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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
All year round the sakura trees mysteriously blossom on the island of Hatsune. A couple converse and run through the pink flowers in the distance. A girl makes a wish from the side of her window. Another year of grade school has begun. A transfer student from America blissfully says hello to a friend she hasn’t seen for years to fulfill a long kept promise…

Review
Da Capo is a 26 episode series produced by studio Circus. Like Kanon and To Heart, it’s another anime based off of a PC hentai dating simulation game and released child friendly for the Playstation 2. Dictionary.com translates Da Capo in this fashion: adv. Music Abbreviation DC. From the beginning. Used as a direction to repeat a passage. In the last episode Junnichi explains: People say that you can’t reset life, like a game. But is that really true? If you stumble you can always start over, like a da capo. That’s what I would like to believe. Because that is not a start from zero.

The Breakdown
Kanon, Taiyaki. Onegai Sensei, the red box of pocky sticks. Da Capo, Miharu’s bananas!!! Or a pot of nabe. ^_^

Synopsis
What comes and goes within that innocent pair of eyes? He is Shirase Akira, a rouge, freelance computer programmer, who possesses a brilliant intellect. While he is well known as a legendary hacker, very few people understand the true side of him. What does he want, what has he gained, and what has he seen in the infinite outskirts of the internet? What has he witnessed within the virtual and real images of his code? That story will now be told.

Review
Battle Programmer Shirase, or BPS for short, first aired in October 2003 through January 2004. BPS is directed by Hayashi Hiroki, who also managed Bubblegum Crisis: Tokyo 2040, and produced by Anime International Company, which has an english site available at http://www.aicanime.com/ The official BPS website can be found at http://www.anime-int.com/works/bps/index.html

For six screen shots and a mini preview hop on over to http://www.jascii.net/newanime/jascii.php?jascii_view=108

The Breakdown
It is amazing to conceptualize a person hacking to access a satellite then overloading the power infrastructure of a 100-story building, igniting gas lines until it abruptly explodes. It took a supercomputer to do so but even a cell phone now can be the medium. Anything electronic is no longer safe.

Synopsis
After twenty years, Detective Zenigata has been taken off the Lupin case! With a new assignment and an aching heart, he seeks friendship in the one man he could never catch - Lupin the Third! When Lupin finds out about Zenigata’s new assignment to take down a weapons smuggling organization, he sees his opportunity to steal some extra income. But Lupin had better watch out; there is a new, more deadly, man on his trail now!

Review
Lupin, as a character, almost never disappoints; this movie is a perfect example of how well he can be used. It is slightly different from more famous Lupin movies (i.e. Miyazaki’s ‘The Castle of Cagliostro’) in the fact that it is slightly darker and more serious then most of his other adventures. This is not a bad thing however, it simply brings a bit more realism into the Lupin world. There is not a single off the wall call chase that involves Mini Coopers (or some such Euro car) driving up flat mountainsides. Although it is a bit odd to see Lupin like this, I enjoyed it. The storyline (taking down a gang of weapons smugglers) would have been affected for the worse if this story was made too comical. If this is a preview of where Lupin is headed in the future, I approve!

The Breakdown
It isn’t exactly like every other Lupin movie, but that makes it a perfect introduction for those who say Lupin is too ‘kid-ish’.

Synopsis
You don’t need to be crazy to watch this, but it sure helps. Beautiful Girls! Naughty Aliens! Dead Fish! When evil aliens kill Poemi Watanabe’s parents, she doesn’t get mad, she gets even… but first she moves in with the seven crazy Aasu sisters, discovers the magic power of dead fish, develops a serious crush on a local octopus, experiences the bizarre and varied wonders and joys of fighting terrorists, S&M, giant robots and becoming a super hero… all while pursuing her REAL ambition of becoming a professional voice actress! From the creators of Excel Saga, it’s the weirdest, wildest, rudest and out and out most demented anime ever made, Puni Puni Poemi!

Review
Usually I find something to like about an ADV Films title, but in the case of Puni Puni Poemy. I began to think to myself, “What the hell?” Puni Puni Poemy is a direct example of a fan service galore gone wrong. Shinichi Watanabe is a great director, but other than the funny theme song, the show is just crap. You already saw everything in Excel Saga and Puni Puni Poemy does not separate itself far from it. I know the director wanted to do something crazy, just as Excel Saga was, but comon, a woman with her breasts so large that she constantly has to hold it up with her own hands and play with them? I just do not think that is funny.

The show has a lot of ecchi in it. A little bit of S & M, a lot of boobs flying around and once in a while you get manhood joke. Boy, Alien 1 with his ball (Yeah, one ball), hanging from his area and Alien 2 with his two balls hanging from his area. That is some crazy stuff, and is more disgusting than entertaining. Please do not tell me that I have a weak stomach, because I do not. It is just that I am sick and tired of beat out old formulas. Were you ever told a joke that was funny the first time you heard it, but then after that you do not even react to it, other than a, “This joke is whack,” type reaction? That is exactly what Puni Puni Poemy is; it is nothing but a disappointment after the amount of hype it has received.

It was my habit to have my reviews stretch three paragraphs, but Puni Puni Poemy is just not worth it. It was not worth my money! I certainly am not hating on this show as I do appreciate some things that were in the show, find out below.

The Breakdown
I would have never imagine myself saying this, but after watching Puni Puni Poemy, I do not want my girlfriend to have big boobs. :) Just kidding Hunny!

Synopsis
Life is but a dream?

- or so the story goes.

But is it? As you read these, are you wake or dreaming? A silly question perhaps, but if you’re a high school student, and your classmates include Lum, a beautiful alien princess, Ataru, the lecherous and luckless lad she loves, and Mendou, the scion of the richest family on the planet, you quickly learn not to take anything, even reality, for granted.

So when the gang at Tomobiki High find themselves endlessly repeating the day before the School Festival, they may be confused, but they aren’t surprised!

Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer is writer-director Oshii Mamoru’s magnum opus, combining the insanely funny comedy that made Urusei Yatsura a huge hit in Japan with a deeply philosophical tale of time and space, reality and fantasy. Yes, life is but a dream, but who is the Beautiful Dreamer?

Review
My first experience with Urusei Yatsura was a vague one. I remembered Lum by her dressing style when I was around eight or nine years old. That was it. Now I guess it was fate that I finally found out what it was about. Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer is truly beautiful. There is a joy to watching something this well done considering when it first started. Newer anime these days have the same formula, comedies are not funny and actions do not contain much action. That is why old school anime like Urusei Yatsura is so great. It is enjoyable and hilarious. Let me tell you this too, another good old series you should look out for is Ghost Sweeper Mikami… that is if it ever gets licensed in the United States. I will take Ghost Sweeper Mikami over Excel Saga or Puni Puni Poemy any day. Okay, back to Urusei Yatsura.

The story of this movie focuses between reality and dreams. What is considered reality and what are considered dreams? What makes you so sure that your dream is not reality and your reality is not a dream? All these questions are brought up and broken down in a very fun adventure. Imagine a world with no one but yourself and your friends. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want and live happily ever after in this non-aging world. Quite cool is it not? That is until you start realizing that you are living the same day over and over again. As Onsen and Sakura start realizing what was happening in the world, Lum and friends also begin to feel that things were acting strange. There was not a soul to be seen on the streets or anywhere for a matter of fact. So the investigation begins and the fun as well.

I loved how this movie was funny throughout. With every scene there is bound for something good to happen and surprisingly it does not lose its edge. Everything is well scripted, compliments of Mamoru Oshii and of course Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Urusei Yatsura. Finding a boring moment in this movie is like trying to find your keys in an ocean… it just is not going to happen :P. That really explicates a lot about how fond I am with this title. Urusei Yatsura is truly a classic and an example of high quality entertainment at its best.

The Breakdown
I am really looking forward to seeing more of Urusei Yatsura. I definitely recommend this title with five stars, two thumbs up or whatever you like to use to judge a great anime.

Synopsis
Ever wonder what it would be like to work for an animation studio? Kuromi just landed her dream job at the famous Studio Petit, and boy is she in for a rude awakening! The boss is hospitalized moments after she arrives (he gave his life to anime), and suddenly Kuromi is the new head of the ultimate team of slackers! It’s up to her to finish “Time Journeys Episode 2,” or fans everywhere will be let down. Will Kuromi’s love of cartoons clean up this horrible mess… or make an even bigger one?

Review
As an anime fan, we all dream of working in the anime field one day. Some fans are lucky enough to live that dream, and some fans can only dream. In this animation comedy, Mikiko Oguro was an anime fanatic since she was young. Her most memorable work that sparked her interest was titled Louis Monde III. I am sure we all have an anime that left us with the same effect as Kuromi’s. Mine being Love Hina.

In Animation Runner Kuromi, we are shown a group of animators whom lack the much needed self motivation for the job. It is funny how I can relate to some of the animator’s personality. I am smooth like Tanonaka, distracted by toys like Haryu, and sound uninterested like Shihonmatsu. That does not mean I am an animator, it just means I am human. And that is where Kuromi strives. It is life like. The depiction of the whole animation process was quite accurate according to Matt Sheridan in an interview included in the special features. The director Akitaroh Daichi also stated that the characters in Kuromi are actually three to four actual people combined into one. He also announced that Kuromi 2 is also in the works, but would not over extend the title, because after all it is only interesting because Kuromi is a rookie at what she is doing.

Animation Runner Kuromi is not a laughathon type of anime. It is not funny as it looks like it would be. You would get a chuckle here and there, but not a rolling on the floor type of laughter. This OVA will appeal to fans who are interested in how anime is created. You can learn a few jargons animators use to call things, such as, cuts and in-betweens, other than that you just get an average anime. I would not say that Animation Runner Kuromi is a must have title, it actually is not a title that would most likely be rented or owned only if you are really interested in how anime gets created.

The Breakdown
I knew creating anime was a difficult and long process, but I did not imagine that animators will give a hard time to the producers. I look forward to Animation Runner Kuromi 2, hopefully it will be a tremendous upgrade over the first, not that Kuromi 1 is bad; it is just average.

Synopsis
Martian Successor Nadesico is the story of a spaceship and its somewhat unlikely crew that begins on a journey to Mars, which has been occupied by aliens. Their mission is to discover the fate of the humans that lived there before the invasion and to search for and rescue any possible survivors. Of course, that’s just basic background information. Really, Nadesico is about the crew themselves and their own personal journies and relationships. The main character, Akito, has the most to deal with and the longest to travel, dealing with a frightful past and an uncertain future.

Review
Nadesico is an anime with a lot of genres. It’s mech action, it’s drama, but more than anything else, it’s comedy. The way the characters behave and interact is very fun. Even in the most dramatic moments the comedy is there, which is a double-edged sword. You might say that the comedy cheapens the drama and spoils the serious moments. But on the other hand, the comedy is part of what draws you in towards the beginning of the series when things are more frequently light-hearted. Still, in an anime as funny as this one it is a bit shocking when things go wrong. Almost unbelievable even. A couple events occur that make you think, ‘Did that really happen?’ And then you’re left with this worry in the back of your mind that things aren’t as light-hearted as they seem. But then they are. So it’s a little confusing.

Putting all that aside, Nadesico has a lot of great characters. Akito is an interesting unlikely hero type that the rest of the cast grows attached to. Ruri is a child-prodigy with a mysterious past. Yurika is the Nadesico’s ditzy captain who constantly claims that Akito is in love with her. The list goes on to include the mech pilots and others who are all very interesting.

Then there’s Gekiganger 3, the anime within the anime that has way too much impact on the storyline. It plays an almost rediculous role, especially towards the end of the series. I’ll spare you the details though since I don’t want to spoil anything.

Beyond that is the presentation which is of high quality. Good artwork and animation is complimented by a talented voice cast and decent soundtrack.

When it’s all over, Nadesico doesn’t really follow the path expected of it, but it does manage to remain an entertaining adventure.

The Breakdown
Nadesico is a worthwhile comedy with fun characters and some interesting story elements.

Synopsis
Two worlds opposite one another, Inferia and Celestia, are slowly closing in on each other and will eventually collide in the near future. Four heroes, Rid, Farah, Keel, and Meredy, leave Inferia Castle on a quest to prevent a second war between the worlds and stop the Grand Fall by collecting the Crymels, summoning spirits. Their quest now brings them to the Island of Balcarnu, which is shrouded by many secrets…

Review
Tales of Eternia The Animation is based off of the Playstation 1 game called Tales of Destiny 2 (US). Tales of Destiny 2 is the third installment of the Tales of Phantasia series, released in March 11, 2000. The anime aired from January 1 to March 26, 2001. The game was developed by Wolf Team/Tri-Ace, the RPG subdivision of Namco. They later developed Valkyrie Profile and the Star Ocean series. The events in the anime do not take place in the video game. The Island of Balcarnu does not exist in the game. Rather it is a side quest that takes place in between obtaining Efreet and journeying to Mt. Farlos (My thanks to Cyllya at gamefaqs message boards for the information).

The Breakdown
Better than Sorcerer Hunters, but Tales of Eternia is not as groundbreaking as Slayers and Record of Lodoss War (as all the other anime review websites will tell you). It is not as funny as Rune Soldier but I enjoyed Eternia nevertheless.