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They gave me my own webspace! The fools!

I figure it will be a week before I break the Internet, but failing that, this'll be a nice place to talk all things anime, and some things not.

It's early days yet, and frankly I'm making this up as I go along. But I have been reviewing DVDs for a while now, among them a good few hundred anime discs. There are also anime reviews from my colleagues to enjoy, and they'll be popping in from time to time to contribute. Have fun exploring the site, and feel free to partake of the many wonders that MyReviewer has to offer.

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Essential Online Anime

With legal online streaming becoming the perfect way to preview series, I've linked to the shows that I'm watching right now. One click will take you directly to appropriate site. Don't worry, no fansubs here.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Book Of Bantorra
Natsu no Arashi
Hyakko
Yokuwakaru Gendai Maho
Charger Girl Ju-den Chan
Aoi Hana
Kanamemo
Time of Eve
School Days
Ristorante Paradiso
Hayate the Combat Butler S2
Saki
Kigurumikku
Shangri La

Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 26th July 2010, 14:11

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Beck The Movie

Last week it was Gantz, this time it's the turn of Beck, another manga turned anime that is getting the big screen live action treatment. I loved the series when I saw it, a tale of an unlikely band following their bumpy destiny to stardom, among them the unlikeliest of guitarists and vocalists, Koyuki Tanaka, who went from mild-mannered, introverted and bullied schoolkid to… well a mild mannered and introverted rock star. The first trailer finally made it online, and it looks like they're faithfully converting the manga story to the silver screen. Except I couldn't spot hide nor hair of the zombie dog. Once again you can find your way to it via the Anime News Network.

Something old and something new for review last week, and I began by belatedly taking a look at Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade. It's a movie that's over ten years old now, written by Mamoru Oshii of Ghost in the Shell fame. But this film is as far away as you can get from cybernetic policeman as possible. This modern adaptation of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale is dark, gritty, and unrelenting, casting a terrorist freedom fighter as Red Riding Hood, and a paramilitary death squad member tasked with hunting her down as the Wolf, in an alternate reality where Germany won the war and occupied Japan. Its unremitting examination of terrorism and the state makes it painfully relevant, now more than ever, and you can read more of my reaction by clicking on the review.

I then cast my eager gaze upon Soul Eater: Part 2. I found Part 1 to be a whole lot of fun, surely more fun than a shonen action show has any right to be. It's the sort of show that has good versus evil, with the good guys levelling themselves up through a tournament style sequence of fights, with a story and characterisations loosely tacked on as an afterthought. Except Soul Eater is anything but. It's Studio Bones anniversary show, and it tells, with sublime animation, an involving and interesting story, and great and quirky characters. You probably won't believe me, but I found Part 2 to be even more fun than Part 1. Click on my review and see if I'm fibbing.

There was also room for a little live action adaptation next. You may not have heard of Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler, but it is based on a popular manga series that spun off a television anime series as well. You won't find the DVDs in the shops, as it hasn't been licensed in the English-speaking world, and you won't find the manga for the same reason. But Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler does reunite the cast of the Death Note live action features, which is certainly a selling point. We have not one, but two reviews for you. First you can read Curtis Owen's take on the film, then David Beckett took a look too.
Optimum Asia released Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade in 2007, while Manga Entertainment release Soul Eater: Part 2 today. 4Digital Asia release Kaiji today as well.

Posted by Jitendar Canth

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Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 19th July 2010, 16:50

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Gantz: The Movie

Gantz was the full on sex and violence anime series that was released here a few years ago by MVM. You might remember it; a weird alien ball suddenly appears in a nondescript apartment, where it begins to resurrect the recently deceased. The second chance at life is a gift with a price, being made to take part in a series of lethal games, pitting the resurrected against powerful aliens, albeit armed with out-of-this world weaponry, and cybernetically enhanced, form fitting suits.

Well Gantz is now a live action movie. Actually, two movies, and the teaser trailer for the first film has just been released. Go to Anime News Network for more details, plus a link to the official website where you can view the trailer.

Last week's first dose of anime was sweet, charming, enchanting, and delightful. It was Ah My Goddess: Series 2 - Flights of Fancy: Part 2, which as a title is long enough to cause consternation. Fortunately the contents of said DVDs quickly puts minds at ease. The second series of Ah My Goddess has been long overdue in the UK, and finally the adventures of Belldandy and Keiichi can continue, as they slowly inch slightly further on the path of love, but with these two lovebirds, we wouldn't want it any other way. This second selection of episodes takes the time to explore new love, as Skuld meets a boy, and an old flame, as trouble returns for Urd.

Next, I finally got to the final volume of Requiem From The Darkness, the dullest, most tedious, plodding, somnolent excuse for a horror anime that I have encountered. Not that I'm biased or anything. You can click on Requiem From The Darkness: Volume 4 and see just how thrilling this anime is.

To conclude, I watched Naruto Shippuden The Movie, which given that the first part of the Naruto Shippuden series has only just been released in the UK is pretty quick work. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on your point of view on these things, the Naruto movies have never had anything to do with the ongoing storyline, instead opting for 90-odd minutes of ninja flavoured eye candy that is designed to appeal to the more discerning tastes of a cinema-going audience. Meaning that there's more action, and less standing around talking about stuff. Click on my review, and see how once again I realise there's a certain inevitability to the Naruto feature films.
Manga Entertainment unleash both Naruto Shippuden The Movie, and Ah My Goddess: Series 2 - Flights of Fancy: Part 2 on the unsuspecting UK populace today, while MVM released Requiem From The Darkness: Volume 4 years ago. They're re-releasing the Requiem From The Darkness boxset in a few weeks…

Posted by Jitendar Canth

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Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 12th July 2010, 16:52

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Manga Entertainment For Sale, One-ish Careful Owner

Last month it was Navarre looking to offload Funimation, this week it's the turn of Starz looking for a buyer for its entertainment properties, among them Anchor Bay Entertainment, which happens to be Manga Entertainment's parent company. Actually Anchor Bay bought IDT, which originally bought Manga from Palm Pictures and Island Records, and Starz bought out… Sod it, I can't figure it out!

So what should anime fans expect from this? Nothing if it all works out as planned with a seamless transition. This is one of those administrative exercises that makes a bunch of lawyers work overtime drawing up contracts and making lots of money. Manga Entertainment will continue on as before, and we won't notice a thing. Except of course unless the new owners are micro-managers who don't understand the anime business, decide to cut corners to 'economise' and we wind up with dubtitles on all our anime DVDs. Seriously what are the odds of that happening? Oh… right…

News at ANN.

MVM Boxsets For Sale!

MVM have put a whole heap of their series boxsets on sale, and at ridiculously attractive prices, starting from £9.99 onwards, and with many six or seven disc collections going for £19.99. When you can get a show like R.O.D. The TV, or Samurai 7 in their entireties for £19.99 each, you'd be crazy not to take advantage of the opportunity. Go to MVM's online store, Anime On Line to empty your bank accounts.

Two reviews for you this week, one old and one new. First up was the review for Rozen Maiden Traumend: Volume 1. If you recall, the first series Rozen Maiden was released in two volumes earlier this year, telling the story of a reclusive teenage boy named Jun, who came into possession of a magically animated doll named Shinku. Shinku and her similarly imbued sisters take part in a battle called the Alice Game, to become the one true Alice, and to finally meet the one that created them, their father. Except the first series was really more about Jun dealing with his reclusive tendencies by becoming the servant of the haughty Shinku, and being verbally and physically abused into sorting his life out. This second series finally turns to the Alice Game itself, and the dolls' destinies. Click the link to read more.

You've probably guessed what's coming up based on past form, and to tell the truth, I've been sort of dreading it myself. I really don't know what to say about Requiem From The Darkness: Volume 3, really I don't. It was bad enough watching and reviewing it, and now I have to introduce the review as well. Click the link and read for yourself of my shock when I found that a series that I didn't think could get any more tedious, actually did get more tedious.
MVM release Rozen Maiden Traumend: Volume 1 today, and it's a delightful series worth seeking out. MVM also released Requiem From The Darkness: Volume 3 some years ago. I may not forgive them for that.

Posted by Jitendar Canth

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Anime Review RoundupMonday, 26th July 2010, 14:11

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Anime Review RoundupMonday, 19th July 2010, 16:50

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Anime Review RoundupMonday, 12th July 2010, 16:52

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Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 26th July 2010, 14:11

Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 19th July 2010, 16:50

Anime Review Roundup
Monday, 12th July 2010, 16:52