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Pros: Get to see more of the Code Geass characters, filling in their back stories or what went on between episodes. Episodes are short and easy to watch.

Cons: Its a picture drama, so the animation consists of still pictures.

Bottom line: These picture dramas are really great to watch if you like the characters of Code Geass and want to find out more about them. Its by no means necessary to enjoy Code Geass, but it really doesn't hurt either, especially if you are the sort of person who wonders about the smaller details.

Pros: Funny, get to see Caren and Bazett in their animated debut

Cons: Some of the fanservice can be sort of cringe-worthy.

Bottom line: Watch this if you are already a fan of the Carnival Phantasm series.

This is essentially just another episode of Carnival Phantasm, only slightly longer. If you like that series (which I do) then by all means check this out.

Pros: Episodic format, cool and eerie stories and supernatural elements, interesting ideas.

Cons: Can be difficult to follow, a bit grimdark, and the artwork can get sort of dull.

Bottom line: This series might not be for everyone but I loved it. If you like philosophical and episodic based shows I highly recommend it.

My experiences with Boogiepop:
I love Boogiepop. I loved this show, I love the novels (til they were discontinued stateside), I love the live action movie. And yet when I show it to other people, like my sister or my boyfriend....the reactions are sort of mixed (at best). I'm trying to be as unbiased as possible in this review, so as such even though for me its a (rare) 10/10, I made it a 8/10 for this review. I love it but its undeniably flawed.

The ideas:
Boogiepop Phantom is very much a "philosophical" sort of series. It explores -ideas- moreso than characters or a solid plot. I thought it was very deep and the ideas were very interesting when I was a teenager, but I can't deny the story gets sort of dark at times. There are some downright gruesome endings and I can sympathize with people who don't like that kind of stuff. While I loved it as a teen, as I get older and start encountering real world problems, I no longer enjoy it in my entertainment.

The format:
Its also episodic, and the cast changes from episode to episode with very few characters shared between them. Sometimes none are shared between them. The episodes are told out of order and in a very disjointed fashion. This is a HUGE plus for me because I think it keeps things fresh, but for other people it can be confusing not having a real sense of connection between the episodes and no characters to latch onto.

While its often compared to Serial Experiments Lain, the format and the way it explores human themes reminds me MUCH more of Paranoia Agent and I think it can be enjoyed in a similar way. While it takes a while, the stories DO come together by the end, I promise. Mostly.

The world:

Its an urban setting with fantastical elements. The artwork and colors are very subdued, and while this is intentional and adds to the atmosphere it can get tiresome to look at. The music and sound effects are beautiful and haunting. The supernatural elements are very very cool. I love urban fantasy and said fantastical elements are utilized in very different ways in every episode.

While its not for everyone, I think you will know if Boogiepop Phantom is your thing.

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Pros: Adds new details to the Baccano! universe and wraps things up wonderfully, better than the main series.

Cons: Graham Specter dances on my last nerve.

Bottom line: Watch this after you are done enjoying Baccano!

The ending to this mini series is so much better than the original I honestly don't think you are done watching Baccano! til you've checked out this. The quality of the art/music is the same as the original series, so these short episodes just finish wrapping up certain details and fleshing out certain characters, like Claire and Chane's relationship.

Characters in Baccano! are loveable and here its more of the same with one caveat: Graham Specter has got to be one of my least favorite characters of all time. He is so pointless and ridiculous and does not shut up! A lot of people do like him though (and he has way more fanart than most other characters!) so this is just a matter of taste.

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Pros: Its super short

Cons: The animation, background musicc and jokes aren't that good and Chiyo's voice actress will give you a headache.

Bottom Line: Watch if you are really craving more Azumanga Daioh and you already saw the Very Short Movie, otherwise pass it up.

Its a very short series so you don't lose anything from investing 3 minutes of your time, but you won't gain much either. Tomo wanders around with a video camera, and...thats the story. Turn down the sound at the beginning because Chiyo's voice actress (different from the original story) is very shrill.

Pros: Very nice artwork and its short length makes it easy to watch with minimal investment.

Cons: Reuses jokes from main series.

Bottom Line: This short movie acts as a teaser of sorts for the main series. Check this short movie out if you are a fan of the original, and you won't be disappointed.

Pros: Great comedy, short length, skit and episodic format make it easy to pick up

Cons: The skits can fall a little flat and/or be lost in translation, I personally found the Highschool girls are Funky skits to be a bit eyeroll worthy.

Bottom Line: A funny series that doesn't take too much investment to watch. Look at the first few episodes and see if the comedy clicks with you.

Comedy:
Daily Lives of Highschool Boys is first and foremost a comedy series. There isn’t a lot of time spent on character development or any overarching plot. Like Azumanga or other 4koma-based shows, it’s broken up into shorter skits which keep things fresh. Even if one skit is unfunny to you, the next might be good. It parodies anime clichés and also elements from a real teenagers life. While I’ve seen a lot of comedies flounder when it comes to that culture barrier, this one I think honestly has minimal problems (either that or I've been watching too much anime). I think the comedy comes off as a cross between Gintama and Azumanga.

Our cast:
The [male] characters don’t have extreme or wacky personalities, and as such the characters end up feeling pretty “real” even if they are doing and saying really absurd things. The girl characters are generally given extreme personalities, and as such felt really fake. I know some people say this is intentional and “high school boys really see high school girls as terrifying and out to get them” but eh. I’m not so sure. Elementary boys, sure, but in my experience teenagers are quite the opposite (wink wink). It fell flat for me, is what I am trying to say. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a slice of life comedy which can portray genuine humor with both genders, so there you go. As a satire of how girls are often depicted in anime it might work slightly better, but I still thought the Highschool Girls are Funky skits were the least enjoyable parts of the show.

That ED:
I’d recommend looking up the ending sequence. It is too much fun and I sat through it every time.

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