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I'm very new to the Macross World, but I thought I'd give it a go. Kawamori's strangely loose canonical lineage seemed like it would be a fun area to watch unfold in canon and fanon.

Sound: It's Macross. Music is going to be there and it's going to be important. I really enjoyed the soundtrack. The vocals and songs (pretty much all dealing with romantic metaphors and analogies) are really well placed, well sung, and beautifully crafted. To me, nothing ever seemed overly repetitive despite using the same material often. The in and out music during mecha battles was fun and really enhanced the scenes.

Art: ... It was a pretty wonderfully done anime series. There were occasionally oddly shaped hands and feet and clumsy panning out work, but the visuals I was in it for (the planet environments and the space battles) were gorgeous and amazing.

Characters: Most people know that the anime involves a Love Triangle before going into it. It was well done. Both heroines were likeable (maybe even more than the hero) and any shipping factions that are and were slinging mud at one another sadly miss out on a chance to see interesting characters. The 'side characters' are awesome. Omza Lee, Michael, Klan Klang, pretty much any SMS character stole the spotlight as many do in anime series. The motives, the backgrounds, some of it wasn't on par with the other positives of the series, but nothing was so bad. Fanservice, of course.

Story: Macross Mecha meets Ender's Game extraterrestrials. If you like either, the 'shounen' part of the series will appeal to you. Again, the love triangle is handled well. Looking (but not having watched) the first Macross, it seems to follow some of the archetypes and vibes that specific Macross held. Since it's a continuity of the Macross world, knowledge of past series will make this one very enjoyable with all the nods given to Macross history. The story had its ups and downs for me. To keep rounded interest, many story lines have in and out sequencing-we'll get something with Ranka's life, pause it, go to Sheryl's, pause it, go to a battle, etc. It kept everything flowing well, but also highlighted which storylines I cared little for (there were around 3 or 4 minor ones). Some very poignant and hard-hitting lines, a few close calls where you think they did, but 'yes!' they didn't-it definitely makes for an enjoyable anime experience. I also cried once and thought quite a few parts were full of total badassery.

-That covers the anime generally, this part is more of a specific experience analysis; deals with shipping...you've been warned-

Enjoyment: This is the sort of funny part. My first encounter with Macross Frontier came from an avid fan who happened to obsessively love AltoxRanka and at one point declared that ship to be canonically proven as true. Not ever having touched the story myself I thought it a pretty interesting thing to see what happens to a person as their ship goes from fanon to confirmed. I came into Macross expecting Alto and Ranka to have a confirmed ending relationship. I fell for Ranka and Shirley. Both are awesome (so are many of the other females in the series). And whatever you ship more power to you. Obviously I didn't get the ending I expected, but I definitely got an awesome experience. Watching my expectations axis tilt was something I've really never felt before. I wasn't actively for or against either pairing in the canon, but the romance was done elegantly. And not just with the main triangle. Well, there were a few bumps but I have sort of low expectations for romance in shounen that I happen to enjoy.

Definitely worth watching, especially for the music and mecha explosion porn.

I'm straight off of an Eyeshield 21 high as I just finished it not too long ago (its been a few minutes). Eyeshield 21 is the story of a bullied nobody coming into his own through friendship, drive, and an amazingly non-defeatist attitude. Sena isn't a pathetic loser nor is he a gifted genius. He has determination and will. Therein lies his strength. Whether you like America football or not, ES21 is a great story. The characters, both Sena's teammates and adversaries, are memorable and the manga is very funny. Slapstick humor, rousing speeches, and an improvement strategy that never gets old - it's a ... very easy manga to get into and stay engaged with. Self-consciousness, inferiority complexes, superiority complexes, the struggle between innate talent versus hard work, discrimination, and the power of friendship are all explored with much more. The artwork is pretty fantastic and each page is filled with some sort of action or point of interest. Being unfamiliar with American football won't hold you back from enjoying it as there are seamlessly flowing basic explanations of the game. The cleverness of the plays, the charm of the characters, and the seriously hilarious parts of the manga are complemented by areas of turmoil and character maturity. And you're always left wondering how the characters will face adversity next. What will be there next route of growth?

One Piece is a legendary manga. Known for its absolutely crazy fans and forums, people often chalk One Piece up to be all hype and no substance. I know people who didn't want to try it because the artwork didn't appeal to them or they didn't want to go through the 300+ chapters that it would take to catch up. Most of the people who were initially hesitant to read One Piece fell in love with it right at the second major arc.

Of the 'Big Three,' One Piece was the last I started with and I wish that I had started it earlier. Ridiculously ... awesome characters, tear-jerking moments, comedy that actually makes me laugh, and Luffy. Oh, Luffy. In One Piece, very few characters are treated as wastes. Oda is very detailed when it comes to setting up a new character. It's hard to forget even the most minor of villains. And it's definitely the type of manga that sends chills all over your body. When you see a character make an epic return, when you hear the background stories of the nakama or whoever, when you watch battle being fought (often intelligently). Oda's chapters feel as if there's a purpose to everyone. The most minute of detail can easily become something big. And as Oda and his audience matured, the themes and events in One Piece did, as well. It's a manga for all ages, no doubt.

I can probably wax poetic for quite sometime regarding the sheer greatness of this manga, but I won't. Please give the manga a chance.

The prequel was amazing, but this installment blew my mind away. All the angst, melodrama, and character complexity from the original is there, but its even better. Not to mention one of the most wonderful endings in the history of yaoi manga (that I've read at least). Its painful, fluffy, and bittersweet all at once. You feel for both characters so deeply. The female lead is also an example of a wonderful character. There are no stereotypes for a typical yaoi manga. Honest, endearing, well written, at times funny, and a perfect view of the bare human spirit. It shows us selfishness, immaturity, and indecisiveness ... in the face of relationships. And as the protagonist questions himself, we're left questioning ourselves, as well. A beautiful must read!

Some people are offended by the natures of the characters of the manga, but I wasn't at all. It was honest and enjoyable. The characters were brilliantly developed and the inner turmoil, melodrama, and angst factor were truly there. The best part of the manga is definitely in its character appeal. We can easily relate ourselves with the two main protagonists. They aren't fabrications of shoujo excitement, but they have true faults, but they're honest about them. Doubt, confusion, trust, conformity, the search for true love, what we want from our lives is all on the page for you. From the title, to the plot, ... to the characters - everything is gripping. The artwork is also poignantly done. A hand grab, a head pat, falling tears - very moving. Give it a try!

I had recently finished a very angst-ridden and melodramatic yaoi and I wanted to read something charming. I found this beauty in a midst of reviews and I'm really happy I did. The main character is a HUGE breath of fresh air. He's honest and funny and true. Very different from dramatic heroes. The premise is sweet and I honestly laughed out loud. Its quite short, not sexually graphic, and insanely adorable. If you're looking for something easy and fun, its definitely for you! And if you're not, still give it a try. It just might charm you.

I'm not horribly picky with the manga I read, but every once in a while I truly truly become excited about a manga and with Onani Master Kurosawa, I felt that excitement. The first chapter instantly grabs you (in a slightly perverted way). But if you get past that, you enter a very interesting take on a bildungsroman, with sexual fantasy used as a means to show growth. The story is engaging, caustic, cynical, and features an amazing narrator with a very interesting perspective. Its isn't ecchi, it isn't hentai, its just awesome. A high school story for all of you tired of normal ... high school stories. The content follows a general pattern for stories (so no real surprises), but its execution of the content is beautiful. Give it a chance!