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Synopsis
Sister Princess is the story of a young man and his twelve sisters. After failing his high school entrance exams, Minakami Wataru gets accepted into a special high school that is located on Promise Island which happens to be where his twelve sisters live. Sister Princess is quite simply an anime about twelve girls that really really love their older brother and the time they spend together.

Review
I am not going to sugarcoat this one. Sister Princess is a terrible anime. The best thing about it is that it is not as bad as its sequel (see my review for Sister Princess ~Re Pure~) because it at least has a story that has some direction. Unfortunately that story is weak and uninteresting. All this anime has going for it is decent animation and music. Aside from that, there is no substance.

The majority of Sister Princess is an endless circle of conflict and resolution. Normally that would be a good thing, but the conflicts are not all that conflicting. I mean, if the main plot of an episode is ‘Uh oh, I don’t know which skirt to buy. Won’t my big brother help me?’ then there is a problem. Basically in every episode one of the girls comes up with some sort of problem and perfect Minakami Wataru solves it without being asked thus proving to all the sisters that he is deserving of their undying love.

Speaking of undying love, it doesn’t take long for that love to become a bit unsettling. In fact, every one of Minakami Wataru’s twelve sisters wants to marry him. That just can’t be right. Thankfully it never gets too romantic, but that is because by default nothing interesting ever really happens.

The Breakdown
What more can I say? Maybe ADV will have the sense to cancel the localization of Sister Princess.

Synopsis
My name is Mikuri Tomokazu. My parents passed away when I was little, and I have been living with my cousin ever since. I’m a regular, boring freshman in high school. My height is about average, and so is my weight. My grades as well as my athletic ability are disastrous. My two favorite foods are hamburgers and curry rice. Up until now, I’ve never had a girlfriend. In a few days, I’ll be turning sixteen. Tomorrow I hope something good will happen. It definitely has to…

Review
Yumeria is based on the popular bishoujo Playstation 2 RPG and dating simulation game developed by Namco. The anime is scripted by Yousuke Kuroda, who participated in Onegai Sensei. The anime first aired in January 2004. Yume means dream or vision, so Yumeria is the anime about the land of dreams, Moera, named after the anime’s sponsor. When a person’s memory is filled beyond their capacity, that person dreams and exchanges information during that state. All the useless knowledge and unnecessary experiences combine and that the shape of the world of Moera. People’s negative emotions move on to create the nightmare known as Faydoom.

The anime’s site is located at http://www.bs-i.co.jp/anime/yumeria/ where you’ll find episode summaries, screen captures, character bios, and cast listing. http://www.yumeria.com is already taken by the PS2 video game, which has tons of screen shots and wallpapers.

The Breakdown
I ranked Yumeria a tenth of a point higher than Mahoromatic because of the ending.

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
Thousands of fans have followed the adventures of the beautiful and powerful android Steel Angel Kurumi-from her awakening at the kiss of the young boy Nakahito to the climactic battle that toppled the floating fortress known as The Academy. Now find out what becomes of your favorite characters in the aftermath! Has shy Saki gone Hollywood? Can a secret admirer help Karinka forget about her crush on Nakahito? Is Kurumi capable of becoming a graceful and dignified woman?
It all wraps up with a hilarious competition between the dozens of Steel Angels who have tracked Nakahito down for a taste of his miracle kiss.

Review
Steel Angel Kurumi cannot just end with such a small amount of fan service! And even though this volume is all fan service it is still not enough for me. The adventure continues after most of everything was destroyed in the last battle. Kurumi, Saki and Karinka all return to their normal lives and in these last episodes of season one they make it a point that they are here to stay.

There is not a particular story here; it is just fan service, very enjoyable fan service I might add. No, there are no nudes, but there is comedy. Steel Angel Kurumi is such an addictive anime series. It is something you cannot get enough of. Thank god there is a season two. If the next season has the same atmosphere as the first, it will definitely be another fun filled work of art.

There is not much to review for this final volume of the first season, as there is no progress in the story. Nakahito is still with Kurumi and Saki and Karinka just spices things up. Saki gets an episode dedicated to her where she becomes an actress and Karinka receives a love letter from someone, who also asks her out on a date in the letter as he professes his love for her. The final episode is a good one. Nakahito finds himself the target of all the Steel Angels, as they receive information that if Nakahito kisses them they will become as powerful as Kurumi. How that turns out? You should find out for yourself.

The Breakdown
Time to move to season two. Whoo hoo!

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
Welcome to Mipross Island, the Promised Island, known for its impenetrable fog that is so dense that not even birds can fly freely through it. At a certain time each year marked by the appearance of fairy souls, the island unveils itself and accepts visitors from the continent. According to legend, there is an ancient site that dates back to the time elves once roamed. It is at that site where the past and the present overlap allowing you a glimpse of the future.

Review
Meet the world renown Lina Inverse, the robber killer. Even mighty dragons would run away after speaking her name. Alongside is Naga, the white serpent, Lina’s most powerful and foremost rival. They are quite the dirty pair: Lina specializing in fire and elemental spells while Naga prides herself on her ice and summoning magic. Initially coming to Mipross to vacation at its famous hot springs, they soon find themselves fighting through the 10 strongest men on the island. Girl power~! Of course it all comes back to the great legend of the island and correcting the present history.

The Breakdown
Outstanding scores in all areas. If you liked the movie, you’ll like the series. If you liked the series, you’ll like the movie.

Synopsis
The village of Biatz, famous for its nearby elven community and an important something or other. Treasure? Perhaps. It was an object that the elves warned was not to be touched. If it were, it was said that Biatz would be destroyed. It is at this time generations later that an evil-minded sorcerer seeks the power of the ancient relic. Why? With such power one can easily take over the world. Or so it was thought…

Review
Slayers Returns (kinda like Batman Returns) is the second movie setting prior to the original Slayers anime series, Next, and Try. Like its predecessor, the main heroines are the ever so glamorous Nahga the serpent and her underling Lina Inverse. The villain, hardly a worthy match as Joyrock in Slayers the Motion Picture, Lord Galef and his band of lesser demons enslaves the Biatz villagers and forces them to excavate the relic. Lina with her eye set on the treasure and secondly on beating evildoers wherever they may be makes way towards Biatz. Things get more complicated as the treasure is not all that it seems.

The Breakdown
If you have seen the series first, you’ll like the movie. If you watched the movie before ever watching the series, you’ll like the series even more. Doesn’t really matter which you see first.

Synopsis
Show Zama, an up and coming motocross racer in Japan, is warped through a ‘trans-dimensional aura highway’ one night while driving away from a bunch of motocross thugs. From there, things begin to become extremely odd. Show Zama, along with a few others (a Russian and an American) have been transported to a world known only as Byston Well. Apparently, all the people of Byston Well know of our world (Earth), which they refer to as Up World, and they have now, along with the help of an American from California, created mechs known as Aura Battlers. Unfortunately, this technology has been obtained by only one nation of Byston Well so far, the House of Drake Luft. They have started to conquer the rest of Byston Well, and now Show has been forced to pilot an Aura Battler for the wrong side…

Review
I’ve only heard great things of Aura Battler. Having been created through the excellent mind of Yoshiyuki Tomino (creator of Gundam) there were high expectations from me. All my expectations were filled and then some. Being an early 1980’s TV series, the animation is very poor, which could put some people off entirely. Once I got past that though, the story was all that mattered. Being the predecessor of such great and similar shows like Escaflowne, which borrows heavily from this, there are only great things to say about Aura Battler. The story is very inspired, with themes such as love, trust, betrayal, and whatnot. Tomino knows that all great war stories are told on the human level, and this one exemplifies those ideas ten-fold.

The Breakdown
Tomino did it again here, and you can see he’s  at the top of his game with Aura Battler Dunbine. Do not miss this chance to pick up an old classic onto DVD. This is a great release.

Synopsis
A party of three, Merrill, Genie, and Melissa can defeat anything and everything on their adventures across the world. With Merill’s powers of thievery, Genie’s warrior abilities, and Melissa’s power of prayer, they are a triad of unstoppable force. Unfortunately enough, none of them know magic, and on their latest adventure, they happen to get stuck raiding an old ruin because of a magic seal. So they go to the local town and try to hire a woman magician. Even more unfortunately, all the women in the town who are aspiring magicians are more interested in studying than going out on adventures. So they decide  to hire a maverick magician, a male known as Louie, to help them out. Little did they know the stupidity that came with him…

Review
Funny is all I can say about this show. From the director of the serious-minded fantastical series known as Record of Lodoss War, I was expecting something just as serious and epic. In the first 5 minutes I was proven entirely wrong. Rune Soldier is all about stupidity and the reactions of said stupidity. If Louie isn’t doing one dumb thing, it’s another entirely. He’s so poor at magic that instead of actually using magic he’s more intent on using his fists to pummel his enemies into submission. Dumb enough is he that he uses his wand as a baseball bat, breaking it in the process, which causes a proverbial outcry from the women of his team. This of course causes another adventure to occur in which Louie has to go find some special wood in a deadly forest to restore his magic wand which he barely knows how to use. And of course, there’s always that part with him swinging the boar. Extremely funny stuff.

The Breakdown
It’s funny, it sounds great, it’s animated well, and the stories are great episodic pieces. There’s not much to not like. But, if your like some of my friends, you may not like this by default if your one for action-only anime and do not like Japanese-centric humor. If your not like that, buy now!

Synopsis
Anata wa Takogo, sung by Ruma (Shiratori Yuri), explains it all: ‘Teach me about your love. I don’t understand tete chichi kaka popo. As you eat the octopus, you’ll lose it. Your words can’t reach me.’ It is spoken of in legend that a demon cursed the humans that ate the octopi. What’s more, the demon bestowed upon the octopi a strong guardian. To prevent its release, heroes sealed the guardian in a shrine deep beneath the ocean. Now an evil sorcerer has broken the seal and all hell breaks lose.

Review
The final Slayers release to date, Slayers Premium, movie number five for those of you counting, hit the theaters of Japan in July 2001. What makes Premium exceptional is that it features the characters from the TV series - Gouury, Zelgadis, Amelia, and Xellos. The timeline of the movie is a side quest set in between Slayers Next and Slayers Try; Gouury is still equipped with the sword of light and Lina wears Xellos’s blood talismans. Nahga, the white serpent, finally catches up with Lina but only gets a few seconds of fame in the movie. No appearances by Sylphiel, Filia, or Prince Phil though. Following the trend in all the movies is a new female lead character named Ruma, a white mage.

The Breakdown
Not the usual Lina and Nahga combination. The top characters of the TV series make their return with same humor, excitement, and fun as Slayers Next.