Soul Eater Not!

Soul Eater is a personal favorite of mine. I've watched it several times over and each time is as entertaining as the first! It's based in a school called the DWMA (Death Weapon and Meister Academy) for human-weapons and meisters to train together to be able to defeat evil souls. It's an action packed comedy full of jokes and awesome fight scenes. The characters are inventive and the art is beautiful. But enough about Soul Eater, I'm here to tell you about Soul Eater Not!, the spin-off show.

Chuunibyou Demo Koi Ga Shitai (Movie)

Some of you might be thinking that yesterday was MCM. So why isn't there an MCM special post today? Well, it's because for the first time ever I'm attending MCM on the Sunday so when this post publishes, I'll be happily strolling through the Excel hall. However, fear not! As when I get back I will be sure to tell you all about it! For now, please enjoy this review.

I'm not a fan of reviewing sequels because it's not different to reviewing a second season and it's only interesting to people who have already watched the show. However, you may remember that two years ago (I've really been blogging for a long time) I reviewed the original anime series of Chuunibyou demo Koi da Shitai. But I think it's all right when the the sequel is in a different medium! Seeing how a series is interrupted into a movie is a completely different experience to seeing it as an anime, and I did do this before with the K-On movie! So hopefully you will enjoy this review even if you haven't the anime (which you really should watch!).

Then again, this movie is not strictly speaking a sequel. It's full title is Takanashi Rikka Kai: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!, and technically it's a retelling. So I am forced to re-state the plot of Chuunibyou.

Chuunibyou is a term used to describe the awkward face some children go through in 8th grade, in extreme cases it refers to the belief that you are actually magical and go around casting spells to fight off imagined evils. In the case of Rikka Takanashi, Chuunibyou is more than just a phase and she moves to high school still completely believing in her 'Tyrants Eye'. Yuuta Togashi on the other hand, is has left his alter ego of 'Dark Flame Master' and intends to live his life as a regular high schooler. But Rikka finds out about his secret past and won't let him keep it a secret! She forces him to join a her club with their senpai who wants to nap all the time, their seemingly perfect class rep and Rikka's 'servant' who is every bit as eccentric as her master. As Yuuta and Rikka spend more time together they slowly find more of each other's admirable qualities but things do not go smoothly as Rikka's chuunibyou causes problems with her family and the solution is never straight forward.

The Thieves

Another recommendation from my dad here. The Thieves is a 2012 Korean Movie which received a lot of press as the 'Korean Ocean's 11'. With a collection of top actors such as Kim Yoon Seok (The Chaser and Punch), Kim Hye Soo (Sandglass and Over the Rainbow) and Gianna Jun (My Love From Another Star and My Sassy Girl) it's no surprise that the action comedy is currently the second highest grossing movie in Korean film history.
Enough with the facts, onto the review! The plot of The Thieves is about a group of robbers, Popie (Lee Jung Jae), Yenicall (Gianna Jun), Chewingum (Kim Hae Sook) and Zampano (Kim Soo Hyun) from Korea who decide to follow the lead of ex-colleague Macao Park to pull off a major heist in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong the team become acquainted with another group of thieves. The distrust between the two groups causes tension. The stakes are high as the 10 thieves try to steal the 'Tear of Sun' which is worth $20 million dollars but every one has their own agendas and no one can be trusted.

Space Dandy

This series was bought to my attention by my dad and honestly, I'm surprised I didn't hear about this one before! It caused a lot of hype before airing since it comes from the creator of the well-received Cowboy Bepop. Given the international success of Cowboy Bepop, each episode of Space Dandy was aired in America a few hours before the Japanese release. This raises expectations greatly, after all only popular anime is released internationally!
The premise of the series is that the suave looking but entirely incompetent Space Dandy is an alien bounty hunter who hunts down new and rare aliens with his out-dated and often sarcastic robot QT and the lazy, free-loading alien Meow. The plot, however, is non-existent.

Nisekoi

It's been a long time but with a recommendation from my lolita I've got a new rom-com anime to share. My favorite! Ichijo was born as the heir to a yakuza family when another yakuza gang moves into the same town it's his responsibility to stop the fighting. His fathers idea is to pretend that Ichijo is dating the daughter of the other family, Kirisaki. However, Ichijo isn't interested in Kirisaki's rude and violent manner, he prefers the company of Onodera his classmate and current love interest. Also, Ichijo is looking for the girl he met 10 years ago who holds the key to unlock his pendant, it could be Onodera but while he's being forced to play boyfriend to Kirisaki he has no hope of being together with Onodera.

Taberu Dake

What is it about Japanese dramas that make the so unusual? Unlike the omnipresent rich-man-poor-girl trope of Korean dramas my experience of Japanese dramas is much more diverse. I've seen dramas about High School Host Clubs, music school students, elementary students with precognition and monster-fighting magical girls. This time around, I've found a drama about eating. No, it's not about cooking, it's about eating.

Kill La Kill

I came across this anime in a very abnormal circumstances! I read a news article about a cosplayer who drew the attention of the police at an anime event in Singapore. Apparently an older woman was offended by the cosplayers 'underboob' and an arguement ensued. After digging around a bit I became quite intrigued by the costume. So, when it came to deciding what to write about for this weeks review, the answer came about too easily!

Yowamushi Pedal

Summer 2013 bought us Free!, the swimming anime. But now we are in the Fall season, how can sports anime follow up a hit like Free!? With a cycling anime!! ...Perhaps. Yowamushi Pedal relates the story of Sakamichi Onoda, the wimpy otaku who just really wants to join his high school's anime club. However, to his great disappointment, the anime club has already shut down! However he was spotted by professional Imaizumi as he cycled home and managed to impress this serious cyclist. Then he met Naruko-another professional cyclist. After riding alongside these two great cyclists Onoda found a passion for cycling and joined the cycling club.

Turning Girls

So my dad requested a review of Inferno Cop, but I'm going to go above and beyond that and instead review Turning Girls the 2013 ONA (Original Net Animation) from Otsuka Masahiko (producer of Inferno Cop).
Just like Inferno Cop, is a collection of funny skits with a total running time of only half an hour. Neither are properly animated or have a proper plot. In Turning Girls, there's 6 episodes, each lasting about 5 minutes. They explore the lives of 4 young Japanese women each with their own... 'quirks'.

Chronicles of the Going Home Club

In Japan after school activities are a big part of high school life. All kinds of clubs are available to students and if they're not satisfied by the selection they can always form they're own club!  But for those not interested in clubs there's always the 'going home club', a phrase used to refer to those who'd rather not stay after school.

My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute

Based off a Light Novel by Tsukasa Fushimi, My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute (Oreimo for short) is about a brother and sister relationship that's bordering on incestual. Kirino is s.mart, athletic and pretty and totally overshadows her older brother, Kyosuke. As such, the two have never really got along. But Kirino does have a secret behind her model student exterior: she's actually a hardcore otaku with a preference for magical girl anime and little sister eroge (erotic games). Kyosuke finds out about his sister's 'hobby' and being the kind brother that he is decides to help Kirino sort the rift between her personal life and her love of anime. Kyosuke continues to take unreasonable measures to help out his sister and she continues to abuse him. It's just a silly comedy.

Kotoura-san

Haruka was abandoned by all her family and friends as a child because of her psychic ability and she's now given up on building relationships with people. She pushes away her classmates' insincere attempts at friendship. Until she's approached by Manabe who's honesty and laid back nature means that people can tell what he's thinking with out psychic abilities. Manabe's aloof nature attracts him to Haruka with out him really knowing why and (thanks to Haruka's psychic ability) the two quickly form a love line. Haruka is then introduced to the ESP research society where the club president has a few secrets up her sleeve. Haruka needs to overcome her past trauma if she ever wants to make friends comfortably and that's not something that can happen overnight. But it's not all serious! Haruka's a klutz and Manabe's a big pervert! Whilst the plot might sound serious the show itself is full of laughs and is not to be overlooked!

Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku

In 2005 the manga world was shaken by Yoshimizu's 4-Panel manga. When two years later said manga was bought to television it quickly became an international hit! That's right, I'm talking about Kyoto Animation's brilliantly funny: 'Lucky Star'. Ever since it found it's way to England the lovable characters and relaxed pace have made a name for themselves at conventions. So when I was informed that a Lucky Star spin-off manga is being adapted into an anime I had high-expectations; I can't say I'm happy with it though.

Mawaru Penguindrum

So my dad suggested this anime a pretty long time ago and I'm finally reviewing it! (I never ignore suggestions!) It's a show about the importance of family and penguins. It all begins when Himari Takakura passes away on her trip to the aquarium but she is resurrected by an alien spirit in the form of a penguin hat. It's unclear quite what said spirit is doing in a penguin hat in the first place and I doubt it'll ever be explained because that's how things roll in this show! Anyway, in exchange for Himari's life the penguin spirit demands that Himari's twin brothers, Kanba and Shoma, find her penguin drum. No one knows exactly what the penguin drum is but the spirit thinks that Ringo has it. Ringo is an incredibly disturbed girl who stalks Mr. Tabuki claiming it's her fate to be with him. With the aid of three penguins who are only visible to the three siblings Kanba and Shoma have to find the penguin drum to ensure theirs sisters safety.

Ace Attorney (movie)

Requested by a desperate anon is a movie based directly off the Phoenix Wright games. Whilst this isn't the first Phoenix Wright related media, it is the first live-action.The plot is based on the first game (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney) when Phoenix Wright first becomes an attorney we see that he struggles to solve a case on his own. After winning his first court case Wright's mentor, Mia Fey, is struck dead and a witness accuses her sister, Maya Fey, of committing the crime. Wright now has to defend Maya against his rival prosecutor and childhood friend Miles Edgeworth. But when Edgeworth himself becomes a suspect in a murder Wright puts his differences aside and puts all his energies into proving Edgeworth innocent even if he has to go against Manfred von Karma who hasn't lost a single case in 40 years! In a world with a 3 day court system Wright has to gather evidence quickly and with help from his new found ally Maya he has to prove the innocence of friends and put the real criminals behind bars.

Tamako Market

Dera is a royal bird from an island in the South and he's been given the mission to find a bride for his Prince. But when he bumps into Tamako, the mochi makers daughter he decides to join the many occupants of Usagiyami District. Talking birds aside, Tamako is living a normal peaceful life. Growing up is never easy yet Tamako still fills her days with fun with all the occupants of Usagiyami  District. With her two best friends, Midori and Kanna, Tamako goes to school and Baton club while at home she makes mochi with her sister Anko experimenting with new flavours for her family's mochi shop. Also, just across the road is the rival mochi shop "Rice Cakes Oh! Zee" and home of Tamako's childhood friend Mochizou. But more than childhood friends, Tamako is Mochizou s crush!  But basically every episode tells the tale of Dera causing nothing but trouble while Tamako organises all manner of events to encourage more customers.

Who Slept With Her?

Who slept with her? Sirasoni saw the student teacher doing the deed with some one and he won't rest until he finds out who! Children, advert your eyes now.

Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop attend a conservative Christian boys school where discipline is strong. But when the extremely attractive student teacher Ji Young joins it's only natural that all her pupils want to get into her pants. Ji Young is put in charge of organising a performance for the school; as such, she spends a lot of time with Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. In fact it was just after this that the Head of discipline (Sirasoni) looks into a classroom window to see a couple embracing and her a woman moaning. By the time he gets into the class, the couple are gone leaving just Ji Young's red stilettos behind. So, if Ji Young was the woman: who slept with her? Sirasoni has three suspects: Kim TaeYo, Jae Sung and Ahn MyeongSeop. Flashback a few months to when Ji Young first joined (I loved the use of flashbacks in this film) and we see why Sirasoni suspects these people and finally, what happened that night after the performance! It's such a brilliant plot, incredibly funny! It is very weird at first, but once everything's explained at the end it's just pure genius! I loved the ending SO much that I REALLY want to tell you what happens... but that would spoil it for you, so go watch! I think the plot was really well devised and so entertaining. Just.... Just watch it, yeah?

Squid Girl

Ok, so this wasn't my Christmas present. It was actually my sisters but anyway, it's February and I'm still getting through Christmas presents? Stay tuned though, the anime you've recommended will be reviewed! Time for some anime now.

Squid Girl or 'The Squid Girl: The Invader comes from the Bottom of the Sea' is a short comedy about a squid-girl hybrid who wants to conquer the earth. Strangely she never gets a real name and instead is always referred to as 'Squid Girl' she has powerful tentacles and a solid motive; she wants to rule humans because she's fed up of all the pollution and littering we cause. I assumed that the anime was going to give loads of green peace messages through out, but boy was I wrong! When she first comes to land she decides to take the nearest beach house as her mission headquarters but she accidentally breaks the wall and ends up being tricked into working there instead. I would be hard pressed to call it a slice-of-life anime because slice-of-lifes are supposed to be about everyday occurrences and personally I haven't heard of many encounters with squid girls, but it is without much development. It's extremely funny though and that's the main point. Me and my family were in hysterics at all the fishy puns like 'inkvasion', they are pulled off very well. Everything is so ridiculous to the point were you just have to laugh so I would definitely call this anime a win!
The art is really cute! They made squid girl look like a child and not intimidating in slightest, and they still got the features of a squid in there! Her silly hat that vaguely resembles the head of a squid and her blue tentacle hair, it's adorable really, but you can tell she's a squid! The humans however, all look a bit funny. I think it's the hair, it kind of defies gravity it almost makes me think of Pokemon with the ridiculous hairstyles! But yeah, it's a very simplistic art style just like most "slice-of-life" anime (they call it that on ANN so I'll just go with that). I do really like squid girl's design though!

Oh! Edo Rocket

"It's a show about fireworks & aliens!" says the large font on the back of my complete series box set. Not a combination I'd ever put together but I guess it works. Edo (Tokyo's former name) is under strict  rule by a magistrate who has banned practically anything that's fun, that includes fireworks. Which is a problem for Seikichi, firework maker. As he tries to create the best fireworks in the his life is bombarded by the sudden appearance of Sora. She comes to Seikichi to request that he builds a firework that can reach the moon. Why would she request this? Because Sora is actually an alien and wants to return home, almost reminiscent of E.T now that I think about it! Meanwhile Ginjiro is in cooperation with the 'men in black' trying to fight the mysterious 'Sky Beasts' who are killing young women by sucking out all their blood. Hard to see a connection between these to stories but what ever. It is definitely odd, and also quite hard to keep track of but I wouldn't necessarily call the plot bad. Thing is, I can never tell if they are trying to serious or humorous  there are jokes and there are serious bits but they kind of blur together so I end up not taking any of it seriously. But then, I never take aliens seriously.

Polar Bear's Cafe

This is quite possibly the most random anime I've ever watched, and I've watched PLENTY of random anime. How do I even review such a thing? It starts when Panda (the panda) is instructed by his mum to get a job. But since relaxing takes up so much time he struggles to find a job to suit him. (I understand your problem panda.) After many declines Panda gets a part-time job at the zoo. Job title: part-time panda. He has to work alongside the full-time panda being a panda. But he really liked the cafe near his house and even though he was declined a job there he still visits everyday. The cafe is run by Polar Bear (the polar bear) and serves humans and animals a like with his part-timer Sasako (almost the only human!). And from there onwards it's just like a slice-of-life anime.... just featuring talking animals! Panda, Polar Bear and Penguin (the penguin) have quirky personalities and funny stories to share. Although there is no real plot the adorable factor is off the scale! But with 39 episodes and counting, I really can't see me completing the series. Surely they'll run out of things to babble about?