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Jul 21, 2008
Sky Girls follows the experiences of three young girls in a futuristic military as they combat monsters with their exoskeletons known as Sonic Divers. It's a very good take on the traditional mecha fighting anime by avoiding the giant robots and adding young female leads for fanservice appeal. Tis one volume manga is essentially the same as the Sky Girls OVA. It does a good job of summarizing what's going on within the universe, but does little to establish character backgrounds or building any type of actual story. As an accompanying title to those that enjoyed the TV series, it does well.
The artwork in the
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manga is good as best. Backgrounds are very prominent and the use of tone is fair. The only complaints with the artwork is that it seems inconsistent at times. The biggest errors are with proportions as sometimes a characters head will be a bit too large for their figure. Still, it is not so horrible as to ruin the series, but it is noticeable.
The characters are as lively as they were in the OVA and TV series. You get a decent feel of all of their emotions and where their interests lie. Since the manga doesn't follow an actual complete series you don't really get to bond with them, but they are still approachable and cute in their own sense. Those that haven't watched the series may have trouble with connecting with the characters.
From beginning to end, the manga serves as a little more than a warm-up to the TV series. Just like the OVA that was adapted from the manga, it serves well to satisfy fans paletes and give potential fans a taste of what they might enjoy. Those looking for an in-depth story, development, and closure will be disappointed. In the end, the manga is highly recommended for fans of the series and for those who want to sample the series before jumping right in.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 21, 2008
Goldenboy is an anime that, for some bizarre reason, seems to have a fairly large fanbase. Due to it's age, it is probably one of the first animes to really push the boundaries of ecchi while still being able to retain a fair rating. While it does succeed in providing mindless fanservice, the series lacks severely in story development as well as character design. The story is fairly nonexistent but is supposed to follow a wandering student through his encounter with beautiful women on his personal soul search. The setting itself isn't a bad idea, but the development in the anime itself is lackluster to
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say the least. The story doesn't progress in any fashion, but instead only seems to serve as a slap-job way to tie the different encounters together.
The artwork in Goldenboy is well dated. Hard edges with old-school styled shading and lighting effects are similar to what you would find in an early 90's eroge (hentai game). The backgrounds are drawn in a sketchy fashion and not really appealing, but are suited to the characters themselves. The overabundance of black white fields for "shining" effects is a bit overdone, giving characters a very plastic looking feel. Even for an anime of it's age, the artwork is fairly poor amongst other animes of it's generation.
The soundwork in the series is fair, but nothing spectacular. The opening theme is easily forgotten and usually skipped amongst DVD viewers. Background sound effects are placed where they should be while background music is left to a pretty laughable presentation.
The characters are about what you would expect to find in any standard eroge. All are very flashy with large endowments with very little personality. The schoolgirl is flirty, the office women is hard-up, and others fit their genres well enough, but they're hardly memorable. Viewers will be taken from character to character so often that they'll hardly even remember a character's name, much less anything else. Development for each of these characters is pretty poor as well. The development for the protagonist is actually poor as well, despite following his personal adventures. They show that he smart, lucky, and good hearted despite his extreme perversions, but that's about it. No background information is shown, no purpose to his travel, or much else is given to allow viewers to relate to the character.
The apparent fanbase for this series is more than likely the same that find enjoyment with Iketeru Futari. The fanservice is abundant and the series short enough to get through in a single sitting, but the development and characters themselves are fairly laughable in terms of presentation. The series itself just seems to focus more on ecchi idiocy than anything, and fails to deliver in any other sense. Sensible viewers will find a more enjoyable experience with series such as Love Hina or similar titles.
Reviewer’s Rating: 2
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Dec 6, 2007
Sister Princess is, more than likely, aimed at a very narrow audience with it's abundance of cute younger sisters. The series itself suffers from a big lack of story structure and development, as well as a defined purpose for a majority of the events. Still, it is quite certain that a fair group of people will find enjoyment in it's episodic layout.
The story of Sister Princess is pretty shallow despite the large cast. Guy fails a school entrance exam, gets sent to a different school on an island, and meets twelve little sisters. All in all, that's about it. There's no real romance that develops
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with any of them nor are there any developments seen at school. Viewers will get to see the main character bond differently with each sister but, as a whole, the series is very episodic with little foundation and even less storyline. The closest thing viewers will get to a story is the suspicion of one of the sisters spying on the main character. Even that is left to serve little more purpose than comic relief.
The artwork is very traditional in terms of the cute harem anime genre is concerned. The backgrounds are simple, yet bright and well defined. The characters themselves are all lively and brightly colored so that they blend well enough with their surrounding environment. It's very passable in terms of viewer enjoyment, but does not really stand out in any fashion.
The soundwork is another field that is average in almost every category. The opening and ending themes are enjoyable, but nothing worthy of high mention. The intro is upbeat and energetic as is the ending theme. The character voices are charming and the background sounds fit well in terms of setting an atmosphere. Still, it fails to really deliver anything new to would-be fans.
The characters are probably the highest notable point for the series. With a dozen sisters to make unique, this was surely the focal point of design. Every sister has unique characteristics, hobbies, interests, and attitudes that make them enjoyable in their own fashion. Their voices are all very distint in their deliverance which also adds to their appeal. Perhaps the biggest mention for the sisters is how they each have a distint way of addressing their brother. Whether it be onii-san, onii-chan, aniki, onii-chama, or Nii-ya, every sister has a special way of addressing their adored brother. Characters aside from the sisters also get a fair amount of design. The best friend character is seem rather often to give him a true feeling of development while the main character is constantly growing and learning.
Overall, Sister Princess comes off with a very narrow appeal. Fans of "imouto" styled characters will find a cute paradise in at least one of the characters, while other viewers will find it as mediocre. Had the story contained a bit more development plot-wise instead of simple character construction, then it may have faired a bit better. Still, considering the diversity of characters and their unique appeal, the series can come off to be quite enjoyable for those that are seeking some simple entertainment.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Nov 30, 2007
Initial D Fourth Stage is the newest series in the long-running franchise. Fast-paced street racing, modified cars, and determined drivers all combine to create a series that has become one that is unique in it's style. Fourth Stage breathes in new art and an outstanding face lift to the series and guarantees to please fans of it's predecessors.
The story of Fourth Stage has come from the budding of Fujiwara Takumi's driving skill to the nationwide domination of Project D, a new race team established by Takahashi Ryouske. The story proceeds well from the small victories in various regions, to the eventual domination of the prefecture
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as a whole. The story however, does also drop into the various personal lives of the characters. By allowing viewers to see what is driving the character's ambitions and dreams, they can come to understand the determination that all hold.
The artwork has come a long way since the original First Stage. Character animations are more fluid and polished. Overall, they more attractive as well since they were pretty hard to view in the beginning. The biggest improvements have come, of course, in the vehicle and race animations. All the cars are depicted almost flawlessly both inside and out to let auto enthusiasts truly appreciate their favorite vehicles. The races are much smother and the vehicles have lost that "paste-on-top" feel that they used to have. A very welcome change. Fans can now truly feel the races blend together in solid animation.
The soundwork of Initial D has always been a key point to it's success. The squeeling tires, high-revving engines, and bursting exhausts are all delivered in an excellence that is to be expected. The background music has stayed true to the Initial D style with it's happy-pop Eurobeat soundtrack. The music, while perhaps annoying on it's own, does help to provide a great sense of energy during the race scenes. By combining the music and sounds in great choreography with the revamped animation, a completed scene gives it's viewers a real sense of awe. The new introduction and ending music are pretty similar to the previous tunes held by the earlier seasons. The intro music is fastpaced and energetic while the ending themes are a bit softer to give a sense of closure after each episode.
The characters in Initial D have come a long way since the original series, yet they still seem to have a hard time developing aside from their driving skill. Anger, drama, sadness, and determination are all delivered well enough, but any actual development is rarely made. The traditional overcoming by Takumi is nothing new but is fun to watch as new techniques and skills are found. The drama, itself, is pretty much based on a would-be relationship that is similar to one found in Second Stage. Again, while the characters learn and grow as drivers, they don't seem to evolve much as people.
Overall, Initial D Fourth Stage is an excellent addition to growing franchise. The new artwork will be a welcomed upgrade amongst fans of previous series and may even captivate the eyes of new viewers. For series focused on automotive enthusiasm, drifting, and driver determination, it does well for itself. However, it may find difficulty in capturing the attention of those that have little or no interest in auto racing or drifting.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Nov 29, 2007
Tokyo Akazukin (Tokyo Red Riding Hood) is, in one word, bizarre. Tamaoka Benkyo has essentially created a gruesome, unique world by colliding Red Riding Hood with Hellsing and adding a dash of Waita Uziga. While the manga first appears to be that of a loli-guro doujinshi, readers will be more than pleasantly surprised at the development of the story through all four volumes. That is, if they can get past the graphic violence and sex that is frequently depicted.
The story of Tokyo Akazukin is a unique one. Following a young, immortal girl through the dirtiest parts of Tokyo, it provides a dark and eerie
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atmosphere for it's readers. An interesting part of the story is that quite a few primary elements are left to question as the characters seek to find the answers themselves. By doing so, the artist enables the reader to become engrossed in the story and entangled with the characters themselves.
The artwork is rough, dirty, with an almost American touch to it. It is, however, these elements that suit the story best. The backgrounds are simple when displayed, but many panels are left to simple black-out tones. The characters themselves are highly detailed, yet sometimes have an almost anorexic feel. Their facial expressions are well depicted and do well to give the reader a good feel of not only what the character is saying, but feeling as well. The sexual encounters are that of a typical hentai doujin, but by avoiding attempted depictions of genitalia, the artist was able to avoid annoying censorships. Perhaps the most interesting part of the artwork is the prominence of gore. Blood, sweat, and guts are all delivered by the barrel with every violent encounter. From simple cuts to complete dismemberment, Benkyo spared no expense on gore.
The characters, both primary and secondary, are all unique in their design. Whether by identifiable physical features or attitude, every character comes off as providing some sort of "wow" factor for a reader. The way that the characters come to interact with each other sometimes feels a bit up to chance but, in the end, it's good enough to move the story along and will keep readers satisfied until the end. The attitudes and demeanors of these character is perhaps one of the most interesting points of mention. Most seem self-centered and out for their own means, but also seem to provide some form of compassion for others inside. It may have been the artist's intention to show that glimpse of human compassion in even the toughest of characters. That, however, is pure speculation.
The manga, overall, is a strange yet exciting experience for fans of the super-natural. While bewildering and nauseous at times, it is also intriguing and captivating at others. Like a violent detective novel, readers will find themselves going from volume to volume looking for answers to the questions that are given. If there was anything to keep readers from getting into the series, it would either be the gore or pornography (or both). Still, even wiith or without the sexual elements, Tokyo Akazukin is probably best defined as a thrill ride through a modern day, wonderland hell.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Nov 20, 2007
Saikano (Saishu heiki Kanojo) is an outstanding story of love, hope, war, despair, and companionship that takes places in a post-modern era. With a divine mix of modern realism and futuristic science fiction, Shin Takahashi brings a fanscinating world that envelopes the characters of the story with both light and dark elements.
Following the romantic relationship between Shuji and Chise, Saikano's story of a love-time story shows the complications of being apart when togetherness is the most important key of survival. While a bulk of the story is a sci-fi war story, the real focus lies on the struggles Shuji and Chise overcome to realise
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their love.
The artwork in Saikano contains a unique texture that embodies the characters with their background surroundings. The constant appearance of "blush" on all the characters gives off a sense of emotion while facial expressions serve strong to set a mood. Sharp and soft at the same time, the physical appear of Takahashi's work is one that is well suited to this type of story.
The characters are all prime in their sense of reality. Every character is well aware of the world around them and they work well in their situations. The lack of last names was included by Takahashi to allow readers to develop a sense of companionship with the characters. With every character developing equally through the times of struggle and depression, the reader can come to relations with at one character during the progression of the story. Even secondary characters are given great attention to show their place in the story, no matter how small it may be.
The manga itself is an excellent composition of a superb love story, great artwork, and outstanding character development. From the initial romance to the climactic conclusion, readers will never find a dull moment with the manga. This seven volume series is a must-have for fans of romance or sci-fi drama.
Readers should be warned of the graphic sexual content of the final volume. While attributing greatly to the story, it may be unsuitable for younger readers.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Nov 20, 2007
Shuffle! itself was an excellent harem anime that brought together unique characters, a strong feeling of drama, and a rather unexpected conclusion. Shuffle! Memories, however, failed to deliver any form of new development to the series. It essentially provided fans with a complete summary of the original series without providing anything new in terms of story or character development.
The story of Shuffle! Memories, if you can so call it that, is basically a complete recap of the original series. That's it. There are no new characters, no new developments, and no new scenes in terms of story. The only saving grace for this "series" was
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a new episode for a conclusion that essentially was nothing more than a fanservice filler. While the final episode was enjoyable, it by no means made up for the spanning recap episodes that lead up to it.
Seeing as how Memories is nothing more than a recap, the artwork has remained the same. No new scenes means no new art. Characters are still as well designed and developed as they were the first time around. The lively colors and interactive backgrounds are still present as well.
Perhaps the highest point of mention for Memories, is the introduction of new introduction music. With each episode focusing on a different character, viewers are treated to a character vocal song based on the focus of the upcoming episode. Hearing a new melody for every episode was pleasant, yet only served to give fans a taste of something new before serving them twenty five minutes of things they've already seen. Unfortunately the ending themes were not as lucky to get the same treatment as the introductions. The original "Innocence" ending theme closes every episode with the same animation of the girls standing in the rain. Nothing special, nothing new.
The characters for the series are as lively as they were in the original series, considering that it essentially is the original series. Fans will be able to relove their favorites with a second helping of what they've already received. Aside from that, there's not much more.
Shuffle! Memories apparently tried to bank on the fanbase of the original series by having them watch the same thing a second time. The new opening soundtrack was enjoyable as was the final new episode, but they only serve to wet the palette of fans. While one would haved expected Memories to be a fresh serving, they are left with only yesterday's leftovers. Fans of the original series will either be glad to see their characters return, or disappointed at the lack of new development. Unless one is truly a hardcore fan of the original series, it is recommended to skip this recap and simply enjoy the final fanservice episode.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Nov 19, 2007
Koi Kaze is an heartfelt drama that touches on the taboo subject of incest (love between siblings). What would otherwise be discarded as a revolting subject, is brought to life with soft artwork and supreme storytelling.
The artwork consists of soft lines with a pastel coloring system to provide a relaxing atmosphere for the viewer. It provides a pleasant change to the traditionally anime appearance. The backgrounds are well painted, yet still allow the characters to blend in nicely. The character animations themselves are pleasant and soft, yet still do nicely to express any and all emotions that they go through.
The sounds and music are
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easy on the ears and flow well with the series to set the tone for scenes of drama or anxiety. The opening theme is lively yet peaceful as to settle the viewer down for the episode to come. The ending theme is bit softer yet the vocals are somewhat unconventional to say the least. The character voices are well done, even if the females sound a bit on the bland side. This was more than likely done intentionally to give a better sense of reality, as opposed to the high-pitched voices found in traditional anime.
The characters themselves are soft, vulnerable, and realistic considering their circumstances. Each character serves his or her own purpose without flaw and they combine to deliver a compelling sense of reality. For an anime that covers such a touchy subject, this was a key element and Koi Kaze captured it perfectly.
The story, from the first encounter to the warm conclusion, never ceases to give it's viewers a visualization of how such a situation could very well play out in our modern society. To truly enjoy the series, one must put aside any judgemental views on the subject and take in the story as a whole. A highly recommended series of any fan of the soft-drama genre.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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