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"Remember this: My name is Edmond Dantes."

Madames et Monsieurs, bon soir! Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is an eerie fairytale never to be forgotten. The name Edmond Dantes is a chilling name that shall forever be tattooed in a person's mind once that name crosses the ears. This anime is a loose adaptation of the original haunting tale by Alexandre Dumas dating back in the nineteenth century. The artistic distortion of the tale that distinguishes it from its primary literary source can leave viewers breathless and speechless.

~[S T O R Y]~ [10]

Gankutsuou chronicles the agonizing journey of one man who seeks to achieve revenge at all costs. Most of us have encountered the tale through our literary excursions. In case you have not dear reader than allow me to enlighten you. Edmond Dantes was once a fortunate man who would soon be promoted as Captain as well as being rewarded with a beautiful wife Mercedes. Nonetheless, his jealous rival Fernand Mondego takes drastic action by accusing Edmond of being a Bonapartist traitor, thus leading Edmond to be stripped of his fortune and thrust into endless despair throughout his years of being incarcerated. When heavily consumed by hatred and despair, Edmond strives to seek vengeance once he is released and does so under the disguise as the Count of Monte Cristo. Gankutsuou showcases a whole new twist into the story, adding supernatural and scientific elements into the mix. Although the ingredients seem rather odd, they have succeeded in creating a fine dish for viewers to taste. We still earn a taste of action, twists, and of course emotional impact in both the original and the loose adaptation.

~[A R T]~ [10]

The designs displayed ostentatiously in the animation leaves a unique mark in the realm of Japanimation. The fantastic patterns, colours, and textures against clothing, architecture, and the landscapes of the setting can leave art lovers enraptured. At times the patterns can be a little repetitive and may become a nuisance to certain people, but viewers ought to look past the art and into the story rather than the other way around. The art provides an alluring distraction from the tension built between characters. Most adaptations of works set in the nineteenth century can often be repetitive. Hence the reason why Gankutsuou stands out more than plot-wise. Furthermore, three-dimensional art collides with two-dimensional animation. How can the anime become better than this?

~[S O U N D]~ [10]

The musical score of the animation is brilliant in my personal opinion. We are able to feel the tension and the purge of emotions through each battle and vehement scenes. There is a mixture of Spanish guitar in certain scenes that provide mystery and intimidatio, the piano and the harp that leaves one either at peace or in anticipation, and of course the English and French vocals that match perfectly well with the setting. The soft opening theme clashes with the ending theme. This transition flows nicely before and after the showing of each episode. The opening theme allows viewers to be comfortable before the action begins. The ending theme awakens viewers with a burst of raw energy that can leave them hungry for more. Well done.

~[C H A R A C T E R]~ [9]

The beginning of the first twenty-two episodes present the monologue of a mysterious narrator. His French vocals [translated for everyone to understand] are both alluring and mysterious, and they are able to provoke thought on how the last episode and the episode the viewer is currently watching connect and influence a stream of wonder. The characters in the two renditions are almost the same, except most of their positions are different. Albert, the son of Fernand Mondego, has now become the main focus instead of his father. Nonetheless, the Count never misses a chance to steal the spotlight. And once he does, whatever actions that he committs or the words spewed from his lips will give great meaning into the plot. The Count of Monte Cristo is introduced to a supernatural character Gankutsuou that influences Edmond to change both externally and internally. Yet this does not leave all the other characters in the shadows. Each character has their moment to shine. Mahiro Maeda, director of the series, has made sure that each character earns more than 30 seconds of fame. The reason why I have given a 9 was due to the lack of further information from the supporting characters such as Eugenie, the freelance journalist, et cetera. It would have been nice to know a little more about them and to have them put into more action. Ah well. Perfection is difficult to achieve these days.

~[E N J O Y M E N T & O V E R A L L]~ [10]

From beginning to end, Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo is a wonderful sight to see. The sights and sounds of the adventure can leave a viewer curious, stunned, or have them endure a moment of catharsis. If you enjoy modern literature encountering with new-age brilliant designs, then this anime may tickle your fancy. As the narrator would say: Madames et Monsieurs, I bid thee adieu. read more

"We were dying from the moment we were born..."

Confidential Confessions chronicles the lives of corrupted adolescents as they deal with their complex struggles. The interventions of fate has carved a path of destruction for the youth. This manga illuminates what is seen in our post-modern society. Teenagers young and old are encountering issues dealing with civil rights, economic dilemmas, and social pressure. We've seen it all before. The suicidal tendencies of teens and the clash of the sexes. However, this manga is capable of causing an emotional impact in its audience by using fine examples of what we've seen in the past and what we see now in the present time: the corruption of tomorrow's youth.

~[S T O R Y]~ [10]

The length of the chapters was acceptable and utterly satisfying. The proper length was able to allow the drama to develop. You could taste the tears, the anger, and the vehement frustration in the expressions of each character - particularly the main ones that each chapter focused on. Manatsu's suicidal tendency, Satsuki's tug-of-war between her duty as a "woman" and her privilege as a Woman. Suzuki's discomfort with sexual harrassment, Ayumi and Hiro's indecision between what they want and what they need to do, and Kyo's drug addiction. We encounter the troubles with love, lust, dreams, fame, fortune, self-esteem, gender rights, the future, the past, and the present. Indeed, the complex stories presented within the manga display slices of life that the reader can understand or even connect to. The streaming of the plotline was not choppy at all. It ran well enough to tug the heartstrings and spur great thought as to the valuable of every minute that this life grants us.

~[A R T]~ [7]

The art is not impressive. It merely implies the general designs you would often see in most cliche animes. However, the expressions of the characters were drawn well. You could feel the drug effects, the emotional agony, and the intense feelings of violation within each character. Though it would have earned a higher grade if there was more detail added onto each character. Then again,the art does not need to overpower the story whatsoever. The words and the feelings express speak crystal clear as it is.

~[C H A R A C T E R]~ [9]

Because of the lengthy chapters, we are able to understand the character's background fully. Parents always make an impact. Our peers always make an impact. Strangers in the street always make an impact. The manga clarifies that social pressure is inevitable. The reader is able to acknowledge the emotional corruption of each character due to a certain substance they are consuming - whether it be suicidal thoughts, depression, obsession for perfection, or terribly high hopes for a brilliant future. Truly, the characters in C.C resemble the characters that walk across our streets, sit in our classrooms, and even linger about in our homes. That's what makes this manga special. The proper plot development has enabled the reader to acknowledge the origins of the characters in order to understand why they do what they do.

~[E N J O Y M E N T & O V E R A L L]~ [9]

In all its entirety, I award this manga a 9. It's not everyday that we see a controversial yet striking manga released into the Japanimation realm. What makes the manga attractive is that the issues presented do not only occur in Japanese culture. They can occur to diverse cultures around the world. The cultural and emotional impact of the series been given a high rating for releasing a train of thought that may forever run in everyone's mind. Why do people talk, act, and think like they do? We are not in the position to say, but we still have the privilege to wonder just as we, according to Manatsu, have the privilege to take control of our own fate. read more

Death Note meets Gundam Wing. Nonetheless, the fusion between the two animes can only underestimate the greatness that is Code Geass. Yes, this series is jammed-packed with attractive characters, battle scenes, bloodshed, slight romance, and even a little supernatural dose to add to a stereotypical anime. However, Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion is not as stereotypical as it may seemed at first glance.

~[S T O R Y]~ [9]

Initially, I became attracted to the series through the hyperactive fandom that has spread vastly throughout the world of the internet. Only then did I realize that I could not longer resist watching this show. Indeed, I had my doubts that it would've been a lame rip off of Death Note meets Gundam Wing. Little did I know how wrong I was. A conspiracy between governments, rebellion and anarchy, advanced technology that may be deemed impossible to ever exist in our world, the raw emotion that bounces from one character to another, a small dosage of supernaturality that does little to ruin the storyplot...Code Geass has done well. Breathtaking twists are evident in the series to an extent where the viewer can be grateful that no supernatural assistance was needed. The story flowed as smooth as water. There was not one moment where I felt bored or even regretted watching the series. Even the use of chess metaphors and mythological analogies made the storyplot more interesting. Indeed the show was nothing but a game. Everyone was played. The characters, the world...even the viewers' minds were played! But that was what made Code Geass interesting. It kept us guessing on purpose, like we were part of the game all along!

~[A R T]~ [8]

The reason why I did not give the Art section the same mark as the other categories was the opening theme. It literally used the same animation profusely except it just switched the order of clips around. Every other manga at least alters the opening theme thoroughly until it does not meet its previous ones. But the opening theme appeared as though it were low-budget, like the creators were procrastinating on changing the opening theme a few times and decided to alter it a little by adding in new clips which introduced new characters we would be acquainted with later on in the series. Other than that, everything else about the art was quite intriguing. The paintings in the museum were a little ostentious but in a nice, presentable manner. The essence of CLAMP was illuminated in the character designs, but it did not change the great appeal of each character's personality. The emotions expressed were drawn well. You could taste the insanity radiating off of Nina's face and the hatred off of Suzaku's face. Well done indeed.

~[S O U N D]~ [9]

The scores for the anime's soundtrack was fitting for every scene. We could slight feel the suspense, the nostalgia, and even the burning hatred through the music selected on different scenes of the show. The action sounds were not cheesy. The dramatic sounds were ones to not laugh at. Truly the musical scores lived up to the rank I have given them.

~[C H A R A C T E R]~ [9]

It's understandable how attractive protagonists would surely attract more fans. But I did not fall under Lelouch's apparent spell. Yet I can say that I was bewitched by his hunger for superiority, not to mention locked in the mystery of his past and his intentions. A young, masked vigilante holding the fate of Britannia and Japan in the palm of his hand? It may sound overrated, but his techniques cannot be explained in words. All of the characters left my mind boggled: how do they feel about this situation? what are they going to do? Throughout the series, it felt as though I was able to understand every character and his or her motive. Furthermore, the dramatic scenes displaying the raw emotion reciprocated between different characters was surely not ones to miss. The development was beautifully done. At times even a viewer can sense the vulnerability, the cravings, the sorrow, and the power to know and conquer in each and every character. I applaud with joy.

~[E N J O Y M E N T & O V E R A L L]~ [9]

This series should not be underestimated. Do not judge a book by its cover here. The only way an anime like this could be altered is through the observation of biased fandoms. Before reading reviews or hearing the opinions of others, be sure to examine the series first before considering anything else. For I assure you reader that, unless you prefer some ecchi delight or dull storylines, you won't be disappointed. This series teaches a valuable lesson: that we live to fight for something, and how we fight gives everyone around us a sense of who we are. So be careful what you fight for, for you will be one's hero and another's enemy. :] read more

A butler is commonly defined as a male servant who takes charge of providing service to his master and keeping everything proper and organized in the household. Yana Toboso presents a devious twist to the meaning of a Butler, giving the audience on hell of a good show. Excuse the pun.

~[S T O R Y]~ [9]
Viewers have seen it all: servants and masters working as partners in crime, so to speak. The master is devious, and the servant is obedient in general Japanimation. We've seen older men be served by seniors or young children. Yet there is a sense of originality captured in Kuroshitsuji. Never before have we ever seen not only a professional and sophisticated demon butler, but a butler that can definitely outshine the common traits of a servant. Kuroshitsuji displays a series of mysteries inside and outside the Phantomhive household, spurring great thought into the audience as to who is involved, what is going on, and of course: WHY. Not only that, but Toboso knocks us out with twists never to be expected. There are dark themes weaved into the plot, but Toboso attempts to calm us down by providing us a nice handful of humour in between episodes - especially the antics of Finny, Meilin, Bard, and our little old tea-drinking butler Tanaka whom Sebastian respects surprisingly so. Although the series is still running anime and manga-wise, the plot gradually grows stronger along with our mental and visual appetite for knowing more on the backgrounds of Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian Michaelis.

~[A R T]~ [9]
London during the Victorian era is where Kuroshitsuji is set. The art is done well enough for the viewer to realize that it is during the nineteenth century London without being informed of its setting. The artists aside from Toboso who have designed the characters and sets have presented a nice taste to the Victorian era, such as the historical city streets, the enchanting landscape of Phantomhive manor, and the eerie scenes of reveries and places where Ciel and his team are compelled to go - such as cemeteries, haunting passageways and of course the base where our beloved Undertaker resides. The opening animation theme gives us a sense of experimental art: consisting of a sense of grunge followed by dark, elegant art that is weaved into the story's style. The reason why I had not marked the art category a 10 is due to the ending animation theme. The cute scrolling cartoon that separates itself from the general art of the anime leaves the audience wondering whether they are attempting to add random humour to the end or not. Were the ending to be just as beautiful as the beginning theme along with the rest of the animation in the series, the art would've recieved a perfect score.

~[S O U N D]~ [9]
Normally in an anime such as Kuroshitsuji, one would expect the musical scores to consist of classical music and gregorian chants. Nonetheless, the series goes slightly beyond the music that would stereotypically match the setting where the anime takes place. The classical music and gregorian chants capture the essence of a dark, dramatic anime. The rock music flowing at the ending theme of the show gives the anime a connection to a modern age of rock and roll. The lyrics to the beginning and ending themes match the anime almost close enough, as though the musical artists created their songs just for the show's sake. The background music in random scenes gives us a sense of what to expect: epiphanies, a comedic episode, dark and nostalgic reminiscence, et cetera. Yet the music is not too obvious. The sounds are not cheesy unlike other animes set around the nineteenth century. They relax us emotionally yet drive our minds wild out of raging curiousity.

~[C H A R A C T E R]~ [9]
Daisuke Ono gives Sebastian Michaelis his signature smooth, demonic voice that no other seiyuu could ever match. Sebastian is the pure personification of a demon butler, what with his eloquent nature and satirical humour. Demons are often looked upon as ravenous creatures who are hideous inside and out. Yet Sebastian gives a whole new definition to the name of a demon. He is the subject of pure sin, provoking all seven of the sins [more in the manga than the anime] to humans or even observing them in the human world. He does not give into temptation and turns into an angel like other stereotypical animes. He keeps up his sinful guard, making the anime a more interesting watch. He is mysterious, smooth, and attractive enough to make him appear more like a talented, demonic angel than a regular demon in disguise. Moreover, Ciel Phantomhive is not your typical 12 year old. The murder of his parents followed by the destruction of his home and childhood brought forth a dramatic transition no one would ever expect of the boy. He is more mature than his age, seeing as he is the proud owner of a toy company along with playing his role as the Queen's underdog. Together, the two make a fantastic, brilliant team that leaves no stone unturned and no mystery left folded. The other characters seem slightly minor earlier in the series. But as time progresses, their ranks incline and make us wonder more about them. How did Finny become so strong? What dwells in the mind of Elizabeth Middleford? How is Tanaka able to change heights from a short old man to a tall sophisticate? Ignorance definitely is bliss when watching this anime.

~[E N J O Y M E N T & O V E R A L L]~ [9]
Overall, the series is worth enjoying. The anime is yet to be complete, and the manga seems far from over. We are filled with a sensational tension to know the answers behind the questions, know the solutions to the mystery, and understand how our world and the world in the Victorian era are not that different. Both worlds share their moments of profound mystery, moments of drama and laughter, moments of sin versus virtue... I am definitely looking forward to what other tricks Yana Toboso has left up the sleeve. And if you were an individual who prefers tricks and treats, then allow the black butler to serve you. :] read more

The animation seems to overpower an exaggerated plot. Viewers who crave cyberpunk animations consisting of time lapses and vicious fight scenes will have a pleasant taste out of this series. Yet there is much of the plot that may leave the audience hungry. Once you take a bite out of my review, you'll understand what I mean.

~[ S T O R Y ]~ [6]
Kurozuka focuses on the concept of immortality along with the quest for the meaning of mortality. Initially, I had assumed a vampiric aspect came into play [Kuromitsu sucking blood for example]. As the series progressed, the aspect grew more scientific. Here we have the main character, Kurou, wanting to spend all eternity with Kuromitsu. I once thought it was a romantic struggle between the two protagonists, yet the plot grew more confusing later on. What with the beheading of Kurou to Benkei's murderous motives [due to his desire of having Kuromitsu to himself] to the Resistance against the Red Emperor's Army, just so many subplots made Kurozuka more like a staccato piece than a horror orchestra viewers probably wanted to witness. Even the end itself leaves so much to the imagination that viewers like myself wonder whether the creator intentionally wanted to mess with our minds and trigger heated discussions, or something else we have failed to notice. Other than that, the story could've been portrayed better...

~[A R T]~ [10]
Post-cyberpunk meets the essence of ancient 12th century art. The serenity of the 12th century atmosphere collaborating with the post-cyberpunk appeal of the anime was rewarded my thumbs up. It brought the animation out more, gluing me to my seat as I endured visual ecstasy. Even the swift fight scenes were brilliant, as expected from the gifted Kurou as well as those involved in battle alongside. Any fan of Death Note can understand that the art between the two animes are strikingly similar. Furthermore, the art was not overexaggerated at all. They were on the dot with their specific time periods, making the anime successfully attractive.

~[S O U N D]~ [9]
From the miraculous terror of the opening song to the soft tranquility of the ending, Kurozuka had played its music well. The flute and drums matched the ancient liveliness of Japanese culture. The instrumentals had presented the mood well as well as portraying the feel of scenes such as romantic moments, battles, times of agony, despair, hatred, et cetera. I knew what kind of scenes I was expecting from the sound. Nicely done.

~[C H A R A C T E R]~ [7]
I gave the development of characters a 7 due to the fact that I had expected more from their transformations. Moreover, I expecting a better explanation of the immortality concept. The manga explains more of it whilst the anime has left gaping holes for the viewers' minds to fill. Though Kurou was inconspicuous and monotonous in his expressions, we did have a sense of what he felt inside through his short monologues. I did hope to understand a little more of Kuromitsu, seeing as the series focused more on Kurou's thoughts than anyone else's. Romi Paku and Mamoru Miyano portrayed the voices of their characters well enough for me to give this category a high mark. The rest of the seiyuu's deserve credit. I suppose that the shortness of the series is to blame for cutting short every character's expected developments.

~[ E N J O Y M E N T & O V E R A L L]~ [7]
Just to be fair, I'll award this anime a 7. Were it to improve in its character and plot development, it would've been awarded a higher grade. Though I do give immense praise to the development of the actual animation. It is different from any other post-cyberpunk anime to exist within the Japanimation realm. The rough grunge scenes, the splash of eccentric hues in the opening and battle scenes, the ancient softness of the 12th century lifestyle - it was all done quite well. Furthermore, the series will leave you thinking on what to value - life or time. Kurozuka is meant to represent the connection between time and life. The two walk hand-in-hand. Without life, there is no time. Without time, there is no life. One affects the other. They both need each other. What is more valuable? Immortality or living to the last minute? That is up to you to decide. read more

I have to admit that this anime had failed to impress. I was expecting much more from the plot and the characters, but to my misfortune I had only ended up disappointed. Once I finished viewing the entire series, I was not satisfied with the overall outcome of the characters' journey.

Story: [6]
There is still so many questions the anime has left unanswered. The viewer knows little of the Blue Knight Earl. The plot itself is mainly concentrated on Edgar's need to bear a name with a powerful presence, as well as to fight for his love for Lydia whilst others are after her. There was still much to be told of the fairy world, but due to the focused romance between Lydia and Edgar, all other information of the anime becomes lost. Hence the reason why the anime became more choppy rather than bearing the fluent motion that other wonderful animes had.

Art: [7]
The art could've been done better. A fairy world is meant to be magical and enthralling. Matter of fact, if the creators had done their art in an inconspicuous way as to make the viewer imagine they are in a fairy world indirectly [similar artistic appeal to EF - Tale Of Memories and 5 Centimetres Per Second], then they would've received a higher grade. I do praise the art done in O'Neill's paintings though. It almost suits the time setting of the story.

Sound: [7]
I bestow a 7 upon the sound because not only does some music pieces relate to the specific time period of the story, but even the suspense scenes can allow the viewer to understand that there is critical observation involved between characters [e.g. Nico helping Paul search for Banshee, Lydia and Edgar figuring out Ulysses' motive, etc]. Thus, the sound was not too bad. Allow me to point out, if you will, how the theme song sounded like a Japanese version of Yellowcard?

Character: [4]
Indeed a 4 does seem pretty low, but I do have my reasons. Firstly, Edgar. The ash mauve eyes gave him a mysterious appeal. Yet his eyes implied nothing extravagant about his persona. Throughout the progression of the series, it felt to me that Edgar was a phony. The sincerity of his character was questionable. Was he a killer? Is he playing Lydia? What's going on? He didn't seem truthful enough. I had assumed he was only playing smooth as to win Lydia's trust in order to help him obtain the marrow sword. But as the plot proceeded, I wasn't too sure. Furthermore, his reactions are downright dull. When he saw Ermine for the first time, it was as though he either kept on the smooth facade or was expecting her. What? Wasn't she dead? Wasn't he mourning her absence of some sort? It was ridiculous. Not to mention the cheesy romantic remarks made towards Lydia that further aggravated his reputation.

I did take interest in Raven's mysterious, composed aura. Though I was left dissatisfied when he only mentioned his personal character in less than 2 episodes. I was craving for answers to the truth behind his sprite species, like what they were like and how it could be more of a disadvantage aside from the fact that possessing a sprite spirit caused him to kill on impulse. It's too bad though. Especially when he and Lydia shared their similarities, I was expecting the similarities to be elaborated. Oh well.

As for Lydia, we know more of her profession than we do of her personal character. It's understandable on how she is a fairy doctor, which is good for the series. But how do we know how she was able to become a fairy doctor aside from the fact that she inherited the gift through her mother's genes? What did she have to go through? Was it difficult to be a fairy doctor at first aside from others believing you have crossed the brink of insanity? And what was the mother like in order to win the heart of a human professor? Her emotions are also puzzling. We understand that her heart was meddled with by mischievous boys as a child. Still, is she insecure? Is she afraid? Even Edgar asks those questions and yet she has failed to answer them. But overall, Lydia is rather cute [more in nature than in appearance] and has great knowledge of different worlds. But that is only one slice of the cake. If she were to show her personal side a little more, the viewer would have the whole cake and eat it too.

Enjoyment: [5]
I am not much of a fan of Shoujo animation. Nonetheless, I have encountered with Shoujo material that has caught my interest. Unfortunately for Hakushaku to Yousei, it failed to do justice. The corny romantic remarks made me laugh to a point where I questioned the seriousness. I am still sitting here questioning about over matters the series has not covered. The only thing good about the anime was its comedic nature. Truth be told, there isn't really anything unique about this anime. We've seen young, cute, silly girls attracting the attention of the dashing higherups. We've already seen supernatural matters that have brought two people together in holy matrimony. We've seen talking animals and non-human creatures causing trouble. At first glance, an Earl and a Fairy Doctor does sound different amongst the array of stereotypical Shoujo animes. But once peering through the depths, there isn't as much difference as I had initially perceived.

Overall: [6]
Keep in mind, if you will, how I am not bashing the series at all. I have seen worst. But I can admit that this anime wasn't as good as I had expected. I am giving the series a "fair" 6. It did leave me wondering, as most animes should. If this series could've done better in the growth and development of both the characters and the plot, the anime would have done justice to all. It did not. C'est la vie. read more

The breathtaking animation, the strong and enthralling plot, just the very essence of 5 Centimeters per Second has left me glued to my seat. The movie itself tugged my heartstrings to a point where I was dangerously close to tears at the very end. It goes to show that there is no such thing as a happy ending...for nothing ever really ends.

The trailer for the movie felt attractive to me due to its mysterious romantic aura followed by its miraculous use of art and direction. The animators of the film have taken one step further, producing artistic poetry weaved throughout the entire film. Furthermore, the movie itself is like a long poem. The quietude during certain scenes like the kiss in the snow gave me chills.

There is a sense of a slice of life in the movie. The characters develop naturally well. They all embrace psychological growth as human beings, baring the weight of love, hope, and compassion. The film could not get any more realistic, for the characters' transformations can relate to the viewer's. Moments like separation and the feelings produced in the aftermath can be felt in real life. We've all been separated by those who we once cared deeply about, and the distance between us brings forth the knowledge that life does give us obstacles, life does give us challenges, and it is our job to overcome said circumstances that we face.

If you are looking for a visual masterpiece to shake your thoughts or even attempt at swiping the breath from your lungs, this film is highly reccommended. read more