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Kenji Koiso, a shy math genius, bites off more than he can chew when his crush Natsuki suddenly asks him to her family's home as a summer job. Between pretending to be her enviable-college-student-from-Tokyo University boyfriend to saving the world from a virtual A.I. monster threatening to spread its reign into the real world, Koiso's summer proves to be unforgettable in more ways than he can count...

While the plot may sound like your typical shounen jump stallment, one look at the art will convince you otherwise. This feature film from Mamoru Hosoda, previously responsible for The Girl Who Leapt through Time (2006), is both lighthearted ... and actionpacked, yet neither thrilling nor boring. The importance of family and the ever-widening generation gap shines through amongst the numerous themes explored, but Hosoda never makes any explicit statements as other creators who lack his finesse often have. As Justin Sevakis (ANN) aptly put it, you can enjoy this film with a lazy attitude, sinking into the family antics or exaggerated spiel on online gaming, or you can watch it for the charming illustration of family values and subtle commentary on the virtual world the internet has become.

The animation is very characteristic of Hosoda, who has drawn deep influences while working with Miyazaki. The character designs are a modern twist on Miyazaki's flat, shadowless figures. I thoroughly enjoyed the OP and ED which both captured the spirit of summer. As expected with a Hosoda feature film, the characters move beautifully and the limitations of animated storytelling are capitalized upon to work in his favor.

This is perhaps not the most exciting series and I found myself unable to understand the reasoning behind the internet battles, but perhaps these things are not meant to be understood. Rest assured that the execution is near flawless and the storytelling watches like a literary work reads, with parallel events and experiences culminating in an ultimate shebang of sheer figurative and literal genius.

So whether you are looking for a gem among the blase stereotypes that anime and popular culture has become, or if you are just looking for a fun, summer film to drink hot cocoa to, Summer Wars is sure to be right up your alley.

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

SHAFT's chaotic experiment is certainly a welcome break in creativity for the industry, and Bakemonogatari has all the right elements to make for a great anime: a promising premise, great character design and a shot of insanity. Yet here is a great example of how deliberate attention to detail can cause directors to miss the mark entirely, resulting in a bigger picture that revels blindly in its mediocrity.

There isn't much of a story. Episodic in nature, Bakemonogatari is driven by an almost Japanese-folklore perspective on loneliness and loss layered beneath the tone of this generation's rebellious youth. Sounds clever enough, but the not-so-subtle hentai subtext ... cheapens any semblance of artistic endeavor. Perhaps it was a failed experiment at integrating pop-culture critique within its chaotic fabric, but my guess would lean towards a pathetic attempt to draw a larger audience.

But, well, critics are really going crazy for the art, so I was expecting to be pleasantly surprised. Only to be let down. Hard. Like the unmethodical and distracted camera angles, the artistic choices were made with the most pompous cries for attention. The still-scenes flicker in an epilepsy-inducing fashion, while the gorgeously rendered characters and back drop were drowned in the quickness of the scene-changes and flashes of blank screen with (unreadable) text. Moments that are meant to be mulled over pass too quickly while the more exciting scenes seem to linger with pure apathy. It's almost as if director Akiyuki Shinbo's job stopped pre-cutting-room-floor, leaving the series a chaotic mess with miserable pacing and an unspectacular storyline.

But enough about its fall from grace. Bakemonogatari may still be one of the best series the industry successfully produced in 2009. What SHAFT does well is create a highly entertaining series whose shiny surface can cover its internal flaws. The eclectic feel is enough to draw an audience, while the screenplay and writing remains surprisingly mature despite its rather unfocused story. And while certainly flawed, the artistic expression still garners appreciation for its bold step out of the ordinary. If you are a SHAFT fan, this title is unlikely to disappoint.

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

Let me begin by being perfectly honest. I hold a deep disdain for historical fiction titles that take themselves too seriously to hold any relevance or entertainment. I am also intensely confused by the Francophile tendencies of the anime industry. Le Chevalier D'eon is based loosely on the story of Chevalier D'eon who was a French spy who once donned women's clothing to carry out the King's will in Russia. Naturally, Production I.G. could not resist adapting this EPIC story of a cross dressing, French spy from the 1800's into a TV series.

But enough of that, despite a satisfactory and complete ending, Le Chevalier D'eon ... suffers from miserable pacing issues which damage any sliver of suspense it tries to build with a convoluted plot and arrogantly-written, flowery language. While the animation staff does a satisfactory job choreographing fight scenes and adapting the anime style for this rendition of Western history, the animation is nothing to call home about. And in a sweeping attempt to create drama, the creators decide to kill 90% of the characters for no apparent reason in an act that would have reached true comedic tragedy if it weren't so humorless in its tone. Jokes and sarcasm aside, Le Chevalier D'eon does not fall as flat as most series and can still be entertaining for those of you who've seen all the good titles; just don't wooed by the pretty promotional material :3.

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

As a product of the early 2000's Bubble, Galaxy Angel suffers from many of the era's faults: poor, fanboy-appeasing character designs, mediocre animation and forgettable voice acting completed with a contrived magical-girl-inspired premise and overabused stereotypes from which no character in the series escaped. But amidst the the mindless drivel and the shockingly pink hair, Galaxy Angel finds its footing as one of the few titles that never forgets what truly makes a series fly: solid storytelling. Ranpha, Forte and Milfuelle succeed despite their shortcomings by never taking themselves too seriously. By not striving to be something its not, Galaxy Angel is refreshingly entertaining in ... it's sophomoric, slapstick humor. In short, if you are looking to watch some good comedy for a change, try this series on for size.

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

From beginning to end, The Place Promised in Our Early Days seemed to ache of longing and loss. With a tint of slice-of-life coupled with stellar animation,this Shinkai production is truly a masterpiece.

Set in a divided Japan, the animators paid detailed attention to the setting which drives the emotional aspects of the story. Slow paced, the story lends itself to reflection in its peaceful silence.

Due to the movie's shorter time length, there is not a significant amount of development. At times some of the specifics (scientific etc.) are skimmed over. But it never feels too rushed, and what confusion viewers may feel is overcome by ... the irresistible lull of its undefinable beauty.

After it's end, there's no aspect of the story that really stood out, but the powerful storytelling makes this movie truly unforgettable.

Paradise Kiss is one of the few animes that deserve to be described as flawless. From the beautiful animation, to the heart-warming story, this series executes its purpose with effortless perfection.

Straddling between elements of realism and dream-like extravagance, Paradise Kiss pulls its viewer's into the life of a high school girl turned model. Although the premise may at first seem contrived, the storytelling transforms every girl's dream into a story of escaping routine and finding happiness.

For anyone and everyone who has ever felt trapped the routine boredom of everyday life, Yukari's feelings echo the secret wish to run away. Coupled with oddball characters, this normal ... high school student finds her own definition of living her life.

It's hard for me to rate any aspect of this show below a 10--from the fantastic animation and great voice acting to the masterful storytelling, Paradise Kiss is perfect. If you liked Nana, you'll love this short from Ai Yazawa.

Overall:
You know when you watch something great that you couldnt wait to finish, but once it finished you were mad at yourself for being so impatient? Well, I'm currently in that state because of this series T_T--I don't want there to be more, Ii just wish Ii hadnt finished it so quickly!!

Weaving traditional folklore story-telling, masterful character development and gorgeous animation, Seirei no Moribito has the power to capture all audiences in an epic adventure told like none other. If you loved Miyazaki's whimsical movies (Howl's moving castle, Princess Mononoke) (or even if you dont), you will enjoy every second of this 26 episode masterpiece.

The ... story recalls the journey tradition often seen in videogames--Balsa, a female spearwielder, takes a journey to save 8 lives. The eighth life happens to be the second prince who has a demon egg trapped inside him and faces assassination at the hands of his father. After they escape from the palace, they embark on a journey to find out more about this demon, but along the way they learn more about themselves. While it does harken back to the convoluted, complex legend type stories, Moribito succeeds with just the right amount of complexity to fully develop the storyline in 26 episodes.

Although the series starts off slow--I watched until episode 6 and then stopped for half a year before starting again--it is really fantastically told. The purpose of the first ten episodes seems to be character development, although it leaves many questions unanswered, mainly about Balsa's past. Fortunately, the end ties up loose knots neatly and I am quite satisfied with the way the show ended--I even cried a little. I hate to say this for my first review, but I can't think of any flaws in the plot execution.

The characters are developed masterfully--there's no other way to describe it. Most series, when they attempt to delve into the past, they do so in a very superficial and unrealistic way, but each and every character in Moribito you will come to love and care for. I think the primary strength of this series is its wonderfully subtle storytelling that illustrates rather than tells the unique personality of each character and how their interpersonal relationships develop with each other. The result is a richly textured, epically entertaining anime that should not be missed!

Animation:
The closest thing I can compare the art to is Mushishi--wonderfully rendered backgrounds with very average character designs. So dont expect loads of beautiful characters like Code Geass or the like. While I do understand why the creators decided on such character designs, I would have liked more close attention paid to some of the characters. I keep thinking along the lines of Kurenai... but anyways, onto the fun part.

Aside from the GORGEOUS background renders, Moribito boasts some spectacularly THRILLING fight scenes. While there isn't fighting in every episode, the lack thereof only builds for a stunning performance every time something interesting does happen. Think the fast-paced, heart-pumping choreography of Samurai Champloo refined with mindblowing fluidity, and you get something close to what Moribito is. I cannot say enough about how realistic and AWESOME the action scenes are!

so minus some points for average character design and plus 5890284392 points for general animation :D

Sound
In this type of show where character development and story-telling is so intricately important to its execution, the right voice actors and director is key. While none of the voices specifically stand out to me, the actors really did work together well to deliver the right amount of emotion/lack thereof for the series.

In general, the voice acting seems more "realistic"--there isnt too much inflection in the voice and they speak slowly. I loved how the lack of exaggeration in inflection seemed to contribute to the complex texture of the storyline. But, this type of thing is hard to explain, so just watch it and you'll know :D.

Presentation
I always like to do this when I tell people what to watch. Moribito is most like Sword of a Stranger which also features a warrior who must take care of a child who the emperor wants to kill--complete with AMAZING animation and beautiful bgs. But since most people havent seen that (go. see. it. NOW. if you havent :D--or if you decide you enjoy moribito and want something else) i would say that Moribito is like Princess Mononoke textured with the intricacy of Mushishi, dashed with more action-genre flavor :D (and a cute little boy who I will kidnap!!!--ahem i tried to avoid saying that throughout this review).

In conclusion: if you want to watch something unique, beautiful and subtly uplifting, watch Moribito now :D.

In a small Latin American town, a young girl dreams to be freed from her abusive foster parents. Her wishes come true when an escaped convict leaps through the dinner room window on a teal motorbike and asks her to help her find her mysterious father. Together, they travel the distance to find a man they thought they knew while experiencing the barren but lively existence shared by their fellow countrymen.

It's been a few seasons since the last promising title in this genre popped up--and Michiko to Hatchin certainly lives up to expectations. With deep Latin American vibes and subtle storytelling, the series manages to ... pull the audience in for a look at several storylines loosely tied together through Michiko's (the vixen convict) past. While their search for Hatchin's father--Michiko's former lover--provides a stimulus for their journey, it acts more as a literary tool to pull the characters through a myopic look at the lives of their fellow countrymen. It is difficult for me to find a favorite among the subplots as they all took a decently honest and heartfelt look at how people in less developed nations survive--though I found the more dramatic subplots (i.e human trafficking) of rather mediocre execution.

Michiko and Hatchin act as foils for one another: Michiko, the adult, acts childish and impulsive while Hatchin, the child, behaves responsibly. Most reviewers seemed to enjoy this chemistry but I found it lukewarm and underdeveloped. While Hatchin's character failed to impress(her relationship with her abusive parents never felt present and her "maturity" seemed a pretentious addition), Michiko was developed extensively throughout the series and the characters associated with her past succeeded in hooking my attention. In fact, I personally preferred watching the minor characters in the series--their stories were deeply entrenched in their impoverished situations, yet the livelihood with which they confronted adversity became truly inspirational.

The series boasts a strong soundtrack and voice acting, nicely echoing an image of a boundless road, sprawled before Michiko, Hatchin, and the people they met. The Latin traces are very apparent in the bold color schemes: cyan skies splashed with vivid turquoise and deep reds. The combination of brilliant sound and great animation certainly makes this anime worth watching, even if it falls short of the true geniuses in the genre (see Cowboy Bebop + Samurai Champloo). So be sure to check this out for a look at something different than your run-of-the-mill titles!

P.S. After a quick check, Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo fame was indeed involved in the soundtrack. Sayo Yamamoto, who directed Michiko to Hatchin, also played an important role in the making of Samurai Champloo. Good to see that these people are still making shows >3.

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

After reading rave reviews on today's title, Eden of the East, I decided to take a few days to see what all the fuss was about. The first episode opens as Saki stands in front of the White House, launching stones from outside the fence onto the open greens. The police promptly accost Saki, but she is saved by an unknown man, running around naked while waving a gun. The story then follows their adventure back to Japan and into his history which has been erased from his memory. To complicate matters, he has been gifted a cellphone that connects to a woman who can ... grant any wish a human could dream of, requiring only that the wisher uses his funds to become the "savior of the world."

While I can certainly understand the initial appeal of this series--a title full of average-looking, everyday folks caught in a mysterious battle usually signals a story saturated with magic realism that depends less on sensationalism and more on depth and criticism to wow its audience--I have to say that Eden of the East quickly fell into the usual traps. Much like Speed Grapher(2005), which promised to offer a more mature take on corruption and government, Eden of the East sets up a strong, interesting plotline but was both too short and too slow-paced to follow through on its promise. One strand of the story looks at a cruel serial killer who seems somehow connected to the mysterious cellphone and stumbles with what I can only describe as mediocre and stereotypically shallow execution. The ending, which was clearly meant to ensue in utterly epic proportions, fell flat, both plot-wise and visually. Meanwhile, a story like Eden of the East that struggles fiercely to become a masterpiece, typically warrants dynamic and creative directing; needless to say neither was present as far as I can see.

But for all its shortcomings, Eden of the East still ranks above average in its enjoyability and execution. The ED and OP were quite enjoyable, and I can clearly tell that production hired very interesting creative directors for both sequences. The voice acting, while unspectacular, demands little criticism. The animation was purposefully "just decent" though I would have enjoyed better camera angles and choreography. Furthermore, with just 13 episodes, it's worth the time to watch if you are interested in a series that doesn't fall as close to the stereotypical drivel that we are used to by now. Many viewers may even attribute more depth and better execution to this series than I have.

A timeless masterpiece this is not, but Eden of the East can still be very enjoyable. It's brevity, though damaging to the overall execution, certainly still makes it worth watching on a Saturday afternoon. If you are looking for a better series from Kenji Kawayama though, this one is DEFINITELY not representative of his talents (see Seirei no Moribito or Ghost in the Shell).

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu

Yuki finds herself wondering why a bike parked outside the school starts moving when it suddenly transforms into a ... panda?! Suddenly she's in the middle of a battle between the owners of these ugly yet irresistibly adorable monsters.

For fans of Furi Kuri, Atsuya Uki has created the whimsical, slightly insane yet delicate short film Cencoroll. Uki certainly did an impressive job adapting his manga background for the big screen. While the 30 minute length leaves little time to fully develop a complex plot, Uki rose to the challenge with remarkable grace. Cencoroll never felt rushed and while none of my initial questions were answered, ... I found myself utterly satisfied with the ending. With a little bit for every watcher--action for the boys, two nonchalant semi-bishies (wink wink) for the girls and poetic storytelling for anime-snobs like myself--Cencoroll is a roller coaster that won't make you dizzy.

Moreover, in true stroke-of-genius fashion, Uki is able to capture a stylized art form and sound to give Cencoroll a voice of its own. The movements are of choppy but fluid quality and the sound blends perfectly into the production's texture. As expected for OVAs and the budget they normally receive, the drawings never seem half-assed. But unlike others, Uki is able to capture his manga roots within each snapshot, transition and moving scene. The result? A short film that lulls viewers into its sci-fi core with an unnatural serenity for its genre.

With such a short duration, it is well worth your time to see this lovely anime, which reassured anime-lovers that cartoons are not just for kids!

written for Minitokyo's Newsletter: MT-Maigetsu