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Pita Ten, Gokusen 2, Boku dake no Madonna

Pita Ten
This anime is about a sixth-grader boy who lost his mother a couple of years ago. He lives with his workaholic father and spends his day at school with two of his childhood friends. One day a girl appeared from his front-door apartment only to realize it later that the girl is an apprentice angel and is living beside his apartment. They will also meet an apprentice devil and her guardian devil-cat. The only problem is that this devil is too nice to become a devil, much to the devil-cat’s annoyance.

This is a kid’s cartoon, if you ask me. I love how the characters were drawn in detail even though they’re so cute I want to throw up. However, what was disappointing with this series is that the relationship between the protagonist and his father weren’t resolved. By the end of episode 26, there aren’t a lot of interaction between him and his father, and I wonder if the kid will grow up to be distant or something. More »

R.O.D.

Finally got a chance to watch R.O.D. the TV, and I confess, it’s now one of my favorite series.

R.O.D. or Read or Die the TV is sort of a continuation of the R.O.D. OAV which features the librarian, extreme bibliophile and paper master, Yomiko Readman. The one that I am watching is the TV series wherein Yomiko’s friend, Sumiregawa Nenene encountered the “Paper Sisters” who are also able to manipulate paper. Two of the “Paper Sisters” are also book addicts like Yomiko. In the series, Yomiko has been gone missing for four years and Sumiregawa’s manager hired the “Paper Sisters” to be her bodyguards after the attempt assassination of Sumiregawa back in Hong Kong.

I am happy because there’s a series where my favorite past times were combined together. I can also relate to Michelle and Maggie because they really love books and they tend to hoard books. I cannot help but smile everytime Maggie hides in dark places in order to read her favorite books. Perhaps, booklovers like me tend to have weird habits when reading.

I am still halfway on the series, but like what I’ve said, it’s one of my favorites now.

Initial D

Kung may isang bagay man sa mundo ang hindi ko matagalan, ito ay ang pagmamaneho ng sasakyan. I didn’t renew my license last year because I am already convinced that I am a very, very bad driver. My parents still want me to keep my license because I will certainly need to drive once I started working. But that’s beside the point. I still believe that I am a bad driver.

Isang sidestory iyan. Kaninang tanghali ay nanood ako ng anime series na Initial D. Narinig ko ang series na ito kay Ate Nikki. Tapos nakita ko noong Martes na may DVD si Cheree kaya sabi ko hihiramin ko muna at papanoorin. Iniisip kong mabo-bored ako sa series na ito kasi tungkol ito sa street car racing. Kanina ay pinanood namin ni Jaq ang unang anim na episodes. Jaq, huwag mong babasahin ang entry na ‘to dahil papanoorin mo pa ito mamaya, di ba? More »

Tenisu no Oujisama: Futari no Samurai

Tenisu no Oujisama: Futari no Samurai (2005)
Prince of Tennis is my favorite sports anime. I think it’s much better than Slam Dunk. Anyway, I just finished watching PoT’s movie, Futari no Samurai, or Two Samurais. If you’re interested in watching this you can just go to AnimeSuki and look for the torrent file.

The story deviates from the series’ (both anime and manga) plot. Seishun Gakuen was invited by a certain millionaire to play an exhibition game against the millionaire’s own tennis team. It was a surprise when Ryoma and the rest of the team meets Ryoga Echizen, Ryoma’s adopted older brother. Seishun Gakuen then realizes that they fell under the trap of the millionaire’s cunning plan and it’s up to them to teach these fellows what “real tennis” is all about. More »

Witch Hunter Robin

Witch Hunter Robin
Witch Hunter Robin is my current anime fixation after finishing Samurai Champloo last week. This series tells the story of a 15-year old girl named Robin Sena who arrives in Japan from Italy to replace a dead hunter of a group called STN. The said group hunts down witches, but instead of killing them, they are using a substance called Orbo that weakens the power of the witches temporarily so that they can capture them and bring them to a facility called the Factory.

I have some reservations when I decided to watch this series. I find the show too dark and being a scaredy cat, I am not sure if I can handle the story. But everything went well. Witch Hunter Robin lacks the usual exaggerated expression that we usually see in a typical anime series. The plot is good, although I have some problems with the way the story unravels in each episode. More »

Saiyuki: Reload, Rurouni Kenshin OAV, Wolf’s Rain

I guess I cannot finish my novel for this year because I have lots of things to do. Aside from preparing for my finals next month, I spend my free time acquiring copies of anime series from the internet and saving them on blank discs.

Here’s the list of the series that I’ve been watching (and downloading) for the past week.

Saiyuki: Reload
I already mentioned that I have a pretty good background about this series after watching this a number of times (putol-putol nga lang), not to mention the volumes of manga that I’ve read. Oh, and I also saw the movie, hehe. This series is about four guys who are on their way to the west to prevent the resurrection of a powerful demon. I would like to mention that there is only one human in this group, which is Genjo Sanzo. The rest are all demons/monsters.

If you don’t like bloody battles, don’t watch this. However the storyline is well-written, so I recommend this one.

Related Links: Saiyuki Reload (Japanese) | Saiyuki Reload at Anime News Network

Ruruoni Kenshin: Tsuioku Hen
If you are a true anime fan, I am sure that you have seen this before. This 4-episode OAV depicts the origin of Kenshin Himura, also known as Hitokiri Battousai. We get to see him as a young child into one of the region’s lethal assassin. This also involves the story of his first marriage to Tomoe Yukishiro. If you’re really curious how he got the infamous X scar on his left cheek, then you have to watch this.

Related Links: Tsuiko Hen fanlisting | Tsuiko Hen at Anime News Network More »

Samurai Champloo

From the creator of Cowboy Bebop comes Samurai Champloo. Kung naghahanap ka ng mature anime series, then you should try watching this (salamat sa recommendation ni Val!). Sa familiar sa anime, sigurado akong iisipin ninyong mukhang walang bago sa palabas na ito. In fact, there’s Rurouni Kenshin and Samurai 7, right? Probably, yes. But what if I tell you that Samurai Champloo’s story line is not really historically accurate and its theme is a mix of old Japan and modern hiphop music?

O, gulat ka?

There are three main characters in this series. Mugen, a 19-year old criminal whose fighting techniques came from different kinds of people he met; Jin, a a 20-year old samurai who are being chased by his fellow students after killing his sensei; and Fuu, the only girl in the group and the reason why the three of them are traveling together. Fuu used to work in a teahouse when two customers, Mugen and Jin, started to fight. The teahouse was set on fire, but instead of feeling sad about it, Fuu decided that the incident must be a signal for her to finally set her journey to look for the samurai who smells sunflowers. She also decided to convinced the two swordsman to accompany her in her quest, and everything starts from that.

What I like about this series is that the creator manages to combine humor, horror, drama and violence in one single show. Like I stated earlier, this is a mature series; this even reminded me of Ninja Scroll, pero mas subtle ang Samurai Champloo. The drama heats up during the last few episodes, but the whole series contains a lot of swordfights.

Saan papasok ang hiphop music? Well, for one, Mugen does not have a specific fighting skill, but he uses breakdancing when he fights, hehe. Makakakita ka rin ng ramdom people sa palabas na nagra-rap, which is really funny because the story was set in Tokugawa Era. I also like the animation and the character design. This series is worth watching, so I suggest that you either download this or buy a DVD.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2004)
If you have time to get a copy of this movie, please do. Wala akong background sa Final Fantasy, that’s why I was clueless when I saw Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children awhile ago. Sa palagay ko mabuti na rin ito para wala akong masyadong expectations sa film. Anyway, I was amazed on how the film was made. Sure, Tifa somewhat looks like Dr. Aki Ross of Spirits Within, but what the heck. The characters look good (angas ng porma ni Yuffie at Vincent Valentine!) and the film seems flawless. Ganda.

Set two years after the events of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud now leads a solitary life traveling the Planet as a transporter. The office of Strife Delivery Service is located in 7th Heaven, which also functions as an orphanage for children stricken with Geostigma.

A non-contagious disease known as Geostigma is spreading across the Planet, with Kadaj claiming that it is due to Jenova’s cells working hard in the Lifestream. Children tend to show signs of Geostigma first, though adults are susceptible to the disease as well. Symptoms of Geostigma include mental weakness, pain and even death. Cloud is known to suffer from this disease though he hides his affected arm beneath his sleeve. He is heard coughing and clutching his arm in some parts of the trailers. Victims bandage affected regions and it was Cloud’s used bandage, which Marlene found in the Church, that gave away his condition. [Advent Children]

Some scenes will remind you of Animatrix, but you shouldn’t be bothered. The film is not only an eyecandy; I also like the story despite my lack of knowledge of the story and the whole game itself. Nevertheless, I am sure that you will enjoy the experience watching this, the way that I did.

I haven’t finished the film yet (kasi nanoood lang kami ni Joylinne sa notebook ni Ian), but trust me, you have to watch this film. Rating: 5 of 5

Related link: Advent Children.Net

Honey & Clover

More »

Fruits Basket

Fruits Basket (Furuba for short). Nagsimula akong mag-download noong Martes at natapos ko ito noong Biyernes ng umaga. Ang masasabi ko lang ay mahal ko na ang series na ito! <3

Ang gist ng kuwento ay tungkol sa isang ulilang high school student na si Touru Honda. Matapos mamatay ng kanyang nanay ay inampon siya ng kanyang lolo pero dahil nire-renovate ang bahay nito (at inaalagaan ito ng mga kamag-anak niyang masasama ang ugali), ninais na lamang niyang tumira sa isang… tent. Naligaw siya sa isang bahay na malapit sa tent at nalamang dito pala nakatira ang kaklase niyang si Yuki Souma at ang tiyuhin nitong si Shigure. Nakilala rin niya ang pinsan ni Yuki na si Kyou Souma. Pero sa isang hindi maiwasang pagkakataon ay nadiskubre niya ang sikreto ng pamilyang Souma — na kapag sila ay nayayakap ng kahit sino sa opposite sex, nagiging animals sila — mga animals na kasali sa Chinese Zodiac.

Sa pagkakaalam ko hindi pareho sa ibang aspeto ang kuwento sa series at sa manga. Putol kasi ang series dahil 26 episodes lang ito samantalang ongoing ang kuwento sa manga (see Ria-sensei’s entry about Furuba volume 17). Masuwerte akoat licensed sa Tokyopop ang Fruits Basket kaya hindi gaanong huli ang English trans manga dito sa North America.

Ano ang kinaganda ng series na ito? LAHAT! I sound like a… fan girl here pero natuwa ako sa series na ito. Hindi ko rin ma-explain kung sino ang gusto kong pairing, si Yuki x Touru ba o si Kyou x Touru. Either way, it feels right, hehe. Masayang tingnan si Yuki pati pakinggan ang boses niya (mitte, mitte!) , si Kyou naman gusto ko iyong character niya saka kapag lumalambot ang personality niya. Cute din ang ibang members ng Souma family (except kay Akito, grrr).

Sa mga mababaw ang luha, hay, maghanda na kayo ng tissue sa tabi ninyo kasi babaha ng luha! Pag-iipunan ko rin ang manga, kasabay ng pag-kolekta ko ng Prince of Tennis, hehe.