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Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:26:16 -0700

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Favorite Manga

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:23:59 -0700

1. One Piece – One Piece is one of those rare experiences. Where it takes all the traps, and pitfalls of it's own genre and rises above them. Oda, has created something that I can only think of as a masterpiece. It's got the everything that makes everything good. A logically, flowing coherent plot, with plot twist that make sense and had there grounding laid in the past. An amazing set of characters, with just some awesome back-story. Adrenaline raising action, amazing slapstick humor, and at times will make you want to cry. One Piece is truly amazing, and at almost 600 chapters, it is still original. 2. Great Teacher Onizuka - I must say after watching the anime i had high hopes for this manga and it blew my mind away. It may be a tad over the top, but that is just how Onizuka operates. He makes sure his lessons are always extravagant so the message comes of clear not only to his student but also to the reader. And like the anime Onizuka reminds me again of what teachers should strive to be like. 3. Hellsing – This manga is such an enjoyable ride, from the awesomeness of Alucard to the amazing character in Seras. This manga isn't terribly deep, but it's story and characters are better then what people give it credit. 4. Bitter Virgin – The only thing to date that I have read to actual made me cry. It comes off as incredibly melodramatic and it probably is, but it's done right. Just the traumatic past of the main character, how it affected her outlook on men make this manga so much fun. It has it's up and downs but it managed to pull at my heart throughout the entire reading. 5. Kare Kano – Kare Kano is a fantastic manga that gives us a look into the lives of two teenagers and their unique relationship. It focuses on the two main characters actual intimate relationship, while trying to balance school and real life. It isn't terribly deep, but the characters are lovable, explored and it's plot engaging. The thing that Kare Kano managed to impress me the most is the fact that it stays true to itself. It does not throw in random stupid love triangle's to force drama, but rather allows the characters themselves to create drama, as any good teenager would. 6. Girl Friends – I am a Yuri fanboy so of course I will have one in my favorites. Girl Friends manges to take the slice of life theme and actual apply it correctly. It takes a very realistic view of the girl/girl relationship and how they would react to finding out/friends finding out. 7. Mars - Mars is a simply fantastic read. It at times may be over the top and somewhat melodramatic but it is amazing none the less. It's characters have some of the most tragic past ever, and thus leads to some of the best character development. The characters truly made this manga great, as they have to deal with their tragic past, the fears their past have giving them, life, and many other things. Outside of the characters Mars story is simply amazing, probably one of the best engrossing romances i have come across in anything. 8. Kimi Wa Pet - An absolute beautiful manga. This is a truly amazing read. While the premise of the story sounds very weird, a boy becoming a womens pet, it really is nothing like that. Rather it focuses on the characters, how they grow with their feelings, they in and outs of relationships, while trying to balance everyday activities. Overall with it's highly realistic characters, and how well it is written makes a truly wonderful manga and a must read for anyone.

Favorite Anime

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:23:22 -0700

1. One Piece - See the manga review. 2. Legend of the Galactic Heroes - Legend of the Galactic Heroes is the very definition of masterpiece. I have yet to sit down and watch an anime that I have been more impressed with than Legend of the Galactic Heroes. I don't know where to start when describing this anime. If I should start with it's huge set of cast, that while each character manages to be so intelligent, they still make mistakes. Characters that are incredibly human and all have some very serious flaws that follow them through the show. Or if I should start with how deep this anime is. How embedded this anime is with political warfare, how each character(well most) has an agenda and is willing to make that happen. Some are more willing than others, some backstab there commanders, some betray there own flesh and blood, some simply try to make change by doing it the honorable way. Everything in this anime comes together so beautifully that you can't help but be totally absorbed by it's just pure epicness. So instead I will start and finish with saying that this may very well be the best anime in existence. 3. Higurashi No Naku Koro Ni- Higurashi isn't the best anime out there, nor is it deserving of the 10 I gave it. It doesn't have a particular deep story or any amazing character development, but it does have great pacing, unique story telling, an amazing atmosphere and is one of the few anime's that keeps you on the edge of the seat the whole time. Higurashi may very well be one of the best experiences I have had while watching anime. Never bored once, and that is merely why it is number one. 4. Nana - To this day I have yet to find a better realistic romance anime. It takes the in account all types of relationships, whether that be lover, friend, co-worker ect...and it fully explores the in and outs of each one. It's set of characters are highly realistic, they are just human and act like that. Nana does everything correctly inside it's own genre, it fully explorers everything has to offer and does not cut corners. Truly a wonderful anime. 5. Lovely Complex – I will always have a special spot for Lovely Complex in my heart as it is what I would call my “gateway” anime, as this was the first anime to get me interested in genre's outside of Shounen and Cowboy Bebop. Outside of being the anime that basically introduced me to anime, it is also a very good anime. It is a rom com, so like any other falls into it's own traps. But lovely complex is able to overcome this with some very funny comedy and some well balanced heart wrenching drama. Never before have I felt to attached to characters from a rom com. 6. Aria(All three of the seasons) – Aria may be one of the more slow paced anime series out there, but it is also the best slice of life anime out there. It correctly defines slice of life. Once you take away the fantasy setting, it is literally these female characters lives. It follows them on their daily rituals, from making breakfast, to going to work, to coming home and going back to bed. Of course giving there premise of there job(gondolas guides) it gives them a chance to explore the city and go on mini adventures. But of course each little simple adventure has it's own little message and in some way helps change and mold our fabulous set of characters. Truly a wonderful experience, sure a slow one, but a wonderful one none the less. 7. Beck - Beck is truly a unique anime. Focusing on the rock band that is trying to make it big, something quite rare in anime. It being a music anime, had an amazing sound track and that is mainly why I took such a liking to this anime. But outside of it's amazing sound track the characters also surprisingly graped hold of me and never let go. This show characters are truly a treat, something of which I was not expecting when I first watched it. These characters are teenagers, and despite seeming well controlled of their emotion(Outside the main character who wears his emotions on his sleeve), they aren't. They all have something they are afraid of, and something they must overcome. If it wasn't for a totally useless side plot involving the stealing of a guitar and the "mob" trying to get it back this show would've gotten a ten from me. Great none the less. 8. Cowboy Bebop - One of the best of all time. Those are a few words that could be used to describe this anime without ruining it's own name. This show is episodic, now getting over that point, Cowboy Bebop doesn't fall into the traps of an episodic anime. Most people knock episodic anime's because they have terrible character development. I mean how can you expect to see a character develop doing the same thing over and over again? Well Cowboy Bebop may the be exception on this one, because it has some very strong and well developed characters. Each new bounty brings a new villain forth for the team, and well indirectly doing so brings outs something new in the character. Whether that be finding out more about their past, or dealing with the fears each character has. Now not only does Cowboy Bebop not follow the "traditional" rules how an episodic show's characters are, it also defies the way the story is told. The story is so magically woven together, it flows from one chase to the next, one development in the characters to the next so masterfully that you are never at a loss and can't wait to see what happens. Yes I would say this show is near perfection, even it's soundtrack(Which is amazing) and art are above average and manage to the overall development to the show. 9. Great Teacher Onizuka – A great comedy anime with one my personal favorite characters Onizuka. This show got to me on a personal level as I aspire to become a teacher. Onizuka has one of the qualities that I personally believe is missing in many of our educators today, he cared for his students. And I mean he cared for them. He went out of his way in any way possible to help his students. Onizuka may not be the prefect roll model and isn't the best teacher, but his quality to care is something I wish every teacher had. 10. RahXephon - RahXephon is one of those few anime series that comes along that does almost everything correctly. Sure people will yell "NGE Clone" but it is far from it. RahXephon took the formula that NGE set up, made it it's own and expanded upon it a great deal. So few anime can do what RahXephon can do. Everyone says it's confusing and to hard to follow. That is most certainly not the case. This show manages to answer almost every question that the viewer has in a very impressive matter. It doesn't just throw the answer in the viewers face, instead it slowly lays hints and clues as to what everything means. And it's the viewers job to connect the dots. It's so refreshing to see an anime that actually requires you to think. RahXephon, truly one of the better anime series in existence.

Favorite Characters

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:22:40 -0700

Favorite Characters - Male Favorite Characters - Female

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Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:01:46 -0700

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