Rental Magica – Ep 4 Review [8/10]

• Episode No: 4
• Episode Title: You’re Not Alone
• Episode Rating: 8 out of 10

This episode started off as something that didn’t really catch my interest because for one thing, it seemed to focus on a member of the group, Kuroha Manami, who has the least personality. However, I was refreshingly surprised when the character’s background was shown. This episode may have been boring at first, and predictable at the end, but the slight confusion and surprise it caused made my interest in this somewhat mediocre series heighten a bit.

Rental Magica – Ep 4 Recap

• Episode No: 4
• Episode Title: You’re Not Alone

Note: This is a recap of an episode and therefore contains spoilers. You have been warned.

Shana II – Ep 4 Review [7/10]

• Episode No: 4
• Episode Title: Melancholy Girls
• Episode Rating: 7 out of 10

Grr. Annoying dramatic episode with Shana jealous of Yuji’s attention to new girl Konoe Fumina. As for Yuji… well, dense as ever. Konoe’s childish dependence towards Yuji is cute, I admit, with her clinging on to Yuji’s shirt all the time. But the whole situation is just… grr. Do we really need this episode? Okay, don’t answer that. They’re in high school, so let’s let them have their moments. (Yes, I’m talking to myself.)

Oh, and there’s a pretty refreshing pool play scene here among their classmates, though I’m not so sure if it has any relevance.

Gundam 00 – Ep 4 Recap

• Episode No: 4
• Episode Title: Foreign Negotiations

Note: This is a recap of an episode and therefore contains spoilers. You have been warned.

Gundam 00 – Ep 4 Review [8/10]

• Episode No: 4
• Episode Title: Foreign Negotiations
• Episode Rating: 8 out of 10

It was interesting watching certain situations unfold regarding Celestial Being and the three powers Union, HRL, and AEU, though not much of AEU is seen here. Mecha battles occurred at the end, and were simply one-sided, except for a short fight between Gundam Exia and a Custom Flag. Basically I’m just following the story, still interested yet trying not to be confused. I think Celestial Being handled the situation well and I would have done the same thing. I can’t say though, that their actions are in parallel with their goals to irradicate war completely, but okay.

Shion no Ou – Initial Review [8/10]

• Initial Rating: 8 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) Shion’s Path, (2) Secrets, (3) Komaoto

I’ll start with the opening song, “LADY LOVE” by RIZE, which I really like, but somehow don’t find fitting for the anime. It’s too strong for a show which centers on a gentle-faced protagonist. But then, the anime does involve a murder. Well, this is just my impression. Sorry for making a big deal out of the opening song :P

Yasuoka Shion is an elementary school student who is exceptionally skilled in shougi. When she was four years old, her parents were murdered and she was taken in by a family friend and shougi player who raised her and trained her in shougi. However, since the tragedy, she has lost the ability to speak.

Shion would sometimes have flashes of memory of the murder, like a scene of someone’s bloody fingers setting a shougi piece. Perhaps the murderer is a shougi player? Intriguing.

With her sincerity and intelligence, Yasuoka Shion, the main character, is easy to love. That and the murder mystery are enough reasons for me to watch this anime, and they actually are, despite not knowing anything at all about shougi. But since I can pretty much sense the state of the game from the reaction of the characters, I think that’s good enough for now. It still helps to know shougi, though.

Blood+ – Overall Review [9/10]

• Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
• Total Episodes: 50

As a fan of dark bloody anime’s, I naturally enjoyed this one. I watched all fifty episodes continuously, momentarily falling asleep at times, during which I’d dream of blood-sucking creatures causing me to wake up… and continue watching. Ahem. I felt like the undead myself. I will not do it again.

Anyway, maybe my high rating was because of my biases but I really did enjoy the anime a lot, especially the twists and turns of the plot. The tragedies involved seemed to appeal to me as much as the eventual character development did in this story. It’s just as well, I guess, considering I didn’t really favor any particular character early in the anime.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Initial Reviews, Styles, and Quotes

Finally, I have finished organizing and updating my blog. Well, there’s still more to add but for now, the contents are good enough.

I’ve already completed the initial reviews for the eight ongoing anime’s I’m currently watching.

• Bamboo Blade
• Dragonaut – The Resonance
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00
• Night Wizard
• Rental Magica
• Shakugan no Shana II
• Suteki Tantei Labyrinth
• You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle

Aside from them, I’m also watching the following anime’s, though since I haven’t watched upto their third episodes, I don’t really want to make initial reviews yet.

• Ghost Hound
• Jyuushin Enbu – Hero Tales
• Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro
• Shion no Ou

I’ve also edited the entries in the Styles category and added pictures too. They’re not much, but there’s more to come later.

Lastly, I’ve changed the style of posting anime quotes because I don’t want really long titles. Previously, the quote itself was the title, and that setup looked messy. I’ve also recently added a quote from Ryoma which I totally related to while updating and organizing my blog… and now I will part this update with it.

“Mada mada da ne.”

Quote: Long Way To Go

Mada mada da ne. “There’s still a long way to go.”

- Echizen Ryoma, Prince of Tennis

Shion no Ou – Ep 1 Recap

• Episode No: 1
• Episode Title: Shion’s Path

Note: This is a recap of an episode and therefore contains spoilers. You have been warned.

Night Wizard – Initial Review [6/10]

• Initial Rating: 6 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) Lunar Casket, (2) Fallen Man, (3) The Two Flames

“Night Wizard The Animation” is about a group of Wizards who fight against Emulators – dark forces from a separate world that wants to invade Earth. I get the impression that this is another cliche fantasy adventure whose characters don’t even seem to have enough of a rapport. I can’t say though that its enjoyment factor is nil – it did entertain me somewhat. I guess I’ll see where this goes, but for now, that’s really just all I have to say.

YUA: Full Throttle – Initial Review [7/10]

• Initial Rating: 7 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) Prologue of Racing, (2) The Small Samurai, (3) Strong Arm! The Prohibited Wrestler

“You’re Under Arrest: Full Throttle” begins with Miyuki back from the United States and Natsumi back from Ranger training. Together again as partners, these two beautiful and warm-hearted girls rejoin their friends in the Bokuto Police Department to fight crime once more.

My interest in this anime is mainly because of Natsumi. With her brute strength and impulsive personality, she is enjoyable to watch, definitely the spice this show needs.

Not that it’s a bad show. Though a bit slow-paced and somewhat boring at times, the comedy and light action (mostly by Natsumi) provides good entertainment, especially if you just want to sit back and relax rather than indulge in more serious shows.

Suteki Tantei Labyrinth – Initial Review [7/10]

• Initial Rating: 7 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) Kyuto Detective, (2) Mayuki’s Determination, (3) Slanted Tower Adventure

The main character, Hyuuga Mayuki, is as much a mystery as the cases he solves in this anime. He is an elementary school student who loves tea and lives in a mansion, but he has some special kind of insight which makes him able to solve mysteries.

My impression when seeing a picture of this anime, with all the bright faces and smiles, is that it’s a kiddy show with lots of happy-happy stuff. But that impression has changed. The mysteries here are far from kiddy.

I would have given this a higher rate if it weren’t for the servants-turning-into-fighters thing which really seems far-off. I like action and all, but I don’t get the connection (yet?) and it looks like there are two separate things going on. In one part, we have a nice young boy who hangs out with his nice young friends and solves mysterious crimes… and on the other, we have some sexy costumed women fighting each other on rooftops. I’m like, “huh?”

Anyway, this anime intrigues me, and oh, those white-haired twins look cool, so I’m hanging on to this one.

Shana II – Initial Review [8/10]

• Initial Rating: 8 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) The Second Time, (2) The Beginning of Everything, (3) The Suspicious Transfer Student

The cute and feisty red-headed Flame Haze is back in Shakugan no Shana II! I can’t really say I’m a big fan, but Shana is just adorable!

Based on the first three episodes, the story levels up a notch as strange new villains and characters are introduced, while the connection between Shana and Yuji fundamentally remains unchanged, having the same kind of relationship they had the previous season. This season is worth watching if you are a fan of the first one.

Warning: Contains Spoilers

Rental Magica – Initial Review [7/10]

• Initial Rating: 7 out of 10
• Episodes Watched: (1) Magic Users for Rental, (2) A Witch’s Vow, (3) Purification of the Gods

Though Rental Magica has yet to impress me, it is not poor in quality. The magic used in this anime ranges from Celtic to Shinto and watching it throws you into a slight whirlwind of magical terms and references. Shinsen-Subs even added some notes at the end which were somewhat useful and even entertaining.

Rental Magica is about “Astral”, a company that ‘rents out’ mages for their customers to help with magic-related situations. With the previous president gone, the title is entrusted to his high school son Itsuki, who has no real ability in magic but resorts to studying about it. He is pretty much regarded as ‘useless’ but ends up saving the day anyway by using his all-seeing scarlet right eye.

The first three episodes weren’t really engaging, but the mystery behind Itsuki’s eye, and the different methods of magic used by the characters kept my interest in the show. So I’m sticking to this one for the meantime.