Anime Reviews
"B"
"B"
Baccano!
review by Saikano
Yes, the exclamation point is part of the nameXD If you remember your American History, there was a period called the Prohibition, where it was anybody's game and gangsters ruled, alcohol flowed like water in illegal bars, the press knew more than it printed, and alchemists shared the elixir of immortality among a select few. Okay, maybe not that last part, but that's what happens here in this anime:D And (spoiler) if you're familiar with "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", the storyline is all out of order, just like in "Suzumiya", so you really have to pay attention!
review by Saikano
Yes, the exclamation point is part of the nameXD If you remember your American History, there was a period called the Prohibition, where it was anybody's game and gangsters ruled, alcohol flowed like water in illegal bars, the press knew more than it printed, and alchemists shared the elixir of immortality among a select few. Okay, maybe not that last part, but that's what happens here in this anime:D And (spoiler) if you're familiar with "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya", the storyline is all out of order, just like in "Suzumiya", so you really have to pay attention!
Beck
Review by Takahashi Ryousuke
"Koyuki", pretty much a loser in high school gets into a chance meeting with what looks like a dog version of "Black Jack"(editors note, see the review on Black Jack below) and gets to know his owner, Ryuusuke. From there, Koyuki begins to get involvement with Ryuusuke's new rock band. Twists and turns follow, but you'll never get bored of this show!
Black Jack "BLACK JACK" TV SERIES
Review by Kell Komatsubara
We recently got ahold of some of the raws, and had begun to watch them. Once again, Osamu Tezuka's infamous character "BLACK JACK", the unlicensed surgeon proves that his hands are that of GOD. The opening episode, explains how he got the scars on his face and the doctor who saved him. Also, the episodes are faithful to the original manga of Tezuka, with a few additions of some of Tezuka's earlier works. You will see a lot of Kimba, AstroBoy, and others familiar to those faithful to the work of the "Manga no Kami-sama"...
Black Lagoon
review by The Tamago
After entering the business world as a whitecollar worker, Okajima Rokuro holding an important data disk ends up as a hostage by the Black Lagoon. The Corporation Rokuro works for leaves him only one path, his funeral and a better title. Finding his luck going down the drain further, he soon finds that his trust and new life lies within the crew of the Black Lagoon. With now a crew of four, immerse yourselves in the open ocean to the waterways and on land as the adventures of the Black Lagoon crew loot and pillage. The Black Lagoon Trading Franchise is open for business!
Bleach
By Tama-Chan
The first series that I will be reviewing is a series called "Bleach" which is currently airing in Japan. It is a story about a young boy named Ichigo Kurosaki who has the ability to see the dead spirits of people and is troubled by them. One day while he was resting at home he sees a strange girl in a black outfit appear in his room. He later finds out that her name is Rukiya a shinigami (Death). She has come to that house because she is tracking a dangerous spirit called a Hollow which was last felt in that area. As he goes about arguing with her she seals him with a special spell so that he wont interfere with her work but when his family is attacked by the Hollow he becomes enraged and breaks free and attempts to fight the creature. During the battle he is decides to go head to head with the creature and nearly dies but Rukiya sacrifices her life to protect him. She then passes on her powers to him with the intent on giving him only half so that he can fight this creature but when he begins the process of the energy exchange he takes all of her powers and becomes a shinigami. He easily kills the Hollow and learns that he is now a shinigami that is to help her with her job while she recovers her powers. As the series goes on he makes new friends that he learns have some powers of their own some due to the contact they had with him because of his immense spiritual power that he overflows with. After some time some other shinigami’s come to get Rukiya because it is discovered that she gave her powers to a mortal which is not permitted so begins a fight to protect her and eventually to rescue her in the Soul Society once she is captured and put on the execution row.
Review by Takahashi Ryousuke
"Koyuki", pretty much a loser in high school gets into a chance meeting with what looks like a dog version of "Black Jack"(editors note, see the review on Black Jack below) and gets to know his owner, Ryuusuke. From there, Koyuki begins to get involvement with Ryuusuke's new rock band. Twists and turns follow, but you'll never get bored of this show!
Black Jack "BLACK JACK" TV SERIES
Review by Kell Komatsubara
We recently got ahold of some of the raws, and had begun to watch them. Once again, Osamu Tezuka's infamous character "BLACK JACK", the unlicensed surgeon proves that his hands are that of GOD. The opening episode, explains how he got the scars on his face and the doctor who saved him. Also, the episodes are faithful to the original manga of Tezuka, with a few additions of some of Tezuka's earlier works. You will see a lot of Kimba, AstroBoy, and others familiar to those faithful to the work of the "Manga no Kami-sama"...
Black Lagoon
review by The Tamago
After entering the business world as a whitecollar worker, Okajima Rokuro holding an important data disk ends up as a hostage by the Black Lagoon. The Corporation Rokuro works for leaves him only one path, his funeral and a better title. Finding his luck going down the drain further, he soon finds that his trust and new life lies within the crew of the Black Lagoon. With now a crew of four, immerse yourselves in the open ocean to the waterways and on land as the adventures of the Black Lagoon crew loot and pillage. The Black Lagoon Trading Franchise is open for business!
Bleach
By Tama-Chan
The first series that I will be reviewing is a series called "Bleach" which is currently airing in Japan. It is a story about a young boy named Ichigo Kurosaki who has the ability to see the dead spirits of people and is troubled by them. One day while he was resting at home he sees a strange girl in a black outfit appear in his room. He later finds out that her name is Rukiya a shinigami (Death). She has come to that house because she is tracking a dangerous spirit called a Hollow which was last felt in that area. As he goes about arguing with her she seals him with a special spell so that he wont interfere with her work but when his family is attacked by the Hollow he becomes enraged and breaks free and attempts to fight the creature. During the battle he is decides to go head to head with the creature and nearly dies but Rukiya sacrifices her life to protect him. She then passes on her powers to him with the intent on giving him only half so that he can fight this creature but when he begins the process of the energy exchange he takes all of her powers and becomes a shinigami. He easily kills the Hollow and learns that he is now a shinigami that is to help her with her job while she recovers her powers. As the series goes on he makes new friends that he learns have some powers of their own some due to the contact they had with him because of his immense spiritual power that he overflows with. After some time some other shinigami’s come to get Rukiya because it is discovered that she gave her powers to a mortal which is not permitted so begins a fight to protect her and eventually to rescue her in the Soul Society once she is captured and put on the execution row.
Blood
by Bakachan
Saya Otonashi... For those of you who remember the brief feature titled "Blood" are probably picturing the braided girl in the sailor suit, slashing and hacking at chiropterans, or vampires, in a 1960s Yokohama base, her eyes as cold as the creatures she kills. Well, fast-forward to the present day. Those braids are gone, as well as the sword, and she's living the carefree life of a normal high school student in Okinawa, with friends and adopted family, with a bit of a medical problem and a tendency to gorge on every meal without gaining a pound! She hasn't aged a bit, and she's forgotten her past, but there are those around her who haven't. Her current life shatters when a large, vicious creature attacks her teacher, then herself. Frozen in fear, she's about to die when a tall, dark, mysterious (& yeah, handsome) guy crashes in to protect her, then hands her a wicked-looking sword. It isn't long before her adopted brother comes in on the scene, and then the rest of her adopted family is dragged into this, along with her "father"'s friend, who knows more about her than he's telling. There's more than a bit of the Buffy/Angel-kind of relationship between Saya and her protector, Hagi, but being that this runs 50 episodes, "Blood " gets to delve deeper into Saya's past and who (and what) she is than the original feature. Fans of vampire-killing, excessive action, pretty people angst, and world-tripping, rejoice!
by Bakachan
Saya Otonashi... For those of you who remember the brief feature titled "Blood" are probably picturing the braided girl in the sailor suit, slashing and hacking at chiropterans, or vampires, in a 1960s Yokohama base, her eyes as cold as the creatures she kills. Well, fast-forward to the present day. Those braids are gone, as well as the sword, and she's living the carefree life of a normal high school student in Okinawa, with friends and adopted family, with a bit of a medical problem and a tendency to gorge on every meal without gaining a pound! She hasn't aged a bit, and she's forgotten her past, but there are those around her who haven't. Her current life shatters when a large, vicious creature attacks her teacher, then herself. Frozen in fear, she's about to die when a tall, dark, mysterious (& yeah, handsome) guy crashes in to protect her, then hands her a wicked-looking sword. It isn't long before her adopted brother comes in on the scene, and then the rest of her adopted family is dragged into this, along with her "father"'s friend, who knows more about her than he's telling. There's more than a bit of the Buffy/Angel-kind of relationship between Saya and her protector, Hagi, but being that this runs 50 episodes, "Blood " gets to delve deeper into Saya's past and who (and what) she is than the original feature. Fans of vampire-killing, excessive action, pretty people angst, and world-tripping, rejoice!
Boogiepop Phantom
(Boogie Pop Warawanai)
by Bakachan
All teens have problems, like cheating on tests, losing your mother, drugs, having an absentee father, etc. But if a huge white light splits the sky, gives you freaky powers, and leaves a distorted rainbow over your town, then you’ve really got problems. Based on the novels “Boogiepop Doesn’t Laugh” by Kouhei Kadono, these interweaving episodes would give “Pulp Fiction” a run for its money in the messed-up chronology department. Boogiepop, according to the teens, is the local boogeyman or angel of death, but her actual role is more complex. Nagi Kirima, the lone wolf heroine/scary high schooler, fights the weirdness in her own way. While there’s much suspense, drama, action and gore, various episodes leave you clues as to what’s really going on, making this series one to watch over and over.
(Boogie Pop Warawanai)
by Bakachan
All teens have problems, like cheating on tests, losing your mother, drugs, having an absentee father, etc. But if a huge white light splits the sky, gives you freaky powers, and leaves a distorted rainbow over your town, then you’ve really got problems. Based on the novels “Boogiepop Doesn’t Laugh” by Kouhei Kadono, these interweaving episodes would give “Pulp Fiction” a run for its money in the messed-up chronology department. Boogiepop, according to the teens, is the local boogeyman or angel of death, but her actual role is more complex. Nagi Kirima, the lone wolf heroine/scary high schooler, fights the weirdness in her own way. While there’s much suspense, drama, action and gore, various episodes leave you clues as to what’s really going on, making this series one to watch over and over.