Grace Notes

Saturday, January 23, 2016

He Love Me, He Loves Me Not - Live, Love Anime: Part VIIII

Noragami

Video: Noragami Original Opening

God of Calamity Yato has always wanted a shrine to call his own, but due to financial circumstances is unable to build one. To see this dream come true, Yato offers his services to those on the Near Shore, otherwise known as the human world, for five yen per job. When Yato one day is performing a job on the Near Shore, he saves a young human girl named Hiori from getting hit by a bus. Thankful, yet unsure of how she survived, Hiori returns to her normal life until she discovers that she has the ability to leave her human body and see Phantoms that plague the city. But for the human world to be safe these Phantoms must be destroyed and only Gods, such as Yato, have the power to do so.

Why I began this series: I had heard many great things about Noragami and that it was currently still airing its second season. Due to its high popularity and substantial fan base, I decided to start it.

What I liked about the series: For some reason, I find it hard to sum up my enjoyment of Noragami in words. There were many aspects of Noragami that I both particularly enjoyed and found very different from many of the other animes I've seen thus far. The first was its concepts: while its Gods vs. Deamons (or in this case Phantoms) was not particularly new anime material, the way Noragami centered on it through its characters and other plot lines was very well done. Throughout the series, its characters were extremely well developed in addition to being both relatable and memorable from beginning to end. What I found most enjoyable however about Noragami were the personalities of these characters and how these personalities affected the series tone from episode to episode. I particularly loved the series frequent comic elements, mainly provided by Yato and his regalia Yukine, and how their placement made watching the series both easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, the English Dub for the series was near perfection and the opening theme song was and still is extremely catchy.

What I didn't like about the series: The only main issues I found with Noragami was its beginning pacing and introduction to some of its characters. It took me a few episodes to really get into Noragami, but once I did I was in it until the end.

It's an odd one, Noragami, but I've often found those kinds of things to be the most wonderful. I would recommend it to every anime fan as it is a series that will both leave you wanting more and a series you should see just for the sake to have seen it.

Kimi ni Todoke (2010)
Video: Kimi ni Todoke Original Opening

Sawako has always had trouble making friends due to her "scary" name and appearance that somewhat resembles a monster in a popular Japanese movie. To make things worse rumors have spread around school, saying that if they look or speak to Sawako you will be cursed for eternity. When Sawako one day helps a young boy named Kazehaya find the High School her life is turned upside down, as she makes her first friends. Sawako is thrilled to have made friends, but is shocked when she discovers Kazehaya is the newest member of their class. In just a few days Sawako has made friends and spoken to a boy, but as time goes on and Sawako learns what friends do, will romantic feelings bloom between Sawako and Kazehaya?

Why I began this series: I started this series a while ago but had put it aside eight episodes in. Having recently decided to finish up all shows on my "In Process" list, Kimi ni Todoke was the first one I wanted to finally complete. And now, I have.

What I liked about the series: I am a sucker for Anime Romantic Comedies, and Kimi ni Todoke is a perfect example of an anime Rom-Com done right. What originally drew me into the series was its simple story line, its characters, its voice actors and especially its unique animation. The series overall focuses on the subtle yet budding romance between Sadako and Kazehaya, as the two go about their everyday lives inside and out of school. Things are made even more interesting when Sadako makes her very first friends and starts to learn and realize that she doesn't have to be alone and that life can be fun. Perhaps the series simple plot and incredibly relatable story line is what made Kimi ni Todoke so enjoyable from start to finish, alongside its incredibly memorable and distinct characters. With the exception of one particular character, I fell in love with the entire cast of the series and found myself many times either rooting for or yelling at the characters as situations arose. The other two factors that drew me in were its Japanese voice cast and the series overall look and animation. I have not seen many animes in the original Japanese but I cannot imagine Kimi ni Todoke done any other way. The voice cast was simply brilliant, with each voice perfectly fitting the character and bringing both the romantic and comedic elements of the series to life. Also brilliant and different was its animation, very raw and simple instead of the usual "high definition" animation I am used to seeing.

What I didn't like about the series: The only thing with the series that I took issue with was its pacing. While anime Rom-Coms are not the fastest paced series and their slower pacing is used for immense amounts of character development, Kimi ni Todoke many times felt very, very slow.

Kimi ni Todoke is a classic, and I would highly recommend it to any anime Rom-Com lover

Snow White with the Red Hair (2015)
Video: Snow White with the Red Hair Original Opening

Once upon a time, there lived a young girl named Shirayuki who lived in the kingdom of Tonburn. Known for her blood red hair and post as an herbalist, Shirayuki spent her days creating remedies and medicines for her fellow commoners with illnesses and ailments. When Shirayuki one day is scouted out as a possible wife for the selfish Prince of Tonburn, Shirayuki flees her country and travels to a neighboring kingdom. The following day, Shirayuki unexpectedly meets a young man named Zen who offers his help in her travels. Lost and alone in a distant country Shirayuki accepts Zens help, but is there more that meets the eye and will Shirayuki's destiny be forever changed by their meeting?

Why I began this series: I had been looking through KissAnime's lists of series, and found Snow White with the Red Hair. The next day, I found the first four episodes Dubbed and I began it right away.

What I liked about this series: This was my first true dive into Fantasy anime, and I loved it. From the series story, to its characters and its animation I was immediately immersed in its magical realm. A story just somewhat similar to Snow White, Snow White with the Red Hair took everything I was expecting and turned it on its head in a beautiful new way. It's simply story and focus on its characters made this fantasy one I couldn't wait to see more of and a series that I would fall deeply in love with. The shinning star of the series however is its characters - all starting with its spunky female heroine, Shirayuki. In many anime series the female leads either are not strong or particularly independent and end up relying on the male protagonist to help or "save" them, but this was is no way the case for Snow White and the Red Hair. Shirayuki is one of if not the best anime female role models I've encountered in quite some time and her attitude and actions made her memorable and reminded me of myself in some ways. Opposite Shirayuki, Zen was another character I fell for both in looks and personality. The two as a pair seemed unstoppable and I quickly found myself rooting for them throughout the entire series. Additionally, the supporting cast made lasting impressions and added much to the series as a whole. Since Snow White with the Red Hair is a Fantasy anime, it goes without saying that its animation was simply beautiful and an anime I could look and get lost in for hours on end.

What I didn't like about the series: Absolutely nothing - this series was pure bliss

Snow White with the Red Hair is an incredible, romantic, fresh anime that has become a new favorite. I would highly recommend it to all anime fans, especially those who love a wonderful love story.

Hotarubi no Mori e
Video: Hotarubi no Mori e Trailer

When a young girl one day becomes lost in the forest, a strange spirit comes to her aid. As the girl reaches out to him, his face hidden by a mask, the spirit explains that no human can touch him or he will disappear forever. The two agree never to touch and the girl decides that each summer as she comes to visit her uncle they will see each other. Years go by, and the young girl and spirit grow closer, still having never touched each other. But their friendship and happiness hangs in the balance, both knowing that one day, Gin will finally disappear. Forever.

Why I watched this: I had been meaning to watch this movie for a while, and I finally did it.

What I liked about it: While this film was very low key, the points made were beautiful. First, relationships do not have to be based on physicality. Second, love is natural; something that grows over time and cannot be forced. Third, beauty can be found in all things. And finally, love will conquer all things. This films message was beautiful, and left me in many, many tears.

What I didn't like about it: The only two things I wish this film had was a well done English Dub and a longer run time. If it had been longer, the two main characters could have grown more and the pacing of the film might have been better overall.

An extremely beautiful film that will leave you in tears, I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Who Can Say What is Truly Evil - Live, Love Anime: Part VIII

Shiki (2010)

Video: Shiki - Opening 2

Welcome to Sotoba: a small populated, isolated town in Japan where everyone knows everything about everybody. The town is abuzz with news that a new family, the Kirishiki's, has moved into the renovated mansion on the hill, and what's stranger, they moved in in the middle of the night. Furthermore, the only thing the town seems to know about the Kirishiki's is the fact that the mother and daughter share a common medical condition that forbids them to be in the sunlight. Shortly after Kirishiki's arrive however, residents of Sotoba begin dying and showing symptoms of an epidemic that not even Sotoba's renowned Dr. Ozaki can understand or cure. Sotoba, the Kirishiki's, an epidemic, death - does it somehow all connect, and is it true that Sotoba residents have seen the dead victims of this epidemic roaming the streets at night?

Why I began this series: Interestingly enough, I came across Shiki on YouTube during a review by one of my favorite anime reviewers, Glass Reflection. I did not watch the entire review however, as after the first few minutes the series peeked my interest enough for me to find and watch it myself. Needless to say, I in no way was prepared for what I was about to watch, nor how emotional and obsessed with Shiki I would become.

What I liked about this series: I LOVED THIS SERIES! Before I even review Shiki, it's worth saying that Shiki definitely makes my Top 10 Anime of All Time List, joining other personal favorites, such as Deathnote, Code Geass, Kuroshitsuji, Your Lie in April and Death Parade. A mystery anime with horror elements, Shiki was a psychological, emotional and whirlwind thrill from beginning to end, set up with great characters, a story that constantly kept me on the edge of my seat and a whole new take on a type of creature that I have found to be one of the hardest to successfully pull off in anime: vampires. But let's start at the beginning with Shiki's characters. A cast of many, the characters of Shiki were incredibly unique as the series followed the story through the eyes of the different Sotoba residents. Seeing the story from all these perspectives was both incredibly intriguing and interesting, especially as the town discovers that what they are dealing with is not an epidemic at all, but their own loved ones who have risen up from the dead and are now vampires. Because each character was so unique and was given a specific purpose for the series, I found myself liking almost every single character and whenever something bad would happen to any one of them, I would find myself either yelling profusely at the screen or crying my eyes out. Hand in hand with its characters, the plot and concepts explored through Shiki were incredible. The simple concept of the series is Vampires, but as the series continues and we see how these ordinary humans are transformed and what kind of lives they lead now as these creatures, brings us to the ultimate question in the series: who is truly evil? It's true that vampires must feed on human blood to survive, but do they really want to kill? And what about the humans - the ones who are committing numerous murder against the vampires to save their town - is that truly evil? These kinds of questions are what made Shiki such a thrill and heart-wrencher to watch, and now the series is over, I still don't know who was right and who was wrong. The plot additionally took turns that I was in no way prepared to see or handle emotionally, making the entire situation of Sotoba that much harder to watch. Other elements of this series however were equally as well done, such as the soundtrack, animation and English Dub. The soundtrack was eerie without completely overpowering the story of the series, adding just the right amount of creepiness its already dark outlook. Similarly, some of the animation used for the corpse demons was awesome, especially the variety of Shiki eyes and the various ways the Shiki are killed off by the rest of the Sotoba residents. And finally, there's is the English dub, which was fabulous (and I'm not just saying that because it has J Michael Tatum). The Dub all around was one of the best I've come across with every voice fitting its character perfectly, something that not every anime is able to successfully accomplish.

What I didn't like about this series: The only thing that bother me with Shiki was its pacing for the first half of the series. Some episodes seemed long and extremely drawn out, but since the plot does not take off until the second half it is understandable why the first ten or so episodes felt this way. This fact however does not change my overall opinion on the series.

Some regard Shiki as a masterpiece, and I would have to agree. It is something remarkable and a definite must see for any anime fan.

The World God Only Knows (2010)

Video: The World God Only Knows Original Opening

Keima Katsuragi doesn't have any interest in reality, but rather all that resides in the virtual world. Always staring at his portable PFP game console, Katsuragi is known in the gaming world as "The God of Conquest", famous for wooing an infinite number of virtual heroins. When Katsuragi one day receives a strange in game message challenging his title Katsuragi vows to prove that he is the ultimate gaming God and accepts, unaware that he has just made a contract with a demon. Katsuragi must now work with the demon girl, Elise, to collect lose souls that have escaped from Hell and now reside in humans to complete his contract. But the humans these souls reside in are not quite Katsuragi's forte: real girls.

Why I began this series: This series had also been on my 'To See' list for quite some time, and after just finishing Shiki I wanted something a bit more lighthearted and comedic, thus I began The World God Only Knows.

What I liked about this series: I surprisingly enjoyed this series more than I expected. At the start I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but as I kept watching it grew on me. I grew to especially like the main protagonist, Katsuragi, though he was always either buried in his games or relating the real world to games. But the thing I enjoyed most about this series was the fact that I didn't have to "think" while watching. Watching with the English Dub, I could do other things while completely being able to follow along with the story and laugh at the characters in their various situations. This kind of mindlessness was a nice change from Shiki and made the series both very relaxing and fun.

What I didn't like about this series: Unlike many of my other reviews, most of my negatives about The World God Only Knows comes from my personal taste. I wasn't ever completely sold on the story line or some of the characters, such as Elsie or some of the girls that Katsuragi is forced to woo. Because the plot line never changes, the series wasn't given anywhere to go and it sometimes felt stuck and stagnant. Additionally, there was no opportunity for Katsuragi to grow as a character because his situation and opinions never changed. Then there are the various girls of the series, most of which I was not particularly fond of.

I liked The World God Only Knows and am very glad to have seen it, and while I have already seen its second season, I am not sure yet if I will continue onto its third. Everything aside, The World God Only Knows is a very different anime that I would recommend if you are able to forgo a few outward, prominent flaws.

DuRaRaRa!! x2 - Arc 1 (2015)
Video: DuRaRaRa!! x2 - Arc 1 Original Opening

Still home various gangs, Ikebukaro has turned into a quiet city. The largest gang to date, 'The Dollars', still control much of the city, 'The Yellow Scarves' have quieted down and 'The Blue Squares' remain simply rumors. Through it all, the Black Rider still remains a legend performing jobs throughout the city and Izaya continues to scheme with Shizuo hot on his trail. Since 'The Dollars' initiation, things seem to have quieted down - but it can't stay this way for long.

Why I began this series: I really wanted to continue Durarara!! after finishing its first season, and when I saw DuRaRaRa x2 on Netflix I jumped at the chance to continue.

What I liked about the series: The thing I most enjoy about the Durarara series is its characters, and this first arc of DuRaRaRa x2 excelled in the exploration, detail and involvement of its characters. With a more relaxed overall plot line, this first arc allowed its characters to flourish and help further show and explain each characters personality and decisions, ultimately bringing to light their interior and exterior motives. While the plot was nothing incredible remarkable or special, the way this arc handled its characters was quite enjoyable and made this series one I will definitely continue on with.

What I didn't like about the series: Since this arc focuses so prominently on its characters, the over all plot feels somewhat lackluster and at times seemed slow and dull. If some of the plot holes were filled in through the arc, it would have been a much more easy and enjoyable watch.

As DuRaRaRa x2 continues, I am excited to see where the series goes and look forward to the next time I encounter either Izaya Orihara or Shizuo Heiwajima.

Plastic Memories (2015)
Video: Plastic Memories Original Opening

In a futuristic time, humans now live alongside androids otherwise known as "Giftas", who look, feel and have memories just as humans do. With a lifespan of just under 10 years, each Gifta must be retrieved by those employed at the Terminal Service who are in charge of retrieval and the erasing of each Giftas personality and memories. When young Tsukasa finds himself working at Terminal Service at the request of his father he is eager to start his new job, unaware of what it entails. He then learns that each human worker is paired with a Gifta for retrievals and other jobs and that he is to work with Isla, a Gifta whose only real talent lies in the making of tea. Paired with Isla, Tsukasa must quickly learn his duties as a member of Terminal Service, but along the way, will his own emotions for the job and for Isla be to much to bear?

Why I began the series: I had been meaning to watch this series and decided to watch it on a whim, and I'm so glad I did.

What I liked about the series: Because this short series contains too many spoilers for a full length review, it is simplest to say that this series was just stunning. From its plot, to its characters, its soundtrack and animation, this series was one of the best I have ever seen. Everything about the series was memorable and it evoked emotions that I haven't experienced since Clannad & Clannad: After Story. If you either haven't seen Plastic Memories or loved the Clannad series, then this is the series for you.

What I didn't like about the series: There was nothing about this show that I did not like or care for. The only thing I would hope for in the next few years would be an English Dub, with a cast that is able to blow me away all over again.

Plastic Memories is a must see - if you haven't seen it yet, go watch it. You will not be disappointed.

For my next few reviews, I will be working through my 'In Process' list which has grown too large in the last few months. Until then, viva la anime!

Friday, December 11, 2015

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.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

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!

Monday, November 16, 2015

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.

Grace Notes

Saturday, January 23, 2016

He Love Me, He Loves Me Not - Live, Love Anime: Part VIIII

Top 10 Anime YouTube Videos

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Who Can Say What is Truly Evil - Live, Love Anime: Part VIII

Friday, December 11, 2015

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

Sunday, November 22, 2015

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

Monday, November 16, 2015

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

Review: 'Death Becomes Her' (2024) - Chicago's Latest Broadway-Bound Musical Excels, Amidst Necessary Tweaking

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