Episode Review: School Days 08

The drama continues to run high and it's get even more emotional, the award for best speech goes to Kotonoha.. Her very heart felt speech in the start of the show was hard to watch, she has always come off as a sweet innocent girl who couldn't seem to ever stand up for herself and now she does

The episode over all was looking at how Kotonoha was trying to once again reach out too Mokoto and get him interested in her again and try to pick up where things left off before. Now she's prostituting herself in an attempt to win him over.
Besides this the school festival is soon to arrive so everyone is getting ready to do their part for each class. Setsuna is also leaving for france at the end of the episode and also shares a special memory with Mokoto without him knowing.

Finally Sawanaga has the hots for Kotonoha and goes as far as asking her out, she insists she's with Mokoto and that everything is fine, she is still coming to grips with whats going on around her.

So all this mess in between the school activities makes it quick half an hour! this wasn't one of the best episodes so far but it told a lot about Setsuna's past and how it relates to Mokoto and Kotonoha attempting to with Mokoto again. Was another good episode!

Rating: 8 / 10

Gunslinger Season 02!

For those who've never seen Gunslinger Girl it's a great watch with a mix of action and emotion the series makes you think.


The good news is that it's been picked up for a second season who knows when we'll see it in America but this should be great. The ending point of the show was questionable it didn't really end but you didn't really get a sense of closure. I'm hoping they stay on the main characters from the first season and continue on what they built.

Gunslinger Girl's Second Season Officially Announced
The October issue (on sale August 21) of Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh has officially announced that a second season of the Gunslinger Girl anime series will be produced. The Japanese magazine runs Yu Aida's original manga about cybernetically enhanced girl assassins that inspired the anime. The production company Marvelous Entertainment had revealed that a sequel was in the works in its 2006-2007 financial report on May 30, but the company then edited the report to remove the Gunslinger Girl reference in early June. Source: Ultimatum

DVD Review: Suzuka Vol 03

So we've hit the half way mark for this series does it still a good watch?

The end of volume 2 was harsh, Yamato learned about Asahina's past and how he looks very similar to a dead team mate who she fell in love with shortly before he died in an accident. Yamato confront's Suzuka and says he doesn't want to compared to a dead guy she slaps him and it's left at that.

Much of this volume is Yamato coming to grips that he will never be dating Suzuka and she will never see him anymore than a friend, once again in desperate attempts to change things around in the end Yamato still has feelings for Suzuka but his attention changes to Honoka.

Honoka knows the feelings that Yamato has for Suzuka and she asks for permission to confess to Yamato she plays it off as nothing but there is more to it than that. Eventually though a smal series of events and Yamato's realization that Suzuka is probably a lost cause he dates Honoka.

Much of the show features the ongoing struggle with Yamato and Suzuka and where Yamato stands with various settings to help progress the storyline. It was nice to see something on a good note happen to Yamato though the first two volumes it was him being shot down and him making a goof of himself now he finally gets to be happy.

The volume ends with Suzuka and Yamato missing the train back to Tokyo hafter the inner high meet. Honoka is worried and wondering why Yamato is with Suzuka alone and knows what that could mean. Of course she doesn't know the circumstances on which they found themselves.

The volume was good switching up the locations and the situations sometimes in favor of Yamato and sometimes not. There is still a lot to be dealt with Suzuka as she has mixed feelings for Yamato and acts one way but feels another.

RATING: 8/10

DVD Review: ToHeart Volume 05

The final volume in this series comes to an end. The final volume is Three episodes in length and features two bonus episodes in Japanese. The show for me has been some what of a let down as I found myself wondering why I'm watching. The show was just a slice of life anime based on high school kids.

There was a hint of love thrown in but it never leads anywhere and each episode many times had nothing to do with a previous episode or following episode.

This volume featured "Multi" the robot learning to be a human and showing her as not a robot but a girl and she ends her "training" to collect data for her two week period, she grows on Hiroyuki. The final two episodes focus on Shiho a secondary character and she finally gets some screen time.

Shiho finds herself attracted to Hiroyuki and she wrestles with her feelings though out the final two episodes and knowing that Akari likes him too. When confronted by Akari on the subject she isn't so forth coming but I think in her heart knows that Akari and Hiro are meant to be. On a side story for the final two episodes the gang is throwing a Christmas party and are preping to get it ready in time.

In the end nothing is wrapped up and hte final scene I guess is just to be "it" this was a simple slice of life with no conflict, good meanings and always a happy ending the series was praised by many and I for one am not so hot to trot on the show I guess if you like slice of life shows this is up your alley.

in the end I thought this brings nothing to the table I think this is a rather non memorable anime and it was to kill time and that's it. The show has been brought to an OVA form direct to DVD episodes but the orginal characters are nowhere to be seen and it takes place two years in the future after the events in ToHeart.

PROS: great animation and a happy ending, decent extras.
CONS: no prominent storyline, nothing really makes this anime stand out.

Rating: 4.5 / 10

This anime is for a niche audience either your going to like it or your not.

DVD Review: Peach Girl Volume 04

I thought about reviewing all 5 volumes that have been currently released in America but I don't want to spend that amount of time. In a nut shell this is a very soap opera style show girl likes boy, boy likes girl but are too shy to tell each other. Plus the drama of love triangles and other characters messing up everything for our lovers oh the drama!

So Momo and Kiley are finally acouple with her past with Toji finally over and done with can Momo find happiness and bring their relationship further? OF COURSE NOT! The volume featured a lot of drama, plot twists and revealed even more about Kiley's past and who he really is and why he is.

We meet Kiley'd older brother who at first seems like a nice guy but Kiley tells Momo he's no good and to stay away, going on her gut she ignores Kiley and befriends his older brother. In the end he spins lies and knows all of Momo's buttons to push to get what he wants.

He decides to go after Momo sexually and damn near rape she can kick ass when she needs too! finally realizing Kiley was right we see what a no good ass hole is hrother is and he explain many revealing things about his past to her about how he stole all his girlfriends from him among other things.

The biggest shocker about the entire volume is Kiley and his past with the school nurse, he thinks are going to good with Mom and isn't sure if he can trust her, his feelings for the school nurse from six years prior are making him have seconds thoughts and he breaks up with Momo in the hopes of rekindling the love that he had with the school nurse.

Momo realizing what she is losing desperately talks Kiley out of it and is very passionate about it this by far was a remembering line from the volume she has no problems playing second best for the time being but how long will it be until she is no longer needed by Kiley?

Onec again this volume is filled with many storylines Momo \ Kiley, Sae\ Toji, Sae \ Kiley's older brother at times you see the veyr best of Momo and what makes her so great and other times you see her at her worse in terms of emotions. I'd say not as bad as the last volume and how she took the breakup with Toji. With the series coming to a close shortly in another 8 or so episodes the show is starting to pick up where you left with what will be with Momo and Kiley.

Pros: New characters are introduced and play a large role in the overall story.
Secondary characters are thrust into the storyline to add more questions to the story

Cons: Same story logic is used many stories are derived from over-reacting and assuming

Volume Rating: 7 / 10

Episode Review: School Days 07

Episode Six left Kotonoha in disbelief how does she handle what she saw?

I've been loving this series and I started to wonder about several factors and this episode put many of my questions to rest. Episode Seven is very heart wrenching to watch.

Kotonoha, is starting to realize that Makoto is avoiding her, and is starting to realize that he has moved on but still kids herself and remains that she is just imagining things and everything is fine after all she is his girlfriend isn't she? She takes her fears and worries and takes up knitting a scarf for Makoto while knitting she realizes she makes a mistake and beings to unravel the scarf

I found this to be very per found as I thought this to mean the unraveling of their relationship and love for each other. Finally Kotonoha is confronted by Setsuna and asked to dance at the school dance and he sayd that her and Makoto are broke up and he wants his chance.

Upon hering this she freaks out and this brings us to another important person in this episode Setsuna is the controlling friend working on behalf of Sekai and she is also taking it upon herself to make sure Makoto doesn't talk, see or deal with Kotonoha even going as far as too blocking her from his cell phone.

Once Again Makto is a a spinless, gutless coward who lets everyone else do the talking for him and he is against several things that happen but is not man enough to say STFU and speak for himself. This pisses me off I was ready to put my fist though my monitor I mean Kotonoha is getting treated badly and he knows it but yet doesn't stand up for her liking her or not and that just pissed me off.

The end of the episode had me cheering Kotonoha confronts Sekai and we are left at the cliff hanger and this leaves episode eight open to many possibilities and I was so happy to see Kotonoha grow a spine and not take anyone's shit and say what she had to say and do what she had to do, Sekai was scared and knew what she had coming.

RATING: 10/10

Episode Review: School Days 06

With the Amazing end of Episode Six what in the world was going to happen this time?

This episode was very hard to watch because I'm rooting for Kotonoha and it's getting harder and harder every episode to watch her take the abuse and shit she has to take from Makoto and Sekai.

Makoto is a punk ass mother #($#@ who doesn't deserve a girlfriend though out the entire episode he ignored Kotonoha and again went though the motions!

So the episode starts out with Makoto and Sekai making out behind the Radish and them trying to agree where to meet up and when. During all this Kotonoha is trying to get a hold of Makoto he ignores the phone call. The next scene is Makoto and sekai in the same room obviously saying she stayed the night as he is making her breakfest oh what a good two timer he cares for his mistress.

Later in the episode it is revealed another classmate of Kotonoha likes Makoto, Kotonoha stands up for herself and says point blank "i'm Makoto's Girlfriend and no matter what he will be with me" I felt so bad because the girl Otme knows kind of whats going on between Makto and Sekai she knows Makoto isn't exactly dating Kotonoha.

the other big thing to note is Sekai had planned on telling Kotonoha that she had feelings for Makoto and that they have been making out and sleeping together but it doesn't happen in the end of the episode Makto and Sekai are making out, Sekai confesses to Makoto that she likes him and he says he likes her too. Kotonoha was on the other side of the door she dropped her stuff she was carrying and some very creepy music playing that too me signals something drastic is about to go down.

Episode seven is entitled "Christmas Eve" what a crappy Christmas this is going to be for Kotonoha. Like I said it's getting harder to cheer for her because you know what is going on and she doesn't do anything about it she's had many hints of whats going on and now she finally knows to an extent that Sekai and Makoto like each other, she rode passed on a train watching them kiss but didn't believe it.

I now for sure hate Makoto all he wants to do is have sex, he's completely ignored Kotonoha and still keeps going though the motions but now even more so then the last episode he doesn't show any kind of feelings towards her and is like a brick wall. It was very hard to watch Kotonoha stand up to Otme and tell her off and know that she's getting two timed. Now more then ever I want to see Kotonoha kick both Sekai and Makoto's ass, like all the other episodes they end at a great point making you want more.

Again this episode was a good watch and really shows more about Kotonoha and her thinking and you feel really bad for her. Episode Seven should great so far this series has yet to disappoint.

EPISODE RATING: 9.2 / 10

Episode Review: School Days 05

Episode is finally here, this has been a great show from the start. Episode four finished with Kotonoha inviting Makoto to the pool with her. In the end Sekai, Hikari and a few other people show up from class, Makoto hoping to get some alone time is bummed but plays it off.

While at the pool Makoto goes through the motions being with Kotonoha and is constantly thinking Sekai and the kiss they shared. He wants to have her and she knows this. Finally she drags him aside and tries to set him straight explain that he chose Kotonoha to be with and he should really act it and stop thinking about what happened between them.

Makoto not satisfied with the answer parts with Kotonoha and wants to meet with Sekai, her knowing better meets with him anyway, Makoto confesses to Sekai that he likes her and wants her to be his before she can answer he kisses her deeply and passionately, she gives into him and they end up at her place having sex.

WHAT THE **** IS MAKOTO DOING! He wanted Kotonoha from the start, it was a bumpy road at first but now it’s smoothed out she’s gotten comfortable with Makoto and they are starting to look like a legitimate couple but Makoto has gotten a small taste of sex and now wants to go with the girl who will put out! I want to slap both Makoto and Sekai, Sekai has been nosy since the first episode and watching over Makoto like a hawk and got way to involved to the point where she has feelings for Makoto too.

This episode was great from start to finish now that formalities are out of the way and the characters have been introduced the real fun can begin. What I love about this show is it’s real they aren’t playing the typical stereotypes that you often see in anime and that is a good thing the characters are much more easily to relate too and sadly makes it easier to get attached to them. Though out the first four episodes I jumped back and forth on how I felt about the evolving relationship and how Sekai fit in and where she really was needed if she needed to be there in the first place. But now I feel nothing by sympathy for Kotonoha. She finally got over her fears of being touched and held and is starting to become much attached to Makoto and beginning to like the relationship.

I think she knows there is more going on between Sekai and Makoto then both lead on despite being reassured in a previous episode the drama is finally starting to come out and after the actions in the episode I’m looking forward to episode six the half way point of the series. I don’t know what is going to happen between Kotonoha and Makoto I really wish they’d still together but who knows after this episode how much longer can Makoto keep going on with her? He isn’t a good liar and can’t pretend like nothing is happening because he always shows it Kotonoha just doesn’t pick up on it and I think she wants to give him the benefit of doubt.

The episode was packed with drama, suspense and a shocking ending to say the least the show has been and now raises many questions for the viewer let’s hope they get answered.

EPISODE RATING: 9.8 / 10

Review: GANTZ

became desensitized to the blood and gore being displayed you got used to seeing it but the first few episode it is a huge statement and at first I thought the show would be a total gore fest just looking for shock value and that's it. The show is billed as the most disturbing anime to come out of Japan. But once the story started and it got more interesting as each episode passed the real meaning of the show started to sink in. It was very easy to get attached to the characters each character was given a decent amount of information on them in their past lives and the actions they did during the missions made them more enduring as the show went on.

The voice acting was great and when the voice actor had to be emotional it was believable, the thing that hurts this series in the biggest way is the lack of an ending. During the production of the anime the producers hit the end of the manga series (at the time) and had to improvise the last 3 or so episodes so the ending was a huge let down not because they didn't follow the manga or anything but because it made no sense. I'm not going to give away spoilers but many things happen that just happen that has no reason to it.

The show is filled with action if you love action shows this is going to up your alley they hold nothing back in terms of violence, limbs are disembowel blood freely flows and point blank headshots are shown this series is by no means meant for children. The show manages to stay fresh because each mission is filled with new players that change the complexity of the mission one way or another and the underlying plots of Kishimoto falling in love with Kato and the relationship between Kishimoto and Kurono help keep the show interesting. Love isn't the center point of the show but it is used to help further and set the relationships in an importance and making some of the major events of the story that much more harder to watch.

The visuals were great, they mixed CGI and 2d and seamlessly intertwined the two though out the show many times it was used in scenery when showing the area of the where the missions were taking place also during action scenes to bring more a dramatic effect also the enemies many times to bring a much easier sense of the size of the enemy the group had to face off against.

Overall I'd give this show a 9.5 out of 10. If the ending wasn't so goofy and just a huge let down after seeing all the events transpire it would be getting a better score. All in all the show makes you think and a lot of ethical questions are raised during the show and many interesting things are used to further make the show deeper that I haven't seen ever used in an anime.

PROS: interesting plot, filled with suspense and has many layers to the main plot line that slowly unfold to reveal more about characters and the storyline. Voice acting was superb and the visuals were very modern and on track for a show of this type.

CONS: A very confusing ending that doesn't really give you what you wanted to see happen many questions are left for us to ponder and speculate.

OVERALL RATING: 9.5 / 10

Review: Marmalade Boy

Marmalade Boy is the classic high school romance anime that everyone looks up to and tries to set the stand to be in my opinion. With its many episodes each character has a rich interweaving back-story that helps the main storyline progress in its own way. Today we look at this anime classic in detail.

Marmalade Boy is 76 episodes of pure joy, heartache, love and realizations for almost all the entire cast of characters in one way or another may it be the boy not getting the girl or vice versa. This anime originally debuted in America in 1988 it has been dubbed and released several times over the last two decades as various box sets. Soon there will be another re-release of the box set in America. The show was so good it was made into a live action movie.

The show has a large cast of characters who progress the storyline in one fashion or another the show is focused on two main characters. Miki Koishikawa a typical looking red head girl who is very supportive of her friends, outgoing and doesn't hold her emotions back, she is not your typical looking ultra beautiful girl she is plain and even so far to say tomboyish. She often gets emotional and assumes a lot about what is going on with her friends, events or anything that may impact her in some sort of way. She plays tennis on the Toyro high school team for club activates

Then you have Yuu Matsuura the main male character, Yuu has blonde hair and blue eyes he is every girls dream. He is naturally talented in sports and is the opposite of Miki he can stay cool under pressure and he doesn't show his emotions he is the rational thinker between the two. Yuu doesn't participate in any club activities.

The story starts out with Miki's parents returning from Hawaii they ask Miki to meet them in the kitchen to discuss something important. He parents explain that while on their trip they met a couple who each feel madly in love with the other and that they decided to remarry each other and the move into a house together so not to make things hard on the kids. Miki of course is shocked and in disbelief. Later that night they all attend a dinner to celebrate this new occasion where Miki meets Yuu who she find an instant attraction too.

Miki still in a state of disbelief angry makes a scene asking about her feelings and how that it's not fair for them to do such a crazy thing like remarry. Yuu tells her to sit down and that she's the only one having an issue with the events that are unfolding. The next day at school Miki is whacked in the face by a basketball she is sent to the nurse's office where she lies down. Yuu worried about her comes in checks on her and plant a kiss on her while she is pretending to be asleep.

So there you have it the start of the story, I could keep going but I want you to find out the magic of the show for yourself! The events that proceed that make up the show's storyline are several things. Firstly Yuu's and Miki's relationship at first it's a battle between Miki and herself and how she really feels about Yuu and another guy name Ginta. Ginta also plays on the Toryo high school tennis team and had a crush on Miki since Junior high. She battles her feelings for both Yuu and Ginta in a woe is me attitude because she knows that she will have to hurt someone's feelings and being the kind hearted person she is she doesn't want to do that.

Show then continues with Miki making her choice and the two lovers battling to keep their relationship a secret from their parents, past relationships, new relationships and various other characters in one way or another just to name a few. Although the cast being large and many characters are introduced though out the show there is a main staple of characters the show faces on each one brings something new and complex's the storyline.

What I found to be a downer for the show was the story got predictable and many times Miki was very over dramatic often she would see something or more she would assume something is happening that she had no control over. This was used many times in the basis of the storyline and after awhile you got used to seeing it and then made the outcomes pretty predictable. Yuu and Miki both have many life changing situations happen though out the course of the show and by the end they seem to be two totally different people then the beginning of the show.

The show itself dealt with many issues two of the main issues that come to mind are underage dating and marriage. Miki's best friend Meiko has a relationship with her teacher Na-chan the two are found out and many episodes are dedicated to their relationship. The other big issue I think was tackled was homo-sexuality none of the characters are openly gay but it is implied especially later on in the show. Often times speculation is used when trying to find out if it's really true. They also put in other smaller issues like living in a broken home with abusive parents and teenage sexuality.

The show itself relies on this large cast of characters to keep the show moving many times many times Miki's feelings or events are used to build an episode around also the writers seemed to re hash a lot of the characters in later episodes. Not that it was a bad thing but you think they'd have some of the issues dead and buried with the characters and the writers would re-earth them and bring them into a new light given the situations they were presented.

This became tiresome after awhile in my opinion and by the end your just wondering what's next what more could happen? This both helps the story and hurts it. The best part about the show I think is how each character both main and supporting characters got a rich deep back story and it wasn't pointless either in the end it all made a difference in the main storyline which was good and it was easy to get attached to characters in the story. Each character had its place in the show and that is always a good thing.

Over all I'd give this show 8 out of 10 the show starts off great with a lot of drama and suspense but after awhile it wears on you and the show starts to become predictable and the rehash of already used storylines also grows thin as the show journeys on. The show is just like a soap opera almost every episode will keep you coming back for more, the plot is filled with many twists and turns in this series so fasten your seat belts and prepare for the ride.

RATING: 8 / 10

PROS: The has numerous characters with detailed histories, emotions, ambitions and goals which give the story a lot of twists and different plots to work with. The show is fairly lengthy given the story enough time to wrap up all the loose ends.

CONS: Show becomes predictable and after awhile the same storylines get rehashed over again to make the show last longer instead of focusing on the main storyline many, many side stories are going