Kyou Kara Maou

I am alive! Yes, it has been a while. Yes, I am appropriately shameful.

Moving on.

I finally started watching a series my husband watched a long time ago called Kyou Kara Maou. I knew I would like it (since my husband has not yet steered me wrong) but I was wary of starting to watch it because there were 78 episodes- that's dangerous for me, since I will neglect schoolwork sometimes when a series is especially engaging. I have managed to control myself this time, though, so it has been slow work through the series. I managed to watch a lot while on vacation (thanks to the fabulous tiny laptop my mom gave me), and found it to be that perfect mix of vacation entertainment (I guess I could say reading since I d in fact read it.) It's a little light and fluffy without being overwhelmingly so, and has a really good mix of adventure thrown in.

In brief, this is the story of a 15 year old Japanese boy (Yuri) who gets sucked into another world where he is proclaimed king (Maou). The details of exactly WHY he is king aren't exactly clear at first. It is also not clear how this 15 year old high school student will make a good king, but trust me, he does. A big part of the enjoyment of the show is in slowly starting to trust Yuri and his judgment through the series. Another enjoyment for me personally is the vaguely shōnen-ai aspects of the show. For instance, two male characters become engaged, and no one thinks anything of it (except Yuri). Many of the male characters become infatuated with Yuri in a way that suggests a high school crush. There is very little romance in the show, but these little touches keep it entertaining for me. I may just be a freak, though. :)

What I have particularly enjoyed about Kyou Kara Maou is the pace. A lot of times, when a show has a long run, some of the episodes get really tedious. It's one thing to have a filler episode, it is quite another to fill half an episode with flashback material from two episodes before. Kyou Kara Maou has little reused content, which is nice, and even the filler episodes seem to further along the story. I have made it to episode 72, and at no point did I lose interest because they went off on an uninteresting side mission. Season three is currently airing, so it will be interesting to see if they can keep the pace up.

All in all, Kyou Kara Maou is a fun show with a fun plot. It's a great summer "read."

Boogiepop Phantom

12 Episodes
TV Series
Contemporary Fantasy/Monsters

Sometimes I start a series and think "oh shit...this is gonna suck" and most of the time it redeems itself before it's over. It all comes together and makes sense. It has a cool/poignant ending or just a whole bunch of badass action sequences or it really makes me laugh or the animation is awesome. Something. Something usually comes together and makes what I initially think is going to be a shitty series into something that is at least decent. This is not one of those anime.

Boogiepop Phantom has lots of things going for it. It's got an interesting concept, great opening song, cool character design (at times), and it's Madhouse for christ's sake! But none of these pull it out of the fire it throws itself into. As you're watching the opening sequence you're thinking, "man...is there something wrong with the video?" you're going to check your settings, you might even re-download the files or check someone else's DVD. Sadly...there's nothing wrong with the video. This is actually the way they intended it. I know...I know...why would a studio that prides itself on awesome visuals and animation do this on purpose? I can only imagine that they were thinking that the visual style would coincide with the theme of dreams, memories and the unknown. Sure...I guess it does. So I kept watching. That was my first mistake.

The visuals never get out of their tunnel vision feel, but unfortunately the plot never really goes anywhere either. The concept is that well...hold on...ok. Let me be truthful: I have only the vaguest idea of what the plot is really about, and that's not a good thing. So there's a light shaft, and it seems that it gave a bunch of people powers and at the same time it...well...caused a wave of memories to wash over the city and drive a good handful of people to suicide and murder because of the ghosts of the memories. Handful of monsters get rustled up because of the shockwave/"rainbow"/shaft of light. Anyway. You don't follow anyone in particular you basically just jump from individual story to individual story back and forth through time. Usually that isn't a problem but basically it can't decide what it really wants to be, and before the end of the series you have no idea what caused the phenomenon oh...wait...that's right they NEVER tell you what really caused the phenomenon. Joy. I love wading through 12 episodes of confusing and muddy looking crap just to get to...nothing. Another thing: though some of the character design is really cool, LOTS of it is crap and really just adds to the confusion when so many people look similar or IDENTICAL to other characters. "Well gee Tommy...sometimes this just happens!" No...this time? Yeah...this time they did it on purpose. What - The - Fuck.

Anyway. I have ranted enough about this anime. Just don't watch it ok? Please teach Madhouse a lesson on this one. Oh...and if you do happen to understand it or, god forbid, like it? Gimme a call, I can hook you up with a good rehab clinic for the crack you are obviously smoking. Tommy out. Next up: Something from Karin!! Nah...just kidding...I think she died. I'll probably be reviewing Sunabouzu AKA Desert Punk next. So far it's pretty rad. We'll see.

Tommy

Anime Reactor - Best of 2006 Up

The Anime-Reactor.net best of 2006 is up. Sometimes it takes them a while to get all the votes up and tallied and taken care of but when they nominate something and then announce the winners it's something of which to take note. This year there are several notables that I need to get my hands on. I am literally 20 minutes from finishing their pick for best action (Black Lagoon) and I didn't even know it was even nominated! :) Take a look through the list, pick something out, and give it a watch. You won't be disappointed. Please excuse me while I put every winner on my "must watch" list!

Tommy

Paprika

Full Length Feature Film

So here in Dallas at the moment is something called AFI Dallas International Film Festival. Basically it's a Hollywood style film festival with hundreds of movies over the course of almost two whole weeks. It's full of celebrities, food, friends, and most importantly: movies that aren't even close to being released in America. Namely, Satoshi Kon's newest film, Paprika.

Paprika basically starts off with a real bang and only slows down a couple times to catch its breath until the very beginning of the credits. Its full of smart laughs, not-so-smart laughs breathtaking action and a whole bunch of head scratching. That's not to mention, of course, the beautiful visuals that Studio Madhouse has graced us with.

Typically Satoshi Kon's stuff really does make you scratch your head. I wasn't just trying to give you an image in that last paragraph, it really does happen. Some of his earlier works are very prevalent in this film, most notably in my opinion, Perfect Blue and Paranoia Agent. Elements from both of these films stand out as you're watching. The concept of the intangible becoming tangible, as in Paranoia Agent, and the elements of misconstrued perceptions clouding the viewers visuals like in Perfect Blue. The soundtrack really gets your toes tappin' too. It's rather dreamlike but still somehow driving and really keeps the movie going in the right direction. It really expresses to the viewer that "this is just something to sit-back and enjoy. Don't worry about if you don't understand what' s going on, just sit back and enjoy the ride."

Oh...plot...right. Well...I'll give you the very loose version. You are following a scientist, gorgeous of course, who is on a team that's on the bleeding edge of psychological technology. They have almost perfected a way to interact with the dreams of other human beings. Its original intention is simply as a therapy tool but things quickly get out of hand as several of the dream diving units are stolen. Shortly after this revelation the thief makes himself knows to the protagonist, our good doctor, by flooding the mind of her boss and friend with the raving and never ending dreams of a madman. Needless to say: This is not a good thing. The visuals are complex and interesting. During the dream sequences their complexity goes even beyond the visuals of Akira's final sequences but they do get a little old after a bit. I could go my whole life without seeing another china doll if you know what I mean. So anyway, people start dreaming this single madman's dream all over town with only one person to stop them. Paprika, our good doctor's alter ego. For you see, she's not just attractive and intelligent she's also a secret expert dream diver who knows no boundaries when she's in the world of dreams. Fun huh?

My recommendations for this one is simple. If you've liked Satoshi Kon's stuff before, don't hesitate. Seriously. If you didn't like his stuff or haven't ever seen one, now's really not the time as you'll walk away from this one confused and disappointed. If you're going to start with Satoshi's Kon's stuff go ahead and work through his work in this order: Tokyo Godfathers, Millennium Actress, Perfect Blue and THEN this one. And only work your way through Paranoia Agent if AFTER watching all those movies you still like his stuff. Enjoy!

I'm out!

Tommy

Karin

24 Episodes
TV Series
Comedy/Romance/School/Vampires


So I finally finished the anime that bears my venerable colleague's name. Finally.

This series starts out rather simply, not really taking itself too seriously at first. It follows a high school girl, who happens to be a vampire, through a difficult period of adjustment to her status as a non-human. Karin isn't your ordinary vampire though. Her powers simply don't mesh with those of the rest of her family. Yes, family...don't think too much about this. If you end up thinking too much about the vampire lore you're familiar with you just aren't going to be happy with this series. Anyway...so instead of sucking blood or, more importantly, emotions out of her victims, like the rest of her family, Karin deposits blood/emotions into her victims. Keep in mind unlike tradition the victims of the family don't die...they simply wake with an absence of specific negative emotions depending on the taste of the vampire that bit them. Whew...I hope all that makes sense...I just saved you a lot of time and confusion if it does by the way as most of this is unclear during first several episodes of the series.

So Karin does her thing in high school and as many many an anime before it: she has a crush on one of the boys at school. He's a little weird. They do this whole running gag about him and his eyes that I really don't get but that's beside the point. So she being in love with him and him being depressed about his mom not having a job is the main plot arch. There's a GILF thrown into the mix for a little seriousness and suspense/action, an idiot vampire hunter that falls in love with Karin and the rest of the family all add their own quirkiness to the mix.

All said, I thought this was an enjoyable and fun anime. The intro makes you think there's a LOT more fan service than there actually, which is either a plus or a minus depending on who you are. The vampire plot remains interesting but it kinda leaves you wanting more darkness and danger. Since Karin can come out during the day (didn't I mention that?) it really just ends up making this series a standard school anime with a pinch of vampire intrigue thrown in. But the whole time you seriously just want her to bite that man of hers...if only so she'll shut up about NOT biting him. I'd recommend this for people who like romance or school anime and I would remind those looking for something darker to just stay away...for your own protection!

Tommy

Zero no Tsukaima

13 Episodes (Second season in progress)
TV Series
Comedy/Adventure/Romance (Kinda)

I finished watching Zero no Tsukaima a while ago. The 13 episodes of the first season go quickly. The premise is that a magical school girl named Louise summons a boy from Japan as her familiar- which, basically, means slave. The series brings Harry Potter to mind, what with the magical school going kids and all. I have to admit, I was a bit turned off by the slave concept in the beginning, but I'm glad I watched the show.

Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière (yes, I copy pasted that) is from a magical family, but is pretty bad at magic. When it comes time to summon a familiar, she summons a human from another world- Saito Hiraga, a Japanese high school student. The summoning appears to be an accident- poor Saito was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, summoning a "commoner" (non magical person) in funny clothes earns Louise much scorn- especially since he does not obey her. She further reinforces her nickname "Louise the Zero."

Saito, though unable to use magic, has some powers of his own in this world. He can weild any weapon - or anything intended to be used as a weapon- expertly. This talent earns him respect among the other commoners and even a certain amount among the nobles. As one might expect, there is an ongoing power struggle between Saito and Louise, do to the fact that she sees him as a familiar (at least in the beginning) and he does not. But, also to be expected from an anime, a sorta sweet love story evolves.

The artwork in Zero no Tsukaima is lovely, though fairly standard. What can I say, I'm a sucker for big eyes and candy colored hair.

The wikipedia page says that another series is in the works- I can't wait!

School Rumble

26 Episodes
TV Series
Comedy/Romance/School

Going into this one I knew that the plot would probably carry over to a second series as I was aware that "2nd Semester" was already available for download. So with that knowledge I popped School Rumble in and sought after what all the fuss was about. Fuss? Yeah, fuss. This anime won several coveted Anime Reactor Community Awards during the years is was on air. That would of course include the top prize of Best Overall Anime. Anyway...enough lauding let's get on with the review.

School rumble follows a pair of high school students (Jesus...what anime DOESN'T??!) as the tool around at school getting involved in various love triangles and fantastical experiences. Frankly, even though there are a lot of series out there that tackle the whole high school/love triangle thing, School Rumble does it very well. It doesn't get bogged down in the seriousness of relationships and keeps everything light just about all the time. From our male protagonist getting depressed about falsely perceived love lost...and hitching a ride with a pirate ship helmed by a giant of a man...who used to draw manga; to the object of our female protagonists affection wearing a kappa suit when it's raining outside; oh yeah...and stop somewhere in the middle for a "little" sister being able to read the minds of all the males on the planet (sans one or two). Roll it all together and you get a really enjoyable romantic comedy that's completely unabashed about how weird it feels like getting. Fan service is to a minimum but self referencing, and industry referencing is at a maximum. I recommend this for anyone. But please keep in mind, as I did, that you won't get an ending with this series. They give you 3 dream sequences for the last episode and the writers actually point and laugh at the viewer for buying into their tricks. It's great :)

Now...soon as I finish Karin I'm off to watch 2nd Semester...just to see how this thing ends :)

Tommy