally recorded March 27, 2010.

Opening song: Kaneda by Geinoh Yashirogumi
Ending Song: Hoshizora Cycling (8bit version) by Virgin VS

Episode #58 - Tekkonkinkreet

2010-05-14T22:20:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 20, 2010.

Opening song: This City by Plaid
Ending Song: Toho Mathmatics by IOSYS

Episode #57 – Summer Wars

2010-04-29T21:00:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 13, 2010.

There’s a war. In the summer.

Opening song: Summer Wars trailer
Ending Song: Phantom Pt. 2 (starnix17 8bit version) by Phantom

Episode #56 – Ninja Scroll

2010-04-15T18:42:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 6, 2010.

There’s ninjas. And scrolls.

Opening song: Ninja Scroll - Tessai's thirst
Ending Song: Children (SpaceNinja88 8bit version) by Robert Miles

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten (END)

2010-04-06T14:45:00.002-05:00

I have decided to skip writing about episode 11 and just jump straight to episode 12. In this episode it is Christmas time and the gang is going to have a party at Anzus house. She winds up falling asleep before they arrive and dreams that she has gotten her wish to be older and goes out to look for Tsuchida. In the final half, everyone goes to visits the art gallery done by Anzus father, and Sakura reminds Tsuchida of some inspiring words he gave her when they were younger.

The final episode dives into the thoughts of Anzu, showing the audience what it might be like if she suddenly turned into an adult. It is amusing and adorable to see that even though Anzu can picture herself older, she can’t shake that she is still a child with little practical knowledge of the world around her. It is a credit to her character in the execution and depiction of what a young kindergartner might believe what an adult acts like. Finally, in the episode, Tsuchida shows more backbone than he was believed to initially have.There is a brief flashback between Tsuchida and Sakura which makes Tsuchida feel a lot more like a normal guy.

In the end, Hanamaru Kindergarten turned out to be a good watch. The cast of young children are bright, entertaining, and cute. They are exactly what they should be, and thankfully the show avoids any disturbing sexual themes between the children. The adult cast of characters leave a bit to be desired, and the older male lead, Tsuchida, can seem a bit stale at times. Towards the end of the show, the characters reflect more feelings and express more opinion that the universe they live in is a believable yet at the same time fun and cartoony one. There is not much girth to the actual story, but Hanamaru Kindergarten does not necessarily need that to entertain its audience. There are many shows like Hanamaru Kindergarten, telling the lives of cute girls as they run around and pursue their silly things, but Hanamaru Kindergarten cops out a lot less to the boring stereotypes seem all too often today.

Ultimately, I’d recommend this show to fans of the slice-of-life genre or someone just looking to watch cute characters run around and be... cute characters. It is a decent show with a few noticeable flaws, but they are easily forgiven. GAINAX had me curious as to why they would pick up such a seemingly average show, but I guess they just wanted to work their magic with it. It is either that, or maybe they wanted to splice in all those references to their own shoes. I am done writing on this show for now, and if you have any thoughts on Hanamaru Kindergarten yourself, please share them with us here at Anime Pulp.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 10

2010-03-30T16:32:00.002-05:00

In this episode of Hanamaru Kindergarten, the athletic festival is coming up and Koume seeks training from her teachers so she can make herself and her brother proud. In the next half, Tsuchida drinks some liquid courage and confesses his feelings for Yamamoto.

The young Koume faces an obstacle in this episode, and while we watch her undertake the challenge, it is not only charming but a tad bit inspiring. For a young girl, Koume possess a lot of spirit and when her friends rally around her to cheer her on or defend her, it feels like they have a true bond of friendship. It is not a hard tear-jerker, but the moments of friendship fit right in with the “warm” feelings that Hanamaru Kindergarten has had up to this point. The humor in this episode have even stepped up. The show begins to make use of the characters and the scenarios they have placed them in rather than relying on tired old gimmicks all the time.

There is little else to say now. Hanamaru Kindergarten is still a fuzzy feel-good show that has little (left) in it to criticize. You can watch this episode on crunchyroll. I’m done for now, until next time folks.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 9

2010-03-25T13:53:00.002-05:00

Zvarri! It’s time for the next review! The creator(?) of the famous panda-cat hybrid comic is having trouble coming up with new ideas and problems with his love life until he runs into the kids of Hanamaru Kindergarten. Then the kids draw portraits of what they want to be when they grow up, causing some interesting conversations to spawn.

The kids help out another person in this episode, this time a man named Hanamaru who happens to be involved in some manner with the popular Panda-Cat comic. When Hanamaru goes to a nearby park he runs in to Anzu and friends, and it’s just more of the same cute shenanigans that have been prevalent in the show up to this point. There is something about the sincerity of children that make it a lot more believable that these kids would care more about the plight of a stranger than any other person. The best thing about the show are the three main little girls, who have the similar traits of the innocence of kindergartners but are all still unique. The differences between Anzu, Hiiragi, and Koume have play off of each other and create interesting dialogue with the things and people they interact with. This is best evident in this episode when they show Tsuchida what dreams and hopes they have for the future.

Another notable factor is that this episode pulls out some of the niftiest references to date in the show. Namely, Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Luke Atmey Reference (See Hiiragi in the first picture) and The Wings of Honneamise, the spacesuit worn by protagonist Shirotsugh Lhadatt can be seen sported in the active imagination of Hiiragi (See third picture)

Hanamaru Kindergarten is getting close to its end. There are less things to say about the show as it goes on, but it still remains one of the better things to come out in the Winter Lineup. Until next time. Here's episode 9 on crunchyroll.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 8

2010-03-17T13:51:00.003-05:00

Welcome to the next review! In this episode, Anzu and friends help a classmate named Aoi out by aiding her and family in the their home business. Next, Tsuchida finds a young girl named Hinagiku and helps her home. She falls in love with him and she transfers to Hanamaru Kindergarten in order to marry him. I have a bit more to say than usual.

The show shifts back to the children again as they try to worm their way into the world of adults. It’s easy to understand where the kids in the show are coming from. They see themselves just as capable as the adults around them, and work hard to prove it. The new girl introduced in the first half, Aoi, wants really bad to work with her father. She has a sincere desire to simply be with her dad and also prove herself to him. The other girls try to convince her father to let her work with him, and try to sell fish. These moments make for a show that feels light-hearted and touching to a certain extent. It is not to the point where it is very emotional, but it is an innocent romp as the girls decide to assist a friend in their friend's life.

The second half spends most of its time acquainting the cast with Anzu’s new rival for love, Hinagiku. It is clear that just like Anzu, Hinagiku has no strong reasons to actually be in love with Tsuchida. The audience should accept it with not much thought, since she is a child with a strange concept of love. The innocent love and warm feelings presented are at a level just right to hit fans looking for loads of cute content, and still offers something that feels like an average story. Tsuchida doesn’t seem to mind that he has yet another little girl thinking she can marry him. He handles his scenario in a mature manner, at least opposed to either overreacting or being a jerk to the little girls. The positive aspects of him come through again in this episode.

Episode 8 makes a complete recovery for the show after episode 7’s boring trek to back story. Hanamaru Kindergarten is proof that some shows and characters don’t need some kind of deep past to make for an interesting watch. At least in the cases of this show, it would actually drag something as simple as this down. That is all for now. Episode 8 is on crunchyroll.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 7

2010-03-09T21:04:00.002-06:00

My apologies for falling behind. A personal matter came up and I got swept away in my personal business. This episode marks the beginning of the summer break, and Tsuchida heads home with the usual cast of characters. There Tsuchida and Sakura reminisce and Satsuki tries to impress her brother through her cooking, which he fails to identify her as the cook causing her to get angry.

This episode focuses less on the children and more of the adult characters; Namely, Tsuchida, Satsuki, and Sakura. Unfortunately, they are still the most boring of the cast. The chemistry between them is flat, making for some dull interactions. The first example that comes to mind is the relationship between Tsuchida and his sister, Satsuki. She is given a popular moe catchphrase “onii-chan no baka!” and a strange strong desire to be the center of Tsuchida’s attention. In addition, the relationship between Tsuchida and the other characters make no progress either. Sakura tells a story about the past in the first half of the show, but it doesn’t explain anything or imply anything beyond that Tsuchida might have had feelings for her in the past. It felt like the whole episode was just a rehash of things that have been done in other anime, and the events which transpired ultimately made no impact on the characters themselves. It is not an entire failure, it just lacks that which made the episodes prior to this one interesting.

It’s clear that the adult characters are not the shows strong point. When the children are not made the center of attention in an episode, the show is at less than its best. Hopefully the next few episodes will either shift it back to the kids or fix the current issues with the show. The next review will come when I get the chance. Episode 7 is on crunchyroll.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 6

2010-02-23T16:36:00.002-06:00

In this episode, it’s summertime and the pool opens up at Hanamaru Kindergarten. Anzu and the gang go swimming and try to help Anzu win the attention of Tsuchida. The next half, Tsuchida's sister stops in to see how he is managing.

This is another welcome episode in Hanamaru Kindergarten's line up. Satsuki, who is Tsuchidas little sister, makes an appearance in this episode and it seems that she perhaps will be a recurring character. She isn’t very interesting and falls into a tsundere personality archetype. If her emotions were not as transparent as they are, she would be a less annoying character. On the bright side, Tsuchida makes more progress as he proves he can be a competent worker who actually cares about his job. He blends in his love of video games and when he connects with the children at the school both he and the kids have a great time. Tsuchida has an understanding and compassion for the children which grant him a more human personality rather than just a flat-otaku who can’t stop staring at busty women. As for the rest of the cast, they stay pretty much the same. The comedy comes from the chemistry between the characters which is certainly going strong and lasting.

This episode didn’t best the previous episodes but that is okay. Hanamaru Kindergarten is still a fun light show that many should enjoy. Keep watching it on crunchyroll. There are still some adventures to come so until next time, I’m outta here. Laters.

Episode #55 – Psychic Wars/Red Hawk: Weapon of Death

2010-02-21T17:35:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded February 6, 2010.

What happens when one of the hosts watches a different anime by mistake? Two anime reviews in one.

Opening song: Psychic Wars Cancer Kills promo
Ending Song: Bliss (Florio003 8bit version) by Muse

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 5

2010-02-17T10:43:00.004-06:00

The episode this week revolves around Anzu and the gang following Tsuchida around on a Sunday to make sure he is not cheating on Anzu, and the second half involves Koume developing a crush on someone at the kindergarten named Yu.

This weeks episode is the same deal as last weeks. The girls continue their cute adventures, and it is indeed very cute. Hanamaru blends innocence and cartoony characters for lovable scenarios which might not be laugh out loud funny but still worth a chuckle or two. This episode makes me feel more attached to the children: Anzu, Hiiragi, and Koume. The girls follow their teacher around ambitiously with a keen sense of adventure that kids are familiar with having. The three girls are different but are brought together by their kid-like naivety, as they have their own strengths and weaknesses. These elements seem to only serve and add to the cute factor of the show. It makes them believable as adventurous kids who love the world around them . The adult characters in the show still don’t show any interesting traits, though. They are only there so that the kids have something to interact with. Tsuchida is especially annoying since he is too much like the shy/otaku character that shows up in anime these days. Outside of this, there isn’t much else to say.

Hanamaru Kindergarten episode 5 continues to entertain and provoke smiles. Those who have watched the first episode might have turned away but they should come back and give it another chance, at least up to this episode. This finishes the review for the fifth episode. Curious readers should go watch it on crunchyroll!

Episode #54 – 5 Centimeters Per Second

2010-02-15T15:09:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 30, 2010.

Yes, we review good stuff too.

Opening song: 5 Centimeters Per Second trailer
Ending Song: Stockholm Syndrome (Florio003 8bit version) by Muse

Ryan Reviews: Nodame Cantabile

2010-02-15T11:31:00.000-06:00

Nodame Cantabile is a 23-episode anime produced by J.C. Staff based off of the manga by Tomoko Ninomiya. It is directed by Kenichi Kasai who also did Honey and Clover. Nodame Cantabile is about Shinichi Chiaki and an odd woman named Noda “Nodame” Megumi, both of whom are talented piano players. Shinichi is studying at Japan's top music university and has aspirations to become a world famous conductor. Shortly after meeting Nodame, Shinichi has a chance encounter with other students at the university and watch them grow and tackle obstacles as musicians. Some might just write this off as a shojo romance, but the Shojo tones are light. The romance between the characters isn't nearly as important as their personal growth as musicians and human beings. Nodame Cantabile hits a wide range of genres, from comedy and drama to coming of age. It is a show that is very difficult to label. To those who are curious, this review will be spoiler free.

Nodame Cantabile conveys its story well and expresses the music on a level that everyone can understand. Even though the show uses music references which to some may be very obscure, it is done in a way in which the knowledge of music is not dependent on the enjoyment of the show. Anyone who has ever wielded an instrument can understand the way in which the wide range of characters act and perform together. The group of characters must learn to play while adapting to one another’s traits, ranging from egotistical to hesitant artists. The execution is top-notch, and it appeals very well towards both musicians and non-musicians alike. Some people might put the show aside because of the classical music, but the show is more focused on the growth of the characters through their music and dreams.

The characters are expressed very well through their imperfections. Because of this, the characters can be respected as human beings, filled with desires and ambitions to become better. Unlike other music-based shows, they actually have real experiences as music performers. One positive point about the show is that the characters grow and learn from each other through practice and performances. Though not perfect, the character development between Chiaki and Nodame is done very well. Some of the side characters seem a bit empty, but one shouldn't worry about it since they don’t impact the show too much. I think the pacing is perfect for the story the show is trying to tell. There are some serious moments that are spoiled by a character making a ridiculous face, but it doesn’t take away too much from the story.

On the technical level, the animation is a lot left to be desired. The show switches back from average CG techniques to still frame panning of people playing instruments. More energy could be communicated through more expressive movements. The character designs lack any real standout elements, so there are times when it’s hard to tell the difference between one another. Even the color can be a bit limited and bland at times. Of course, Nodame isn’t meant to be visually impressive but captivate the viewers through outstanding music. It takes pieces from both well-known and esoteric composers across time. Exclusive songs to the anime are excellent as well.

To summarize, Nodame Cantabile is an excellent show whose positives far outweigh the negatives. It is a show one should definitely pick up. It’s obviously not an action show, so action-gurus probably won’t enjoy this. There is a second season, and I plan to watch and review soon. I’m done talking for now so until next time folks!

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 4

2010-02-08T15:00:00.002-06:00

Welcome back to another review of Hanamaru Kindergarten! This time I will be talking about episode 4, which entails the adventure of Anzu going on a date in the kindergarten with Tsuchida and Anzu helping Yamamoto while Tsuchida is off to a relatives wedding.

This episode tops the previous episodes by making good use of character relationships and jokes which actually aren’t too stale. Hanamaru knows its audience, and it really sells these cute kids well. When I say this, I don’t mean just the character designs, but how they act around each other as well. They have a certain kinship which you might be able to relate to and a certain innocence regarding love which most should find adorable. As good as it gets though, the show isn’t brazenly hilarious or very intriguing. The show however seems to be moving from just using cliches to using them in a way that is unique to the style of the show.

The show is a very typical slice of life/moe show. It goes without saying that if you don’t think the premise and the characters are cute then this show is without a doubt not for you. Fans of the genre should check it out, but it probably wont wind up being their favorite. As for this episode in general, it’s the best one yet and each one has topped the last. I hope it continues this trend and look forward to watching the next episode. By the way, Hanamaru is still on crunchyroll.

Episode #36 – Fist of the North Star: Raoh Side Story Junai Arc (“lost” episode")

2010-02-07T00:55:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded April 25, 2009.

Sorry, for being late. Anyways, there was no recording on January 23rd due to scheduling problems. Enjoy one of the older ones that we haven’t uploaded.

Opening song: Ai o Torimodose!! (Raoh Side Story Junai Arc Version)
Ending Song: Where is my Mind? (Nintendoughfreak 8bit version) by Pixies

Ryan Reviews Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 3

2010-02-02T00:45:00.002-06:00

Hello again! The third episode of Hanamaru Kindergarten is split into two parts, and I assume the show is going to stay that way, since every single episode is like this. The first half of the show follows Anzu on a quest to win the heart of Tsuchida and beat her rival, Yamamato-sensei; who becomes the focus of the second half of the episode as they show us her ordinary routine.

The episode this week proves that it can be somewhat entertaining even if it does take from a bin of cliches. Hanamaru Kindergarten continues to play the adorable character card as its greatest strength effortlessly. While we don’t actually know much about the characters, Hanamaru Kindergarten takes a different direction and gives us a feel for each person through their little nuances. I don’t care much for the adult characters, but the children feel solid as innocent kindergartners exploring the world at their own pace. The jokes lack of effort but the naivety of the characters puts a smile on my face as they try to solve their problems.

It’s definitely the kind of show you need to be in the mood for. It’s the kind of show that’s only watchable if you’re not in the mood to think and rather just interested in watching things just happen. If you haven’t picked it up yet and are thinking about it, do it. I’ve changed my opinion and it seems like it’ll shape to be a pretty average show. Hopefully the next episode will be even better. Remember that it’s streaming on crunchyroll.

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten Ep 2

2010-01-25T23:10:00.002-06:00

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.

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.

Episode #53 – Sengoku Basara

2010-01-24T13:11:00.002-06:00

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.

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

Ryan Reviews: Hanamaru Kindergarten (Repost)

2010-01-23T15:49:00.003-06:00

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.

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!.

Episode #52 – K-ON!

2010-01-17T13:11:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 10, 2010.

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

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

Episode #51 – MD Geist II: Death Force

2010-01-14T07:09:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 4, 2010.

Dangerous! Most Dangerous!!!!

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

Episode #50 – Ghost in the Shell 2.0

2009-12-03T22:58:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded November 28, 2009.

So what happened to the other 14 episodes? They’ll be uploaded..if they’re not lost. Until then we’re going to try to upload the newest episodes we record.

Opening song: Utai I - Making of Cyborg (2.0 Ver.) by Kawai Kenji
Ending Song: Don't Say "Lazy" (ItsaKCh chiptune version) by Yoko Hikasa with Aki Toyosaki, Satomi Satou, and Minako Kotobuki

Episode #35 – Hidamari Sketch

2009-09-26T12:07:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded April 18, 2009.

Opening song: Sketch Switch by Kana Asumi, Kaori Mizuhashi, Ryoko Shintani & Yuko Goto
Ending Song: Hangar 18 (Unerly 8-bit Version) by Megadeth

Episode #34 – White Album

2009-09-04T18:57:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded April 11, 2009.

Opening song: Shinai by Nana Mizuki
Ending Song: Electro World (8-bit Version) by Perfume

Bonus - Con Report: Anime Expo ‘09

2009-07-31T17:36:00.004-05:00

Originally recorded July 15, 2009.

Get the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast with iTunes
[Zune] Subscribe to the podcast with Zune
[RSS] Subscribe to the podcast with other podcatchers
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (Right click > Save target as)

Opening song: Hohoemi no Bakudan (Doggie501 8-bit Mix) by Matsuko Mawatari
Ending Song: Chocolate Disco (leftpossition Extra Mix 8-bit Edit) by Perfume

More images that I took can be found here.

Ryan Reviews : Clannad ~After Story~ Kyou Arc

2009-07-10T01:04:00.002-05:00

It’s been awhile since we’ve actually posted anything on this blog, so I’d thought I take the liberty and post something. In Japan, the eighth and final DVD for Clannad ~After Story~ came out not too long ago. On this DVD, an extra story arc called “Another World, Kyou Chapter” was included. This places us in an alternate Clannad world in which instead of dating Nagisa, Tomoya choses to date Ryou when prompted. To my knowledge, all these story arcs gain their original basis in the visual novel released by Key in 2004. I’ve only just started playing it so I can’t really say. I’m pretty sure though, but feel free to yell and caps lock me to death if I’m wrong.

The extra episode takes place somewhere in-between the events of the first season of Clannad. As the name implies it focuses heavily on the would be relationship between Tomoya and Kyou. However Kyou’s sister, Ryou also plays a role in the arc. The episode begins right away when Ryou confesses her feelings to Tomoya and problems ensue when Kyou and Tomoya are caught doing something in the local park. The main idea of this episode is to encompass a traditional Clannad story arc that would normally take a span of 4-6 episodes to tell and compress it into one.

With that challenge in mind, the pacing is very well done. Even though you can feel the story moving fast, it’s not to be a bother and things remain comprehensible. Obviously in order to fill in some of the gaps you need to have watched at least some of the original Clannad, but I doubt you’d be watching this if you hadn’t otherwise. Yes, from exposition to dénouement everything runs smoothly. A very lovely and intriguing story. In fact, I think this can actually stand up to a full length story from Clannad. It kinda makes me wonder what it’d be like if it actually was. Guess I’ll have to keep wondering though. The animation in this OVA seems to be lacking that “shine” that I normally think of when I watch a Clannad episode. It might be just me though. I really do think it could have looked prettier and better. Characters are pretty much like you remember them, except for the little tweaks for this alternate world, and they progress well with the story. Overall, I enjoyed this extra story arc from Clannad.

~Ryan

Episode #33 – Perfect Blue

2009-05-12T14:05:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded April 4, 2009.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: 2007 North American anime market, $2.8 billion
Ging: Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood stream on Funimation site
Nam: Evangelion 2.0 film teaser release

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Ai no Tenshi by Misa, Emiko Furakawa and Mie Shimizu
Ending Song: Cha-La Head-Cha-La (ImpulseKid86 8-bit Remix) by Hironobu Kageyama

Episode #32 – Shuffle Memories

2009-04-18T23:30:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 28, 2009.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Ghibli's Ponyo to be released August 14....Oh and Frankie Jonas is starring.
Ging: Akikan OVA announced
Nam: Anime Insider ends

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Fateful Encounters by YURIA
Ending Song: Makafushigi Adventure! (ImpulseKid86 8-bit Remix) by Hiroki Takahashi

Episode #31 – Dead Leaves

2009-04-15T15:22:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 21, 2009.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Rumor of Twilight anime
Ging: 4kids loses a lot of money
Nam: Yotsuba&! release dates!

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Dead Leaves trailer
Ending Song: Soramimi Cake (InverseSun 8-bit mix) by Oranges & Lemons

Episode #30 – The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

2009-04-02T18:45:00.003-05:00

Originally recorded March 14, 2009.

A typical teenage girl named Makoto Konno found a way to leap through time. Instead of trying to help the world, she uses her newfound powers to eat her pudding that was stolen from her sister, sing at a karaoke place for hours, and trying to get the best day ever. It sounds very uninteresting, but you’d be wrong. Directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Madhouse.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: President Obama doujin porn. Woohoo.
Ging: New Fullmetal Alchemist tv series commercial released
Nam: "Director Wes Anderson Lists Eva Among Favorite DVDs"

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Natsuzora ~Opening Theme~ by Yoshida Kiyoshi
Ending Song: Cruel Angel Thesis (EVA OP) by akumacornflakes

Ryan Reviews:Clannad ~After Story~ COMPLETE

2009-03-27T19:48:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I feel a bit behind in my reviews. I blame my laptop. I’m back on top this time with a review of all of ~After Story~. I’m taking in to consideration episodes 1-22, as they are the episodes which have the main story. This review is completely spoiler free. I’m also going to assume you know what ~After Story~ is about.

~After Story~ has a rather slow beginning with some mildly interesting story arcs. It all serves a purpose in the grand scheme of things because everything that happens builds up to something later in the story. The first episode re-introduces us to the characters and quirks we know them for. Each and every character is interesting in their own rights, with some characters being more interesting than others. None of the characters are quite as interesting as our main character Tomoya, who is by far one of the most interesting male leads I have seen in most anime shows to this date. He grows up and proves he’s not some blank slate by making decisions for himself and helping the other members of the cast when the time arises. He has limits just like everyone else, and he stretches to his to show his loved ones he truly cares. Quite beautiful really.

The story builds up satisfyingly although as mentioned the beginning is a little slow. The story arcs that come before the main event captured my attention with varying degrees of success.What I mean is that some stories were more interesting to me than others, but I was never really bored of a particular story. Things move smoothly enough so that we’re never messing around long with stuff that doesn’t matter. The show possess a little bit of the supernatural, and you’ll see what I mean as you progress further on in the show. However it is far from ridiculous and my suspension of disbelief is never broken. It gives the show a bit of that “Romantic mystery” feel. At least that’s how I feel.

The animation and feel to each scene is done very nicely. Kyoto Animation is no slouch when it comes pretty backgrounds and animation. Lighting hits each scene nicely and animation is pleasant and appealing to the eyes. I like the character designs and the subtle changes that happen as time progresses. Very nice. Don’t be put off by the “moe-ish” character designs. I know some people don’t like that kind of thing. I know character designs can be off putting for some people, but I guarantee you can get used to it in no time.

The music is slightly generic yet still likable. I’ve heard people say it’s very midi-ish…meaning that it doesn’t sound like they are using real instruments in the music. I can kind of understand this because it seems most of the music comes straight from the visual novel which most of the time they don’t bother you assemble a full band together to actually perform these songs for them. The music is still appealing and comes in at all the right parts. The swelling parts in the music causes emotions to swell inside of me so…yeah.

To summarize, this is a excellent sequel to the original Clannad. I think I even like this sequel more than I like the original. It’s hard for me to say though…both are very good. If you watched the original and haven’t started this yet I recommend getting on to it right away. I give ~After Story~ a 9 out of 10. A great show in the midst of all this crap that seems to be swallowing the anime world these days.

Episode #29 – Black Lagoon

2009-03-17T20:00:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded March 7, 2009.

This Japanese businessman gets kidnap by a bunch of homies called the Black Lagoon. They are a delivery company that transport whatever the black market demands, such as guns and even people. It’s kind of like the story where your mom told you to not hang out with the bad kids but you do anyways but then regret it because then you get arrested because the cops found out your friends had pot on them but you didn’t know, so then you get to the scene where you tell your mom that you don’t want to hang out with the bad kids anymore. Well, this story is kind of like that, except it’s nothing like it. Instead of the Japanese businessman returning to his mundane life, he instead welcomes the change. He changes his boring Japanese name to Rock, and instead of being a pussy he embraces his new life of killing bad people because they so happen to be shooting at him first. Oh yeah. There’s also Russian mafias, Chinese mafias, South American mafias, and explosions. Lots of explosions. It’s an homage to American culture and Hong Kong action movies. So watch it.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Mad Max creator wants 4th film to be 'anime'
Ging: Second half of White Album to be aired in fall '09
Nam: Dragonball Kai edited to follow Toriyama's manga

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Red Fraction (Black Lagoon Opening) by MELL
Ending Song: Red Fraction by MELL

Episode #28 – Aquarian Age

2009-03-13T01:39:00.002-05:00

Originally recorded February 28, 2009.

This show is about nothing. That’s right. Nothing. They got 5 factions fighting in a war, a war so long that they forgot why they’re even fighting. They got magical girls, shrine maidens, furries, girls in plug suits/Megaman suits, and wizards that don’t do anything productive. What’s even more great is that the main character, Kyota, is in a rock band. You would think, “Cool. Pop music + war = good.” Wrong sucka. You just got played. Things happen, but you don’t exactly know what is happening. And all of these factions compromise of girls, and they all seem to like the dude for no particular reason. You know what, he could’ve probably been played by a stump and the acting would’ve been better. He probably would be a better singer and harmonica player as well. You know, I’m just ranting. This is stupid. Just listen to the podcast.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Bandai Entertainment licenses Lucky Star OVA
Ging: Spring 2009 anime season
Nam: Eva Clock and Picture Stamp iPhone app

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Everlasting Love"by SeYUN
Ending Song: Red Fraction (Florence/Exit Trance Remix) by Mell

Episode #27 – Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love?

2009-03-03T19:16:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded February 21, 2009.

To celebrate the launch of the Macross, we decided to review the 1980s classic Super Dimension Fortress Macross: Do You Remember Love? The giant spaceship, Macross, and its crew must fight an invading attack by the Zentradi and Meltrandi. The Zentradi and Meltrandi are aliens that separate themselves according to their sex and know nothing but war. After Earth is invaded the Macross warped itself away from the planet in order to save its passengers from total annihilation. Now the Macross crew must travel from Saturn back to Earth while trying to defend itself from the Zentradi and Meltrandi races.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Best Buy to cut back anime titles
Ging: Funimation licenses My Bride is a Mermaid, El Cazador de la Bruja, and RIN: Daughters of Mnemosyne
Nam: Evangelion 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance set in theaters on June 27

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Macross: Do You Remember Love? Opening
Ending Song: Tenshi No Enogu (Angel Pain) by Mari Iijima

Episode #26 – Area 88 (OVA)

2009-03-02T18:21:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded February 14, 2009.

What do we do on Valentine’s Day? Well, we watch Area 88 and record a podcast. Sad, we know. But so what? Area 88 is awesome. A talented pilot named Shin Kazama was tricked into flying and destroying military jets as a mercenary for the nation of Aslan. Now, he must earn enough cash to buy his way out of Area 88 or desert his fellow comrades during a hellish war.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Haruhi-chan delayed on Youtube, replace with boat
Ging: Gonzo reduce staff from 130 to 30
Nam: Lucky Star concert on March 29th at Nippon Budokan

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: How Far to Paradise by Derek Jackson
Ending Song: Hotel California (Live) by Eagles

White Album Episode 1-6 Review.

2009-02-24T19:55:00.002-06:00

Yeah, I watched all 6 episodes in the same day pretty much back to back. I just decided I should watch it. No real reason other than that it is popular to talk about. But yeah, it is about a young adult named Toya who is dating a new rising idol. The story is as simple as that. The complications of dating the idol include another school girl who is available and seems to like you but your best friend who is a pussy likes her, a random girl that forces you to walk with her likes you for no reason whatsoever, another Idol seems to maybe kinda like you and has hidden motives, and your girlfriend’s manager is a bitch. There is also a little girl who appears in an episode and then reappeared. She seems to have no purpose other than to be annoying so far. Now that you know what White Album is about, lets get to the reviewing.

When I first started watching the show it was boring as piss for the most part. it starts out pretty plain with uninteresting characters and a straightforward plot. It does, however get better. As you get deeper into the plot, the male lead actually starts to show real emotions, and you can actually relate to him. In addition, the love ~~triangle~~ pentagon gets more interesting as the plot develops. The main problem with the plot is predictability. I could have guess everything that has happened thus far just from reading the synopsis. Thankfully, the execution of plot is rather well done, and you should be compelled to watch more as I was.

The main flaw with the show is that it is redundant. Every episode has over the phone love conversations, some random event, and characters doing the same routine. There have been little actual problems with the exception of the obvious “normal people can’t date idols” bit. If i was actually expecting to like the show I would have been a bit turned off. Of course, I may be exaggerating a bit. New things are presented in every episode but they are, for the most part easily resolved.

The other thing that pissed me off was the lack of interesting characters. So far most of the supporting girls are completely uninteresting. The girl that randomly makes him go on walks is fucking stupid and seems to serve no purpose to the show so far. The other supporting girl at school is just some book worm that gets pushed around. I admit, the non-spoken-for idol is mildly entertaining, but so far she has not done anything to really make me like her character. Toya’s best friend is your common pussy best friend who is morally correct and whines. He reminds me of Suzaku from Code Geass. The other random high-up in the cooperate latter dudes seem to be way more interesting than any of the girls in the show since they are shrouded in mystery and are not annoying.

The show is, of course, not without merit. The whole romance deal is not really my thing, but the short bits of humor mixed in and then small mysteries given are enough to keep me entertained. I feel like I can relate to Toya. Toya is definitely the most fleshed out character and the most entertaining one to watch. Thank god he is the main focus, and not the girl. The show will also catch the attention of fans of moe-esk things. While the show is not completely moe-tastic, there are definite signs of moe. It is done well enough, however that it does not bother me. The Anime also shines in terms of Animation. The animation is actually pretty damn decent. And so, the show is not a complete train wreck.

If you are a huge fan of romance, this show is for you. It has all of the necessary elements and is honestly well done. While the characters suck balls, the anime makes up for it with it’s cunning execution of plot. If you ever decide to check it out, make sure you get to at least episode 3 before you judge it. It is getting better as time progresses.

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 18

2009-02-23T14:05:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the lateness of this review folks! I got distracted by some other things and only just got around to watching this episode. As always I suggest you be up to date with all the episodes excluding this one prior to reading my reviews. How else would I talk about the events?

Tomoya and Ushio go out on the vacation together. Things are still rather iffy since Tomoya hasn’t spent too much time alone with Ushio yet. On their trip, Tomoya meets a person from his past who tells him an important story. A first thing to note in this episode is KyoAni’s choice of colors and lightings. Once again I praise them for they know how to make a setting look so real and beautiful. It’s one of the reasons I’m so attracted to this show. The colors always look nice but in this particular episode, with them traveling around a bit, we get some fresh new backdrops. The relationship between Ushio and Tomoya feels spot on (still). Tomoya treats her as a kid he’s supposed to care about, but not really in the father sense. Hopefully that itself makes sense.

Ushio is still also very adorable. It’s not like they chalk up with a whole bunch of moe personas but they capture the adorable and innocent essence of a 5 year old. (possible spoiler:) As for story I didn’t think this realization was going to come to Tomoya so quickly but I’m pleased with the way it happened and that it did come. I don’t know where we’re going from here but you can bet I’ll be watching!

-Ryan

Akikan! Episodes 1-6 (half-series) review

2009-02-14T12:34:00.003-06:00

When I first read the plot synopsis of Akikan I planned to watch it as a joke with Ryan. I’ll give you a similar version of the synopsis, but written by me. Akikan is about a perverted boy named Kakeru whom spends his time flirting with vending machines and collecting empty soda cans. One day, he purchases a can from a vending machine and when he drinks it, it turns into a girl, or rather,an “Akikan”. Akikan are soda cans which can turn into girls when they touch the lips of someone. They also have special powers related to their flavor. Kakeru’s Akikan, named melon, can form melons out of thin air and throw them as explosives. Interesting, is it not? It gets better. The government is making the Akikan girls fight each other because some are aluminum and some are steel. The government wants to have them fight in order to determine which metal is better. As far as I know, the government consists of a homosexual man whom tries to rape Kakeru often, and his female secretary. Best. Plot. Ever.

The best aspect of Akikan is that the plot actually works. The plot sounds stupid, but it is actually gripping and the story hooks you by the first episode. After I watched the first episode of Akikan, I knew I was going to watch the show in its entirety for sure. In fact, I watched the first episode 3 times with 3 different people (one of the times it was just me alone). So far the plot has gotten more complex, because of elements that every single synopsis I have read (including my own) has neglected to bring to light. Kakeru’s school life plays a role in this and for some reason every synopsis doesn’t tell you that. Kakeru happens to have many interesting school mates including a girl who wants to have sex with him more than anything, a lesbian who has magical powers and hates men, some dude that no one cares about and is constantly being used, and a slew of angry classmates that hate Kakeru for being a pervert. The story of course, is not without merit and actually handles dramatic scenes and emotions well using the fact that we, as humans, can not understand how Akikans feel. In the last two episodes released (5 and 6) the plot has actually taken a more serious note, but since this is clearly a comedy, keeps the comedic elements close at hand.

The other main reason I love Akikian thus far is the fact that it is one of the first anime series I have seen that is genuinely funny. I actually laugh out loud frequently due to the splendid humor. While the humor is mostly crude and involving sexual scenarios, it is something that most anime fans that I know can appreciate. If you are curious whether the humor will be to your liking, I suggest that you check out the first episode, if you can dig it, you should definitely watch it to the end since it is only 12 episodes.

The only major flaw to the series is the animation. The animation is very similar to Pokémon. For those of you who don't know what I am saying, I am saying it is bad. I can say, however, that the animation does not make me not want to watch it. The crappy animation actually makes the show feel more likable. I know a lot of people will not agree with me, but the bad animation in a sense, contributes to the whole idea that this is a comedy made to make you laugh. It was not given a high budget because it doesn’t need it. While it may be an awful excuse, if anyone tells me that Akikan has horrible animation I will simply reply “hey, its Akikan”. I feel that it is a perfect response. The people making it know (I think) the show is supposed to be just for fun. That is the kind of show I want to watch.

I advise everyone to check out Akikan. I am fairly certain that most people would, indeed, enjoy it greatly as I have. The characters are hilarious and fit together perfectly in a zany plot that every anime fan can enjoy. I look forward to more in the future.

Episode #25 – Sword of the Stranger

2009-02-12T10:23:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded February 7, 2009.

We we able to see Sword of the Stranger at our local movie theaters as one time event thanks to Fathom Events and Bandai Entertainment. In feudal Japan, a boy named Kotaro is being hunted by the Chinese. Kotaro hires No Name, a ronin samurai, to escort him to a Buddhist temple where he’ll be safe. Together with Kotaro’s dog, Tobimaru, they take on a journey and begin to create a friendship between one another.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Kyoto announces rebroadcast of Haruhi first season
Ging: Bandai Entertainment streams Code Geass on Youtube
Nam: Yen Press licenses Yotsuba&! manga

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Rasatsu No En by Naoki Sato (Sword of the Stranger opening scene)
Ending Song: God Knows... (8-bit version) by Aya Hirano

Kurozuka Review

2009-02-11T21:18:00.002-06:00

Okay, first off I want to say some non-kurozuka-related things, so just skip this paragraph and go down if you just want to read the review. There will be no more “Ging’s short…Reviews” anymore because I am lazy and can not keep up with my goals. Instead I am going to just do some reviews ~~biweekly I hope~~ completely randomly. I do, however, plan on doing more reviews recently. Oh well, we will see what happens. On to the Review….

Kurozuka is about a man named Kurou who meets a wonderful woman named Kuromitsu. One day he walks in on Kuromitsu playing with a decapitated head and he falls in love. Minutes later she is revealed as an immortal…thing. He winds up agreeing to also be an immortal thing, and then wakes up one thousand years in a post-apocalyptic future. His goal is to find Kuromitsu and live happily ever after. The problem that is found is that the evil red empire which seemed to be around back in the old ages is now a super power in the world and so Kurou meets up with some nifty new pals to help him get his beloved back.

The story of Kurozuka is actually about a real dude who was Minamoto no Yoshitsune who was said to have committed suicide. Kurozuka is apparently what really happened. The start of the anime shows him running about in the mountains and woodlands. He then meets Kuromitsu and yadda yadda. The execution of plot in the beginning is great, you are immediately pulled in to the story and are curious to see how everything plays out it the somewhat peculiar plot. Later you get the one thousand or so year lapse. New characters are introduced to help Kurou defeat his new enemy: the red empire which is shrouded in mystery, but is related to Kuromitsu somehow. New characters that assist Kurou include a blonde girl named Rai whom collects information, Kurata who is apparently decent at combat and drives the car, and Kuon, a standoff-ish white haired guy who is a great killer. I cared little for the characters but they do their job as anime characters so I was, at least, entertained. The story just progresses from there and builds up more mystery about Kuromitsu and the red empire while also providing the viewer with wonderful scenes of people being slashed to pieces. Unfortunately, the ending is bad in the sense that it is both disappointing and anti-climatic.

Visually, Kurozuka is amazing. Of the shows I have seen in 2008 it is the best animated show. The colors do a fantastic job capturing that monotone feel very well. The fight scenes are also visual bliss. The choreography was great and the over exaggeration of blood flying out was just enough to not be completely excessive. If you are curious as to just how great this animation is, check the opening on youtube. It is damned good. To say the least, I loved the animation

The musical scores used in Kurozuka also make for an astounding piece of work. The music wonderfully sets the tone for every single scene wonderfully. I can not say that the music is original though, it sounds like your normal background music, but this is forgivable because it is done very well. Besides, it is hard to do background music that differs from the norm in terms of style and allow it to work. The general dark atmosphere is definitely supported greatly by the wonderful music scores.

All in all, Kurozuka is a good show that is hindered by a poorly done ending. I would still recommend this show, however. I just wish to advise one to not expect a deep philosophical meaning behind the show or a great ending, which is what, In my opinion was the worst part of the show. It really ruined an experience. I would give it somewhere around 7.5/10 if I had to give it a rating.

Good: Amazing animation, wonderful music, good start of story.

Bad: Many characters were overly average, and uninteresting, ending sucked.

Episode #24 – Bus Gamer

2009-02-10T17:28:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 30, 2009.

In the secret corporate underground, an illegal sport called Bus Game is conducted. Teams are made by individual corporations in order to win money. Three young men, Mishiba Toki, Nobuto Nakajou, and Kazuo Saitou, are hired. Each need money for their own reasons but never told anybody what the money is needed for. These three team up and form the Triple AAA, or Team Anonymous, in order to compete in this bloody sport. The goal is to take the other team’s disc at all costs.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Lantis & Sunrise demand bloggers to remove screenshots and fanart
Ging: Bandai Entertainment delay anime titles
Nam: Japan FTC reported anime companies forced to accept low payments

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Follow Your Dream by Valerie Stevenson
Ending Song: GLAMOROUS SKY by Nana starring Mika Nakashima

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 17

2009-02-09T00:58:00.002-06:00

Hi, hi! I’m back again with another look on ~After Story~’s latest episode. As the story progresses it becomes harder and harder to talk about the show without spoiling it. I will be talking about things that occurred in the episode so it’s best if you’ve seen every episode before this one. So if you haven’t seen episode 16, it would be in your interest to go watch it before reading this.

Launch ahead 5 years after the birth of Ushio. Tomoya is mindlessly slaving away at work and is not surprisingly beginning to look more and more like his own father. Ushio appears to have been taken in by Sanae and Akio because Tomoya is in no shape to raise a little girl. On a normal basis I’m not a fan of time-skipping in anime but I think it worked well here for ~After Story~. I thought the relationship/chemistry between Ushio and Tomoya was demonstrated well. It wasn’t too awkward, and it definitely wasn’t too comfortable either. Her shy attitude captures the innocence of a 5 year old perfectly well. I think I was expecting Tomoya to hate Ushio a little but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

I heard somebody complaining how ~After Story~ is currently following the awful Toei Clannad movie. WELL OF COURSE IT IS! It’s based on the same freaking visual novel. Now I admit I’ve never seen the movie but I have heard nothing but bad things about it so I’m going to be staying away from it. I’m pretty sure the execution and pace of the events is very different in the series then it is from the movie. Well anyway, that’s it for this week. Looking forward to the next episode of ~After Story~ as always!

-Ryan

Episode #23 – Project A-ko

2009-02-07T12:33:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 24, 2009.

Two best friends, A-ko and C-ko, have joined a new high school. A-ko is the red-headed fighter, while C-ko is the blonde, ditsy, innocent girl. In standard shonen style, this means a rival has to appear to challenge the new students. B-ko, an intelligent rich girl, seeks out to win C-ko’s heart by defeating A-ko. Oh and then aliens appear. And jets. And tanks. And a Kenshiro-sized girl.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Haruhi-chan to be streamed on Kadokawa's youtube channel
Ging: Shinichiro Watanabe on board with Cowboy Bebop live-action film
Nam: "Miyazaki says he can't stand modern animation"

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Follow Your Dream by Valerie Stevenson
Ending Song: Game by Perfume

Episode #22 – Shikabane Hime: Aka

2009-02-04T18:55:00.004-06:00

Originally recorded January 17, 2009.

Produced by Feel and Gainax; licensed by Funimation. Shikabane Hime: Aka is a 13 episode series about a schoolgirl with uzis shooting zombies. Makina, a living corpse, makes a deal with a priest named Keisei Tagami in order to reach heaven. Now she must destroy 108 corpses. Makina and Tagami are aided by Ouri Kagami, Tagami’s brother. Shikabane Hime is available for stream legally.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Clannad half-season sets for $40
Ging: New Dragonball: Evolution trailer
Nam: Rumor: Bandai Entertainment receives 5 Centimeters Per Second license

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Beautiful fighter by angela
Ending Song: Yuusha-Oh Tanjou! (The King of Braves is Born!) by Masaaki Endoh

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 16

2009-02-01T23:57:00.004-06:00

Hi again. It’s time for another review of ~After Story~. First off, because this episode is a very important point in the series, I will be spoiling events of everything up to this point. It is most likely in your best interest to ignore this if you haven’t seen episode 15 yet.

In this episode, Nagisa is further into her pregnancy and the season is changing. Old friends stop by for a chat so they can catch up on each others life. Talks of the theory regarding the “other world” come up in conversation and something inside Tomoya clicks. At this point, I think I’m beginning to see the contrast between the illusionary world and the real one. It’s great because if at first you don’t know what’s going on it seems like a story happening in the background, and then later you realize that it coincides with the main story. I like seeing that kind of thing. Now what actually happens in this episode is something I think we all predicted. I know I said that before and it being predicted isn’t bad either.

Yes I knew what was going to happen yet the way it was executed caused me to keep second-guessing my thoughts. As the event drew nearer I became more unsure if what I thought was going to happen would actually happen. I gotta say it again, brilliant execution on Clannad’s part. It was able to move me, touch me, and throw me off until the very end. I have only a vague Idea of where we will be heading from here but you can be sure I’ll be watching it!

-Ryan

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 15

2009-01-25T23:31:00.002-06:00

Back sooner than usual this time. SS and Eclipse must have gotten backed up a bit last week. Before I begin I assume that you have all knowledge on every episode up to 13 at this point. If you haven’t, then stay away and go watch the episodes. ~After Story~ is worth your time. The deeper in the series I get the more I will be forced to spoil

Tomoya and Nagisa have some new complications in their life to deal with. After the big news in the previous episode, more big news hits. Although it’s rather obvious if you think about it, it’s still dramatically gripping the way it’s carried out. This is where Clannad’s merits shine. Not necessarily because of originality in terms of storyline, but execution. Have I said that before? I’m pretty sure I have. This is a slice-of-life show about two married people so what other routes are there to take? The characters stay believable, the animation stays top notch, so there’s nothing else to complain about. I think I know what’s going to happen in the future but that won’t stop me from enjoying Clannad. Well, I’m eagerly anticipating more.

-Ryan

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story ~ Ep 14

2009-01-24T01:11:00.002-06:00

Finally got around to watching episode 14 of ~After Story~. A great kick into the new arc. A quick notice to you, I’m going to assume at this point you have knowledge of every episode up to this one. So if you haven’t seen episode 13 yet, you might want to skip this until you have. Seriously, what’s wrong with you? Get your ass in gear!

Tomoya and Nagisa, finally all grown up and…MARRIED! Yes, the episode starts with them just beginning to live together. Nagisa decides she wants a job because she doesn’t want to be a weak person anymore, and doesn’t want to burden Tomoya. This episode shows well that Tomoya and Nagisa are experiencing feelings of awkwardness living alone. I really like how pure the relationship between Tomoya and Nagisa is. Both care for each other deeply, and in this episode it shows even more. Comedy is kept in check when Akio and Tomoya decide to go check out where Nagisa works. With the cliff-hanger at the end of this episode,I’m at the edge of my seat. I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly, but damn was I shocked. With that said, I’m looking forward to more ~After Story~. That’s all for now.

-Ryan

Our Best of 2008 (we’re totally late)

2009-01-22T10:35:00.001-06:00

So we’re kind of late. My apologies. It’s really my fault. It’s due to school, editing the podcast, watching anime, playing videogames, and well laziness. Oh well. Let’s get this thing rolling.

Best Animation:

Animation is done by Kyoto Animation, the same people behind Lucky Star and Haruhi. I picked ~After Story~ because of the choice of colors and character designs themselves. I like the way things flow in the show. Oh Nagisa, you're so moe!

Looking at the anime of 2008, a lot of the anime did not have the best animation or art in the world. In fact, I would venture far enough to say that a good percentage of the animation of 2008 was subpar. There were, of course, many shows that had good animation. Kurozuka had beautiful animation. Compared to any other anime of 2008 I think that it is a reasonably clear choice.

Picking best animation was between Mouryou no Hako and Kurozuka, both produced by Madhouse. Like many Madhouse produced shows, both shows were made with constant care in terms of consistent character models and smooth animation. In the end I chose Mouryou no Hako because of its vibrant colors over Kurozuka’s dark, kind of mundane tones. SInce this was a horror/supernatural/suspense anime there weren’t any crazy shonen fighting animation. However, that doesn’t mean that the animation was poor. Mouryou no Hako’s character models were always sharp and crisp, and HD definitely made it look sexy. Lighting was taken into account throughout the show, whether it’s a lamp or sunset casting a yellow tint to the character faces. It makes the world seem very surreal and other worldly, which helps create the eerie tone of the show.

Character of the Year:

In most harem type shows, the main male lead is infamous for being a flat, boring, blank slate. Tomoya surprisingly did not fall victim to the fate of normal male character and surpassed them with his likable personality. I’ve been interested in his growth throughout the series thus far, and the cut of his jib in general. That's right, I said "cut of his jib". (Editor’s note: WTF does that mean?)

Maka Albarn from Soul Eater was my favorite character of the year. In particular, she did three things that impressed me. I like the fact that she is a female lead to a shonen fighting show and is not overly aggressive nor overly passive. Her personality and relationships with her friends make her a genuinely interesting. Finally, she is funny. I think humor is important to most shonen fighting shows, and Maka certainly brings humor to the show.

While there weren’t any characters that really drew me in, Sheryl Nome did convey more diverse emotions than most of the anime girls that I’ve seen this year. Sheryl was more than just a damsel in distress for the main character (Alto Saotome) to save. She showed how she could be independent and able to perform her tasks without the need of someone to help her all the time. The problem I had with the other singer in the show, Ranka Lee, was that she was so boring. Ranka seem like a character made up of different aspects of other moe characters. Ranka lacked courage, and she kept acting all sweet and nice. Sheryl Nome was different. She was a bitch, but she wasn’t a bitch just to be a bitch. Sheryl strived to be independent, and her flaw was that she didn’t like to get other people’s help. Her flaws make the show interesting, unless Ranka’s flaw which was that she was boring. I also like the songs by Sheryl (sung by May’n).

Best Opening:

Ryan: “Hatena de Wasshoi” by Asumi, Mizuhashi, Shintani, and Goto

(Hidamari Sketch x365) (hd)

I love this OP. It goes great with the happy and bright theme of the anime. All fun, all the time. Never a dull moment, and the eye-popping animation in the intro is a nice catcher too.

Ging: "SYSTEMATIC PEOPLE" by Wagdug Futuristic Unity with Maximum the Ryo of Maximum the Hormone (Kurozuka) (hd)

There were a couple openings that were very tempting choices, however I think because of Kurozuka's incredibly visually pleasing animation and beautiful song, it deserves the award more so than any other anime.

Nam: “Lion” by May'n & Megumi Nakajima (Macross Frontier) (hd)

Yoko Kanno produced and sung by the two singers of Macross Frontier. One of the things that drew me into Macross was the music. Music has always been a key element to the franchise, and whenever I hear the Macross Frontier openings I get pumped up.

Best Ending:

Ryan: “Torch” by Lia (Clannad ~After Story~)

It's hard for me to pick an ending, but in the end I decided to rock with ~After Story~. It's fun and light.

Ging: "Makeinutatsu no Requiem" by Hakuryuu (Kaiji)

I have to admit that when I first started thinking about what anime endings were great, I could only remember about three. Usually the ending songs are less memorable than the openings. Even after I re-watched several of the possible anime endings, it became clear my best choices were of the three endings I remembered. I chose kaiji's ending because it captured a feeling that drew me in unlike any other ending. Honorable mentions to Kurozuka's ending though; it made the choice very difficult.

Nam: Diamond Crevasse (Macross Frontier)

Macross Frontier’s music is really great, and I really like the first ED. Talented singer and beautiful lyrics. Produced by Yoko Kanno. Music makes me feel melancholy before I even read the lyrics. If it can convey emotions that well without even knowing what she’s singing, it’s doing something right.

Biggest WTF Moment:

OMGWTFBBQ?! Yeah, even though I hated the first season of Code Geass, I had to watch the second. I vowed and I swore "You'll never get me to watch that!" And look what happened to me…I lost. I blame Ging, or maybe I should blame myself. Whatever. Here's a written oath that I won't watch the next season of Code Geass. (editor’s note: he will when we review it)

While I of course will not say what Kaiji’s ending is, I can say that it was unexpected. My only reason to give Kaiji's ending the Biggest WTF Moment Award is that it did something so out of the realm of normal and made twists that were completely unexpected. Oh, and I said "WTF?"

This might be considered a copout for my lack of ideas (or memory) but there’s seriously little if anything that surprised me. This year has been a fair disappointment. Nothing really made me too excited. Here’s to hoping 2009 will have more shows I’d like to see.

Best Moment:

[spoiler! highlight to read]Lelouch FINALLY dies. [/spoiler]

YAY! I cried (laughed?) hysterically. I thought for sure this meant no more Code Geass...but with the recent rumors around...

The best moment in anime goes to Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann simply because it was the most ground-breaking thing to happen. It is uncommon to find anime that consist of 3-minute episodes and no dialogue, and it is also uncommon to have an anime released as an ONA (Original Net Animation). Because of its rare breed, I feel that Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Parallel Works was the best moment in anime for 2008.

The last two episodes of Macross Frontier was probably the best two episodes I’ve seen in 2008. It brought everything that I like about the Macross series. There were great music by Yoko Kanno, including a sort of singing battle between Sheryl Nome and Ranka Lee. The medley included not only Macross Frontier songs but also songs from past series. trademark Itano Circus appeared frequently as missiles flew sporadically and majestically. There was also a lot a part in which the giant Macross Quarter punched the side of an alien and the valkyries shot missiles inside. The ending didn’t even solve many questions in the show, but it didn’t matter. Explosions are awesome.

Favorite DVD purchase:

Ryan: Gurren Lagann (The Sub-Only Special Edition)

I think it speaks for itself. Gurren Lagann equals epicness. I ordered it as soon as I had the chance and watched it the moment I got the DVDs. It still rocks my socks.

Ging: Millennium Actress

Basically I chose Satoshi Kon's masterpiece over all of the other DVDs I bought last year because it was the only DVD I bought that was.....well a masterpiece. For some odd reason I seemed to have bought a lot of good anime titles as opposed to great ones this year. Unfortunately the DVD came with a case and nothing else. Then again...it was in the bargain bin at Hollywood video.

Nam: Gunbuster

I got this DVD (origianlly $70) half off at FYE. It’s certainly the best dvd I bought in 2008. The package was made with incredible care and detail. The video crisp and clean. And the OVA series itself is certainly a masterpiece. It’s an anime that I will forever treasure. Price shouldn’t have kept me back for purchasing it, but the price cut certainly boosted my decision to get it.

Favorite Reviewed:

Ryan: The Wings of Honneamise

It's definitely the best one we reviewed this year. GAINAX's first leap into the commercial world of anime is a masterpiece, something no one should miss. Beautiful art and well-developed characters, I'll be coming back to this time after time.

Ging & Nam: Neon Genesis Evangelion

Ging: Throughout the podcast, we reviewed a plethora of shows ranging from Fist of the Northstar to Otaboku. There were a lot of good shows and a lot of bad. Out of all the reviewed shows Neon Genesis Evangelion wins 5 hundred times over the rest for being a brilliant work of art that is easily one of the greatest anime of all times.

Nam: Evangelion is certainly my favorite to review. It’s a series that made me obsessed in understanding it’s story and meaning. Evangelion is also the anime that got me back into watching anime. I enjoyed rewatching it, and I enjoyed having the discussion of the series.

Best Newly Discovered Treasure:

Clannad was the show I enjoyed finding out the most this year. Originally skeptical about the series, I finally delved in a few months ago and found myself pleasantly surprised. A skillfully executed slice-of-life drama show with moe girls. Naisu Job!

Out of all the old shows I discovered throughout this year Silverfang is definitely the most memorable. I don't think I could ever forget an anime about dogs fighting a war against bears. Its pretty intense. This show is certainly a classic unlike any other.

Macross: Do You Remember Love? is a beautiful movie made with so much love and care for the medium. Excellent animation, great songs, and interesting characters. It’s a film I’ve been wanting to see for a while and finally got around to it. Now I got to watch the rest of the Macross shows.

Most Disappointed:

I went into this show expecting lots of action and some intense story. My sights, however, were set too high. Michiko to Hatchin hasn't finished its run-through, but the show certainly isn’t making me want to finish it. None of the characters are really memorable. Instead the main character continuously bicker and argue amongst each other without much of the plot going anywhere. Not very appealing

The biggest disappointment this year was Code Geass R2. The first season of Code Geass was a great, solid anime. By episode 3 of R2, I could tell that I was not nearly as into it as I was watching the first season. R2 turned out to be pretty crappy in comparison to it's prequel. There was nothing “wow” about it. Instead I received a lot of reused content that could always be predicted in advance. I had high hopes for the series, and I felt that I was letdown big time.

What disappointed me with the show was that I had a lot of anticipation for a well-made show. For the most part, I got what I wanted. There were, however, many problems with the show. It seemed like a lot of the show was made to fit a certain formula in anime. Many characters, I felt, were too artificial. Their characteristics seem so slapped together. Ranka couldn’t help but act moe and helpless all the time. She was always in trouble and lacked self-confidence to do anything. And when she did have confident, it usually ends badly. Klan Klein was a big-breasted Zentradi that transformed into a loli-looking character, made specifically to get specific otakus. It just seemed like the creators were trying to aim for every kind of anime fan, and I don’t think it worked well. The storyline becomes less and less important. There were also pacing problems and way too many fillers. One episode that annoyed the hell out of me was the episode in which Sheryl lost her panties. Even the ending didn’t really tie everything together. It was just a mess.

Anime of the Year:

Hidamari Sketch x365 was my pick of the year simply because it was the anime I enjoyed the most this year. A simple, unique cast of characters in a colorful and fun backdrop make for one enjoyable slice of life. It's not the kind of show that makes you bust a gut laugh, but can put smiles on your face and make you chuckle at each individual characters’ little quirks.

There were a few that were better than Soul Eater in terms of production value and maybe even story. Despite this I still chose Soul Eater as the anime of the year because it has captured my attention over the other anime with it's original stylized fights and insane plot. Looking at all of the anime this year, I think Soul Eater has the potential to be the next big anime in the US.

Even though Macross Frontier is my most disappointed anime of the year, it’s still better than all of the other anime I’ve seen. The show has a lot of energy. The opening pumps me up. The overall music is great. I love Yoko Kanno’s music. Despite the flaws in the characters, I find Sheryl Nome interesting (more interesting than even the main character). The cg-rendered action scenes were great. What makes this show stand out is its ability to combine action scenes and music into an emotional thrill ride. From the opening to the ending song, I felt like the show was well composed, when it works. Sometimes a song is sung by one of the characters during an action scene, and the music keeps playing when the show fades into the credits roll. It’s these little touches that grabs my attention. The ending was also great. The show has many flaws, and the ending doesn’t solve many of the questions in the show. However, there are so many positives of the series which makes Macross Frontier my pick for anime of the year.

Episode #21 – Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki (OVA 1)

2009-01-17T13:36:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 10, 2009.

Sweet. Tenchi Muyo! Like many of the listeners I’m sure, this was one of the first anime that I saw as a kid in which I knew it came from Japan. It’s a show with a rather simple premise. Tenchi discovers a tomb in a forbidden cave. He releases the space pirate Ryoko from her sleep. Soon after, different characters, such as the Juraian princesses Ayeka and Sasami, arrive on earth in order to capture Ryoko. This review covers the original six-episode ova, which more or less, covers the introductory part of the series.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: MTV's "Otaku Week", recordings from Otakon (videos)
Ging: Streaming second Gurren Lagann movie teaser
Nam: Go buy Gunbuster vs. Diebuster on Blu-ray

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki Opening
Ending Song: Kagami no Naka no Actress (Actress in the Mirror) by Nakahara Meiko

Ga-Rei Zero – Ging’s Large Short Serious Review #10

2009-01-15T22:36:00.007-06:00

Synopsis: Basically, I think telling you the story would be a tremendous spoiler, since the story doesn't come in until later on in the show. Instead I will give you a glimpse about what the story is. There are people who fight super natural creatures that threat humanity. The story is about a group of those people who kill these supernatural creatures. It follows the path of two specific characters, Yomi and Kagura, and the trials they have to take in their life. As I said before there is A LOT more to the plot, however with this particular anime I think that I would ruin the first episode of the show for someone who has not seen the show, or at least the first couple episodes.

Story: The story is done well in my opinion. The foreshadowing of events and the way the overall plot is executed is probably the best thing about the anime. There were not too many parts (like maybe one or two) that should have been left out. Everything that was needed seemed to have been in the plot. One complaint I do have, however, is that there is one loophole in the overall story that bothers me. I am hoping this is elaborated on in a second season. The loophole doesn’t really get in the way of the story though, one could justify it by saying it makes you think. Whether that is a good enough argument is up to you. 8/10

Characters: While main characters were given good development and compelling stories, the same is not true for the supporting characters. The main characters, Yomi and Kagura, are school girls who skip school occasionally to fight supernatural monsters. they have well-done development and are entertaining to watch. A lot of the other paranormal vanquishers are very interesting but are not focused on enough for you to have a good connection with them. The majority of the main protagonist team is just defined by one or two characteristics and have little development. I can understand focusing on the main characters more than the supporting characters (duh) but when more than half the characters feel like they didn't get enough time to develop it hurts the show. 6/10

Music & Sound: Overall, the music was not really amazing, but it is certainly passable. It is exactly what I expect from an anime because I do not hold music as one of the most important factors when watching (shows based on music are an exception). Does the music fit the tone and mood of what is happening? Yes. 7/10

Animation: The animation is your average 2008 animation. Nothing special about it. One thing I should mention is that in the first episodes there is this really lame CG animated fire lava beast thing that makes me giggle a bit inside. Later on there are no more CG animated lava beasts. Had there been more I would have been turned off from the show a bit. 6.5/10

All in all, I enjoyed Ga-Rei Zero. Not necessarily because of quality but because it is just a nice show to watch. I can see people liking the show, but I can also understand people hating it. Personally, the plot was able to reach me which makes it lean towards the better side of the scale. I would recommend it to fans of action and drama, although some may not like it. The show seems like it could be a hit or a miss with a lot of people. If you are a hardcore anime fan, you might want to check this out as it is a way better choice than a lot of the other shows of 2008. Overall Rating: 7/10

Episode #20 – Zero no Tsukaima

2009-01-12T12:39:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded January 3, 2009.

So instead of reviewing a show that I would like to watch, we instead reviewed a show that I’d never wanted. Zero no Tsukaima is that anime. It’s moe show aimed at the otaku crowd that likes tsundere girls because feeling pain is better than feeling nothing. Or something like that. What I’m trying to get at is that it’s a show. For masochists. And I mean it; the girl (loli-looking Louise) has a whip and treats the male (Saito) like a dog. Oh wait. I should talk about the story. It’s an alternate world where everything looks like it’s some European place but with wizards. In this world all second year students must conjure up a pokemon as their helpful friend. Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière, the main character, is horrible at magic. Instead of conjuring up a monster, she conjures up Saito, a typical Japanese student who was only walking around his town to look for a job when he was sucked into Louise’s portal. And then there’s more story, somewhere.

What’s New this Week
Ryan: Miyazaki's Ponyo on the Cliff in theaters in U.S. this summer
Ging: IMAGI spends a lot of money on Astro Boy film
Nam: New Funimation announcements including Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: First kiss by Ichiko
Ending Song: Night of the Summer Side by Ikeda Masanori

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 13

2009-01-10T15:44:00.003-06:00

It’s been awhile since the last release of ~After Story~, and when I finally got my hands on it, I was excited. This episode starts off with Tomoya battling Nagisa’s father, Akio, in a baseball challenge in order to get Akio to accept that certain something that occurred last episode. Needless to say, it was another excellent episode. There isn’t much to talk about in this episode however. There isn’t anything I can say without repeating myself or spoiling the events of the episode.

Seriously, each episode of Clannad continues to be a perfect blend of Comedy, Moe, and Drama. It is perfect for me since it hits a range of things I like. I will say, however, that it appears we are heading for a whole new story arc. One that I have been waiting for ever since I figured out where Tomoya and Nagisa relationship were going to end up. This will probably give me alot more to talk about next time I write my "review”. I didn’t watch the preview for the next episode. I like being surprised in the case of Clannad. That’s all for this week, looking forward to more Clannad!

-Ryan

Episode #19 – Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei

2009-01-05T14:43:00.002-06:00

Originally recorded on December 27, 2008.

Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is dark comedy about a high school teacher name Itoshiki Nozomu. He is a teacher that always get into despair and thinks about killing himself. In fact if his name is spelled horizontally it would be “despair”. One day, while trying to hang himself on a beautiful spring morning, an incredibly positive high school girl name Fuura Kafuka comes and save him from hanging himself. It’s later revealed that the teacher and Fuura are in the same homeroom. Each episode explores the different classmates and their weird lives.

What’s New this Week:
Ryan: I hate America manga
Ging: Sunrise hints more Code Geass
Nam: Otaku hijacks old lady's car to go to Comiket

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: All Twisted Up Inside by Kenji Ohtsuki featuring Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yū Kobayashi, Miyuki Sawashiro and Ryōko Shintani
Ending Song: Overbearing Dance, Yeah by Ai Nonaka, Marina Inoue, Yū Kobayashi, and Ryōko Shintani

Podcast: Episode #18 - Neon Genesis Evangelion

2008-12-30T17:57:00.003-06:00

Originally recorded on December 20, 2008.

As our last podcast of 2008, we decided to review a show that touched many anime fans: Neon Genesis Evangelion. The story takes place fifteen years after a research facility in Antarctica exploded causing the icecaps to melt. Much of the world’s population is gone. In the year 2015, strange monsters known as Angels begin attacking Tokyo-3. A 14 year old boy name Shinji Ikari is recruited by an organization called Nerv in order to pilot the EVA mecha. This review covers the Neon Genesis Evangelion tv show and the End of Evangelion movie.

What’s New this Week:
Ryan: Rumor that Gonzo will begin making ero anime
Ging: Funimation announces ten anime licenses
Nam: ANN Editorial - "20 Years in Prison for Buying a Manga"

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: A Cruel Angel's Thesis by Yoko Takahashi
Spending Time in Preparation by Shiro Sagisu
Misato by Shiro Sagisu
Ending Song: Fly Me to the Moon by Claire Littley

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 12

2008-12-23T17:17:00.000-06:00

We’ve finally hit the halfway point of the series now. Episode 12 kicks off with Yoshino telling Tomoya a story and him picking up some valuable advice from it. This episode is pretty much a embodiment of why I love Clannad: Heart-warming stories, good direction, and great characters. The episode ends on a pretty serious note and even though I knew it was coming some time I just didn’t know when. It all lines up pretty nicely though.

Since we’ve reached the half-way point I want to talk about the whole series thus far. It has transitioned pretty well by picking up where we left off the first season and then moving us on with Tomoya and Nagisa into a world of adult responsibilities. Obviously they are the biggest focus, and while I have admittedly not seen a lot of change in Nagisa, Tomoya himself has been growing up. This makes me happy. I mentioned in a previous post how I like to see characters age and change with the experiences they face. The fact that it seems like a new setting with him being out of high school is also enjoyable. The arcs that built on this varied in degrees of enjoyment, but they still provide interesting build to the point we are now. (mild spoiler in the next sentence) Right now, with the proposal at the end of episode 12 promises interesting developments in the future. As long as Clannad continues in its direction it can only go up.

In the case of Clannad, it’s either you love it or you hate it. If you can’t enjoy the characters then you can’t like anything else. In the end, ~After Story~ is proving to be a worthy predecessor to the first season of Clannad. I look forward to more.

-Ryan

Podcast: Episode #17 – MD Geist

2008-12-21T18:02:00.001-06:00

Originally recorded on December 12, 2008. MD Geist might be considered one of the worst anime ever, but we decided to watch it anyways. On the planet Jerra there is an ongoing war between the Army and the Nexrum Army. Geist, an MDS (MOST DANGEROUS SOLDIERRRRRR!!!), awakens from his cryogenic state when he and the satellite he was in crashes onto the planet. Now it is up to him to save humanity, or something like that. This podcast contains spoilers. In fact we explain the entire OVA, so no one has to watch it.

What’s New this Week:
Ryan: Manga downloads on Japanese Wiiware
Ging: Gonzo announces upcoming mahjong anime
Nam: 4 Singaporeans sued by 5 anime studios for downloading

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Violence of the Flame by Hironobu Kageyama (it's actually the OP for MD Geist II, but I don't care)
Ending Song: Tamashii No Rufuran (Soul's Refrain) (Tabris Mix) by Yoko Takahashi

Podcast: Episode #16 - Akagi

2008-12-18T12:22:00.000-06:00

Originally recorded on November 29, 2008. Akagi is an anime about mahjong, the Chinese game of skill and risk. Akagi Shigeru, the legendary mahjong player, descends into the depths of the criminal underworld. With each mahjong game he attempts to gamble everything in order to destroy each of his opponents.

What’s New this Week:
Ryan: "Japan's Lack of Laws on Virtual Child Porn Criticized"
Nam: Geneon Entertainment to merge with Universal Pictures Japan
Ging: Production I.G. and Kenji Kamiyama (GiTS: SAC, Moribito) to create Eden of the East anime

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Akagi by Maximum the Hormone
Ending Song: Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) -2007 MIX- by Utada Hikaru

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 11

2008-12-16T13:58:00.004-06:00

I think this week was yet another episode in which there is very little to say, seeing as how I don't like writing lengthy synopses on every episode nor do I like to spoil things for readers who haven't seen the particular episode yet. This week Tomoya continues to work at Electric company Yoshino works at and Nagisa dotes on him like a loving wife. Nothing important, at least I think, happens in this episode. Where it looks like buildup for certain types of events were happening it seemed to dissipate quickly in only a few minutes.

This leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but I’ll point out one example. It might be a spoiler so avert your eyes if you’re afraid, and skip down a few sentences. When Tomoya mentions to Nagisa that he might not be able to go to the Founders Festival because of his work, I thought for sure they’d go for a scenario where Nagisa goes through extreme depression because she doesn't have many friends at school anymore and not even Tomoya has time for her. However, Nagisa simply smiles and continues to dote on him mindlessly. It does still seem, however, that Tomoya is becoming more and more obsessed with his work. Who REALLY puts the job before the cute chick? (wow, I ended up writing more then I thought I would but that’s it for this week.) Looking forward to another episode of Clannad!

-Ryan

Podcast: Episode #15 - The Wings of Honneamise

2008-12-16T13:01:00.001-06:00

Sorry for the long delay, but school finals were coming up and didn’t have enough time to finish editing. This podcast was originally recorded November 22, 2008. On this episode, we review Gainax’s first animated film, The Wings of Honneamise. The film is about Shitotsugh Lhadatt and his coming of age tale to be the first man in space.

What’s New this Week:
Ging: Funimation sends cease-and-desist letters to fansubbers (and personally making Ging cry at night)
Nam: Zack Bertschy tells how the end of the anime industry was like
Ryan: New episodes of Naruto Shippuuden will be stream legally

Download Podcast (Right Click: Save as)

Opening song: Kuusou Runba by Kenji Otsuki and Zetsubou Shoujo-tachi
Transition: Faith of the Heart by Ryuichi Sakamoto
Ending Song: Cruel Angel's Thesis (10th Anniversary Version) by Yoko Takahashi

Kaiji – Ging’s Large Short Business Review #9

2008-12-13T09:49:00.002-06:00

Synopsis: Kaiji is a jobless, worthless wreck who, more or less, lives of stealing stuff. One day he is confronted by a mysterious man who gets him a once in a lifetime opportunity chance. His chance out of poverty: go on a cruise and gamble his way to fortune – but if he loses he will pay dearly. Once he gets on the ship, however, the cruise is a lot more that just gambling and Kaiji is thrown into a world of lies, betrayal, corruption, and debt.

Plot: The plot is done in the same manner as the director, Yuzo Sato’s, previous anime Akagi in the sense that they are both built upon several arcs based on different gambling trials. One of the major differences from Akagi is that they are not gambling on only one game. While Kaiji focuses a lot on strategy in gambling, like Akagi, it has a lot about personal struggle, emotion, and improving one’s self wrapped in a very dark package. As the story progresses the trials get a lot more sadistic than the last and with each trial viewers will get pulled in more. The only real problem Kaiji has is somewhat questionable pacing that isn't bad per se, but it could be better. 8.5/10

Character: The characters were superb. Each of the characters had their own draw to them. Kaiji, the “Ultimate Survivor” is a great example of a well developed character. He moves from point A to point B having changed completely as a man on the journey there. Many people can relate to at least one of the characters in their own way. I know that I can relate each and everyone of the characters to people I actually know. Every character was important to the story and their personalities were all interesting. 10/10

Sound: The music was great. The music felt misplaced in few parts but for the long run it was good. Some places could have done better with more music but yeah, that just being overly picky. 7.5

Animation: The animation has an extremely unique look to it. It is the same style used with Akagi, but with far less still frames. It has a comic book look to it that kind of reminds me of Sin City. Of course it isn’t amazingly spiffy or anything, but it certainly has it’s own unique style to it that I have only seen done in anime directed by Yuzo Sato. Getting used to the animation style doesn't take much time contrary to my original thought before watching Akagi and Kaiji. 8/10

Overall Kaiji is something that I think all anime fans should check out. It is unlike almost all of the anime that is coming out nowadays in terms of animation style and genre. depending on what you are into it may take a bit of getting used to and it can seem slow if you are someone with a low attention span. Definitely check it out guys. Overall Rating: 8.5/10

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 10

2008-12-10T13:23:00.003-06:00

I’m back with another review on the latest episode of Clannad ~After Story~. Tomoya, fresh out of highschool, seeks a place to live and attempts to secure a job to support himself. I still think the character designs look somewhat different, but maybe it’s suppose to reflect that the characters are getting older. It’s not just reflected in appearance but in actions as well. This is very nice to see, in stories like this we want our characters to grow and change which in Clannad, they definitely do.

Everything else stays as you would expect from Clannad. A bit of comedy here, a bit of seriousness there, and a bit of moe all mixing together to make a story that you want to stay close to as you watch the characters progress through their lives. ~After Story~ Continues to be a excellent show. Looking forward to more next week!

-Ryan

Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie – Ging’s Large Short Serious Business Review #8

2008-12-07T00:36:00.002-06:00

Synopsis: Yusuke Urameshi, a spirit detective (one who fights evil demons who enter human world to cause havoc) and his partner Kuwabara and their demon pals Kurama and Hiei receive a case from spirit world (the equivalent to Heaven…?). They must save their earth from the lord of the netherworld and his goods.

Plot: Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie is supposed to be an anime based off of a shonen fighting show that I hold dearly to my heart: Yu Yu Hakusho. The problem starts with the plot: Yusuke, a spirit detective and his friends get a case to stop the lord of the netherworld from taking over the world. Sounds good but there is no such thing as the netherworld in the actual show….and this could not possibly take place at any point in the show because some characters have powers obtained near the end of the series and some have their starting powers. Not to mention this couldn't have happened in-between story arcs because they are all so tightly woven together. However, as a stand alone movie without a series the plot is just bad as opposed to horrible. Either way, it sucks. 3/10

Characters: The characters pissed me off. They didn’t act like the characters from the show. Plus they added characters that completely contradict the final story arc of the series (Yoko’s past). The characters were not explained at all, which isn't common for this kind of movie but at the same time, it seems to be somewhat important. The villains are shallow and painfully generic as well, with the exception of the odd choice of dialogue. (see title image). Another random thing I noticed was that every female character was beaten (some more than once) and they don't even fight. In summary of the characters section: they all were nothing like the characters you knew from the show and the villains are standard uninteresting characters like the ones found in one episode story arcs of Power Rangers. 3/10

Sound: The music used was actually stolen directly from the show, but changed in pitch slightly most likely to avoid lawsuits. Lucky for them the music is actually good. It gave me a poorly tuned sense of the emotional tension I get when watching Yu Yu Hakusho. Unfortunately they fucked it up by putting it the incorrect scenes. 5/10

Animation: Guess what? They didn't completely screw up the animation. Shocking, I know. While it is different than the show, it is expected (different companies). It is very similar to the series' animation but with a few noticeable differences. It didn’t do enough to bother me though. Yet at the same time, the battle animation was not nearly good enough. 6.5/10

Overall, the show is a clusterfuck of a thrown out arc, a different company, poor direction, and a complete misunderstanding of what Yu Yu Hakusho is. They did some things with the show that I personally will never understand, especially the dialogue and plot. It is clear not a lot of thought was put into this and the outcome shows. Having seen the dubs and subs I would have to say if you want to actually watch this stay away from the dubs, they will make your experience 1000 times worse. I urge Yu Yu fans to stay away from this. Overall Rating: 4/10

Ryan Reviews: Clannad ~After Story~ Ep 9

2008-12-02T20:40:00.002-06:00

More moe-fantastic-heart-touching moments in Clannad ~After Story~ episode 9. Nagisa and Tomoya are made the main focus of the episode while the school year draws close to its end. Another excellent episode of Clannad with little to actually say. I think in this episode the character designs looked slightly different but that may be because I was watching all kinds of different anime with different looks prior to watching this episode which screwed with my thoughts. It’s easy to get attached to all the characters, but especially Nagisa and Tomoya. I find myself wanting things to work out for the characters because I care about them, a important aspect in this anime.

We’ve gotten pretty far in the season but we haven’t hit the halfway point just yet. So far it’s shaping up to be a suitable sequel to the first season of Clannad, Who knows? It could even be better, but that remains to be seen. Somehow I doubt there’s someone who liked the first season and has yet to watch this one, but if you’re one of those people, you should jump on this right away. Well I’m done taking your time, maybe i’ll have more things to say next episode.

-Ryan