All posts filed under "Shueisha"

Jul 12

Honey and Clover

0 comments

I normally don’t like the shoujo genre. There is a limit to how many quivering eyes, will-they-won’t-they plots, and impeccably timed flurries of sakura petals one can take. There are a few gems in the genre though, ones that take the shoujo troupes and either ignore them or turn them on their heads. There are also those tales that take the old clichés and totally make them their own, giving us a story which still has themes we’ve seen before, but tells it in a way that makes it all seem fresh and original.

READ MORE...

Jun 09

Eyeshield 21

1 comment

Sports anime seem to have a certain magnetism to them. They pull in not only fans of that particular sport, but also people who would never deign to see a real life game of said sport even if their lives depended on it. It’s really hard to put your finger on why sports anime appeal to these non-sports fans. Is it the characters? The often touching overcoming-the-odds story lines? The fact that the main team is always destined to win that final match, so there’s no risk of heartbreak?

READ MORE...

May 25

Gintama

1 comment

Gin Tama shocked me by being likable. I went into the series expecting it to be highly offensive, highly puerile, or a combination of the two.  And I won’t deny that it is, but therein lies the series’ charm. The writer of Gin Tama managed to mix all these negative elements up with good characterizations, amusing parodies, and hidden wit into a very entertaining show. This show is not my normal thing. First off the show is chaotically episodic. I have liked episodic shows in the past, but Gin Tama seems to take it to extremes.

READ MORE...

Apr 22

Bleach the Movie 2: The Diamond Dust Rebellion

1 comment

I have a confession to make. I like the Bleach movies. I honestly, truly adore them. Shhh. They don’t make my head hurt like other anime movies. There is no careful attempt to have it not break the TV series’ continuity or, worse yet, try to make it fit into the TV series’ continuity. Bleach movies just promise to be a fun romp with characters we already know and love, and that is exactly what they deliver. Please check fandom timeline notes at the door.

READ MORE...

Dec 01

Nana (Anime) Review

3 comments

I have a love/hate relationship with this show. It’s a wonderful story in any of its incarnations, manga, anime or live action movie. The story, which is very slice-of-life, is interesting and the two main characters and their supporting cast are wonderful- coming across as real people you’d want to meet and become friends with. The only "problem" is that the manga writer, Ai Yazawa, is almost too good at writing about realistic relationships, especially powerful, unhealthy relationships. This is where the hate part of my relationship with this story comes in.

READ MORE...