Voids, Vampires, Gore...and Muscles? - Live, Love Anime: Part VII

Guilty Crown (2011)
Video: Guilty Crown Original Opening

Set in a futuristic Japan, the country is finally recovering from the outbreak of a deadly virus known as 'Lost Christmas', that nearly a decade ago instantaneously infected and killed thousands. In order to save the country, an organization known as 'The Antibodies', established by the UK Government, was founded and sent into Japan to purge those carrying the virus and see that such an outbreak would never happen again. Provided with safety at the cost of freedom, life in Japan has returned to normal though many still live in constant fear of 'The Antibodies' and the various groups that threaten Japans safety. When student Shu Oma one day gets caught up in a plot run by infamous terrorist group, 'Funeral Parlor', his quiet existence comes to a halt when he is granted a strange power known as 'The Power of the King'. With this new found power Shu now has the chance to change the world and save those he loves, but the cost for safety and security is high and it may be too high for Shu to bear.

Why I began this series: Guilty Crown was yet another series I'd been meaning to see. I had long ago created an 'Anime to See' list and Guilty Crown was at the top - so we began.

What I liked about the series: I loved the first half of this series. The characters were interesting, the plot was unique and the animation/visual effects were astounding. I took an early liking to Guy, the leader of Funeral Parlor, and the main protagonist Shu Oma due to their simple yet complex motives. As the series continued Guy and Shu evolved in ways I didn't think possible, though the series and both these characters fell off a cliff at the halfway point. The original concepts of Guilty Crown were also incredible. It was like nothing I had ever seen before in anime and each exciting, fast paced episode made it an easy watch for the first half of the series. But perhaps the greatest thing about Guilty Crown was its animation and visual effects. Only made a few years ago, Guilty Crown had some incredibly stunning scenes, that provided moments of true, visual beauty. The visual effects added greatly to the series dark tones while making it a visual spectacle that only made me want to continue to the next episode. 

What I didn't like about the series: Regrettably, Guilty Crown suffered from some major setbacks beginning with its script. If there is one thing the series is constantly and consistently criticized for it's for the writing, and I ultimately have to agree that the script made many aspects of the series suffer tremendously. Characters especially, including personal favorites Guy and Shu, suffer from bad character writing and development with a script that at times seems thrown together and uneven. All the characters seem stuck because of this, but the one who suffers most is the series female lead, Minori. Because of her limited script and character interactions Minori throughout the series feels more like an afterthought, instead of being the main female protagonist. If Minori wasn't the holder of what is most arguably the more powerful Void in the entire series, she does not add much to the series and her overall relevance would be in question. I was anxiously and impatiently awaiting for the episode where Minori would either break out of her "plastic doll" mold or surprise me, but that sadly never happened. But having the characters struggle due to the writing was not the only issue, as the series plot also became disjointed and confusing in the second half of the series. Let's just say that the second half of the series was so bad that it brought my overall opinion of Guilty Crown down drastically, and it went from a series I would do anything to own on DVD, to a series I could definitely do without owning. The entire series as a whole was almost an exact replica of another favorite anime of mine, Code Geass, though Geass is far superior than Guilty Crown.

Guilty Crown started out a a wonder, but unfortunately ended up low on my recommendation list. While I may not have enjoyed the series more than I originally anticipated, Guilty Crown is still a series worth the watch if you're looking for a more modern, high action anime.

*For another perspective on Guilty Crown, here is a review of the series done by another anime buff known as Glass Reflection whom I follow on YouTube. This review holds all of my opinions on the series and is a review I would highly recommend watching.*

Vampire Knight (2008)
Video: Vampire Knight Original Opening

Cross Academy: A higher institute of learning that houses two class of students, The Day Class and The Night Class. Taught and separated at all times, it is the job of Disciplinary Committee Members Yuuki and Zero to see that The Day Class students are kept apart from The Night Class and that no other rules pertaining to the two classes at the academy are broken. But Yuuki and Zeros job is much more demanding than it seems, and is not only done to maintain order, but also safety. The night can be dangerous, but perhaps even more dangerous are the students of The Night Class themselves, those that are kept in the darkness: vampires.

Why I began this series: I had started Vampire Knight some time ago and stopped after episode two, as at the time I was not huge into anime. After many of Kissanime's videos were deleted, I took to Netflix to fill my anime fix and I once again came across Vampire Knight, so I decided to start all over.

What I liked about the series: What I loved about Vampire Knight was purely its supporting cast. The Night Class of Vampires were the only thing that helped me get through this original season, as these characters were not only interesting, but also funny and great foils to the series leads. I specifically took a liking to Aido, as he was the comic relief of the series and the vampire who seemed to be most "human" like.

What I didn't like about the series: Unfortunately, there was much about Vampire Knight that I did not enjoy. The plot was uneven, often leaving huge plot holes that were ultimately unexplained and left me confused. The biggest offender of this was the concept of each vampire having a specific set of powers used to fight other vampires and this idea was stressed highly in the first few episodes but sadly neglected in the end. I still do not know who has what power and why they were even talked about to begin with only to fall by the wayside. To go along with this, by the end of the season I was unaware of what had been accomplished in the series and wondered how they could pull off a second season. But my biggest issue with Vampire Knight was its male lead: Kaname Kuran. Though nice to look at, Kaname did nothing for me and after watching a few episodes I soon realized that Kaname was similar to another anime character that I'm still not particularly fond of, Ken Kaneki from Tokyo Ghoul. My main issue with Kaname is the fact that he and his personality is incredibly dry, and additionally he is very controlling when it comes to the series female lead, Yuuki. It's understandable why he is so protective, but it came across as annoying and somewhat creepy. Perhaps it was the anime itself that painted Kaname in this light, but he overall is definitely not one of my favorite characters.

While I wouldn't highly recommend Vampire Knight to many anime fans or be the biggest fan myself, it's sequel series, however, is a completely different story.

Vampire Knight: Guilty (2008)
Video: Vampire Knight - Guilty Original Opening

I decided to review Vampire Knight: Guilty separate from the original season due to one thing: the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed Vampire Knight: Guilty so much more. Season two took many of my original feelings and thoughts on the series and changed them drastically. Characters I originally hated, with the exception of one, I grew to like, and some of the questions left unanswered from season one were answered. Furthermore, the twists of the sequel caught me completely off guard and were a drastic improvement from the original seasons plot. I find it amazing that the seasons themselves are related, as in my opinion, season two far outdoes the first.

Vampires: creatures that lurk in the dark, feast on human blood and are hunted down and exterminated by the Vampire Hunters Society. Though Cross Academy houses both day and night students, it has thus far succeeded in bringing the two races together and proving that vampires and humans can peacefully coexist. But that peace is not to last. As Yuuki continues to struggle with her feelings for Kaname and the vampires, Zero faces struggles of his own which both connect and tear him apart from joining the Vampire Hunter Society. Through it all Kaname has sworn to protect Yuuki and do whatever it takes to see that she is happy, though she is merely a human living in a vampires world.

What I liked about the series: Vampire Knight: Guilty had many strengths, with its two greatest being the development of its characters and its use of plot line twists. Vampire Knight: Guilty solidified for me that the real stars of the full series were the students of the Night Class and I grew to greatly like and root for them far more than either Yuuki or Kaname. Perhaps this was because each character was given specific, individual attention that helped them to evolve both themselves and with other characters. Once again, Aido became my favorite character, followed by Zero and many of the other vampires residing at the academy. But characters cannot grow or change unless a significant change or events occurs, and Vampire Knight: Guilty thrived with this. Without giving away too many spoilers, almost all of its twists took me completely by surprise and helped me to finally pick a side over who should win Yuuki's love and affection. The series additionally had me on the edge of my seat many times or in disbelief, something the original season was not able to accomplish whatsoever.

What I didn't like about the series: Like the original season, my continuous issue is with its main leads, Kaname Kuran and this time, Yuuki Cross. Kaname, once again, was incredibly off putting and unlike the first season made me quite angry at times. I felt that many of his actions were uncalled for, and though Yuuki appears to be a weak person she is her own person and Kaname's drive to protect her comes off as clingy and childish. But this fault is not entirely Kaname's, it's Yuuki's as well. While Yuuki is involved in less action throughout the series, she does not add anything either and instead appears to just be there so Kaname can have a love interest that is out of his reach. Even when Yuuki's behavior changes later in the series, everything she does is does for the sake and gain of Kaname. Yuuki reminds me of a Disney Princess who gives up everything for the sake of a boy, and though Disney is in no way in the same league as anime, she is not a strong female lead.

Despite its leads, Vampire Knight: Guilty was an excellent series. Filled with drama and romance, Vampire Knight: Guilty is a series that I would definitely recommend watching.

Elfen Lied (2005)
Video: Elfen Lied Original Opening

Scientists have secretly been raising and studying a new form of human mutant known as a Diclonious. Born with special powers known as vectors and characterized by a pair of horns growing from their head, each Diclonious is kept under strict watch so as not to escape. But when a Diclonious named Lucy escapes the lab by using her vectors and slaughters everyone in her path, Japan's top laboratories and scientists must do all they can to apprehend her before she kills more and completely destroys mankind.

Why I began this series: I was not even considering watching Elfen Lied, until my friend had me over a week or so ago and I sat through a few episodes while he did his homework. Since the series was so short, I started it over and went completely through, and I'm still not sure how to feel about it all.

What I liked about the series: To be honest, Elfen Lied is the first series I've seen that I have just not enjoyed. I'm glad to have seen it, but most likely I will never watch it again.

What I didn't like about the series: This series had many disconnects and even a few turnoffs for me, which I haven't really experienced in anime thus far. My main issues with the series, funny enough, are in fact the things that Elfen Lied is known for: gore and nudity. I was surprised I wanted to continue watching after the first episode, as for the first ten minutes I could not believe what I was seeing. Past the opening "excitement", the violent aspects of the series became bothersome as it was only used to portray the Diclonious in a certain light and be shocking just for the purpose of being shocking. Likewise, the nudity found throughout the series was extreme and mostly uncalled for. Much of the scenes involving the nudity could have been done without it and it only appeared to be used to further shock viewers. But Elfen Lied has more problems than just these two, mainly its pacing, plot and character development. This series pacing was honestly some of the worst I've ever encountered and had I other things to do at the time of watching it, I could have done anything and still known the bare minimum of what was going on. As the episodes continued they dragged slower and slower, and I only wanted to finish the series to say that I'd seen it. Equally as bad however were the characters and overall plot of the series. All the characters felt manufactured and unapproachable, setting themselves up for little to no character development or personal gain throughout the stories plot. Elfen Lied is the first anime series to not have me pick favorites, as there was no character that stood out or remarkable in any way. Part of this problem may have to do with the writing of the series and the English Dub itself, but the characters all around suffered from beginning to end due to these elements. Surprisingly enough, the character I was most attracted to in the series was the most minor and ultimately insignificant character of the cast, Chief Kurama's Diclonious daughter, Mariko. Only used to enhance a specific plot point in the series, Mariko was the most interesting and complex character of the bunch purely because she didn't want to kill people with her vectors all the time. Mariko seemed to be the most human though she is in reality the most powerful Diclonious of all, and her emotional situation and constant torment made her stand out in the short screen time she has. Mariko, however, could not save everything - and Elfen Lied's plot was far from saving. The plot jumped around and created new twists for the sake of creating twists, which ultimately made the plot more hard and confusing to follow. With a plot that makes little sense, characters that are boring and bland, unending violence, immense nudity and an overall series that had me question "why" every five minutes, Elfen Lied had many, many struggles that it was ultimately not able to overcome.  

Elfen Lied, it's not gonna work out. It's not you....OK, it's totally you.

Free! (2011)
Video: Free! Original Opening & Ending

Free - it is one of the most simple, yet complicated words. For Haru, Free takes a meaning of its own that's reflected in his one true passion: swimming. Since joining a Swim Club in Elementary School with fellow classmates Makoto, Rin and Nagisa, Haru has always felt the need to be in water. Now in hight school, Haru still tries to fill this need though he seems to have given up on swimming, despite being reunited with his childhood friends. When Nagisa one day convinces Haru they should start a Swim Club, Haru is reluctant but agrees to participate as it is yet another opportunity to be in the water. But as the Swim Club forms, what painful secrets will emerge from the depths and threaten to destroy both the club and Haru's friendships?  

Why I began this series: I had read many good things about Free! and spontaneously decided to watch it all in one day - and I'm so glad I did.

What I liked about the series: Not to start this review with a pun, but Free! was such an absolutely refreshing anime series. While only available with English subtitles, Free! went above and beyond my expectations and was so good that later that evening I began watching its second season, Free: Eternal Summer. Free! had everything I could have asked for - a good plot, incredible characters, beautiful animation and a gorgeous soundtrack. A 'Slice of Life' anime, the plot of Free! was simple, though it had complex meanings hidden underneath the surface. When starting it I was worried it would be a series that purely focused on the fact that the main characters were a group of hot, buff guys who just wanted to show off, but that wasn't the case. While there is no denying that all swimmers in this series are hot and buff, using a plot that focused solely on each characters goals and relationships was incredibly brilliant and made for some great character development. The plot and characters themselves go hand in hand, making the series feel more like an everyday circumstance rather than an "anime". Each character was unique, stood out and had me cheering all the way from episode one to episode thirteen. The other three elements that made Free! an absolute joy to watch, was the Japanese voice acting, the animation and the soundtrack. I am usually not one for Subtitled animes, but this series with the original Japanese was perfection. It is hard for me to picture an English Dub for the series, though its second season has already been released with and English Dub. Each voice actor captured their character perfectly in tone and personality based on their characters appearance and back story, proving that not all Japanese voice acting in animes is the same. Along with its voice acting, was its animation - which, like everything else about Free!, was stunning. Much of the animation reminded me of My Little Monster, with some of the characters drawn similarly and having somewhat similar names, but ultimately the animation held its own and was a vision - especially is all swimming or water-involved scenes, which was a majority of the anime. And finally, the soundtrack. How the soundtrack is used and the overall compositional quality of any anime soundtrack is a make or break factor for me, and the soundtracks simplicity yet incredible moving ability added a great deal to all the episodes with its mix of techno, EDM and classical style music.

What I didn't like about the series: I honestly loved everything about this series, and can't really find any fault.

Free! - go watch it! 

Free: Eternal Summer (2014)
Video - Free: Eternal Summer Original Opening & Ending

The story continues as Haru, Makoto, Nagisa and Rei all begin thinking of how life will change after graduation. With Haru and Makoto graduating at the end of the year, the Swim Club is trying to recruit new members to join while simultaneously training for prelims, regional and national swim competitions. Meanwhile, Rin has been named the new Captain of the Sumezika Swim Team and looks forward to the day where he can once again swim with Haru and his team. But as everyone prepares for the next step, what will the future hold? And has it all been worth while?

Why I began this series: After finishing the first season I knew I had to continue. For a change of pace, I decided to watch Free: Eternal Summer with the English Dub though I will most likely go back and re-watch the entire series in Sub as well.

What I liked about the series: Free: Eternal Summer addressed many of the common things high school seniors face when approaching graduation: excitement, uncertainty, freedom, fear. Free: Eternal Summer used these things as their main underline focus, alongside the series original plot line of the Swim Club continuing to advance in swimming competitions, and it totally worked. I would say that this season is the definition of 'Slice of Life Anime', taking a story with characters who are facing real life scenarios and situations that not only affect them in the moment but also in their future. It was additionally intriguing that Haru, the franchisees main protagonist of the main four, has both an apparent outward and inward struggle over what he should do come graduation - should he continue swimming or maybe go to college? Seeing Haru struggle like this was very refreshing, as in the first season we do not see his emotional side or how complex he is as a character until everything begins to sink in that he will shortly be moving on. Similarly, the other main three characters go through their own crises (all of which are very well done) and ultimately try to find a way to make every moment they have together count. This more serious tone added much to the series plot and greatly enhanced the character development, which was not lacking in the first season but not as successful as Free: Eternal Summer. With its real world application plot and its incredible characters, many of the successes found in the series original season can also be found in its second. The animation all around, especially scenes involving water, were beautiful and something that is truly one of a kind. Similarly, the soundtrack for the second season matched the first, providing an array of powerful, moving, tear-jerking tracks that not only helped to enhance the emotional turmoil of the series but were just plain stunning. Finally, there's the English Dub featuring my personal voice actor favorite J. Michael Tatum as Rei and other favorites such as Vic Mignogna as Rin, Todd Haberkorn as Haru, Johnny Yong Bosch as Makoto and Greg Ayres as Nagisa. Having seen all these voice actors is various other anime works I was thrilled to see the four of them together to play this club of characters, and I was surprised how well many of the voices fit the characters. Going from the first season subtitled to the second season in English was quite a leap, but over the first few episodes I was able to not compare the English Dub with the original Japanese. The dub is wonderful and it goes without saying that these voice actors have done some of the most incredible work in anime, and just as with their previous projects, they did not disappoint.   

What I didn't like about the series: The only thing that slightly suffered in this series was its pacing. Unlike its original season which is fast paced due to the plot and the ultimate question of "can they do it?", Free: Eternal Summer was much slower in terms of pace with the only reason being to help enhance each characters personal struggle. This slower pace did not bother me, though a few episodes felt dragged out at times.

Of all the animes I've seen thus far, I can easily say that both Free! and Free: Eternal Summer are some of the best. It's more than a series of buff guys who look good both on dry land and in water, but something much deeper and truly special. I have quickly become a fan, not quite of fangirl status, but I might - in time. 

Where It All Began: A Review of Kuroshitsuji The Musical, His Butler: Friendship

Kuroshitsuji The Musical, His Butler: Friendship

Above: Shougo Sakamoto as Ciel Phantomhive (left) and YuYa Matsushita as Sebastian Michaelis (right)

I have finally seen the complete set!

First came musical three, Kuroshituji - The Lycrois That Blazes the Earth

Then came the second installment, Kuroshitsuji 2: The Most Beautiful Death in the World & The Thousand Souls and a Fallen Shinigami

And today I finally got around to watching Kuroshitsuji The Musical, His Butler: Friendship, the original musical inspired by the still growing Kuroshitsuji franchise and the final musical to complete the Black Butler Musical Set. While I may have seen the musicals in reverse order, I am glad to have finally seen all the musicals that have thus far been produced in Japan and review the final one in this amazing trio of shows.  

Synopsis:

Welcome to the Phantomhive Manor! Phantomhive servants Baldroy, Mey-Rin, Finny and Tanaka keep watch over the manor and serve Ciel, the young Earl of Phantomhive. But there's another servant who keeps a watchful eye on Ciel, Sebastian Michaelis, who is simply one hell of a butler. 

  Above: YuYa Matsushita as Sebastian Michaelis

A more than perfect butler never failing at any task, Sebastian is always by Ciel's side and protects Ciel with his very life - even at the cost of his own. As Sebastian, Ciel and the servant busily prepare for a ball that will soon to be held at the manor, three guests from a Japanese toy company arrive and are invited to the ball to show the best of English hospitality. Yuuki, the president of the company, and his older brother Kai reside at the manor with their servant Kirito who anxiously wait to attend the ball.

 Above (left to right): Yuya Miyashita as Kirito, Aoyagi Ruito as Yuuki and Daichi Oshino as Kai

When Sebastian makes an unexpected blunder at the ball and requests that Yuuki and Kai to provide entertainment for the guests, Kai suggests that Yuuki play his flute. The reluctant Yuuki agrees, but as he begins playing ghost-like creatures appear and wreak havoc on the balls guests and the manor. In an attempt to save his master, Kirito pulls Yuuki out of the commotion followed by Kai, leaving the servants to fight the creatures and Sebastian along with Ciel in hot pursuit of the strangers. 

Above: YuYa Matsushita as Sebastian (left) and Uehara Takuya as Grell Sutcliff (right)

As the servants continue to fight in the manor Sebastian runs into fellow butler Grell Sutcliff, who in actuality is no butler at all. A Shinigami, more commonly known as a Grim Reaper, Grell tries to detain Sebastian as long as he can and professes his love for Sebastian until he is ultimately defeated and lets slip the fact that Kirito is not human. His suspicions now confirmed, Sebastian leaves Grell and runs off after Kirito, Yuuki and Kai.

Having returned to the manor, Kai arrives to find Kirito who has vanquished the creatures and Yuuki passed out on the nearby staircase. Out of fear and panic, Kai kills Kirito only to then be joined by Ciel and Scotland Yard detective, Inspector Aberline. Just as Kai is about the explain what happened, Kirito stands up only to reveal that it was Sebastian in disguise and not Kirito at all. Backed into a corner, Kai unknowingly confesses to others murders committed throughout the city and the fact that Kirito was the one responsible for the death of his and Yuuki's parents. With truths coming out left and right, Kirito is revealed to be a demon known as a Keishan who upon killing Yuuki and Kai's parents ate their eyes as a reward and the flute that Yuuki obtained has the power to call back dead spirits. As Yuuki stands in awe of his brother, Kirito tries to explain that while he is only an accomplice in these murders he does not condone what Kai has done.

Above: Yuya Miyashita as the Keishan Demon, Kirito

Before any further moves can be made, the group runs from the manor that once again has swarmed with the creatures. With Sebastian struggling to decide between orders from Ciel to apprehend Kai and his duty as a butler to protect the manor friends Prince Soma and his faithful butler Agni return to the manor and offer their help in defeating the creatures, allowing Sebastian and Ciel to peruse Kai and Kirito. Kirito finds himself alone recalling the murder of the brothers parents and how he also killed all his fellow demons as instructed by his master Kai. To hide the dark side of Kai, Kirito reveals to Ciel and Sebastian that he had hidden these facts from Yuuki and will stay by his side no matter what. As Kai returns to confront Ciel about his path of revenge, Yuuki returns and suddenly begins to play his flute, once again summoning the spirits. Terrified, Kai attempts to run from the scene where Kirito is finally defeated by the spirits once and for all. With Kirito now dead, Kai is left defenseless against Sebastian who does not waste a single moment in killing himright in front of Yuuki and ending the evenings terror at the manor.

With this night of terror over, Yuuki recounts his attitude towards life and promises Ciel to continue forward before he heads back, alone to his home. To solidify this promise Ciel suggests that Yuuki exchange his cursed flute for Ciel's walking stick, which Yuuki does before departing England for Japan. Alone once more, Ciel and Sebastian revel in the fact that they have confiscated the flute as per the orders of The Queen and that they have succeeded in solving another case. The curtain closes as Sebastian swears his undying loyalty to Ciel until his revenge is accomplished and the two part ways, for eternity.        

REVIEW:

After watching this musical, it was very apparent that this was Japans first attempt at any kind of musical adaptation to Kuroshitsuji. While this musical may have been the weakest of the three, its performances and other production values still give it enough edge to be a successfully executed Kuroshitsuji musical.

The Cast:

Sebastian Michaelis - YuYa Matsushita

Ciel Phantomhive - Shougo Sakamoto

Baldroy - Tsuyoshi Koyama

Finnian - Shouta Minami

Mey-Rin - Atsuko Igari

Grell Sutclif - Uehara Takuya

Yuuki - Aoyagi Ruito

Kirito - Yuya Miyashita

Kai - Daichi Oshino

Other roles include The Undertaker, Aberline, Lau, Ran-Mao, Agni, Prince Soma & Tanaka

Performances:

Let's start with Yuya - having seen him in musicals 2 and three I was expecting utter perfection from him in his debut performance as Sebastian, but that ultimately wasn't the case. Matsushita's performance was admirable but it was apparent that this was his first attempt at acting, let alone a musical. Since he is a singer by trade his vocals, which were oddly limited in this first adaption, were wonderful and sounded easy from start to finish. Alongside his vocal performance, his physical abilities to perform stunts, especially in scenes pairing with Uehara Takuya as Grell, was quite impressive. Matsushita's downfall however can be seen in his limited acting abilities, as his first attempts at acting can be seen in various scenes that feel disjointed and somewhat out of place. While this obviously was Matsushita's first acting role and musical experience, his original performance as Sebastian was still very well done and overall a huge achievement and success.

Equally as impressive was Shougo Sakamoto's performance as Ciel Phantomhive, the Queens Guard Dog. As the original Ciel Sakamoto had a lot to live up to, especially from fans of of Kuroshitsuji manga and anime series. On the whole, Sakamoto pulled off Ciel very well, portraying his hard, quasi-evil personality as depicted in the original manga. With Sakamoto's performance I only have two qualms, the first being that Sakamoto was almost too old for the role of Ciel. Ciel is meant to be thirteen years old and after seeing various actors play the role throughout all the musicals I have mixed feelings on the proper age of the actor to play the part. The other aspect that didn't sit well with me was the relationship between Ciel and Sebastian. Had I not read the manga, seen the various anime series or watched the other two musicals, I would have no idea on the concept of Ciel and Sebastians relationship, how that relationship drives both their actions and why Ciel acts and is the way he is. While this fault is not entirely Sakamoto's, his portrayal of Ciel was not enough to show the weakness, strength and complexity of this relationship and it hurt Sakamoto more than it helped.

Alongside the musicals main leads, a few other performances stood out in an obvious and forthcoming way. The first is that of Uehara Takuya as Grell, who as always, never disappoints. In every single musical Takuya's performance has been one of the best and most consistent, never making me question why he was chosen for Grell in the first place. Uehara Takuya IS Grell and his origin performance as Grell was both inspired and so true to the manga and series, it was a little scary. Takuya has literally nailed Grell, from his appearance to his tone of voice and especially his personality, making Takuya one of my favorite Japanese actors of all time. The other set of performances that rang with me were those of the actors playing Inspector Fred Aberline and the Undertaker. Like Takuya, they've been on the Kuroshitsuji musical wagon since the beginning and they continue to give performances that both impress me and always make me laugh, as their characters serve as Kuroshitsuji's comedy relief.  

Set, Costumes and Score:

The set for the first Kuroshitsuji musical though quite basic, served its purpose. With how the musical was staged, the set had to be limited to allow the actors a majority of space to move around due to the various stunts and fight scenes it used. Almost too intricate however were the costumes. Each characters costume was almost an exact, live replication of those worn by the originally drawn characters and the characters costumes greatly enhanced the eerie and dark Kuroshitsuji tones. Of all the shows production values, the costumes were this musicals main star. The final, and somewhat most important element of this show, was its score. While most of the musicals score was boring and quite unimpressive, two musical numbers stood out:

Red Or Black (Sebastian & Grell Duet)

This duet was not only well written and catchy, but it also played on Grell's fun personality against Sebastians dark, cold edge. A perfect match of characters and actors!

 

Recollection By The Window (Ciel & Yuuki Duet)

This song was hands down the best song in the entire musical. So well written, beautifully sung by both actors and incredibly moving with such simplistic music and powerful lyrics made this song the first one I looked up after seeing the whole musical. This song is easily the musicals shining star. 

Final Thoughts:

Kuroshitsuji The Musical, His Butler: Friendship was a very, very good first attempt at adapting Kutroshitsuji for the stage. With the mangas original story and amazing characters I wasn't surprised that it was developed into a musical, and honestly, I think it was the best thing to happen with the franchise since developing the manga into two anime television series. All three of the Kuroshitsuji musicals are something incredibly special, creative and wonderful to watch over and over again, and to this day I am so glad and thankful that I stumbled across them. God bless Japan!!

The entirety of Kuroshitsuji The Musical, His Butler: Friendship, as well as the shows songs can be found on YouTube. If you enjoyed this review, please continue following my blog for future reviews and posts or check me out on Twitter @Musicald0rk. Until next time! 

2015: The Summer of Animes - Part VI: A Part of Everyday Life

I feel I've sufficiently watched enough anime to say that I am a true anime fan, and that anime has become a part of my everyday life. While I'm not able to watch it everyday, most days I find myself laying in bed watching another series or squeezing in an episode whenever I can. Due to this I am now powering through more and more series than ever and keep stumbling across both famous, impressive animes as well as hidden gems.

UPDATES:

Black Butler: Book of Circus - English Subtitled (2014)
Video - Black Butler: Book of Circus Original Opening

Ciel Phantomhive, The Queen's Guard Dog, has been given new orders: solve a case regarding a recent string of kidnapped children, eliminate the culprits and bring the children safely back to their families. Upon receiving his orders Ciel does not know where to begin, except that the missing children were abducted at the time a traveling circus arrived in London. As per the Queen's request Ciel and Sebastian must investigate the circus and do all they can to solve the case, but in the process will Ciel's painful past come back to haunt him and will Sebastian be able to serve and protect his master from both the impending danger and the painful memories which joined the two into contract?

Why I began the series: I originally had watched Book of Circus over the summer, but didn't review it as it was only available subtitled and at the time I wasn't huge into watched "subbed" anime. Book of Circus became the exception however, after finishing season two of Black Butler and learning that more Black Butler anime was out there, I just had to continue

What I loved about the series: Unlike Black Butler II, Book of Circus took the original series of Black Butler and continued the story explicitly as depicted in the manga. By going back to the manga, the story of Black Butler continued as if nothing had changed and gave new insight to many of its returning characters, in addition to introducing exciting new faces. Alongside its brilliant characters, Book of Circus was filled with an exciting plot line, beautiful animation and a lovely soundtrack which added much to the series. What I loved most about Book of Circus however, is that we were able to see more of Ciel's back story and when he first summoned and made his contract with Sebastian. While we still never see Sebastian in his full, true form we see how Ciel's traumatic past influenced his personality, his decisions and his life three years later. By seeing this, we are also given new insight into Sebastian, the depth of his devotion to his master from the moment their contract began and maybe even a feeling that this demon has become friends with his pray.

What I didn't like about the series: I only have two dislikes for Book of Circus: the first, while not so much a "dislike", is the hope that FUNimation will obtain the rights and English dub it with its previous cast. The other negative is more of a personal opinion, in the fact one can never have enough Grell. The more *red* the better!

Black Butler: Book of Circus was wonderful in continuing the popular and still in the process Black Butler story. It's characters are so remarkable, the plot was excellent and the overall feel of the next chapter fit the enterprise of Black Butler perfectly. I hesitate to say that Black Butler is my favorite anime, but it is definitely the one I find watching the most and talking about whenever I can.

Black Butler: Book of Murder - English Subtitled (2014)
Video - Black Butler: Book of Murder Original Opening

After solving the kidnapping case, Ciel and Sebastian return to their normal lives at the Phantomhive Manor. Shortly thereafter however, when the Queens butlers commonly known as "Double Charles" invade and tell Ciel that he is to hold a party and entertain a businessman from Germany, Ciel is reluctant to do so. Not wishing to go against her Majesty's orders, Ciel agrees to host the gathering and see that his guests are given the finest Phantomhive hospitality. But as the party begins and a storm rages throughout the night, strange things begin happening in the Manor and the lives of all the guests are put into question - along with the servants, Ciel and Sebastian himself.

Why I began the series: More and more Black Butler! I had made it through the Circus, and now it was onto Murder...

What I liked about the series: Book of Murder was just as successful as its previous series Book of Circus. Following the manga specifically, Book of Murder took the next section of Black Butler and was turned into another round of beautiful animation and anime. Like the circus, Book of Murder showed us more about the relationship of Ciel and Sebastian as well as Sebastian's demonic side. This series took some turns I was not quite expecting and was incredibly smart especially in its plot. All in all, Book of Murder was a very well done continuation of everything that comprises and is Kuroshitsuji.

What I didn't like about the series: My only complaint with this next set of Black Butler anime is its length. Squeezed down into two almost two hour episodes each, Book of Murder at times felt a little slow and rushed at various points. Had this section been broken down into more complex, deeper episodes it may have been more enjoyable as a whole.

As I simultaneously read the manga and watched these new Kuroshitsuji anime adaptations, I became very excited for more Black Butler. Having now seen everything there is at this point, I can only hope everything will soon be Dubbed and more Black Butler arcs will be adopted into fantastic anime adaptations.

Mirai Nikki - The Future Diary (2011)
Video: Mirai Nikki (The Future Diary) Original Opening

Yukkito Amano is your typical high school student: shy, quiet and always writing down his daily activities in a diary he keeps of his cell phone. When not at school Yukki converses with Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time and Space and his faithful servant Murmur who at first glance seem to be nothing but imaginary beings, helping Yukki to get through his every day life. But Yukki's peaceful existence comes to a halt when he discovers that his phone can now predict the near future and he learns that he has been thrown into a new game by Deus Ex Machina along with eleven others and the rules are simple: kill everyone. And the last one standing will become the new God of Time and Space. The peaceful days are over and when Yukki discovers one of his fellow classmates is also in the running, will he choose to run or murder?

Why I began this series: I had seen other anime fans online say that they cried at Mirai Nikki and it was a series loved by so many, so I decided to see for myself.

What I liked about the series: This series was so "Hunger Games" I couldn't believe it. The concept of having a game where the characters fight to the death to become the new God was a pretty incredible and insane, but the more I got into the series the more I found it fascinating. The main thing that resonated with me and this series was its impression - sure the characters were memorable (some a little too much) and the plot was intense from beginning to end, but the feeling I was left with after completing Mirai Nikki was indescribable. Not knowing what to do next is one of the greatest feelings to experience with an anime, and Mirai Nikki now joins that list alongside a few other favorites, including Code Geass, Ouran High School Host Club and Your Lie in April (which is reviewed below)

What I didn't like about the series: It took me quite some time to warm up to this series. Between Yuno's special brand of crazy, her philosophy of killing and a few extremely creepy scenes involving Yukki and Yuno, I didn't know what to think about Mirai Nikki until I was closer to the end. This uncertainty really bothered me for a while, and while in the long run I was happy with that feeling I found it incredibly frustrating originally.

As I finish this review I still don't know what to think about this series. I didn't hate it, I liked it a lot, some of it was incredibly creepy and off putting but that's what made it stand out, it had some absolutely beautiful moments and I didn't know who to root for in the end. All in all, Mirai Nikki is an anime completely worth the watching, at least to experience the hype.

Your Lie in April (2014)
Video: Your Lie in April Original Opening

Once a famous child piano prodigy, Kousei Arima is no longer able to play the piano due to a mental breakdown during a competition that left him "unable to hear the piano". After "losing" his hearing and his mother shortly thereafter to illness, Kousei vows to never again play the piano and goes about life in a gray state. When his childhood friend Tsubaki one day asks Kousei if he will be a wing man for his best friend Watari, Kousei reluctantly agrees and meets the one girl who changes everything - Kaori, a free spirit and violinist. Seeing that Kousei is in constant pain, Kaori does all she can to bring Kousei back to the world of music and realize that music is much more than memorizing notes on the page and can mean so much more to both those who listen and perform.

Why I began this series: I had just finished Mirai Nikki and was looking for a change of pace. I had recently said on Twitter that Your Lie in April was a series that I wanted to watch but hadn't gotten around to yet, and with that in mind I decided to finally sit down and watch this music anime I had heard so many wonderful things about.

What I liked about the series: I find it particularly hard to review this series, as its entirety can be summed up in just a few words: beautiful, stunning, painful, moving - worth it. As a musician myself, I took much of everything in Your Lie in April to heart. Music is a struggle, it is something that can both put you on top of the world and tear you back down in an instant, but without this struggle nothing beautiful can be made. With this in mind, the way Your Lie in April dealt with the aspect of musicians lives and music was incredible and perhaps the most accurate representation of music as a career, a dream and a love. But to show this the series had to have molds which can be found in its main set of characters Kousei, Kaori, Tsubaki and Watari - each providing a different aspect and take on the ways of music. Kousei represents everyone who is in or desires to live within the realm of music: he is a prime example of what musicians go through to be happy and how we struggle daily to find and create things that are beautiful. Kaori represents those choice few musicians who are not afraid to put themselves out there for all to see: in many ways I see her as Your Lie in Aprils 'Muse of Music' proving that even when a performance does not go as planned or you do not place in a competition, its simply making the music, giving your entire being to it and making an irreplaceable impression on those who choose to listen. Tsubaki represents those who at times sees music as a hindrance: while in itself it is a beautiful art, music not only gives but just as equally takes away. And finally, Watari represents the patrons of music: those who choose to support the arts and those who are always there when music calls. Alongside its characters and heartfelt sentiments, the animation of this series is stunning as is its soundtrack which had be in tears many times over.

What I didn't like about the series: I have no complaints about this series whatsoever - it is perfection

Now having seen this series, it easily makes my Top 10 Anime list and probably would be in my Top 5 of All Time. Maybe it's because I'm a musician myself that I found this anime to be so much more - a beautiful story of how music moves us in life, makes us who we are, brings us both joy and sorrow but at the end of the day makes us happy.

When we're happy, we turn to music.
When we're sad, we turn to music.
When we don't know where else to turn, we turn to music - it's always there.
For me music is so much more:
Joy, struggle, pain, love, emotion - limitless.
I will always make music, just as music had made me, me.

Death Parade (2015)
Video: Death Parade Original Opening

When certain humans leave the land of the living they go to be judged, not before God or a divine being but instead at a bar known as Quin Decim. Run by bartender Decim, the pair of humans are told they must now play a game of which the stakes are their very lives. After picking a game at random the pair must play to determine who amongst them is the winner and loser before being sent to either heaven or hell. But the games are not as they seem, and as the humans face off against one another memories of their deaths will return, pain will become real and the humans will be judged - not from the game itself but from their true natures that are revealed, ultimately deciding whether they will be reincarnated or sent into the void.

Why  I began the series: I had finished Your Lie in April and somehow remembered Death Parade. Knowing that it was a short series that was highly talked of, I decided to watch it and completed it in a single night.

What I liked about the series: I tend to give shorter series a more critical review as I find that most short series seriously lack in character development and undeveloped story that isn't shown in so short a time. Death Parade however is a whole other story and blew my "short series" theories and overall mind in every way possible. The concept of Death Parade seems silly at first but the more I understood its premise and how the games are nothing more than a ruse for drawing out a humans true nature, I came to appreciate and become more impressed with the animes story arc. The plot took a few unexpected turns that left me wanting more and more, which ultimately helped me to complete the anime in just a few hours time. Alongside its very well done story, the characters of Death Parade are equally as remarkable. From the bartender Decim to the Black Haired Woman and the other Arbiters the characters of Death Parade were memorable and very individualized, making it easy to remember most names along with faces. Similarly, the animes use of character development through such a short show was incredible and we were able to see and learn something about each character that relates to their current situation and position. I love a good back story, so to learn in such detail the back stories of almost every character in such a short series was extra impressive and appreciated. The other major strength of this series was its effortless ability to balance the dark theoretical tones and the romance between certain characters. It is not strictly a horror or romance anime, but something in between that left me feeling both satisfied and dissatisfied with the series ending. Those feelings aside other strengths of Death Parade include its dark toned, mysterious animation style, the success of the English dub cast and the soundtrack which fit the tone of Death Parade perfectly.

What I didn't like about the series: The one thing I didn't like about Death Parade was the lack of information regarding one single character. What I would call the series "villain", Oculus gives a lot of resistance against other characters and gives off a "bad" vibe though he does not appear to be inherently evil. If I could fix one thing with Death Parade it would be to have more information about Oculus and know why he does the things he does throughout the series.

I honestly didn't think I would like Death Parade, but after watching two episodes I was hooked and knew I had to blast through it in one go. It was so much more than I ever would have expected, and though I stayed up until two in the morning to finish it I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Just like Your Lie in April I would rank Death Parade in my Top 10 Anime and maybe even Top 5 of All Time, and it goes without saying that I would highly recommend Death Parade to any and every anime or non anime fan.

SERIES STILL IN PROGRESS:

• Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Season 2 (Subtitled - Currently Airing) (2015)
• Bleach (2004-Present)
• Durarara x2
• Gurren Lagann (2007)
• Hyouka (Subtitled) (2012)
• Kimi no Todoke (Subtitled) (2009-2011)
• Sakurasou no pet Nakanono (Subtitled) (2012-2013)

Until we meet again, good luck on your journey.

2015: The Summer of Animes - Part V: On, And On, And On

UPDATES:

Tokyo Ghoul (2014)
Video: Tokyo Ghoul Original Opening

The human race lives in constant fear of beings known as ghouls who require only one thing to survive: human flesh. Kaneki lives a normal life spending his days reading in a local coffee shop called Anteiku, until a girl named Rize asks Kaneki on a date. Kaneki couldn't be happier, but he soon discovers that Rize is not as human as she appears to be and after a terrible accident, his life will never be the same. Kaneki may be rid of Rize, but what will he do now that he too craves human flesh?

Why I began this series: I'd meant to watch Tokyo Ghoul for quite some time, especially because of its huge popularity and still growing fan base. Having just finished The Devil Is A Part Timer and researching other anime possibilities I somehow remembered Tokyo Ghoul and went to find it online.

What I loved about the series: I at first was very uneasy with Tokyo Ghoul. After watching the first episode I seriously considered stopping, but I forced myself to keep going and I'm incredibly glad that I did. Tokyo Ghoul went above and beyond all of my expectations, from its plot to its characters and everything in between. The plot is not only brilliant but executed beautifully in the series, capitalizing on the ghouls and how they struggle to live among humans, fight their cravings for human flesh and hide from those who wish to kill them. Needless to say the plot had me palm of its hand from beginning to end. Alongside its plot, Tokyo Ghouls characters were especially gripping. While I'm not the biggest Kaneki fan, I especially loved Rize, Touka Kirshima voiced by Brina Palencia who has voiced other favorites including Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler, and my all time personal favorite: Shu Tsukiyama voiced by J Michael Tatum (see clip below), known for voicing iconic anime characters including Sebastian Michaelis from Black Butler, Tomoe from Kamisama Kiss and countless others. Every character had purpose and was memorable, so much so that I never forgot a name or a face. Tokyo Ghoul may have been hard to watch from the start but it has already become one of my top animes.

English Dub Preview - A Rare Treat

What I didn't like about the series: Since I have a soft stomach, the only thing I struggled with initially was the amount of violence and blood. After a few episodes however it didn't bother me as much and I discovered that its gruesome aspects greatly enhanced the series. Without the blood and pain Tokyo Ghoul would be nothing.

Like Attack on Titan, Tokyo Ghoul has quickly become a global phenomenon. It continues to grow in popularity and gain fans from around the world, and like Attack on Titan, it has gained another one right here in Michigan.

Tokyo Ghoul Root A (2015)
Video: Tokyo Ghoul A Ending Theme

Having finally accepted his ghoul half, Kaneki leaves Anteiku to become stronger and protect the ones he loves, working to eradicate the investigators who seek to destroy them. As the ghouls continue to wreak havoc across Tokyo, CCG Investigator Koutaro Amon continues his plans to avenge his murdered partner and mentor Kureo Mado and the CCG continues to peruse one ghoul in particular, more commonly known as "the eyepatch". Tokyo is falling apart at the seams and amidst all the destruction and bloodstained roads, will anyone be able to obtain or achieve what they want most?

Why I began the series: I got through Tokyo Ghoul very quickly and knew there had to be a second season due to its open ending. I immediately went in search of a second season and was beyond excited to see that Tokyo Ghoul Root A was already English dubbed and available to view.

What I loved about the series: The second season of Tokyo Ghoul was far less action packed and instead took a closer look at the characters, their personalities and how they are the way they are. Tokyo Ghoul Root A made me appreciate Kaneki as a character more than the original series and what I loved most about this sequel series is that I didn't know who to root for (no pun intended). One second I was rooting for the ghouls, another for the investigators, and by the time the end of the season came around I was still unsure to which group my true allegiance lied.

What I didn't like about the series: While I liked the lack of action in Root A, the lack of action was also a set back for the series. Its first season was so revolutionary and popular that Root A was somewhat odd without all the action.

Tokyo Ghoul Root A was a great sequel series to its original, not as good as the original, but still a very well done series. I'm sure that the story of Tokyo Ghoul will continue and I can only hope that more series will be made and the story can continue to reveal more secrets.

My Little Monster (2012)
Video: My Little Monster Original Opening

High school student Shizuku Mizutani is completely dedicated to her studies and is known to most as "dry ice", due to her cold and emotionless personality. When Shizuku one day is asked to deliver school papers to suspended student Haru Yoshida, Shizuku's world is turned upside down. Smitten with Shizuku from the start, Haru quickly confesses his love for Shizuku who is reluctant to accept his feelings and brushes it off to focus on her studies. As times goes on and Haru returns to school still confessing his love for Shizuku, Shizuku is faced to confront her own worst enemy and decide what she truly feels for Haru.

Why I began this series: I had been eyeing this series for a while on Netflix, and I finally decided to watch it.

What I loved about this series: The beauty of My Little Monster lies in three things: its quirks, its forwardness and its message. Many of the characters were quirky and unique, something I've found rare to successfully pull off in a romantic comedy anime. The series main male lead, Haru, is the definition of quirky and the fact that a rooster was involved throughout made My Little Monster all the more interesting. The second great thing with this series in particular was how it handled its romantic moments. With lots of romantic animes the main couple will beat around the bush about their true feelings, finally telling each other at the very end of the series - but this was not the case with My Little Monster. From episode one we had a love confession, and as the episodes continued the confessions kept coming and Haru was very upfront about his feelings for Shizuku and eventually vise versa. Thanks to its script and the initial strong connection between Haru and Shizuku, the romance was not a sideline of the series and instead became the focal point and the main drive behind every ones thoughts and actions, which leads us to the the beautiful message of this stunning series: it's OK to fall in love. I took away three things from My Little Monster: It is OK to fall in love, it is OK to be in love and you should never have to apologize for your feelings or for falling for the person you have. Perhaps because of things that have happened in my personal life I especially took to these sentiments and because of this My Little Monster has been one of the best animes I've seen.

What I didn't like about this series: I'm glad to report that there was nothing I didn't like about My Little Monster. It was so outspoken, quirky and beautiful and its now become one of my all time favorites.

I have nothing but pure love for this series: it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me feel beautiful things. Along with Toradora, My Little Monster is a stunning romantic anime.

Brynhildr In The Darkness (2014)
Video: Brynhildr In The Darkness Original Opening

Ryouta Murakami has grown up feeling responsible and guilty for the death of his best friend Neko Kuroha. Having grown up with Neko who believed in the existence of aliens and who died trying to save Murakami in a terrible accident, Murakami watches the night skies relentlessly wishing he could see his friend once more. When Murakami goes to school one day and learns that a new transfer student will be joining his class, he is shocked when a girl who is the spitting image of Neko enters. Convinced she is his childhood friend Murakami vows to discover who this girl really is, but when he learns that she has a terrible secret of her own, will Murakami abandon his goal to help this stranger?

Why I began this series: I came across Brynhildr In The Darkness online and was interested initially due to its Sci-Fi themes. After finishing My Little Monster, I decided to take a different turn and watch this short anime.

What I loved about the series: I first off loved the opening theme music for this anime. I'd never seen an opening with strictly instrumental music, and with the animation it worked and left me speechless. Besides its theme, I took high interest in three particular characters: the scientists Kogorou Hashiratani, main villian Chisato Ichijiku and his henchmen Kurofuku. Kogorou was a nerdy, cute character who appeared to be one of the more genuine and likeable characters of the series, while Chisato and Kurofuku were equally as likable but far more devious and surprising from start to finish. Simply because of these three characters, I was able to write this section of "what I loved about the series"

What I didn't like about the series: Sad to say, this anime has been my least favorite thus far. I was drawn in initially with the first two episodes, but as the plot progressed it lost me and took turns that I didn't like and somewhat made me uncomfortable. Many characters were forgettable, the plot was very shoty, disjointed and often confusing, the animation was OK and besides the opening theme I was not a fan of the soundtrack. But the thing that bothered me the most about this series was its immense amount of nudity and perversion shots. I've managed to stay away from these kinda things so far but with Brynhildr I wasn't able to escape it, and while a little is fine with me, there comes a point where it becomes both a distraction and an outrage. I has high hopes for this anime, but unfortunately it fell to the very bottom of the anime list.

After falling in love with Charlotte, I had hoped Brynhildr In The Darkness would be the same - but alas. While it has been my least favorite anime to date, I'm still glad I powered through it and completed another series.

Durarara!! (2011)
Video: Durarara Original Opening

Ikebukaro - at first glance it seems like a peaceful city, when in actuality it's fame stems from its gangs and escalated violence. When student Mikado Ryugamine comes to Ikebukaro and meets up with childhood friend Kida Masaomi, he quickly leans of the gangs and terrifying individuals he should stay away from at all costs, especially strong man Shizuo Heiwajima and info broker Izaya Orihara. Ikebukaro is full of danger and though it may seem like your average city, Ikebukaro's citizens along with Ryugamine and Massaomi have dark secrets of their own.

Why I began this series: I took to Netflix after finishing Brynhildr and came across Durarara which I had seen things about online. Also a hugely popular anime, I decided to make it my next project.

What I loved about the series: This series was not what I expected. From its gangs, to its plot, to the script and the intensity of its characters, Durarara had me guessing and shocked from beginning to end. I loved how the series would forward the plot for a few episodes and then break apart the plot line by giving each character their own "backstory" episode to help explain why certain characters behaved the way they did or why they made certain choices. This layout worked extremely well for the series and both the plot line and character developments soared because of it. Along with its brilliant setup, many of the series characters were fantastic with three in particular becoming favorites: Shizuo Heiwajima, Izaya Orihara and Shinra Kishitani. Between Shizou's hot bad ass personality, Izaya's sleazy demeanor and Shinra's innocence there was never a dull moment and I was always happy to see them return to the screen. There is much to love about Durarara and I can't wait to start watching next season!

What I didn't like about the series: My only quarrel with Durarara was its slow opening. After reading various articles and reviews by fans saying that while the first few episodes of the series are extremely slow you have to power through it, I knew that no matter how slow or boring I had to keep going. Once I was able to get through the beginning episodes my enjoyment of Durarara skyrocketed.

Gangs and violence have never really been my style, but Durarara was so well done I could easily start watching more animes like it. It may not have been the most profound anime I've seen yet, but it still was an anime I'm glad to have seen and enjoyed much more than I originally had thought.

SERIES STILL IN PROGRESS:

• Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign - Season 2 (Subtitled - Currently airing) (2015)
• Bleach (2004-2012)
• Kimi ni Todoke (Subtitled) (2009-2011)
• Sakurasou no pet Nakanono (Subtitled) (2012-2013)
• Gurren Lagann (2007)
• Hyouka (Subtitled) (2012)

The train keeps on going, showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.

2015: The Summer of Animes - Part IV: Far From Over

UPDATES:

Kamisama Kiss (Kamisama Hajimemashita) (2012)
Video: Tomoe's Song (Kamisama Kiss Original Soundtrack)

Nanami Mimozono has hit rock bottom and is now broke and homeless due to her fathers gambling debts. When Nanami helps a strange man in the park the night of her eviction, he offers up his home as thanks before disappearing. Because she is homeless Nanami accepts and travels to the mans home better known as the Mikage Shrine, a sacred place of worship. As Nanami enters the shrine and soon meets two Will of the Whisp Spirits, protectors of the shrine, and a fox-like creature named Tomoe. Just as Nanami is about to be thrown out of the shrine, she learns that the one known as "Mikage" was actually a Land God and after bestowing his mark upon her, she has become the new Land God. Nanami must now learn to balance her new life as both a human girl and the Land God despite Tomoe's strong objections and overprotective nature. Nanami must quickly learn how to become a Land God, but as time goes by, will forbidden love between a human and a Yokai bloom between Nanami and Tomoe?  

Why I began the series: The last series I had finished was Spice & Wolf and as usual I went trolling for more shows. I came across Kamisama Kiss by complete accident after finding a picture of Tomoe and marveling at the animation. I was further drawn in by the fact that its first season was only thirteen episodes and it starred J Michael Tatum as Tomoe (*fangirl*). Three days later, it was over.

What I loved about the series: This series was absolutely beautiful - from its story line, to its characters, humor, soundtrack and magnificent animation. Since Kamisama Kiss is a shoujo anime, an anime geared for female viewers, it's no surprise that I fell hard and fast for Tomoe. Between the fact that he was voiced by my one of my favorite anime voice actors of all time, J Michael Tatum, and the fact that Tomoe in general is ridiculously gorgeous I was caught early on. But more than Tomoe, I especially loved Nanami as a character - a strong, independent yet quirky girl who I identified with personally on many levels. Characters like Nanami are rare for animes, so to find a female protagonist who was dependent on her male counterpart but also an incredibly confident anfd strong individual female was very refreshing. The series as a whole was just stunning.

What I didn't like about the series: (*Crickets*)

This series has it all. Simply put, Kamisama Kiss is a visual beauty, and auditory pleasure and a beautiful story of life and love.

Kamisama Kiss 2 (Kamisama Hajimemashita 2) (2015)
Video: Kamisama Kiss 2 Original Opening

The saga continues! I was thrilled to see that a second season of Kamisama Kiss had already been English dubbed and released so I wouldn't have to agonize over a long wait to continue. In Season two Nanami continues to learn how to balance her new life as the new Land God, while simultaneously battling dark forces and her own growing feelings for Tomoe. Tomoe has always been at Nanami's side and though love between a Yokai and a human is forbidden, what are Tomoe's true feelings for Nanami?

Why I began the series: Season one had ended, and I was suffering from the typical anime "void". Immediately after finishing season one I took to the internet and discovered the second season was already dubbed and available, and with the ending of season one left wide open, I was anxious to see where the story would go. And I was incredibly pleased by the results.

What I loved about the series: Though not as good as the original season, Kamisama Kiss 2 was equally well done, taking everything I loved about season one and elevating it to the next level.

What I didn't like about the series: The only thing I didn't enjoy about Kamisama Kiss 2 was its ending. Like season one it was left completely open, which partly made me happy as the story practically begs to be continued and a third season will be coming soon in 2016, but also incredibly frustrated by the fact that Nanami and Tomoe seemed to have gotten nowhere in the romance aspect of the series. A few things were said and done that elevated the romance, but not enough happened for me to be fully satisfied with where things were left off. I can only imagine and hope for what will happen in season three regarding Nanami and Tomoe's romance.

Kamisama Kiss have quickly become one of my favorite animes to date, and I cannot wait for season three. 2016 cannot come fast enough.

Charlotte (2015)
Video: Charlotte Original Opening & Ending

Yuu Otosaka has always been different, not because of his looks or sarcastic personality, but because he has the ability to temporarily posses others. When Yuu plans to use this ability to cheat in the upcoming high school entrance exams he meets a girl named Nao, who claims she can prove he is a both a cheater and wielder of an ability. Backed into a corner, Yuu confesses and is stunned to learn that Nao has a special ability of her own. Nao then informs Yuu that he has already been enrolled in Hoshinoumi Academy and is now a member of the Student Council where he will work alongside others who have these abilities. Yuu has no choice - he must attend the Academy and work with the Student Council, but as they work to find other ability wielders, what dark secrets about these abilities and their wielders will be uncovered?

Why I began the series: I once again was looking for an anime that was more recent, and I came across the above image for Charlotte. I thought it was beautiful and went searching for what it belonged to, thus leading me to Charlotte.

What I loved about the series: Charlotte is much more than it appears. At first glance I thought it another anime with another male high school protagonist complaining about how much he hates life, but that turned out to not be the case. The characters were spunky and memorable and the overall animation was beautiful. But the best thing about Charlotte was its soundtrack. Mainly made up of vocal tracks by a band focused on throughout the series (ZHEIND) and a few instrumental tracks, the Charlotte soundtrack is downright gorgeous. A full CD of the soundtrack is set to be released in November and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

What I didn't like about the series: I have only small complaints about the series a whole, the main one being the plot which at times seemed choppy and disconnected. The other thing that did not live up to my expectations was the series ending. While moving it left me somewhat unsatisfied and confused, though it was left wide open which highly suggests a second season as season ones ending left many questions unanswered.

"Looking up high, from a still tower. Wondering how it would feel if I fall down.
Was it a dream? I saw deep red.
Chasing, for whats fallin'.
Always yearning, don't know what but the beauty I really want, may seem to be awkward to someones eyes." - ZHEIND

Sword Art Online II (2015)
Video: SAO II: Gun Gale Online Original Opening

It's been a year since Kirito, Ausuna and other surviving players escaped the death game known as Sword Art Online (SAO). Life has started to return to normal as survivors of SAO attend school, rehab and continue to readjust to life in the real world. When Kirito is suddenly contacted by an old acquaintance from the government, his peaceful life comes to a halt. Kirito is then asked a very special request: investigate recent deaths that have taken place in another VRMMOPG called Gun Gale Online. Though paid for his services, Kirito becomes tasked with finding the killer in GGO called "Death Gun" and discovering how these people were killed in real life while logged in game. The painful memories of SAO are finally starting to fade, but by diving back into the virtual world, will Kirito be able to face his painful past and look death in the face for a second time? 

Why I began the series: Sword Art Online was my first anime, so naturally I was highly anticipating its second season. I was so impatient, that I watched the second season with English subtitles long before the English dub version was broadcast, so I now have seen Sword Art Online twice.

What I loved about the series: Made up of two different arcs, Sword Art Online II was a great runner up to its original season. Arc one was filled with excitement, great battles and some beautiful animation (especially found in fight scenes and scenes where Kirito explores with his GGO avatar). Arc two, which focuses on an entirely different story, was equally as good with lots of well done emotional scenes. I loved that arc one was dedicated to Kirito while arc two was given entirely to Asuna, and each arc showed its respective characters struggle with both external and internal conflicts in the real and virtual worlds. Like its original season, the series additionally had a heartbreaking soundtrack and familiar voices along with some new for the English dub version.

What I didn't like about the series: Many people complain that Sword Art Online II is dull and boring compared to its original season, and I somewhat have to agree. A few episodes are low on action, but instead they focus on the emotional struggle the characters face and are proof that a gun battle is not necessary to hold ones attention. The only other thing I particularly didn't like is not a bash on the series at all, but the fact that I had to wait a whole week for the next episode. I am very impatient when it comes to my anime, even when I know what is going to happen in the next episode.

Sword Art Online will always be my first anime: the one that started it all. I'm in no way upset that SAO introduced me to the world of anime, but with its second season now over, I once again impatiently wait for season three in 2016 and have that familiar "empty void" feeling.

Soul Eater (2008-2009)
Video: Soul Eater Original Opening

Death himself runs a school, and it is know as Death Weapon Meister Academy (DWMA). The academy trains two types of students - those who have the ability to transform into weapons known as scythes, and those who can wield these weapons called meisters. Together they have one purpose: to collect Kishin souls. Once a meister and their scythe collects ninety-nine souls plus the soul of a witch, the scythe is granted the power to become a Death Scythe and Meister and Scythe will become stronger than they could ever imagine. Partners Maka and Soul, Black Star and Tsubaki and Death the Kid and Liz/Patty Thompson all seek to achieve this goal, but along their intertwining paths Death has some very special assignments that will not only test their abilities but also test how much they are willing to put their own lives in each others hands.

Why I began the series: A friend recently recommended Soul Eater, and since I became ill this past week, I took to Netflix.

What I loved about the series: Soul Eater is truly a weird yet brilliant series. Its oddities are what made it so enjoyable, and its voice actors, plot and characters are what make it so wonderful. Almost every single voice actor in Soul Eater I had already come across in a previous anime, so I was glad to see and pick out various favorites and other anime characters they'd voiced. The plot was smart, intense and was very connected from episode to episode, leaving me with few questions about what had either happened or what may happen in the next episode. But the greatest thing about Soul Eater was its characters. Besides its main cast of meisters and scythes I took an interest in many secondary characters who became personal favorites. including Crona, Professor Stein, Medusa, Scythe and Giriko. More random than not, the other thing I loved about the series were the previews for the "next episode". Something about them was both hysterical and incredibly entertaining while always baiting me to watch more.

What I didn't like about the series: The only thing about Soul Eater that I found from the start and still stick by, is that fact that the series itself is just plain weird. My prime example of this being that I never got used to the laughing son and grinning moon dripping blood. Take what you will from that.

This series was like nothing I had ever seen before, and I'm glad I finally got around to hopping on the Soul Eater bandwagon.

The Devil Is A Part Timer (2013)
Video: The Devil Is A Part Timer Original Opening

What would you say if I told you the devil himself lives among us and has a part time job? When the Demon Lord Satan and his head general Alciel are attacked by "The Hero" in their realm, they seek escape in the human world. The two must learn to live in the human world and abide by human ways, despite their abilities to do magic and transform into demonic beings. Lord Satan himself decides to get a part time job at the local McRonald's fast-food restaurant while Alciel shops, cooks and cleans the apartment they share. The devil and his subordinate are finally starting to comfortably adjust to human life, but when someone unexpectedly shows up, will they be able to continue leading their peaceful, human lives or be destroyed?

Why I began this series: I feel I've established what I can call my "typical why I began this series"process: Watch an episode, move on, give it another try, done.

What I loved about this series: This anime was so refreshing. Though it is nothing incredibly remarkable, the series is great in the fact that it is completely silly and a short series that I could just laugh at. Between the characters and the dialogue I found myself often snickering or laughing at every silly situation, especially at the snide comments made by certain characters and old school language used by Satan and Alciel. The other thing I loved about this series, which I don't find with every series, was its ending. The last few episodes were both exciting and wrapped the series up nicely while leaving large possibility for a second season and not leaving me lost in the dark awaiting more. The Devil Is A Part Timer is a series that I didn't expect to like, but it is unlike any anime I've seen before and there's just something special about it.

What I didn't like about the series: My only big complaint is that this series has very little in the way of plot. There are a few original plot points that are examined throughout its thirteen episodes, but besides these points the story just continues until something else happens that opens the door for another plot point. Because of this, certain characters also sometimes feel out of place or neglected both within the scope of the story and character development. Had the series dove a little deeper into these, I think it would have been an even better series than it already is.

Like Soul Eater, The Devil Is A Part Timer is a very different anime. While a more casual, silly and ridiculous anime, The Devil Is A Part Timer is still an anime worth watching.

SERIES STILL IN PROGRESS:

• Kimi ni Todoke (English subbed) (2009-2011)
• Sakurasou no pet Nakanono (English subbed) (2012-2013)
• Gurren Lagann (2007)
• Hyouka (English subbed) (2012)

To date I have now seen seventeen different animes, including some with various seasons. Though my time is limited I continue to delve into the worlds of anime and am excited to see where they will lead me and what they will lead me to.