The Wind Rises (Kaze Tachinu) Review

Year: 2013
Studio: Studio Ghibli
Director/Screenplay/Creator: Hayao Miyazaki
Music: Joe Hisaishi

Ping Pong the Animation - Review

Year: 2014
Studio: Tatsunoko Production
Genre: sport, drama, slice of life

2014 Summer Anime Season Preview

If 2014 Spring is a season of Sports (just right before World Cup too, talk about excellent timing), then 2014 Summer is a season of high-profile sequels. I don't normally preview sequels but the titles of this particular season are making so much noise that foregoing them would certainly undermine the comprehensiveness of the preview. We just don't normally get this level of concentration of hotly anticipated sequels. The rest of schedule doesn't look too shabby either, especially considering the not-too-impressive history of summer seasons; for one thing, we have Watanabe helming a new show at Mappa, you can't really go wrong with that. One last thing before I move on to the real stuff, I left out some shows that have no merits besides pandering. Trash is trash, I've already spent too much time in past seasons ragging on them, so the new plan is to not bother at all.

via AniChart
via Neregate

Nagi no Asukara Review

Year: 2014
Studio: P.A Works
Genre: fantasy, coming of age, slice of life, romance, drama

Noragami Review

Year: 2014
Studio: Bones
Genre: supernatural, shonen, romance, action

Inari, Kon Kon, Koi Iroha Review

Year: 2014
Studio: Production IMS
Genre: comedy, romance, supernatural

2014 Spring Anime Season Preview

Hello, hello, once again we are almost at the spring season! This is a painfully long list and god knows how time consuming it is to sift through each one. What keeps me going is the knowledge that somewhere down the list will be a show I actually want to talk about, even if I have to go through hell to get there. Kay, a bit exaggerated, but you get the point.

Anyhow, with the exclusion of carryovers and two wonderful Bones shows, the Winter lineup was pretty dreary. I'm not sure if it's me being overly critical or this season is still pretty thin by spring standard. Aside from Mushishi, there isn't a single show I think I can bank on, which is pretty sad for the length of this preview. Don't get me wrong, I think there are quite a few series with potential, but that's exactly where things are at – potential with a lot of uncertainty. It will become more apparent once the season settles in, for now let's take a look at the candidates.

Charts:
via Neregate
via AniChart

All information credit goes to ANN and MAL

Yuzuru Hanyu – The Newly Crowned Ice Prince

As the figure skating competitions for the Sochi Olympics came to full circle with the exquisite exhibition gala, I find myself overwhelmed by a myriad of emotions and needing the time and place to get the words out. Aside from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, which is really the home games for me, the competitions this year have been the most emotional experience personally because of a single man/boy – the 19 year old rising star from Japan, Yuzuru Hanyu. 

The Bones Party – Noragami, Space Dandy First Impression

Noragami

Great first episode to what I foresee to be a likeable show. I'm kind of glad they cut out the first chapter, because it is essentially a one-shot with no real significance and the pacing will have to be airtight if they are going to make do with one cour. But by taking it out, coherency did suffer, however minimal. The girl who got bullied by her classmate called up Yato when she saw his message on the wall of the toilet stall, but this tidbit is extremely glossed over in the anime, which could leave some scratching their heads. The animation and the sound track are both flawless, and I'm enjoying the heck out of the OP/ED. It is some real stylish stuff. Overall, it didn't blow me away, but it's a solid package that maintains my interest. By the record, Bones does well with adaptions, so I'm looking forward to see this one unfold.

Space Dandy

This is definitely Bones' more high-profile offering going into season. Did the first episode live up to the hype? Well, I'll be honest, my feelings are somewhat mixed. The plot itself so far has been nonsensical, but I do expect that to change for the the better over the next few weeks. I can't say the same thing about the humor though and I'm going to be real worried if the rest of the show is banking on it to succeed. The prowess of the script writers is yet to shine through, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. The highlight here is the colorful, over-the-top, and wonderfully dynamic animation. The animators were clearly given a heck lot of freedom to do what they wanted with it. The music is also fantastic and does everything in its power to set the mood. Whatever it is, I can assure you my excitement has not gone down a single notch as I have plenty of faith in the talents involved in this thing. If nothing else, this opening is as crazy, absurd, and silly as it promised, so it did its job in that regard.

Kyoukai no Kanata – Review

Year: 2013
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Synopsis:
 Akihito Kanbara is a high school sophomore in the literature club who believes himself to be a "Meganest", and although he appears to be human, he is actually half Yōmu, which makes him invulnerable to wounds, due to the fact that he can heal so quickly, and also immortal. One day, Akihito meets freshman Mirai Kuriyama when it appears as if she is about to attempt suicide by jumping off of the school rooftop. Mirai is isolated because of her ability to manipulate blood, which is considered heresy even among other members of the underworld, so she is shunned. Soon after Akihito saves Mirai, disturbing events begin to arise."