DVD Review - Action in the dark

The action in "Darker Than Black" heats up in volume two, with probably some of the best dialogue I've ever heard in an anime.

It's still hard for me to explain why "Darker Than Black" is one of my favorite series of 2009. The series features the best music from Yoko Kanno to date, with lonely acoustic guitars interspersed with some hard rock fight music. The characters don't follow a formulaic dialogue either--they simply wander about with their conversations, leading to emotional revelations of their pasts.

Volume two continues the smooth pacing, with nothing forced or excessively overplayed out. Episode five continues the story of "The Red Dream of a Calamity Disappears in Eastern Europe," in which Li Shengshung interrogates Havoc to find the location of his little sister. However, Havoc cannot remember a thing unless she moves closer to Hell's Gate.

Other episodes include "The Gardenia Gives Off Fragrance in the Early Summer Rain" parts one and two, which switches from the perspective of Li's syndicate to two crime detectives, named Guy and Kiko. Guy is a tall man who sometimes smokes cigarettes, and Kiko is...ahem...an energetic pink-haired otaku girl who loves anime and cosplay. The cute duo work on the greatest crime investigation in their career--searching for a woman's missing cat.

The final two episodes, parts one and two of "The Pure White Dress is Stained By the Girl's Dreams and Blood," is a dramatic and violent story in which policewoman Misaki is searching for the elusive VI952, the mass murderer contractor in the Qing Long Tang Chinese mafia.

This anime features both the funniest string of episodes and the most violent string of episodes. Guy and Kiko make for a hilarious mismatched duo. Guy would love to call himself a great private investigator, at least until little Kiko annoys him for not being able to pay the bills. And the battles between Li and VI952 are the most exciting yet, with VI952 destroying an entire rooftop, and brutally blowing off body parts with the snap of his fingers.

"Darker Than Black" is one of the most exciting anime series, with a dark metropolitan feel to it. The story, action, music, comedy and drama of "Darker Than Black" is making me even more hungry to watch more episodes. There in no action anime that's hotter than "Darker Than Black" right now.

Image from randomc.animeblogger.net

DVD: Violent assassins, mafias and some serious goofballs

Admittedly, I have no idea what to make of this next series, "Baccano!", which is a fun and exciting mix of Italian mafia wars, psychotic assassins and some funny guys.

While anime fans will love all the exciting characters and indelible genre hopping, they may still wonder what the main plot is.

Well, the story takes place in 19th century America. Certain characters have the ability to regenerate their bodies, even if their fingers have been cut off. And the cast is a humongous group of varied characters.

The first part of the story covers a bloody incident on a train. There are plenty of unique characters on board. First, Isaac Dian and Miria Harvent are professional thieves who goof off too much to pay attention to everything else that's going on. Second, a group of thieves are hell bent on killing everyone in the train. Third, a group of assassins led by Ladd Russo, is hell bent on killing people for the hell of it. And Russo is interested in taking the wife and daughter of Mayor Belino hostage.

The second part is set in New York City, involving a mogul named Szilard Quates. Szilard has developed an elixir which will make people immortal. He sends his servant, Ennis, to find the professor who cooked the elixir up. However, when Ennis arrives, the laboratory is in flames. She meets Firo Pirochainezo, a member of the Camorra mafia, and a skilled fighter. Ennis drops one of her cuff links on her suit jacket, and Firo chases after her, so that he can return the cuff link.

Meanwhile, a young girl named Eve Geonard is searching for her older brother, who possibly may have died in the city.

Other characters include the Gandor mafia, which consists of Keith, Berga and Lucky Gandor. They appear in the middle of episode one, and we don't get to see too many scenes with them.

And there's also Nice (pronounced Neesu) Holystone and Jacuzzi Splot, who had their faces burned. Oh yeah, for some reason, they're in the train story.

As anyone can see, I was very, very confused by the story. The series jumps around between the train story and the city story in 1930 and in 1931, making for tons of confusion. Sadly, I could hardly keep track of all the characters to really care.

The series is visually astounding. There's nothing more gory and shocking than watching Firo get his fingers chopped off, only to see the fingers and blood move back into his hand. And the action is brutal and masochistic. To say the least, Ladd Russo is a mean beast, who takes more joy in beating other people to death and slitting their throats. But since I couldn't understand the plot, I really didn't know what to make of this series.

Overall, "Baccano!" is okay. However, anime fans should be prepared to be confused. There's hardly any grounding plot to keep all the characters together. And ultimately, it all just feels like a bizarre and perplexing mix of violence, comedy and drama.

Image from absolutvanny.googlepages.com

DVD Review - Time for Tweeny Extras

It's been awhile since I've seen the awesome shojo series, Tweeny Witches (Mahou Shoujo Arusu in Japanese). Anime Works released the new Tweeny Witches OVA, which covers side stories in the Witch Brigade's journey.

"Tweeny Witches: The Adventure" is a fun set of funny, dramatic and epic stories for fans of the original series.

It's not completely clear whether the six-episode OVA is set during the Witch Brigade's journey to save the fairies or after the first series ends. The Witch Brigade members are Arusu, Eva and Shiela. "The Adventure" is probably a continuation of the original series.

And what a fun continuation it is. The first episode, "The Magical Girl Squad - Transformed Into Fish!", is a hilarious story in which the Eva cooks up a magical stew which turns people's heads into fish heads. The second episode, "The Fairy Chronicles," is a simple tale in which Shiela helps two young witches take care of a gameli baby fairy until its mother arrives.

Other episodes look at the origin of certain side characters in the series. The third episode, "The Ice Witch and the Dragon of Fire and Ice," is a unique episode which the Grandmaster of witches tells tells Arusu, Eva and Shiela about her own adventures as teenage witch named Gana. The fourth episode, "The Secret of Dragon House," takes anime fans to the past, to learn how a humongous dragon ended up in Eva and Shiela's house. This was a surprising tale, in which Shiela saves all the witches from the machines sent to destroy them.

There are a few times in which the action moves way too quickly for characters to develop. For example, the fifth episode, "A Heart Sealed Away," begins with a evil witch named Tohma, who saves Arusu from falling off a cliff. However, the same witch also ends up capturing children and taking away Arusu's magic as well. And the witch has a goody-two-shoes twin. And somehow, Arusu uses her magic to meld the two together. Like I said, it doesn't completely make sense. Perhaps the episode was meant to show how a person's aggressive side and compassionate side combines together to make a complete person.

Some of the character designs were a little off as well. By episodes three and four, the characters have deviated so far from their previous form that anime viewers will wish the animaors were more consistent.

Overall, though, "Tweeny Witches: The Adventure" has plenty of awesome moments. The final episode is an epic tale, in which Arusu and the gang save a Googoo from an exploding seed tree, which it swallowed. The witches literally have to save the tree by detonating the seeds in the trees gigantic stomach.

Some episodes have especially funny moments. The first episode features humorous scenes in which the Witch Brigade sneak around town with mummy wrappings to cover up their humongous fish faces.

The best episode which sums up the OVA, however, is "The Secret of Dragon House." Eva saves the entire witch population from robots who were programmed to destroy them. This is a remarkable tale, in which Eva's pet dragon cheers her on, to use her magic to save the people she loves.

While this isn't a groundbreaking OVA, it still features some fun special features. After each episode, Eva gives a cute lesson on how to cast some of the spells in the series. And we also get to watch interviews with the sound director and the cast of "Tweeny Witches: The Adventure."

Image from astronerdboy.blogspot.com

DVD Review: Let's do the Time Warp again

This is one of the best anime films I've ever seen, if not the best.

"The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" is an incredible high school romance film, with time travel and emotional drama as well.

The main character, Makoto Konno is a clumsy high school girl who doesn't do so well in class. She plays baseball with her two friends: Chiaki Mamiya, an shaggy, orange-haired boy, and Kousuke Tsuda, a tall smart guy.

One day, Makoto hears something in a chemistry lab room. She sneaks in and stumbles upon a tiny nut. Then, on her bicycle ride home, her brakes go out and she almost runs into an incoming train. Instead, she stumbles into the past, at the top of the hill, before she rode down the hill.

How did she do it? Makoto's mysterious aunt suggest that Makoto may have experienced a time delay, where she leapt through time. Of course, Makoto doesn't believe it, until she tries jumping at a river, to the past. Makoto has quite a blast playing with her time leaping ability, until Chiaki asks Makoto out. Although Makoto avoids him at first, she cannot help but grow attached to Chiaki as she travels through time to change the past.

This is a touching romance about young love. "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" really excels with heart-wrenching performances from their voice actors, who really capture the full range of Makoto's anxiety and her relationship with her friend, Chiaki.

The science fiction elements in "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" are also trippy. Whenever Makoto leaps through time, she enters a stunning interdimensional portal, with computer-generated images of timers circling around her while she falls.

And believe it or not, Makoto discovers that she is not the only one who can leap through time. In fact, near the end Makoto is almost left alone, hoping that her friend could stay with her. Thankfully, the ending edges away from this depressing climax, and her best friend promises to meet her again someday.

This is an incredible film. The Japanese voice actors give the best performances. Unforunately, the English dub is mediocre at best. Thankfully, it features plenty of awesome special features, such as an audio commentary with the director and some of the voice actors. There is also a lovely music video of the ending song and a video of the opening night of the film in theaters.

This is a must-see film. Get it while you still can. There's no telling when the publishing company, Bandai, might go bankrupt in this economic crisis.

Image courtesy of animeafterglow.wordpress.com

DVD Review - Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Season two of "Maria Watches Over Us" features plenty of surprises, heartbreaks and changing relationships.

The series continues Yumi's relationship with the Rosa Chinensis, Sachiko Ogasawara. "Maria" features a tear-jerking graduation ceremony for the seniors, some cool flashbacks and the induction of more little sisters in the Yamayuri Countil.

Admittedly, the season begins a little slowly, with a New Year's party at Sachiko's home. No real drama takes place in this place--this episode just introduces Yumi to Sachiko's humongous mansion home.

The spotlight of season two, however, is the farewell of the seniors at Lillian Girl's Academy. Yumi, saddened that her friend Sei Sato is leaving, gives a heartbreaking farewell kiss. Sachiko breaks down in tears before she can finish her farewell speech to the Yamayuri seniors. And the schoolgirls get together for a touching photo session with the school journalists.

With graduation finally over, however, the Yamayuri continues to find new sisters to add to their student council. An incredibly emotional flashback episode shows us how Sei Sato chose Shimako as her petite soeur, or little sister. Although Shimako is not sure who she should pick as her petite soeur, she finds a lovely girl in episode 7, named Noriko Nijo.

The Noriko Nijo episodes are especially touching. After all, it's not everyday that anime fans get to learn Shimako's dilemma with having Buddhist parents and attending Catholic school. And Shimako is pretty shy and nervous too, making for some nerve-wracking scenes when she is trying to make Noriko her petite seour.

The most touching episodes involve a mysterious story arc, in which Sachiko cancels all her dates with Yumi. Sachiko is also spending an awful lot of time with Toko Matsudaira, Sachiko's cousin and best fan. Yumi is shocked, and has no idea whether Sachiko is cheating on her. Fortunately, this is just a misunderstanding, leading to a wonderful make-up scene at the end of the season.

"Maria Watches Over Us" is one of the best anime romance series I have ever seen, with some of the most crushing emotional scenes with poignant scenery. While there isn't too much humor, there are plenty of wonderful friendships and romances with girls in this series. Indeed, this series is as romantic as "His and Her Circumstances" (Kare Kano in Japan), with girl and girl romances. Indeed, if Hideaki Anno had ever continued "His and Her Circumstances," it would look as beautiful as "Maria Watches Over Us."

As long as anime fans are willing to bear with homosexual girl relationships, "Maria Watches Over Us" is a must-see romance anime.

Image courtesy of chloeal.blogspot.com

One Piece in yo' face!

So I was cruising around Netflix and I discovered that finally Netflix has the first, third and fourth voyage box sets of "One Piece." What took so long?

I mean, it makes absolutely no sense to release the second voyage first, then all the other voyage box sets later. And it especially makes things difficult for me to review them on time.

Urgh. I want to punch those Netflix guys in the face for not getting their act together.

By the way, my next reviews will cover season two of "Maria Watches Over Us" and the film "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time."

DVD Review: Get a Piece of this

One Piece is heating up with the second voyage, which includes episodes 14-26. In fact, more than ever, "One Piece: Second Voyage" proves that One Piece is one of the best shonen anime for both male and female anime nuts alike.

The story continues Usopp's romance with Kaya, a sick girl who lives in a mansion on an island. Usopp was obviously modeled after Pinnochio, because he has a long nose and lies a lot. He and Luffy discover that Kaya's caretaker, Kurahadol, is actually the evil Captain Kuro (or Black in English). Kuro is known for his crafty plans, and in this case, Kuro wants to assassinate Kaya in order to earn her family's inheritance.

Meanwhile, Zolo dreams about his past. He once fought with his best friend and rival, Kuina, to become the best swordfighter in the world. However, Kuina suffered a fatal tragedy, leaving Zolo to fight for her, to become the best.

The last few episodes cover Luffy's adventure at the Baratie, the best sea restaurant in the world. To make a long story short, Luffy accidentally bounces an incoming cannonball into the restaurant. Thus, Luffy has to pay it off with one year of kitchen work.

Luffy then meets the quiet but tempermental Sanji, who works as the souz chef for Zeff, the head chef. Sanji is an expert breakdancer fighter who will serve anyone who lives his food. However, he causes quite a stir by serving a starving pirate from Don Krieg's ship. Then Don Krieg arrives demanding food for his entire crew. And he wears a metallic body suit with guns.

Admittedly, "One Piece" is somewhat repetitive with the characters and the big battles. However, it is very entertaining. Sanji is undoubtedly the coolest breakdancing chef in anime history (actually, the only one). And Sanji also has a crush on Nami, leading him to offer her free food, while all the other guys have to pay. Usopp offers plenty of funny emotional outbursts as well.

Zoro's brave story of fighting for his deceased girlfriend is also admirable. It's pretty fun to watch Zoro fight the greatest swordmaster, Dracule Mihawk, even though he gets whipped pretty badly. And there's also slight hints of romance between Luffy and Nami, especially when Nami runs off with the Going Merry ship in the Don Krief story arc. Luffy's really intent on getting his navigator back, although one could easily suspect he likes Nami as well.

Image from onepiece.wikia.org

Waiting for you

I bet someone is wondering whether I am still posting. Don't worry, I'm still writing posts. I'm trying to get into the routine of reviewing entire box sets. Anime companies are really into releasing these sets, and it takes me a little longer to watch the whole thing, with my schedule full of events.

So be patient. My review of "One Piece: Second Voyage" is coming up.