Year: 2008

Status: Complete

Official Special A Site (Japanese)

Rating: Great

A romantic comedy almost as hilarious as School Rumble, Special A is all about the never-ending rivalry between Hanazono Hikari and Takeshima Kei. Hikari has always been second to Kei in everything, and her sole aim in life is to defeat him. To that end, she has joined the elite private academy Kei attends, and is part of the S.A or the Special A class. The S.A consists of the top seven students of the school who have special privileges and are nothing like the ordinary high school students. Special A follows these seven in a comical story of finding love.

Alright, this show really made me laugh! Special A is first about comedy and then comes everything else. Its hilarity comes from the story which follows the exaggerated (and sometimes near-impossible) adventures of the seven S.A students. Being from wealthy families, their lifestyle at school largely consists of sipping tea in their private greenhouse. Life gets interesting with the continuous rivalry between Hikari and Kei as they engage in some of the most far-fetched challenges one can ever think of - and sometimes drag the class into it. From the beginning we are introduced to Hikari’s undying will to defeat Takishima Kei and Kei’s amazing ability to always be a step ahead. Things get interesting when Kei’s feelings for Hikari are apparent to everyone but Hikari herself!

Despite the comical situations and laughs, S.A does go on to explore each of the seven characters, their stories and how they find love. In that sense, Special A isn’t just about two people - its about all seven. And thats one of the best parts. Its got its serious emotional moments but probably not enough drama to have the viewers tearing up! Overall, Special A is worth watching. Yes its not a terribly original storyline and yes its characters aren’t terribly creative either. But at the end of the day, it makes you want to keep watching!

Itazura na Kiss: This romantic comedy revolves around Aihara Kotoko who has loved Irie Naoki all through her high school life. However, Kotoko’s object of love seems almost impossible to reach as Naoki is super smart and handsome while Kotoko is in the rock bottom F-class. Kotoko brings up the courage to confess her feelings but is rejected without a second thought. Fate intervenes and her house is destroyed by a earthquake. Thus Kotoko and her father move in with his high school friend - none other than the Irie family!

Special A: A romantic comedy almost as hilarious as School Rumble, Special A is all about the never-ending rivalry between Hanazono Hikari and Takeshima Kei. Hikari has always been second to Kei in everything, and her sole aim in life is to defeat him. To that end, she has joined the elite private academy Kei attends, and is part of the S.A or the Special A class. The S.A consists of the top seven students of the school who have special privileges and are nothing like the ordinary high school students. Special A follows these seven in a comical story of finding love.

Thats it for now! Hope everyone had a great summer - and looking forward to some great Fall 2008 anime!

Year: 2005

Alternative Title: Eikoku Koi Monogatari Emma, Emma (for short)

Status: Complete, Licensed by Right Stuf International

Official Emma: A Victorian Romance Site (Japanese)

Official Studio Pierrot Emma Site (English)

Rating: Great

“Every era has its own forbidden love” (Prince Hakim) - and the Victorian Age of England was no different. William Jones is the eldest son of the wealthy family Jones, and a member of the upper class gentry. Emma is a simple maid working for Kelly Stowner, a former governess. A fateful meeting between Emma and William while William visits Mrs. Stowner, throws their worlds into chaos as they begin to fall in love. In times where the barriers of social class and wealth are strong enough to create two divided worlds, William and Emma’s love seems an absolute impossibility. Emma: A Victorian Romance follows the story of Emma and William’s love and the devastating consequences it brings to the families around it as the characters are torn between society and love.

Given the fan-service-oriented depiction that maids have in the world of anime, it is a real pleasure to watch a serious and emotionally compelling anime with a maid as one of its driving characters. Emma is a far cry from the ridiculous storylines and exaggerated body image that dominate the maid genre. Despite being a well-trodden classic love story about an impossible romance, Emma offers much more in its characters, its depiction of Victorian England, social barriers, and above all, the various layers of dilemmas that dominate the circumstances. The story unfolds encompassing a wide range of characters including William’s younger siblings who are negatively affected by his romance.

Of particular note here is the accuracy of depiction and attention to detail throughout the anime. I found this not only in the character development of William, Prince Hakim (his best friend), Emma, Eleanor Campbell and others - but also in things like a 2 minute scene where Monica’s (Eleanor’s sister) sari is correctly worn. The interplay between the characters themselves is the driving force behind the success of this piece of storytelling. I found Prince Hakim’s role to be interesting as he seemed to be the re-assuring voice, the one to challenge William thoughts, and his support in times of need - at the right times. Hakim’s sensibility on love sometimes contrasted starkly with William’s concern for society and his family’s reputation, resulting in William being tempted to surrender his love to the rules of his time.

I can write about this endlessly for such is the nature of a good story - but it is time to stop. In closing all I have to say is that perhaps Emma’s true significance lies in that the story rings true even in today’s world. Love deemed unacceptable by society always follows the lives of characters who did not expect themselves to be faced with the trials, contradictions, choices and emotional havoc they are left with. The author of Emma (Mori-sensei) succeeded in bringing this message through the story of Emma: A Victorian Romance. Afterall, ‘every era has its forbidden love’.

Year: 2006

Alternative Title: Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo or TokiKake (for short)

Status: Complete, Licensed by Bandai Entertainment

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo Official Site (Japanese)

The Girl who Leapt Through Time (U.S)

Rating: Awesome

One fateful day, 17 year old Makoto Konno mysteriously avoids a fatal accident with a train only to realise that she has the ability to leap through time. Ecstatic with her newfound power, Makoto uses it to get perfect grades on tests and to indulge in pudding before her sister gets it. However, as Makoto uses it to undo undesirable incidents and avoid a confession of love from her friend, she begins to realise the adverse effects her leaps have on those around her.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo starts out being light-hearted and unassuming with Makoto’s tomboyish character and her innocent (and perhaps naive) excitement at her newfound gift. What really gives life to the story is the treatment of characters Makoto, Chiaki and Kousuke and what their friendship means to Makoto in light of her new power. Mamoru Hosuda’s creativity in directing the film lends the story layers of complexity intertwining Makoto’s innocence with the more serious consequences of time-travelling. The transition from a light-hearted comedy to an emotionally serious piece is seamless and keeps viewers invested from beginning to end.

Needless to say time-travelling is not a new concept in the realm of storytelling. Despite its well-trodden storyline, the genius of Hosuda’s direction perfectly complemented with visuals and music make it a piece of first-class storytelling. Embedded in Makoto’s story is our own dilemma of having regrets. I can honestly say that I have more than once wished for abilities like Makoto’s to “fix” things of the past. Through Makoto’s story comes the clear message that things can never really be undone and apart from the unforeseen consequences of meddling with time, there is always the question of whether we’d really be better off or not.

Without giving away too much, I shall venture to say that I found the ending of the movie perfect. The movie left me with a nostalgic longing for the innocence of school life coupled with a feeling of content - and a bit of sadness that it was over. In short, a masterfully woven storyline balancing the carefree school-life and the greater questions of past and present make Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo an uncontested winner.

Year: 2008

Status: Complete, unlicensed

Subbed by: Shinsen Subs

Hatenkou Yugi Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Great

After being told to “see the world”, young Rahzel is abruptly kicked out of her house by her father. Rahzel begins her travels and incidentally meets Alzeid - a young man on a mission to avenge his father’s death. Rahzel and Alzeid are poles apart in almost everything but continue to their travels together. As they embark on various adventures, their journey brings them reflections on their lives, their pasts and relationships.

Hatenkou Yugi is far from the run-of-the-mill both in storyline and characterisation. I have to say, I have never seen an anime like this! The anime begins with a cheeky humorous tone, but as the plot progresses, takes on a more emotional take on things. Romance isn’t exactly the driving theme in this although there is the question of underlying attraction between Alzeid and Rahzel. Rahzel and Alzeid (later accompanied by Baroquheat) do all sorts of jobs to pay for their travels and ofcourse end up with a variety of ….er interesting (not to mention dangerous) tasks. The best thing about this anime is that the story started out great, had an interesting plot throughout, and wrapped it up well at the end. While the last episode does answer some questions, it leaves some open which in my opinion is a good thing. That said, I am hoping for a second season of this series. Thumbs up to Hatenkou Yugi!

Kekkaishi: Thanks to Yoroshiku Fansubs for sticking with this series and doing such a fantastic job subbing it!

Hatenkou Yuugi: Thanks to Shinsen Subs and Kiss Sub for subbing this fun-filled anime!

Bamboo Blade: Thanks to Huzzah and Doremi for their hard work and great job in subbing - not to mention introducing us to the awesomeness of Kendo!

A round of applause to all of them please!

Episodes: 26

Year: 1995

Status: Complete, Licensed by ADV Films

Neon Genesis Evangelion Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Great

This is a classic anime series from 1995-1996 that is a must-watch for any serious anime fan. The series is set in a apocalyptic / post-apocalyptic world where Angels (which take the form of giant robots) are descending to earth to destroy everything. The narrative follows the paramilitary organization NERV which fights the invading Angels using their own giant mecha called Evangelions. These Evangelions are poiloted by the teenagers Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, and Asuka Soryu. These characters are portrayed as protagonists as they each have their own flaws, from being a spineless wimp (Shinji) to other dynamics that arise between the interactions of the leads. The female characters Asuka, Rei, and Misato became cultural icons due to their attractive designs.

Neon Genesis has a lot of biblical themes to it and includes a large amount of Judeo Christian symbols through the entire series. This adds an interesting dimension to the storyline and adds more depth to an already interesting story. The secret organization also has aspects of international politics as countries other than Japan band together as well to fight off the invading monsters. There are some really nice fight scenes in this anime. If you enjoy destruction, apocalypse, and aren’t too offended by massive amounts of blood than you will enjoy this one.

The later episodes also have a drastic change in tone—some of it actually feels unfinished (I believe the writer left before finishing the final episodes) so there is a change in feel near the end. It turns into a emotional/psychological thriller as the end game plays out between NERV and the Angels in a very climatic end. This postmodern ending might confuse some viewers and even piss off the more sensitive, so it might be worth skipping the final two episodes. There is also a movie version that cuts out some of the extra scenes (some of them just make you cringe a little) and cuts down on the fluff. Overall, this is a classic story and I recommend to anyone not overly sensitive to the inevitable gore and blood that stains the fight scenes. It is also worth noting that Evangelion spawned a few knock-off animes, one of them being the lesser Rahxephon series that features a very similar story and protagonist.

Kaiji: a psychological anime about gambling much in the same story and art style as Akagi. Subbed by: The Triad

Hatenkou Yugi: Full of adventure, comedy and magic - this story about the journey of three unlikely travellers as pursue their personal goals. Subbed by: Kiss Subs and Shinsen Subs

Saiunkoku Monogatari II: Which takes off from where the first season left off - very interesting turn of events though :). This one is a little slow on subs this season so I recommend finding your own sources for it.

Look forward to these reviews - and any other suggestions for some good anime??

Happy browsing and enjoy the new addition!

Year: 2007

Status: Ongoing

Subbed by: Eclipse Productions

Shakugan no Shana Official Site (Japanese)

Rating: Yet to be rated

Shakugan no Shana II takes off from where the first season left off. After the last clash between Bal Masque and the Flame Hazes, things have more or less returned to normalcy. However, the Bal Masque still have their eyes on the Reiji Maigo carried by the Mystes - Sakai Yuuji. In the meantime, Yuuji vows to fight by Shana, and to do that trains to be stronger and control the power of the Reiji Maigo. Amidst the threat of the Bal Masque and the inevitable love triangle at high school, the mysteries of the Reiji Maigo come closer to being revealed.

The second season brings about some interesting new developments and furthers the plot. While the last season left off with little attention on the romantic aspect of Shana and Yuuji’s relationship, season 2 spends much more time on the question. While I found the first half of the series to be interesting, I also wanted to see more action. Fret not - its not all about love in this season! The action soon begins to pick up with the storyline coming back around to the confrontation between Bal Masque and the Flame Hazes.

The first season really had me hooked to it since the story plunged right into the crisis scenario. The second season doesn’t quite do that since it starts off much slower taking on the high school-drama character rather than the action-packed-world-on-the-edge-of-doom feel. That said, although a little later in the game than expected, the series does deliver some good Flame Haze action. For those of us who were wondering whatever happened to Shana’s feelings for Yuuji, this season offers some sort of closure. All in all, if you watched the first season, you probably want to get your hands on this one!