Okay, so I'm back and just when the fall season is starting. Fortunately, there aren't that many interesting titles for this year and my list is even shorter than summer's. But I will perhaps be posting my final thoughts of some of the shows I watched in the summer: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, Natsu no Arashi!, Eve no Jikan and Eden of the East. Hopefully, I'll also be able to post a review or two as well. In the meantime, I'll be catching up with some of the episodes I missed. Expect a preview post on the Fall Season 2009 soon.
Showing posts with label natsu no arashi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natsu no arashi. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Natsu no Arashi 09: Time Paradox and Stained-glass Witches
Ok, so it's been a while since I blogged about this series. I won't be posting the missed episodes anymore. They weren't special anyway. This one however is pretty interesting as it addresses for the first time the repercussions of tim
EPISODE 09: Now is the Time to be a Hero!
The stained-glass girls, Kanako and Yayoi, continue their usual discussion about Yayoi's latest reading escapade when an unexpected thing happens: Yayoi falls down unconscious. After the opening credits, Master tries to get Arashi and company to travel back in time with a pack of spoiled mackerel. Kaja is set against the idea while Arashi and Hajime try to rationalize the situation. Their argument lead them to discuss the time paradox as they wonder what happens to the present world whenever they travel back in time to change some aspects of the past. Hajime then comes up with the theory that the main consequence of their time travel is the creation of parallel worlds. He thinks this is brilliant and tantamount to bringing back people who are supposed to be dead, but Kaja points out that it would also mean that people who were supposed to be born won't come into being. This forces Arashi to realize that her actions of changing the past might not be entirely for the good. In order to make her feel better, Hajime gets her to travel back with him to 1985 wherein they meet a boy named Murata Hideo, the son of the same boy whom Arashi once saved from the air raids. A grateful Arashi then gives Hajime a hug. In the meantime, the private detective find himself the object of Kanako's wrath when he still could not bring Arashi to them. After the detective leaves, Kanako decides to go to Arashi herself. At the Ark Cafe, Kanako meets Arashi for the first time with the latter not realizing who the other is. While Arashi serves her, Kanako touches her hand, under the pretense of admiring it, and sends Arashi into a fainting spell. Later, it is revealed that for ethereal spirits like Arashi and Kaja, using their powers too much can cause their essence to become unstable and cease to exist. Much later, while Hajime and Arashi are on their way home, they encounter Kanako yet again, who proceeds to absorb more of Arashi's powers right in front of a helpless Hajime.
The stained-glass girls, Kanako and Yayoi, continue their usual discussion about Yayoi's latest reading escapade when an unexpected thing happens: Yayoi falls down unconscious. After the opening credits, Master tries to get Arashi and company to travel back in time with a pack of spoiled mackerel. Kaja is set against the idea while Arashi and Hajime try to rationalize the situation. Their argument lead them to discuss the time paradox as they wonder what happens to the present world whenever they travel back in time to change some aspects of the past. Hajime then comes up with the theory that the main consequence of their time travel is the creation of parallel worlds. He thinks this is brilliant and tantamount to bringing back people who are supposed to be dead, but Kaja points out that it would also mean that people who were supposed to be born won't come into being. This forces Arashi to realize that her actions of changing the past might not be entirely for the good. In order to make her feel better, Hajime gets her to travel back with him to 1985 wherein they meet a boy named Murata Hideo, the son of the same boy whom Arashi once saved from the air raids. A grateful Arashi then gives Hajime a hug. In the meantime, the private detective find himself the object of Kanako's wrath when he still could not bring Arashi to them. After the detective leaves, Kanako decides to go to Arashi herself. At the Ark Cafe, Kanako meets Arashi for the first time with the latter not realizing who the other is. While Arashi serves her, Kanako touches her hand, under the pretense of admiring it, and sends Arashi into a fainting spell. Later, it is revealed that for ethereal spirits like Arashi and Kaja, using their powers too much can cause their essence to become unstable and cease to exist. Much later, while Hajime and Arashi are on their way home, they encounter Kanako yet again, who proceeds to absorb more of Arashi's powers right in front of a helpless Hajime.
COMMENTS:
Interesting twist. I didn't realize Yayoi and Kanako were the bad guys. Are they? I assumed they weren't since they all seemed to be friendly with each other in Episode 1. Hmm.
I think my problem with Natsu no Arashi mainly is that in between good episodes like this one, I have to sit through others that are just meh.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Natsu no Arashi 04-05: Kaja and Jun!
I've made the decision: I am blogging this series. This probably means that Ristorante Paradiso will be dropped from my summer line-up. It all really depends on how well an episode the 4th installment of the series is going to be. On the other hand, Natsu no Arashi! is now on its fifth episode and so far, the entertainment factor is still pretty high.
EPISODE 04: K & J
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 04
The episode begins with a flashback of two high school girls -- who are obviously Kaja and Arashi -- standing on top of the stairs near the window. Back to the present, Arashi's popularity with the customers continues to grow. This time, they want her to star in a period film that they are making. Coincidentally, the setting for the movie is Arashi's old high school and once there, Arashi drops by the library where she found an old photograph of her and Kaja between the pages of a book. At first, Jun wouldn't believe Hajime's story about Arashi being a ghost, not even when she spoke with the photographer (now an old man) who took the very picture that Arashi found. However, once Jun sees Arashi act out the part of a cultivated lady from that era, Jun starts to believe. After the shoot, Arashi with Hajime and Jun return to the cafe. Not long after that, a familiar white-haired girl arrives. Kaja, like Arashi, has not aged a day since that photograph was taken. After introductions are made, Kaja proceeds to admonish Arashi for losing Kaja's diary. Arashi denies this, saying that someone took the diary. To prove this, she travels back in time with Hajime. After finding the diary on Arashi's desk, they both return to the present with the diary, thus, explaining why the diary was lost in the first place (it's because the Arashi from the present took it). On one of the pages of said diary was a message for Arashi, saying that in case something happens to both of them, they hoped to meet each other at the Ark. After all, Arashi does keep her promise.
EPISODE 05: Secret Garden
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 05
Jun has a secret and no one at the Ark knows about it. But today, that secret is going to be severely tested. The episode begins with Jun oversleeping and thus late for work. She quickly goes to the dressing room to change into her uniform only to find Hajime and Arashi appear out of nowhere. Horrified at being seen by him, Jun knocks Hajime out. After some mishaps involving a cockroach, Jun ends up soaked in milk so has to shower again and change into a fresh set of uniform. Unfortunately, the only uniform left is one that is for girls. Hajime makes a crack about her looking like a girl despite having a flat chest. Of course, this earns him another knockout punch from a very angry Jun. Another accident later -- this time, involving a rat -- Jun once more finds herself in the shower. But even worse than before, now she has to go around in a maid outfit. Master quickly catches on to the outfit's appeal and has everyone, including herself and Hajime, dressing up the same way. Although he looks hideous in his costume, Hajime has a lot of fun and challenges Jun to a contest as to who between them can act more feminine. Meanwhile, Master teaches a reluctant Kaja the art of seducing costumers with little success. Kaja wouldn't even step out from behind the counter or touch a male customer's hand while handing him his change. During their break, Hajime, still believing that Jun is a boy, suggests that he (Jun) try to connect with Arashi, to no avail. After giving him yet another knockout punch, Jun storms off. Kaja follows her and the two of them bond a little. But just when they think that nothing worse is going to happen, the Ark's coffee machine breaks down and who else is there to get soaked in all that coffee but Jun.
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 04
The episode begins with a flashback of two high school girls -- who are obviously Kaja and Arashi -- standing on top of the stairs near the window. Back to the present, Arashi's popularity with the customers continues to grow. This time, they want her to star in a period film that they are making. Coincidentally, the setting for the movie is Arashi's old high school and once there, Arashi drops by the library where she found an old photograph of her and Kaja between the pages of a book. At first, Jun wouldn't believe Hajime's story about Arashi being a ghost, not even when she spoke with the photographer (now an old man) who took the very picture that Arashi found. However, once Jun sees Arashi act out the part of a cultivated lady from that era, Jun starts to believe. After the shoot, Arashi with Hajime and Jun return to the cafe. Not long after that, a familiar white-haired girl arrives. Kaja, like Arashi, has not aged a day since that photograph was taken. After introductions are made, Kaja proceeds to admonish Arashi for losing Kaja's diary. Arashi denies this, saying that someone took the diary. To prove this, she travels back in time with Hajime. After finding the diary on Arashi's desk, they both return to the present with the diary, thus, explaining why the diary was lost in the first place (it's because the Arashi from the present took it). On one of the pages of said diary was a message for Arashi, saying that in case something happens to both of them, they hoped to meet each other at the Ark. After all, Arashi does keep her promise.
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 05
Jun has a secret and no one at the Ark knows about it. But today, that secret is going to be severely tested. The episode begins with Jun oversleeping and thus late for work. She quickly goes to the dressing room to change into her uniform only to find Hajime and Arashi appear out of nowhere. Horrified at being seen by him, Jun knocks Hajime out. After some mishaps involving a cockroach, Jun ends up soaked in milk so has to shower again and change into a fresh set of uniform. Unfortunately, the only uniform left is one that is for girls. Hajime makes a crack about her looking like a girl despite having a flat chest. Of course, this earns him another knockout punch from a very angry Jun. Another accident later -- this time, involving a rat -- Jun once more finds herself in the shower. But even worse than before, now she has to go around in a maid outfit. Master quickly catches on to the outfit's appeal and has everyone, including herself and Hajime, dressing up the same way. Although he looks hideous in his costume, Hajime has a lot of fun and challenges Jun to a contest as to who between them can act more feminine. Meanwhile, Master teaches a reluctant Kaja the art of seducing costumers with little success. Kaja wouldn't even step out from behind the counter or touch a male customer's hand while handing him his change. During their break, Hajime, still believing that Jun is a boy, suggests that he (Jun) try to connect with Arashi, to no avail. After giving him yet another knockout punch, Jun storms off. Kaja follows her and the two of them bond a little. But just when they think that nothing worse is going to happen, the Ark's coffee machine breaks down and who else is there to get soaked in all that coffee but Jun.
COMMENTS:
Right. Character introductions. I suppose this is how the series will play out: one episode per character. I'm not complaining though. For a character-driven series like Natsu no Arashi!, I think this is the best way to do it. Each one of the characters, and not just the main one, must have their own little share of the limelight.
To be honest, Arashi is not that interesting a character. I mean, she is appealing (in that airheaded sort of way) but Jun and Master have more going on -- Jun with her insistence at keeping her true gender secret, and Master with her dirty con artist tricks (plus, she remains nameless still). On the other hand, Hajime is a fun character. He has lots of personality though as the narrator of the story, the focus is less about him and more about the people he meets, so naturally our interest would be on the latter.
The time travel aspect is becoming less of a factor now. I thought perhaps, after Episode 3, the series is going to indulge heavily on the juxtaposition between the past and the present, which is what makes this series slightly different from all other boy-meets-girls anime out there. But that doesn't seem to be even the case. In Episode 4, there was that very short scene of Arashi returning to her old classroom, but in Episode 5, there was not even a hint of it. Then again, Episode 5 was really just about Jun so maybe that's why. And besides, as we all know from Episode 1 that Jun is going to end up connecting with Kaja so maybe Episode 5 is just there to explain how they first bonded.
In my last post, I mentioned about the unconventional camera angles. This too is not a major factor in these last two episodes. The art is still pretty good though, and as always the colors are wild.
Kanako and Yayoi make their cameos again. Their scenes are recycled, even their dialogue, with only a minor alteration at the end of each exchange. They're supposed to be discussing some popular manga or other but aside from that one about Rurouni Kenshin and Prince of Tennis, I didn't really get most of it.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Natsu no Arashi! 02-03: Hajime and the Girl
I think I'm blogging this series. It's pretty interesting and, believe it or not, the art actually improved in the later episodes.
EPISODE 02: Girl A
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi! 02
One stormy day in Tokyo, a high school girl knocks at the door of Ark Cafe, looking for a job. A few days later, Yasaka Hajime, a 13-year-old boy recently come to Tokyo to live with his grandfather, finds himself at the same cafe and meets the girl. Her name is Arashiyama Sayoko -- "Arashi" for short. Hajime instantly gets smitten with her and praises her beauty in front of another customer, a boy his age named Kamigamo Jun. Not soon after, a private detective enters the cafe, looking for a girl with Arashi's description. The cafe owner denies knowledge of this but Arashi unwittingly reveals herself, prompting Hajime to come to her rescue. But instead of saving her, Hajime ends up being saved by her. Not only that, when Arashi touches his hand, something strange happens and suddenly Hajime finds himself being dragged by her as they travel back in time. There, Arashi reveals that she is a ghost and that she has decided to move in with him. The next day, Hajime and Arashi return to the cafe only to discover that she has been fired from her job. In order to win her job back, Hajime plays dice with the cafe owner, "Master," but only ends up losing his clothes. Later, Master decides to take them back after learning that Arashi knows the location of a secret treasure. But before Arashi could agree to this the private detective appears. He and Master decide to race each other all the way to the cafe, with Arashi as the price. Master, who is revealed to be a con artist, wins because, as per her plan, the private detective gets caught by a traffic enforcer for speeding. However, to her dismay, Arashi's secret treasure turns out to be nothing more than a box of tops.
EPISODE 03: I Will Protect Her
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi! 03
Aliens have invaded Tokyo! As superhero Hajime tries to save the day, with a mahou shoujo wand, Arashi arrives to stop him. Then follows a heroic speech, which nevertheless gets interrupted as Hajime forgets the kanji for "come back." Arashi provides him with the right character, much to Hajime's shock as he has not realized she is in the room with him. It turns that the alien invasion is all in his head. On their way to the Ark Cafe later, Hajime asks her to go to the arcade with him that afternoon and Arashi says yes. At the cafe, there seem to be a lot of customers, most of them male university students who all got their eyes on Arashi. Hajime gets jealous but to his relief, Arashi turns down all their offers to ask her out. After work, he offers Jun a ride to the station but ends up racing to the bottom of a hill against Arashi, who is on a skateboard. They do arrive at the station but Jun swears never to ride with him again. Afterwards, Hajime and Arashi head off to the arcade where they both fall trap to the Claw Crane. Never one to give up, Arashi eventually wins and gives the toy to Hajime as a present. Later, while on their way home, Arashi brings up the subject of her being a ghost and then asks him to travel back in time with her. They both end up in 1945 during an air raid where Hajime almost loses her in the crowd. It turns out that Arashi returned to that time specifically to save a kid and his father from death. They eventually return to the present where Arashi explains that her secret is she can't travel through time alone. This means that the only way for her to do it is through Hajime's help. It takes him a long time but he agrees.
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi! 02
One stormy day in Tokyo, a high school girl knocks at the door of Ark Cafe, looking for a job. A few days later, Yasaka Hajime, a 13-year-old boy recently come to Tokyo to live with his grandfather, finds himself at the same cafe and meets the girl. Her name is Arashiyama Sayoko -- "Arashi" for short. Hajime instantly gets smitten with her and praises her beauty in front of another customer, a boy his age named Kamigamo Jun. Not soon after, a private detective enters the cafe, looking for a girl with Arashi's description. The cafe owner denies knowledge of this but Arashi unwittingly reveals herself, prompting Hajime to come to her rescue. But instead of saving her, Hajime ends up being saved by her. Not only that, when Arashi touches his hand, something strange happens and suddenly Hajime finds himself being dragged by her as they travel back in time. There, Arashi reveals that she is a ghost and that she has decided to move in with him. The next day, Hajime and Arashi return to the cafe only to discover that she has been fired from her job. In order to win her job back, Hajime plays dice with the cafe owner, "Master," but only ends up losing his clothes. Later, Master decides to take them back after learning that Arashi knows the location of a secret treasure. But before Arashi could agree to this the private detective appears. He and Master decide to race each other all the way to the cafe, with Arashi as the price. Master, who is revealed to be a con artist, wins because, as per her plan, the private detective gets caught by a traffic enforcer for speeding. However, to her dismay, Arashi's secret treasure turns out to be nothing more than a box of tops.
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi! 03
Aliens have invaded Tokyo! As superhero Hajime tries to save the day, with a mahou shoujo wand, Arashi arrives to stop him. Then follows a heroic speech, which nevertheless gets interrupted as Hajime forgets the kanji for "come back." Arashi provides him with the right character, much to Hajime's shock as he has not realized she is in the room with him. It turns that the alien invasion is all in his head. On their way to the Ark Cafe later, Hajime asks her to go to the arcade with him that afternoon and Arashi says yes. At the cafe, there seem to be a lot of customers, most of them male university students who all got their eyes on Arashi. Hajime gets jealous but to his relief, Arashi turns down all their offers to ask her out. After work, he offers Jun a ride to the station but ends up racing to the bottom of a hill against Arashi, who is on a skateboard. They do arrive at the station but Jun swears never to ride with him again. Afterwards, Hajime and Arashi head off to the arcade where they both fall trap to the Claw Crane. Never one to give up, Arashi eventually wins and gives the toy to Hajime as a present. Later, while on their way home, Arashi brings up the subject of her being a ghost and then asks him to travel back in time with her. They both end up in 1945 during an air raid where Hajime almost loses her in the crowd. It turns out that Arashi returned to that time specifically to save a kid and his father from death. They eventually return to the present where Arashi explains that her secret is she can't travel through time alone. This means that the only way for her to do it is through Hajime's help. It takes him a long time but he agrees.
COMMENTS:
I don't really know what it is about Natsu no Arashi! It's a comedy series, I know, but it's not really the LOL sort. The jokes and sly witticism come in so fast that you hardly have time to process one before another comes in. It's a pretty funny series but I think it's more clever than laugh-out-loud funny. Some of the jokes are extremely random ("Anou, pass the salt please.) or parodies of other shows that I'm not familiar with or haven't even seen, so I miss half the experience already. Still, even without the subtext, the situation presents itself well.
But I think what really strikes me about this series is not so much the story but the unconventional camera angles. Some of the shots you never even thought of, let alone seen, and here they are, beautiful. In that aspect, Natsu no Arashi! is a really, really interesting series. Add to that the vastly improved art (if you didn't like how the characters in the first episode, try to watch the subsequent ones), and it's turning out to be one enjoyable series.
Friday, April 17, 2009
First Impression: Natsu no Arashi!
Don't let the inconsistency of the character designs fool you. Natsu no Arashi! has great background art. The story itself is not that interesting but then I wasn't expecting epic anyway.
EPISODE 01: Playback
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 01
OP: Atashi dake ni Kakete (Omokage Lucky Hole) [YouTube]
ED: Kirari Futari (Ryouko Shiraishi) [YouTube]
That said, what is this series about? The title gives us a clue: it's about the summer adventures of Hajime and the mysterious Arashi. According to ANN, Arashi is supposed to have mystical powers that enables her to travel through time. The episode does not explain how Arashi came to have these powers or how she even came to live with Hajime (as it does not seem as if they are even related). Come to think of it, the episode doesn't really explain anything about this series. But I'm guessing all of that will be revealed later.
Natsu no Arashi! is a light series that looks to entertain by capitalizing on character quirks and random situations. The art is going to be a problem for some but the first episode looks tightly directed, so here's to hoping this continues for the rest of this 13-episode series.
More Screencaps from Natsu no Arashi 01
OP: Atashi dake ni Kakete (Omokage Lucky Hole) [YouTube]
ED: Kirari Futari (Ryouko Shiraishi) [YouTube]
That said, what is this series about? The title gives us a clue: it's about the summer adventures of Hajime and the mysterious Arashi. According to ANN, Arashi is supposed to have mystical powers that enables her to travel through time. The episode does not explain how Arashi came to have these powers or how she even came to live with Hajime (as it does not seem as if they are even related). Come to think of it, the episode doesn't really explain anything about this series. But I'm guessing all of that will be revealed later.
Natsu no Arashi! is a light series that looks to entertain by capitalizing on character quirks and random situations. The art is going to be a problem for some but the first episode looks tightly directed, so here's to hoping this continues for the rest of this 13-episode series.
MORE INFO:
OFFICIAL TV-Tokyo (JPN)
OFFICIAL Starchild (JPN)
Natsu no Arashi! @ ANN
Natsu no Arashi! @ Wikipedia
Natsu no Arashi! Trailer [YouTube]
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Spring 2009 Anime Preview
Yeah, so it's that time again. Brand new season, brand new shows. It's a shorter list this time and I'm not even sure I'll blog every one of these titles. Last season, we got bombarded with sequels. I didn't really mind those because, you know, all I had to do was to not watch the series at all. This time around, the studios have put together some very interesting titles and some rather generic ones as well. The ones below are those that made it to the short list.
Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom ~
OFFICIAL | TV-Tokyo | ANN | Wikipedia
A spate of mafia assasinations occurs in America, the work of the mysterious organization named Inferno. "Phantom" is their most strongest and capable assassin, however a lone tourist witnesses Phantom's latest act of murder. He unwittingly exposes the top assassin's true identity, a young girl named Ein. Witnesses are usually killed, but the man is captured and taken to be brainwashed into "Zwei", Inferno's newest assassin, with no memory of who he is. From this point on, Zwei is drawn into a world of conspiracy, deceit and violence. (ANN)
Fullmetal Alchemist 2
OFFICIAL | AnimaxASIA | ANN | Wikipedia
Set in a fictional universe in which alchemy is one of the most advanced scientific techniques known to man, the story follows the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who want to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. (Wikipedia)
Eden of the East
OFFICIAL | Production I.G. | ANN | Wikipedia
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. (ANN)
Natsu no Arashi!
TV-Tokyo | Starchild | ANN | Wikipedia
Thirteen-year-old Yasaka is a boy staying at his grandfather's house during his summer vacation. One day he meets Arashi, a beautiful sixteen-year old girl with mysterious powers. After trying to protect her from a man who claims to have been hired by her family to take her back by force, Yasaka ran away with her and now she stays at his grandpa's place with him. The plot thickens when he finds a sixty-year-old picture of Arashi and another girl named Kaja, and to the surprise of all Kaja suddenly appears, and just like Arashi, her appearance hasn't changed at all since then. (Wikipedia)
Ristorante Paradiso
OFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia
Set in a restaurant in Rome that the heroine Nicoletta visits from the countryside. Her parents divorced when she was young, so her grandparents raised her while her mother tried to remarry. Unfortunately for Nicoletta, her mother abandons her even after remarrying. Nicoletta goes to the restaurant that is now owned by the new husband of Nicoletta's mother, and ends up apprenticing there among a kitchen staff of colorful characters. (ANN)
Phantom ~ Requiem for the Phantom ~OFFICIAL | TV-Tokyo | ANN | Wikipedia
A spate of mafia assasinations occurs in America, the work of the mysterious organization named Inferno. "Phantom" is their most strongest and capable assassin, however a lone tourist witnesses Phantom's latest act of murder. He unwittingly exposes the top assassin's true identity, a young girl named Ein. Witnesses are usually killed, but the man is captured and taken to be brainwashed into "Zwei", Inferno's newest assassin, with no memory of who he is. From this point on, Zwei is drawn into a world of conspiracy, deceit and violence. (ANN)
COMMENTS:
Bee Train. That's all that I can really say at this point. I mean, aside from the promising plot summary and the attractive poster. I mean, dude, now that is a gun. And poor you, did you cut yourself shaving this morning? Anyway, this one has melancholy written all over it, which is not a problem since I do have a taste for depressing storylines. Also, assassins! What more can I possibly ask for?
Fullmetal Alchemist 2OFFICIAL | AnimaxASIA | ANN | Wikipedia
Set in a fictional universe in which alchemy is one of the most advanced scientific techniques known to man, the story follows the brothers Edward and Alphonse Elric, who want to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. (Wikipedia)
COMMENTS:
Well, this is supposed to be a remake of the original series, which I have yet to watch (I've got all 50+ episodes gathering dust on my desk). The manga is reportedly better than the anime so this being a more faithful adaptation of the manga, I believe this is supposed to be superior. I am vaguely interested in this series but there is no chance of me blogging it since 51 episodes is too much of a commitment.
Eden of the EastOFFICIAL | Production I.G. | ANN | Wikipedia
On November 22, 2010 ten missiles strike Japan. However, this unprecedented terrorist act, later to be called as "Careless Monday," does not result in any apparent victims, and is soon forgotten by almost everyone. Then, 3 months later... Saki Morimi is a young woman currently in the United States of America on her graduation trip. But just when she is in front of the White House, Washington DC, she gets into trouble, and only the unexpected intervention of one of her fellow countrymen saves her. However, this man, who introduces himself as Akira Takizawa, is a complete mystery. He appears to have lost his memory. and he is stark naked, except for the gun he holds in one hand, and the mobile phone he's holding with the other hand. A phone that is charged with 8,200,000,000 yen in digital cash. (ANN)
COMMENTS:
This series has an awesome staff. Of course, I don't ever discount the fact that this is Production I.G. And not just Production I.G. but the Production I.G. I have come to love: Kamiyama Kenji of Seirei no Moribito fame returns at the helm to direct this series based on an original script written by himself. The character designs are done by Umino Chika, the mangaka of Honey and Clover. Although I have never seen Honey and Clover (and likely never will), I am familiar with her style. I don't know how her kind of old-school, stationary style will fit with a futuristic setting but I can imagine it adding a bit of fantastical element to the whole thing. Anyway, looking forward to this.
Natsu no Arashi!TV-Tokyo | Starchild | ANN | Wikipedia
Thirteen-year-old Yasaka is a boy staying at his grandfather's house during his summer vacation. One day he meets Arashi, a beautiful sixteen-year old girl with mysterious powers. After trying to protect her from a man who claims to have been hired by her family to take her back by force, Yasaka ran away with her and now she stays at his grandpa's place with him. The plot thickens when he finds a sixty-year-old picture of Arashi and another girl named Kaja, and to the surprise of all Kaja suddenly appears, and just like Arashi, her appearance hasn't changed at all since then. (Wikipedia)
COMMENTS:
The obligatory romance title on the list. Supposedly, the dude who wrote and drew the manga on which this anime is based is the same dude who created School Rumble. But I've only seen one or two episodes of that one and although they were appreciably hilarious episodes, I can't really say anything much about the series itself. I think I'll use the three-episode rule on this one.
Ristorante ParadisoOFFICIAL | ANN | Wikipedia
Set in a restaurant in Rome that the heroine Nicoletta visits from the countryside. Her parents divorced when she was young, so her grandparents raised her while her mother tried to remarry. Unfortunately for Nicoletta, her mother abandons her even after remarrying. Nicoletta goes to the restaurant that is now owned by the new husband of Nicoletta's mother, and ends up apprenticing there among a kitchen staff of colorful characters. (ANN)
COMMENTS:
The promo poster kind of got me. It looks really hip. Unfortunately, there's very little information about this series apart from the fact that it seems to be an anime adaptation of a manga by Natsume Ono. Of course, I don't know her and of course, I've never heard of the manga. But, lately, I've been watching a lot of local cooking shows, not because I'm trying to be a cook myself (me and the kitchen, not a good combination) but because, for some strange reason, I am fascinated by chefs...mainly by what they talk about when they're cooking. It's sooo...educational. So proceeding from that acquired taste of mine, I think I'll give this show a try.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
