Saturday, April 30, 2016

From Winter to Spring, And Everything Inbetween - Live, Love Anime: Part XIII

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime - Season 2 (Snow White With The Red Hair) (2016)
Video: Akagami no Shirayuki-hime - Season 2 Opening



Shirayuki continues to work at the Castle of Clarines as an Apprentice Court Herbalist, learning all she can about the herbalist trade. Having fled her home country and stumbling upon the Second Prince of Clarines, Zen Wistalia, Shirayuki has been happily working and living out her days alongside the Prince and his beautiful country. When Shirayuki is suddenly invited back to her home country of Tanbarun by royal invitation of Prince Raji, the very man who first drove her out, she agrees to travel home and meet with him in hopes that he has become a leader that both she and her country can be proud of. But Shirayuki's departure is only the beginning of many dangerous adventures that will test the resolve and ever growing bond between the red haired beauty Shirayuki and Zen, the fairy tale prince.

Why I began this series: After becoming a huge admirer of the first season of Snow White With The Red Hair, I was thrilled and excited to learn that its second season was forthcoming and dove right in as episodes were broadcast.

Thoughts on the series:
It's hard for almost every anime series to have a successful second season. With all the stops typically pulled out for the initial season, second seasons usually all flat on their faces and lead to disappointed and disapproving fans - but not Snow White With The Red Hair. A prime example of a series done right by its second installment, Snow White With The Red Hair - Season 2 was not only a marvelous continuation of its first season, but shone brightly in every way possible. Continuing the story of Shirayuki and her days in Clarines, the plot focused more on Shirayuki's actions towards her work and her relationships to others, mainly her close relationship with Prince Zen. What I loved regarding the second season plot was its continuation of romance alongside character development of characters who both are prominent throughout the series, as well as characters who were secondary. This especially was the case as over many episodes the relationship between Shirayuki and Prince Raji of Tanbarun was developed, showing the two becoming friends and how Shirayuki was enough to change the selfish Prince. I was thrilled to see Prince Raji, voiced by favorite voice actor Todd Habberkorn, brought back to the series and developed so that he became another well loved character among all the rest. Similarly, the relationship between Shurayuki and Zen was portrayed beautifully, showing how their feelings for each other were absolute through their ranks force them to behave in a certain manor. The pair of Shirayuki and Zen is one of the most real, honest relationships I have ever seen in anime, and quite honestly one of the most beautiful. The series other characters, including Mitsuhide, Kiki and Obi were also explored and expanded in a way that hinted at possible romances and feelings that could make a third season quite interesting. It was all this that led to the romantic elements of the series, which were absolutely breathtaking and enough to make me squeal many times throughout. But its well done plot was only the beginning. All the characters of Snow White With The Red Hair were simply magical, and unlike fairy tales, there was no "bad guy". Though one could argue that Prince Izana fits this profile the most, all the characters were lovable, memorable and relatable, bringing a new light and life to the series second season. As previously stated in my review of its first season, Snow White With The Red Hair features one of the most perfectly cast and well done English Dub voice casts I've ever seen, and its second season did not disappoint. Bringing back all its familiar voices along with some new, the English Dub for its second installment was a continuation of utter perfection and a reassurance that while FUNimation may like to cast their favorites, they turn out some amazing work. But Snow White With The Red Hair - Season 2 didn't stop there. One of the things that drew me to its initial season was its animation - vivid, colorful and simply stunning to watch. Bringing the series romance and fantasy to life, the animation and art of Snow White With The Red Hair truly is like something out of a fairy tale, and one reason that if and when a DVD of the series will be released by FUNimation, I will be one of the first to purchase it. In addition to its simply beautiful animation, the series music is also truly remarkable. With tracks that feature a sweeping, grand orchestra, the soundtrack added so much to the series it was unbelievable. Just as with a DVD of the series, when the soundtrack becomes available I will be one of the first to get it.   

It's no stretch to say that Snow White With The Red Hair is one of my all time favorite animes. Filled with fantasy romance, it is easily one of the most beautiful anime series of 2016 and a love story that will leave you breathless.

Prince of Stride: Alternative (2016)
Video - Prince of Stride: Alternative Opening



Nana Sakurai has just transferred to Honan Academy, a school once famous for the extreme sport known as 'Stride'. When Nana learns that Honan's Stride Club has been disbanded, she goes in search of potential members who might be interested in joining and making the Honan Stride team great again. Nana has always been a fan of Stride and it was the very reason she chose Honan Academy, but in order for the team to compete she must quickly find six members to resurrect the club and train with before her dream of becoming a Stride Relationer can become reality.

Why I began this series: I had seen that Prince of Stride: Alternative was being compared to Free/Free: Eternal Summer, just with running instead of swimming. Since I enjoyed Free so much, I decided the give the series a try.

Thoughts on the series:
A Free and Free: Eternal Summer wannabe, Prince of Stride: Alternative ultimately wasn't quite able to hold its own as one of this winters newest sport anime. Centered around the fictional sport 'Stride', a cross between track running, an obstacle course race and gymnastics, the series attempt at showing this intense sport was commendable while it was not successful in its portrayal. The series plot was much like that of Free - a story about a group of students coming together, becoming friends and working towards the same goal of winning Strides most coveted competition, End of Summer. While I am a sucker for a good sports anime, my overall enjoyment of a sports anime relies heavily on the plot and how that goal is worked for and achieved - leaving Prince of Stride: Alternative in the dust. The plot was predictable and somewhat uneven from episode to episode, but its biggest offense was that at times it was both incredibly underwhelming and unrealistic. While watching 'Stride' competitions throughout the series was thrilling, the sport itself was something that was hard to believe and find even the slightest bit possible for mere high school students. The sport itself may have seemed impressive in addition to being an unexpected new take on your classic track and field team,  but it wasn't enough to make me want more of Prince of Stride: Alternative. Similarly, the characters of the series were uneven and underdeveloped, starting with its main 'Stride' pair of Riku Yagami, voiced by Austin Tindle, and Takeru Fujiwara, voiced by Ricco Fajardo. Due to the characters themselves each had their good points as well as flaws. with the flaws becoming more present as the series progressed. Riku more than Takeru at many times seemed only to whine about their situations, ranking him low on the character totem pole, but no character could have been worse than that of the series head fan of Stride: Nana Sakurai. Something I both completely unexpected but also wasn't surprised to discover, Nana added nothing to the series whatsoever and was easily the throw away role. The sole purpose for bringing Stride back to Honan, Nana stayed as background the entire series and only came forward slightly in the final episode, adding herself to the long list of uninspiring, bland and boring female protagonists in anime. Prince of Stride: Alternative did have some saving graces however, including its animation, overall message and its music. Though a bit rough overall the animation throughout was nice to watch, especially scenes involving Stride competitions and practices. These scenes were the peak of the series overall look, drawing me back into the fictional world of Stride time and again. The animations downfall however were a few of its character designs, especially Takeru Fujiwara whose appearance looked awkward. But in the end Prince of Stride: Alternative was about teamwork and becoming a team by overcoming the hardest of obstacles, and that message was the series ultimate success. Teamwork can be hard to obtain but with the power of friendship and believing in yourself and your team, anything is possible - a message very similar to that of Free. Lastly, the series music was high energy and added much to the series both as a driving force of action, especially during running and competition scenes. Even when episodes appeared to only be filler, the music was impressive and unrelenting.

Based off a game of the same name and story, Prince of Stride: Alternative was a highly anticipated sports anime of this winters season. While it may not have been what I expected, Prince of Stride: Alternative is a series that is worth the watch if you're looking for a series along the lines of Free but is not quite up to par with many other sports series.

Hai to Genso no Gurimaguru (Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash) (2016)
Video: Hai no Genso no Gurimaguru Opening - Version 2



When a group of young people find themselves in a strange fantasy world with no memory of who they are or how they came to be there, only one thing is certain - they must survive. In order to do so they must form a party and attempt to adjust to this world known as Grimgar, where killing goblins and other mythical creatures to earn money is the only way to ensure survival. This new world is beautiful and magical, but it is also crawling with many dangerous creatures who are a constant reminder that while this world may be full of fantasy, death is around every corner.

Why I began this series: I first came across Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash when FUNimation posted a English Dub preview video of the series on YouTube. With their continuous release of Broadcast Dubs, I quickly took up Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash as it was filled with fantasy elements like those of my first anime, Sword Art Online.

Thoughts on the series:
Another highly anticipated and hyped winter series, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash was a smashing success for anime fans. Produced by A-1 Pictures, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash brought a new take on the struggles of survival and how even during the toughest of situations, anyone can be strong. The series plot was very similar to that of Sword Art Online - group of young teenagers find themselves in a new world where they must learn to adapt to their new lives and face their problems and fears without hesitation. Even though the plot wasn't as intricate or gripping as that of SAO it still made great strides in its development, leaving me wanting more and more from week to week. The plot was strong from beginning to end, showing both the beautiful and painful sides of this new world, alongside the challenges the characters faced and how those outcomes changed each of them individually and as a party. The series characters also were very well done and though some shined more than others, each had a different perspective on the present situation, how it should be handled and if the risk was worth the reward. The character who quickly took my attention was the parties leader and healer, Manatoe, who's calm and collected head was the baseline of the party, as well as their rock and guide when the unthinkable seemed to happen. Other favorites included Mary and Ranta, as the distant and outspoken characters of the group. Surprisingly I was not drawn to Grimgars main protagonist, Haruhiro, or his fellow party members Yume and Shihoru, as the three seemed dull compared to some of their deeper and more complex cast mates. But while its characters may not have been completely likable, the series animation and music were just that and much more. If anything, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash shines in its animation, using painting-esq, hand drawn scenes for almost every background with just small bits of CGI animation thrown into the mix. It was the look of Grimgar that first drew me into the series, with its simplistic yet stunning beauty. My only critique however with its style was how dark toned it seemed to be, even when the scene called for a much happier light or outcome. Finally, the music for Grimgar was a wonderfully prominent element that completely took me by surprise. Instead of the standard Orignal Soundtrack Grimgars music exclusively featured songs by the same artist, which were played almost to their full capacity throughout the series. While they were mainly used during scenes that involved action or times when the party was not hunting but rather exploring the town, the music wonderfully showed how the characters were not only hunters and survivors but also real people just trying to find a way to survive in this new world.

Like with Sword Art Online, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash will either sweep you off your feet or leave you wondering why you began it to begin with. For any true SAO or fantasy anime fan, Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash is definitely worth watching from this winters season.

Hyakujitsu no Bara (Rose Maiden) (2009)


Set in a fictional world during a great world war, Commander Taki Reizen of the 15th division Rozen Maiden leads his country's most powerful military forces alongside his faithful knight, Klaus von Wolfstadt. The country known as Eurote has held strong against its enemy, The Western Alliance, though they have lost many brave soldiers in battle. After initially meeting many years ago and being suddenly reunited at the Military Academy, Taki and Klaus become close friends and find there is something more between them, but Taki is hesitant to move forward even as they have their first romantic encounter. Now in a time of great struggle and sorrow Taki and Klaus must not only fight against the enemy but also the feelings and intimate moments between them that are strictly forbidden.

Why I began this series: I came across this series quite unexpectedly online and decided to watch it because of its short run time. Little did I know that it was a series I had seen part of already before at a certain 21+ panel at a convention not long ago.

Thoughts on the series:
Ultimately, I did not know what to think of Hyakujitsu no Bara. A yaoi with such a different story and struggle than any I'd seen, I was initially intrigued by the series war elements and how it would tie in a forbidden romance. I have always found war a difficult subject for any type of entertainment and Hyakujitsu no Bara proved no different, showing the hardship and horrors that war brings to all people no matter which side they belong to. For the romance aspect, I had very mixed feelings on how the relationship between Taki and Klaus was defined, as Klaus would often overtake Taki without his consent. I was reminded of Koisuru Bokun and how its romance elements seemed more like rape as opposed to love, making me really examine my feelings on the series and its main characters. As the first of the two episodes neared the end, I truly felt sorry for Taki and Klaus used him for his own personal, sexual gain, so much that he ended up injuring Taki immensely and making me feel an absolute hate for Klaus. But as I continued to the second episode, those feelings began to change and I grew to respect him somewhat as we explored their first meeting and eventual reunion. It was in the second episode however that Hyakujitsu no Bara truly shinned both in plot and character development, showing gripping and extremely emotional flashbacks that drew the two together. The flashbacks were purposeful and very powerful, showing how Taki and Klaus were more than just military soldiers, but real people with feelings and desires. It was during these flashbacks that I began to gain respect back for Klaus as it became clear that he both truly loved and was deeply devoted to Taki. As a couple the relationship between Taki and Klaus seemed very submissive and broken, but due to the circumstances of war and position it somehow worked. Having to struggle with both the war and their feelings for one another, both Taki and Klaus were constantly conflicted over if what they felt or what they were doing was moral - things that are still debated and relatable today. Additionally, Hyakujitsu no Bara had simple, hand-drawn animation and a musical theme that added much to the stark, reality of the series content.      

Hyakujitsu no Bara was a yaoi that really made me think. While it may not have been my absolute favorite, it was quite different from all the others and one that is definitely worth the watch in you haven't already seen it.

Love Pistols (Sex Pistols) (2010)


Most humans are descended from apes, but 30% these humans are in fact descended from other animals, such as the cat, snake, bear or dragon. Known as "Zoomans", these beings are able to transform into their descendants forms in addition to appearing human and can bread with regular humans and other Zooman males. When Norio discovers that he is a Zooman, he must face all the advances of various Zooman males who want to have his children and the idea that he is not completely human himself.  

Why I began this series: I had seen the title online for some time and became curious, especially when I read that it involved animal instincts. 

Thoughts on the series:
Sex Pistols was simply not for me. It's plot line was both confusing and so weird that I could not fully get into the series, making me have to look up the overall premise and plot line to better understand what I had seen. Additionally, the characters were bland and it was difficult to follow who descended from what animal, who was trying to get with who and who was fully human as opposed to Zooman. There seemed to be no music for the series and the animation was simple and somewhat disproportionate to the jaded plot line. 

A supernatural-science boys love crossover, Sex Pistols is a short series that is dearly loved among yaoi fans. Very different from all others, Sex Pistols is worth the watch if you are able to over look many details and be able to get past its weirdness.

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