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Jul 16, 2011
"Having friends you can believe in . . .
Having a family to protect . . .
Even if unfortunate events happen, you should be able to be happy . . .
. . . Is what I thought." - Ikeda Ikeuchi
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An amazing manga that will leave you speechless, Mon Seul deals with a controversial subject in a very realistic manner. Rarely do you see a story like this, where it starts off so heartwarming and simple, but then suddenly shifts to being dark and tragic. It is always soul-shaking to see a man's principles get shattered right before his very eyes, where those he trusts most are not who they seem to be.
Ikeda Ikeuchi is a college student. His parents divorced a long time ago, leaving his father to take care of him and Ikeuchi's little sister, Minami. One day, Ikeda found a note from his guardian indicating that he had left, but it was not a big change, as his father was not around much due to work anyway. After he thought about quitting school and working instead to support himself and Minami, Ikeuchi's best friend, Kanda, who quit himself and has a job, advised against the former's intent and said he could be the bank Ikeda could rely on had the need arised. In time, Kanda seems to know so much about Minami, unlike her brother, by remembering her birthday and buying her a present she likes. Ikeda thanks Kanda for helping him out, but the latter acts strangely. The protagonist gets a job at a hotel during the break which requires him stay away for a while; he asks his friend to take care of Minami, but Kanda rudely refuses. However, after seeing Ikeda looking sad, Kanda agrees. Later, in a phone call, Ikeuchi's little sister inquires her brother of his return date. Thinking that Minami is waiting for him, Ikeda pushes himself to return earlier than expected. Since it is nighttime, he decides not to call first. As Ikeuchi opens the front door, he calls out to Minami. Behind her closed bedroom door, she asks if it is her onii-chan in a frightened voice. He answers affirmatively as he goes in her room, causing Ikeuchi's sister to yell hard, "No~!!!!" What he sees there turns his world upside-down . . .
"I really thought he was a great guy . . .
Oh, god . . .
Please kill Kanda for me." - Ikeda Ikeuchi
Not only is the story great, but the way it is told as well. The main character narrates in past tense, sometimes hinting of what will take place soon, in a cold tone, differing from his normally-nice self. Another aspect I liked is the black panels that are present between seemingly-happy moments, functioning as more indications to the inevitable outcome. Furthermore, the art may not look very appealing at first, however, it soon seems so fitting, it feels like it was meant for this manga.
The main characters are portrayed brilliantly, with personalities fitting their actions and reactions alike, despite the lack of supporting ones. Ikeda Ikeuchi is a gentle man destined to be faced with an extremely difficult situation. Minami is the little sister who is often left alone, first by her dad then her onii-chan, mainly due to work, causing her to find comfort elsewhere. Kanda is the long-time friend who is reliable, but cannot control his feelings.
In conclusion, I definitely recommend that you give this one a read. It is, without a doubt, a spectacular story. Despite the slight humour in the beginning, it will touch you down deeply, and test your principles. If you are tired from all the silly comedy a lot of manga/anime contain, you will appreciate Mon Seul. However you may feel about the issue presented, you will find a character that supports your position, also answering the question commonly left out: What is next?
Do you have a friend that you trust more than anyone else?
. . . So did Ikeda.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jul 4, 2011
I have read the author's other work, Sense., before reading Hishoka (Secretarial Section) Drop, and, as it usually happens, a lot of similarities are noticeable. The heroines look exactly the same, save for a little work done to the hairline; the same can be said for the protagonists, except for the hairline, which is not different whatsoever; and the style, as the leads have an over-active imagination (see below). Then again, I guess I wanted a similar manga, because, I have to say, the artist is pretty damn good.
Godai Daisuke has graduated from a third-rate university, but is surprised to find out that a big
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company has hired him. On his first day, a pretty girl, named Enomoto Saori, shows him around, and he thinks about going out with her. As he soon discovers by the personnel section manager and his partner, however, the fortune 500 company has accepted Godai by mistake. Therefore, Daisuke has been assigned to "take care of the girls" at the secretarial section. There, he meets a lot of girls: the sexy Kaneda Kyouko; the childish, but big breasted Nakazomoto Hitomi; the serious Sugisaki Runa; and, again, the kawaii (cute) Enomoto Saori. After "screwing up," Godai works hard so as to not be fired. Later, he meets a "babe," as Daisuke refers to her at first, in an elevator, who tells him to take his job seriously if he wants to remain an employee with them, making Godai think of her as a "bitch" after she gets off. A perverted, "foolish," mysterious old man also appears, claiming Daisuke is his son so that the security guard lets him go. Furthermore, there seems to be a hidden conspiracy . . .
Look forward to a nice twist ending of volume 1.
The main character is a nice guy, and the story is narrated by him. He does his best, while trying to help others when he can. Godai is obedient and does not argue when he is bossed around by his colleagues. The love interest, Saori, is a kind girl, but grows to dislike Daisuke when he fools around with her co-workers. Not much can be said about the other characters.
I like the art of Hishoka Drop, except for Hitomi's huge breasts, and her character in general, with her very short hair, is dis-likeable. Breast-squeezing and hands are also things the writer is bad at drawing, much like in Sense.
As in the aforementioned series, though to a lesser degree (as the women are older, he actually gets to "do" them), the protagonist here has sexual fantasies with the female characters from time to time. The problem with that is they hinder the story development, and it becomes confusing figuring out what is real and what is an act of imagination.
In the end, what you will get in Secretarial Section Drop is good artwork, consistent storyline, a little comedy, romance, fan-service, drama, and a corporate atmosphere (which you should appreciate if you are tired of school and/or supernatural setups). Some consider this to be hentai, but I would deem it borderline, since there is more concentration on the plot, and the sex scenes are not too many, frequent or excessive. I suggest you give it a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 2, 2011
Black Cat has the best introduction to a story I have ever seen. Within the very first forty seconds, anyone will be drawn. It shows a scene that will happen later, similar to High School of the Dead, except this scene does not take place in episode one, and it is more tragic. Hanabi (fireworks) are lightened at night, then two men appear to be having a beautifully animated duel, one with a sword and the other with a gun. The one with the sword says: "Those eyes. . . Those are the eyes! That woman. . . (A lying woman's bloody (which is black
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due to censorship, I believe) hand is displayed) Because of that woman's curse, you are. . .! (Crying and wielding the sword)" Then the scene ends with the other guy yelling.
The plot of this show changes significantly after a few episodes. Firstly, a man called Train Heartnet works for an organization, named Chronos, whose members bear a Roman numeral on their body. He is number XIII, also known as Black Cat/Kuro Neko. Train is a highly praised member, who kills bad people with a gun (the same person from the beginning) in the name of Chronos, telling his victims right before their death that he "came to deliver bad luck." A man who has worked as an informant for years has never heard of a target escaping Heartnet. Train's friend, who wields a sword (the other individual at the start), applauds the former's talent, saying that only them two can strike a person at a fatal spot with one hit, and that Heartnet is subarashi (amazing). However, despite how cold he looks, he is actually tormented by his past and the guilt of single-handedly executing people. His next job is considered more difficult, and number XIII gets briefed by a woman, Sephiria. Sven, a sweeper, intends to arrest Lib Tyrant, a former gang lord who is running for office in Bracchio City and is about to marry his fiance, Joanna. After having alcohol spilled on him at a party for Lib, Sven goes to the bathroom to clean himself up, taking the patch over his eye off. Tyrant walks in with his bodyguards as well, and, with his vision eye, which can see five minutes into the future while draining his power, Sven is surprised to foresee Lib's death. . .
Based on the first episode alone, the story, I have to say, is intricate. This is not your dumb, weak kid trying to be strong; this is not your beat-them-up children's superhero; this is not your funny, clumsy newbie gaining experience; no, this is a serious boy who is not easy to mess with, who has a dark past, and who cries for those he murders and his parents.
Unfortunately, the opening sequence (and people's comments on the series) suggests a lighter mood later on. The lyrics are wonderful and the tune is nice, but I am not a big fan of the visuals, because I think they should be more gloomy/depressing. It shows small scenes of the important ones of the cast. Even less appropriate is the ending sequence, which starts off okay, but soon it becomes a joke of a song, having miniatures of the main characters turn into silly looking neko (cats), and sounding like something out of a Miyazaki movie.
So, yes, good story, check; fine animation, check; excellent seiyuu, check; comedy, check; drama, check; action, check; and adventure, check. I would compare this anime to Rurouni Kenshin and Ubel Blatt, in terms of a series containing a powerful, but sorrowful protagonist. Highly recommended.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jul 1, 2011
"Sequel." A variety of reactions could be displayed when seeing/hearing this word: "I hope this is as good as/keeps up with/better than the original." "Will they explain that?" "No, this is enough; anything more will ruin the story." Some more of this piece of crap?" "Yes, more of this show!" Of course, I had the last sentiment. It is no easy task to follow up on a story. As we all know, if something drags on for too long, it loses its essence, and I believe that usually, beginnings are the best part of anything. Rarely they are not. This is an especially difficult task
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with an anime as great as Ef. I can safely say, though, that Ef - A Tale of Melodies lives up to its prequel, Ef - A Tale of Memories.
The anime is based on an adult visual novel, called Ef - A Fairy Tale of the Two, with original female character design by Nanao Naru, who also did the manga version. The mystery of Himura Yuu and Amamiya Yuuko finally unravels here. Firstly, let me give you a proper synopsis.
As narrated by the protagonist, Himura, there are two cities called Otowa, one that is built on the burnt rubble of its former self, and another that is a fake mirror of it. Yuu and Shuuichi are talking while the latter is burning his letters, ending his relationships, including one by Nagi, which, though rare of her, he does not read. In the past, a high school boy was walking down the street, when he noticed a girl on a roof. He went to her, and the two talked. It seemed as if she, Amamiya Yuuko, knew who he, Himura Yuu, was, yet, he did not recognize her. She proceeded by saying that she still hated Yuu. At school, Himura saw the words "Art room - Hirono" on his desk, and exclaimed "ano baka (that idiot)." On his way there, to his surprise, he met with his friend, Kuze, who was having a flea market before going abroad. After Shuuichi learned where Yuu was going, he wished him a safe trip (as if he were leaving to a dangerous place). Near the art room, Himura also met with Amamiya Akira-sensei, who thought that Yuu was at last joining the art club, like Amamiya had always wanted him to, but Himura quickly and bluntly dismisses the idea. Holding an unlighted cigarette, Amamiya said that it is horrible how people are always drawn to art, whether it is voluntary or by being dragged thanks to those who are, advising Himura to simply join. After reaching the room, Yuu witnessed Hirono Nagi there, drawing a nude self-portrait with no clothes on. He immediately told her to wear her uniform, thinking that what Amamiya had said might really be true, then she forced him to go shopping with her, much to his dismay. Going home, they noticed a girl, Amamiya Yuuko, following them. A conversation ensued between the three, and ended up with Hirono throwing a sketch book she wanted to give as a present on Himura. Yuu and Yuuko went to the beach, where the former eventually said he remembered the latter. At the present, Hayama Mizuki, who is about to enter college by recommendation, is staying with her cousin, Asou Renji, a former protagonist. After waking up from another bad dream, she realizes that famous violinist, Kuze Shuuichi, is living next door, and insists on meeting him to hear him play nama (live or bare; there is a small joke on that here and a big one in B Gata H Kei). Renji suspiciously tries to prevent her from doing so, but he has no choice, since, unlike Mizuki, he has to study for college examinations. She finally meets Shuuichi, who immediately reminds her of Tsutsumi Kyousuku, another previous protagonist and her senpai, Shindou Kei's boyfriend; a womanizer. He agrees to play with her. However, Mizuki notices strange things at Shuuichi's place, but for which he always comes up with an excuse. First of all, his living room contains very little furniture, making Hayama think Kuze is about to move, but he says he just likes big spaces. Second of all, she tells him she wants to hear him play the violin, but he replies he cannot, and after being inquired as to why, he says it is broken. Third of all, a clock alarm rings in the afternoon, and Shuuichi exclaims that it is for his stomach (to eat). Mizuki only finds drinks in the refrigerator, but he informs her he has ice as well. Kuze speaks in a formal manner, which Hayama picks up on, but he explains that he has to talk this way, as he meets a lot of people, likening it to wearing masks, which he has hung up on the wall. Mizuki lightly says that cat masks are kawaii (cute), and asks Shuuichi to lie on the ground with her, just relaxing and enjoying the lack of shoujo manga, which she loves, that takes up space in her room. Later, however, when Hayama leaves, Kuze, alone in a dark room, feels a severe chest pain, and is forced to sit on his couch, saying, "not yet . . ."
A good mystery is answered with more mysteries, as this season does. One of the few down points this series has is a supernatural element that is revealed at the end. Those who finish it will understand. I still like the morals that are taught, though.
The best way to continue a series is by showing past events, linking them to current ones, which Ef - A Tale of Melodies brilliantly and intricately executes, despite the aforementioned extraordinary happening. Showing the main characters as young kids is informative and gives depth to them. Seeing the lead, Himura Yuu being more carefree and displaying funny facial expressions is refreshing from his current more depressing, somber self. The same thing can be said of the heroine, Amamiya Yuuko, who is now a serious, wise girl, where she was outgoing and always smiling, hiding her true feelings. Hirono Hiro, the prequel's protagonist's oneechan (older sister) surprisingly plays a major role now, where she was just mentioned as part of his pseudonym, Shindou Nagi. Their love triangle is similar to Hirono Hiro, Miyamura Miyako, and Shindou Kei's, where two of them have a friendly relationship, and a girl appears, changing things. Another surprise is that two people have met before any of them could remember, but it happens later, in episode ten, the best and saddest one, although it is in black and white.
The opening sequence is also played in black and white. Similar to the previous season, the song, portraying the main characters, is in English, except for the final episode, twelve, where it is played in Japanese, which is better, with the same catchy tune. In one episode, the piece is instrumental (referring to the title, I believe) (showing no characters), and, at one time, the ending sequence is a slowed-down version of the opening sequence without the melody; both of which never took place in the prequel. Again, however, like the first season, the ending sequences vary, with some of them dedicated to the heroines. The soundtrack and seiyuu in general are amazing.
One of the other reviewers said that he wanted a different cast for this season. What is that about? The entire series revolves around Himura Yuu and Amamiya Yuuko; it would not be right to leave their story hanging, though I would not mind if there were an unrelated (or related) third season, because I could not find another series even close to this one in terms of epicness, but that is highly unlikely, since it is based on a game that has already finished, as mentioned in the Latter Tale's trailer.
I could talk on and on about how wonderful this show is, but you will have to see it for yourself. This is romance, drama, and tragedy at their best. The artwork is beautiful and the story is spectacular. I guarantee you will love this anime. It is my all-time favorite one (along with Ef - A Tale of Memories).
"You will never see Amamiya Yuuko again." - Kuze Shuuichi
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 30, 2011
Where do I begin? This title is very famous for its erotic visual novel version as well as its anime one, due to the fact they have great artwork. The manga follows suit, as the characters and scenes are superbly drawn. Since you have probably seen, or at least heard of, the anime version, I will be mentioning some comparison points later in this review, but I will still treat this as a stand-alone one.
The story follows Itou Makoto, a boy who started noticing a beautiful girl commuting with him to and from school. Her name is Katsura Kotonoha, she likes reading books, and she
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goes to a different class. After hearing about a charm, that if one takes a picture of the person he/she likes, put it as wallpaper on one's cellphone, and keeps it hidden for three weeks, his/her love will come true, Makoto does the first steps, but is discovered too soon. Enter Saionji Sekai, Itou's energetic classmate. She finds out about the photo, and while initially threatening to give Makoto away, she decides to help him get together with Kotonoha. However, why is Sekai helping Makoto? Is there something she hides?
That is the premise, which is also undertaken by the anime version of School Days, and this is where I will get into my comparison points. First of all, this, the manga version, is definitely not ecchi, where there is no fan-service, unlike the anime one. It concentrates more on the love triangle, not the anime's love polygon. Itou Makoto, the protagonist, genuinely cares for the heroines in the manga, making him a more likeable person, whereas in the anime he, well, cares for other things. Also, his friend from middle school, Katou Otome, is noticeably not even mentioned in the manga (she just has a cameo), while in the anime she plays a major role (she breaks the three-way relationship), and could be considered to be on equal footing with the other two heroines (refer to Valentine Days). Finally, the question often asked by those who have finished the anime is, "does the manga end the same way?" The anime has a dark ending that is shocking for those who have not played or heard of the game version, which contains quite a few similar endings. To answer that question in a non-spoiler manner, yes, the manga's ending does technically differ from its anime counterpart (if you are a Sekai fan, you may want to see this one), but it still contains a similar atmosphere, albeit less gory.
To sum up, as I mentioned, the artwork is amazing; the story flows smoothly with wonderful romantic/dramatic scenes; and if it were not for the final two chapters, I would have given School Days a perfect score. This beautiful story is right for you if you like comedy, drama, romance, love triangles, and a short-lived (literally) high-school life with an unexpected twist. Oh, and hot girls. ;)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jun 29, 2011
Dragon Crisis! had originally been a light novel before it was adopted into an anime. Because of the twelve-episode constraint, the story moves fairly quickly, which some find inconvenient. I, for one, appreciate the lack of filler episodes and the introduction of important characters in every arc. My problem, however, lies with the introduction of terms specific to this show, or lack thereof. In order to explain this better, let me tell you the synopsis.
A high school boy, named Kisaragi Ryuuji, dreams of a girl calling his name. After he wakes up and goes to school as usual, his second cousin, Nanao Eriko, who just
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returned from America, comes at exactly 12 o'clock and literally drags Ryuuji to her car. This is where the story gets complicated. It is then mentioned how they are both "Breakers," and Eriko searches for "Lost Preciouses," but wants to have the "society's" approval for her website, called "Seven Tails." If what I just said seemed vague, it is due to the fact that these words are never elaborated upon in the anime. You get what you get. Usually, in order to avoid this problem, series bring a character (sometimes the lead himself/herself, but this one already knows about everything) into the mix that does not know anything. Sadly, this anime does not, and it is not due to them lacking, no, there are people who fit the description; three, actually. They are the protagonist's unsuspecting classmates, who appear quite often, yet are annoyingly left in the dark. However, unlike (at least) one of the other reviewers, I am not going to bash the show just because of this small technicality; it just means I have to be that much smarter, and hopefully they will talk more about this in future episodes.
Since I left what makes up the title, I feel like I should continue on with the synopsis. So the second cousin, Eriko, says they are going to take a "Lost Precious" from "Fang" (same problem as above), who are apparently dangerous people. Somehow, the two succeed, and it turns out that what they really stole is a red dragon, something even more rare than an "S class" (again, you figure out the ranking yourself) Lost Precious, who can only say "Ryuuji," but in time she learns to talk, albeit in a weak, naïve manner. From what I could gather, a Breaker is a strong person. There are only one-hundred Breakers in the world, including Nanao Eriko, who is a level 7; Kisaragi Ryuuji, who is a level 10 (higher); and George (appears later), who is also a level 10. There are eight level 10 breakers, making Ryuuji special. As you might guess, and as shown in the opening sequence, there are other dragons that appear throughout Dragon Crisis!
Speaking of the opening, it is a nice, exciting, thrilling piece portraying the important characters in the series. The English/Japanese lyrics are also wonderful, having a ring to them, with one part going "I cannot stop because I want/need/love you" multiple times, and another going "love is a lawless fight. . ." (in Japanese)
The ending sequence opens with Seven Tails Theater, and shows most of the cast in chibi form after displaying pictures of the female leads at the beach in their swimsuits. The song is cute, I guess, not exactly the somber, serious, calm kind an ED quintessentially has, which I prefer.
One of Dragon Crisis!'s strong points is the art, which is great and fluid. I could live with cute girls having wings on their backs, but I am really disgusted with the wolf-girl that appears later, known as "Odd Eye" (her master calls her Ai, I believe), referring to her different-colored eyes, another not-so-charming trait she has, as I am not fond of this character type.
Of the other character types I dislike is the calm girl who barely talks and/or smiles (e.g., Sugai Hinata from Amaenaideyo!!, Kiyoura Setsuna from School Days, and Teresa Berea from Seikon no Qwaser); thankfully, Dragon Crisis! does not have that, apart from an underling for the main villain, Onyx, called Kai. All of the other characters are cheerful, upbeat, classy, clumsy, or serious. The main lead is a nice, quiet guy who is completely oblivious to the feelings of his shy classmate, Etou. Kisaragi had a bad experience with a Cursed Precious in the past, making him afraid to use a Lost Precious again. Nanao Eriko is a cunning, smart girl, who knows how to have her way. The red dragon, later named Rose due to the scales on her hand, is like an innocent little girl, who is fascinated with Ryuuji for initially unknown reasons.
Overall, this a wonderful anime which you would be missing out by not seeing. If you like filler-less fast-paced action, with a hint of romance, comedy, and drama, combined with great artwork and sexy girls, then this show is for you.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 16, 2011
Limited Girl. is a sexy, funny, short, straight-to-DVD special that carries much enjoyment within it. The story revolves around Andou Soako, a high-school girl who forgets to put on her underwear due to rushing to school and avoiding being late again. Get ready to laugh as the series follows her attempts to hide her embarrassment and "indecency," if you will.
Now, what the other reviewer missed was the wonderful ending. Though the show initially concentrates on Soako's comedic interactions with her classmates and her "problem," surprisingly, she might somehow, because of this, find her "first love (hatsukoi *wink, wink*)" by the finale, and, subsequently, become the
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original anime's heroine's (who is hard to tell) rival.
Being based on character designs by Kawashita Mizuki, the author of Ichigo 100%, Ane Doki!, and Lilim Kiss, it is expected that the art for this series is top notch, which it is. The soundtrack and seiyuu are also flawless, fitting the scenes and cast. There is no opening sequence in this anime, but the ending sequence is the same as Hatsukoi (First Love) Limited.'s ending track, cut by half, which is pretty good, I might add.
It should be noted that you may watch Limited Girl. before or after the original anime, as the story does not interfere nor spoil anything, though the middle-school characters, apart from Andou Soako, the heroine here, appear in both. I recommend that you watch the first episode of this, and judge for yourself whether or not you want to drop it. I think you will like and finish it, but if you do not, then hey, you have just wasted five minutes, less than a quarter of most television shows' episodes.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 5, 2011
This episode, although it was technically taken from the manga, has major differences, even when compared to the regular anime. For starters, Ekaterina Kurae, also known as Katja, and Teresa Berea show uncharacteristically goofy faces and funny dispositions here, which never happens in the canon storyline. While easily decapitating the heads of her enemies in her calm state, in this episode, despite being very angry at the villain for saying that her chest is small multiple times over (like he is asking for it), which is, again, out of character for her, Kurae only handicaps everyone, destroying the top of the building they are in,
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like a scene straight out of a kids' show.
Moreover, Sasha has apparently become a pervert who likes to chack out big breasts for research (Jiraiya much?) by peeping on girls changing, while the Human Firecracker prefers small boobs such as his daughter's. Furthermore, they, Martyr Sasha and the Gold Qwaser's right-hand man, the Qwaser of Natrium, also known as the Phoenix of Conviction, are easily caught off guard by a boobytrap (composed of a log, similar to the one Haruno Sakura from Naruto uses in the Forest of Death) which sends the two flying to the sky in a team-Rocket fashion.
Finally, the serious religious organization from the manga is portrayed here as just a fake breasts-detox society, led by a boob-crazed failed qwaser, of which element is never revealed, and Shiizaki Ruru, Ekaterina's "smart" classmate, turns out to be a horny slut, along with her mother, wanting her own tits to be sucked again by Katja in the end.
Like the show, this episode was ruined by excessive, I will not say "fan-service," because that is fine if done right, but comedy. I recommend giving the manga more priority, since this is one of the anime that is worse on television.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 24, 2011
"There are no miracles in this world. There are only accidents, inevitabilities, and what one is going to do. That is it." - Himura Yū
This anime (including the sequel) is far and away my favorite, and I have long since searched for another that could even come close to this great series, but to no avail. Although it is based on an adult visual novel game, entitled Ef - A Fairy Tale of the Two, there is no fan-service whatsoever in the anime version. Unfortunately, there is a fantasy element, albeit small, in this serious, romantic story, which is more noticeable in Ef - A
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Tale of Melodies.
The mere fact that the story unusually focuses on three couples equally means the viewer is bound to have a favorite. They are all connected one way or another, and the viewer should note that some of the characters live in a twin city in Australia (the other one is in Japan), also called Otowa (not to be confused with Ottowa, Ontario, Canada).
What is truly wonderful about this masterpiece is that the storyline concentrates on the internal struggles of the six main characters as they try to discover what is it they want to do in life, what is their dream, all while trying to balance their school lives, romantic relationships, and for one of them, even his job as a shōjo (manga directed towards young girls) mangaka (manga artist). To add to this, love triangles play an important in the story, which causes more confusion and drama.
Main characters' background:
- Hirono Hiro: a boy who used to not know the feeling of being with others, and liked to draw alone, until one day meeting with twin sisters Shindō Kei and Shindō Chihiro. Kei introduced him to shōjo manga through her collection, making Hiro intrigued about it, wanting to sketch his own materials, but lacking a storyline. Chihiro helped in that regard, since she liked to write stories, which made her oneechan, Kei, feel left out. After he grew up, Hiro wanted to pursue a career as a mangaka, but met with objection from his father, despite being an artist himself, which forced the former to leave home and rent a friend's apartment for almost nothing. Hirono then supported himself though his job as a shōjo manga author, under the pseudonym Shindō Nagi (composed of his childhood friend's family name and his older sister's (who studies in America) given name), while still attending high school. Due to his work constraints, Hiro often skips class or is late for school, causing Kei to come wake him up in the morning and lecture him. He likes to use the school rooftop key, provided by his sister, to go and sit there quietly during school hours, sometimes working on his art. Also, Hiro is a fan of famous violinist Kuze Shūichi and has had a very bad experience eating Kei's cooking.
- Miyamura Miyako: one day, sound vanished from her house, as Miyako's parents' anger towards each other was directed at her, making her feel as if she had disappeared from their hearts. Thus, it has become very hard for her to open up to anyone. Though she often skips class, thinking that school is boring, she is popular among boys for being pretty, receiving high grades, and being good at sports. She also has a bad reputation for not answering her teacher in class when called upon in addition to ditching school.
- Tsutsumi Kyousuke: a member of the films studies club. He lost his mother when he was younger, who was an actress and encouraged him to follow his dream. Kyousuke is dating the club president. Often filming with his video camera while walking around, he disagrees with his colleagues' (and Hiro's) view that production should be made to meet the audience's expectations, in order to win the film festival, whereas Tsutsumi believes in capturing what he wants, without being bounded by others. He is Hirono's classmate and good friend, but does not know about the latter's job.
- Shindō Kei: Hiro's kouhai who refers to him as "oniichan." Always playing with her twin sister, Chihiro, she did not know the feeling of being alone before meeting Hirono. She introduced to him to her shoujo manga collection. Kei often texts her little sister, mostly rating food they have eaten throughout the day out of ten, since they came to live in different cities. She likes Hiro, but does not feel she has the right to confess to him, due to an incident that happened in the past. She, however, treats him like his little sister, coming to wake him up, lecturing him, and sometimes cooking for him, much to his dismay. She is a very good, popular member of the basketball team, in spite of being a freshman. Shindō is very respected and admired by Hayama Mizuki, who calls the former "senpai," though they are in the same year.
- Asou Renji: a high school student who wonders what he should do when he grows up. Renji is good at cooking and likes to carry a book with him to read wherever he goes. He and his mother, Asou Sumire, are close to their neighbor, violinist Kuze Shūichi, who left a while ago. Shūichi is a womanizer who likes to make moves on Sumire, despite the fact that she is married, angering Renji.
Shindō Chihiro: she used to play a lot with Hiro and Kei, but, due to a certain incident, she had to leave to another place. Chihiro and her twin sister text each other many times, mostly what they ate throughout the day, rating the food out of ten. Shindō likes to write novels, but because of her condition, she has yet to complete her first one. Not liking crowded areas, nor being allowed to interact with other people, Chihiro likes to go to the empty train station, staring at the sky when she is about to cry. She is taken care of by Himura Yū.
- Amamiya Yūko: a mysterious woman who is always at the church, waiting for someone, similarly to Yū. Appearing and disappearing out of nowhere, she helps the children in their quest for finding what they are looking for.
It is a true joy to see the male protagonists try to uncover the hidden feelings as well as pasts of the respective heroines, and then help them overcome their issues and sorrow, while at the same time, seeking their own selves. This is portrayed beautifully in the opening sequence, where the girls look lonely, waiting to be saved.
Speaking of the opening sequence, it is a wonderful piece with a catchy English song, except for the last episode, which contains the same tune and almost the same visual effects, but in Japanese instead. The backs of the male leads are shown in the beginning, then the three girls continue appearing repeatedly, with a lot of text contrasting on the screen — the novel Shindō Chihiro, one of the main characters, writes in the anime; lastly, Amamiya Yūko prays before a lying Shindō Chihiro. In addition, before some episodes, there is an intense introduction before the opening sequence.
Unlike the opening, the ending sequence changes frequently, fitting one, or all of the heroines in most of them. They are nice songs that are appropriate for a current situation in an episode, and the lyrics of them are in Japanese. My favorite is the one in the final episode, and next to that is the one about Shindō Chihiro — visually though, I liked Shindō Kei's (her older twin sister's) version, as it is dramatic, showing her sadly running. Sometimes there is a small scene after the ending sequence, showing exciting moments that are to be continued. Moreover, at the very end of every episode, except for the last one, a sketch of one of the female characters is displayed, and one of the cast narrates a few words of wisdom, before saying the next episode's title and the name of the anime.
On the subject of visuals, anyone who has watched Ef - A Tale of Memories. (or its sequel) will tell you that it is a feast for the eyes. By that, I do not only mean the amazing art and character design, but the difficult-to-find visual effects throughout the episodes, which consist of wonderful contrasting colors at times; text appearing on-screen to emphasize important words and sentences; superb portrayals of emotional status; constantly changing camera angles that make it hard for the viewer to be bored; as well as outstanding sound effects accompanying them, among many others.
Seiyū-wise (voice actor-wise), though I would change Asō Renji, Shindō Chihiro, and maybe Amamiya Yūko's, the other ones are just perfect. From Miyamura Miyako's cuteness, to Hayama Mizuki's naive personality, to Himura Yū's calm seriousness, to Kuze Shūichi's friendliness, all the way to Tsutsumi Kyōsuke's teasing ways, the seiyū do an extremely marvelous job in presenting them. Not that the other ones are not good, after all, they do fit the other characters in a way, but they are not voices I want to keep hearing. Come to think of it, I might have changed Hayama Mizuki's seiyū as well.
Back on the story, during the characters' path to self-discovery, two mysterious individuals, named Himura Yū and Amamiya Yūko, who are always waiting in a church for someone, give them advice on what they should do, and listen to them. Strangely enough, they both claim to not be related to the church, nor even be Christians. However, these two are the real jigsaw in this anime.
Finally, some shows require a few episodes to draw you in, this series requires only one. By missing this gem, you would be missing anime's best. I believe that most other reviews are for this series, too (giving it above five).
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 20, 2011
Blood Rain is a wonderful manga that has a solid, suspense storyline that keeps the readers on their toes the entire time. To boost it off, the premise follows a nice, cute girl, who gives a healthy amount of fan-service, and innocence to lighten the mood that I thought would be completely dark as I read the synopsis. There is gore, but it is not extreme, and, in addition, it is related to important characters that one would want to see how they die.
There is a serial killer murdering graduated high school students who were all friends a few years ago. This may not sound
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like an original plot, but it is portrayed so beautifully that the reader will keep asking questions such as: "Who is the killer?" "Why is he/she killing these particular students?" "Could he/she be one of them?" "Is there a particular order to the murders?" The art is another thing the author should be proud of, as it is both splendid and intricate in most characters and scenes. The characters' personalities are also wonderful, giving humour and lightheartedness to the otherwise somber mood. Finally, there is romance that plays later in the setting, as the heroine reunites with her high school crush, giving the reader something more to look forward to.
In conclusion, by missing this series, you would be missing a gem in the world of manga. Whether you are looking for romance, comedy, suspense, gore, or mystery, you will very much enjoy the storyline. By just reading the first chapter, you will probably be hooked to it, appreciating what the series has to offer.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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