Tag: fantasy
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My name is Squealer
Read More →: My name is SquealerThe end of a season is a bittersweet time for anime fans, as the joy of seeing a series reach its climax is undercut by the knowledge that this is the last hurrah for a story we’ve grown attached to over time. Such is the case with Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World,) a…
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Broken Apple: Shin Sekai Yori
Read More →: Broken Apple: Shin Sekai YoriMany of us are optimists and like to think there’s an innate sense of goodness within us all, but given a God’s power, how would we react? Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World) answers that question within its first 3 minutes: upon the discovery of psychokinesis, civilisation regresses into a thousand year-long dark age,…
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A life as a martyr to his dream
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Read More →: A life as a martyr to his dreamEpisode 10 of Berserk is amongst the finest episodes of anime I’ve ever seen. From the moment Guts kills the boy Adonis, we’re forced to re-evaluate the righteousness of Griffith’s conquest and whether it’s worth its price in blood. “But there is one other thing more precious to a man beyond all else. Something one…
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Being swept away
Read More →: Being swept awayI have many a faint and fond memory of Eureka Seven, but wasn’t sure how to feel about news of its sequel. It ended with a quite profound sense of finality, after all. Everything that needed to be said, was, and underscored with probably the finest insert song ever used in anime, too. I’m using…
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Shadow of the Colossus
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Read More →: Shadow of the ColossusUnless you count my yearly flings with Football Manager, I’ve never been much of a gamer. Even still, I bought myself a Playstation 3 in December. Stepping into today’s world of consoles is intimidating at first. I’d been divorced from the culture for nearly a decade and knowing how deeply some are into it, it’s…
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On Wolf's Rain
Read More →: On Wolf's RainI first watched Wolf’s Rain in 2003, just as I was beginning to ramp up my interest in anime. I remember a few things about it: being absolutely traumatised by its ending and being spell-bound by Yoko Kanno’s music. Following on from the similarly fondly remembered RahXephon, it made a fan of Studio Bones out…
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We offer up our heart's blood: Courage and spirit in Shingeki no Kyojin
Read More →: We offer up our heart's blood: Courage and spirit in Shingeki no KyojinSince writing my first post on the manga series Shingeki no Kyojin (the official English title is apparently Attack on Titan,) it’s been licensed for an English-language release by Kodansha USA, whilst a Japanese live-action movie has also been announced for 2013. With the inevitably small film-budget it’ll receive, I’m not convinced it’ll look good…
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Quantum is .hack as it should have been, albeit now too late
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Read More →: Quantum is .hack as it should have been, albeit now too late.hack//SIGN was one of the first anime shown by Cartoon Network and it left a lasting, negative impression on me: an otherwise brilliant show with a plot that went nowhere. .Hack//Quantum is the latest iteration of the series. It is .hack//SIGN as it should have been. It’s not a remake, just a three episode version…
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I couldn't help myself: Mawaru Penguindrum and a feast for the eyes
Read More →: I couldn't help myself: Mawaru Penguindrum and a feast for the eyesIt’s time to be an anime fan again.
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Eaten by giants!!
Read More →: Eaten by giants!!I started reading Shingeki no Kyojin because ‘giants attacking mankind’s last city’ sounded really cool.
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The heavens are angered
Read More →: The heavens are angeredThe Twelve Kingdoms feels very much like a shoujo anime, but it’s more akin to Utena and Toward the Terra than Escaflowne, and by that what I mean to say is, while there are no melodramatic love triangles here, The Twelve Kingdoms is all about exploring and externalising the feelings of its characters; that’s girly…
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Shoujo fantasy Gurren Lagann: Sense of Wonder by Akemi Hayashi
Read More →: Shoujo fantasy Gurren Lagann: Sense of Wonder by Akemi HayashiReality is rarely as poetic, but then, a dream is not supposed to be real.
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The harsh beauty of Tsutomu Nihei's Biomega
Read More →: The harsh beauty of Tsutomu Nihei's BiomegaHappy new year, everyone! Time sure flies and it’s now looking likely that this blog will live to see it’s fourth anniversary on the 4th of March, which is just… surreal! This time of year also provides me with the rare opportunity to immerse in some new worlds of fiction. Last year I fell under…
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Free skies, and endless land
Read More →: Free skies, and endless landThe problem with writing an anime blog for any length of time is that I’m prone to repeating myself. I’ve had this ache to write about something, anything, over the last month or so, but there are only so many times I can say “this is good, that is bad” without feeling as though I’m…
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The Legend of the Galactic Heroes ending is heart-breaking
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/ ReviewsRead More →: The Legend of the Galactic Heroes ending is heart-breakingDuring the very last scene of the Legend of the Galactic Heroes ending, baby Felix gazes up at the night sky and grasps at the stars. “That might be an action that’s been repeated endlessly in any era, in any world,” the narrator poetically explains, adding that “Humans always pursue things that they can’t reach”,…
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Turn off your mind, unwind and see how high the cloudy sky. Xam'd, naturally.
Read More →: Turn off your mind, unwind and see how high the cloudy sky. Xam'd, naturally.Should I say Xam’d: Lost Memories is good? It’s better than good, and I know it’s not enough to say just that, but I have to be careful. Because I’m about ready to explode. Yes, there’s too much to say. This is what anime is capable of; it’s why I’m writing an anime blog. Ironically,…
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First impressions of Kaiba: big surprise, I loved it
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/ ReviewsRead More →: First impressions of Kaiba: big surprise, I loved itApologies, I know things have been quiet around here of late. While everyone gets so excited about all this new anime airing in Japan, I just get tired of it. There’s too much to watch, too much to read and too much to say. It tires me out just thinking about it, so, despite having…
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Reflections on Seirei no Moribito: dull or delightful?
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Reflections on Seirei no Moribito: dull or delightful?An (evil) part of me will always demand an epic train-wreck, a sensational massacre of violence, death and angst, but deep down, I always knew it would never happen with straight-laced Seirei no Moribito – it was certainly predictable; morally as straight as an arrow, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
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The hyperbole of Mononoke
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/ ReviewsRead More →: The hyperbole of MononokeHaving been seduced by its eccentric visual style and the positive word-of-mouth, this past weekend was spent haplessly indulging in seven episodes of Mononoke’s surreal feast. To you, I present these humble findings. Mononoke is good.
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Digimon Adventure (Movie 1) – Believe me, it really is that good!
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Digimon Adventure (Movie 1) – Believe me, it really is that good!It’s brilliant to be in this position. The last thing I expected to be writing about is Digimon, but that’s just typical of life; ever twisting, ever unpredictable. So this morning I was reading about Mamoru Hosoda – a rising star of anime who is just now making an international impact with “The Girl Who…
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It's theEnd of the world! Reflecting on Eureka Seven!
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/ ReviewsRead More →: It's theEnd of the world! Reflecting on Eureka Seven!It’s taken me two or three months, but today I finally finished watching Eureka Seven. Like whenever I finish reading a book or watching a long TV series, I feel like I’ve accomplished something big, but at the same time, I’ve grown attached to the Gekko-go and I’m not ready to wave good-bye. I adore…
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Discovering Eureka Seven; mecha and dehumanisation
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Discovering Eureka Seven; mecha and dehumanisationIn my previous E7 article, “Discovering Eureka Seven; subtext and pop culture“, I briefly touched on the pervasive themes of war laced through out the series, going so far as to compare it to Akitaro Daichi’s post-apocalyptic (underrated) masterpiece “Now and Then, Here and There“. As a genre, we’re conditioned to believe animation is for…
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Seirei no Moribito – Rocks like a bears back
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Seirei no Moribito – Rocks like a bears backIt’s been a few years since I last enjoyed a Production I.G. TV series. The "mega-hit" Blood+ was a safe and predictable action series, while the elegant period setting of Le Chevalier D`Eon was dull and uninspired. All that is to say, I suppose I was expecting to be bored when watching Seirei no Moribito…
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Discovering Eureka Seven; subtext and pop culture
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Discovering Eureka Seven; subtext and pop cultureUnawares and unwilling, often the best anime passes me by. Deep down I think I always knew I would love Eureka Seven, but for whatever reason, like I said, it just passed me by. That is, until now. Maybe because it’s spring time; the grass is green and the leaves are greener, and I’m just…
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Berserk – 3 – The Hawk that soars ever higher
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Berserk – 3 – The Hawk that soars ever higherThe moustache twiddling decadence caused by extended aristocracy is an issue central to the narrative of Berserk. Regardless of social standing, we all like to dream that we are destined for greatness, to achieve something worthwhile. Aristocracy exists to elongate wealth and protect respect no matter what the cost, and that often includes suppressing the…
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Berserk – 2 – Sparks fly as the wheels of fate spin
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Berserk – 2 – Sparks fly as the wheels of fate spinEpisode two introduces us to the important characters that make up the “Band Of The Hawk” – in other words, the personalities that dominate the rest of Berserk. The dark-skinned Casca is an exceptionally talented swordsman who just so happens to be a woman. That she commands so much respect amongst her comrades suggests that…
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Berserk – 1 – An introduction to obsession
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Berserk – 1 – An introduction to obsessionI’m just going to come right out and say it — Berserk is my favourite anime of all time. I became an anime fan because of Naruto, but Berserk and its alluring quantities of bloody violence, epic action and tragic friendship immediately captured my heart and held onto it ever since. I still remember having…
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D.Gray-man – 12 – Limitless sacrifice?
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/ ReviewsRead More →: D.Gray-man – 12 – Limitless sacrifice?Like most of its Shonen Jump brethren, D.Gray-man is weakly balanced on a thin line between generic and fun. Just this evening I’ve caught up to episode 12 and feel torn by the somewhat superficial character development. Moody bishonen Kanda is a good example of how utterly archetypal some of these characters are – to…
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Mushishi – 26 – And so ends a landmark anime production
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 26 – And so ends a landmark anime productionAs if to confirm its audacious brilliance, central character Ginko hardly even appears in this final episode and it was still one of the highlights of the Mushishi TV series. Again bursting with its trademark melancholic tone, this was yet another natural blend of touching storytelling that mixes a retrospective and sad human drama with…
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D.Gray-man – 2 – The end of the world is nigh
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/ ReviewsRead More →: D.Gray-man – 2 – The end of the world is nighEpisode two is our first proper introduction to the spiritual world of D.Gray-man and clear references are drawn from Christian religion (“Noah’s ark”) to better illustrate the show’s strong supernatural themes with an interesting theological substance. To believe in exorcists, ghosts and demons, the obvious truth is that one must then also believe in god.…
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D.Gray-man – 1 – Completely coherent and mysteriously atmospheric
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/ ReviewsRead More →: D.Gray-man – 1 – Completely coherent and mysteriously atmosphericAnyone remember Pierrot Le Fou from Cowboy Bebop? How can we forget that floating fat man, screaming with insane laughter as he tears his way through the landscape. I know D.Gray-man may not have the kung-fu style of Spike Spiegel, but “The Earl of Millennium” looks just like Pierrot Le Fou, and also happens to…
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Hunter X Hunter – First Impressions
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Hunter X Hunter – First ImpressionsI make no secret of my affection for Shounen Jump anime, from Dragonball Z to Rurouni Kenshin, by way of Naruto and One Piece, it’s a genre – incredibly formulaic though it is – that I drag myself back to again and again, pumped and ready for another sweaty training montage and trash talking decidedly…
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Mushishi – 25 – Even without eyeballs, tears run
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 25 – Even without eyeballs, tears runAlthough it would be harsh to say Mushishi had been in the doldrums of late, I must admit that the episodes succeeding number 20 have often flattered to deceive. It still looks as gob-smackingly beautiful as ever, but feels like more of a remote beauty, something I can admire but hardly love. I’m rejoicing then…
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Noein – And so we reach the end
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Noein – And so we reach the endI feel like I’ve been watching Noein for years now and writing this entry is daunting. Complex multi dimensional time travel, heart breaking tragedy and gut wrenching friendships. Here is a series bursting with ideas and without breaking into an essay length review, it’s hard to do justice to the sheer narrative majesty of Noein.…
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Mushishi – 24 – Bound for Bonfire Field
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 24 – Bound for Bonfire FieldAnother episode that was only average in comparison with Mushishi’s previously sky-is-the-limit standards, “Bound for Bonfire Field” showcased one of the more deadly mushi Ginko has come across but failed to deliver the profound human empathy I’ve come to expect of this magical series. The main problem is this episode’s frustrating central figure; a female…
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Mahou Shoujotai – Magical girl anime done good
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mahou Shoujotai – Magical girl anime done goodHaving stumbled across the passionate rants and pretty pictures over at the Star Crossed anime blog, I decided I’d take a chance on a magical girl anime called Mahou Shoujotai (also known as Tweeny Witches or Magic-Girl Squad – Alice). Up until checking out Mahou Shoujotai, my only other experiences of the traditional magical girl…
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Mushishi – 23 – The Sound of Rust
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 23 – The Sound of RustIn a village where humans are literally rusting away and being physically covered in (ever worsening) scabby brown marks, only this one girl (Shigure) appears to be immune from the disease. The bitter villagers blame Shigure for their ill-health, curse her existence and treat her as an outcast, and for her part, racked with the…
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Mushishi – 22 – The essence of individuality
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 22 – The essence of individualityBy following the mysterious legend of the Uminaoshi, Ginko finds himself on a secluded island. Here it is said that when people die, if they so wish it, they can be born again; in a certain part of the sea, where the light shines even at night, the Uminaoshi mushi lives. What in essence defines…
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Jyu-Oh-Sei – 10 to 11 – Die, Die My Darling
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Jyu-Oh-Sei – 10 to 11 – Die, Die My DarlingBy becoming the Jyu-Oh, Thor transcends the planet of Chimera in search of the bloody truth hidden beneath the bodies of his murdered parents; after years of waiting, he gets his answers, though it’s not the happy ending he had wished for, and with the thin veil of reality now utterly torn from his shattered…
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Jyu-Oh-Sei – 7 to 9 – Blinded from the truth
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Jyu-Oh-Sei – 7 to 9 – Blinded from the truthIt’s taken a while, but I’m finally starting to twig that Jyu-Oh-Sei has an absolutely stellar voice cast. Young Thor was played by Minami Takayama, whose best work comes in the form of the insane, eccentric Dilandau of Escaflowne. Thor’s love interest Karin is handled by none other than Romi Paku- in other words, the…
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Mushishi – 21 – Animalistic tragedy
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Mushishi – 21 – Animalistic tragedySince the last few episodes of Mushishi left us in upbeat and melancholy moods, this was a timely reminder as to just how heartless a series it can be. I don’t mean heartless in a sadistic sense, rather how a mushi can cause such great tragedy to a couple of people who are quite clearly…
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The Third – 1 to 3 – Far-reaching Fantasy
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/ ReviewsRead More →: The Third – 1 to 3 – Far-reaching FantasyI’m not usually one to bother with such knowingly cute anime, but for whatever reason, I today found myself taking in the first three episodes of The Third. Of course, it turned out to be (much) better than expected. In a world torn apart by war, our saviour would appear to be a talented young…
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Tobira O Akete (Open the Door)
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Tobira O Akete (Open the Door)Being a big fan of the works of Koji Morimoto (Memories: Magnetic Rose, Animatrix: Beyond), I was quite pleased when I managed to track down one of his lesser known shorts – Tobira O Akete (Open the Door). Imagine a decidedly more colourful version of British animation classic The Snowman; a young girl is swept…
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Jyu-Oh-Sei – 5 through 6 – Lost Love
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Jyu-Oh-Sei – 5 through 6 – Lost LoveTo my frank and utter bemusement, we are now over half way through the 11 episodes of Jyu-Oh-Sei and although a part of me is glad to see every episode crammed full with so much story and character development, I can’t help but lament a narrative which is clearly moving a bit too fast for…
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Kiba – 7 – Hollow Defeat
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Kiba – 7 – Hollow DefeatAs insane as it may sound, the last two episodes of Kiba were actually quite good! If you then stop to consider that they also didn’t feature its main character, there is something undoubtedly wrong. To keep me interested, a show has to have an interesting, involving and immersive story; Kiba doesn’t have that. Likeable…
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Jyu-Oh-Sei – 3 through 4 – Nature bites back
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Jyu-Oh-Sei – 3 through 4 – Nature bites backAgain I get my hit of Jyu-Oh-Sei in double dosage, and again I’m left feeling completely intoxicated by it. It’s the story that I love; so thick with detail, almost every scene contributes something new or shocking, continuously building on the already heavy narrative with yet more helpings of tribal politics, social commentary and romantic…
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Kiba – 6 – The price of freedom
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Kiba – 6 – The price of freedomIt’s easy to take kids anime for granted, but compared with Western cartoons aimed at the same young viewers, the difference in conviction and themes is exceptional. Through out episode 6 of Kiba, several (old and young) characters die. It’s not gory, but the intent to kill is clear from the outset. There are no…
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Kiba – 5 – Swings & Swords
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Kiba – 5 – Swings & SwordsAt a time when Kiba was in real danger of drowning in the true depths of unsalvageable mediocrity, an episode like this comes along and suggests that the story may well have some mileage after all. Tellingly this was an episode free of Zed; rather the story follows his bespecled old buddy Noa who also…
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Studio BONES' Jyu-Oh-Sei: First impressions
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/ ReviewsRead More →: Studio BONES' Jyu-Oh-Sei: First impressionsOf all the new anime debuting this season, the one I was most anticipating was always Jyu-Oh-Sei. I’m basically a massive fan of Studio BONES, and despite a few less than stellar exceptions (Ouran, Kenran); I’m worryingly in love everything they churn out. I could cite Full Metal Alchemist or Wolf’s Rain as my favourite…