- Last OnlineNov 27, 2021 3:45 PM
- GenderMale
- BirthdayDec 14, 1996
- LocationChicago, Illinois
- JoinedJul 11, 2013
No friend yet.
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Nov 4, 2013
For months, people were nagging me to check out what hundreds consider the best anime ever: Code Geass, and I finally decided to give in and see what all the fuss was about. To be honest, I'm still not sure 100 percent, but I'll give my personal take regardless.
To start off, I'll get the positives out of the way. Brilliant plot. Overall, the story and pacing of Lelouch and his rebellion's uprising was spread out diligently. Each factor of Lelouch's tactics and his battle plans amazed me in terms of his stealth and cunning tactics. He's truly one of the more interesting and shrewd protagonists
...
I've seen to date, and needless to say, that's only amplified by Johnny Yong Bosch, who does a terrific job as Lelouch. The main character, like the plot, can also be complex at times, with a near-obsession to overthrow Britania all for the sake of his family, yet it's hard at times for the viewer to decide whether it's right to sympathize with him or to object to some of his notions. That complexity makes him a perfect counter for Suzaku who's your average goody-two-shoes and serves Lelouch's enemy; the Holy Britannian Empire. Unlike Lelouch though, Suzaku makes sure that what needs to be said and done is enforced rightfully and the tension between these two comes alive and full-throttle during their battles, which leads me to the next pro.
I'm not the biggest fan of Mecha-genres, but in Code Geass, the overall battles between the Black Knights and the Britannian Empire, as repetitive as they can get, are not just interesting in their design, but are about as intense as bloodshed gets! Code Geass isn't afraid to depict the horror of combat on the battlefield and when these Knightmare Frames come face to face, it's really alluring to the view in both detail and the strategy played out by both sides.
Overall, the plot and these battles are a good majority of the series and as great as I find them, there are also my personal and minor gripes about the series that detour me from saying that Code Geass is one of the greatest animes I've seen. For one, the rest of the characters. Aside from Lelouch, Suzaki and C2, most of the other characters are bland and tedious, not to mention some of them are also quite irritating! Unlike some of my favorites like FullMetal Alchemist and Fairy Tail, many of these supporting characters don't register completely in development and by the time of the series' end, a lot of them are quite forgettable.
The fanservice. And this is a biggie for me. Unless fanservice serves some kind of point to the scene (however small it usually is), it's only mere and annoying breast and panty shots in the viewer's faces distracting them from the actual scene. For me, fanservice, in cases like Seto No Hanayome, works well when associated with comedy or to elicit a humorous reaction from the characters. But in Code Geass, usually whenever Kallen shows up screen, it's walking fanservice that overstays its welcome and serves no point to the scenes.
Also, as I said above and this is a nitpick, many of the Black Knights' attacks with the Knightmare Frames can grow quite repetitive; usually beginning with Lelouch organizing some intelligent scheme, and then Suzaku and the Lancelot show up and put a dent in the plan. The battles are interesting themselves, but the way they're drawn out all fall in a similar manner.
Overall, Code Geass does make it as one of my favorite animes to date, but I certainly don't think it makes it as a complete masterpiece in my opinion. I guess when it comes right down to it, Code Geass isn't exactly what I had expected, but it's an entertaining show nonetheless.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Nov 3, 2013
Dragon Ball Z, I guess, is one of those animes you really need to have the patience for. Even though it was the first anime I ever saw and got me hooked on other stuff, it was unbearably long and the fights dragged on for dozens of episodes at a time. After browsing through some of Funimation's works however, I came across what was basically 'DBZ without the filler'. So naturally, I gave Kai a shot. And I tell you, it actually does give a new outlook on the DBZ story.
Granted, the fights can and do drag on still for some time, but the
...
amount of filler that's reduced the first six seasons to only 98 episodes is astounding! By episode 13, Goku and Vegeta have already begun their first battle, while in the original dub, that didn't commence until episode 30! For someone who's also read the DBZ manga, Kai is practically a live-saver with its fast-pacing and dialogue that's closer to the manga.
The voice cast Funimation provides for Kai is, like most of their projects, top-notch. With more then 100 voice actors at their disposal unlike the late 80s and 90s, the voice actors have much more experience not just with voice acting alone, but with these characters, and it practically feels like a whole new experience. (Especially now that there aren't ten characters all voiced by Chris Sabat.)
The art for the show wasn't what I had expected, I had figured that the show would be done from scratch like other anime reboots. Unfortunately, the only thing really noticeable about Kai's art from the original's is that the colors have been heightened and sharpened.
Also, for those willing to give Kai a chance, make sure you find it uncut. I see too many people turn Kai away purely for the fact that they viewed the Nicktoons edit which removes the blood and most of the action. Go out and buy Part 1, experience Kai in uncut-glory! In my opinion, it's defiantly worth it!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Nov 1, 2013
Possibly the greatest anime I've ever seen. No exaggeration, no joke about it.
In an anime what should be the measuring stick for manga adaptations, FullMetal Alchemist Brotherhood left me speechless by the end of episode 63 and also a little downcast when it wrapped up with 64.
My favorite thing about Brotherhood is simply its plot. I can't go into too much detail here, but the way everything comes together by the final season and how it ties back to most of the characters makes it one of the most complex and wondrous plots I've seen to date. So complex in fact, I'd recommend
...
keeping a notepad with you as you marathon the series (because believe me, you won't be able to just watch one episode and then walk away) and jot down the questions that float to mind because while they will claw at your mind and demand answers, they will all be answered within time. And it's jaw-dropping when some of them do!
As opposed to other animes, Brotherhood introduces over thirty well-rounded and developed faces that stick in your mind and hold traits/personalities that make them both easy to remember and to identify with. From the state military, to the homunculi, to the foreign faces that accompany the Elric brothers on their journey, most of these characters, much like the ones from Fairy Tail, each have their own in-depth backstories, most of which come together in the end, and overall prove that even the supporting cast doesn't always have to be boring.
I'm not too observant on OST's, but Brotherhood's is not one to be easily discarded. If you have a good memory for background music, more then likely a few of these pieces will be left stuck in your head. Some of its more recurring pieces like "The 5th Lab" and "Dissident's Creed" are among my favorites and add the ominous tone the scenes paired with them are going for. Not to mention the five openings and closing songs, op 1 "Again" makes it as one of the catchiest and most detailed of anime openings I've seen.
Whether you prefer dub or sub, you can't say that all dubs are bad without giving Brotherhood's a chance. It's Funimation's best work as far as I'm concerned, and each voice actor/actress pours each line from their mouth with the emotion and tone their respective character deserves. Specifically Vic Mignogna, Travis Willingham, Troy Baker and Ed Blaylock knock their respective roles out of the park!
Compared to the 2003 series, I simply believe Brotherhood surpasses it in every way, due to the fact that for me, an anime is more enjoyable when the anime is traced right from the manga, due to it being the author's intended beginning, middle and end.
Needless to say again, Brotherhood just blew me away! It's now a huge favorite of mine, and it's a must-see for any anime fan!
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Nov 1, 2013
Thanks to a recommendation from my friend, I marathoned what I believe to be the funniest comedy-anime I've seen!
For fans of Funimation or simply those looking for a good laugh, I would highly recommend this anime. 26 episodes, and I am already hoping for a second season! The summary says it all: Teen boy gets unexpectedly engaged to a cute mermaid and it's all humor and hijinks from there!
Where do I begin? For the most part, I can only say that you have to see the anime for yourself to sort of see why it's so hilarious, because if I tried to explain all
...
these scenarios and misconceptions and misunderstandings and awkward encounters...well, you get the idea. As for everything else, I became really attached to these characters and the way the story flowed. (Almost with scenarios like that of which you'd see on a sitcom) One of my favorite things about this anime is the two main characters, the main relationship: Nagasumi and Sun. I almost feel so sorry for Nagasumi, this character never catches a break. Every episode, it's either someone's pointing a weapon at him, or he's become the center of a huge misunderstanding or he has a near-death experience, and it's really all for nothing, because this character is not bad in any way, he has no evil or dark intentions, he's really just trying to make his future wife feel at home and happy on land, and no one really sees that. And Sun, she's a fun character to see in action, she has a really deep-spirited attitude towards her home of the seas, but on land, she's kind of an airhead, considering the ways of the humans that she's not entirely used too. By the end of the show, it's quite surprising how much development these two go through for just a comedy! The supporting characters for the most part, are a ton of fun, these are really likable characters, especially in the school setting that appears in this anime.
If I had to pick a leading factor in this anime's humor, it's the animation. To be more specific, the faces. Any time something goes wrong, or there's a huge misunderstanding right down to a sex-innuendo, the faces and reactions of these characters are downright hysterically laugh-till-you-can't-breathe-FUNNY! And since it's an anime, it pays off even more! It might be just that I have that wacky sense of humor, but from most of the reviews I've read, people share the same thoughts as I do with this show's humor and I don't blame them. Like everyone else, I strongly feel there's much more this anime can explore and show, and while it is very unlikely, I would love to see a second season, but to be honest, I'm perfectly fine too with the way this anime ended at episode 26. It leaves you with a couple questions but also lets you fill the voids for yourself. Overall, I really enjoyed this anime, defiantly recommend it to people into the humor-genre of anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Nov 1, 2013
For an anime I at first came to be a little hesitant about, I can know say that only at 48 episodes into it, Fairy Tail has quickly made its way into the top 3 of my favorite animes! It combines a unique setting, brilliantly fleshed-out characters, action-packed sagas and a spectacular English voice cast into something I have not enjoyed so immensely since FullMetal Alchemist!
Unlike other long-running animes like DBZ, Fairy Tail doesn't simply move on from one arc to the other; rather the arcs all compliment each other and add huge development to each character as they undergo trails more rigorous then
...
the last. It's also a good series to go back and re-watch as the story unwraps more and more.
The anime is also one of the bests dubs I've seen to date. Specifically Todd Haberkorn and Cherami Leigh (Natsu and Lucy) who bring such energy and enthusiasm to their characters and make them their own!
For those into the gripping battles seen in the Shonen works or are just a fan of Funimation dubs in general, I'd say give this anime a shot!
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
