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Synopsis
Yume is a 15-year old girl from the contryside of Japan. The only thing unusual about this ordinary girl is her ability to use magic! This summer, Yume reached the age required by the government to begin an apprenticeship to harness her natural talents and become a licensed wizard. Yume’s first time away from home and she travels to the big city of Tokyo and finds herself living above a night club in the same apartment as her mentor, the handsome but mysterious Wizard Oyamada. Yume has so much to learn!

Review
Someday’s Dreamers is a show that is literally dream like. It is wonderful in the way it is made up. I loved the flow of everything. The voice of Yume is one of the top voices that I have heard from any seiyuu; it is most definitely a voice that I can identify if she ever worked on something else. Kikuchi Yume is a mage in training. Her mother was a certified mage, and she sends her into the city to train for her license. Being a country side girl that she is, Yume is overwhelmed with the sight of the city side of Japan. After several scenes, she finally makes it to Pachanga, a bar at night and a mage office in the morning. This show has always attracted my attention with its beautiful DVD cover arts. The title also has a good ring to it that like magic, it sticks to your head. Geneon Entertainment did a great job in bringing Someday’s Dreamers to the States. The show is just phenomenal.

So what exactly makes Someday’s Dreamers phenomenal? Well to start it off as stated above, the attractive arts. It is dream like and distinctive from others; therefore it stands out. Secondly, while the story of a girl who wants to train as a mage does not excite everyone, it will command your respect as you watch it. There are morals in this story that are deep, but at the same time comprehendible. Thirdly, the animation, sounds and characters are all top notch. Only a character with the qualities of Yume can run this show, any other character would have had a different effect. The sounds of this piece all add to the enjoyment factor of the show. This is what I would dub, a work of art, but of course, any anime is ‘a work of art,’ but to be a work of art in my terms, is something on a bit of a different plateau, if you ask me. I am a very picky person in life, not that it matters to you, or maybe it does :). And while I do watch a large amount of anime routinely, I rarely dub anything as a masterpiece or a work of art, unless it deserves it. There are only one or two titles in my mind that I know I have dubbed that title, and considering the amount of anime that I have reviewed since the beginning of Animesou.com, you know I am not joking when it comes to greatness.

In Someday’s Dreamers you are put into various situations where you ponder if you should do what your mind tells you, or what your job tells you. Yume, being the good natured girl that she is, conflicts with the two states of minds. While she knows it is her job as a mage to do whatever is requested from the people that go through the process of requesting a mage, she also wants to be able to please everyone at the same time. Her battles between herself represent what people do in actual life. When you have to select between two things, either one you select, the other one would end up being sacrificed. Hence, accepting and trusting the decisions that you make is the core value of this show. While not everything you choose will have a happy ending for people involved in the decision, as long as you are behind yourself with the decision making that is all that matters in the end.

The Breakdown
With a great cast of characters, a storyline to remember, the animation so amazing and the sounds so phenomenal, Someday’s Dreamers is a sure hit that you should recognize.

Synopsis
Popotan is about a trio of sisters, Ai, Mai and Mii, who travel through time and space in search of the reason of their existence by following clues left only by the words of the Popotan (flowers) they encounter on their journey.

Review
Popotan starts out seeming like little more than an average anime. It has a bunch of girls with mysterious powers, each of whom fulfill a role that has been seen a million times before. There is the older sister who acts like the kind mother, the middle sister who is of course the emotional teenager and the youngest sister who is cute, happy and energetic. Despite these cliches, by the end-through surprisingly deep character development that is slowly and with subtlety revealed over the twelve episodes-the story comes through in a way that is powerfully emotional and rewarding. The viewer becomes completely attached to the characters.

The Breakdown
Popotan succeeds in being an emotional and enjoyable drama.

Synopsis
Ai Yori Aoshi is a romantic story about Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student who, after having cut all ties to his family, lives a very lonely life. That’s going to change however, as a friend from his past will soon come back into his life, and completely change the way he lives. Aoi Sakuraba spent her entire life working hard to become a wife worthy of Kaoru. Even though he left his family (thus ending their betrothal) Kaoru is still the only man Aoi can think of. Ai Yori Aoshi is their story.

Review
At first Ai Yori Aoshi appears as though it is going to be something truly unique. The story development in the first few episodes is strong and very well written. An episode or two later however, it becomes apparent that those episodes were just an intro to a much more filler-based anime, and that Ai Yori Aoshi actually has a lot in common with other anime. Love Hina and Happy Lesson come to mind, because they are both examples of anime in which one male character and several female characters live under one roof. Once the rest of the cast shows up, Ai Yori Aoshi goes through all the cliche plotlines. The ‘I’ll make a boxed lunch so that he’ll fall in love with me,’ episode, the ‘Let’s all go to the beach and show off our new sexy swimsuits,’ episode, and of course the prerequisite ‘I ended up naked in a hot spring with a guy,’ episode. The list goes on.

It really isn’t anything you haven’t seen before, but regardless, it is still quite enjoyable. I attribute this to Ai Yori Aoshi’s entertaining cast. Each of the girls is given several episodes to develop their personalities, and they are all quite unique. They are also very cute in design, as is most of the artwork in this series.

Towards the end of the series the filler episodes cease and all of the conflict that was mentioned in the intro episodes returns to the spotlight for an emotional conclusion. Cliche or not, by the time it all ends you will be left with a smile and probably recommend Ai Yori Aoshi to all your friends.

The Breakdown
Ai Yori Aoshi succeeds in being a romantic journey for Aoi and Kaoru that will probably manage to bring out the sap in you. It’s great for a date and also funny enough to watch with a bunch of friends. It’s a safe buy.

Synopsis
Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ takes place two years after Aoi and Kaoru were first reunited in the original Ai Yori Aoshi. While there is no overall main story, there are several small plots that take place over the course of the series. Special attention is given to Chika, who appeared late in the original series, and to Tina, the American who can barely speak English because she is so Japanese.

Review
I hate to start a review on such a negative note, but the fact of the matter is, Ai Yori Aoshi ~Enishi~ does absolutely nothing to advance the plot of the original, nor does it answer any questions you may have had about it. It exists purely as an extra set of filler episodes for fans of the original series. In fact, the main storyline (the love story between Aoi and Kaoru) while present is hardly of any importance with the exception of one episode, and that failed to satisfy my hopes for the series.

Putting all that aside however, it is still an enjoyable series that contains many happy moments to remember. The last few episodes are the most emotional, but at a cost. There is very little comedy in these episodes, and the change of pace is somewhat out of place. Still, there is some payoff for getting to the end.

By the time its over, nothing of Ai Yori Aoshi’s story is resolved, so it looks like another sequel is inevitable. Despite my opinion that ~Enishi~ does not live up to the original, I still love the characters and hope that another sequel is in the works.

The Breakdown
6.5 looks like a low score, but it really isn’t that bad. If you enjoyed the first series then I suggest you give this one a try as well.

Synopsis
In a long forgotton walled town, humans coexist with the Haibane, angelic-like beings of unknoen origin. Rakka becomes the newest Haibane, after she awakens from a strange dream and finds herself hatching from a massive cocoon. With no memories of her previous life, Rakka struggles to adjust to her new surroundings, however burning questions remain in the back of her mind. What is Haibane and what is their purpose? What lies beyond the huge, forbidden town walls? Thus, Rakka begins her wistful journey of self-discovery and wonderment.

Review
Okay, I’ll say this right from the start. This is not an anime for someone who wants to see fights, explosions and characters superdeformating every thirty seconds and can’t be satisfied with an anime series unless something big is occurring every five minutes.

This is a very subtle series. The entire story is laid out little by little. You don’t learn everything about the characters all at once. You get to know the characters in ‘Haibane Renmei’ like we do our own co-workers and neighbors: one encounter at a time, day by day, each day a little more revealing than the last.

It is also not an anime that you can watch only once. After one viewing, I just wanted to watch it again, to catch the little things I missed. The original concept for this series was done by yoshitoshi ABe, and it shows. Haibane Renmei reminded me alot of ‘Serial Experiments: lain’ in the way that it starts out slow, but you just KNOW in the back of your head that something big will happen…and you want to keep watching to find out what it is.

Although slow moving, and very subtle, Haibane Renmei is very addicting. I can’t wait to get the second volume just to see how Rakka’s relationship with the new world she is thrust into (and the new people she has met) will develop.

The Breakdown
I really enjoyed watching this. Even if this sort of anime isn’t your cup of tea, I say give it a shot. You may just be pleasantly surprised.

Synopsis
Daisuke Aurora and Android ‘J’ are partners who work together as part of a special division ‘pre-crime’ police force. Together, they are a great team, taking down crime anywhere in the oceanic-cityscape of Judoh. But with a mob family vying for power against all others, with the head only known as ‘VAMPIRE’; and another man, with a hidden past, with the head of a werewolf, Daisuke and J have a lot to handle.

Review
I’d heard good things about Heat Guy J for a year or so now. I anticipated its release stateside, hoping it would live up to the hype. I was not let down in any way. As of late, I had been getting into many shoujo anime series, this show brought me back into the shounen fold, where I belong. This is male drama and action at its core. I enjoyed this volume a great deal, and cannot wait for the next. There’s almost nothing I did not like with this show.

The show oozes cool much like famed series Cowboy Bebop and has action to spare much like Trigun or Hellsing. It’s most definitely the sum of it’s parts with beautiful animation, excellent music, and a top-notch enjoyable detective story.

The Breakdown
It has great action. Beautiful animation. Awesome music. A great story. There’s really not much not to like in this. Buy the first volume, and give it a try.

Synopsis
Ground Defense Force Mao-chan is set in modern Japan during a time of alien invasion. The three Japanese military forces, the Ground Force, the Air Force and the Sea Force are responsible for protecting Japan from these invaders, but there is a problem. They cannot fight back with their existing forces because the aliens are… too cute. Public support for their defensive actions would plummet if the citizens saw a bunch of heavily armed soldiers attacking the cute aliens, and that’s where the main characters come into play.

What better way to attack cute aliens than with cute soldiers? Certainly seeing an eight year old girl hitting a stuffed animal with a baton is not nearly as offensive as a soldier with a pistol. Mao-chan is the granddaughter of the general of the Defense Force. The general eagerly outfits her with the latest defensive technology, and happily shows off his cute granddaughter for all the world to see. Soon, the generals of the Air Force and Sea Force also employ their granddaughters, and so the team of Japan’s defenders has been formed. Three grade-schoolers.

Review
Ground Defense Force Mao-Chan is a very cute series with a youthful sense of humor. The main characters are as cute as can be, as are the aliens they must defend against. The episodes are quite short, only twelve minutes long, and each contain one alien falling to earth in a parachuting toy capsule only to be confronted and defeated by the three girls.

The animation is very good, as it would be expected from the makers of Love Hina, and the characters are well drawn and memorable. Their voice actors are also quite talented, though I found the three main character’s voices a bit too similar, and when they were off screen, it was hard to tell which one was talking. The piano music was also quite nice, but used way too often. Especially during the rediculously long transformation sequences in which the girls basically change their outfits. After a few episodes, that particular piano piece becomes quite annoying, not to mention the tranformation sequence itself.

The Breakdown
Looking past the minor flaws, there is a lot to enjoy about Ground Defense Force Mao-Chan, especially if you are able to get past the fact that it is a kid’s show. Those looking for another Love Hina will be sorely disapointed. There is no violence, there is no ecchi content, and everything is so sugarcoated that certain audiences will not be able to take it. It was definitely designed for the kawaii at heart, and if that describes you, don’t miss out on Ground Defense Force Mao-Chan.

Synopsis
Claus’s father was a unique nobleman, coming down to the land of Norikia, longing for the free sky. Soon after Claus’s family moved next door, he became close friends with Lavi’s father. They soon formed a vanship team of pilot and navi. From age one, Claus and Lavi spent their childhood together learning from their fathers the trade of vanship flying. However, this story ends in tragedy. The last time Lavi and Claus saw of their fathers was departing through the Grand Stream delivering a treaty of peace. The document never reacted its destination, and the war between the country of Dusis and Anatore continues to this day…

Review
Directed by Chiaki Koichi (Magic Knight Rayearth), Last Exile first aired April 6, 2003 and ended with episode 26 on September 29, 2003. Do not let the title fool you. Last Exile is not tied to any religious movement and is not a banishment of any kind (unless you count the expelling of the Guild from the world of Prestale). The Exile, the final weapon, refers to an ancient migration ship hidden in the Grand Stream. It is said that it was used by the beings that created the world. Now it is the last hope the people of Prestale have to change the world.

The Breakdown
An all-star cast of characters: Claus, Lavi, Sophia, Tatiana, Alex, Moran, Al, Alistia, Dio, and the crazy crew of mechanics.

Synopsis
Continuing the adventures of Daisuke Aurora and his android partner ‘J,’ volume 2 of the series has Daisuke and J fighting off Claire Leonelli’s continued attacks on their very lives as well as the duo having to go to the mysterious ‘underground’ to retrive a lost heirloom of Daisuke’s, and finally, to solve the very tragic past of a certain guitarist.

Review
The show is getting better and better. While I was enthralled with the first volume, this one is better because of the very fact that each self-contained story is more interesting and plot driven. While the show still has no overall story connecting each episode, much like the last volume, it’s much like Cowboy Bebop in its episodic style: each story isn’t really related, but each episode is so good you just want more. The same holds true for Heat Guy J. Each episode is a wonderfully visceral style of art, animation, music, and characters to create an overall package that really meshes well. At times, the show does walk a fine line of pretension, but it never falls off and stays steady to keep itself riveting and cool.

The Breakdown
Just about everything in this show is good. I’m having problems saying anything bad about this show, and I’m very jaded. Just buy this now already and stop wasting time.

Synopsis
Little Snow Fairy Sugar is a happy anime about a group of young Season Fairies. The job of the Season Fairies is to play their instruments and create all of the world’s weather. The story centers around a human girl named Saga who for some reason can see the fairies. One of them is, you guessed it, a little snow fairy named Sugar, who ends up living with Saga.

Review
Sugar and her friends are apprentice Season Fairies, doing their best to pass the requirements to become fully fledged Season Fairies. The problem is, they don’t know exactly how to go about doing that, which is the anime’s primary conflict, and also possibly its greatest flaw. The conflict is, let’s face it, not incredibly threatening. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying all anime needs to be filled with disastrous events that shape the fate of the world, but in this anime, the conflict is almost forgotten throughout all the filler episodes. Conflict is often what drives along a story, so this problem actually led to me feeling bored as I watched. I was constantly waiting for something exciting to happen that never came. Of course, that may appeal to a certain audience, but it isn’t me, so as a whole I found the story disappointing. It was also very predictable. Foreshadowing was never subtle, and every major plot twist could be predicted literally several episodes in advance.

However, there are several episodes that in and of themselves are very good and quite emotional, containing strong themes of friendship and determination, and despite the overall poor pacing, the ending is powerful. If you’re looking for a change of pace, this anime might be perfect for you. Furthermore, the characters are very cute.

One thing that makes Little Snow Fairy Sugar unique is its use of music. The Season Fairies create their respective elements using instruments. Also, much of Saga’s character development is rooted in her mother’s piano, which she cherishes deeply. Many memorable melodies are played on these instruments, though they are repeated far too frequently. Still, it adds some creative flavor to the storyline.

The Breakdown
This anime was recommended to me by several people, mainly close friends of mine, and they all seemed to find something here that I simply could not see. Personally, if I had seen it first, I would not have recommended it to them, which makes me wonder if I did indeed miss something. There were quite a few things about the anime that I enjoyed, particularly its more emotional moments, so don’t let my review stop you from checking out the first DVD. Every anime has its die-hard fans, and for Little Snow Fairy Sugar, you just might be one of them.