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Synopsis
Some casualties of war never heal; yet for those who remain in power, the spoils can be sweet indeed. In the aftermath of the Great War, Lt. Alice Malvin is charged to take command of the Imperial Army’s Intelligence Section Three, an elite team where even the newest member hunts down tanks with a handgun. Their code name: Pumpkin Scissors. Her mission: to sharpen IS3 into a deadly instrument of justice, and to expose the corrupt power-mad nobility who prey on the weak.

But as Malvin starts to peel away the layers of a government cover-up involving a defunct super-soldier program, she discovers the existence of a military technology decades ahead of what the Army has!

Review
Destruction is a companion of war. And in Pumpkin Scissors we are tossed in a post war atmosphere where the morales of the people in this country are down. Civilians are scrapping for just enough rations to survive and feed their children, all while the nobles remain entrenched in their luxious lives. When it comes down to it, it is difficult to blame civilians whom has swayed their ways towards preying on those who are weaker than them. After all, in this post war era, it is about survival of the fittest. But with all that going on now toss in the ex-military personnel that have no war to fight, no longer have a goal to strive for, then you’ll have a mix of terrorism from both sides.

Because of this occurrence Section 3, war relief squad was created; to aid those who are experiencing difficulties couping with the aftermath of the war. And while their peers view this section’s job as an easy paycheck from the military kind of work, we are shown otherwise almost right from the beginning. Well, the hints of how this show will not be as easy going is during the opening sequence, where we are provided with a rather dark atmosphere. From that sequence alone, we can pretty much decipher what a part of the show will be about. Which is a good thing as it allows viewers to get a glimpse of how things would be as this piece plays out.

One thing I noticed watching Pumpkin Scissors is how it excited me. There were certain points in the anime where I would yell out things, such as, ‘kick his ass now!’ I believe that, that aspect of the show is what really atrracted me. Of course, the characters were also a reason why Pumpkin Scissors worked well with that theme. We have a mysterious war veteran whom has a kind personality, along with a peaceful mentality until his blue lantern attached to his belt is lit. Then we have a princess type commander who does not care about her nobility but rather will do anything for a successful mission for the Pumpkin Scissors. The combo between the both of them brings out the action and at times keeps the show at an edge forcing the viewer to constantly wonder ‘What’s next?’

The show moves consistently, and because of this, it keeps things interesting. You do not end up waiting around for something to happen as every episode moves the story forward to its end goal. I had a tremendous time watching this anime. The way the characters were interacting with each other and to their surroundings, as well as the nicely directed plot for the viewers, were definitely enticing. I was pretty much glued to my seat until I finished the whole series!

Breakdown
Pumpkin Scissors has great action, so great that it captivates the audience with enticing scenes prior to the events from happening. There is an immense build up of suspense that is broken apart piece by piece to satisfy the viewer.

Chun-Li, played by Kristin Kreuk, rising star from Smallville, who you can totally tell was faking being able to play the piano as evidenced by the close up shot of just the fingers blah blah blah…Ok, scroll down for the gist of it.

Review

It’s funny how when I go into a movie with low expectations like Transformers (I absolutely believed that was gonna fail), they come out better than previously thought. The opposite is true. When I go in with high expectations like for Ghost Rider, it performed far worse than anticipated. So when all the initial reviewers said this was going to be a terrible movie, I had my doubts walking in. But not anymore. It’s good. I enjoyed it. Finally a review that will do the movie justice.

I was bummed that the movie only showed at one theater nearby out of three and it was late at night only (sorry for ya Wauks that they canceled your showing). It cost me $11, expensive yes. That’s like the cost of a Ragnarok Online one month subscription here. There were 27 people in the theater so it wasn’t vacant. Much more than the sparse numbers reviewers paraded during opening week.

Overall

Chris Metzen promised that the World of Warcraft movie by Legendary Pictures will be everything that video games movies are not - Epic. Not that this movie was any bad. Before I forget you got to check out Street Fighter: The Later Years, a 9 part mini-series spoof. http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1774305 Episode 4 introducing Chun-Li. She should have played the role of Chun-Li in the actual movie!@ She’s part asian.

Synopsis
In a world where sorcery and science co-exist, the power of magic comes with a price: humans who do not take proper precautions are transformed into horrific demons. Those who destroy these demons and run the highest risk of all are tactical sorcerists known as ‘Strait Jackets.’ But when terrorists unleash a plague of demonic carnage, the Sorcery Management Bureau must enlist unlicensed assassin Leiot Steinberg to stop the slaughter. Even if this rogue killer and a mysterious young girl can end the outbreak, will he be able to face their own dark secrets? Monsters, murder and redemption collide in this explosive anime written by Ichiro Sakaki (Scraped Princess) and based on his popular novel.

Review
In the recent years of anime, humans mutating into monsters and wrecking havoc, while a stopper comes in and saves the day has been quite a common theme. Strait Jacket is of the same theme, but it possesses something more. Maybe it is because of its small cast of characters, or its short story. There is something about this anime that just attracts a viewer to the screen for the amount of time it runs. The whole time I was watching this show, I was anticipating something big was going to happen. And when it does happen, it comes with a bang.

We begin Strait Jacket with Nerin Simmons, an inspector of the Sorcery Management Bureau. When she gets put into the situation of hiring an unlicensed tactical sorcerist or risking more lives to a monster on the loose, she chose the better option of the two. From there, we are introduced to Leiot Steinberg and Cappeltetta. Leiot Steinberg is a well known unlicensed tactical sorcerist who gets the job done, but at the expense of destroying things in the process as he breaks the rules that a licensed tactical sorcerist will abide by. Now if we did not have a bad ass protagonist for Strait Jacket, the anime will just not work. This show is dark. A main character without a messed up past will hinder its’ development. The story revolves around the mystery and history behind the relationship that Cappel and Leiot have. It is from there that makes the story interesting. While I was watching, I wanted to learn more. But since we are dealing with an OAV, the time spent expanding on certain things are limited. We only learn a small part of how they got together and why she is with him. Although that is not a negative it would have been nice to know more. But by getting to the point, the show is focused. The viewers are not left there hanging around waiting for something exciting to occur.

Strait Jacket is filled with action. For those of you who like big guns, this is it. Every shot fired is like a blast. The destructive power behind it can level buildings and whatever gets in its way. Another aspect that is great about this OAV is that it is bloody and a bit gory at times. People die in ways that make you say, ‘Ouch.’ The animation is good; it is not something I have never seen before. Therefore there was not much of a wow factor. The character designs were a nice touch. I liked how Cappel’s eyes glow red. It just gives out a creepy feeling when that happens. The OAV did not consist of a large set of characters, which kept the story tied within a small circle and everyone in the circle somehow related to each other one way or another. The story, while albeit was short, it was satisfying. The plot flowed well, there was not any confusion. I knew what was going on throughout, which is a plus in anyone’s book.

Breakdown
Overall I enjoyed this OAV and would recommend it to those who like an action anime, without all the commitments of watching episodes after episodes of fluff just to arrive at a mediocre ending. Strait Jacket is a show that has a bit of everything. Emotions of all sorts, continuous action, guns, blood, gore, animation that satisfies the viewers, audio that puts you into the feel of the show and a story that leads to a great closing. It was definitely a nice experience that I would like to share with fans who like this kind of show.

Synopsis
Based on the bestselling comic by Aya Nakahara, Love*Com The Movie is a high-school romantic comedy centering on two students. Risa Koizumi is the tallest girl in class, and the last thing she wants is the humiliation of standing next to Atsushi Otani, the shortest guy. Fate and the whole school have other ideas, and the two find themselves casts as the unwilling stars of a bizarre romantic comedy duo. But as their friendship develops, so do Risa’s feelings toward Otani. Can she be honest with herself and get over her lovely complex?!

Review
There has always been an age old misconception in the world of relationships. Somehow out of all of the things that should determine whether individuals become couples, height, is an attribute that should matter least. But that is not the case in this love comedy, ‘Love*Com.’

If you are saying to yourself that the title sounds somewhat familiar to an anime, you are correct. Love*Com is the live adaptation of Aya Nakahara’s manga and anime series, Lovely Complex. The story revolves around Risa Koizumi and Atsushi Otani and the development of what is to be a complex love situation. Risa has always looked at Otani as a friend and nothing more. Likewise can be said of Otani as well, even though they share many things in common and their friends all believe that they would be a perfect pair, nothing more came out of it. That is until that one faithful day on Christmas.

After various circumstances Otani and Risa agreed to attend an ‘Umibozu’ concert on Christmas, prior to Otani’s ex-girlfriend’s request to attend a party with her. When Christmas came, Risa ended up going to the concert alone. As she made her trip to the concert, she was constantly being reminded of the fact that she was alone by the laughing couples around her. Upon reaching the lowest point of her day, she hears a familiar voice shouting out her name, this voice was from no one other than Otani’s. It was on that faithful day that Risa fell in love with the shorty, Otani.

The show continues on with the interactions with the two main characters and before you realize it, it comes to an end. Love*Com was funny but it felt like it was rushing. Scenes that could have had a bit more development in them were passed over, such as, the history behind Otani and his ex-girlfriend. I mean, just watching the weird mood between the two when they see each other screams drama all over. It was hinted that she left him for another guy, but why? Was there a misunderstanding? Because judging from her looks, she did not seem like that type of girl (*shrug*). I would personally want to know as it pertains to the effect it may have had on the personality of a character.

Love*Com’s goofing off scenes are pretty hilarious, such as, their homeroom teacher’s denial over his wigs and the close up break downs of a particular situation. The way that the movie made it zoom in, and took a 360 degrees angle view of a scene, and the freeze frame of how a character is saying their dialogue along with commentary was amusing. It was definitely a glowing point of the show.

The actors and actresses did a great job with their roles. And the music was excellent. Umibozu’s ‘Is This All Right’ was so ridiculous that it was good. The music video of the song made my day. While I really cannot say that Love*Com is for everyone, those who want to see the live adaptation of the manga/anime should be able to enjoy it. The viewers that are looking for more bang for the buck and time would probably want to stay away, as the movie just does not provide anything out of the extraordinary that warrants a cannot miss status.

Breakdown
Love*Com is an enjoyable movie. The comedy associated with the show definitely earned a few laughs from me here and there. It was especially entertaining when I saw how Risa became flustered over how dense Otani was. The story was straight forward and did just enough to get through. The re-watch value is not really high. Personally I would pop the DVD in just to see the Umibozu music video extra as that was just too… Wow.

Synopsis

There have been rumors as of late of monsters wreaking havoc. People’s hearts have been wavering as crime is on the rise. Earthquakes and tsunamis have disturbed the land. The world of Rune Midgard is crying out for a hero. And that hero…sure ain’t Roan that’s for sure.

Review

Not to be confused with Matantei Loki Ragnarok which is an astounding series, Ragnarok the Animation is adapted from the Korean massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) called Ragnarok Online by Myung-Jin Lee. It is not an animated version of the manga series about Chaos, Iris Irine, Fenris Fenrir, and Loki. The manga is a thousand times better and darker than the anime. Unfortunately, it was never completed. Myung-Jin Lee decided to focus all his attention on the game.

The anime aired originally back in 2004. So it is out of date with the current state of the video game. No expanded classes - Taekwons, Ninjas, Gunslingers, or Super Novices; No new towns - Rachel, Veins, Louyang, Hugel, Umbala, Lighthalzen, Nifflheim, Einbroch, Kunlun, Amatsu, or Ayothaya. They didn’t even ride the airship. No trans classes. No GMs. No homunculus. No War of Emperium (WoE). You used to be able to Dead Branch in towns but not anymore (bummer). 1st class characters could only defeat MVPs back in beta version of the game, 2001. Day/Night system was never put into place. The anime seems to be on a PVP (Player versus Player) server, meaning you can fighter other characters anytime and anywhere.

The US was among the last places for the anime to get localized. It has already been aired on Cartoon Network Brazil and was dubbed into Tagalog in the Philippines.

The official Japanese websites are:
http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/ragnarok/
http://www.ragnarokonline.jp/news/game/roanime/
The second website actually contains character in game sprites.

The official Funimation website is:
http://funimation.com/ragnarok/
which features a trailer teaser and avatars of the characters in .zip format. *WARNING* avatar file contains spoilers.

The Breakdown

For fans of the PC video game. I remember anxiously waiting every week for the next new episode. You have to watch Ragnarok the Animation at least once. Expect no second season though. There is a Maple Story anime. You can catch my super novice on the Loki server, Novice Reborn.

Synopsis
Picking up precisely where The Prophecy ends, the new Karas, Otoha, seeks vengeance against the Yakuza that murdered his buddy and almost killed him. Meanwhile the old Karas, Eko, unleashes his wrath and contempt for the final epic battle to save the city and protect the will of the people as Prophecy becomes Revelation!

Review
It has been more than a year since ‘The Prophecy’ was revealed. To be honest, I nearly have forgotten what Karas was mainly about. ‘The Revelation’ also does not help in trying to recover the viewer’s memories of the previous events that took place in the show. When I was watching the first few minutes of the show, I was sitting there trying to grasp anything I can that I faintly remember. I was even pondering if I might have skipped something, maybe another volume before ‘The Revelation.’ Of course, I could not have and within due time things began to make sense again and I was enjoying this piece more than the first.

As we begin this volume, Otoha has lost his Karas powers as Yurine is captured by Eko, and Nue is hurt from a previous battle. What this volume provides is the real background story of both Otoha and Nue. We are revealed why they are the way that they are. Otoha was a part of the Yakuza, not knowing the feeling of pain, he was the perfect killer. I believe the creators did a nice job in showing how Otoha is deep down. We are not given a super hero that is perfect and flawless. Karas is/was human, before he is Karas, he makes mistakes just like other humans and to bring that side of him into light really connects the viewers with the character. As for Nue, he was a supporter of Eko, until both his brother and him realized that with Eko’s vision, both humans and demons will be annihilated. In the lose-lose situation they both rebel with his brother ended up being captured by Eko.

Eko was the city’s Karas for years, protecting humans, why has he turned into what he has? I never understood that aspect until this volume revealed that his sudden obsession for annihilation is due to the greed of humans. Eko grew tired of protecting a city that never learned. And in order for Eko to create a new city, he has to start from zero.

Karas: The Revelation is on a whole new level from Karas: The Prophecy. I was truly astonished from beginning to the end by its lovely visuals; action sequences that push boundaries I never thought were possible and the overall experience the show delivers is just sweet. This piece manages to put you in a hole, making the viewer think to themselves, ‘How is Otoha going to get out of this one?’ and what are the creators going to do to maximize the entertaining factor of the ending? I will not say that I have never been so synced up with an anime before, but in ‘The Revelation’ the acoustics, the animation, and the flow of the show is simply overwhelming. As I was watching this anime, I could not get enough of the action. It was consistent, and was definitely a fun experience to be had.

The Breakdown
Certainly, Manga Entertainment has made us wait for the continuation of Karas, now that it is here, I have to say, I was not disappointed with the results. The show is balanced, the sounds are effective and forces you to pay attention to what is going on in the scenes. The music score is amazing as it was in the first volume. And as I have stated previously, the animation is superb, with the varying use of chase scenes and head to head battle scenes. What this volume has that the first did not have is the meat of the Karas story. If you were one of those viewers that did not really comprehend the things that were going on in ‘The Prophecy,’ you will see the light with ‘The Revelation.’ And if you knew where everything was from the start, you will definitely love how the show plays out in the end. I applaud Manga Entertainment for bringing such a great show to the States and while it took a long time, the finished product is what really matters.

Synopsis

Well, you can’t blame Najimi who is an everyday student struggling to earn a buck. She just got fired from her previous job and needs a new source of income. Her friend offers to pay Najimi to help sell doujin. Najimi soon realizes there’s a fortune to be made and sets her sights on becoming a doujin artist. And thus begins the story.

Review

Welcome to the wonderful world of doujinshi. Doujins are unofficial, self-published, amateur work that comprises of Japanese H-manga and computer games. For every popular anime and video game series in existence, there is a fan doujin spin off that explores possibilities that didn’t actually occur in the plotline. Pairings such as Ichigo x Yoruichi (Bleach bath scene) and Yaoi matchups Kaiba x Yami Yugi (Yugioh!), Naruto’s Kakashi without his mask appearing as a Bishen, and Pokemon…you don’t want to know.

Doujin Work is based off the manga by Hiroyuki. The mini-series is 12 episodes long. Each episode is 14 minutes including the opening and ending. The official anime website is http://www.doujin.tv/.

Synopsis
Paris, 1742. A coffin floats in the shimmering Seine. On the lid, a word written in blood: Psalms. Inside, the body of a beautiful woman: Lia de Beaumont. Now her brother, D’Eon, seeks the reason for her mysterious murder, and uncovers an evil that shadows both the palaces of kings and the dark alleys of Europe.

A power wielded by spell-casting poets, and manipulated by royalty. A force so powerful it brings Lia’s soul back from beyond to seize the only weapon she can possess to avenge her death: her own brother.

Review
Le Chevalier D’Eon is something fresh. It is unique in that a blend of history (other than Japanese) and fantasy rarely happens. But in this piece, the combination of French history and fantasy makes Le Chevalier D’Eon something special. Right off the bat, the show leaves the viewers intrigued as the narrator, an old D’Eon tells his story of his adventure to discover the reasons and the people behind his sister, Lia de Beaumont’s death. As a coffin floated down the river with the word ‘Psalms’ written on the cover, the corpse of Lia Beaumont laid. Oddly enough, her body was filled with mercury which prevented her body from decomposing, hence, the decision to not give her a burial. Personally, I liked the idea of seeing her corpse, rather than just a tombstone. It gives off a different kind of feeling that you do not get from the tombstone. Maybe because it feels like she will open her eyes and rise up at any moment. In any case, her corpse also plays a role in the show so I guess it was important to mention it.

Now it would not be France if the details of the surroundings were not focused on. If you have had any art history classes that covered Versailles, you would be able to tell the various famous artistic pieces that made the Palace of Versailles special. Louis XIII’s desk and the paintings on the ceilings along with the extravagant view of the garden, they were all beautiful and detailed to the touch. I mean, I even recognized the gates that led into the palace along with other buildings that existed in Versailles. Production I.G. has done it again with their superb animation. Their focus on the details of France during Louis XV’s reign is certainly evident. But if you thought Le Chevalier D’Eon was only about replication of the arts, you are wrong. This show boasts both magic and skillful swordplay. This is another aspect of the show that I find somewhat different with the other sword swinger shows out there. There is a sense of reality in Le Chevalier. I know, there is nothing real about magic, but the way the fights are conducted, are where the difference is at. I got the sense that skill was more of a factor than how much ‘pow pow’ you can put into a sword and swing it at the opponent.

So now that you know what to expect visually from Le Chevalier, let us move onto what you should expect watching this piece. Le Chevalier is mysterious. For those who have read any of Dan Brown’s works, such as, ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ this show moves somewhat in a similar way. It uses historical facts to its advantage and twists it to flow with the end goal, which is to find the cause of D’Eon’s sister’s death. Other than the secret societies, what makes this anime series most like a Dan Brown book is the constant moving pace. Its nonstop pace keeps the show interesting. From what I have seen in the two volumes that I had access to, I cannot believe how much I loved the way everything played out. Judging by the cover, I did not expect anything great, honestly. At first, I thought it was not going to work, but by the time I got a grasp as to what was happening, the show became extraordinarily addictive.

Le Chevalier D’Eon revolves around the murder of Lia de Beaumont. It then becomes a thrill ride as our main character D’Eon de Beaumont and his comrades uncover dark mysteries, battling powerful villains called Poets with the involvement of the rifts between the Royal families. These Poets are able to wield unheard of powers and have the ability to control Gargoyles (animals that have been marked, including humans). These Gargoyles have the feel of a zombie, but their difference is that the victims have a chance to return to normal, although it is not actually shown on the screen whether they regain consciousness after being manipulated by a Poet, I am basing my assumption through what I have speculated, so until I am shown otherwise, I will believe the Gargoyles do return to normal if taken cared of correctly.

It is no wonder why Tow Ubukata decided to make his creation into three formats; anime, manga and novel. Le Chevalier is astounding as an anime in itself. As a manga, we should not expect much less and as a novel with its mystery and its use of historical facts and characters along with its consistent pacing, it should be good for the readers out there. Thus far, I like this series a lot. Le Chevalier D’Eon is a beautiful picture and its tale to be told makes it even better. I am definitely looking forward to the future volumes as they are being released.

The Breakdown
With its great animation, compelling story and astonishing mix of fact and fiction, Le Chevalier D’Eon gives the viewers an entertaining visual experience along with thought provoking mysteries. The show made me want to know more about the history of its setting so that I can further immerse myself into its attractive story. It was a neat idea to include historical notes and such in the extras of the volumes so that the audience can learn without having to look far.

Synopsis
Her name is Kurau, and in a world of mercenary agents, she’s the cream of the elite; a master swordswoman, martial artist and thief so skilled that no secret or objective is beyond her grasp. The greatest secret of all, however, is the one Kurau conceals inside herself: as the freak result of a disastrous experiment with a new kind of energy, Kurau’s body has been fused with a binary alien life form called the Rynax.

Every second Kurau lives is lived twice, one alien sharing her consciousness, the other still waiting to be born… and now neither of those lives may last very long! The truth about Kurau has begun to leak out, and a worldwide manhunt has been launched. The ultimate agent is now the ultimate target.

Review
Kurau was a little girl when her mother passed away; ever since, she had been attached to her father. On her birthday, she receives the gift of accompanying her father to work. It was this day, the lives of Kurau and her father will forever change. The discovery of Rynax energy was new and it just so happens that Kurau’s father was the head of the Rynax experiment. At the testing site, a phenomenon occurs and Rynax runs wild. When things were finally stabilized, Kurau underwent a change as Rynax now flows in her. What effects would this incident bring to Kurau’s future? The answer will be slowly revealed to you within this volume.

As the show fast forwards to the future, it is shown that Kurau utilizes her powers to take on jobs as a mercenary. And the first thing that I noticed right off the bat was she was no longer with her beloved father, which is a note worthy to jot down as they were inseparable previously. Anyways, although she lives as a mercenary, Kurau’s… or Rynax’s promise to Kurau’s father to take care of Kurau’s body is absolute. She refuses to take on dangerous jobs, but then things are a bit different when it is shown on the screen.

Kurau, the show is thoughtful. It is an anime series that requires viewers to think and question. One of those questions that were brought up early on in the show was if Kurau was Kurau or was she Rynax. Did the ‘real’ Kurau wandered off somewhere when Rynax entered her body? Or did it have no effect at all? But then if there was no effect, how come Kurau acted strangely right after the phenomenon? If that does not bring up some questions, what about her slow transition back to normal in her father’s standards? I mean, in the beginning he was distant towards her then when he saw the light his treatment towards Kurau was no different than prior to the Rynax incident. Hmm… and if Kurau was Kurau then why is she in search of her other half? Rynax exists in pairs and the sign that she is looking for her pair shows that she is not all Kurau. Am I just making something out of nothing or are there more that meets the eye? I do not know, but I get excited just wondering the various possibilities of outcomes that may exist.

Alright, enough with speculation and let us get down to something I am sure everyone who has looked at our heroine has asked. Is Kurau female or male? Heh, believe me if you at first thought Kurau was a guy, you are not the first, Kurau’s looks has tricked even Ayako Kawasumi (the voice actress of Kurau) and I during our first encounters. Now that we got that out of the way, let us get back on topic. From what I have seen thus far from this series is that there will be a lot of story development. And there seems to be a good split between dialogue and action to aid in the effort. This balance has kept the show somewhat interesting until during the midpoint of the volume, by that time I felt that things were just dragging on.

The drag on did not stop until towards the end of the volume, where the plot was beginning to unravel with certain questions from the earlier parts of the show being answered. At the end of volume one, you are revealed just enough to know what was going on and spark some thoughts as to what may happen in the future. I believe it was a decent wrap up for a volume, but Kurau will need more than the occurrences in volume one if it wants to keep its viewers. It will need to do more than what it has been doing, because the show itself from a standpoint is not attractive. It does not command the attention of a show like say, Gantz or Elfen Lied, where the characters are colorful and dynamic. In Kurau, Kurau herself shows little emotion prior to meeting her sister Christmas. And even after meeting Christmas, her emotions only improved a tad bit. Do not get me wrong, I am not saying an anime should consist of only happy, energetic characters, but it does help in my opinion for the main character to be the grasp of the show. With the introduction of Christmas, I felt I was moving my attention onto her, rather than Kurau. Rather the focus shift was intended for me or not, it does not matter, but for Kurau to work, it must maintain the audiences’ interest through its story development. There must be some sort of solid gripping aspect of the show in the next volume, or else it would be difficult for viewers to keep their attention span towards this anime.

The Breakdown
Kurau has the potential as it has shown with the beginning and the end of volume one. But at the middle was an area where the show stalled and seemed to have gone nowhere. The pacing of this piece was adequate; it gave viewers enough time to soak in what was the subject at hand and what should be expected in the future. Other than that, Kurau to me so far, is an average anime at best. I liked the action, I liked the animation and I liked the story to an extent, but it lacked the interest factor. There are the shows that make you want to continue watching and then there are those that you can do without. And Kurau is a do without show from my experience of volume one. I did not get the urge to want the volume to not end; moreover, I was hoping that it would end faster.

Synopsis
The Holy Grail War Begins! Ten years ago there was a secret war fought by master mages and their servants to obtain the Holy Grail, and the result was devastating to everyone. Today, the Holy Grail War is beginning again with new masters.

One such master, Shirou, must now come to grips with the reality of the secret world of war mages and their summoned servants when he unknowingly summons his own servant, Saber, said to the most powerful servant of them all. Perhaps Shirou will be the one to prevent the destruction that had marked the first war…

Review
Based in present time Japan, in a world where an ever revolving war occurs right after the next comes seven masters and seven servants. The battle ends as only one master and his/her servant survives. The reward? The Holy Grail, which will grant any wish to the bearer. You did not think it was just any type of war right? Because this is a Holy war that we are going to go through.

The show begins with a dream of the past of our main character, Emiya Shirou. In a city engulfed in flames, as he lay there waiting for death, a man appears out of the fog and saves him. This man who will become his adopted father passed on his ideals to Shirou, which will contribute to his character and personality later on.

Awaken from his dream his kouhai, Sakura Matou prepares his meals and has an affection for him that is more than just a senpai - kouhai relationship. The world surrounding them was changing. Incidents of ‘gas leaks’ were becoming frequent. Worst of all, there were no leads as to what the cause was. Then one day as Shirou stayed in school late to help out his childhood friend, he witnesses a battle between two servants. Whether you believe it was bad luck or good luck, witnessing a servant battle means death. And Lancer, one of the servants, abiding by the rule, kills him. Of course, there would be no show if the main character dies in the first episode, this event leads and connects us to the later happenings of the show. And before you know it, the loveliest servant of all, Saber, appears on the screen.

Fate is an interesting show. It limits itself in terms of the overall size of the show. What does that mean? When you take account of all the things that occur in the show, it will always bring you back to the main theme, the Holy Grail and the fight to death between the seven masters and servants. While there are touches of separation, the plot does not sway, which is a good thing. Fate is also a show with minimal comedy. There are light moments and when those moments lasted, they were tremendously enjoyable.

The character development of Fate Stay Night mainly revolves around Shirou and Saber. While Shirou’s character mainly derives from his father’s teachings, he does have traits that are a direct result of surviving the end of the last holy war as he was close to death. His most prominent traits are his willingness to help others and his unwillingness to burden others with his problems. It becomes a perfect clash of personalities as Saber is a servant who views herself as a knight before a woman, and Shirou’s character restricts her from fighting. The thing that gets my attention is the way that the plot progresses as the relationship between the two develop. There is a constant movement in their relationship, hence, setting the pace of the show with continuous progression.

As stated above, the story follows Shirou and Saber. While that may sound simple and boring; it is actually quite interesting as Fate, is mainly an action/fantasy title, but it does a nice job in combining other genres into the show to make it dynamic. I had a lot of fun just watching the lighter parts of the show, which made me questioned, ‘What if? What if Fate Stay Night was a love comedy instead of what it is?’ Hmm, certainly I would be interested, but anyways the plot was great. I loved watching the battles and how everything built up to the final encounter with a nifty surprise. Fate is definitely unique as not everything was predictable with experience. While I knew some things were going to happen, I did not know it was going to happen this way or that way. I am sure you guys know what I am talking about.

Moving on, let us get to the animation department of Fate. One word: Crazy. The animation was absolutely stunning. The various effects were amazing and character design was just as nice. One of the battles that I fell in love with was Archer’s battle with Berserker. I felt chills throughout the fight; it was certainly one of the best sequences Fate Stay Night had to offer. Man, that battle just leaves an impression on you like no other. And by realizing that it was only the midpoint of the entire show and things were already like this… you begin to have doubts as to whether the brains behind the show could top it. Of course, they have to, or else! Hehe. Seriously, I will leave it as that, if you want to know you should check out how this title plays out.

When it comes to acoustics, Fate fails to lure me in. The theme songs were boring. It lacked luster for my flavor. It could have been better, but its not life and death so it is not that serious of an offence. The voice acting and sound effects on another note were great; it really brought out the life of the piece.

The Breakdown
Fate Stay Night is a great title. The plot evolves from the characters and its ability to attract viewers with its superb animation and voice acting makes it an amazing piece to have in your collection.