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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
Like all girls her age, Hibari Hanakoganei covets the latest fashion in mechanical pets – a PataPi to call her own! But when a strange White Prince provides one, she becomes the target of an equally mysterious Black Prince who plots to steal the prized pet. It’s PataPi Densuke to the rescue, however, transforming into a powerful Diva who bears a striking resemblance to Hibari herself! With astonishing battle agility, Densuke proves to be no ordinary child’s toy! Hibari’s not the only one with a PataPi of extraordinary powers, and despite an unlikely friendship, she joins forces with others to form the Cyber Team! Together they will solve the riddle of the Black Prince – or will his flock of nefarious cohorts put an end to the dynamic divas of Akihabara?

Review
Watching Cyber Team in Akihabara is like having a bunch of wild chickens running around with their heads chopped off; in other words, it does not know which direction it is heading. Is it a shounen title, a shoujo title or a mixture? The three female lead characters make it shoujo, the little bit of ecchi humor makes it shounen. Okay… maybe it is a mixture, but I seriously believe that if it was only one single category it would have been better, as the show is not entertaining. It lacks focus in various areas, such as, the story and the characters.

The show gets repetitive, which makes it distasteful. The way these girls transform their PataPi’s become so annoying over time. Especially Hibari, who just screams out “Noooooooo!!!” The worst part of Cyber Team in Akihabara is that it is listed as a comedy, but I did not find myself to even chuckle to the comedic segments of the show. Let us move onto the story. What is it? All I attained from watching it was there was this girl who dreamed of a prince and the prince gives her a PataPi and then things start to happen. Comon, give us something much more than that in five episodes. At least go into who that prince is or what is the purpose of the evil organization. I feel that I was being hung out dry on a clothesline and after episode three, continuing watching was just an obligation. It was not a fun experience at all.

On the back of the DVD cover states, “This isn’t child’s play!” But seriously, Cyber Team in Akihabara will only appeal to children. Every aspect of this show seems to be aimed towards children. Maybe this series will become better later on, but as of this instance, volume one, it is just not worth your time and money. Go move onto other better ADV Films titles, since they have a large selection of products anyways.

The Breakdown
If you want to see a series with an average story and three twelve year old girls, whom all battle evil with their fighting capable gadgets. Then this is the title for you, if not, stay away.

Synopsis
Thirteen years have passed since the One Year War of 0079 in the original Mobile Suit Gundam series (making it 0093). A lot has come to pass since then for the Earth Federation and the colonies, and now Char Aznable (with his Sazabi) has come back yet again, this time with a Neo Zeon Army backing him up. His plan is to drop colonies and asteroids on Earth until it creates a nuclear winter and every human will be forced into space and evolve into Newtypes. There to stop him are Amuro Ray (his arch-rival) and his army unit, the Londo Bell. Amuro has a new, all-powerful Gundam on his hands (the Nu Gundam) to stop Char and save the earth from a nuclear winter.

Review
Man oh man. A Gundam fan’s wet dream. Char’s Counterattack came out in 1988 to finally finish the Zeon/Federation and Amuro/Char rivalries once and for all. Everything comes to a head in this film, with people dying left and right and political betrayals up and down the ranks. Despite being the end film after the release of three major Gundam series (Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, and Gundam ZZ), the only returning characters are from Mobile Suit Gundam, which has already been released in the States. So my recommendation is you make sure to definily watch that, and then you can watch this with relatively free hassle.

Being the end of an era, there’s a massive amount of action scenes, a lot of people dying, and a lot of philosophizing. If your a Gundam fan, you’ll love this. If you’re not, then you won’t like this. It basically comes down to that, since Counterattack is a Gundam show through and through. There’s lots of awesome Gundams in this one, a lot of Newtypes, and a lot of useless technical jargon. The music isn’t anything special, but the animation for a film from 1988 is wonderful. The mobile suit action sequences are done with a style and veritas I rarely see with giant robot anime, and I can see myself watching these again for fun many times over.

The Breakdown
As I keep saying, only the Gundam faithful should watch this, since otherwise you won’t really understand what’s going on. If you are a Gundam fan, this is exactly what you’re looking for. Tomino couldn’t have resolved everything any better.

Synopsis
Spike and Jet are two down-on-their luck bounty hunters (called cowboys) always looking for the next big score. Spike is brash, young, and tough. He practices Bruce Lee’s martial arts style, Jeet Kune Do, and treasures his little space fighter, the Swordfish II. Jet is the wiser, older of the two, knowing when to make a move and when to hold the cards. They move from plant to planet in their spaceship, the Bebop, and go from one bounty to the next, never staying in one place too long. Rarely ever making money or getting food, Cowboy Bebop is a set of tales  in the life of these two as they go about space, encountering the pasts they left behind along the way. Of course, during the course of their adventures, they obtain three new crewmates: a sultry woman that goes by the name Faye Valentine, a dog with a high IQ that goes by Ein, and a computer hacking wizard named Ed. Along with Spike and Jet, they travel the stars.

Review
I was browsing our reviews section for any big omission from our reviews archive, and as of this writing, no one had completely reviewed Cowboy Bebop. The first three volumes had been reviewed by three different people, but that was not a good enough indication of just how great this show is. Taking it upon myself to rectify such a huge problem, I am now here to review my favorite anime series, right next to Neon Genesis Evangelion and Trigun.

I won’t be one of those guys who likes to say that the first anime they got into is also their favorite one. ‘I got into anime through Bebop…and it still rocks!’ I’d seen plenty of anime before Bebop came around, and I wasn’t there to see it when it first came out in America either. I just happened to be flipping through the channels when I came upon Adult Swim and noticed they were airing the five ’story’ episodes of Cowboy Bebop. I tuned in right from the beginning to see what it was about, and didn’t stop till I saw the whole thing. What I saw was unlike any anime (or anything, for that matter) that I’d seen before. I hold very fond memories of that night and seeing this show.

The first thing to jump out to most people about Bebop is the absolutely-frickin’-tastic music. Yoko Kanno (also responsible for such great music in Escaflowne, Macross Plus, and Ghost in the Shell) created a mix of blues and jazz that resonates with the material like nothing else could have. The show fits the music more than the other way around for me. Another thing that pops right out about the show is its still wonderful animation, despite coming from 1998. Most shows from that time did not look this good, and a bunch still don’t. It’s a testament to Bebop’s wonderful production values.

Bebop is made up of a bunch of vignettes strung together by the main five characters. These guys go from one episode to the next, with rarely any connection from one to the other. Each episode delves into different themes and ideas, from the nature of man and God to blaxploitation. I love the episodic nature of this series, and despite that, you get a wonderful understanding of each character through their experiences, even though you don’t get much character background. There are episodes devoted to each character’s pasts, but they come few and far between. But I’ll bet you anything you’ll be hard pressed to not feel even a slight hint of sadness during the final episodes’s closing moments. Bebop is amazing.

The Breakdown
After all is said and done, is Cowboy Bebop really one of the best animes ever? Simply put: YES. I haven’t seen anything better, and only a couple of shows are equal in quality and enjoyability as to that of Bebop. I know there are Bebop-haters out there. To them, I say: you’re missing out. Bebop is overhyped, I agree. But take the hype away and you get one of the best animes of the last two decades.

Synopsis
Being a teenager is rough enough, but young Daisuke’s got more troubles than any ten normal guys. Due to a strange quirk of genetics, Daisuke’s been cursed with an ancient family affliction that’s sure to put some major kinks in his relationship with the opposite sex. You see, whenever he becomes… enamored… with the object of his desires, Daisuke finds himself transformed into the legendary thief Phantom Dark! Unfortunately, the only way to return to his true form is for his true love to love Daisuke for himself; but when she’s only got eyes for Dark, how can Daisuke compete with himself? Stealing the heart of one’s true love has never been as complicated… or intriguing… as in The Dawn of Dark, the first scintillating volume of DNAngel!

Review
Approximately five months upon viewing D.N. Angel volume one, “The Dawn of Dark,” I was recommended by a friend to read the manga. He said that one of his friends was crazy about it. My reaction at first? “Yeah right.” But after viewing this first volume, I completely understand why his friend was crazy about this series. It is very smooth. Everything just works out so nicely. Nowhere would you be like… uh… I got to check that out again to understand it.

The story is wrapped around a boy who was born into a family where all the males inherit the “Dark” gene. That is, the gene that will transform the person to Dark, the phantom thief. This sounds like a bad thing initially, as we all associate things that are dark to be evil. In this case, it is actually an opposite. Dark steals the artwork to seal off its evil powers. Krad, the angel looking dude, on the other hand seems to be the bad guy who tries to stop Dark anyway he can. So there you have it, a part of the story that is. The other part of the story is quite astonishing, hence be sure check that out yourself!

This series has a lot to offer. I especially like the “no fluff” approach. Where there are hardly any useless scenes displayed. The animation is impressive. There is not an overly excessive use of CGs. Overall, D.N. Angel is a pretty complete package. It gives you everything you should expect from a top notch anime title, from comedy to action, action to story, and story to character development. This nifty title also contains great sounds that will surely grasp your undivided attention! In addition an extra bonus is that this volume alone contains four amazing episodes, what better deal can you ask for really for $29.98? A collector’s box edition is also available, look around for the best deal you can. I saw a good deal at DVDPlanet for only $27.97.

The Breakdown
If you want a title with a great story, nice characters, amazing animation and adequate comedy, then this baby is for you. Go get it now!

Synopsis
Kenshiro, the grandmaster of the Fist of the North Star, returns in the first of four new adventures! As he travels a ruined world almost devoid of life, he finds yet another army of heartless rogues slaughtering the innocent, all under the employ of Sanga, the merciless lord of the city of Last Land. As our hero launches his own, personal war against the Cursed City, he will face overwhelming odds with only two weapons at his command. An absolute determination to seek justice, and the Fist of the North Star!

Review
The fist is back and it is badder than ever. I can remember the old memories. Boy were they sweet; guys with their heads exploding after punches and kicks by Kenshiro. This new Fist of the North Star does not lack any of the original formula, which makes it so damn cool. And now with the juiced up animation, it takes the violence to a whole new level! Brains, blood, and guts, all are included in this crazy title.

In this first volume, or first episode, a tyrant by the name of Sanga sought out to rule over anything that was within his reach. As if Last Land was not enough, he ordered troops to annihilate the Village of Freedom. This village was a village that opposed his rule. It was not just a plain case of razing. The main focus was the “woman of miracles,” Sara, who like Kenshiro uses vital points in her skills. Her ability to cure the sick was just something Sanga can not pass up. With her god like healing art, Sanga sets out to keep the civilians under completely control with his “god as arrived” lies.

What does our hero do? Exactly what he has been doing from the very beginning; blow up heads. I think I need a psychiatrist after viewing this show. I was laughing while brains were splattering all over the place. It gets quite interesting with the ways Kenshiro beats his enemies; a jaw breaker here and a point of a finger there. It is just great to see this style once again from Fist of the North Star and not a parody of a wacky series. What a classic.

The Breakdown
New Fist of the North Star is something you got to see. It screams “cool” all over. Also on another note, volume two review of New Fist of the North Star will be up soon, look forward to that.

Synopsis
Prostitute robot dolls roam empty streets for men, but humanity has wiped itself out. Malice@Doll is one wuch prostitutte. After suffering ravishment by a grotesque tentacled creature, she is mysteriously transformed into a human being. Overcoe with joy, she seeks to transfer this gift through a loving kiss.

But with every gift there comes a curse…

Review
Should Malice@Doll be considered a hentai even if there is hardly any pornography in it? The total time of the accumulated sex scenes are approximately fifteen to twenty seconds. I mean, the entire eighty minutes show, only has twenty seconds of sex scenes? Not to mention, there is nothing shown while the scenes are being displayed. Is this a hentai? Or is it not? I have seen more naked boobs in other ecchi anime that has been given a rating of 13+ than Malice@Doll; a 17+ ‘hentai’ 3D CGI animation.

The production was cheap for Malice@Doll, even an extra feature in the DVD revealed that the sole reason the show is about dolls is because it will be cheaper for them to create emotionless faces rather than lively faces. This show is more focused on plot. It creates an atmosphere of ‘what if one person all of a sudden is different from the rest and that specific person wants everyone to be like her.’ It becomes a disaster.

Malice@Doll has a good story, but it would have been even better if it was not so dead. Even though Malice turns all the other robots to organic beings (disgusting organic beings at that) the show is still dull. I guess, the price you pay is the quality you are going to get. And certainly Malice@Doll is a very good example of that old saying.

The Breakdown
Malice@Doll just might be telling the future. I do not mean the end of the human race, but rather robotic prostitutes. Just imagine that in 2050 hehe.

Synopsis
Yugioh! Duel Monsters is the story of a boy named Yugi, who was destined to solve the mystery behind the millennium puzzle. Within this ancient artifact is the soul of a Pharaoh, whose name has been forgotten in history. The days of Battle City are gone, but the presence of the Egyptian god cards can still be felt. Old rivals, Yugi and Kaiba, even Pegasus, must once again face one other putting the title of the King of Game at stake. However, is someone else simply manipulating them? Anubis, the evil god of the dead, who was once defeated in battle by the Pharaoh, now yearns to take Yugi’s life…

Review
Not to be mistaken for the 30 minute first season’s Red Eyes Black Dragon Movie, Yugioh the Movie is a cooperative project by 4Kids USA and Japan developed specifically for western audiences. It is its own complete story arc between the events of Battle City and the upcoming Doma arc. It is stated that Anubis is the scariest villain ever seen because he is not human (Pecoriello). However, Anubis is a pushover. His dueling skills are sub-par in comparison to Marik and Bakura. If you want scary, try taking on an immortal like Dartz who is more wicked than Yami Marik.

The movie’s website can be found at http://yugioh.warnerbros.com. There you can find wallpapers, music, character and story information.

Please note that this review is not done by Ebert & Roper but by me hinatasou. I am age 20, nowhere near the targeted age for the audience. More importantly, I have watched all of the Japanese episodes beforehand and carry a bias towards the English dub.

The Breakdown
Take home message…umm…Remember, it’s OSIRIS not slifer the sky dragon.

Synopsis
A touching tale that illustrates the subtle and confused teenage emotions experienced by 11-year-old Hiromi, and her unique friendship with Junkers, a talking dog. As their relationship develops, Hiromi struggles with a longing for adulthood as she is faced with the challenges of her parents’ unexpected divorce. Will Hiromi be able to restore happiness in her life?

Review
Junkers Come Here has deceived me. When I first heard of this title I quickly came to a conclusion that this was another kiddy anime. I could not be more wrong. Junkers Come Here is a very well done anime. It is one of a handful of anime that proves to the world that it is not necessary to have the 3D CG scenes or female characters with big breasts in order to be good. I loved the way how the story flowed as the characters were growing with it on the same pace. By doing that, everything is in sync, and confusion would be kept to a minimum or none at all.

Hiromi, like every immature eleven year old, wanted what was good for herself and did not think of what would happen to others by her actions. When Junkers reveals his secret to Hiromi, at first she did not believe it, but when she subconsciously wished for “something” to happen, Junkers granted it. All of a sudden the story is about what this little girl can do to try and heal everything; her parent’s relationship being the top priority. This movie is touching. It taps into the viewers’ hearts and delivers a warmth that is unrivaled by any other movie that I have seen that is set in the present time period.

Junkers Come Here, make sure this title is on your buy list. You will be entertained by this work of art. This is a rare classic, and I sure hope that more anime of this caliber is created. No need for the violence, no need for the ecchi humor. Just a need for a deep, well thought out story that can somehow relate to the viewers. Junkers Come Here, wow.

The Breakdown
Junkers is so cool!

Synopsis
2225 AD an act of sabotage has sent a space station plummeting towards a dense plasma phenomena known as the Sea of Geduld. With only hours to spare before the collapse of the entire station, The group of teens and young children, all that were training on-board the ship, will seek safety aboard the Ryvius, an interstellar spacecraft hidden deep inside the station. With the adult crew and instructors killed, these young astronauts must rely on their training, courage, and most importantly… each other. Prepare for the journey home.

Review
Annoying characters, Bad relationships and Complicated human emotions all make up Infinite Ryvius. This is the ABC of what not to do in an anime. From the beginning to the end, all you have are questions. Every action taken is a question. All the senseless shouting and back stabbing are questions and all the crap Kouji Aiba takes from people are questions. What the hell? I am watching an anime and trying to have a good time doing it. Why am I faced with such annoying circumstances? By the time the series have drifted mid way I am already angry with the show itself. It became an obligation for me to ride this pony through.

A person who is neck to neck with his brother and shows no reason as to what generates his anger should shoot himself in the face. Really. I am sick of seeing Yuuki Aiba arguing with his brother or fighting with his brother just because of something so small. Something such as a position change, Kouji from sitting in the cockpit of the Ryvius to the cockpit of the Vital Guarder.

With all the negatives, the only positive I found while watching Infinite Ryvius is the portrayal of the true nature of humans. It is very accurate. People bully one another to get a certain thing. Corruption, fear, uncertainty, jealousy, love, happiness, sadness and selfishness are all in this show. There are more, but that is all I can list from the top of my head. This part of the show is realistic, therefore it contributes even more to why I dislike this show. Was it meant for the viewer to feel hatred? If so, was my hatred from the show a positive thing for the creators? You see, those are the questions I am talking about; non-stop flowing of questions with multiple to no answers at all. Argh! I need rest, I am going crazy. Ja ne.

The Breakdown
Okay, okay, maybe I am being too harsh on this title. There are some interesting points. I mean it did made me continue watching it… oh wait that was because I had to in order to do this review. :P