anime review

All reviews written since I moved the blog to the wordpress platform. Default category.

Review: Kuroshitsuji, Kuroshitsuji OVA – Sono Shitsuji, Kōgyō & Kuroshitsuji S2 (黒執事, 黒執事 その執事、興行, 黒執事Ⅱ)

Posted by ranpha on 20th October 2010
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The main male protagonist, and one of the best characters in this anime.

Kuroshitsuji is an anime title that I have always kinda wanted to watch, but never got around of doing it. Earlier this year, I finally decided to actually watch this series, only to find out that a second season is coming. Therefore I waited for a bit so that I can watch both seasons back-to-back, and dump them into a single review.

The first season is a 2008 anime, which will then compete with the current ‘Anime of the Year 2008’ title holder One Outs, and failed. Meanwhile, the second season was aired this year, therefore it will compete with the far weaker ‘Anime of the Year 2010’ title holder Working!! Now whether the second season can actually capitalize on the less-than-perfect score Working!! has or not can only be known if you continue reading this review further down.


The main 'female' protagonist, also one of the best characters in this anime.

Story:-
Set up in 19th century England, an adolescent noble brat sold his soul to a demon so that he can take revenge upon the killers of his parents. Meanwhile, as they searched high and low for those killers, the demon moonlights as a butler with extraordinary abilities in his master’s households, serving his noble brat from head to toe while keeping the rest of the bumbling servants in line.

The 24-episode first season starts with few episodes dedicated to character introductions and initial developments, before settling down on a multi-arc plot format seen in the likes of Index and Kaze no Stigma. The difference between this anime and the aforementioned two titles are vast though, because the story arcs in this anime is actually watchable. The first two story arcs in the first season has some scene transition problems (example: in the first arc, between the scene where the red lady left the seasonal villa and the scene where she was eventually outed), but the subsequent arcs afterwards has a pretty much flawless presentation, whether in pacing or story development. The ending arc is probably the weakest part of the first season, but the final scene is tantalizingly mysterious.

The OVA is basically just a filler episode, and can fit in somewhere within the first season.



Around this part of the world, we call those things chainsaws and paper scissors, not death-scythes.

The 12-episode second season switched from the multiple-arc plot format to a normal single-plot format that is more common in anime titles like this, this, this and this one. There are few things that are not explained (example: how on Earth that the Chinese guy is still alive) and personally, I think the second season is inferior to the first one. The second season doesn’t have the scene transition problems that the early parts of the first one has, but instead the pacing in the first few episodes of the second season is quite slow than what I have expected. Story development in the second season is just as good as it is in the first season, but unlike the latter, the second season has a very good ending. In fact, the ending of this anime second season is one of the best I have seen for quite a while.

But with the way the second season’s ending was written, it will be hard to envision a third season, that’s how radical (and awesome) the ending is. This anime is manga-based, I wonder if the ending is canon. If yes, a third season will definitely be radically different story-wise than what you can see in the first season. If I can choose, I will definitely want to see an extension.

Character developments in this anime are mainly done in the first season, which makes watching this anime in proper order mandatory. The second season focused more onto the storyline than it is on character developments. The best characters in this anime is definitely the two main protagonists, no doubt about it. The writer of this anime’s storyline has a bad tendency to abuse the nature of the butler, creating some ‘deus ex machina’ moments which is prevalent more in the second season than it is in the first one. The butler in the second season is basically Superman! A failed one at that though.


The main 'female' protagonist has this bad habit of doing some suspect decision making in the course of this anime.

Character Design:-
There are plenty of beautiful characters in this anime, especially for the two main protagonists. As a nod to the 19th century, the character designers actually makes their hairs black too. Geez, if they are painted blonde, I would have accepted it as normal in the 19th century England. This aspect is a very strong suit for this anime, and of course, a positive one too.

Voice Acting:-
Overall, the voice acting in this anime is quite good. Outstanding voice acting gigs include the two main protagonists (a given?), the other noble brat from the second season and also the reddish death god. A positive aspect for this anime.

Music:-
The OST for both seasons is excellent. As for the OP/ED themes, the first season has two good ED themes but not for the OP theme. Meanwhile, for the second season, the OP theme is good, and so are the 2nd ED theme. Only the 1st ED theme of the second season didn’t have the same quality that the others have.



Quoted For Truth!

Animation/Direction:-
The general animation in this anime is fluid, but the character animations can be jerky at times. It is obvious that the general animation are computer-generated while the character animation isn’t. This phenomenon seems to be common in anime titles made in the past 2 or 3 years. Integration between these two modes of animation could have been flawless if the animation studio was able to bridge the huge quality gap between them. Within some parts of this series, across both seasons, the inferior quality of the character animations really shows in fast-paced scenes. Choreography in action scenes in this series is just average. The directing has some minor problems with presentation as mentioned in the story section above, but otherwise he has done a good job.


The quirky servants of the Phantomhive household.

Conclusion:-
The first season scored a respectable 9 out of 10 score, while the second one managed to get an 8 out of 10 score. Both One Outs and Working!! managed to keep their respective titles for the time being. The next title reviewed here will be the long-awaited Winter Sonata, which has the biggest chance to dethrone Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei as long as it follows the source material.


Delicious snacks features prominently in this anime.

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Review: Kodomo no Jikan ni Gakki (こどものじかん ２学期)

Posted by ranpha on 13th October 2010
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The two main protagonists of this series, in a safe-for-work scene. Now if only you can say the same thing about some of the scenes in the final episode…

In my attempt to reduce my backlog further, I’ve chosen to watch the second season of the Kodomo no Jikan series, aptly titled Kodomo no Jikan ni Gakki. The first season has already been reviewed here in this blog post. The phrase ‘second season’ is probably misleading, because this follow-up only has 4 episodes, all coming straight into DVD just like Goku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is. This ‘second season’ is a 2009 anime, therefore it will have the chance to grab the ‘Anime of the Year 2009’ title from the current incumbent, Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei.

Story:-
Continuing from the end of the first season, which is a deviation from the original manga’s storyline, the three main protagonists and their homeroom teacher has advanced a year in the school life. The best character in this anime has her own separate sub-plot as the school prepared from their annual sport festival.

The director really has done a very good job concatenating the second season with the first, even if the ending of the first season is not canon. He does it by using some well-placed flashbacks that not only helps bridging the impossible, but also refreshed the memories of those who have watched the first season in the past. You cannot skip the first season before watching this title, it is a must watch (watch the uncensored version, the censored version is retarded). Some of the dialogues for a certain character in this anime has been altered though so that the integration is successful.

One notable difference between the first and the second season is that the latter wasn’t watered down unlike the former. I usually doesn’t mind censorship in broadcast versions of any given anime titles, but the censorship in the first season is so excessive I complained about it in my review of the first season. But even after obtaining the uncensored version, I still have the feeling that the first season was watered down when compared to the manga.

But that doesn’t happen in the second season anymore. What you see in the manga, can be seen in the anime. Being published straight to DVD does have its advantages. The director doesn’t have to hold back anymore, therefore he simply animate what you can see in the manga straight onto your TV screen. And that sir, can be off-putting for a significant number of people.

My previous review in this blog is for HighSchool of the Dead, known for its significant amount of fan service. Comments about that review in my Facebook page mentioned that fact a lot, understandably because ecchi fan service is an integral part of the said anime. Well, this anime, unrestrained by the codes of broadcast television, easily topped what you can see in HighSchool of the Dead. If HighSchool of the Dead basically contains lots of ecchi moment, this anime has one foot into the door leading to soft-core hentai. And I am not talking about your conventional hentai here, instead I am talking about the ‘dangerous’ kind of porn (hint: the one that has a certain bipedal brown bear as its mascot – popular in places like 4chan and SA).

Summing it in a single sentence: this anime made HighSchool of the Dead looks like the tame SpongeBob SquarePants in comparison.

Being only 4 episodes, there’s not much character developments happening in this season. Only the two friends of the main female protagonist has their characters improved a bit. One of them, Kuro Kagami is definitely still the best character in the series. There are no overt ending to this second season, probably paving the way to a still-unconfirmed third season. And if there is one, a straight-to-DVD release is far preferred.

Character Design:-
My comment in the same section in my review of the first season still applies.

Voice Acting:-
My comment in the same section in my review of the first season still applies. Actually, a couple of characters seems to have regressed.

Music:-
The OST is still non-existent as it is in first season, and unfortunately, the OP theme is not very good either. Only the ED theme is of any good.

Animation/Direction:-
For the animation quality in this anime, my comment in the same section in my review of the first season still applies. Meanwhile, the director has done a real good job in the second season as mentioned in the story section above. Definitely a positive aspect for this anime.

Conclusion:-
9 out of 10. This anime reaps the rewards for sticking more to the manga. And you should read the manga too, which is a very educating experience. But still, Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei will retain its trophy for the time being.

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Review: Highschool of the Dead (学園黙示録 HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD)

Posted by ranpha on 10th October 2010
Posted in: anime review. Tagged: , . Leave a Comment


Do you play the Left 4 Dead series? If yes, join me and my like-minded friends above at Left 4 Dead Japan Steam Group as we defend Tokyo eastern United States from the zombie apocalypse! Add me in your friend list via my profile here.

Today, Highschool of the Dead will have the honors of being the first 2010 anime that will challenge the newly anointed ‘Anime of the Year 2010’ title holder Working!! Featuring a storyline that is very common in the Western world in multiple forms of entertainment media, will this anime set up in the suburbs of modern Japan shoots its way to the title?


Of course you silly, silly boy! You are in an anime now! Probably the first ever zombie apocalypse anime ever made.

Story:-
It’s spring in Japan, and the school year has just started. Suddenly, from out of the blue, the ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE arrived! A ragtag bunch consisted of several high-school students (and their anatomically-incorrect school nurse) then has to fight their way out of their zombie-infested school, one safe-room episode at a time as the world slowly descends into a NUCLEAR APOCALYPSE!

Frankly speaking, the storyline in this anime is not much different than your typical Hollywood B-movies that has the same plot. Here you will see the conventional zombies that is sensitive to sound (while forsaking the other 4 senses), has supernatural strength, hard to kill except with a headshot and cannot cross any body of water. Fortunately for our survival team, the zombies here walks slowly plus the infection vector doesn’t spread airborne. If this is Left 4 Dead, which I play quite extensively, this ragtag bunch won’t survive a day with those fast common infected and of course, the special infected.

Oh BTW, those zombies doesn’t walk around moaning ‘Brainnnnnsss’ or whatever its Japanese equivalent.

And just like those B-grade Hollywood flicks, fan service rules the roost. If in those films, you can see scantily-clad women with the tightest of outfits and the least amount of fabric possible, armed with shotgun while cr0wning those undeads, in this anime you can see pretty much the same thing, except that the female characters prefers to melee the undead instead of shooting them. I have to admit, I do really like them hehehehe. The fan-service is definitely one of the most important traits this anime has, which is reinforced by the fact that as the series goes on, the amount of fabrics that the female characters wears become lesser and lesser with every passing hour.

Zombie apocalypse and fan service aside, is the story is any good? Well, I have never seen any of those B-grade Hollywood flicks being nominated for Best Picture in Academy Awards, thus you should not expect any Hayao Miyazaki-quality storyline in this manga-adapted anime. But then again, I highly enjoyed watching this fast-paced action-packed title, assisted by flawless plot progression all the way to the ending that is set up for a richly-deserved movie sequel second season. If a second season is really in the cards, then I suggest that it should be cornily titled ‘Highschool of the Dead II – The Siege of the Shopping Mall’ or something like that hahahaha!

Meanwhile, I feel the character developments in this anime is constrained by the low amount of episodes this anime has. The way the story is written, there should be plenty of development potential left amongst the members of the ragtag bunch, especially the school nurse, the weapon nerd and the newly-orphaned brat. And did I see some good romance subplot forming there? Thinking about them, the more convinced I have become that this anime really need a sequel. A sequel with a corny title!


The Left 4 Dead protagonists may have it harder than the protagonists in this anime, but at least they doesn't have an emo baggage like the one above!

Character Design:-
The character designs for male characters is pretty much your stereotypical shounen cookie-cutter design and just barely passable, but the designs for female characters definitely come straight out from a hentai mini-OVA or something like that. Nevertheless the designers managed to keep the design under control, unlike the over-the-top designs you can see in Dragonaut – the resonance. Definitely a positive aspect for this anime, and I fully expect to see more inappropriate ‘fan-fictions’ surfacing at TokyoTosho in the future.

Voice Acting:-
Voice acting in this anime is solid overall, but there are no outstanding performer(s) that stands out from the rest. A positive aspect for this anime.

Music:-
The OST is sparse and only evident in action scenes, but it is still decent. The OP theme is very good, and so are the most of the ED themes except for episode 8, 12, 11, and 4. A positive aspect for this anime.


Move aside Ceiling Cat/Basement Cat/Long cat or whatever! Here we have the most awesome cat in the world, who sleeps his/her way through a zombie apocalypse as if they are nothing!

Animation/Direction:-
The character animation in this anime is not as fluid as I expected for my standard, but the general animation quality is very good, even in fast-paced scenes. Choreography in this anime is mixed bag; the action scenes by the meleeing female characters are good, while the rest is just average. The director has not done anything wrong at all in this series, and that’s a decent feat onto itself, considering that it is really easy to screw up with this kind of storyline.

Conclusion:-
8 out of 10. Therefore Working!! will be able to keep its title for the time being. I still haven’t made any decision of what anime I should watch next, you just have to wait for it to come.


Some faulty advice about the usage of shoguns for killing zombies there buddy. In Left 4 Dead, unless you are cr0wning, you will aim the shotgun at the chest, not the head. The main protagonist will learn this the hard way though. And do not use them in open space maps, unless you are pretty desperate.

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