Anime that I have to watch. - now my anime review thread!

[Micharus]

*snip*
suggestion : watch the entire season and then post your feelings

Ok, I just marathoned the last eight episodes of "Kimi ni Todoke" 2nd season..... mostly because once I started watching it, I didn't want to stop, so apart from having a break for lunch, that's what happened.

I suggest people read the post two posts above this one... meh, wait will place quote from the previous post about this.

Also, to put things back on the rails thread wise, I've just finished watching episode 5 of "Kimi ni Todoke" the 2nd season.

Everyone from the first season is back again and somehow they have all managed to end up in the same class again.

The first episode (numbered 00) consists almost entirely of flashbacks from Kurumi and her experiences from last season, but the next episode is where it the new season starts for real.

The same artists are back on deck, with the same drawing style, which is quite good.

The feel for this season is very slightly different from the first season, but it still has the 'light and fluffy' feel the first season had.

It still feels like they have gotten a girls diary and made it into an anime, with more 'diary like' openings for episodes, followed by a swift plunge into the storyline.

Sawako is very much confused as to exactly how she feels about Kazehaya, she knows she likes him, but isn't sure about how to deal with it.

To complicate things a little, it appears another player has appeared and this time it is a guy called "Kent".

Sawako and Kazehaya's mutual friends, Ayana, Chizuru and Ryu are doing their best to support them, but they (mostly Ayana) are becoming frustrated by the lack of progress.

That essentially covers some of the goings on in the first 5 episodes.

More to come on this when I finish the season, but so far it's easily as good as the first season.

Just when you think it can't get any better.....IT DOES!

In the second half of this season, things got to a point where I was almost raging out loud about the various happenings that were slowing things down between Sawako and Kazehaya.

This time it wasn't Kurumi that was causing problems, so much as it was the new guy, Kent.

The other thing that bugs me about Kent is that his character comes across like he is gay, or at first it did.

If it wasn't for him and various slips of the tongue made by other people, those two would have gotten to where they needed to be that much sooner.

The surprising thing was that Pin, the meddlesome homeroom teacher actually gave both Sawako and Kazehaya good advice from time to time.

The last eight episodes revolve around the school fair (or whatever they call it.), the preparations leading up to it, the event itself and the party afterwards.

Class 2-D decides to make "Sadako's Black Magic Cafe" their task for the school fair, with the main focus being Tea made from herbs grown in Sawako's medicinal herb garden and a 'fortune telling' booth featuring Sawako as the fortune teller.

Apart from the above, there are a few 'confrontations' between various people, mostly between Ayana, Chizuru and people who are trying to 'help'.

Kazehaya's friend, Joe, made me seriously want to punch him several times, because he always seemed to get in the way, despite not meaning to.

One BIG breakthrough was when Kazehaya finally tells Joe to go away, because he was talking to Sawako.

The overall feeling of this season was very much the same as the first one, light and fluffy, with any 'serious' moments treated in a very non-serious manner.

Sawako has to be the most innocent girl in anime ever. Sawako doesn't have a bad bone in her entire body, from what I can see.

If an anime can be called 'beautiful' this would be it.

The last episode of the 2nd series was interesting, it could very well end there, but I don't think it will and I'm happy about that because it means there is another season coming just as soon as they get enough material together.

If you have seen the first season of Kimi ni Todoke, you NEED/MUST watch the second season.

[Note: I had a bit of a 'brain fart' while writing the review, so I may add to/change it at a later point when my head is back in gear.  ]

Back to "Ikkitousen" the 3rd season for a change of pace I think.
 

[Havoc10K]

In other words Mic says he enjoyed this show a LOT !

[Micharus]

In other words Mic says he enjoyed this show a LOT !

Yes, I most certainly did.

Would it seem odd to say that as I watched the anime, from the first episode of the first season, right through to the last episode, Sawako was more attractive with her hair pulled away from her face, even if it was just in plain 'twin tails' for sports or up in a 'bun'.

Maybe it's just me. 

Sawako also reminds me a bit of of    Noda Megumi, from "Nodame Cantabile".

[Havoc10K]

she certainly is a lot more attractive with her hair done, I think she looked most beautiful on the new years though.

[Micharus]

she certainly is a lot more attractive with her hair done, I think she looked most beautiful on the new years though.

On that I totally agree. She almost looks like an entirely different person.

Also, Chizuru when she is made up for the wedding of Ryu's older brother.... very cute and one the few (only?) times you actually see Chizuru in a proper dress.

MAL says that there is a 'special' coming out soon, April 20th it is supposed to air I believe.
I'm going to grab that just as soon as it gets subbed, hopefully [gg] will do the special.

[Havoc10K]

ugh, dubbing on this show is something I really don't want, I have this chill saying dubbing will totally kill this show with it's bad voices.

The special will probably be subbed by gg, and I wonder what it will have

[Micharus]

ugh, dubbing on this show is something I really don't want, I have this chill saying dubbing will totally kill this show with it's bad voices.

The special will probably be subbed by gg, and I wonder what it will have

Eeep! I meant Subbed, seriously. I prefer Subs over dubs.

Man, serves me right for not paying attention to what my fingers are up to. Sometimes I swear my fingers are dyslexic.

Yeah, I wonder what the special is going to be too.
As funny as it sounds, I hope it's NOT a beach/hot springs/pool episode.
A fan service episode would totally kill the feel of the anime if it was done wrong.

*goes to change the OTHER post so it reads right!
** can you believe I found about a zillion mistakes in this post? geeeeez!

[Havoc10K]

I can actually believe a beach episode, but in the manga it was completely different from fanservice, it was a very nice chapter, if they want to use this in the special (if they use around 40-50 minutes) they can pitch in a few shorter chapters, and make everyone super happy, the beach part in KnT wasn't a service at all, although it is possible to see something very interesting, but I'm not planning on spoiling this any more, just saying, a beach episode, doesn't need to be service

[Micharus]

Hmmm....

After watching "Kimi ni Todoke", the 3rd season of "Ikkitousen" was like a bucket of cold water in the face.

Yes, I watched the third season of "Boobs of Steel" or "Ikkitouson: Great Guardians".

The first episode confused me, at least it did at the start.

Why?

Because someone who was supposed to dead was looking very much alive and kicking some serious butt. Nice butt too, as it was Kan`u who was getting the beating.

The someone who was dead but came back is..... Ryofu. Those of you who watched the second season, know that she killed herself in the process of killing one of the major bad guys in the last season.

For whatever reason, Ryofu is back.....but she doesn't know who she is. Complete and total memory loss. Ryofu doesn't even know what a fighter is, or how to use her skills....or not knowingly at any rate, as you will see as the season progresses.

The dissapointing thing about the first episode is the the overload of silliness in it, it comes across more like a Bugs Bunny cartoon in some places, rather than an anime.

There IS a storyline in this anime, but I'd probably have to watch it again to pick it out.

As with the last two season, fanservice is all over the place, but one thing you can not miss is Kan`u in a bikini! YoW!

Another thing that happens is: A new sister appears!
Yes, out of the blue appears a girl who says she is Hakufu's sister.
The only thing Hakufu and Chuubou have in common, are that they are both blonde and female.
Chuubou seems to be smarter and she can actually cook, while Hakufu is the same as usual, baka, except for when it really counts.

At any rate, this season is not as good as the second season, but it is still watchable.

Season four of Ikkittousen is next. I really hope it doesn't go any further downhill.

[Havoc10K]

watch the fourth season as a comedy...it helps =_=!

[Micharus]

watch the fourth season as a comedy...it helps =_=!

That good huh?

Did you find the link to a picture in the review?

Photostitch is wonderful thing when you get those 'scrolling' upwards scenes.

Take three or four overlapping screen shots, 'stitch' them together and almost instant full body picture.

 

[Havoc10K]

I do that sometimes myself.

[Micharus]

Just a little update.

Just finished watching episode 8 of "Ikktousen: Xtreme Xecutor".

I wasn't expecting much from the 4th season of Ikktousen, so I have been pleasantly surprised to find that it is better than the third season, despite what people have said.

For one there is a seemingly coherent storyline and that in and of itself is a bonus.

Four more episodes to go.

One last thing, the 'specials' for each season are fan service, pure and simple.
Technically they *should* have made them into a single OVA as each special comes in at about 5 minutes each....including OP &ED.

[Havoc10K]

I don't know what people say about 4th season, cuz I don't care, action pack was delivered, sure there is fanservice in abudance, but that doesn't harm the action on the screen, I wouldn't mind another season though.

as for the specials, yeah, I knew it was pure service so I skipped, no need to watch borderline hentai when your gf is behind your back >_<! (or beside you watching your reaction to Kan'u's huge tits swaying freely in combat and giving you scary stares, but she understands so that is reassuring she won't damage me much )

[Al_Sleeper]

no need to watch borderline hentai when your gf is behind your back >_<! (or beside you watching your reaction to Kan'u's huge tits swaying freely in combat and giving you scary stares)

Try showing her Bondage Games .

[Micharus]

Greetings all and Happy Easter! Hope you get lots of chocolate to nom nom on.

Just finished watching the fourth season of "Ikkitousen".

It's title is "Xtreme Xecutor", spelled exactly like that.

Unlike the other seasons, which are loosely based on the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", this season, according to AniDB, is based on the Manga.

As mentioned in a previous post, this season is better than the third season, it's not as good as the second season, which totally rocked, but it's still a good watch.

I:XX seems to follow on directly from season 2, but there is always the events in season 3 to think about.

In this season, a new character arrives, a girl called Bachou Mouki.

Aside from that a new threat appears, a character called Kentai.

It appears that Kentai is the "Emperor" or so it seems.
He, along with fighters from the Nanban High School, set a trap and lure some, but not all of the top fighters and leaders from the other high schools to Nanban High School, which for some reason is a HUGE building made out of stone on an island.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work out quite as planned, with Sonsaku literally 'missing the boat' and Ryuubi deciding not to go, but sending Kan`u and Chouhi in her place.

Interestingly, some of the 'bad guys' from season 2 and three have become 'good guys', mostly because it is in their interest to 'do the right thing' at this point in time

Several people who I thought had been dead and buried or 'vanished', suddenly reappear in this season, but for the most part the re-appearance of these characters are handled well.

A good 80% of this anime takes place on Nanban Island and it appears it's a fairly large place.

As in the other seasons of Ikkitousen, there is a lot of clothing going missing during the fights and plenty of pantsu, although for some reason it doesn't seem out of place in this season.
Maybe it's 'too much of a good thing'. Who knows?

The ending is a little odd, it definitely leaves room for another season and there are one or two things that don't get neatly tidied up, but it ends well.

Worth watching just to see Kan`u *REALLY* going at full power, not to mention Ryumou in her maid's outfit in full flight.

Next thing I'm watching is..... Eve no Jikan.
It's a movie, so expect some sort of review on that shortly.
Note that it will be my first review of an Anime Movie!

[Havoc10K]

you should watch the movie after the ova, not before.

[Micharus]

you should watch the movie after the ova, not before.

From what I have read, the Movie is a 'summary' of the OVA.

This may or may not be correct.

At any rate, I don't have the OVA (a series of 6), just the movie.

Edit: ok, looked at the various things people have said about the Movie and I've come to the conclusion that getting the OVA down may be a waste of time.
The movie apparently covers everything in OVA, plus it has some extra footage.
This tells me that if I watch the OVA, then watch the Movie, I would essentially be watching the same thing twice in a short period of time.
Not my favorite thing to do.

Maybe I'll just get the OVA down and do a review on that. Need to think on it.

[Havoc10K]

want a cookie ?

also, don't rush yourself, cuz this is definitely worth the time you spend on it, and watching the OVAs is not a waste of time, the movie just summarizes some things, but some conversations are different. The Ovas are surely great, but the Movie is on the other hand completely superior in terms of visual artwork and the script.

since you have the movie, watch it, and while you finish DLing the OVA's later on give em a shot.

[Micharus]

Well....
Long story short, I got the OVA of "Time Of Eve" down and watched them instead of the movie.

Having said that, on to the review.

The OVA version of "Time of Eve" is six episodes long, however, each episode is only around 15 minutes long.

The series is set in Japan, sometime in the distant future.

Robots have become common and specialized robots, called Androids are being used in the household.

The androids of the future look so much like humans, that they are required to have a holographic 'ring' floating above their heads, sort of like a halo, so that humans can tell who is what.

The story revolves around Rikuo and his families android, Sammy.

Rikuo becomes interested in where Sammy has been going, as it seems she occasionally takes longer to do certain shopping trips from time to time, so he downloads her activity logs and finds a strange line in it that says "Are you enjoying the time of Eve?".

This leads him and a friend, Masaki to retrace her movements, where they come across a cafe, but a special one.
This Cafe has one rule.... robots and humans are both treated the same at all times.
In order to help achieve this goal, the Androids turn off their 'halo', with the result being that you can't tell the difference between them and the human customers.

It's very much a 'slice of life' anime, but it's an odd kind of life where androids are involved.

There are some interesting things in this anime, one of them being the the lady (Nagi) who seems to own and run the Cafe by herself.
She appears to be human, but you never see her outside of the Cafe, so I can't say for sure.

The other is Chie, a young child who is cared for by an 'old' looking android.
Chie, apart from Rikuo and Masaki are the only characters that appear in the Cafe, that I can say are human for sure.

To say much more would be a bad thing, as I've already said more than enough about what happens.

This was an OK watch, one that makes you stop and think from time to time.

From memory, "The World God Only Knows" was up next.

Edit: One thing people who are fans of the author "Isaac Asimov" will pick up on, is the that in the first few episodes, the "Laws Of Robotics" are mentioned. It seems that almost any anime/film or whatever that features robots, will mention the 'Laws'. Interesting huh.