ANIME: 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン(1995)
October 3, 2008
新世紀エヴァンゲリオン
Neon Genesis Evangelion
1995
Direction: Hideaki Anno
Studio: Gainax
Quickie:
Post-apocalyptic, symbolic, psychoanalytic, philosophic…
General Impression:
I can’t help but like this show. It has defective people in dysfunctional relationships.
Lows:
Heavy, exhausting and might provoke too much thought for some people
Highs:
Spins several ideas, excellent soundtrack, sad people, sad situations, big purple robot, Megumi Oogata, mindfuck
Notes:
My favorite show. Expect bias.
I realize that Evangelion is another one of those love / hate things. Some people think it’s overrated, others think it’s the greatest anime ever created. I don’t believe that it’s the best anime ever created but it is one hell of a show.
With four new movies in production a decade after it first aired, Evangelion is far from dead. That can only point to two things: good show, big fanbase.
I have to affirm the buzz about it. It is a pretty solid show. Sure, it has fanservice and the last two episodes do have a tendency to drive people nuts. But let’s not forget how nice Hideaki Anno framed the shots. The beauty of the story and the script. The fucked up way the people are fucked up.
It sets the records straight on what it really means for young, emotionally unstable kids go through when ordered by their fathers (who love their wives too much) to man a big, purple robot. There’s a glimpse of lost opportunities between two people who could have been a wonderful couple but then this catastrophe struck and everything’s too fucked up for love to even exist.
The characters are all remarkable. Even the darned penguin. Perhaps I just liked screwed up, twisted things because truth is: that’s what people are. That’s what life is.
For the cynical in you: Evangelion!
FINAL RATING:
[5] out of [5]
ANIME – 図書館戦争 (2008)
July 19, 2008
Title: Toshokan Sensou
Directed By: Takayuki Hamana
Based on the Light Novel By: Hiro Arikawa
Original Run: April 11, 2008 – June 26, 2008
Main Cast:
(voice only)
Marina Inoue as Iku Kasahara
Tomoaki Maeno as Atsushi Dojo
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Produced by one of my favorite studios, Production IG, Toshokan Sensou or Library Wars is an anime that guarantees satisfaction.
The animation is as good as they come. It’s clean, the style is remarkable and it’s consistent. The opening sequence and the ending sequence are catchy so I would expect it to find their ways into portable music devices.
The characters are endearing. I usually roll my eyes at clumsy characters but Iku Sasahara (the female protagonist, excellently voiced by Marina Inoue) is able to pull it off well. Like most anime girls, she tends to weep a lot but I choose to ignore that. She does try earnestly to be tough and her incredible supporting cast… er, supports her well.
But it’s not without its flaws. Most of the time, I get confused by the technical side of the Media Cleansing Act and the Library Defense Force. Not because it’s too complex but the logic is a little faulty. The government supports both groups? They hold events where they are free to shoot each other? Kinda sketchy. However, I am willing to overlook those things for the sake of entertainment. Which, after all, is the main purpose of watching it. In my opinion anyway.
It somehow feels bigger than it is. The twelve episodes throw in comedy, romance, conspiracy, discrimination, censorship… all these things without completely plunging into the heaviness of it all. Sometimes I’m too distracted with the visual pleasure that it gives but as for the story which makes it run, it feels like you’re taking a 101 course. It’s not really a downside if you take delight in slice of life shows like I do but I suppose some might find the handling of the subjects presented here a bit inadequate. But if you ask me, I don’t think it could have been done better. It’s great enough as it is.
As mentioned, it only runs for twelve episodes. It would be nice if they have a second season but as it stands, Toshokan Sensou is an interesting and entertaining anime that is definitely, definitely worth checking out.
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http://www.toshokan-sensou.com/
ANIME – 紅 (2008)
July 1, 2008
Title: Kurenai
Directed By: Kō Matsuo
Based on the Light Novel By:Kentarou Katayama
Original Run: April 3, 2008 – June 19, 2008
Cast:
(voice only)
Miyuki Sawashiro as Shinkurou Kurenai
Aoi Yūki as Murasaki Kuhouin
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Normally, I cringe whenever there’s a young character in an anime. This might root from the fact that I’m not very fond of children – real or not.
Surprisingly, I enjoyed watching Murasaki Kuhouin. She’s a small, wide-eyed rich kid who initially treats everyone like maids. Sounds annoying? Well, it would have been. But it was actually more of an amusing thing because it was properly motivated by the fact that Murasaki comes from a very specific background to which we can attribute her… bratness.
Her clan is a peculiar one and her mother decided that Murasaki deserved to know the outside world. The story begins.
Kurenai, the title of the series, is the last name of an awkward looking teenager named Shinkurou. Not much detail is revealed about him but we know that he works as a “dispute settler” for yet another person who we know very little about, Benika.
Some might say that this is possibly one of the weak points of the anime. The series never really explores the character fully. However, I have to say that the sense of mystery didn’t bother me. The episodes revealed enough about the characters for us to get a feel of who they are and the interaction between each of them also helps in fleshing out their personalities.
I absolutely enjoyed Kurenai. It’s light and it’s heavy, it’s sad and it’s funny. I really liked all the characters (even the kid, even the almost annoying flirty girl)
Some lines are a little off, the opening sequence is absolutely horrible and sometimes the animation becomes weird but all in all, none of these little things brings the show down. I still say that it’s interesting and entertaining. Quiet and mellow.
So if you like these quiet and mellow shows with fist fights, car chases and some other twists throw in… do check out Kurenai!
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More Info:
Anime Official Website
SPECIAL: さよなら絶望先生
June 23, 2008
Title:
さよなら絶望先生 (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
『俗』 さよなら絶望先生 (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei)
Directed By: Akiyuki Shinbo
From the Manga By: Kumeta Kouji
Original Run:
(SZS) July 7, 2007 – September 23, 2007
(ZSZS) January 5, 2008 – March 29, 2008
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Possibly my second favorite Japanese animated show (next to Evangelion, of course). It’s funny, witty, probably obscene to some, wacky and immensely fun.
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei combines amazing animation with superb writing to produce one hell of a show. Some may deem it to be “too native” but a little thinking and a bit of research goes a long way.
The joke is on everyone as we are introduced to Itoshiki Nozomu, a high school teacher who feels doomed because of his unfortunate name (written horizontally, Itoshiki almost reads Zetsubou which translates to Despair). Episode after episode, he screams in agony as he encounters depressing things about politics, media and society in general.
Add to that, he has to deal with a hikikomori, a stalker, a quite literally unbelievably positive girl, a perfectionist who is always on the verge of breaking down and… uh, you guys should just watch.
It’s pretty smart if you tilt your head properly. Again, some might even deem it offensive. I guess one could say that it’s a bit South Park-ish but a little milder? Or is it? You decide.
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More Info:
Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Official Website
Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei Official Website
ANIME – もやしもん (2007)
June 23, 2008
Title: Moyashimon – Tales of Agriculture
Directed By: Yūichirō Yano
From the Manga By: Masayuki Ishikawa
Original Run: October 12, 2007 – December 21, 2007
Main Cast:
(voice)
Daisuke Sakaguchi as Sawaki Tadayasu
Mitsuki Saiga as Yuuki Kei
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I have absolutely no idea what the word Moyashimon means. Yes, I did try to look it up.
Anyway, rambling aside, the anime Moyashimon is about Sawaki Tadayasu. Of all the possible powers in the world, he ends up with having the ability to see microorganisms. Not in the microscope sense of the word. No, he sees cute little bouncing creatures who actually call him by name.
Sounds fun? You bet.
Add to that mixture his incredibly pretty best friend Yuuki Kei (who happens to be a guy), a rather odd professor in the college he attends, a researcher who enjoys wearing bondage clothing and two… uh… strange sophomores.
It’s nothing mind-blowing or groundbreaking but it is more than mildly entertaining. The animation is crisp and the opening song is worthy of being in your MP3 players. It’s a slice of life kind of thing so if that’s your cup of tea (coffee?) then this is something to check out.
Light and entertaining. Quite fun.
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More Info:
Official Website
Telecom-Site
