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A fairly enjoyable series which has either been watered down too much, or not enough.


Overall - 6/10

From the Animesuki thread, I read that the manga is more hardcore with blood and depth in comparison with the anime. While I have not read the source material, I can already sense in the anime that things have been watered down to an extent. This has all to do with the series airing at 10am on a Sunday. I feel things are still too hardcore (i.e. targeted at Japanese Otakus) with the constant perv/service/loli references, to be suitable for kids.

On the other hand, the general over-action of the BABEL boss, and the limiter de-activation scenes have certainly been created to make kids laugh and enjoy. While I thankfully do not know the tastes of a hardcore Japanese Otaku, I found my attention span dropping in the scenes that are meant for kids.

So where exactly does this series want itself to be placed?


Story - 7/10

The story follows the daily lives and missions of 3 children who are exposed to events that usually, only grown-ups can comprehend mentally. Thus the events, missions, conversations and the experiences that the Children face are crucial in influencing the way that these children grow as characters. It is known in the story that these Children have an almost equal chance of becoming "good" or "evil" when they grow up and I liked the latter episodes where the events may greatly influence their mindset.

The style is standalone episodes with quick action and conclusions, but they follow a logical and linear timeline and the way they made it so episodic, yet so continueous in a smooth manner is commendable. However, the time constraints per episode may have compromised depth.

The scene is where a government organisation called B.A.B.E.L is responsible for policing and looking after espers, with their objective to show the world that both espers and non-espers can peacefully co-exist. B.A.B.E.L. faces against both extremes, organisations that are determined to create a world ONLY for espers, and those who want a world without espers. This creates a Gundam SEED-esque mess which I like because both sides have very "human" reasons for their opinions and objectives. Such a setup also creates potential for depth and involvement. All in all, the story has a very solid foundation.

The series ends nicely, but with lots of loose ends that were left untied. It seems to be implied that a sequel is possible, which would justify the loose ends.


Art - 5/10

Being a 52 episode season, one couldn't expect spectacular art due to budget constraints and indeed, the art and animation are nothing spectacular. I found the art and animation to be of fairly average standard where nothing really stood out. Animation had jerky moments but it was far from "framelaggy" as in the case of You're Under Arrest - Full Throttle. The art does its job and is fairly consistent. To sum it up, it was good enough.


Sound - 6/10

The music and sounds are fairly repetitive and what can one expect from (supposedly) a kid's show? I found the BGM to be fairly convincing and I definately liked the music where the limiter was deactivated. However, not much else really caught my attention aside from...

...Over The Future, the first OP. The voices sound a little weird because it had been transposed up a minor third for the TV series - the full song has a lower pitch. This song definately caught the spirit of the series and I really love the feel-good feeling. I do question the use of *real* kids to sing this. While it gives them opportunity to shine into stardom (and what a solid performance in the MV), this show screams "Japanese Lolicon" at times and I feel there's a moral issue. The seiyuu's could actually sing this to an acceptable standard as heard on Youtube.

I found the voicing of the characters to be very good, with excellent performances from cast of The Children - Hirano Aya, Shiraishi Ryoko and Tomatsu Haruka, all who have provided great performances in the past.


Character - 6/10

After the initial 10 episodes or so, when The Children are tamed down enough to be sent to school, I feel there was limited character development, save for Kaoru being subtly manipulated. I felt that the episodes in the runup to the finale would have a real impact in defining Kaoru's future (and turning evil or not), which I throughly enjoyed.

We however get to know the backstories of the major characters which were definately interesting and links in well with their current behaviour.

If there is a second season, then I would feel that the limited development is justified, as Zettai Karen Children by its nature is a dragged out series.


Enjoyment - 7/10

I actually enjoyed this. The dumb things and the abuse of power that The Children can get up to is just entertaining, including whacking people into walls, when there was a lesser option that is just as effective. Watching the antics of moderately bad kids is definately funny. Of course, I also got a lot of enjoyment from the story.

However, I didn't really feel as involved (glued to the screen) as I could have done. read more

Fairly enjoyable but not really cutting edge.


Overall - 6/10

I personally found Toradora to be somewhat enjoyable to watch but not exactly outstanding. My biggest gripe was the use of Kugimiya Rie, coupled with J.C.Staff being the producer, which really dampened the potential impact this series.

For people not very informed, Kugimiya Rie has played the role of a tsundere with fairly similar personalities in 4 different anime works (Shana, Zero no Tsukaima, Hayate no Gotoku, Zettai Karen Children). I liked the use of a deeper, lower tone for Taiga and I acknowledge this, but I simply found the (over) use of Rie rather stifling.


Story - 6/10

A fairly normal high school setting which sets the stage for the intriguing characters to work on. The story is really character-driven and while the characters do a great job, the background course of events are less than stellar, like as if a B-rate movie writer did it. The events of the Cultural Festival, and the Ski Trip were really touching, and that made me almost raise the rating to 7. However, the pacing seems to drag on over the winter period but feels rather rushed towards the end with bits and pieces missing. I just didn't feel really satisfied with this.


Character - 8/10

I really enjoyed the cast and the way they transformed over the course of the series. We get given characters with rather eccentric personalities which work nicely with everyone else. There is good coverage of the thoughts, feelings and the transformation that occurs in the main leads and that is really pleasing to see. I would personally liked to have seen more airtime for Ami's personality growth as she's probably the deepest person in the entire cast, and the "answer" to her was really rushed. Overall a really great, and enjoyable cast.

The Seiyuu for Ryuuj/Nojima Hirofumi put in a solid performance but my pick of the lot is Minorin/Horie Yui who really brought up Minorin's eccentricity and hyperactivity in an excellent fashion. My gripe with Taiga has already been mentioned.


Sound - 7/10

Nothing fancy in the BGM but I really loved the OP themes. The two OPs really conveyed the mood of the story as it changed from one to another. The timing in which OP2 was introduced was perfect.


Enjoyment - 6/10

My enjoyment in Toradora was closely linked with the story. Unfortunately, despite the characters which gave me great joy worthy of an 8, the story felt really dragged out, so at the end of it all I feel it's a mildly enjoying show overall, but not one where my mind would get totally transfixed to.


Art and Animation - 6/10

Fairly good and consistent. It's no KyoAni but does the job. read more

An outstanding series which probes deep into the causes and philosophy behind warfare, and gives a great insight into human nature.


Context:
I never got the big deal about Gundam, so much to the extent that during my childhood days in Japan, I helped the girls build a flowery Mikoshi (portable Shinto shrine) when the guys decided to do a Gundam one. 10 years down the road, I watched a few episodes of SEED with my cousin on Cartoon Network. The dub was horrific, but it got me hooked enough to obtain the subs - and became an all-time favourate series of mine and it is about time I wrote a review for it!


Story 10/10:
Apparently a carbon-copy of the 1979 Gundam original which I've never watched, I throughly liked the series. The story really hits home with serious real-life issues that the world faces today, which makes it especially outstanding. It is also very character-driven which will be described later.

The first thing which hit me was that it was about genetically modified human beings. Genetics today has been causing plenty of controversy these days and a few years after SEED has finished airing, I've read on the BBC about how we will be able to create designer babies (hair, eye colour etc). This is EXACTLY the same as the premise of SEED which is simply great foresight, considering cloning was still relatively new in 2002.

Secondly, the long desert sequence in Africa is all about the philosophy of war and rules of engagement. We have international laws on warfare, but SEED portrays the brutal reality that victory, loss and surrender is hardly clear-cut. The desert sequence also shows an authoritarian regime which brutally represses people, but still allows decent living standards for those who comply. We then have the insurgents fighting no matter what. This really relates well to parts of the world today.

Thirdly, we have the aspects of human hatred and the desire for revenge dominating the series from episode 20-30ish. It is all too easy to go an eye-for-an-eye but SEED portrays how such a response results in a vicious cycle of hate, war and destruction. It is very true that people really go nuts after losing their loved ones and become hell-bent on revenge. The propaganda and biased views of authority to mobilise/brainwash the populace is also there.

Last but not least, the Orb and Lacus faction saga portrays aspects of humility, forgiveness and reconciliation - something very hard for humans to achieve, yet it is portrayed (and I agree) this is the only way forward. Us humans have to learn how to yield, instead of the "me, me, me" attitude which so dominates today.


Character 10/10
The character development is excellent in this series. The mindset of the main cast evolves, adapts and changes excellently to the events that occur during the series, and there is good representation of personalites and motives. Despite the immensely huge cast, it is surprisingly fluid and well balanced.

Case in point is the cynical side characer, Kazui who is also portrayed as a wimp. However, his cynical and fearful reaction to various situations are perfectly plausible in the confusion of war. It is simply impossible to see through people, including your closest friends.

Other notable excellence is the desire to protect your own friends at any cost, and the reactions to the death of friends. To sum it up, it is simply so excellent I cannot put everything down.


Art: 7/10
Fairly good art and animation, and the X10A_Freedom Gundam to me was simply pr0n. That aside, there is severe overuse of recycled stock footage in battles, and what's with the PINK explosions? The animation while fairly smooth comes nowhere near close to Fullmetal Panic Fumoffu? which came out in the same time period.


Sound: 10/10
The BGM is nothing short of astonishing. We have 4 CDs full of music throughout this series and they are extremely well timed and used throughout the whole series. It is the music which made the revelation behind Kira's scientific history so epic. While music cannot save shoddy stories, the combination of excellent music to an excellent storyline just pushes up the value of the series even further.

The vocal tracks are also great, and the way "Akatsuki no Kuruma" and "Find The Way" were used during the series is simply breathtaking. The former in episode 40 still sends shivers down my skin.


Enjoyment: 8/10
While I eventually ended up enjoying this series tremendously due to the plot and characters, it was extremely challenging to grasp the cause of the events and get up to speed with the plot at the beginning which was extremely frustrating. It is already hard enough to get to know new characters without the chaos of invading armed units!


Overall: 9/10
I arrive here with very little left to say. Simply excellent - except the art and animation which is "only" good, as well as the excessive re-use of footage which brings the mark down to a 9. read more

An eccentric show with high production values

Lucky Star is considered the holy grail for many hardcore Otaku people and it really is - which also makes it a "love it or hate it" show. Being an avid enthusiast at best, I could appreciate how Lucky Star nails the intended market, while disliking the morals behind such a show.


Story: 7/10
In short, this is a gag-comedy show with a (rather twisted) school life genre.

The show follows the life of a dysfunctional otaku, Konata and her rather unplausible school life. It is amazing how the producers managed to put the most mundane of conversations onto the screen but it somehow works. While the flow is hard to get for some (including myself), some subjects hit home for me such as the UFO catcher.

What really brings this show to life is the very good interaction between the characters during the mundane conversations. It is also amusing to see a show for otakus ridiculing otakus, which brings a sense of sanity exactly where needed.


Art: 7/10
A perfect example of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). How much simpler does the art get? With the advances in CGI, recent shows (especially KyoAni) have seen increased use of colours, shadings and usage of detail - the hair in AIR is a prime example. Lucky Star is so amazingly and ridiculously simple that it is this simplicity which has made the art so catchy and unique.

While I have mixed feelings at the loli-esque art (they look 12, not 17), it does accomplish its intended mission very well.

The animation is as smooth and fluid as ever.


Sound: 6/10
This is a relatively simple, slow show where sound is not the most important thing, unlike Macross. The BGM is as simple as the art and does the job.

The OP theme, as much as I dislike it is possibly the best track in the "Drum Master" game and has a good following among the die-hards.


Character: 8/10
This is where the show shines. Konata's family brings enjoyment (I can ridicule them to oblivion), and Kagami brings some balance and sanity into the show. So much that for much of the show, my thoughts were in-line with Kagami whenever Konata went on her antics. Konata and Kagami really are an excellent combination and some say opposites attract?

The supporting cast contained variety yet had a smooth flow so was good to watch.


Enjoyment: 7/10
The abundance of "What the..." moments, following Konata's train of thought gave enough entertainment, as well as her interaction with Kagami. I also found the quirks of every character amusing. While it was entertaining, I did not die from laughter however.

Again, I'm sure the show hits the intended market right on the spot.


Overall: 7/10
A "good" show which I found good fun out of and is unique. If you're the kind of person who likes music which sounds like a CD skipping, except a hundred times faster, then you will love this show! read more

The third and last intalment of ARIA where even all good things come to an end - and it was done in an excellent manner!

I find ARIA to be a "love it or hate it" series. It's pretty obvious I loved it while on the other hand, action-mecha fans would find this the ultimate bore.

Story: 9
Unlike the previous seasons, The Origination starts rolling towards the climax of the series and progression starts to occur. While it is rather predictable that apprentices tend to get promoted, the way it was done was simply magnificent.

This is one of the very few animes which has actually outdone the source manga with appropriately dramatic and moving presentation of key events and lessons.

A mark get knocked off for an early-season hiccup and pacing issues which affected my experience.


Art: 9
It is pretty obvious that The Origination had a nice, fat budget. The characters are drawn well and are consistent. Alice especially is exceptionally cute. The scenery has an amazing level of detail and where it matters, is totally accurate to the real-life counterpart - having visited Venice just because of ARIA! A wide range of colours and shades were used and the CGI of the water was also a step-up from what was already excellent in previous seasons.

The clever use of angles, panning and differing drawing styles for specific moments served to totally enhance the story and created a far greater impact than the manga.

A mark knocked off nonetheless for the animation, where "framelagging" in some scenes were rather obvious.


Sound: 10
Turn up the speakers and you'll hear the excellent background sounds of Venice. The sounds of the market, the gondola and the water are excellently inserted. It is this extra touch that makes me give full marks.

The soundtrack by Choro Club is outstanding like it was in the previous seasons and the way it was used was totally spot on. Even when it was sub-par (an attempt at Esperanto showed a glaring Japanese accent), the way it was combined with the story and art still made it excellent and I was simply blown away.

It took time for me to get used to the OP/ED but I find the tunes fit very well.

With the soundtracks being so soothing and relaxing, I ended up using it for dubious purposes, such as during exam revision!


Character: 9
ARIA's cast have an exceptionally good relationship with each other - and this close bonding was by no means created in a smooth manner. Each and every main character relationships have their own interesting stories which I found to be very interesting and they support each other in their own unique ways.

The relative maturity of the characters are built upon the foundations of the first 2 seasons and it is great to see them gradually becoming more mature and independent, while still maintaining their own unique personalities.

A mark knocked off for a rather bland anime-original character, which is also the cause of the hiccup in the story at the start of the series.


Enjoyment: 9
ARIA is totally uplifting and positive, and this is important especially when the real world is a rather negative place. I totally enjoyed the postiviness, the jokes and the teasings exchanged between the characters. It was also total eye-candy because of the excellent art and the music also added greatly.

Again, a mark knocked off because of that one episode, one particular character which simply killed my enjoyment for a week.


Overall: 10
No series is perfect over an entire season but not many come as close to perfection as ARIA the Origination. A superbly produced work and it is indeed a bit of a pity all good things come to an end! read more

After a hugely successful season 1, we have the highly anticipated sequel, Code Geass R2.


Story: 3
The story involved a reset but kicked off to a very strong, solid start with Lelouche as cunning as ever in getting his ways. However, around 1/3 into the season it all starts falling apart. We start getting rather outrageous, unplausible plot twists and sequence of events. While this has happened in Season 1, R2 takes "outrageous, unplausible" to an entirely new level which continues right until the end of the series where finally, the ending had a very good twist to it.

The mecha battles have also suffered from the same problems from Gundam Seed Destiny - a few Nightmares that are just so ridiculously powerful.


Art: 7
If you can stand the stick-thin characters (I knocked a mark off for this), then the art is pretty damn good. The colours are vivid and the costumes varied in design. The animation was also rather smooth as well. Overall, it's good but not exceptional.


Sound: 7
Geass has a rather unique soundtrack style and I especially enjoyed the jazzy battle themes and Hitomi's vocal tracks. Hitomi's track which was played in the finale had a very appropriate feel and was awesome.

However, I found many of the choices for the OP/ED rather questionable!


Character: 4
A very large cast which was rather interesting in season 1 but with the butchering of the storyline, also came the butchering of the characters. The large cast prevented the development of key characters and they often made superficial appearances. Kallen, as awesome as she is was totally lacking towards the end of the series.


Enjoyment: 7
Despite the negativity, I did rather enjoy watching this series. It was whacky and corny which may be the wrong reason to enjoy a show, but that's how I managed to derive lots of enjoyment from.


Overall: 5
Geass R2 shone well in some aspects but was totally lacking in other departments. It had such a huge potential yet I feel it was utterly wasted. R2 wasn't a total disaster but it could have been so much better. read more