MTAC Omega! 04/06/2012
 
So, the Middle Tennessee Anime Convention (MTAC) starts today and goes through Sunday. I won't be going all three days, but I'll be there tomorrow, and I'll try to get some pictures, videos, and the like up on the site. So, tune in tomorrow and Sunday to see if I've gotten anything up! If I haven't I should at least by next Wednesday!
I hope everyone who is going has a wonderful time!
Add Comment
 
 
Review
----------------------
After watching the first couple of episodes of GOSICK, I was hooked. A mystery anime with a tsundere loli? Sure. Not only that, but everything from the music to the story to the animation is amazing. That's all I have to say on the matter, it's a perfect anime. To an extent. Around the fourth to last episode, it started taking some weird turns that. The last two episodes were extremely awkward to me. The ending wasn't good, but not bad, it just gave me this strange feeling. Bottom line: The last two episodes did not leave me happy. I finished watching this at midnight, excited to see what happens, but after watching the last episode, I sat there for ten minutes trying to absorb and accept the ending I was given. I just can't.
44/50

News
--------------------------------------
I've been waiting for this since I watched the series, but AnoHana is coming to America! It was licensed by NIS America, which licensed Toradora a while back. So, if you kept up with NIS, you know that they are new to the anime business, and it will not be dubbed. To be honest, I didn't want this one dubbed. I like some dubs, but the anime NIS gets, they just wouldn't be right with dubs. So give a hand to NIS.
Add Comment
 
 
The first book in this magnificent series. As a big fan of the anime series, I had to read the novels, and now, my shelf has six of them. This series is AWESOME. But we're talking about the first book here, so let's get on with that. Now, there's no need to go into story. I have already discussed the outlines of it before and any fan of the anime should already know. The first six episodes of the anime covered this book. Honestly, this is the only book in the series to SOLELY be based on the SOS Brigade. Sure, later books have their activities, but it's more focus on what's behind the activity more than the activity itself. So, the forming of the SOS brigade has to be their shining moment. The rest of the series can simply be the five of them doing stuff. Reading the novels gives you a more in depth look at Kyon's thoughts on everything and gives a better description from time to time that the anime couldn't shove in due to time constraints. The anime was pretty true to the books, so I can't really complain. They are both liked for vastly different reasons anyway. Also, it has occurred to me that this is the only book where Nagato isn't ALL MIGHTY IMPORTANT to the entire thing like she is in everywhere else. Now that I have completely derailed from the topic, let me just give it a rating. This seems to have turned out more about the later books and anime series than it did the first book.
48/50

Add Comment
 
 
I don't know. Does it seem strange to go back and review this? This is what I love about reviewing, it can be the oldest thing in the world and still have people who haven't had the chance to enjoy it yet. Final Fantasy X-2 isn't old, but it is a classic. Let me start off by saying you do NOT need to play X before hand, but if you don't, quite a few things will be confusing. I, for one, played this game before X. What I love about this game is the missions. Yes, they are the entire game, but you don't have to go and do things in order. That non-linear game play is a nice change from the (relatively) linear X. Also, I should mention I am a HUGE fan of bestiaries. I'll go back and play a game I've finished JUST to look at the bestiary, and X-2's assortment of monsters is pretty cool. The characters are next. Playable characters include Yuna, Rikku, and Paine. Paine is new to the this story, but pretty cool, and Rikku can say pretty funny things on occasion. The game play is pretty customizable with the dress sphere system, so you have those to collect. I still haven't beaten it 100% but I now have the Strategy Gide, so here's hoping. 
39/50
1 Comment
 
 
I direct your attention here:
http://www.madhouse.co.jp/news/news_2012_01.html#news2012_0124
and here:
http://snoopy.co.jp/town/
Tell me, is this weird to you?
In other news, it seems Sentai and Bang Zoom got together to do the second season and OVAs of K-ON!! meaning the cast hasn't changed and it will release on DVD and Blu-ray later this year. Everyone salute Sentai! Hopefully, they will do the movie eventually, too. http://www.sentai-filmworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=173:sentaifilmworkslicensesk-onseason2&catid=71:press-releases&Itemid=64
Add Comment
 
 
To be honest, I had no expectations for this AT ALL. I'd seen the title several times while browsing through my TV guide, or Netflix selection, and never really thought much of it. All I had heard about it was "You can only understand it when you're drunk/high."
Now, after watching it, let me tell you: They were wrong.
Yes, the show is eccentric and hard to understand, but it's all about symbolism here. You don't need to be high or drunk, you just need to pay close attention and think outside the box. Every little thing done and said within the anime is very important. Even something that doesn't seem important. If you just watch it casually, or you just can't think through symbols, than the show is completely incomprehensible. See, these 6 episodes need to be examined closely for you to understand. Looking through a half-empty water gun, or feeding a robot cell phones. Getting hit with a vespa bike, or guitar, and having horns grow from your head. This is the story of a sixth grade boy whose life, to be honest, sucks. The show is teenage angst just smacking you in the face with random actions that actually mean something. The soundtrack is amazing and helps get a point across, too.
So before you watch it, and think it's just for laughs, I suggest you reevaluate the show itself.
Final Score: 50/50
Add Comment
 
 
It's been a while my friends! The blog is getting hit with a lot of fake comments, which really sucks, and I've really been too busy to deal with them. T.T
Anyways, I'm finding it harder and harder to make reviews with the current system, and it also makes it way too easy to make above 25, so from this day forward, I will give my thoughts and give a single rating. I won't rate each category, but I will discuss them! The score will still range from 0-50, but I feel this will make it a more "balanced" rating system.
So now a question! What are you looking forward to this year when it comes to anime and manga. I'm personally looking forward to Shirokuma Cafe.
Add Comment
 
 
NOTE: I have lumped the two seasons together, because in a chronological order, they are all one big season and series.

Story 10/10
Kyon, a nickname given to the main character of whom we don't know the real name, is your average everyday high school guy. When he was little he believed in all sorts of paranormal phenomena, but as of late has given up on those dreams. Until he met her. The story for this series as a whole is so incredibly amazing, with how every little word said has meaning to the big picture. As this normal guy meets an eccentric girl, who unknowingly is a goddess with the power to change the world. She is watched by an "alien" humanoid interface, time traveler, and an "esper". They do seemingly normal things together, and keep Haruhi happy so she doesn't completely destroy everything, and each little thing that happens becomes something greater. It will absolutely have you re-watching and doing marathons, and each time you watch it, you will notice little things you hadn't before.

Characters 10/10
Each character, design and personality, are amazing as well. The stoic humanoid interface, devoid of emotion. The cute, petite, time traveler. Also the weird creepy esper dude. However, as the story is told first person from Kyon's point of view, you never know anyone else's  thoughts or true motives. It's really quite amazing.

Music 10/10
Kousaki-san has done it again. He seems to be a master at making music for the genre of which this anime falls in. Or one of the few I may say. He also did he music for Lucky Star, Oreimo, ect. I absolutely love his work (and for the death of me, I can't get the main track out of my head...)

Voices 10/10
Here's an interesting thing. This is just personal opinion but hear me out. I like the DUB better than the subs. This does NOT happen often, but as the Japanese cast is amazing, I love Crispin Freemen, Michelle Ruff, Stephanie Sheh, Wendee Lee, and Johnny's performances. Kari Wahlgren also does a terrific job with my favorite character, Tsuruya-san.I'll watch the subs for another season before it comes to America, but for this series, it's dub all the way for me.

Animation 10/10
Whoever does the animation for this series deserves a round of applause. Note she also did the animation for K-ON!. The animation is one of those "flawless" and "pays attention to detail" ones. It absolutely IS amazing.

Overall 50/50
This is the second anime on the site to get a perfect score (first was Death Note) The series is just awesome, amazing and any other words for "this anime makes your brain explode into rainbows" and don't go giving me crap about the "Endless Eight" because I personally liked it, and even if you didn't for the love of God just skip from part 1 to part 8 and move on. I also suggest reading the novels, it gives much more depth to the series, and the entire series (movie included) only covers the first 4/11 books. And they will still be coming. One of the best anime ever in my eyes.
Add Comment
 
 
NOTE: It is pronounce Dis-Guy-Uh, for any of those who are confused.

Story 5/10
What can I say? The story at it's core is pretty similar to the game, however, it takes a lot of strange and changing turns, where 98% of it is pretty much original. It just seems to work weirdly, but I do praise on how they made these changes still work into one of the endings from the game. However, it is only 12 episodes long, and doesn't get some of those good moments in. It's episode count could of doubled in that case, but average overall.

Characters 8/10
I absolutely love the characters, dood! The characters and their personalities are straight from the game, but even here, they were slip in an extra (which took up an extra one of those 12 episodes, sadly. Good episode overall) Laharl, Etna, Mid-Boss, Flonne, and everyone's favorite Prinny squad are here for the fun :D I just freakin LOVE the prinnies.

Music 7/10
It seems most of the music, like the characters, are all from the game. I do enjoy the soundtrack, but I'm actually annoyed by a couple of them, because the soundtrack seems to be very limited. Good but unsatisfying.

Voices 10/10
The best part about this part, every single voice actor/actress from the game reprise their role in the anime. That is, for Japanese AND English dubs. So your favorite character, they haven't been ruined or tainted by someone else voice. I will assure you this.

Animation 6/10
I do enjoy the animation, somehow there's just a problem. In some cases, it's that the characters move in odd ways, in others, it's just the sizes of the characters themselves are NOT consistent. One moment Laharl will be tiny, the next he'll be a good size. Flonne seems to be somewhat consistent, but Etna grows from normal size to Flonne's height in random moments. It seems only Prinnies are fully consistent.

Overall 36/50
Partly true to the game, there are just some issues that a fan such as I really can't overlook. If you played the game and liked it, I suggest giving it a try, if you're lost on this, just play the game first. You won't truly enjoy this anime for what it is without playing the game.
Add Comment
 
 
Story 10/10
There is no story. It's a Mario Kart game. However, I'm not going to hurt the score for this.

Characters 8/10
The cast of characters is a great one, with tons of new additions. Including Wiggler, Lakitu, and Metal Mario. There are some disappointments though. There is no Dry Bowser, Waluigi, or King Boo. Personally some of my favorites from Wii. Most people will like to know that the baby characters are not present either, others will miss them. Hopefully a Mario Kart for the Wii U will have these new additions and more.

Gameplay 9/10
It plays a lot like Wii. Even tricks are present (R button in the air) However, bikes are not. The kart customization is just plain AWESOME, and makes up for some other things. There are glitches that have yet to be fixed, and a lot of trolls online will use them to their advantage.

Music 7/10
You have some great old Mario Kart music with some new tracks, and they are all fun to listen to while racing.

Graphics (3D) 8/10
The graphics themselves are very much like the Wii, so to have this on the go is awesome. The 3D is a great sense of depth, but you don't really notice it while racing. Sometimes (and this is just me, it may vary for you) I lose all focus for a couple of seconds. There are some nice touches with the 3D, including using the first-person mode.

Overall 42/50
There are some upsides and some downsides, but overall a great installment for the Mario Kart series, and a great game for the 3DS library!
Add Comment