Nanoda's Reviews: Anime - Manga - Japan

Gwi - The Spectre

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:34:26 +0200

In a medieval world destroyed by wars and violence, a warrior, whom thorax is marked from the "GWI" sign, wander to the research of those like him... to kill them all!

That Manhwa (Corean comics) is settled in a fantasy background. His main character is Musang. Moving in the shadow, he is looking for the "pandemonium". These are the warriors signed by the "GWI" symbol, from whom is the name of Oraebalgeum and Kim Young-Oh's comics. The motivation of Musang's mission is not clear (he too is a pandemonum!!), but that is a way to create suspance. During his journey will appear strange characters...

Friends or Enemies? The question is quite important because Musang too is followed by a strange character that will try to kill him!!!

A very violent and harsh Manhwa. Fights are presents in each page of the manga. Dedied to the Shonen gender lovers; the drawing style is similar to the famous manga Bastard. This series counts at least 5 volumes, but just a few at my advice to describe a really interesting story. We can just wait and see what will show us the author!!!

Category: Manga - Add Your Comment

Suzuka

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:05:54 +0200

Did you like the manga I''S, Video Girl Ai, 100% Strawberry...??

If the answer is yes, you mustn't do yourselves to escape Suzuka, a title that will know surprise you for its originality narrative and for the quality and intensity of the story.

The main difference in comparison to the titles above mentioned is that, if in I''S and 100% Strawberry the protagonist is a candid, but so laconic and insecure of himself too much that he doesn't realize that their feelings are reciprocated, neither he is able to notice those of all other beautiful co-stars - more o less shameless that they are - really in the his irresponsibility there is the motor of events, in Suzuka happens the exactly oppose: here the protagonist takes conscience of himself since immediately, and in the first volumes he convinced to be reciprocated he propose himself... with a result that is all to read, that will give the start to all the future events and at the growth of the protagonist.

Yamato Akitsuki who has registered himself in a high school of Tokyo, leaves his born place that is in the rural zone of Hiroshima to move himself Japanese metropolis.

Just he has arrived he decides to visit his new school and there he assists at unexpected scene:

a goddess, a magnificent girl, who is trying to jump the stick of high jump, Asahina Suzuka...and his heart cannot do without to throb. He not succeeding to forget that girl so pretty, arrives late at the appointment in his new flat. Since that day forward, Yamato will stay from his aunt who manages a public bathroom-dormitory exclusively feminine! He will be the only male who lives there and, in return he will have to help working part-time, performing the bathroom's cleaning.

Immediately he is obliged to accomplish at his tasks, so, while he cleans the bathtubs, some female university students in clothes decidedly briefs. The daughter of the owner, Miho, cousin and kohai of Yamato, she soon advises that the more sexy girl between the two female students that he has seen is much dangerous for a boy as he, in fact the beautiful girl has the habit to go an appointment with a boy to get money... and, as by fame, she doesn't lose time and she puts the hand of the "poor boy" on her breast asking money. In the tentative to help him Miho pushes away Yamato who falls with the other girl in a embarrassing position. The blind Chance wants that in that moment Suzuka arrives and seem that also she lives in the dormitory. The fortune isn't in the side of the boy: it isn't the best way to know the girl who he likes.

Disconsolate, the poor devil returns in his room. There he discovers a crack on the deep and he decides to control the situation. In this action the room divider falls under his weight so Akitsuki-kun finishes in the near room, that randomly is that of his "goddess". In spite of all, the situation takes a positive fold and Yamato knows Suzuka, discovering that she is a champion of the athletic school team and she has the his same years old.

Hearing to say about sport, he tells the his childhood and his tests in each disciplines in the good time, with not serious way, leaving them at the first difficulty with the simple "sorry, but I like it anymore". This attitude irritates the girl who bangs he out of room shouting that she hates the superficial boys.

So Suzuka, to placate herself, decides to do a sauna. Among various streams she starts to show her real character, in fact she suffers the pressure for the results, the fact is that everyone see her as "the top one in the high jump discipline". Thinking that losing weight about some kilos her elevation should have had benefit, but she exaggerates and she doesn't realize that she is there since too much time, losing the senses.Yamato succeeds to intervene, saving her. When she recuperates, initially she maintains the high tone which before they had leave themselves, so she reproaches for his stupidity because he has destroyed the sauna's door, instead to use the keys, but she discovers that also a simpleton can have the words that can console thanks of his simple and positive attitude that succeeds to diminish each problem.

Yamato will be for Suzuka as a window on a world, on a life more suitable to teenagers age, on the life heartedness on a life, that beyond the obligations, has also the smiles and the simple fun.

When starts the schools , randomly, they are in the same class and with they there are two figures of Akitsuki-kun childohood: Yasanobu , a boy who when he was a child he played ad he was very treacherous, who using always Akitsuki-kun as shield for his pranks, and Sakurai Honoka tha girl who has a secret in common with Yamato.

This manga tells about the Yamato vicissitudes and about the his love for Suzuka, about his attempts to conquest her and about sport....in fact, to stay at her side, the boy will be willing, for the first time, to take in the seriously way something that implies engagement registering himself to athletic club... Will it be the first step for his ripening?

Suzuka is a very well done manga. The love plots, the ambiguous situation, the protagonists and the figures that rotate around as assistants or hecklers are everyone perfectly synergistic.

The plot keep up well for all 18 volumes, without never to bore with repetitive situations, with a sensible logic connection, also implicated to a comic scenes.

The Seo Kouji's draw is clean, without graphic virtuosities, but it is perfectly succeeds to suggest the protagonists' emotions. Precise in the sketches and in the perspectives, it doesn't never draw out of tone in each situation.

Category: Manga - Add Your Comment

Full Metal Alchemist

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:21:51 +0200

From the magic pencil of Hiromu Arakawa, here is a manga that magnificently approaches dramatic, action, science and a lot of humor!

The father of the two brothers, Van Hohenheim, was a famous alchemist and was almost never in house, so Ed and Al learned the alchemy from the books that they found in the room of their father and, since small, they were already experienced in that art. They look at their own mother die, when Edward has 12 years and Alphonse 10.

Desperate for the loss, they decide to bring her in life but to maintain the secret, since to create a human soul is a great taboo for all the alchemists. In the meantime, the two brothers are grown up by Pinako Rockebell, a mechanics and builder of Auto-Mail, or I stretched out robotiche that serves to replace lost arts, that it has a niece, Winry, of the age of Edward.

This last has lost both her parents in the terrible civil war of Ishbar, since they had been sent to the front as physicians and they died during an assault.

Ed and Al keep on thinking to as to bring in life their mother. One day, in their city, come a skilled alchemist that saves the whole country from a deluge. The two decides to become her students and so it happens. After a few months of training, they return from the apprenticeship more skilled of before and they think that the moment of (to create with the alchemy) the soul of their mother has arrived.

Edward loses a leg and Alphonse he is seen to bring away the whole body but his brother, imprisoning his soul in an armor in exchange for an arm, so he save him. Edward makes to install of the Auto-Mail to the arm and the leg and he becomes a "alchemist of state", that is an alchemist that enlists him in the army as soldier in exchange for numerous funds for the searches, but that in change he must be ready to be sent to fight on the fronts more like an humans arms.

The two make the drastic choice to be able to find the philosopher stone, which is the only instrument with which they could regain their old bodies. Will be involved in a sea of adventure that will fight against many different enemies.

This fantasy manga published in Japan by Square-Enix on the monthly magazine "Shonen Gangan", the paper brings the adventures of Edward and Alphonse Elric, two brothers respectively 16 and 14 years living in a world where alchemy is an art to the middle between science and magic.

Transate by Johnny.D.Monkey

Category: Manga - Add Your Comment

Bleach

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:18:59 +0200

If you like the action and the fights at last ditch effort you can't lose Bleach!!!

This animate series has based on the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a fifteen year old rebellious, who has strength and decided character and orange hairs, his capacity, to see the ghost, brings him to meet Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami, another protagonist of the anime.

In Bleach the gods of death has the task to eliminate from the real world of the hollow, the souls of wicked deceased people who are still outstanding accounts in the earth and to send in Soul Society the good souls but still linked with the our world.

The Soul Society is the souls Paradise: it is formed by Seireitei, also the court of souls, wherein there are the Shinigami and its 80 districts. The hollow are at half between the Earth and the Soul Society , called Hueco Mundo and they appear creating a link before the two worlds.

The adventure of Ichigo starts when he is attacked by a hollow ,helping him Rukya is wounded and to defeat the monster she must lend her power Shinigami to a boy; the protagonist becomes so a substitute of the god of death and he carries out the Rukya's task while she regains the forces.

The first part of this saga introduces the companions of adventures Ichiga and Rukia: Yasotura Sado, called "Chad" by Ichigo, a boy gifted much physically, but that uses his strength only to help other people and not to personal aim; Orihime Inoue, a girl who has a tender heart and that has lost the older brother when she has only three year old and since that moment she lives alone;

Uryu Ishida, the last Quincy a human clan where the members has the capacity to see the hollow and to kill them using the energy of all that around them; Yoruichi Shiholin, the ex chief of secure forces of the Soul Society, who has the ability to transform herself in a black cat; Kisuke Urahara, an ex captain of 13 divisions Shinigami, who now lives on the Earth and manages a little shop of accessories for Shinigami.

One night Shinigami, Byakuya Kuchiki, brother of Rukia, and Renji Abarai, his best friend in the Soul Society, come to take Rukia to bring her in the Seireitei: in fact the Shinigami was lacking since much time and she had disobeyed the rules giving his powers to Ichigo. Renji, before to disappear in the Soul Society, defeats the substitute of the god of death taking off the powers.

The real saga of Soul Society starts now: Rukia is sentenced to death and, while she waiting the time of judgment, she is locked in the repentance tower in the centre of Seireitei; Ichigo submits himself at the test of Urahara to regain the powers while his friends train themselves to develop their ability. The team leaves to the Soul Society and, thanks of the help of the clan Shiba, it succeeds to enter in the Seireitei.

Also in the royal of souls the chase to the intruders starts and the rescue team, that is divided to move itself better, is obligated to fight with various opponents. The corpse of captain Aizen of the fifth branch putting the Seireitei in more confusion. Ichigo takes one's vengeance on Renji defeating him. Before to faint he implores the winner to save Rukia; after that Ichigo fights against Zaraki Kenpachi a captain from the immense spiritual power, (Reiatsu).

The protagonist not still recovered by the fight against Zaraki, he finds in front him, Byakuka one of the strongest Shinigami of all Soul Society; only the Yoruichi intervention saves him from a certain death, bringing him far in a safe place. Here Ichigo does a train to get the Bankai an ability that exploits at max the power of Zanpakuto kill-souls sword of the Shinigami. The day of Rukia execution the protagonist gets the Bankai, anda after that she has saved the girl at the last moment, finally he fights against her brother, the fighter's powerfulness is similar, but at the end Ichigo wins.

The saga finishes with many sensational developments: the captain Aizen apparently died, is instead alive and he had succeeded to simulate the event, thanks of the ability of his sword.

He, the captain Tosen Kaname of the 9th division and the captain Jin Ichimaru of the third division reveal their really sweep: they are hollow allies and they go in their world to increase their powers.

The anime continue with other six sagas: of the Bounto, of the Arrancar, of the Hueco Mundo, of the family Kasumi Ooji, of the pendulum and of the invaqsion of the Karakura.

The animate series of Bleach differentiate itself from the manga because for the reduction of the violence of the scenes and for the addition of the saga of Bounto and the family Kasumi Ooji.

The characters of this saga are very well studied, they have in fact a well outlined nature that is much distinguished one of the another, then there are many secondary characters, also they with well outlined characteristics.

The melodies and the initial songs, are very overall: without realize you find yourselves to sing them.

I suggest the vision of this anime, because other a many fights there are also many comic scenes and the much strange and curious characters one of these is Zaraki Kenpachi, the character that I prefer ^^.

Category: Anime - Add Your Comment

E'S

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:46:41 +0200

"At the end of the previous century, the conflict on worldwide scale, provoked by problems of racial characters, pushes the world on the edge of the chasm and weakened prominently the power of the different nations. The unique point in favour was that the possibility to unleash another war between the different nations was lost.

The peoples lost the conception of national unity and they limited it at cities or at enterprises....

The elapse of the time will accentuate in negative the discrepancy between the rich zones and the poor zones and slowly a new systematic was born... If from a side the new century present itself perturbed and opulent, the economic and racial disputes begin to mine the its foundations...was chosen to hate the different persons who were assigned the nickname of E'S, this apart from they whoever were ...

Between this rejects, in this scenery, Kai Kudo moves himself. He aliened by the society for his paranormals powers, has been "brought up", since he was a child, by an association that is called Ashurum, that wants to find esper (whipping boys) accused by the community and help them.

Kai by now grow up, enters in the special group of action and intervention, but he promise to himself to not use his powers to kill a person.

When the Ashurum decides to intervene in the district citizen of Gland to exterminate a terroristic association, Kai will be obliged to affront his interior doubts and the his conscience to protect his mates.

The houses that had to be been evacuated in reality they contain the inhabitant, that reveal themselves hostile. So the our protagonist finds in front of him all the contradictions of the society for which he works and he will be invaded by weep doubts on the reality that he known hitherto. As it wasn't enough, the disagreements that Kai, during the mission, has with a his mate from the fiery character, Shenlong, reach the top from which it can't turn back...and Kai will be hit to death.

To know that will happen I suggest to you to read the manga. :)

E'S of Satoru Yuiga it's a title very interesting, that remembers the X 1999 of the CLAMP both for some graphic features and some narrative elements.

The draw is very well realized: plastic in each position, and characterize itself for a precise perspective in each cartoon. The closes-up are much well-groomed and the use of the nets to is frequent; the backgrounds, instead, are some osseous.

The story, that sees fights between esper and moments of anguished interior reflections, holds well the passage between the two moments and doesn't appear approximately in the take place of the events.

At fine, E'S is a manga that convince: that can touch arguments enough commune, in the productions of the manga, but giving however interesting elements and original and narrative ideas.

Suggested.

Category: Manga - Add Your Comment

Battle Royal

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:15:16 +0200

In a near future, a hypothetical Asian State, a cause of social and economic problems more and more in ascent, launches a law that finds to re-educate the youths. Each year a third class of middle school is involved, chosen in base to a democratic national draw. The class is abduct during a simple school trip. The pupils are transported at their unknown in a island, that is evacuated for the occasion. During the kidnapping, while they are unconscious, on each pupil's neck is put an explosive collar, in the manner to control them. At the island the class chosen is obliged to participate at the Battle Royal competition.

The objective of the BR is that to do kill them each other, until a only winner will remain who will be the only that can return to the normality. To each of them is delivered a map of the island and an chance arm. The children can have only their personal objects. If at the finally of three days there isn't a winner the collar of all children will explode killing them. The pupils become the protagonists of this competition that they believed till then as only a legend.

The Battle Royale is the law born because there were a grow lack of communication between two generation: that of adults and that of the youths. The film, faithful to the namesake and much sold book, faces main themes essential and social much present: the "give importance at the life per se" it's one among these.

The main narrative line follows the story of the pupil Nanahara Shuya, a boy discouraged by the adults because he has been abandoned by his parents. On the island Shuya chooses to flank to his classmate Nakagawa Noriko, a girl much short and reserved. A fundamental character in the film is that of the charismatic professor who has received bigger prestige thanks of the interpretation of the Kitano Takeshi.

The film has gone on stage for a fanatical public of bloody scenes. It has been produced to provoke interest in a young public, also it has been forbidden to the minors in the original exit of the film in the 2000 in Japan, provoking and real controversy. But the scandal of the censure, in a foreseeable manner, has helped the diffusion of the film in all over the world, transforming that in a very phenomenon.!

For the hire the original version has exited, while a special version exists (exited in Japanese cinemas one year later the first exit) which we find supplementary scenes that allow to understand in a better manner the psychology of the different characters.

Category: DVD Movies - Add Your Comment

Howl's Moving Castle (film)

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:52:00 +0200

In a world beyond of each times and each physic rule, a young girl, Sophie sees to upset her monotonous and quite life by two characters, somewhat strange an enchanting as mysterious wizard and an horrible and powerful witch.

The first, save her from the tiresome attentions of two soldiers, involves her in the escape, to disappear as he had appeared, the second, peeved by the attention of the young wizard for the girl, decides to curse her, doing to age the girl instantly, and transforming she in a old woman of 90 years old. The girl, at first wit and incredulous, succeeds to get courage and she decides to abandon her home to go to search the witch to obligate her to dissolve the curse, ignoring the cause of so much hate in her confronts and felling herself as a victim of an absurd mistaken.

In the travel toward the moors where the witch should stay.

Sophie meets a strange scarecrow, that at her time, will conduce her in front of a bing and bizarre moving castle inside which she, although the first distrust, will decide to enter.

The real story starts from here: the our protagonist will discover that the master of the castle, isn't other that the young wizard met some days ago, and that the castle, in which she has entered, represents the her shelter from all and everyone, a place where she can rests after a continuing and exhausting escape. Going on with the event the old woman Sophie grows fond of the citizens of that strange home and, knowing better this egocentric and fascinating wizard, she discovers as they are similar, deciding so, at the finally to take her life in the hand, winning her cursed, but above all giving all herself to save the man who she falls in love.

Mainly Hayao Miyazaki presents to us a sweet and simple love story: two boys by now incapable to manage their life, who for resignation who for irresponsibility, they finds one on the other a cause to live, to give a sense to their existence and to searching to face that the life put in front of them. To all that, an absurd war adds itself, which Howl is obligated to participate, the witch of the moors, who ,to the last, will not leave the wizard's heart and the Sophie cursed, that will create many problems to the protagonist.

I must to say that the event rhythm is some slow, at the start, but little by little, the different characters are ‘revealed', and the spectator begins to wonder what is hid by the face so eccentric and vain of Howl mask that Sophie will crumble step by step showing to us the wizard as he is really.

The animation much singing, the "fairy-tale" backgrounds and the sweet music accentuate the sensation to be been ejected in a world totally different by the our world, where the "fire" can say, one of the scarecrows can transform itself in a beauty prince and a castle can walk turning all the world!

Hayao Miyazaki ,being based on the novel of Diana Wynne Jones, propose to us a sweet as extravagant fable, that will not be lacking to excite and dream to you this little frightening but wonderful world.

Published also on PintaMiMundo

Other Version:

Plot: the demon, the wizard and the witch

Sophie is a little girl awkward and ungainly by the appearance, who conduces a modest existence.

She lives of the fabrication made by hand of hats in a town to the confine with a realm in war.

Her life, scanned by a regular rhythms, is soon upset by a randomly meeting with a young wizard who is beauty and has a mysterious fame: Howl.

After that strange meeting unexpected but propitious, for Sophie follow another meeting, much less pleasant, with a Witch of the Moors, who, jealous of Howl, castes a cursed on the girl that, since that moment, should have taken the semblance of the old woman.Sophie, who is rendered despaired by that had happened, escapes from home and she wanders in the desert moors searching a shelter. She finds soon it in a "moving castle", that then we will discover to belong to the same Howl cause not direct of the her misfortune.

In the Howl's castle, Sophie does a knowledge of a strange demon of the fire, Calcifer, that says to her that it is linked trough a judgement to the Howl's fate and to be so imprisoned in the his residence, to his service. Then also the girl does a deal with the demon, is she should had discovered the pact that linked Howl to the demon, it should had rendered to she her original semblances.

The story at this point evolves itself in an enchanting plot of events that brings the protagonists to reflect on arguments which: war, magic, friendship, family, forgiveness, loyalty, sacrifice. The moral of this modern fable is simple and sweet, but also deep and important, the moral is that to free oneself of the own cursed necessity: to fight, to love, and above all, to avoid to fall to compromises with amoral demons and witches.

Graphic and animations: you look and you astonish yourselves!!!

Absolutely exceptional! taken care by "Ghibli Studio" (production home cinematography of the director ) so much original and perfectly graphically. But, not only the technique deserves exaggerate praises, also the style of the draw is unmistakable and much appreciate by the many fans. The animate world of Miyazaki, in fact, strikes adults and children, for the sparkling colours and for the unusual and amusing draws, is memorable because the clarity and brightness of the images carry back at the mind the magic of the childhood, it will stay remain impressed in heart and in the conscience. That we can ask much to an animation film.

Dubbing and Soundtrack:

The soundtrack of "Howl's moving castle", inspired and melancholy, fits like a glove with the plot. The classic music renders suggestive and bewitch each scenery and confers a languid poetic to this splendid modern fable. The principal theme, orchestrated by experts hands, enchants for beauty and dramatic force and I don't doubt that it can contribute to ooze you a weep.

Characterization of the characters:

The characters and their principle characteristics are outlined with manic perfection by the genius of Miyazaki. The protagonists of this animation masterpiece fascinate not only for the visual characterization but also and above all, for the representation of thoughts and feelings. In fact isn't a forcing say that with the works of Miyazaki at the public seems to have a direct contact with the mind of the characters.

Said that, is due to say that who is still superficial to believe that the physic appearance is superficial will have to change one's mind, after the visual of this anime.

The our protagonist, the our heroine is ugly, clumsy, ungainly and insecure and yet absolutely adorable. Miyazaki, having on tap the only during of the feature film, has done an excellent work with Sophie, he has succeeded to do to rip her, and at the same moment he has maintained in her a whiteness and a ingenuousness by young girl. Although Howl has an irresistible fascination and an impeccable look his behaviours result imperfect if they are compare with the courage of the young Sophie. She is, in fact, the really protagonist of this "main piece" of animation.

Sophie fights with unexpected force and determination against the curses, although the inexperience and the young age she understands the depth of the Howl's feelings and of that she is ready to do in the name of the her love. Who pursues then wins, Sophie!

Final comment:

All works of Miyazaki have adapted both to adults and to children, and they can be seen with the family or the friends, and the "Howl's Moving Castle", doesn't do exception. I advise it to everyone that leave bewitch themselves still by the magic of cinema, because it is a work that doesn't leave you indifferent but that rather procure to them a pleasant sense of satisfaction and well-being: try to believe.

Category: Anime - Add Your Comment

Ouran Host Club

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:11:43 +0200

The television animate series "Ouran High School Host Club", which debuts in "East Sun" goes up again at 2006, is born by the creative genius of Kumiko Takahashi, already famous because he has co-operated at the realization of another fortunately anime, Card Capture Sakura. The 26 episodes, freely inspirited at the namesake manga series of Bisco Hatori, run speed and pleasant thanks of the continue satire addressed at the stereotype of the typical stories shōjo, but without exaggerate: that much that is enough to prod some of sound self-mockery and so avoid excessive pretensions since, for the spectator who has already read the manga series , the anime will result rather synthetic and hurried.

With this words the adventure of a young schoolgirl Haruhi Fujioka starts, who has shored in the prestigious school exclusively thanks of her didactic merits. Because the uniform is expensive, Harui presents herself as a shabby tomboy with the short hairs, also with the big glasses as a bookworm. For this her look she is mistaken as a boy when searching quiet place where she can study, she runs to a peculiar group of students: it is the Host Club, that is composed by six students much attractive, who employ the their days entertaining the girls in exchange of money, inside the room of music number 3.

The unfortunately Haruhi, during the first meeting with these lasts, she finishes to break a much precious pot, by the value of eight millions of yen: ignoring the real identity of Harui, the founder of the Host Club, Tamaki, obliges her to lowest duties as "dog" of the club, until he doesn't discover the her real capability and he promotes her to "host".

For this cause, also after that she has revealed the her real semblances, she will continue to pretend to be a boy, so she can repay the pot that she has broken, the all through an exhilarant gag and the progressive evolution of the personality of the six boys.

The plot of this anime has centred around the personalities of the seven protagonists and the relations that create themselves between them with the take place of the events. The relations that space out from the platonic love to the unconditional friendship, at the brotherly indivisibility: in short, the assortment much "multicoloured" of characters allow many plots that satisfy everyone tastes and, however in spite of the supposes can appear poor of originality at first view, the variations aren't lacking on typical themes shōjo series. The same heroine, Haruhi, in the reality the exact opposite of the protagonists of this kind: disillusioned and apathetic, at intervals even acid, she preserves so the sweetness and the ingenuousness, seasoned with by an unpublished intelligence.

For her to be different she finishes to bewitch the blonde boy Takashi, (drama) king of the Host club, that also being much gentle and sensitive, is often tagged as the idiot by the other members because he has melodramatic tendencies and strange passions, (the incurable mania for the life of the "plebeians" will give many laughs at the spectator), specially by the freezing and calculating Kyouya, vice president of the club, also defined, "King in the dark", because he represent the real mind of the group. The other four members constitute two inseparable couples: by one side the twins brothers Kaoru and Hikaru Hitachiin that, are two of a kind except for the haircut that renders recognizable them and extremely jealous one of the other, raise a species of barrier of mistrust towards the "outsides", except Haruhi (who, in the sixteenth episode, Hikaru seems to fall in love with); in the other part the cousins Mitsukuni and Takashi, called Honey and Mori: the first is the classic minuscule boy shota who is all sweets, big eyes and peluche (but, attention the appearance hasn't never been so deceptive as in thi case), the second much tall, silent and stoic, spends the all his time to protect the "little" Honey .

A variety of nice and peculiar minor characters (memorable the energetic Range-kun who has proclaimed herself as the manager of the Host Club, the dark Nekozawa and the mythical transsexual father of Haruhi) enrich the already hilarious cast, through of pert adventures and at intervals zany so much to leave without words.

The all accompanies from a decisive draw and clear, brilliant colours and many comic scenes in chibi-style. The episodes leave to devour themselves one after the other without never disgust, offering, sometimes, also pseudo-philosophical and unexpected ideas, unforgettable the almost touching flashes-back on the past of the two twins Hitachiin and Kyouya.

The nice plot line, plots on plots, many misunderstandings, beguiling style, and a good soundtrack a lot of playfulness.

What other can you wish by an anime? Maybe, a second season.

Category: Anime - Add Your Comment

Fullmetal Alchemist the Movie: Conqueror of Shamballa

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:07:42 +0200

Introduction

Anybody has interesting also only distantly for the manga or the anime can't have never heard to talk, at least once time, about Fullmetal Alchemist. The ones which in the last months, instead, have stayed on the moon, them are prayed to stop to read this review, to annul each engagement for the next three or four days, break this pig of clay from the languid eyes and it stay there to fatten on the bracket since too time and precipitate in the nearest regular shop to exit only when you have acquired the DVD that contain the 51 episodes of the animate series wich the feature film "Conqueror of Shamballa" that constitutes the final chapter.

From Amestris to the Germany of the 21'

In the last episode of the series, the steel alchemist Edward Elric, following the law of the equivalent change, sacrifices himself in the tentative to report back his brother Alphonse, disappeared in Portal of the Alchemy after that he has tried in turn (and with success) to revive Edward.

And he finishes so beyond the Portal, from the world of Amestris to that which we live, that has arranged in parallel (with characters with names and different roles), where the alchemy doesn't function but there is the source: the energy emits by the death of the humans.

Alphonse, thanks of the sacrifice of the brother is discovered safe and sound on Amestris, also if in a child body and without memory of the last years. So both the two brothers have succeeded in their aim to save themselves each other and, too living in different ways, they promise that a day meet each other again.

Berlin 1923

This in (only right and extreme) synthesis is the knot from which the film starts that shows to us, after a little parenthesis on the base themes in the form of story. And at the wheel of a car Alphonse Heiderich, the "duplicate" of Al in the our world, which the ex alchemist has linked in the hope to can understand some of more on how return to home. Alphonse Heiderich occupies oneself of rockets, and the his team is granted and used (behind his back) by the members of the Society of Thule, fanatic esoteric in smell of fascism at the search of the lost, the utopia of Shamballa Reign that they believe to be Amestris.

We are a few months by the insurrection of the Führer, who has received a promise by of new arms in change of nails.

The Society will succeed (with the unaware help of Ed) to open a passage to Amnestris and to send a first infantry in armour rout then from the other part (in the city of Reole) by Alex Louis Amstrong and Alphonse Eldric. When Ed notices that he has done and he deletes the alchemy circle, the armours fall from the Portal, and one of these is animate by a fragment of the Al's soul,who finally can embrace the brother in one of the most touching moment of the entire film.

The unsuccessful coup.

After other misadventures, Thule succeeds to open the other portals and to organize an invasione on large-scale. While the army of the two worlds combat themselves between the streets of Amestries on the model of bomber to rockets projected by Heiderich; Dietlinde Eckart, leader of the Thule Society, Ed, Al and the restored to life Roy Mustang fight through transmutations.

At the and Ed decides to sacrifice himself returning in the other world to destroy in definitive way the passage, imposing to his brother to remain there, but who follows however him, hidden in ne of the armour (for the first time "physically").

With the lack of arms that the Thule Society had promised, the coup of Hitler falls giving so the starts, to the new course of the history. In the last scene, the two brothers go on board of the van that is driven by the parallels of the criminal Scar and of the little man Lust, direct toward new adventures.

In Definitive

All that you have just read represent, in the reality, a fleeting overview of the only narrative base line; to tell all in this seat will be resulted excessive and forced, that then is also the final judgement on this Conqueror of Shamballa.

But we go with order one of the prerogative of animate series is that to can weave a rich, and complicate plot on also an elevate quantity of characters , that then will go to retie itself thread to thread during the different episodes.

Obviously the threads must be of quality and, in this sense, Fullmetal Alchemist reveals one of the most precious skein of silk that will be never been product: the characters characterization is splendid and sought (from the historical and the mean point of view), the weep themes treated in mature way, and the mysterious, unusual (for a shonen) all "European" atmosphere must not be discussed. The complex mixture steampunk unravels itself for 51 episodes without problems, animate(other rarity ) from the Studio Bones never recur in "cold" manner at the computer graphic.

What change, then, about all that in the film?

Nothing, except the fact that it is a film, a feature film of 105 minutes and not one or a set of episodes by 20 (minutes). The container, the frame change, but not (unfortunately) the picture.

In the "Conqueror of Shamballa" there is all Fullmetal, in fact there is too much of it, we have the sensation, not new by film treated by series (animate or less), that we want close all with the unique "big episode" without to count the loss of the those thin but essential balances that reiterating each time, that constitute the fascinating of the series to episodes. By this point of view, Shamballa is much similar a what we have seen (unfortunately) in the film (to quote examples noticed to everyone) of "The Simpson" and Futurama.

Then more than a problem of plot, to which we can however twist gently the nose for the bright idea of the parallels characters, especially those already tragically dead on Amestris, the film effort at oncologic level, since it seems not thought to be the end of a glorious (saga) but a speed up repatriate of family (the duplicates of which on top) with the insertion of the new entry (the gipsy Noa ) who isn't did the time to be outlined and of interest as the "old" protagonist. The all is seasoned then on a big scale of woody computer graphic and ad hoc catastrophes only to do scene on the big screen, that is then the all commercial strategy much careful to those producers that prefer "the drillings-which-character-do-you-want" at the good and old manner, maybe not so popular, work quality.

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Sex=Love²

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:53:58 +0200

For first thing nanoda.com wants to advise that this manga has adapted to only mature people since it contains explicit sex scenes.

The Kumico's dream is that to became a famous professor. Her father is totally adverse to this wish and he allows to her one chance: she will have to manage to improve the marks of a student without to be dismissed.

Full of good will, Kumiko goes to the home of the new student which she gives private lessons: Ryo.

The first impact isn't one of the best impacts; just she enters in the room she finds he who has sex with a girl. After that, he demonstrates to be totally uninterested to the studying, he is moved only form an uncontrollable sex appetite towards the our teacher and his advantage is that all women fall to his feet thanks at his beauty and his powerful pheromones.

Will she manage to resist at the "chemistry" and to realize a her dream?

"Sex = Love^2" is a manga published by Star Comics that is formed in two volumes. The guide strand of story is that shoujo, in fact the manga is centred on love story between the professors Kumiko and a younger boy, Ryo.

As we have announced before, the manga is much explicit, the male protagonist is characterized more than all by his sexual wish and this chains almost totally the plot. The narrative catches much unprepared the reader: it is a frantic manga, it passes from a page to another without a full knowledge on an informed basis that brings to the reader some confusion.

The characters portrayal is totally superficial. All this probably is the consequence of the fact that this manga is born at first as a short story and in a second moment instead it is been released in a version who is been expanded in two volumes.

The style of the drawing, enough canon for the kind, remembers the Fuyumi Soryo style in the expression.

The draw is steady but in few boards it seems loose the proportions. This some astonishes, because Mayo Shinjo is a prolific author who has drawn a lot of titles (Love Celeb for example), all explicit, where the drawing shows itself much precise and mature. On the other hand the work of Star Comics is good. The adaption is precise and the edition respects the original format, also in the reading.

In definitive if you already know that the author or you search something of hot and not binding, you can also try the reading of "Sex = Love^2"... if instead you decide to leave it on the shelf you won't have lost much.

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Fate/Stay Night

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 11:38:22 +0200

Shiro Emiya is the only survivor of frightening fire that swallowed hundreds of people, among which all his family. It was adopted by his rescuer, a wizard, that from that moment, started to represent a model for him.

After ten years, Shiro frequents the high school and, in virtue of a promise that he has done when was a child, that is he should be become a justice hero and he should have helped the people, he is a gentle student always ready to help everyone. One day after that he has done late to do a repair at "Archery Sporty Club", he is attracted by strange noises that came from school's courtyard, he discovers two new mysterious men, who are anachronistic armed, to duel violently.

He is discovered and so he is obligated to escape to avoid that his mouth is closed on that he has seen.

Unfortunately each effort is useless and he is reached.Really when he seems at one step from the death, the seal that he has on a hand calls a girl, Saber, who defends him succeeding, in duel, to put the aggressors into escape. Subsequently she will turn to Shiro, asking to him if he is her "master" and a this point, she will reveal that she will be his "servant" arrived there to help he to win the mortal war for the Santo Graal.

What has twisted Shiro's life?

A person that has always dreamt to help the neighbour will be able to participate to a bloody war for a personal objective.

Fate/Stay Night is a manga that has got much successful in Japan, both as visual novel and as anime.

In this title the plot that sees a unaware boy to be involved in a event that not seems belong to him, but that in the reality it was already concealed from his soul and from his destiny, it is adapted melting together figures of heroic fighters of the past with a historic present that sees them as protagonists thanks at the power of magic and doing to reincarnate them in tangible essences and putting them at the service of wizards.

Not at random the protagonist's "servant" is represented by a girl: besides this it's a part of the manga's mask of kind. Then the story, having this kind of consolidated roots, taking ideas more or less deep by manga as X 1999 and Fushigi Yugi, obviously adapting them to shonen target, also not shining for the originality the story results good articulated that good ideas that are outside of the initiative of action.

The draw of drawings is clean: the first plans are cured, the same things the dots information. The dynamic scenes are made plastically, while for the moment of introspection the author has used the draws more faded the result is that the visual division helps and supports the narrative pathos.

The background are some wanting as the details. The paper and the printing are of good quality, doesn't leave the signs of ink on the fingers, and the binding supports in good way ill-treatment from reading. The only defect is the absence of tables that in the original are presented with colours.

Fate/Stay Night is a manga that succeeds to involve the reader, uniting many elements: action, fantasy, magic, mysticism, love, illusions and historic legends.

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Lupin III The Castle of Cagliostro

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:13:34 +0200

The gentleman thief Lupin, third-born of a dinasty, after robbing a casino discovers that all the banknotes are fakes. And so, with his trusted partner Jigen, decides to investigate on the fakers. This way they'll discover that in the middle of this illegal trade there is the little country of Cagliostro.

Started for get revenge for a shame, they'll soon be “distracted” by something much more interesting: the heir apparent, the young and cute Clarisse, has been kidnapped by the Count Cagliostro.
Rushing to the aid of the beautiful princess, Lupin get himself involved in a sly and sinister plot that will lead him to meet again an old enemy, remembering that the gentleman thief has been already in that castle 10 years before... and now it's time to come to terms.

The director of this anime movie is Hayao Miyazaki. When the “child-poet” of japanese animation (precisely Miyazaki) has to adapt a manga for the cinema, it's usual for he to shuffle the cards: that's also the instance of "The Castle of Cagliostro".

This animated film has nothing to do with the original comic signed Monkey Punch. At the opposite, we find in it all Miyazaki's obessions: his love for planes, his ecologism, his heroines with angelic faces and above all his sexism and his 'lolitism'. Miyazaki creates a very personal movie, much nearer to Maurice Leblanc novels than to the original manga.

Soft, sensible and poetic, it gives back to Lupin a past, a heart, and an intelligence that makes him human.

Manifestly Miyazaki makes a tribute to french cinema with this movie. We find, in fact, many similes with "The King and Mr. Bird" of Paul Grimault: Starting with the chara of the "Count" men, the castle himself it's clearly inspired to the one of Takicardie both architecturally and for the quality of it's traps, ending with the amazing fight scenes of the roofs.

It surely couldn't be different.
The spirit of the original Lupin is deeply french: the Castle of Cagliostro, in fact, is based on two novels of Maurice Leblanc: "La Comtesse De Cagliostro" and "La Demoiselle aux yeux verts", are part of the adventures of Arsène Lupin that were published in episodes starting with 1905 in France, and that had an enormous success also in Japan.

In 1979, Miyazaki revives in zen-style the elements of that culture as it was an archetype: the lonely hero dangerously in love with crime, castles in ruin, princesses in wedding dress, final fights on giant clocks... but re-read with ironic eyes that, accomplice, wink to the past.

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Welcome to the N.H.K.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:37:46 +0200

Tatsuhiro Sato is a Hikikomori, that is a boy with problems into relate himself with other people, and that close himself in his home, to insulate himself. The theme treated can seem to give origin to a sad story , also because in Japan this phenomenon is flooding between the youths, but in the realty the all is told with ironic and hope.

Sato, in fact, when touches the less point between desperation and synthetic hallucinations, he meets Misaki, a strange moé girl that proposes herself to help him trying to involve him in a mysterious and grotesque project. At start he isn't favoring to accept the invite, because he doesn't want to recognize at least in front of others the his condition of chronic isolate, the his extend solitude, four years, procures to him paranoia of conspiracies that he sees behind each corner: the N.H.T in accordance with his "realty" it shouldn't the acronym "Nihon Housou Kyoukai" (that is the national public Japanese TV) but rather "Nihon Hikikomori Kyoukai", that is the Japanese society for the chronic isolation, the leader of the world conspiracy of which he is continually victim.

So to find excuses on his condition he has obliged to lie, until after that he has affirmed that he is a videogames creator is obliged to ask help to his neighbour and friend at the time of the High School Yamazaki, who suffers from the syndrome of ‘lolicon', that to save him proposes the his prescription.. create an herogame...

Paranoia warped, surreal characters, ambiguous situation, and irony narrative but raw and mature are the keys of "Welcome to the N.H.K ".

The strength point of this manga, is the originality, at least for Italian market. A style both pictorial and modern writing and fizzy tells a story of a youthful discomfort with a satirical eye, producing a substantive work that succeeds, between smiles and light reading, to affront present and hard main themes, leaving more culture and causes of reflection to the reader.

For this the author has fully centred the their objective.

Besides, being contemporary every inch, rich of youth slang, it produces for the foreign user, also the interesting idea to know many aspects of the ordinary life of the same ages of the "Raising Sun".

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Fushigi Yuugi Special (Genbu Kaiden)

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:05:48 +0200

Fushigi Yuugi returns with a great prequel that deals with the adventures of Takiko Okuda as priestess of Genbu and of the seven celestial warriors who protect her. This manga is still on-going in Japan and two chapters are released every 3 months on Perfect World magazine. But it's worth the waiting, since it's one of the best works of Watase. It's called Genbu Kaiden, that is, "The legend of Genbu".

The story is settled in Taisho era (1923) and relates how Takiko's father, Einosuke Okuda, a famous Japanese writer and an expert in Chinese history, has discovered and translated the "Shijintenchisho", that is, the book called "The Universe of the Four Gods". Takiko hates him for having travelled for so many years in search of that manuscript and not being at home with his sick wife. Near after his coming back, Takiko's mather dies of tubercolosis and Takiko is shocked and angry at the behaviour of his father. Blinded by the grief and anger, she tries to break the book her father has worked on for a lot of years but suddenly she is mysteriously sucked into it.

Soon Takiko realizes she is fallen into the book and discovers she is now in the ancient China, in the reign of Hokkan. After overcoming the shock she tries to help people and comes to accept her role as Priestess of Genbu (Genbu no Miko). As Miaka and Yui in the first Fushigi Yuugi she travels to find all the celestial warriors of Genbu: Uruki, Tomite, Hatsui, Namame, Hikitsu, Inami, and Urumiya. According to Chinese astrology, Genbu is the God that protects the reign of the North, Hokkan and is represented by a turtle surrounded by snakes.

The first celestial warrior Takiko meets is Uruki, a dangerous man wanted by the soldiers of the emperor. But soon she discovers he is Rimdo, the only son of the Emperor of Hokkan, and so the Crown Prince himself. A prophecy has destroyed his life, in fact his father, a selfish and miserable man, was said his son would definitely kill him after the coming of the Priestess of Genbu in this world. He wanted to kill his son but his mother saved him, making him escape together with Tauru and his son Soruen.

A thing that strikes the reader is the fact that no celestial warrior is happy about their powers, unlike Suzaku's ones. This is clear from the beginning with Uruki; he doesn't accept his destiny and is grieved at being hated by his own father who sends killers after him. But the priestess will be able to cure their wounds and convince them of the importance of their duty, and at the end she falls in love with Rimudo.

In this new work Watase Yuu's style has improved a lot, in fact the mangaka's drawings has been made better and the plot appears more mature. Every character is well developed, especially the celestial warriors; in particular uruki's character which is deep, charming and surprising because of his many facets. The love between Uruki and Takiko is deeply moving and exciting as the whole story.

I suggest it to everyone, to the fans of Fushigi Yuugi, and of Watase, but also to everyone who wants to read some Watase's work for the first time. Even if this manga is a prequel of Fushigi Yuugi, it's an independent story and attracts the reader from the beginning to the end.

Review by Nusuren

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Porco Rosso (jap)

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:48:12 +0200

At last I speak about this not recently film of Hayao Miyazaki (dated 1992), that follows historically the famous Kiki's delivery service and advances Mimi wo Sumaseba.

I believe that everyone know who is Miyazaki, so I limited me in to remember to you that among a lot of films, the master is also the author of Conan boy of future, Sherlock Holmes, Marco, Lupin and the Castle of Cagliostro e many others.

His last feature film "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" has been published in the last July, that tells about a girl who finds oneself in the reign of the dead, but it is another story and we will tell it to you when we will have between the hands a version of film.

Based on the short manga Hikoutei jidaiù (the years of the seaplanes) of the same Miyazaki it is a fable of pride, freedom and love.

The fascist period in Italy and an aviator, the best and the most valorous aviator, of everyone that have remained in life, decides to go away from the Italian royal aviation because he doesn't reflect himself in the new dictate dictatorial. The fact to be different from the others (it's a pig) doesn't help him and for this cause he reduces himself to be a bounty hunter outlaw for the skies of the Adriatic.

This is the incipit of the story of Marco Pargot (homage of the big Miyazaki to his Italian friend who was relation of the Climero creator and unfortunately disappeared by few time) alias Crimson Pig. The story will development itself with the fight between the skies of the piglet lord of Adriatic and who wants dethrone him: Donald Curtis an American with the dream to become famous, Hollywood actor and then president.

The history will be surround by the beautiful as unfortunately Gina, that because of war she has seen to die al her friends and consorts, the only survivors are the our pig and the seventeen-years-old Fio Piccolo very good engineer and mechanical.

THE DIRECTION AND THE SETTINGS

Nothing to say: Miyazaki is Miyazaki and he demonstrates it also in this stupendous film, where he succeeds to give the best of him, both inside the camera and in the settings .

The pride of the aviator of the start century everyone commits in the "dogfight" highlight in this film in the beautiful sequences which the skill director gives prominence (inexplicable with words the movements of the cameras to follow the performance of the airplane, necessity to see them).

The maniacal care for the that Miyazaki done in the representation of Italian territories is fantastic, the way to get dressed of the people, the country cultivated, the cities, all done to art. A scene on all scenes, is the moment when the Pig must get out of it with the with its seaplane inside the Big Fleet of Milano.

In my recently travel in Croatia I have had the occasion to breath the Miyazakiana atmosphere of the Adriatic islands that has been drawn in the cartoon this does more stand out director skill.

As for as the music, little to say if that they have been constituted by the master Joe Hisashi, always on the Miyazaki side in his films. I advise warmly you to find the soundtrack because you can't lose tracks as Les temps des Cerises, Rosso Adriatico o l'ending theme Toki-ni wa Mukashi no Hanashi wo.

Maybe the most Italian anime that somebody had never done and it is the cause therefore I like it so much. About Crimson Pig other the original version that the Buena Vista recently burned again, a version in English language, a version in French language and a version in Spanish are available (that I have examined other to the original version).

Review of Massimo Valenghi.

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Samurai Champloo

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:58:16 +0200

Shinichiro Watanabe returns to direction on a tv series, after having picked up success with Cowboy Bebop and the international notoriety with Animatrix, such a production picks up the best of the artists that the Japan has given birth in the last 5 years and that it takes back and widens the direction developed in the precedents jobs already.Samurai Champloo is surely in the élite of the productions of 2004 and will enter the history of the Anime of this decade.

The names that have worked on this series tell us this, thus including artists of the caliber of Mahiro Maeda to the mecha design of the weapons (Vandread, Ao no Rokugo, Tenku no Escaflowne, Last Exile and Animatrix) and Kazuto Nazakawa to the chara design (Ashita no Nadja, El Hazard, Landlock) as well as the subject of the duo Dai Satos (Cowboy Bebop, Wolf's Rain) - Shinji Obara (Maho Shojo Tai Arusu) that guarantee the quality of the screen-play also.

But the most amazing thing remain the direction of Watanabe that takes the windward from the first 5 seconds of the first episode and it doesn't allow you to escape until the end of the series.A scratched direction as if the cameras was controlled by a dj of hip-pop always ready to move the shot as he like, thus creating inventions sometimes forced but with a strong visual impact.

What does Samurai Champloo speak about?
The story is settled in the Edo period , a period in which the Japan wished to stand aside from the rest of the world to maintain the constituted order of the Bakufu.
The samurais are still the characters that make good and bad time and their art is feared and respected on the whole island.

It's a period of stalemate, in which the distance of the government power leaves space to the small injustices of the petty lords that can therefore dominate in the majority of the regions as in the classic methodology medieval.
This historical context give birth to Jin and Mugen two swordsmen with a dark past (That we will discover with the continue of the story as routine) and with completely opposite characteristic. The first educated in the classical technique of the sword of the samurais, technique in which the meditation and the silence and the introspection are the main points to calm the primordial instincts and to dominate them to address them toward the decisive hit; the second instead is rude, and prone to anger, that does of the art of the improvisation its strong point. The ying and the yang, the two opposite that annul each other.As a demonstration of it the fact that when they meet they immediately see each other as a rival, but that they don't succeed in their overcoming ,because they are equal in their difference. To unite them cannot be nothing but a young girl, Fuu, who search for an imaginary samurai that has something to do with the sunflowers. Both from the point of view of the screen-play and from that of the technical analysis, the characterization of Fuu results appropriate because it crosses the stories of the two boys who result undoubtedly to be the true protagonists of the narrated stories. The eccentric trio will go wandering in Japan searching for this Samurai, spreading thrilling adventures which little by little will illustrate us the Edo period in a likely way.

The development of the plot of Samurai Champloo is based on the attempt to traslate the way to live of the today's Japanese in the period Edo and this makes the everything funny and winning at the same time. To Find tough guys that are introduced by lackey that mime movements of break-dance or beat hip-pop it's only to have a good time and it makes everything enjoyable despite a weighting due to the historical and technical words that the scriptwriters didn't want to omit.
The animations result to be very fluid, especially in the sequences of fight, in which there isn't loss of resolution as in the coloration of the characters as of the surrounding environment. Also excellent are the clear-dark color and the shades.
The hip-hop and r'n'b style music accompany dearly the series. Surely initially it cause impression to listen so technological sonority in a classical ambientazione, but as soon as it becomes clear that the direction is done for those sonorities you cannot stop to listen to her.

The Direction is the greatest part of the whole series.
Watanabe in this job pushes himself a footstep ahead in the experimentation more than he had previously done. Deformations and steady-cam are used with habit. Cuts of scenes and reintroductions make to think to a chaotic assemblage, schizophrenic surely, but wanted and incredibly well done. Something that will be surely considered by the future directors.

Samurai Champloo is an anime that results peculiar for his direction style, but that the impassioned ones of Watanabe will intend as further step following in the run of the director. A walk that perhaps will bring him to the folly, but which is reserving us small and great masterpieces that we can appreciate sitting on our armchair.

By Massimo's Valenghi

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Spirited Away

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:26:32 +0200

"When you meet a person during your life you will never forget her, you can try not to remember but you will never forget!" This poetic phrase is taken from this masterpiece and can show you the quality of the film.

"Sen To Chihiro no kamikakushi" is a wonderful animation film which makes us wonder why Miyazaki's works have been being recognised internationally only now. I personally think Spirited Away was very beautiful but can't stand the comparison with some works like "Tenku no Shiro Laputa" or "Porco Rosso". Miyazaki has won many international awards like at the S.Francisco's festival or the Golden Bear, but why only now, I mean, he has worked 18 years in this field; everyone agrees on his great skills but very few people have watched all his films.

Maybe it's because now he has an International distributive channel or enough media power to sponsor the prizegiving?

The distributive channel is Buena Vista which has a great International power ( a doubt arises that it's thanks to this power that Benigni won his Oscars statues). Anyway, we have to thank Buena Vista to let us enjoy all the works of Miyazaki, on the big screen and on dvd when they will be released.

I can say that this time Buena Vista has done a good job in advertising the film because they had enough time to prepare it and also because "Sen to Chihiro" is less violent and difficult to understand than Mononoke Hime. Besides it's dedicated to children as Miyazaki himself said that "the film is addressed to 10 years old children and to everyone who feel still happy and carefree like a 10 years old child."

But what Spirited Away talks about?
If you know some Japanese words you can understand the original title ( Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi ). It tells everything, it means the spiritual journey of Chihiro and Sen. In fact it's a spiritual journey for 2 reasons:

The first is that Chihiro finds herself in a world of Spirits and Gods and the second is that it's a interior journey inside the spirit of Chihiro, who will grow and become independent during the story. It's not a case that the director uses 2 names for the protagonist, in fact the name Sen symbolize the travel in the spirit world while Chihiro the exploring of her interior world.

Miyazaki himself has said he was inspired by watching the state of apathy of children of the protagonist's age. They have little strength to live and are very dependent on parents.

In this journey the viewer will notice how Chihiro will change and evolve from a little girl sat in her parent's car in a state of apathy, into a girl who can survive with her own strength and finally into an innocent girl who comes to be better than her mates and can help others. This interior growth is wonderful, and the most beautiful thing is that it's not forced, but every element is believable and authentic.

Miyazaki focuses a lot on the problem that if children are too spoiled like Chihiro at the beginning (or in the caseYuBaba with the little child Boh) or if they are neglected and find themself helpless they couldn't overcome some problems in the future.

Chihiro finds Haku and Kamaji, Haku finds Kamaji and Chihiro, Boh finds Chihiro and Zeniba: they help each other and build friendships. In this way Miyazaki praises the importance of socializing for the growing of society and its own. (it's a central theme which is found in all his works but it's the first time it is expressed in this way).

Another classical element of Miyazaki is his environmentalist complaint, here interpreted by a river spirit whose water has been polluted. This aspect is discussed in every work of his but it seems not being understood by the powerful men of the earth (I hope George Bush will watch this film and think at the Kyoto Protocol he has not signed thinking at his business).

Plot: Chihiro is a simple little girl who has to leave all his friends after her parents decide of moving to another town. For an apathetic girl like her, making new friends and changing life style is frightening and for this reason she is not happy. When she arrives in the new town the family get lost in the suburbs and find themselves in front of the entrance of an abandoned Luna Park.

Actually that entrance leads to the spiritic world, to a hot spring where gods rest and take bath. When the family gets there, Chihiro's parents find a sumptuous banquet and feed themselves until they transform into pigs. Instead Chihiro doesn't care about the food and decide to go for a walk around the park. Then she meets Haku who informs her that a great danger is coming in the night. But she cannot return home with his parents reduced to pigs, so she asks the witch Yubaba to find her a job in her hot spring spa, and after some arguing she finally agrees. This is the beginning of Sen's journey and adventures.

From the technical point of view we can say that Miyazaki's direction focuses more on Sen's character and does a wonderful job also in choosing some particular scenes such as at the beginning where we see Chihiro in the car like the camera was put inside. Some situations are very well matched with sound effects and music.

Animation is entrusted to Masashi Ando, Kitaro Kosaka, and Megumi Kagawa; in particolar the first has already worked on the music video "On your mark" and on Mononoke Hime. I just want to underline the mastery of drawing hair moved by the wind and the reflection of the sun in the water, it's amazing.

The producer is Toshio Suzuki and executive producer is Yasuyoshi Tokuma, of Studio Ghibli, a very well known and skilful Japanese anime studio.

The Music by Joe Hisaishi, is straordinary, in fact it accompanies every moment in the film perfectly, it uses a lot of instruments and reach its peak at the clue moments. The final song "Tsumo Nando Demo" (always with me) is sung by Yomi Kimura, while the text and music is by Wakako Kaku.

What can I add?

The film has won the golden bear,... there has to be a reason for it! You can't miss watching it!

In Japan the film has been very successful, and it has even defeated Titanic at the box office.

Btw if you watch it with your children, nephews or brothers and sisters you will have a very good time, I assure you!

Review by Massimo Valenghi

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Fushigi Yugi OAV

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tamahome.. Nakago? Nakago... Tamahome?
These will be the first words that a great fan of Fushigi Yuugi will be shouting after starting watching the first episode of this dvd. In fact this OVA is intended for Fushigi yuugi fans, to whom it offers a beautiful story in addition to the TV episodes and nostalgic moments (all flashbacks are made with the scenes of the tv episodes).

Plot:
I don't want to reveal too much of the story, because I want to let the viewer enjoy all the passages and suspence. But I can say that the first Ova starts after the end of the TV series, and deals with the new life of Tamahome in the modern Japan. He can finally be together with Miaka and all goes well when suddenly Tamahome gets sucked into the book again only to find out he is seen as Nakago.

In the second Ova Tamahome is reborn as Taka Sukunami into Miaka's world. He has forgotten all that happened in the book but some events force him to discover all about his precedent life. In fact they encounter enemies and they have to search for the Globes which can save Taka from disappearing .

Overall the plot is well developed, only sometimes there are weakness in the structure such as some stereotypes which make the quality of the anime fall down a bit. Maybe if it was longer it would be better, because the story seems to come to the end very quickly, letting the viewer desire for more.

The dvd is very rich in extras:
At the end of the first episodes there are some additional videos entitled "The tale of the forbidden woman's hot spring resort" showing both the Suzaku and Seiryuu groups going on a trip to a hot spring. It's very funny and exciting. All fans will love it for sure!

Another nice extra is the picture gallery in the second disc. They also put some videos accompanied by the beautiful songs of the series, without dialogues, in order to full appreciate the music with the subtitles. They are followed by some original theme songs and the promos.

In conclusion I find this DVD very well done from the technical point of view, and the anime is wonderful though mainly dedicated to those who know all about the adventures of Miaka in the book "The Universe of the Four Gods".

Review by Stefano Poggioli

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Mahou Senshi Riui

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:07:05 +0200

Fantasy Anime can be parted in two great categories: the ones extremely serious and epic, or the ones totally brainless and comic.

This series, transmitted in Japan by WOWW in 2001, is without doubt of the second type, thus making me happier more than how expected...

Riui has always desired to be an adventurer and... even if he isn't a bright boy, he loves and manages well in fight. Unluckily Riui is the son of a great magician, who lead the local guild.Therefore, the guy is forced to take the way of magic, career he's totally unsuited for...

Riui meet soon a party of adventurers (I want to specify that they're all female) composed bya a paladin, a thief and a priestess, they're looking for the fourth member needed to be a complete fantasy group: The Magician. The ladies were really searching for another girl (and probably someone more qualified of Riui), but luck is on the boy's side: In a bursting out laughing occasion the priestess convinced herself that Riui is the "Chosen" (who says Matrix?) destined from the god of war, so she must follow and serve him.

There will be a lot of fun...

As said before Riui is very strong in fighting, but unluckily a battle with an horde of ogres will finish with the breaking of his magic rod ( He uses it like a club!), Making for Riui impossible to use the magic.

From here will start a trip to search a rare wood to make a new wand... and this is only the beginning of the vicissitudes which the team must experience.

To tell the truth: Mahou Senshi Riui is the anime I was waiting for long! A fun series with a great production.

Not only each comic situation is irresistible, also the direction and the changes of scene will surprise you with paradoxical situations.

In a word, exhilarating, I can't say anything else but you will appreciate the thoughtlessness (but not stupidity) of the screenplay.

Technically this series is of very high level:

The animation is extremely careful in each detail (created by the J.C. STAFF which lately seems to be in good shape, in association with I.G. Production, two of the greatest animation studios of the last years) and it supports a really pleasant chara design both in the traits of faces and bodies, and in the details of the costumes and scenes... colored with warm tonalities to respect both the fantasy gender and the comic style of the story. Another good quality is the soundtrack, composed with an care that I would never expect: nothing of really particular... it's a comic series too which doesn't claim much from the soundtrack, but it still have an extra accuracy that should be prized.

the original script of Mahou Senshi Riui was writed by Mizuno Ryo, already author of the novel Record of Lodoss War, thus had initially product confusion among the fans because the Riui's anime was placed practically in the same world of lodoss, or in a parallel ones, with various geographic affinities.

If you love Lodoss, or even more Slayers (speaking of a comic fantasy), you will found in Mahou Senshi Riui your new anime!

By Stefano Poggioli

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Maison Ikkoku: Final Chapter

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:04:17 +0200

Maison Ikkoku -Final Chapter- is set in the middle of the last episode of the anime, in 1987, precisely between Kyoko's adieu to Soichiro and her marriage to Yusaku Godai.

It was a silent raining day when the postman delivered a letter at the Ikkoku kan. It was only two days before the marriage. Godai was wearing a shirt that read "victory", and his co-tenants were up to drinking and laughing at him as usual. But Ibuki Yagami suddenly came to visit him without knowing he was going to marry and Kyoko, who was waiting for a mysterious letter, was still to come back home.

Until now we are far from imaging all troubles and misunderstandings which would mine Godai's self-confidence, a thing he gained with a lot of difficulties in the course of the whole tv series.

In the film there are also sub-stories which involve secondary characters such as Mr Chigusa, who is the father of Kyoko and the owner of Chachamaru.

The film draws its inspiration from the anime but also from the manga itself. In fact the character Nozumu Nikaido appears in it, and he is a character only of the manga. There are also Sayoko Kuroki and Buchou which we met in the manga when Godai was up to prepare a puppet shown and they talked about the marriage.

Overall it's very nice and funny. At the beginning the viewer will miss the wonderful character design of Akemi Takada because of the angular style of Yuji Moriyama, who is the new director of the animation. But little by little, viewers will find that this make the film quite an independent work. The colours are less vivid and the characters appear more mature because of the new style of drawing but also because actually some years has passed from when Yagami was in high school. In fact now is 20!

The Music, of Hideharu Mori is little but very beautiful. I would say one of the best thing of the film is the final song, the wonderful "Garasu no kiss" (kiss of the glass) sang by Rika Himenogi. In the final song all the characters appear in their daily poses and Kyoko is depicted in the moment of four years when before she found...well i'm not going to say it, I don't want to spoil your surprise if you have not watched it yet. ^__^

The direction of Tomomitsu Mochizuki is very good and keeps on focusing on the faces of the characters.

Conclusion: if you like Maison Ikkoku you can't miss this film, because it's a beautiful independent story and more important it's the final chapter which complete the whole work of Rumiko Takahashi.

Review by Samantha "Usagi"

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