Raspberry Cube looks like the best candidate from the presented ones. Micchi also likes CharaBration and Kemono Musume no Sodatekata
1. NG [180913] Experience 1 2
Face the nightmares you thought were merely urban legends. Use your wits and trusty flashlight to search for clues to your sister’s disappearance. Team up with shady characters to uncover a dark mystery, making deadly decisions just to survive. The choices you make determine your fate and affect the lives of everyone around you.
This chilling companion story to the award-winning Spirit Hunter: Death Mark game brings terror home as fearful spirits invade local streets and parks – even your own home. Experience frightful sounds and stunning environments illustrated by artist Fumiya Sumio.
Game is localized and has English reviews
2. Aerial Life アエリアル・ライフ [180928] Prekano 1
The protagonist is a part-time beta tester at a game developer company which runs the popular VR game Aerial Life. However, there was an unknown bug after the latest major update and he became trapped in the VR world, along with fellow beta-tester Otome, who lost her memories of the outer world. Unable to log out, they had to stay in the virtual world for a while and complete the grand quest. Will he be able to recover her memories and break free from the game?
There is an English impression
3. CharaBration! ~Otome wa Koi shite Charabureru~ きゃらぶれーしょん！ ～乙女は恋してキャラぶれる～ [180928] Akabei Soft3 1 2 3
Rikka’s dream is to become a servant for his sickly cousin Hai. This spring she joined him at Rinka Gakuen, a school for the upper class, but she caused trouble shortly upon arrival and was confined to a special correctional dormitory known as ‘the prison’. He refused to believe that the pretty and refined Hai would do such a thing, so he dressed as a maid to infiltrate the dormitory as Yuki with the help of the student council president Yukia.
However, when he met her again inside, he discovered that she was actually a carefree tomboy… exactly the opposite of what he thought she was! Moreover, everyone else there had a completely different side! Hai had an absurd request for him: she wanted him to help set her up with… himself. His dual life with doubled-faced girls has begun!
There are English reviews
4. Hime to Otome no Yakimochi Love 姫と乙女のヤキモチＬＯＶＥ [180928] Princess Sugar 1
The former girls’ school Kokoronomori Gakuen recently became co-ed, but girls still greatly outnumber boys. Kazuki is the son of the school’s chairman and serves as the student council president. However, only he knows that his father had disappeared after incurring grave debts and that he is also acting as the chairman. His childhood friend and vice-president of the student council Sara and former student council leader Nanoka began to suspect something was amiss.
At that time, a group of exchange students arrived from overseas. It was another one of his childhood friends, the princess Alize, and her attendant Majoroline. The students’ excitement seeing these mysterious foreigners was palpable, and it became even more chaotic when Alize suddenly kissed him in front of the whole school.
“I’ve always dreamed of the day when I would be able to meet you once more”
Majoroline explained that the school had been formally acquired by the Kingdom of Stanhal to serve as a cross-cultural bridge between the two nations. He was greeted by them when he returned home, and had no option but to live with them since he was saddled with debt. His co-habitation life with the deeply-in-love Alize begins.
There is an English impression
5. Kemono Musume no Sodatekata ケモノ娘の育て方 [180928] Sweet & Tea 1 2 3 4
Shuuji picked up a strange girl in the mountains near his hometown and ended up taking care of her. Iroha had been ‘spirited away’ more than ten years ago and lacks common sense and the ability to converse. Even though this constantly caused him problems, he was enamoured by her innocence.
However, the world is not always a friendly place and her lost time will never be restored. An uncertain future awaits Iroha, but Shuuji is determined to protect her.
There are English reviews
6. Raspberry Cube ラズベリーキューブ [180928] Madosoft 1
Satoru was a delinquent who one day decided to change for the better and aimed to do one good deed each day. He returned to his hometown to live by himself and saved the landlord’s daughter Mikoto from some thugs, helped the lone gardening club member Minato with tending the fields, and did part-time with Yuu at the military shop since they were short on staff.
However, his meeting with the student council president Ruri was somewhat different. The next day, he saw her once more and thought that she had come to thank him, but when he chased after her, he soon found himself waist-high in a pit. She took a picture of him in his pathetic state and left without helping him out.
“Does she have a grudge against me because of something I did in the past?”
There is an English impression
7. Sono Hana ga Saitara, Mata Boku wa Kimi ni Deau その花が咲いたら、また僕は君に出逢う [180928] Campus
Akito came to Mahoshi Gakuen as a transfer student and got lost as he walked around the unfamiliar vast campus. A girl with gentle eyes, Yuki, called out to him. She showed him around the school, ending at a flower garden where the flowers were still budding.
“Let’s meet here again when the flowers bloom”
Low-price single heroine work. Supposedly good, but I just don't play games without distinctive story for romance.
BLOCKED
1. Boku no Amayaka Seikatsu -Seishou-chou Kankouka, Mainichi Ecchi na Locodol Katsudou!- ボクのあまやかせいかつ－星湘町観光課、毎日えっちなロコドル活動！－ [180928] Carol Works
Akito came to Mahoshi Gakuen as a transfer student and got lost as he walked around the unfamiliar vast campus. A girl with gentle eyes, Yuki, called out to him. She showed him around the school, ending at a flower garden where the flowers were still budding.
“Let’s meet here again when the flowers bloom”
Nukige with an opening
2. Boku to Kanojo no Gohoushi Dousei 僕と彼女のご奉仕同棲 [180928] Tokohana
Akito came to Mahoshi Gakuen as a transfer student and got lost as he walked around the unfamiliar vast campus. A girl with gentle eyes, Yuki, called out to him. She showed him around the school, ending at a flower garden where the flowers were still budding.
“Let’s meet here again when the flowers bloom”
Nukige with an opening
Foreword: In June selection is so bad that I was choosing between erotic fantasy game in school environment and in fantasy environment, and the latter was chosen which is Hime-sama Ririshiku!
Synopsis: He is wandering around the forest. He doesn't know where he is, why he is there. The only things he remembers are his name and his position that he is a prince of a country. The prince meets a mysterious girl named Chinaki. She has also lost her memory but it seemed she came from another world. There is one more thing that he is sure.... that he is lecherous. He doesn't know about love but likes girls. Thanks to a fairy named Hana, they get out of the forest and come to a house where the King lives. The prince is informed that one year has already passed since he disappeared. However, the prince doesn't take this fact seriously, just thinks about erotic things. The king orders him to act more decently. Will he be able to change his behaviors and know the real love?
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKHhVOMPpzo&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_7EWLkdUCNTKOCBZXuxD1U
Game type: Ghost comedy
Character Design rating: 4/10
Protagonist rating: 1/10
Story rating: 3/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 4/10
As you see, there is not much to discuss. Quality is average, but characters, protagonist and story leave much to be desired.
Let's start with protagonist this time. He's a sex addict and pervert. With his power of imaginary erotic scenes there's no lack of H scenes. But what's even worse, he turns out to be a prince who abuses his position all the time. He coerces private maid to sex pretty much every morning and squeezes lots of other non-noble girls in the corners. He's the worst and thus the worst score.
Story is pretty much non-existent. For the whole common route and half of individual routes nothing happens at all. Protagonist has his morning sex with private maid, goes to school or town and just harasses every girl he sees. There are two main branches - king route and prince route. In king route he more or less tries to contain his explosive libido, but so called "culmination" is laughable and turns out to be a mere trifle, super stupid. In prince route Chinaki End there is finally more or less normal antagonist and explanation about this world, inter-world travel, prince memory - basically, everything. And only because of this weak unsatisfying explanation attempt story gets rise from 1 to 3, otherwise it would hit rock bottom.
Heroines are boring and uninspiring. Basically, four girls that don't give away virginity right away make the four main heroines. Shanrena is a cute dog ears wild girl who basically plays a role of a traditional elf. Manafize is protagonist's sister, but no one really cares about incest there. She is a bit weak in health and has nose blood all the time. Misara is a fighter princess of the neighboring state. She makes our tsundere. Finally, Chinaki is the first girl we meet, and her ending is the most informative, so I guess we can call her main heroine. She comes from modern Japan to this Isekai and looks for a way back.
So maybe this game is about humor? It's not. I never found anything funny, but consciously I analyzed that just now it was probably a "gag". The closes thing thing to funny was Chinaki's magical girl cosplay.
So what's this game about then? It's all about sex, and in this way it is a nukige. H events is the only thing that stimulates writer's creativity. By game's concept love with one partner beats chaotic sex life, and this love beats also beats antagonist's evil plans. Very stupid and very simplistic.
I feel that Hime-sama Ririshiku was a waste of time to such an extent that I feel bad for even publishing video of it. It's just not worth the effort.
Another August capitulates before the doujins. Blade x Bullet - Kinrin no Soleil is the only normal game and winner by default. Did not find Clephas winner for August, but it's ether the same or fandisc or none. Micchi is more interested in Kotonoha Amrilato and fandisc.
1. Dai Gyakuten Saiban 2 -Naruhodou Ryuunosuke no Kakugo- 大逆転裁判2 -成歩堂龍ノ介の覺悟- [170803] Capcom 1 2 3 4
Two months after the events of the previous game, Susato Mikotoba learns that her best friend, Haori Murasame, has been accused of murdering the murderer of Dr. Watson. With no defense attorney willing to help, she decides to do so. However, since women aren't allowed in Japanese courts, she disguises herself as Ryūnosuke Naruhodō's cousin Ryutarō. Meanwhile, Ryūnosuke assists her in the case, and the two of them become involved in a conspiracy.
Detective is localized and has English reviews
2. Watashi wa Kyou Koko de Shinimasu. 私は今日ここで死にます。 [170816] mint wings 1 2
What do you do when you see someone about to take their life? I’m sure there’s more than one answer to that question — but when it happened to me, I had neither the time nor the composure for idle philosophy.
When he sees Mishima Yuka throw herself off a bridge into the river below, Haibara Kyousuke follows right after, saving her from drowning. But it’s not like he wants to deal with this kid — he just had to do it… or so he wants to think. Well, said girl wants none of his indifference, and forces her way into his life — to find out why exactly he saved her life, or so she says. All Kyousuke wants is that she at least end her life without regrets; all she wants is to take her life. But just as Mishima has her demons, Kyousuke has his own to deal with. How do you find the strength to live in a world where you don’t fit in, where nothing seems to quite work out for you? They’re both looking for an answer… and maybe together, they can find it.
There are English reviews
3. Blade x Bullet - Kinrin no Soleil BLADE×BULLET 金輪のソレイユ [170825] SkyFish 1
Valkyrie, the ultimate divine spirit weapon. Anyone who obtains its power can overcome the military of an entire nation. Deep in the North lies the closed city of Eljudnir, upon which many girls gather with varying aspirations. The last person left standing would be able to obtain its power.
The resurrected Yagi met a girl who called herself Hela, the goddess of underworld. She told him that he possessed the spirit of the malicious god Loki, and informed him that, together with the black valkyrie Reginleiv, he was to hunt down those who sought the powers of the valkyrie.
There is an English review
4. Kotonoha Amrilato ことのはアムリラート [170825] SukeraSparo 1
High schooler Rin was just buying a snack in her hometown’s shopping district一but she gets a shock when her surroundings suddenly transform.
"...Why is the sky pink...?"
She should know this area well, but the unreadable letters on the signs and the strange language the people are speaking have made things unrecognizable.
...Just then, Ruka, a girl so cute she could be an idol, appears and extends a helping hand.
Rin, a high schooler who claims to have positivity in spades, and Ruka, a supportive girl who speaks just a smattering of Japanese.
This is the story, pure and sometimes frustrating, of two girls intertwined by their fumbling efforts to communicate.
Yuri
5. Ren'ai Kyoushitsu 恋愛教室 [170825] UnN/A 1
Standing outside of the classroom, the protagonist took a deep breath and calmed his nerves. Once he summoned the courage to open the door, he was immediately surrounded by girls in the class who treated him like a rare animal. That is natural since this had been an all-girls school until last year. However, not all the students were receptive of having a boy in their class. There were three groups: those for the co-ed change, those against it, and those whose views were in between. He has yet to get used to his new life in this new classroom with new friends, but he felt that his future is full of possibilities.
There is an English review
6. Ryouchi Kizoku 領地貴族 [170825] SofthouseChara 1
Siegfried is the fourth son from a small poor noble family who won some land thanks to his battle contributions. He founded a new Maired clan and ruled over a vast territory in the southern part of the kingdom. He thought that it would be a pleasant and relaxing life, but he wasn’t ready for the amount of work that was involved. Of course, there’s lots of paperwork and required appearances, but also having to answer to faction requests, making babies and naming a future successor? Everything was new to him and the only people to help him was the daughter of a ruined noble family, a knight who had been dismissed with dishonour, and a high-class prostitute. He didn’t know if they could be relied on, but nevertheless he takes his first step towards successfully managing his territory.
SIM
7. Tonari ni Kanojo no Iru Shiawase ~Two Farce~ となりに彼女のいる幸せ ～Two Farce～ [170825] Prekano
It won’t be long before the historic literature club will be disbanded as there’s just the protagonist and his kouhai Chisa left. Even as they worry about the club’s future, they carried on with their daily trivial exchanges in the club room together. And so, they became closer by the day.
Short one heroine romance
BLOCKED
1. Minato Carnival FD みなとカーニバルＦＤ [170825] Minato Carnival 1
There are new characters and scenarios for both the Tsujidou-san and Anegin series.
--Tsujidou-san Jun'ai Road New Episode--
It's 2013, a year after Hiroshi met Ai Tsujidou and spent time with other delinquets during a turbulent summer.
There had been rumors that an unindentifed person was hunting delinquets in Shonan, the city where Maki graduated which seemed to be peaceful.
The delinquents in that area have been getting excited knowing that that hunter was running around.
Considering that the protagonist Hiroshi Hase has not been in love for a year, which girl will he choose?
As younger heroine Yui Aketashi meets with the the protagaonist who she dearly misses, the story of delinquet girls starts again.
Fandisc
2. Wagamama High Spec OC ワガママハイスペック OC [170825] Madosoft 1 This is the fandisc for Wagamama High Spec, with after stories for all four heroines and new routes for sub-heroines Karen, Chitose and Yukari. Fandisc
Rather sour season again, but among the titles I find Akachan to Boku as the most deserving one
1. Akachan to Boku Baby and Me 赤ちゃんと僕 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/35)
Tags: Shoujo Childcare Comedy, Drama
Takuya Enoki is living a difficult life for a fifth grader. His mother passed away in a tragic car accident a few months ago, forcing him to pick up the slack and take care of his baby brother, Minoru, as his father works the endless hours typical of a Japanese salaryman.
He will have to sacrifice his childhood in order to meet the needs of his little brother. Cooking, cleaning, worrying, and trying to discipline Minoru are some of the tasks Takuya will have on his plate, all while their neighbors blame him for Minoru’s constant crying. Meanwhile, he will watch as his friends live their carefree lives, enjoying their free time. It will not be easy and there will be plenty of stumbling blocks, but along the way, he may actually learn the true meaning of family.
Spirit is similar to Mama wa Shougaku 4 Nensei, focus is on cuteness , emotions and nostalgy. Sadly , it's not the things that interest me in anime. A very well done anime, and if you choose it voluntarily with appropriate mood, you'll definitely enjoy it. But without the right mood it's just lots of crying , emotions and simple events with simple thoughts, so not exactly my type.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Kochira Katsushikaku Kameari Kouenmae Hashutsujo こちら葛飾区亀有公園前派出所 (1996) [Gallop] (Finished 3/373)
Tags: Comedy Adult Cast, Detective, Gag Humor
Ryoutsu, being an underpaid policeman, is always coming up with underhanded schemes in order to make a quick buck. But in the end, his plans (which are ridiculous to begin with) always go wrong and land him in big trouble with the chief.
Funny enough series, but not so much because of the humor, but just because of the concept of mischievous policeman which is hardly possible nowadays.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Ganbarist! Shun ガンバリスト! 駿 [Sunrise] (Finished 3/30)
Tags: Shounen Comedy, Sports
First-year high school student Fujimaki Shun has a dream of becoming an olympic gold medalist as a gymnast. Having no previous training, Shun trusts his passion, boldly joins the gymnastics club, and sets out to pursue his goal.
Along the way, he meets his share of entertaining and supportive upper classmen, develops a romantic interest in his classmate, and learns about the happiness involved in devoting yourself to a sport.
Why Sunrise is always taking most simple concepts that only visionary would be able to save... And Sunrise are diligent conveyor workers and definitely not visionaries. It results in pretty average comedy spokon.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Tetsuwan Birdy Birdy the Mighty 鉄腕バーディー [Madhouse] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Tsutomu, an average middle school kid busy studying for the final exams to enter high school runs into a man running from someone and gets caught up in the chase. In all the confusion he gets accidentally killed. Luckily Birdy (an interplanetary agent) knows a way to save him, unfortunately that means joining bodies to become one. So now he is stuck with this officer and along for the ride capturing criminals and saving lives.
Last time I watched it many years ago, it impressed me enough for a masterpiece score. Nowadays... it's still sincere and innovative enough, but it's just not enough to enjoy it anymore .
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. Slayers Special Slayers: The Book of Spells スレイヤーズすぺしゃる [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural
In these three self-contained half-hour stories, Lina Inverse and her partner, Naga The Serpent, take on a variety of jobs for quick cash, food, and/or their own skins. The first episode, "The Scary Chimera Plan," puts them against a lunatic magician who intends to use Lina to create a fearsome, spell-slinging monster. Then, in "Jeffry's Knighthood," they're hired by an overprotective mother to see that her son - a young man barely capable of holding a sword - becomes a respected knight, by "helping" him fight off the marauding soldiers terrorizing the area. Finally, "Mirror, Mirror" puts the two in a race to hunt down and capture (for bounty, of course) a rogue sorceror who's found an ancient artifact that can create loyal duplicates of anything or anyone, including his enemies.
Still good, still not good enough.
Overall Rating: 6/10
6. Byston Well Monogatari: Garzey no Tsubasa Garzey's Wing バイストン・ウェル物語 ガーゼィの翼 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Isekai Action, Fantasy
Christopher "Chris" Chiaki is an easygoing guy who keeps failing his college entrance exams well into his mid-twenties. His days are occupied with Kendo practice, visits to his family's shrine, and dreaming of his high school reunion. When his spirit is suddenly transported to the world of Byston Well, Chris becomes Garzey's Wing, a legendary holy warrior. The Metomeus tribe summoned him to help liberate them from slavery, but unfortunately, Chris has no knowledge on how to be a holy warrior, and moreover, only has an incredibly dull sword which he salvaged from a corpse.
To make matters more complicated, there is another Chris who is still in the normal world! He cannot control the events in Byston Well, but is tied to the fate of the other Chris. The young man must struggle and adventure in a world of magical creatures and mysterious foreigners.
Since it's spin-off of Aura Battler Dunbine, it kinda feels like one, just without mecha this time. But all the other flaws are present - rushed narration, bland characters, needless real-life guy dimension, lack of logic and explanation.
Overall Rating: 4/10
7. Blue Seed 2 ブルーシード 2 [Production I.G, Xebec] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Action, Comedy, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Supernatural, Ecchi
A renegade scientist in San Francisco has found a way to create a new creature called a Neo-Aragami without the power of Susanoo. When these monsters start to terrorize California, the U.S. turns to the old members of the Terrestrial Administration Center (TAC) for help.
It has become just action with new monsters and a new character. No pressure involved and inferior in all elements compared to original.
Overall Rating: 6/10
8. Shadow Skill (1996) 影技 SHADOW SKILL [Zero-G Room] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Super Power Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
In a war torn world of deadly conflict, one small group of heroes stands against the forces of darkness, armed only with two weapons—their unswerving dedication to good and the superhuman martial art known as the Shadow Skill...
Perhaps only slightly better than previous Shadow Skill OVA. Same epic fighting action is in the core, hard to even follow the plot as it tags behind .
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Choujin Gakuen Gowcaizer: The Voltage Fighters Voltage Fighter Gowcaizer 超人学園ゴウカイザー ＴＨＥ ＶＯＬＴＡＧＥ ＦＩＧＨＴＥＲＳ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts Action, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
It is the dawn of the 21st century. The cataclysmic earthquake which reduced half of Tokyo to a broken landscape of twisted steel and shattered stone was only the first sign of the impending apocalypse.
Athletic and popular, Isato Kaiza was an otherwise ordinary student. But nothing could've prepared him for the day he was given a Caizer Stone by fellow student Kash , alias Hellstinger. Armed with the mysterious crystal, Isato now possesses the power to transform into the armored hero: Gowcaizer!
To save the Earth, Gowcaizer and Hellstinger must join forces against Omni Exist, the manifestation of all negative human desires, and the force behind the recent disasters, before the entity obliterates the human race!
Beat em Up game adaptation, so as usual there's rather simple story and at the same time some alien infodumping. Feels random and just boring.
Overall Rating: 4/10
10. Maze☆Bakunetsu Jikuu Maze: The Mega-Burst Space OVA MAZE☆爆熱時空 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Magical Sex Shift, Mecha Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Maze has gained incredible powers traveling through time and space, but she has also acquired one rather large problem: every night she turns into a really horny man. Unfortunately, Maze must rescue an equally lascivious princess from a mysterious warrior cult. Still, the male version of Maze would rather be chasing tail than rescuing willing princesses.
Ecchi>Comedy>everything else including story in this anime. Without real plot I don't know what to evaluate here.
Overall Rating: 4/10
11. Shin Hurricane Polymar 新・破裏拳ポリマー [J.C.Staff, Tatsunoko Production] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Martial Arts, Super Power Action, Sci-Fi
Remake of old superhero show of the same name.
Godawful remake of a trashy ancient series.
Overall Rating: 3/10
12. Twin Signal: Family Game Twin Signal TWIN SIGNAL~ファミリーゲーム~ [Tokyo Kids] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Mecha Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Signal, a robot companion built for Nobuhiko, is attacked by Pulse, one the its creator's previous prototypes. Reprogrammed by Dr. Otoi's mysterious rival, Pulse is loaded down with weapons and sent on a mission by Otoi: steal the most recent robot technology, and obliterate anything that gets in his way.
Show's super primitive, most of the time is devoted to unsophisticated humor.
Overall Rating: 4/10
13. Jigokudou Reikai Tsuushin 地獄堂霊界通信 [Toei Video] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Fantasy, Horror
Tetsushi, Ryouchin and Shiina are a youthful trio not to be trifled with; they have a fearsome reputation. One day they decide to enter Jingkudou, a store which is rumored to be the gateway to Hell, the storekeeper sure is creepy enough. He tells them a story and after that they decide, with a magical token provided by the storekeeper, to try and find the restless spirit of a murder victim in order to give her release. This is only the start of their supernatural career...
Some horror stories with distinctive manga-resembling style, among its rivals above average, but I can't appreciate this genre .
Overall Rating: 6/10
14. Eiyuu Banka Koushi-den 英雄挽歌 孔子傳 [NHK] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Drama, Romance
Born in the Chinese state of Lu in 551 B.C., Confucius is raised by his mother after his father dies when he is only three. He marries at 19 and enters the service of the local nobility. At 32, he becomes tutor to the Prince of Lu's children, eventually becoming a politician at 51. His career peaks are the roles of Lu's justice minister and eventually prime minister. The land prospers for four years, but Confucius grows disenchanted with court intrigues. For the following 12 years, he wanders the neighboring states, offering advice to their rulers.
Just a biography, indeed.
Overall Rating: 6/10
15. X/1999 X - The Movie エックス, X/1999 [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
At the millennial edge, the concluding battle for humanity's future is staged. Kamui Shirou's destiny has been decided as he returns to Tokyo to face his ultimate challenge. The Dragon of Heaven, defenders of the Earth, stand ready to protect the world from the Dragon of Earth, the seven angels of legend, who embrace the devastation of the planet to bring about its purification. Now Kamui must decide which side to fight for although he finds the idea utterly unappealing. It isn't until realizing that his two childhood friends, Fuma and Kotori Monou, are in grievous peril that Kamui decides to step into his fated position in the climactic struggle of the Year of Destiny: 1999.
1999 was sometimes referred as the year of the end of the world, and this is eschatological fight with mostly just cool imagery like blood, mass destruction in the night city, angels etc etc. It only has visual value, as for me, because plot is just fighting of someone with someone else through magic, psi or similar means.
Overall Rating: 5/10
16. Slayers Return スレイヤーズRETURN [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
The inhabitants of the village of Biaz, forced to labor in the serivce of the world-domination-happy Zein organization, hires Lina Inverse and Naga The Serpent to drive off the invaders. Lina and Naga agree, lured by stories of Elfin treasure sleeping below Biaz, only to get considerably more trouble -from the Zein and from the treasure - than they ever expected.
Can't say I'm impressed with the story, but at least animation quality is probably highest for the franchise.
Overall Rating: 6/10
17. Jigoku Sensei Nube (Movie) Hell Teacher Nube 地獄先生ぬ〜べ〜 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen School Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Supernatural
Kumiko Ijima who is one of Nube's students recognizes that a man in a local park is really a criminal wanted for murder when she remembers drawing his face from the wanted photos posted by the police. Kumiko warns her classmate Kyoko while at the same time the man discovers the drawing with the name initials "K.I." written on Kumiko's drawing portfolio and briefly sees that Kumiko wears a red ribbon in her hair. The cops chase the criminal who crashes his car into a seal where a demon takes control over his soul. The demon is now on a killing rampage to find any girl that wears a red ribbon whose name initials are "K.I.".
Just twice longer than usual episode of the series.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Futari no Oujisama The Two Princes 二人の王子さま [Toei Animation] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Fantasy, Slice of Life
On the island of Jambe, Subarna, an introverted boy, is given a magic crown and, with the help of the crown, soon becomes the people's hero known kind heartedness. This enrages Rupia, the island's young prince, who has Subarna arrested.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
19. Maya no Isshou マヤの一生 [Mushi Production] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Drama, Slice of Life Historical
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Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
20. Angel ga Tonda Hi エンジェルがとんだ日 [E&G Films] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Comedy, Slice of Life
A heart-warming story depicting the day-to-day life full of laughter and tears as a mother copes with her children.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
Ali Baba to 40-hiki no Touzoku is a memorable video with full translation, yet still not a masterpiece for me
1. Chingou Muchabee 珍豪ムチャ兵衛 [1971-II] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/51)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy
A goofy comedy series with various stories featuring the same set of characters.
Series is about a samurai warrior son who is dreaming of returning to castle in Edo, goes to more or less modern school and wets himself in the mornings, and his servant who tries to raise the child in bushi spirit despite poverty. There is a set of characters inside Edo castle from rivaling Iemitsu clan. Comedy is mostly based on this mix of two centuries, like servant fights with a modern umbrella. There are two stories in each episode, so it's historical episodic humor sketches. Humor is actually decent, on par with the best comedies of 1960s.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Doubutsu Takarajima Animal Treasure Island どうぶつ宝島 [1971-II] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure
Jim is working as an innkeeper, together with his friend, the mouse Gran. One day, a mysterious man visits the inn, leaving a map behind. The map shows an island with a treasure. So the duo sets off in their own little boat, trying to fulfil their dreams and leaving the inn far behind. But it seems more people knows of the map, as they cross paths with Captain Silver and his band of wild pirates. Jim, Gran and their new friend Kathy tries to beat them in the treasure hunt that ensues.
Anniversary title usually means big budget, in this case rich animation. And animation is really well done, even the most trivial scenes that are usually not included at all. And this emphasis on insignificant scenes means one thing - there is no strong plot that would require tightly packed plot scenes. And it is really so as the bulk of the time the ship just sails and there is a lot of situational low quality humor piled up, something like Tom&Jerry . There are also three songs. Amusing, but there can be no high scores without depth.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Sasurai no Taiyou Nozomi In The Sun さすらいの太陽 [1971-II] Mushi Production (Finished 26/26)
Tags: Music Drama
Two baby girls were born in the same hospital: one of them is the daughter of an aristocratic family while the other belongs to a deprived household which lives in the slums of the city. However, the nurse-in-charge, Michiko, secretly switches the two babies due to a personal grudge, resulting in a change of fates of the girls from then on. Many years later, the lives of the two girls continue to be intertwined with each other, with the rich Miki ill-treating the poor Nozomi, yet both of them hold similar dreams to become a singer.
Watched it in full just to see what first musical looked like and what it could influence later on. First of all , there are few songs here, like maybe 3. Next, all this changed babies Santa Barbara takes up to a quarter of overall time leaving not that much to music career. Next, there is a romance line taking more time. In this regard, it does not feel like a separate genre, more of a shoujo spokon focusing on music. It's different from Attack No.1 mostly by the fact that protagonist does not go to school and is not going to enter university. There's no humor, and I'm not the target audience, so don't expect high scores from me.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Animentary: Ketsudan Animentary: The Decision アニメンタリー 決断 [1972-II] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/25)
Tags: Historical, Military
A strict retelling of the Pacific side of WW2.
Wow, did not expect reflection on such a heavy topic. But it's true that it's best to tell the story yourself to emphasize the right spots. The Japanese are presented here as great professionals and men of honor if not heroes. It's already not a truthful retelling in this regard, plus it goes further than just finishing with WW2, it has enough space for fiction. For a general observer there's not much value here, it's a niche product.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. Ali Baba to 40-hiki no Touzoku アリババと４０匹の盗賊 [1971-II] Toei Animation (1/1)
Tags: Action, Fantasy
A film produced for Toei's 20th anniversary. A boy who is the descendant of the leader of the theives who met a grisly fate in the 1001 Nights bands together with 38 cats and a mouse to get back his rightful treasure from Ali Baba XXXIII, the descendent of Ali Baba who now rules the kingdom with an iron fist. This is a reversal of the good guy/bad guy roles in the original story! (perhaps not surprising for being a film in which Hayao Miyazaki was involved) This film is one of the most rollicking and action-packed films made by Toei, and is in an outrageously cartoonish style breaking with the Toei mold. It has a spectacular lineup of animators including Yasuji Mori, Akira Daikubara, Hayao Miyazaki, Yoichi Kotabe and Reiko Okuyama. The original story about Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves itself is recounted at one point in the film in an unexpected and interesting way using shadow-puppets.
Another Toei anniversary project. Again, animation is rich and action-packed. However, this time there's a twist from the start that Ali-baba and gang leader descendants swap places, there are several unknown variables, so story feels both entertaining and rewarding. There are a lot of nice humorous moves and at least two songs. Lack of depth stops it from being a masterpiece, but it shines in many other aspects.
Overall Rating: 6/10
6. Yasuji no Pornorama: Yacchimae!! ヤスジのポルノラマ やっちまえ!! [1971-II] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Hentai
Japanese society, in the opinion of Pusu-o, "satisfies all the urges of hunger, but not the urges of the loins." Then again, Pusu-o is scrawny, awkward and hardly the handsomest guy in town. More to the point, in matters of a romantic nature, Pusu-o conducts himself with an absolute lack of grace, restraint and general respect for women. Not surprisingly, his sex life is an endless succession of obnoxiously over-the-top come-ons and maniacal attempts to get some action, all of which culminate in total strike-outs. Pusu-o's own father is soon on hand to add insult to injury (the injury being the constant, gushing nosebleeds Pusu-o endures — the nasal blood geyser being Japanese cartoon shorthand for sexual frustration), and the cock blockage continues at Pusu-o's new job as a car salesman — until a trio of older women misinterpret his advances, intended only to make the pretty Yukiko jealous. The antics continue at a later date, when the married Pusu-o is cuckolded by an horny little birdie. When the humiliated surrogate dad witnesses the sexual prowess of the tryst's offspring, matters culminate in a finale worthy of the most bombastic Japanese tragedy.
Technically, it's not hentai as there is even no censure due to absence of graphical depiction. Despite that situations are very frivolous crossing most of possible lines. Title can be translated as "Do it!" and concept reflects it well. There is a guy in constant search of amorous adventures and there's a girl who is too forceful and thus scares men. They live in the same house and encounter each other in several situations, but date goes awfully, and it's a breakup. In second part girl becomes worker at protagonist's work, and so harassment and jealousy ensues. In the last part protagonist gets married with a different girl and they go on a honeymoon. As you can guess, due to various reasons there's no success either, and during married life there are a lot of new barriers. Another feature of the OVA is that there are three songs during the course of it, so it's partially a musical. There are so many rude jokes and situations that I constantly wondered how that was possible in 1971. Anyway, can't say this OVA has anything meaningful to offer, but if definitely does the job of provoking and shocking well.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Lupin III ルパン三世 [1971-III] Tokyo Movie Shinsha (Dropped 3/23)
Tags: Seinen Adult Cast Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Arsène Lupin III is the grandson of world-famous thief Arsène Lupin, and he's living up to his grandfather's memory as a high-profile thief himself. Due to his infamy, Lupin III attracts the attention of the persistent Inspector Zenigata of the ICPO, as well as rival criminals. Lupin III's criminal lifestyle even seeps into his love life. The main woman in Lupin III's world is femme fatale Fujiko Mine, who Lupin III can never tell is working with or against him. Follow Lupin and his gunman partner Daisuke Jigen on their quest to own the world－or at least the valuable bits!
I never tried to watch Lupin seriously as for me it's continuation of detective anime, plus adventure. But it seems to be the first Seinen, for grown-ups, so I must be the target audience. I'm sure there will be cool OVAs, but as TV series it's difficult to maintain novelty, intrigue and thrill, very much like Cyborg 009.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Gegege no Kitarou (1971) ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 [1971-III] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/45)
Tags: Mythology, Super Power Adventure, Supernatural
Kitarou, a ghost, spends his afterlife helping humans in need of his skills. He thwarts the plans of evil spirits who live to torment humanity.
It's actually not colored remake , but a second season. Still the same niche anime.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Genshi Shounen Ryuu Ryu the Primitive Boy 原始少年リュウ [1971-III] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/22)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
When Ryuu is born his tribe tries to sacrifice him to a Tyrannosaurus named Shirano because of the color of his skin. He is however saved by a monkey who raises him as her own son. Meanwhile Ryuu's mother has left the tribe and is out on a quest to find Ryuu.
16 years later Ryuu meets a girl named Ran who was sold to the tribe Ryuu originaly came from. The tribe is not happy to see Ryuu alive and tries to sacrifice him again, this time by burning him alive. Before they can get the deed done the tribe is massacred along with Ryuu's adoptive mother by Shirano. Ryuu then sets out on a quest together with Ran to find his mother and Ran's brother Don.
We've seen lion life in nature, bee life in nature, now time for human life in jungle. Of course there is the same age girl and rivals from the tribe nearby. Nothing special, really. It's not much different from what you can portray.
Overall Rating: 4/10
10. Fushigi na Melmo Marvelous Melmo ふしぎなメルモ [1971-III] Mushi Production, Tezuka Productions (Dropped 3/26)
Tags: Shoujo
After nine-year-old Melmo loses her mother in a car accident, she is left to care for her two younger brothers, a task far beyond her age or means. However, in the midst of her grieving, Melmo is visited by the ghost of her deceased mother who gives her a bottle of miraculous candy, capable of transforming her into either an adult (blue candy) or an infant (red candy). A combination of the two can reduce her to a fetus and then change her into any animal she imagines. Drawing on a seemingly inexhaustable supply, Melmo uses her candies to solve the various problems thrown her way, aided by her younger brother Toto (who accidentally morphs into a frog in episode 7) and her cantankerous mentor, Dr Nosehairs.
Such concept is not close to me. Girl resolves problems that are usually created by her mischievous use of transformation pills. There's nowhere for story to go and it becomes episodic in nature. I think it's the first time of ultra-short skirts and pantsu flashing even though pantsu are big and old.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Tensai Bakabon 天才バカボン [1971-IV] Tokyo Movie Shinsha, Yomiuri Telecasting, Imagica (Dropped 0/40)
Tags: Gag Humor Comedy, Slice of Life
Tensai Bakabon is the tale of a child prodigy and his "philosophical" father. Bakabon‘s father has his own philosophy and he leaves no stone unturned in his quest for answers. Despite his ability to trouble Trouble, for some reason, Papa Bakabon is regarded as "The Great Philosopher," and is sought after for advice, which of course ends up in disastrous results. Tensai Bakabon joins his father in his philosophical quests which drives the people in their town crazy.
Nice gag series, but is in dare need of translation due to all the puns.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Apache Yakyuugun Apache Baseball Team アパッチ野球軍 [1971-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/26)
Tags: School, Team Sports Action, Sports
A former baseball star who suffered a career crippling injury takes over as coach of a team of misfits in a poor village high school.
But we've seen baseball spokon already in Kyojin no Hoshi . Another similar looking dead serious TV series was hardly needed. Kyojin no Hoshi was at least inspirational classic, this one is more team oriented, but also more plain looking.
Overall Rating: 3/10
13. Shin Obake no Q-tarou 新オバケのＱ太郎 [1971-IV] (Dropped 0/13)
Tags: School Comedy, Slice of Life, Supernatural
New misadventures of the dimwitted ghost Q-Tarou.
Not found. At least there is 1985 remake series available.
Overall Rating: 0/10
14. Kunimatsu-sama no Otoridai 国松さまのお通りだい [1971-IV] Mushi Production (Dropped 3/46)
Tags: School, Team Sports Comedy, Sports
A comedy about a group of kids forming a school baseball team, with the leader being very stubborn and argumentative.
Pilot episode about kendo was a nice school action comedy, but starting from second all the baseball rivalry began, and I just can't stand baseball, one of the most boring sports ever invented.
Overall Rating: 4/10
15. Shin Skyers 5 新スカイヤーズ5 [1971-IV] Tele-Cartoon Japan (Dropped 3/25)
Tags: Action, Sci-Fi
A science fiction action series about the future battles between a planetary police force and an international crime syndicate. The series is sometimes denoted with 26 episodes, in such a case episode 1 is a colored version of the original monochrome episode 1 of Skyers 5. No changes to dialogue and story were made. As such this episode will be accounted for in its original entry.
Same stupid James Bond stylization and stupid action. After all the more and more complex TV series seen by the end of 1971 this one is super simple looking. They did not even bother to make a different opening.
Overall Rating: 3/10
Foreword: Setting, guns and blood were the things that attracted me.
Title: Kurenai
Developer: light
Date: 2003-11-14
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v5367
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHAT2UfXhxM&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_1zimd4jO7eJ4LHc5DnPcj
Synopsis: The world is breaking apart. City is full of suicides, murders and bizarre crimes. City is full of shadows, and main character hunts down such "crimson shadows" that used to be persons. His abilities are trained by a woman of a mysterious identity. Love only exists in fragmentary form in this eternal whirlpool of death.
Game type: Err... bloody?
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 6/10
Story rating: 7/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 7/10
Rating comments: I spent quite some time deciding on how much I like his game. The first and second chapters were really impressive, of masterpiece level. Next three chapters lowered overall estimation. But final 6th chapter remained true to itself and managed to surprise me - for that I want to give it its due. And that's especially notable because of overall weak plot and characters in the game. Kurenai manages to find other approaches to the reader.
Protagonist: We get to see Touya, and we only know that he's a student and a kurenai hunter who fights with a bamboo sword. We also constantly read his thoughts - or rather someone's stream of consciousness. It sometimes falls into philosophy and sometimes into madness category, but it remains amusing to read.
Characters: Nominally there are four heroines - found doll Alice, detective partner Mutsuki and two acquaintances Yuri and Himeno. But Alice is definitely the main heroine here - she's also the only one who gets two endings instead of just one. I've actually only seen her two endings since discovering other heroines is quite confusing in this game as it needs backtracking. I tried to do it once and I failed, so just settled with the main heroine. All heroines but Alice and Mutsuki only make a cameo appearance and are absolutely not memorable. Basically all the heroines have almost the same face, and that does not help either. Alice is a doll who we find on the street. She is loyal to main character as her goshuji-sama. She's the only fighting heroine. She seems to be of such simple personality that last chapter of the game becomes shocking.
Story: There's not much happening in the game, actually. In first chapter we get in our first fight and find doll Alice on the street. In the following chapters there's usually one main perpetrator Kurenai that we need to take down. In the third chapter we get from the streets to the school and meet a whole lot of heroines. Not sure we need school at all in this kind of game. These chapters pay less attention to fights and more attention to spontaneous H events. And I call them spontaneous, because it happens exactly like that. There is no love line or flirt or anything at all. Just at any moment of the narration some girl may instantly get horny, and 10 lines after that there's H event, easy as that. I understand the need of H events for a game to sell, so I actually welcome such approach. This way we don't need to waste time for love. I cut all the H events from the video, and game only became better after that.
Thoughts:
1) I mentioned that this game has other means of attractiveness besides traditional ones. The first is the stream of thoughts. Both philosophy and madness are mixed here. I'd really rather read such thoughts as time fillers instead of some lovey dovey pursuits. The second one is the number of efforts given. Game has FOUR different omake with the last one divided in five parts. The third thing I'd mark is Alice scary monologues. I'm still under impression here, scary as hell.
2) I liked that we get the answers in this game. One strange thing is how protagonist even manages to survive and recover with such serious wounds. His limbs barely remain linked to the body, but in the next scene he's all right again. And game actually gives a very elegant explanation to that later. For the whole game we try to uncover what it means to be Kurenai. We don't get a clear answer, but we get more than just an answer.
Overall comments: This game remains memorable and alive for me. It's quite simple in structure, but impactful. Game is about blood, and it remains true to itself. Heroine's True End does not mean it's a good end, it's just another ending about blood. Blood is main character of this game, and that's what makes it absolutely hilarious. Game is crazy, but rather crazy good than crazy bad like BM0.
Foreword: This perfect game made me re-evaluate... Coμ -Black Dragon in a Gentle Kingdom-. What do these games have to do with each other? Hop in to figure out.
Title: Realize
Developer: PlayM
Date: 2004-04-23
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v2025
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IChpMO4Jhz4&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_Z8T8hfm3788JmL-mH3l3m
Synopsis: One morning during the class, Matsuura Ryou saw a strange object flying in the sky. Orange body was falling in a strange dancing pattern, vaguely resembling movements of the life form. This was his first encounter with EGO which led to contact with mysterious girl - Shibaura Yae that completely changed Ryou's life and destiny.
Game type: Robot familiars fights chunige alongside touching human story
Character Design rating: 10/10
Protagonist rating: 10/10
Story rating: 10/10
Game quality: 10/10
Overall rating: 10/10
Rating comments: No words really needed here. I had my doubts whether it should be 9 or 10, but it continued to surprise me over and over taking all the doubts away.
Protagonist: Game has not one, but two protagonists - Ryou and Shuuji. And those two co-exist in the same space and time. They are good friends, actually. Their bonding is the cornerstone of the game. Having two protagonist is also a great way to get out of one boy - lots of girls dilemma in a long one road story. Both protagonists are strong personalities with different focus - realistic and idealistic.
Characters: There are four heroines, and all are very nice ones.
Kei is our more traditional love interest, kind and romantic.
Rin is an attentive, polite and cheerful child that we want to protect.
Yae is the cornerstone of the story and the most mysterious heroine.
Saya is our tsundere with absolutely blunt attitude to everyone from the start and very charming awkward transformation. And she has the hugest sword - of course she's my favorite heroine!
Story: What I like the most in Realize is that game is not really that much about the story. There's no ultimate aim to reach like in most of chunige. Ryou just sees some robot familiar one day, then is summoned to the roof by his classmate Yae who shows him her familiar and answers some of urgent questions. That concludes the prologue. Later on he gets involved into the conflict between PK characters and some PKKs. This very fact already rose estimation level to the skies. Talking about PKs and PKKs 10 years prior to Sword Art Online! This was a moment of impact similar to that of Coμ when prestige traditional Wizardry classes Lord and Bishop entered the scene to compliment normal classes. I actually waited for ninja and samurai prestige classes to make them company, but - alas - those estimations were left without realization. What I want to say is that Realize has a lot of great Ego fights and all, but it's not the gist of the story. There are four endings in addition to the True ending. Half of those are kind of bad ones leaving us out without getting the needed power of losing allies. The other two are really nice and showing the game yet from more sides.
Thoughts:
1) Robot familiars are called either Ego or Proxy in the game. Try to google that and you'll get the title of the best anime in history.
2) There are too many similarities between Realize and Coμ.
a) Both games are based on the conflict between the aggressive group of traditional PKs one one side and peacemakers PKKs on the other side.
b) The name of strongest PK is - guess what - Black Dragon.
c) Both games have a mysterious legendary fighting machine that acts by unknown principles with the identity remaining unknown
d) Both games have to do with μ symbol. Realize even explains its meaning for the game.
e) Both have two males as part of the coalition band. I always considered Shuu to be and odd one out. Never could understand his role in Coμ. Now I tend to think that he's implemented under influence of two protagonists great bond in Realize.
One or two similarities is a coincidence, but FIVE ?! Now I look at Coμ at a completely different angle. It's a great standalone game, but it has ways to go to reach the bliss of its spiritual predecessor - Realize.
Technical difficulties: Of course there are some. Only PS2 release is voiced, so I had to take it as the base. But console releases are known for poor hooking capabilities, so I had to satisfy with only translation of the first line in each screen slide. There were rarely more than five lines on one screen, but it still hurts to see words cut in the mids.
Overall comments: It saddens me greatly to see such a superb game in oblivion. Realize is one of the very few games that I can enjoy at any moment, at any page without relation to the development of the plot. That's the biggest praise a piece of media can get from me (the paragon is Vladimir Nabokov novels). Realize is written by a mastodon veteran of scenario writing - Takahashi Tatsuya. It's the person responsible for a good half of Leaf biggest works. And we all know that Leaf is the biggest benefactor and driver of the media - the company that always brings innovation. Realize is his first work after leaving Leaf and starting to write what he desired himself. It's a piece of history that's unjustly forgotten.
Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star has the upper hand this season while Perfect Blue is an honorary masterpiece
1. Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star Outlaw Star 星方武侠アウトロースター [Sunrise] (Finished 24/24)
Tags: Space Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Gene Starwind has always dreamed of piloting his own ship out into the vast sea of stars. Unfortunately, not all dreams come true, as he spends his days working odd jobs alongside his partner, James Hawking, on the small planet Sentinel III instead. However, this all takes a turn when the duo takes on a job from Rachel Sweet who, unbeknownst to them, is actually a treasure-hunting outlaw. Tasked with protecting a mysterious girl known as Melfina, the meeting irrevocably changes the pair's lives as they are sent out into the great unknown aboard the highly advanced ship, Outlaw Star.
Seihou Bukyou Outlaw Star follows Gene and his ragtag crew as they brave the final frontier, navigating the stars in search of answers to the mysteries surrounding Melfina. Encountering dangerous bounty hunters, space pirates, Taoist mages, and even catgirls, there is sure to be an exhilarating adventure around every corner.
Watched it in the past and it still looks great, surprised to know it ran before Cowboy Bebop. It's good that Sunrise decided to move in direction of their in my opinion only previously worthy franchise of Dirty Pair with making plot continuous. It results in their first firm masterpiece from me.
Overall Rating: 8/10
2. Sexy Commando Gaiden: Sugoi yo!! Masaru-san セクシーコマンドー外伝 すごいよ!! マサルさん [Magic Bus] (Finished 4/48)
Tags: Shounen Gag Humor, Martial Arts, School Comedy
Okometsubu Fujiyama has recently transferred over to a new school, Wakame High School. His goal is to make 100 friends--until he meets the extremely weird Masaru Hananakajima. Masaru is a martial artist whose specialty is the "Sexy Commando" form of martial art. Masaru forms a club based on this art, including Fujiyama, who he nicknames Fuumin, in the club. The club becomes full of strange, yet wacky people. Aliens, mustaches, and cute fuzzy animals are encountered as the club moves along and gets steadily more popular.
Noticed late that each episode is just 8 minutes, but since it has opening, let it stay in this lacking new titles season. It's evident that it comes after gag sketch manga as there is always abstract background like in manga, thus feels schematic. Humor is generally ok, but with accent of trunks flashing to disorient enemies, so not great.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. El Hazard: The Alternative World 異次元の世界エルハザード [Pioneer LDC] (Finished 3/13)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Miz plans to retire as a Great Priestess of Water to married life with her darling Fujisawa and as replacement the young Qawoor Towles arrives to Floristica. Jinnai sees Qawoor's initiation ceremony as a chance to infiltrate Makoto's laboratory but accidentally activates a mysterious thingy that sends them all through the dimensions to a grey industrial city protected by a huge castle in an alternative world.
This franchise is already greatly compromised, so alternative look might help, but the problem is that it's not much different apart from the new world which specifics are not explained at all. This might be not the worst El Hazard anime ever, but the approach it uses can easily anger both fans and newcomers.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Burn Up Excess バーンナップEXCESS [Magic Bus] (Finished 3/13)
Tags: Shounen Detective Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Follows the exploits of Team Warrior, a special anti-terror wing of the Neo-Tokyo Police force. Team Warrior is comprised of the habitually broke Rio, gun-crazy Maya, computer specialist Lillica, tech-expert Nanvel, piliot/voyeur Yuji, and is led by the enigmatic Maki. The team faces a number of missions, ranging from bodyguard duty, breaking up robbery and arms rackets, and providing security for a very powerful tank. Rio and company continually thwart the terrorist aims of Ruby, an operative for a shadowy cabal of powerful men. Before the final showdown, the circumstances behind the formation of Team Warrior, how the precocious Rio came to join it, and Maki's painful past will be revealed.
Franchise managed to improve with time in humor and action, but the question is whether it's enough. It's easy to watch, and that's decent already.
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. Bannou Bunka Neko-Musume (1998) All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku TV 万能文化猫娘 [Production Reed] (Finished 12/12)
Tags: Seinen Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Each episode centers on Nuku Nuku's adventures and mishaps in high school, and her relationship to students, the overall series plot centers on the evil Mishima Industries' scheme to dominate the world through its products. In opposition to this plan are the slightly nutty Kyuusaku Natsume and Nuku Nuku, the android who acts as a companion to his young son. Nuku Nuku's classmates are all eccentrics, Futaba, the class president, is a domineering control-freak, who cannot leave her authority in school. Chieko Shirakaba is the rich snob with the two yes-girls who always take her side. There is a bookworm, a mystic, a scientist, and a pop singer. All of these are true to their descriptions: the mystic is always foretelling doom via tarot cards, spirits, or some other occult technique. The pop singer never says anything except as a song. The bookworm always has her nose in a book. These eccentricities add to the series' humor.
With all the random stuff happening on the screen my head begins to hurt very soon. It surpasses original in that, so only watchable by those who can appreciate absurd humor.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Bomberman B-Daman Bakugaiden B[ボンバーマン]ビーダマン爆外伝 [Madhouse] (Finished 3/48)
Tags: Comedy, Sci-Fi Madhouse
1000 years ago, the beautiful B-da City was attacked by the Dark B-da in their quest to control the entire Blue Solar System. The heroic B-Daman, drawing on their legendary power and ingenious technology, were able to restore peace to the universe. But, it is only a matter of time before evil forces strike again…Our hero, SHIRO BOM with his friends continue to patrol the Kingdom, fight against Dark B-da, always alert to danger, always ready for fun.
Only three episodes seem to be translated. This should have been marked as for kids. It's too schematic to even be treated it as comedy with all those pseudo lego-men as characters and simple backgrounds.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. AWOL エイウォール [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/12)
Tags: Military, Space Action, Sci-Fi
Cyress is a peaceful place. People are going about their lives. Two lovers embrace, a family throws a birthday party for their child, a group of people party at a local restaurant. But suddenly, their surroundings explode into smoke and flame. A group of terrorists has snuck through the planetary defenses and has begun an assault. Defenseless, there is little the people of Cyress can do. As the military scrambles to discover what happened, the terrorists manage to hijack seven PDP missiles, which are capable of destroying an entire planet. These terrorists, who call themselves "Solomon" can now hold entire planets hostage! They must not be stopped.
Wow, just wow. Compared to AWOL even Angel Cop with similar concept would look like a thriller. Super boring anti-terrorist story with similar looking team in same-looking battle suits, and each episode is some 50 minutes which is twice longer than usual... It's so bad I'm speechless.
Overall Rating: 4/10
8. Gakkyuu Ou Yamazaki King of Classroom, Yamazaki 学級王ヤマザキ [Magic Bus] (Finished 3/53)
Tags: Comedy
Yamazaki comes to Earth from an other planet, hoping to conquer our planet. But he soon realizes, that in order to conquer the world, he has to conquer a his own classroom first. That's why he comes up with lots of different ideas to get everybody to follow him. Also, he spends most of his time making Tatsuya (the class rep.) miserable. Having his loyal and strange dog Watanabe always by his side, and the help from his grandparents, Yamazaki is always doing crazy things with his class, completely forgetting his primary goal, and only thinking in becoming "The King of the Class".
Not translated. As you can see, it's another absurd gag comedy.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Gaiden Legend of the Galactic Heroes Gaiden 銀河英雄伝説外伝／千億の星、千億の光 [K-Factory] (Finished 3/24)
Tags: Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Gaiden is the first of two OVA adaptations of side stories from the Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu novel series. This first adaptation follows the achievements of Reinhard von Müsel and Siegfried Kircheis of the Galactic Empire before the fateful Battle of Astarte.
The Silver-White Valley
Reinhard and Kircheis graduate from their military academy and are immediately sent to the frozen frontier planet Kapche-Lanka. Unbeknownst to them, their new superior schemes to kill Reinhard on behalf of a rival of Reinhard's sister Annerose von Grünewald.
Dreams of the Morning, Songs of the Night
Reinhard and Kircheis are assigned to the Imperial Military Police, where they uncover the corrupt and oppressive practices of the Empire's law enforcement. They are soon ordered to investigate the murder of a student at their alma mater.
Dishonor
As Reinhard awaits the bestowal of his new title of Count von Lohengramm, he sends Kircheis to the artificial resort satellite Kreuznach III for a vacation. Restless from the lack of work, Kircheis assists the local police with a drug trafficking case related to an attack on a disgraced former Vice Admiral.
A Hundred Billion Stars, a Hundred Billion Lights
While Reinhard is still a commodore in charge of only a single squadron, he laments the incompetence of his superiors during a battle against the Free Planets Alliance. Amassing military successes under the direct command of Vice Admiral Richard von Grimmelshausen, Reinhard repeatedly clashes with Hermann von Lüneburg, a commodore and former regimental commander of the Alliance's infamous Rosen Ritter.
Another portion of fan materials has arrived. After the miserable ending of the series I can hardly care.
Overall Rating: 5/10
10. Tekken Tekken: The Motion Picture 鉄拳 [Studio Deen] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Martial Arts Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
After being thrown off a cliff as a child, Kazuya Mishima enters the King of Iron Fist Tournament to extract revenge from his father, multi-billionaire Heihachi Mishima. Meanwhile, WWWC operative Jun Kazama and Hong Kong detective Lei Wulong also enter the tournament to investigate on Heihachi's illegal activities involving cloning and genetic engineering. A handful of other skilled fighters are also in it merely to win the grand prize of $1 billion, not knowing of the true purpose of the tournament and fate that awaits them.
Every fighting should have its anime, apparently. But since all such anime suck anyway, just 55 minute OVA with characters appearances and maybe a bit of background is fine, no need to bother about real story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Shihaisha no Tasogare Twilight Of The Dark Master 支配者の黄昏 [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Mythology Action, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
Since the beginning of time, monstrous Demons and noble Guardians have battled for Earth - the everlasting gift of the one great Mother, creator of all life. A deep hatred burns between Demon and Guardian; the Guardians prevented the Demons from destroying humanity and the world itself.
Eons later, Neo-Shinjuku City: few Demons or Guardians remain to continue their epic war. Humans rule the Earth, with no real memory of either Demons or Guardians. Yet deep within the dark underworld of the city, one supreme Demon is alive and plotting to subjugate mankind. Only one Guardian is left to do battle, and the fate of the human race is at stake.
A lot of violence and nudity, some horror thriller, but scenes with many characters jump around fast without even selecting some protagonist, so it's mostly just the looks and simple thrills not growing into something bigger.
Overall Rating: 5/10
12. Makai Tenshou Ninja Resurrection 魔界転生 [Phoenix Entertainment] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Historical, Samurai Action, Supernatural
Get ready for a nightmarish journey through faith and betrayal as the infamous Jubei Yagyu wields his deadly blades against the forces of good and evil alike. In an orgy of unbelievable savagery, the armies of the Shogun give no quarter as they ruthlessly slaughter their enemies. Trapped on the rocky isthmus of Amakusa, the faithful await divine aid as the demon stirs in their midst. Desperate for vengeance, a Child of Heaven becomes the emissary of Hell.
Tortured by visions of Amakusa's final hour, legendary swordsman Jubei Yagyu returns to his ancestral home seeking respite from the bloody duties of a feudal retainer. Life in the village of Yagyu possesses a serenity ill-befitting days of armed rebellion and unholy alliance. For Jubei the tranquility is far too transparent, and soon, chilling rumors reach him. Four dead heroes renew their claim to life, feeding on the fear and violence of the age. Forced to take up the sword once more, Jubei returns to the path of vengeance and damnation in Ninja Resurrection!
It starts rather well, but the further it goes, the more chaos and body horror starts to get involved, and final impression left is mostly disgust.
Overall Rating: 4/10
13. Perfect Blue パーフェクトブルー [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adult Cast, Psychological, Showbiz Avant Garde, Drama, Horror
J-pop idol group CHAM! has spent the last two years entertaining its fans. Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and CHAM! must see one of its members, Mima Kirigoe, leave the group to pursue her acting career. While Mima's choice is met with a mixed response, she hopes her fans will continue to support her.
However, Mima's life begins to change drastically after her departure from the group. Wanting to shed her pop-idol image, she takes on a role in a crime drama series, and her career as an actress gradually becomes more demanding and taxing for both Mima and her manager, Rumi Hidaka. To add to Mima's growing unease, an obsessed fan who is incapable of accepting that Mima has quit being an innocent idol, begins stalking her; a new anonymous website begins to impersonate her life with intricate detail; and CHAM! also appears to be doing better without her. One by one, each disturbing development drives Mima to become increasingly unhinged and unable to distinguish reality from fantasy.
It was one of the first anime that I watched, and thus it had quite a strong influence. Can't say I enjoy it much, but it's definitely well done, it touches important topic and stays in memory even after two decades, so it's at least borderline masterpiece.
Overall Rating: 7/10
14. Ginga Tetsudou 999: Eternal Fantasy 銀河鉄道９９９ エターナルファンタジー [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Based on the story by manga master Leiji Matsumoto (The Cockpit, Queen Emeraldas), the 55 minute featurette picks up one year after the events of Galaxy Express 999 in which a young boy named Tetsuro and his motherly companion Maetel worked to rid the universe on the Mechanized Empire who had taken over Earth.
It's yet another epilogue to the series as events happen one year after and the Earth has become even more gloomy , and only Express 999 remains roughly the same. This show never had a real story, only circumstances of characters to explore and travelling. In my opinion, the whole piece is an advertisement for forthcoming Queen Emeraldas OVA. There's a bit of everything and nothing in the whole, as usual .
Overall Rating: 6/10
Can't call anything masterpiece again. Let's point out Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu , maybe.
1. Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu フルメタル・パニック? ふもっふ [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 12/12)
Tags: Gag Humor, School Action, Comedy
Sergeant Sousuke Sagara returns to Jindai High School to protect the precious war asset, Kaname Chidori, from any threat. However, his lack of social skills and real-life experience result in comical yet dangerous situations, endangering the peaceful school life Kaname longs for. As Sousuke continues to bring a wide range of weapons to school as a means to solve threats—real or fake—Kaname struggles to fulfill her duty as the student council vice president all while keeping him in check.
To ensure a successful mission, Sousuke is occasionally forced to use the costume of a famous amusement park mascot called Bonta-kun. With his technical expertise, he eventually transforms the exuberant uniform into a cutting-edge exoskeleton that has only one dysfunction: the voice translator can only produce the sound "mofu."
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu depicts the adventures of Kaname and Sousuke as they try to live their normal school lives despite the chaos they inadvertently cause.
A living proof that mecha anime feels much better with mecha itself taken out. Jokes aside, I liked it quite a lot when first watched it, but still never considered a masterpiece. With time this idea only strengthened. Kyoto Animation squeezed maximum from this stale concept, but conceptual flaws aren't easily overrriden.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Ikkitousen Ikki Tousen: Battle Vixens 一騎当千 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/13)
Tags: Martial Arts, School, Super Power Ecchi
In the Kanto region, seven high schools fight to the death for absolute power. Each fighter is the reincarnation of a glorious warrior from the Three Kingdoms period, placing them in a perilous endeavor to overcome their often cruel destinies. Among them is the airheaded Hakufu Sonsaku, a student at Nanyou Academy who—despite possessing brilliant martial art abilities—is deemed to be killed at a young age by the ruthless Ukitsu.
However, her fellow classmate Koukin Shuuyu is tasked by Hakufu's mother to protect his cousin from this grim fate. To add to his burden, Hakufu is subject to sudden bursts of anger, where she loses consciousness and unleashes a destructive power that threatens her own life. Together with Nanyou's "Big Four," Hakufu and Shuuyu will have to foil the plans of their main rival schools and uncover the true nature of Hakufu's powers before it is too late.
Ecchi fighting that's not too bad as it has enough drama and bloody scenes to make up for all lighthearted fanservice humor.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Green Green グリーングリーン [Studio Matrix] (Finished 12/12)
Tags: School Comedy, Romance, Ecchi
Kanenone Gakuen is an all-male boarding school located in the countryside of Japan. Although an all-male school is nothing new, life can become quite difficult when there are no female students for miles around. In order to help the psychological health of everyone involved, the school board has decided to try and merge with the nearest all-girl boarding school in order to become co-ed. The boys of Kanenone are more than thrilled at the prospect, and the girls are curious as to how interesting school life might become if there were more boys around. Before any serious decisions are made, the girls have been invited to stay at Kanenone for one month as a test.
Green Green follows Yuusuke Takazaki and his naughty room mates called the Baka (Idiot) Trio, and their ability to talk to the girls without making complete fools of themselves. But as soon as the school bus with the girls arrives, things become weird, hormonal, and hysterical. In particular, a girl named Midori Chitose leaps off the bus and immediately embraces a very confused Yuusuke. Is he a natural ladies' man, or do the two of them have a shared history that he is not aware of?
First Green Green looked rather sincere, but it never rose above ecchi youth romcom. Still finished it in the past, so it had its amusing moments.
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Onegai☆Twins Please Twins! おねがい☆ツインズ [Daume] (Finished 3/12)
Tags: Harem, School Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Maiku Kamishiro's past has always been somewhat of a mystery to him. The only clue he has to who his family might be is an old photograph showing two young children, a boy and a girl, playing in a small pool outside of a blue house. In an attempt to find his family, he moves to this blue house and begins working as a programmer. He's living a comfortable life until the day two very different girls show up at his door, both in possession of the same photograph, and both claiming to be his twin. With no way to prove who is a relative and who is a stranger, Maiku allows both girls to move in with him until they know for sure.
Never expected to see spin-off of Onegai Sensei. Everything was typical and expected, thus the score.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. D.C.: Da Capo D.C.~Da Capo~ D.C.～ダ・カーポ～ [feel., Zexcs] (Finished 1/26)
Tags: Harem Drama, Romance
Hatsunejima abounds in mysteries—one of which is the town's unwithering cherry trees that are said to grant the most genuine wishes. There are also rumors of people possessing supernatural powers, like Junichi Asakura, who can see other people's dreams and create sweets out of nothing. Alongside his sister Nemu, he enjoys living in peace with his friends at Kazami Academy but chooses to shroud his identity in secrecy.
His tranquil school life comes to a halt when he finds out that his childhood friend Sakura Yoshino has returned from America after six years. She is there for one purpose: to fulfill the promises she made long ago with Junichi. Little does anyone know, however, that Sakura's appearance is bound to change everyone's lives—for better or worse.
For me it's the barebones of school romance without anything to like at all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Narutaru: Mukuro Naru Hoshi Tama Taru Ko Shadow Star Narutaru なるたる ～骸なる星・珠たる子～ [Planet] (Finished 13/13)
Tags: Seinen Drama, Suspense
During her summer holiday at her grandparents house Tamai Shiina, a young and cheerful schoolgirl, meets a strange looking creature. They befriend each other and Shiina names it "Hoshimaru: The Round Star." When Shiina returns home after the summer to go back to school, she starts meeting other kids that also have befriended a strange creature like Hoshimaru. But she soon finds out that not all these creatures and their masters are as friendly as Hoshimaru.
After mildly intriguing episode 2 and 3 decided to watch how it ends, but the whole middle felt like a horrible waste of time. Basically, things spice up only in the very last episode, and it's still really bad. Terrible execution.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Popotan ぽぽたん [Shaft] (Finished 3/12)
Tags: Time Travel Comedy, Drama, Supernatural, Ecchi
Beautiful sisters Ai, Mai, Mii, their android maid Mea and slippery pet ferret Unagi make an amazing journey together through time and space without ever leaving their beloved mansion behind! Following the clues of the strange dandelion-like "Popotan," the girls are theoretically seeking the person who has the answers to their most personal questions, but they seem to have more than enough time to take side trips, meet new friends, visit hot springs and occasionally operate the X-mas shop they keep in the house along the way!
Yet, the girls' ultimate destiny holds more than a few surprises of its own, and not every moment is filled with hilarity, as moving through time means having to leave friends behind as well.
Cute enough, but eventless and boring. I hoped that there won't be Popotan nakedness, but alas.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Happy☆Lesson Advance [Studio Hibari] (Finished 1/13)
Tags: Harem Comedy, Romance
Hitotose Chitose is now living together with his 5 teachers as his mothers when a mysterious girl appears and becomes their neighbor which turns out that that person is Nagatsuki Kuron who wants Mu-chan to be her mother so another sibling rivalry ensues as to who would end up as Mu-chan's child.
Need to like either original series or OVA.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Divergence Eve ダイバージェンス・イヴ [Radix] (Finished 4/13)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
In the 24th Century, Intergalactic Space Travel has become a reality. One of the first outposts in the far reaches of space is WATCHER'S NEST - an inflation hole drive portal - which has recently come under attack by a mysterious force known simply as GHOUL... A group of young female cadets assigned to the portal are unexpectedly thrown into a hornet's nest of trouble as they finalize their training to become an elite pilot in the Seraphim Squadron.
A very strange experience, but a poor one. Lots of confusion, strange ecchi, serious though boring development and no foreseeable aim. It's definitely watchable, but episodes have no clear beginning or ending, so it's tasteless something that wastes time here and now while other purposes are unclear.
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Cinderella Boy シンデレラボーイ [Magic Bus] (Finished 2/13)
Tags: Seinen Magical Sex Shift Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Ranma and his partner Rera run a detective agency in Giraffe City. An arranged accident leaves Rera and Ranma in an unfortunate state where the two detectives swap bodies at the stroke of midnight. With Ranma dissapearing and the beautiful Rera appearing.
Action detective with familiar Ranma spice.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Takahashi Rumiko Gekijou Rumiko Takahashi Anthology 高橋留美子劇場 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 2/13)
Tags: Seinen Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural
Shelter. Employment. Companionship. Rumiko Takahashi explores the stress that can befall people when these basic necessities become endangered. From penguins to wedding chapels and to amnesiac husbands, each episode explores supposedly normal people under extreme situations with all of the dramatic skill and warped comedy that you expect from the world-famous creator of InuYasha, Ranma 1/2, Urusei Yatsura!
Being anthology and comedy, it's not great.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Sumeba Miyako no Cosmos-sou Suttoko Taisen Dokkoida Dokkoida?! 住めば都のコスモス荘 すっとこ大戦ドッコイダー [ufotable] (Finished 5/12)
Tags: Shounen Parody Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The Galaxy Federation Police (GFP) desperately wants to cover-up its personnel shortage with new mechanized power-suits. Suzuo, 19-years old, desperately needs a job. Tampopo needs an earthling to fit the prototype of her company's suit and declares Suzuo the perfect candidate! Strong competitors and the wacky A-class criminals fight against our hero in diapers, but they must not recognize each other out of costume or the test results will be a failure- but it's OK if they all live in the same apartment building to save money, right?
Nonsense comedy, so need to like specific humor and antics to go on. I did not.
Overall Rating: 5/10
13. Massugu ni Ikou. まっすぐにいこう。 [Yumeta Company] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Josei Pets Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
A talking dog is a beautiful story that you should have dreamt of as a child. But if you have forgotten about it, this is a reminder of that fable story. This is the story of a dog that talks, but ordinary people cannot hear his voice.
The main character, Mametaro, is an adventurous crossbreed dog. He loves his owner, Iku-chan and his girlfriend Hanako-chan very much. However, he just cannot stand Iku-chan's friend, Akiyoshi.
During this story, which will be told from Mametaro's point of view, the warm days of spring are finally here. The school and the riverbank, which is actually just an ordinary neighborhood for people, seems like a mysterious world that extends infinitely to little Mametaro and his friends.
Need to either own a dog or like dogs, plus it's Josei. I'm not target audience, so it does not look cute or funny to me.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Nezha Chuanqi The Legend of Nezha 哪吒传奇 [-] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Adventure
The Legend of Nezha narrative The story of Natra, the heavenly boy who was born bare, very mischievous, but the temperament, the mentality of goodness, always towards the righteous. With powerful martial arts and magic, he tried to save the evil to bring peaceful life for people in the time of raging love.
Not translated. Some basic shounen based on China mythology.
Overall Rating: 5/10
15. Triangle Heart: Sweet Songs Forever とらいあんぐるハート -Sweet Songs Forever- [Seven Arcs] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Adventure, Romance
Fiasse is a world-renowned singer. She is now the headmistress of a special Singing School who does a Charity World Tour every year. Her mother left behind a inheritance for her after she died and some shady people are after Fiasse and the inheritance. Bring in Ellis, and two siblings who are master of the swords to protect Fiasse. The World Tour is coming up and Fiasse will continue the show. Ellis, Kyoya, Miyuki and company must protect their childhood friend at all costs.
Bodyguard stories are nothing new for visual novels. I remember triangle heart trilogy being not possible to hook, so good to know how it looks in its prime.
Overall Rating: 5/10
16. True Love Story True Love Story Summer Days, and yet... [Picture Magic, A-Line] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Romance Picture Magic, A-Line
When Morisaki Yuuta ran into a girl in the school hallway that day, he had no idea his life would change forever. As a member of the photography club and a fledgling to the world of women, Yuuta's life has been turned upside down by the entrance of not one, but several women into his life! From old friends to new acquaintances, it will be tough figuring out who to choose!
It is based on the latest installment of the True Love Story series of dating sims.
PS dating sims aren't exciting enough to adapt them in anime in first place...
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Submarine 707R サブマリン707R [Group TAC] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Military Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
In order to keep ocean peace, PKN was organized. It consisted of the state-of-the-art battle ships of various countries. However, they were raided during the foundation ceremony by the unidentified organization, USR, which plotted to conquer the world. They couldn’t be much for the submarine UX which was operated by Admiral Red of USR. But an old Japanese submarine, the 707 saved them, which was operated Captain Hayami at the risk of his life.
One year later, succeeding to the 707, which had been ruined during the former fight, newly developed submarine, the 707 II, went for a sail. Among the crews, there were boys, such as Kenji, Goro, and Senta, who had been trainees. PKN formed a fleet led by the Great Guardian, which was the latest battle ship of the United States. However, the attacks of Submarine U were very server, and the fleet was defeated. Then, the 707 arrived. As soon as Red noticed the 707, he was glad to reunion with his rival and began to fight.
Escaping from the submarine attack, they hid the 707 in the valley. But Red tried to destroy the valley in order to put the 707 into the torrents of mud. The 707 nearly escaped from it and got in the crater. However it was the pure water layer where the submarine couldn’t float up. At the moment, numerous torpedoes launched to the 707.
Nice little OVA with just one big fight and mostly full of SOL.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Wonderful Days Sky Blue 원더풀 데이즈 [Tin House] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Love Polygon Action, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Set in 2142, Wonderful Days depicts a world that has been nearly destroyed by environmental pollution. Human life as we know it is almost extinct, and only a few were able to pull through the collapse of Earth's ecosystem. In order to deal with the chaos, a city named Ecoban was created. The city uses the very pollution that caused the disaster as an energy source.
However, although the initial plan was successful to an extent, it didn't just create a new source of energy, but also an elite group of people. This prestigious faction believes that they are above the system, and are not willing to accept survivors from outside the city unless they are put to work as laborers.
Among the people living in the wasteland outside Ecoban is a young man named Shua. He leads a very difficult life, but tries to make the most of it through the love that he feels for his childhood friend Jay. Unfortunately, Jay may be more interested in her security commander Cade than in Shua, and thus a love triangle is formed. Not only does Shua have to deal with the heartbreak, but he must also find a new way to survive in the crumbles left from the once-beautiful planet Earth.
The first decent Korean anime, beautiful and even 3D is used well. Story and execution are horrible, though. Super slow pace, lots of needless shots. We don't get familiar with the characters, and after some confusion it's already time to finish.
Overall Rating: 6/10
19. Nasu: Andalusia no Natsu Nasu: Summer in Andalusia 茄子 アンダルシアの夏 [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Racing Sports
Pepe is a Spanish cyclist competing in an multi-stage Iberian cycling race similar to the Tour de France. He is a support rider for one of the teams competing in the race, and his role is to assist the team's top rider in winning the overall race. As the story unfolds, the racers are set to ride through Pepe's home town in Andalusia on the same day as the wedding of his elder brother Angel to his former girlfriend Carmen. Their relationship was a factor in his decision to leave the town to pursue professional cycling, and the wedding is a frustrating reminder that his career hasn't turned out as he would have liked. Now, with the sponsor planning to drop him from the team and his family and friends cheering him on, Pepe abandons his assigned role and strives for glory.
Not the worst short spokon that I watched, but all the deus ex machina factors involved make it not worth watching.
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Momoko, Kaeru no Uta ga Kikoeru yo. もも子、かえるの歌がきこえるよ。 [Magic Bus] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: School Drama, Slice of Life
Momoko, who attends a special school, is both mentally and physically disabled. Every morning she becomes peevish because she can't go to the ordinary school with her twin brother Riki. Her family soothes Momoko by singing her favorite song "The Song of Frogs."
One day, Momoko shouts encouragement to Riki who's playing dodgeball at an open classroom day and Riki's team wins the game. Ryuji, whose team lost the game, is not impressed and demands that Riki stop bringing his 'idiot sister' to school. Riki totally loses control and hits Ryuji with all his might.
The following year, an experiment in integrated education is implemented and Momoko begins to attend Riki's school. Unfortunately, her physical condition takes a turn for the worse and she's sent to a hospital. Riki and all her classmates want to cheer her up and they set a goal of winning a relay race so that they would be able to tell Momoko the good news. Meanwhile, the fastest sprinter, Ryuichi, insists that he won't be taking part in the race.
I seriously dislike scoring on disabled people. Have not seen such evident tearjerkers in a while if ever.
Overall Rating: 6/10
21. Elysium 엘리시움 [Toei Animation, OLM Digital] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi
In In the year 2113 A.D., a team of scientists is dispatched to Antarctica to investigate the region's abnormal seismic activity. Near the epicenter of the activity, the expedition discovers vast land markings akin to the Nazca paleoglyphs drawn in the Peruvian desert. Stranger still is the presence of an enormous underground cavern below these symbols. At the bottom of the chasm, a portion of a tremendous tower juts from the ground. Armed with ultra-digital cameras, the scientific team transmits their findings to the Command Center. One explorer traces the image of a star chart engraved on the tower's exterior. The tower begins to emit a sinister howling as if possessed by demonic forces. One by one, the members of the expedition writhe in pain and die. Those observing the scene at the Command Center watch helplessly. As the high-frequency noise suffuses their headquarters, they too succumb and die in agony. When the waves of the frequency are analyzed, they are discovered to be a beacon directed at the planet Elysium, which lies beyond Earth's solar system.
Van, the reluctant hero of the story, is an 18-year-old pizza delivery boy in Manhattan. He competes in the most popular sport of the 22nd century -- turbo jai alai racing. These races are fast paced and deadly affairs that integrate virtual reality into the competition. He's deeply in love with Lydia, a talented ballerina. In the chaotic futuristic metropolis, they only have each other and their dreams. Van and Lydia desperately want the chance to escape the polluted city-scape. Despite the dangers, Van enters a turbo jai alai race in the hopes of winning first prize -- two tickets to a galactic resort where Lydia can audition for the Jupiter Ballet.
Meanwhile, earth's deep space observation vessel, the Odyssey, patrols the planet's orbital perimeter. The Odyssey is confronted by an armada of sophisticated alien spacecraft from Elysium. The awed human crew prepares to receive the Elysian ambassador, Yaspe. Without warning, the Odyssey loses control of its weapons, fires on the ambassador's vessel and destroys it. This tragic misunderstanding results in brutal retaliation by the Elysian fleet, culminating in the destruction of the Odyssey and a full-scale attack on Earth.
Van's deadly sport of choice turns deadlier when the stadium he is competing in comes under fire from the Elysian barrage. Van struggles through the chaos on his turbo-cycle to rescue Lydia from the collapsing stands. The indiscriminate Elysian onslaught scorches cities worldwide. Van and Lydia flee through the burning streets of Manhattan seeking safety. After a series of harrowing escapes, they find refuge in a claustrophobic fall-out shelter.
Cringy 3D is back. Animations are so laughable that it's impossible to take anything seriously here. Story is torn and nothing to be missed.
Overall Rating: 5/10
22. Ryoukan-san 良寛さん [-] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical
An animated motion picture about a real-life Buddhist monk and renowned poet, Ryoukan who lived in 18th century Japan, during the Edo Period. Though born to a wealthy family in Izumozaki, Ryoukan chooses to abandon the easy life he would have inherited in order to understand the true meaning of life through the teachings of Buddhism. From his early adulthood, he undergoes a series of harsh training that demands a solitary and meager lifestyle. Throughout it all, he remains an extremely modest and humble person, a true humanitarian who accepts every individual for who they are while rejecting all worldly fame and wealth. Ryoukan found true peace in life through nature and spending time with children. His pure mind and affable personality have captivated many, and his legacy and the wisdom of his teachings live on today.
Just an eccentric monk life with real video shots of the places he inhabited. More an educational/cultural//touristic video that a piece of entertainment for those who never heard of this Ryoukan before.
Overall Rating: 6/10
23. on-chan, Yume Power Daibouken! On-chan, Dream Power Big Adventure! onちゃん夢パワー大冒険！ [Nippon Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Fantasy
on-chan and his friends from the universe's Parade Star, for some reason meets the brother and sister, Kenta and Haruka, who is moving from Tokyo to Sapporo along the way, in the middle of a meadow.
The two of them travel to get back to their new home in Sapporo. For on-chan and the other's though, they encounter all sorts of trouble.
At first, Kenta was opposing on-chan's dream power but before he knew it, he was also under its influence...
Not translated. Just needed to confirm that it's a kid's work.
Overall Rating: 5/10
Foreword: Sword apprentice protagonist and two fighting heroines (short swords and bow) were all that it took to lure me to this game.
Title: Ochiba no Mau Koro
Developer: Noa
Date: 2003-10-24
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v5367
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuf4kv1b9hg&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv--j9jctcdQ0zRtWU4dw7pU
Synopsis: Amami Kouji lost his parents in an accident when he was a child. After that he was adopted by his father's friend Kusanagi Keisuke, the chief priest of the Shinto shrine of Misaka City. Since then he has lived with Keisuke and his daughters, Makoto and Minato.
In the accident he didn't lose only his parents, but his left eye as well. Now he is learning the art of swordsmanship and he's too good for someone with only an eye: even though his left eye can't see anything, it allows him to “see” impending dangers and other people's killing intent as “lines”. He calls them “death lines”.
One day he's having lunch on the rooftop of his school with Makoto, Minato and his friend Kaiji, when he notices a girl, Hirasaka Suzuka, getting bullied by three girls. After rescuing her they make friend.
Two days later he meets a girl, Haruka Lichtenbein, who recently moved from England to Misaka and got lost on her way home, and decides to help her.
As the time passes by, strange events happen in his city. Strange monsters appear and attack girls on night. And a strange blond-haired guy seems to have something to do with all these events...
Game type: School SOL with some demon extermination ancestry
Difficulty: Relatively
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 4/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
Rating comments: Story hardly exist here, while composition and shortness deliver finishing blow.
Protagonist: Kouji is supposed to be our great sword fighter, but we never see his face, only yellow hair in a ponytail couple times. He wants to become more powerful to protect everyone... all the usual stuff.
Characters: There are four heroines, but I only played fighter heroines routes - that is main heroine shrine maiden Makoto with a bow and mysterious half-foreigner Haruka fighting with short swords. Haruka is quiet and intelligent, so I at least could enjoy her personality. Makoto is all the usual genki osanajimi way.
Story: Synopsis actually tells the whole short story that happens in the game. There's a transfer student and just two fight scenes at school against the same opponent - not so successful at first, and the final one. That's it, game only takes some 4 hours to beat each route, so there's not enough time for anything more serious. Story is a total sham. All this fighter entourage is just to attract some chunige folks. Game is much more about SOL than action scenes. It shames the whole fight concept and has long ways to go for real representatives of the genre like Heart & Blade. It's sad to see such frauds presented as a real thing.
Technical difficulties:
Hooking this game is a world of pain. Normal memory threads aren't found, and word-by-word threads differ at different parts of the game. It can go well for an hour with the current thread, but then there is 5-minute scene that needs searching for a different memory thread, and return to the previous one afterwards. As a result, a few scenes in the video remain without hooking.
Overall comments: Everything in this game just scratches the surface and goes on. I really detest such shallow games unable to concentrate on anything. No good story, no good drama, no good SOL, no developed characters. I'm going to rate such fraudery as low as possible.
Wow, I rated everything pretty low this season. Good opportunity to promote my beloved franchise with Wizardry
1. Trapp Ikka Monogatari The Trapp Family Story トラップ 一家 物語 [Nippon Animation] (Finished 3/40)
Tags: Childcare, Historical, Music Drama, Romance
Based on the same story that produced the classic musical 'The Sound of Music', this is the story of Maria, who leaves her life in a convent to take up the responsibility of taking care of Captain Trapp's children.
World masterpiece theater. If you can tolerate a series built around a musical... I could not for long.
Overall Rating: 5/10
2. Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird Brave of the Sun Fighbird 太陽の勇者ファイバード [Sunrise] (Finished 3/48)
Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi
An evil alien life form, Dryus, assaulted the Earth. The leader of Space Patrol, Fighbird, pursed Dryus to the Earth. Fighbird combined with an android that Dr. Amano was developing. Fighbird named Hidori Ryutaro and fight against Dryus to protect the peace of the Earth.
At first look, he was a normal person, but because he was an alien, Fibird, his acts were a bit away from the normal persons'. Usually, he worked for Dr. Amano as an assistant. He looked uncouth always wearing while coat and glasses. However, once enemy appears, his personality changed dramatically.
Hardly anyone but Sunrise continues to release shounen mecha, so Sunrise mecha with dips into humor has become the average inside the genre. No breakthrough, as expected.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Getter Robo Go ゲッターロボ號 [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Military Action, Adventure
A new Getter robot is piloted by three youth as they combat the evil terrors that plague the world.
Reinstallment of series from 1970s and not done by Sunrise brings a lot of limitations... to the point that only a few episodes have subtitles. It can't be even considered average in 1990s.
Overall Rating: 4/10
4. Kinkyuu Hasshin Saver Kids Emergency Departure Rescue Kids 緊急発進セイバーキッズ [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 0/50)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Matsugorou is a vile doctor who plots out a plan to take over the world by commanding his own robotic army. The only chance the world has is a group of three brothers that make up a team called the Emergency Departure Saver Kids.
Not translated. I can get the series with some effort, but there's zero chance I could like it, so I'd prefer to skip it entirely.
Overall Rating: 0/10
5. Ore wa Chokkaku おれは直角 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/36)
Tags: Comedy
Chokkaku Ishigaki leeds a cheerful student life at the prestigious Hagi Meirinkan institution and at home in the late Tokugawa period.
Not translated. Just Edo period SOL about about a boy with comedy. Resembles Akadou Suzunosuke anime the most. Above average, but without translation is doomed.
Overall Rating: 6/10
6. Burn Up! バーンナップ [AIC] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Detective Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
To the unsuspecting eye Maki, Reimi and Yuka may not look like ace crime fighters, which might explain why they're stuck on traffic patrol instead of more "exciting" police duties.
All that changes when Yuka gets herself kidnapped by a white slave organization run by a politically connected businessman who's got the rest of the police cowed.
Now it's up to Maki and Reimi to don skin-tight battle armor, liberate a tank, and make sure that a certain slaver learns that when you play with fire, you're going to get your ass burned!
Pretty average action. Guess this franchise is chosen for serialization just because there's freedom of actions with a new runner while Dirty Pair needs some standards and some stamp of quality to maintain. Feels like a below average Dirty Pair movie with cut humor.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Soujuu Senshi Psychic Wars Psychic Wars 捜獣戦士サイキック・ウォーズ [] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Mythology, Super Power, Time Travel Action
Ukyo Rettsu, a surgeon, treats a mysterous old woman for a mysterious "cancer." The growth turns out to be a messenger from the ancient past of Japan heralding a demonic invasion of the Earth. Ukyo must go back in time and fight the race of ancient demons.
Esper wars is never a good choice, adding time slip usually makes things confusing. As a result we have a trashy action, one of the lowest rated anime ever.
Overall Rating: 3/10
8. Wizardry ウィザードリィ [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Based on the first Wizardry game "The Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord", a group of characters enter a dungeon to confront the ultimate wizard to prevent him from reaching an unstoppable power. On their way they meet up with a few new friends who have their own battles to settle, but their paths lay together.
Watched it twice in the past already and loved it immensely, but I was playing Wizardry Online then, so might be subjective. Rewatching it now with a more critical outlook, and it looks more like a well done showcase of lore that old Wizardry games could provide, and it's not much, only enough for one OVA. Actually, can't give it a masterpiece status now. Basically, all difficult fights are won after spell of elven magician girl with some backstab move or something afterwards. Aesthetics is great, but substance is lacking, especially since I knew all lore about Verdna and world history beforehand.
Overall Rating: 6/10
9. Mouryou Senki Madara Madara 魍魎戦記 MADARA[摩陀羅] [Studio Fantasia, animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Mythology Adventure, Supernatural
Born of legendary origins, the young Madara has grown up in obscurity as an apprentice blacksmith. An encounter with the demonic Mouki reveals his destiny, and catapults him into the middle of a mystic quest. Madara fights for revenge with the help of freedom fighters, magical swords and Kirin, the master of the Majin. His goal is to defeat his brother and then overthrow his father, the despotic Miroku.
It looks like the first attempt to create an epic action manga and story after Dororo, must have had an influence on Berserk as this manga started publishing two years before Berserk. Overall this OVA feels rushed as there are a lot of great looking unique side-characters who should have some story behind them, but there's no time to tell it, so they are thrown as is. First part properly gives roots of story and provides a love interest, two friends and a rival. But second part brings quite a lot confusion things start to be shown without explanation. In the end I could not enjoy this anime because of half-fantasy/half-futuristic setting with artificial bodies and magic. It still could work if not the horrible ending that wasted all the accumulated epic potential. It's only natural as manga ended only in 1997, so showrunners just hastily mashed things up. This story deserved a better treatment, also at a later time.
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Majuu Senshi Luna Varga 魔獣戦士ルナ・ヴァルガー [AIC, Studio Hakk] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
The Dunbas Empire tries to conquer the peaceful land of Rimbell. The three princesses are determined to resist the invaders, expecially the middle one, the tomboyish, sword-wielding Luna. After a magical escapade in the cellars of the castle, she finds herself embedded up to the hips in the head of a huge green reptile, the legendary Varga, and acting as its "brain." Even when in human form she has a reptilian tail. She has to fend off a very persistent giant invader and rescue her sister who has been kidnapped by a pterodactyl.
So ridiculous that any story can be neglected right away, and only comedy needs to be evaluated, and it does not impress at all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Shakotan★Boogie シャコタン★ブギ [Pierrot] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Seinen Racing, School Action, Comedy
It's girls, gangs, and cars in this adaptation of the 1985 manga in Young Magazine, by Lullaby for Wednesday's Cinderella-creator Michiharu Kusunoki. Local punks steal cars, switch the plates, and sell them, but not without racing them for a while against rival gangs. The anime continues the story where the 1987 live-action movie starring Kazuya Kimura left off.
With such huge amount of sexist humor, it can hardy go over average.
Overall Rating: 5/10
12. Dragon Fist ドラゴンフィスト [Agent 21] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Martial Arts Drama, Fantasy
The story follows Ling Fei-long, a Chinese transfer student living in Japan. Ling is the son of the leader of the White Dragon clan, one of four clans who live in the mountains of China and are descended from mythical beasts. After killing an ordinary human, Ling is banished to Japan so that he might learn about humanity and how to control his powers around them.
Pathetic melodrama about clones which rivals some of the worst anime ever made.
Overall Rating: 3/10
13. Ariel Deluxe DELUXE ARIEL (エリアル) [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Mecha Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Those incompetent aliens are still plotting to conquer the Earth! The only obstacle in their path is the giant, feminine robot ARIEL! But the young pilots have lives of their own... When Kazumi receives a mysterious love letter from a secret admirer, should she cancel her first date just to save the Earth?
Giant girl mecha is fighting giant dinosaur mecha,... that's all I need to know about this anime. Oh, and there's fanservice. Now definitely all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Makyuu Senjou Dark Warrior 魔宮戦場 [Daiei] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Action, Sci-Fi
When computer genius Joe Takami hacks into a top secret computer system in search of information on a mysterious girl, he gets much more than he bargained for. Now, after uncovering evidence of a secret government experiment, he's running for his life, and everyone, including his best friend and his personal computer, has turned against him. As a ruthless team of high-tech ninja follows his trail, Joe must depend upon the unpredictable powers that lie within him in order to survive. Can he find a way to evade the government assassins before they terminate the human genetic experiment named Joe Takami.
Cyborg is an ok guy , but after shock becomes a muscular berserk, pretty much everything else is trashy fighting and gore .
Overall Rating: 4/10
15. Be-Bop Kaizokuban Be-Bop 海賊版 [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Seinen Delinquents, School Comedy
Based on a parody manga of Be-Bop Highschool.
I found it disgusting in so many ways. With only couple minutes per sketch it does not even feel integral.
Overall Rating: 4/10
16. Phantom Yuusha Densetsu ファントム勇者伝説 [Magic Bus] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Military Action, Drama
Yazawa, a Japanese pilot, suffers a crash in his Phantom jetfighter. After a six month recovery, his old friend from an airplane magazine wants him to investigate the appearance of a Phantom in an armed conflict in El Salvador. Yazawa's investigations makes him wind up in an international arms conspiracy. Based on a series of military fiction novels.
I tried to find any elements that could justify it even a little, and passable visuals is the only thing I found not appalling here.
Overall Rating: 2/10
17. Samuraider: Nazo no Tenkousei サムライダー 謎の転校生 [-] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Samurai Action, Drama
In a combination of samurai movies and Bomber Bikers of Shonan, Tokyo street punk Masao buys a treasured FZR "katana" motorcycle and becomes a knight of the road, attacking criminals with a genuine katana sword.
Biker with katana, even two if we also take the neighboring guy the protagonist imitated. Overall, very silly, aimless and chaotic, can't even call it humor, to be honest.
Overall Rating: 4/10
18. Bousou Sengokushi 暴走戦國史 [-] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Action
Modern-day bikers make and break alliances with neighboring gangs, fight over the right to use a local petrol station, and are eventually united under a powerful leader. It's a replay of the events of Japan's 16th-century civil war, but with bikes instead of horses and knives instead of swords. Based on the manga by Jiro Ueno in Weekly Playboy.
Not translated. No humor. Why should I be interested in biker parody of medieval civil war... Let's assume I am. Characters are ugly. There's a huge number of them. Both OVA take less than 90 minutes. The whole point of civil war is in complexity. What's the point of biker parody is beyond my understanding. There's a huge number of much better done Sengoku parodies later on.
Overall Rating: 4/10
19. Kumo ni Noru 雲にのる [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Seinen Action
In a Buddhist heaven where saints fight over turf in the clouds, Nio-maru searches for the younger sister torn from him in an aircraft accident back in the human world.
Not translated. Another weird OVA about giants, gods and oni and protagonist who does not care who to make love to. Ecchi tag is a must have here, if there was no semblance of plot I'd even call it hentai for the sheer amount of H events and nudity. Plot is silly to the point that it's amusing to watch, but it's one huge nonsense, so I'd say don't bother. .
Overall Rating: 4/10
20. Judo-bu Monogatari 柔道部物語 [Studio Deen, Daume] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: School Sports
Based on the same name manga by Kobayashi Makoto.
Not translated. Protagonist gets a harsh welcome at judo club when he applies, but he keeps practicing, eventually mastering a deadly throw that allows him to protect himself from hooligans. As you can see, it's super simple and with only faint smell of humor, so zero point in watching it.
Overall Rating: 4/10
21. Shounen Ashibe 少年アシベ [Pony Canyon] (Finished 0/6)
Tags: Comedy
After moving to a new town, a young boy comes across a lone baby seal. They become fast friends and enjoy everyday life together.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
22. Mobile Suit Gundam F91 機動戦士ガンダムＦ91 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Drama, Sci-Fi
In the year 123 of the Universal Century, skirmishes between the Federation government and the rebel group Crossbones Vanguard echo across Earth's space colonies. One of these small battles breaks in the hometown of young Seabook Arno, forcing him and his friends to flee and ensnaring them in the political turmoil that is quickly evolving into an all-out war.
Seabook meets Cecily Fairchild, granddaughter of the aristocrat Meitzer Ronah, who seeks to create a new political power called "Cosmo Babylonia." Using the Crossbone Vanguard as its muscle, the Ronah family schemes to restore aristocratic rule and establish an economic system that will benefit the nobility, thus devastating the quality of life for the common people of the Earth Sphere.
Seabook is tasked with piloting the Gundam F91, a mobile suit created by his mother, and must choose between protecting the status Federation's status quo or cooperating with Cecily to find a better way of life for all.
A bit of fresh air, and a lot of stale everything else. Jumps in narration and underdeveloped characters disappoint the most.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Ushiro no Shoumen Daare Who's Left Behind? うしろの正面だあれ [Mushi Production] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical Drama
Kayoko is a young girl in 1940, just starting first grade. She's a bit of a crybaby, which is no secret to those around her. She loves playing with friends and singing cute schoolyard chants, and occasionally having fun with her three older brothers. Her mother is pregnant, and so she looks forward to being a big sister, only partially understanding the responsibility that might bring. Meanwhile, the war effort is growing, and it`s only the natural thing to do to be patriotic and support the country...
Kayoko goes so far as to contribute her favorite dolly, whose materials could help build explosives. Time passes, and as she grows older, Kayoko sees how the war has affected her life and those around her. Nothing can prepare her for 1945, however, and the bleak times that are soon to come. Based on original creator Kayoko Ebina's real life experience during World War 2 on Showa era.
Dream scene must have influenced Spirited Away by Miyazaki. As for the rest... children sing a lot of songs and play. I don't like this anime as both kids and adults know that their country is allied with Nazi Germany in Axis , everyone lives miserably and still doll is sacrificed for this cannibalistic regime to create explosives and kill more good people. Idiocy should not equal patriotism .
Overall Rating: 6/10
24. Dorami-chan: Wow, The Kid Gang of Bandits ドラミちゃん アララ・少年山賊団！ [-] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Fantasy
-
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
Strange Dawn made my day. Vampire Hunter D (2000) also deserves a mention.
1. Hand Maid May HAND MAID メイ [TNK] (Finished 3/10)
Tags: Harem Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Saotome Kazuya is a computer whiz. One day his friend Nanbara, threatens him with a computer virus. Trying to stop the virus, Kazuya ends up making a special order. May is a cyberdoll that arrives at his door a few minutes later and she is 1/6th the size of a normal person, which makes for many awkward situations. Not to mention the fact Kazuya can't even afford to keep May. Cyberdyne is not satisfied with Kazuya's non-payments and will do anything to retrieve CBD May.
One of the most boring slapstick comedies that I've seen in a while. I don't even see Moe here, actually, don't see absolutely anything of interest. If there is any humor, it's of lowest quality.
Overall Rating: 5/10
2. Medarot Damashii Medabots Spirits メダロット魂 [Trans Arts] (Finished 1/39)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The sequel to the famous Medabots series, following the continuing adventures of Ikki and Metabee. The two encountered a strange enemy named Jinkai and the so called Death Medabots. Along with Nae and Erica, they will defeat Jinkai and the Death Medabots.
Same kids stuff.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Brigadoon: Marin to Melan Brigadoon ブリガドーン まりんとメラン [Sunrise] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Mecha Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Marin is a typical junior high school girl with a sunny disposition and a loving adoptive family. Her life takes a drastic change when a mysterious mirage is seen in the sky above the entire earth. Killer androids called Monomakia descend to earth from the formation in the sky called Brigadoon and begin to hunt down little Marin. She discovers a blue bottle in a shrine as she seeks escape and from the bottle comes a protector, a sword carrying gun slinging alien called Melan Blue, together they must save the earth and deal with family crisis, school prejudice and the police and come to an understanding of Marins past and Melans unexplained mission, as well as learn to trust each other. Set in 1969 Japan with a colorful cast of friends and enemies.
Finally Sunrise starts experimenting with mecha, namely, mecha here are small and of different shapes. Main genre is nonsense comedy, but with occasional serious drama elements. There's no real plot to develop, so need to enjoy flow or characters to keep watching. And count me out on both.
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Strange Dawn ストレンジ・ドーン [Hal Film Maker] (Finished 13/13)
Tags: Isekai Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Yuko and Eri are two normal girls who are sucked into the alternate world filled with tiny people. The people of this mysterious world sees them as their "Great Protectors" who can protect their land in a time of strife. The two girls set out on a mission with a group of warriors from the village to find out how they were brought here and how might they return home. However, there is a war brewing and these two Great Protectors are the political tool that every faction lusts for to rally the people to their side.
Wow, what a surprising and pleasant ride. Isekai is still my favorite genre. What I especially liked is natural and believable reactions of high school student girls, nice system of politics with three factions and some rivaling leaders inside factions, humor overall, including great running jokes about worms and shoes. Second half got a bit loose after girls split up, but ending after reuniting impressed. Plot scale is not big enough to grant it something more than minor masterpiece, but this anime definitely needs some highlight as I never heard about it before.
Overall Rating: 7/10
5. eX-Driver エクスドライバー [Actas ] (Finished 3/6)
Tags: Racing Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Ex-Driver is set in the future, when all transportation is easily controlled by AI. Though like all machines they tend to break down or lose control or re-programmed. This is where three high schoolers with non AI cars, Subaru WRX, Super 7, Lotus comes in to save the day and make sure the public is safe at all times.
I can only enjoy non-racing parts in racing anime, and this one does not have much to offer on the side.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Honoo no Labyrinth Labyrinth Of Flames 炎のらびりんす [Studio Fantasia] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Samurai Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi
Meet Galan, a Russian spastic geek who`d do anything to be a real, live samurai. But that`s just an impossible dream... or is it? When his friend Natsu, who is a successor of Japanese emigrants family, gives him the gift of an ancient sword, strange events unfold, and even stranger people drop out of the sky to attack. Now Galan must overcome his ineptitude and join a bunch of beautiful women in a wacky romp through a kingdom that time forgot. Hey, what could be better?
It's too short , fanservice-heavy and unserious to rate it highly. But it's sure decent among trashy comedies.
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Koutetsu Tenshi Kurumi Encore Steel Angel Kurumi Encore 鋼鉄天使くるみ 25-28話 [OLM] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen Historical Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Four additional short stories of the Steel Angels: Saki becomes a film actress, Karinka goes on a blind date with Kamihito, Kurumi practices the art of becoming a traditional Japanese woman, and the rest of the Steel Angels engage in a contest to win Nakahito's heart.
Too few new titles this season, so can't afford luxury of blocking even supplementary season ovas. Anyway, just fanservice OVA in both senses as personality highlights and even more ecchi.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Kirara [Ashi Productions] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural, Ecchi
Twenty-four-year-old Kirara is on her way to her wedding when she is killed in a car accident. However her love for her fiance is so strong that she is permitted to return to earth as a ghost to see him. But she is sent back 8 years in time, to when she and her fiancé first met. However her own meddling in the past may make her 16 year-old-self turn away from her would-be fiance.
Great. Ghost tries to seduce a high-school student. There's no end to stupidity in here.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Geobreeders 2: Mouryou Yuugekitai File-XX Ransen Toppa ジオブリーダーズ２ 魍魎遊撃隊 [Chaos Project] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Taba and the Girls of Kagura Total Security Inc. are at it again. This time they have to battle a Gang of Phantom Cats and a mysterious enemy and assassin. And there are the run ins with the Government, the need for a new office, as well as sorting out the past to deal with. Luckily, they've got a stock pile of weapons and super technology to help.
Original OVA had weird concept, rather bland characters and weak nonsense comedy. Doubt anyone waited for continuation, but here we are with all poor elements intact and some blood with ecchi added. Average in most aspects.
Overall Rating: 5/10
10. Vampire Hunter D (2000) Vampire Hunter D : Bloodlust バンパイアハンターD [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Vampire Action, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi
The story revolves around D, the infamous "dhampir" (born of a vampire father and a human mother) outcast and renowned vampire hunter. His prowess at hunting the creatures of the night allowing his acceptance among humans, he is called upon to locate Charlotte Elbourne, the lovely daughter of an affluent family who has been mysteriously kidnapped.
When the sun sets, the hunt goes on! Charlotte's father offers a rich bounty, be she dead or alive, a task D willingly accepts, even with notorious Markus brothers and their gang of bounty hunters seeking the prize as well. Amidst the chase and unknown to all lurks, a sinister evil which has been secretly manipulating their every move and has set a chilling trap that none will expect and few will survive. With the tables turned and the secrets revealed, the hunters could quickly become the hunted!
On one hand, it's brainless action with predictable flow from the moment Leila rode bike towards D, and I'm sorry for invested time. On other hand, it's almost flawlessly done movie with given concept. Lastly, I usually evaluate highly stories like Gantz:O where an omnipotent team faces even more overwhelming force. I guess I can still call it a minor honorary masterpiece by sum of factors.
Overall Rating: 7/10
11. Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: Fuuin Sareta Card 劇場版 カードキャプターさくら 封印されたカード [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
For this year's Nadeshiko Festival, Sakura Kinomoto's elementary school class is presenting a play. She will portray a princess who struggles to respond to the love confession of the neighboring country's prince. Sakura empathizes with her character all too well, since she herself still owes an answer to the boy who confessed his love for her four months ago.
When cousins Shaoran and Meiling Li return from Hong Kong to pay a surprise visit to their friends in Japan, Sakura receives further encouragement to finally declare her feelings. However, she is repeatedly distracted by a presence reminiscent of a Clow Card as well as unexplained disappearances around town.
Eventually, Sakura learns of another of Clow Reed's creations—the "Nothing"—which was formerly sealed away beneath the magician's old house. It has power equal to all 52 cards Sakura possesses, and furthermore, it wants to take those cards away from her! Objects, space, and people disappear from Tomoeda with each card that is stolen. Sakura sets out to capture the Nothing so everything will return to normal, but what must she sacrifice in the process?
A much better movie with focus on school, and there is even song here. Concept is still alien to me.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Kaze wo Mita Shounen 風を見た少年 [Brain's Base] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Young boy Amon has mysterious powers. His dad is the cheif scientist for the Empire of the Golden Snake. He's invented weapons for this country in the past, but does not want his boy's powers to be used for destruction so he burns his research and tries to escape the country with his family. The mom and dad die in the escape and only Amon is left. He runs from the military, ends up on an island where he learns about the ancient people who could fly on the wind and talk to animals (as he can). Amon then ends up in a fishermen's village and makes friends with Maria. After this village is attacked by the Golden Snake army, the two run away with a band of rebels. Together, they try to stop the Empire of the Golden Snake from destroying and conquering everything. Based on the book by C.W. Nicol.
I don't know why it's so boring. It seems to follow other similar popular works, but with only scratching the surface to stay family friendly. Lots of imitation and simplification together with totally failed characters, probably.
Overall Rating: 5/10
13. The Aurora: Umi no Aurora The Aurora 海のオーロラ [Nippon Television Network] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Sci-Fi
Deep-sea archeologist Hiroshi Ibuki is the member of the digging team working at the bottom of the sea hoping to uncover the origins of Earth's existence but instead uncovers a mysterious colony of bacteria which gives off light similar to the Aurora Borealis. The ancient bacteria, once revived, attempt to make the world habitable for themselves —a process that would bring Earth back to its early primal form, killing all current life in the process.
Early CGI are awful. Plot concept is super primitive, another "Alien". Execution just can't be good with these terrible torn animations.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Might as well rename the whole thing into Fandisc of the Month
1. Mashiro-iro Symphony: Sana Edition ましろ色シンフォニー SANA EDITION [230623] Palette
The girl who can't be true to her feelings, Inui Sana.
The Private Yuihime Girls Academy is supposed to be the place where she could have fun with her favorite senpai as well important friends. But when she became one of the "test student" where her class would be merged with students from the Private Kagami Academy, the environment around her changes.
There, she met one certain student.
His presence shook Sana's heart—just like how a falling snow changes a whole city.
This is another love story.
Fandisc
2. Go-toubun no Hanayome: Gotopazu Story 五等分の花嫁 ごとぱずストーリー [230629] MAGES. GAME
The visual novel version of the franchise's online puzzle game. Contains all original event story from the first year of the game and the story adaptation from anime's first season.
Anime spin-off
3. Ketsugou Danshi -Elements with Emotions- 結合男子 -Elements with Emotions- [230629] Square Enix
In Ketsugou Danshi, players will guide those who possess the power of chemical elements—known as "Shikenkan"—to stop the world from being destroyed in 50 days through chemical bonding. The player takes on the role of a mediator who will bring together the Shikenkan who posses the power of each element. By combining them, the player will create various chemical reactions and fight against the enemy force known as "Red Matter. "
Console exclusive
4. Happy Live, Show Up: Encore!! ハッピーライヴ ショウアップ アンコール！！ [230630] FAVORITE
Akito goes on a journey and meets former acquaintance Miyabi who conveys the hidden feelings she realized after losing him. They decide to spend holidays in Elfburg where they used to live together.
Fandisc
5. Houkago Cinderella 2 Mini Fandisk ~Kimi to Odoru Hajimete no Happy Halloween~ 放課後シンデレラ２ ミニファンディスク ～君と踊る初めてのハッピーハロウィン～ [230630] HOOKSOFT
Months have flown by since the protagonist moved to this town and crossed paths with these lovely girls... The seasons have shifted, and now autumn is in full swing.
Autumn—students recognize it as the harbinger of a grand event - the school cultural festival! Our protagonist is knee-deep in a frenzy of preparations for this momentous event.
Today, tomorrow, and the day after, it's all about getting ready for the cultural festival after school!
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
But no matter how important the preps are, he knows spending time with his girlfriend is just as crucial.
Yet, even with this knowledge...
As the protagonist's personal time dwindles, the heroines' frustrations mount!
They put on a brave face, but their pent-up desires are nearing a boiling point.
Some can't hold it in any longer and lash out at the protagonist!
Still, the cultural festival is almost here!
Once it starts, they'll have no choice but to enjoy it together!
Takoyaki, crepes, haunted houses... and even a myriad of peculiar stalls and events!
How will our protagonist navigate the cultural festival with the heroine by his side...? The ball is entirely in his court!
Fandisc
6. Chou-tantei Jikenbo RAIN CODE 超探偵事件簿 レインコード [230630] Spike Chunsoft
A brand new dark fantasy detective action game from the minds behind the Danganronpa series!
Yuma, an amnesiac detective-in-training, and Shinigami, the spirit haunting him, tackle unsolved mysteries! End the reign of mysteries in this lucid-noir detective adventure!
Kanai Ward, the city of rain, is gripped by innumerable unsolved mysteries.
Explore the city in a fully 3D environment and find Solution Keys that will help solve cases.
Console exclusive Detective
Year 2002 was quite curious. A lot of heavy weight candidates finally entered the scene.
New portion of Visual Novel Openings 2002 with songs.
My list of masterpieces in 2002:
Baldr Force
Bokura ga Koko ni Iru Fushigi.
D.U.O. ~Song for All~
Ever17 -The Out of Infinity-
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni
Hotosenaru Uta Chitosenaru Shirushi
Kikokugai - The Cyber Slayer
Kusarihime ~Euthanasia~
Masaru: Ashita no Yukinojou 2
One 2 ~Eien no Yakusoku~
Princess Knights
Rocket no Natsu
Subete ga F ni Naru ~The Perfect Insider~
Suigetsu
Utawarerumono
Viper-RSR
It's evident that public sympathies stand for translated visual novels. But for me meta-layer intellectual novels would always stand above plotge, so VN of the Year 2002 is Kusarihime ~Euthanasia~ .
My previous attempt of poll for review failed mostly because I do not like to return to VNs that I played recently. This my new attempt is for visual novels that I evaluate highly, but did not have time to make a proper review due to one month - one review concept. This time poll won't have ending date, and I will be reviewing game with highest number of votes despite of overall number of votes. So here we go.
There aren't masterpieces inside 1970 anime for me, but among scores of 6 I'd choose one that has a full English translation, and thus Cleopatra .
1. Attack No.1 アタックNo.1 [1970-I] Tokyo Movie Shinsha (Dropped 3/104)
Tags: Shoujo Drama, Sports
Kozue is a middleschool girl and enthusiastic volleyball player. Her dream is to play in the Japanese national volleyball team. During the series she makes it from the school district league up to the Japanese volleyball finals, step by step till the international volleyball championship. But the faster and higher Kozue climbs the career ladder up, the more she gets confronted with the dark side of success: too high expectations, self-conceit and envy are progressing towards serious problems.
This spokon shoujo actually features team members heavy interaction from the start, but it's still quite simple/naïve and girls don't have memorable personalities.
Overall Rating: 4/10
2. Chibikko Remi to Meiken Kapi ちびっ子レミと名犬カピ [1970-I] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Drama, Slice of Life
This is a faithful if compressed adaptation, telling the story of Remi who is sold off to Vitalis the travelling musician and his band of performing animals. It has musical numbers typical this era of Toei films, some awkward slapstic, plenty of scenes tailored to pull on the heartstrings, and very smooth animation. Overall a pleasant film that's interesting to watch for the technical aspects; but the story leaves much to be desired, being on the melodramatic-maudlin side. The later Dezaki/Sugino version is very different, with 52 episodes for the story to breathe in and far more compelling storytelling.
Again a very simplistic tale of searching for real parents. Maybe TV series that came later will give more depths to it, but in this state I see zero point in watching it.
Overall Rating: 4/10
3. Ashita no Joe Tomorrow's Joe あしたのジョー [1970-II] Mushi Production (Dropped 6/79)
Tags: Shounen Action, Drama, Slice of Life, Sports
Joe Yabuki is a troubled youth, whose only solution to problems is throwing punches at them. What he lacks in manners and discipline, he makes up for with his self-taught fighting skills.
One day, while wandering the slums of Doya, Joe gets into a fight with the local gang. Although greatly outnumbered, he effortlessly defeats them, drawing the attention of Danpei Tange—a former boxing coach turned alcoholic. Seeing his potential, he offers to train Joe into Japan's greatest boxer. At first, Joe dismisses Danpei as a hopeless drunk; but after the trainer saves his life, he agrees to live with him and learn the art of boxing. Unfortunately, Joe's personality makes him an unruly student, and he often falls back to his old ways.
To survive the harsh world of his new career, Joe needs to trust his mentor and master the techniques taught to him. However, the road to becoming a professional boxer is rife with struggles that will test his mettle to the end.
This anime tried to give a proper 2-episode intro, a wide cast of companions and unusual gangster hooligan protagonist a bit similar to great teacher Onizuka. For a spokon anime it's very unconventional and that's why piques interest. But it's still the story of getting stronger without serious twist involved and in each episode there is usually just one plot that occupies most of the time. So can't call it a masterpiece level.
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Konchuu Monogatari Minashigo Hutch The Adventures of Hutch the Honeybee 昆虫物語みなしごハッチ [1970-II] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/91)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Hutch is a small honeybee who got separated from his mom when his home was destroyed by invading wasps, and he now desperately wants to find her back. It's the beginning of an adventure that will make him meet all kinds of friendly insects who try to help him out, but unfortunately for most of them, they will not survive the end of the episode...
Thanks to humor it's way better than just analogue of Kimba the white lion, just in the world of insects. Still it's just aimless and plotless adventures, so the score can't go any higher.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. Akakichi no Eleven 赤き血のイレブン [1970-II] TV Tokyo, DOGA Productions (Dropped 3/52)
Tags: Team Sports
At Shinsei high school, soccer is almost a combat sport and new team coach Teppei Matsuki is a fully paid up sadist who will push his team as hard as necessary to win. Headstrong school bad boy Shingo Tamai and his friend Ohira are determined not to be bullied into joining Matsuki's team; instead they set up a squad of their own, and at first play just for fun and struggle to keep up with Matsuki's team.
As their skills progress, they play other teams and get stronger and craftier, until they face the crack Asakase high school squad and its star player Misugi Yan in the schools' final. In a tangle of subplots involving old rivalries and injuries, and a mixed-race player seeking his identity and his lost mother (who turns out to be in jail), Shingo develops his skills as a center forward and looks forward to playing a visiting Brazilian squad. He is seriously injured in a game, but his talent, which even the legendary Brazilian Pele recognizes, is equaled by his determination. With the help of a friend of his old rival Matsuki, he recovers to help the team to victory.
Definitely melodrama rather than a sports series proper, this is the first in the line of Japanese soccer soaps that stretches to Captain Tsubasa and beyond. Based on a manga by Ikki Kajiwara and Kosei Sonoda.
Spokon with more traditional school hooligans. It's actually rather nice as it focuses on drama around characters and soccer instead of soccer itself. I see the appeal, but it lacks humor to become something bigger.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Bakuhatsu Gorou Goro the Terrible ばくはつ五郎 [1970-II] Tele-Cartoon Japan (Dropped 3/26)
Tags: Comedy, Sports
The non-athletic head of the school newspaper department participates in various club activities, including a number of sports clubs, with disastrously hilarious results.
Super school boy concept is too simple, as for me. Vast use of humor helps a lot, but it's not omnipotent. It's still just episodic stories with some morale at best. Protagonist is clumsy and hesitating and charismatic, but still has ways to go compared to Onizuka.
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Otanoshimi Anime Gekijou おたのしみアニメ劇場 [1970-II] Fuji TV, Studio Zero (Dropped 0/26)
Tags: Comedy
Based on the original story by Studio Zero.
Not found
Overall Rating: 0/10
8. Nippon Tanjou 日本誕生 [1970-III] Mushi Production (Dropped 0/5)
Tags: Historical
A history of Japan with the main characters as animals.
Not found
Overall Rating: 0/10
9. Cleopatra クレオパトラ [1970-III] Mushi Production (Dropped 3/13)
Tags: Historical Sci-Fi
In the far future, earthlings come across the foreign planet of Pasatorine. Few things are understood about the planet, but it is clear that earthlings are not welcome there. However, the inhabitants of Pasatorine have initiated something called the "Cleopatra Plan." Puzzled why an alien planet would name a plan after a woman from Earth, the military decides to send three soldiers' minds back to the past to study Cleopatra's life.
The Kingdom of Egypt, led by the drunkard Ptolemy, is threatened by Julius Caesar and the Roman empire. In an attempt to save Egypt, Cleopatra, the younger sister of Ptolemy, chooses to undergo a procedure that makes her body irresistible to Caesar. Caesar is immediately smitten and desires to rule Egypt with Cleopatra at his side—but little does he know that she intends to assassinate him as soon as she can.
Second ecchi , and it follows steps of Senya Ichiya Monogatari in a lot of ways even with Osamu Tezuka as director, same experimental, same weird transformation scenes, same loose retelling of known events with all kinds of weird plot moves. Very similar graphics-wise as well. Again, it's a memorable parody, but without any serious concept behind it. Thanks to all the parody and additional humor I'd even rate it as 6, but not higher as there is not actual sense or big idea behind it all, just entertainment.
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Kaitei Sanman Mile 海底3万マイル [1970-III] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
Returning home from an ocean trip, young Isamu meets the beautiful sea-dweller Angel on a volcanic island. Attacked by a fiery dragon, Isamu and Angel escape on the observation boat See Through, and Angel invites Isamu to see her undersea kingdom of Atlas.
From the start I thought it reminded ghost ship Soratobu Yuureisen, and at times it almost felt like direct plagiatry. This time plot hardly goes anywhere, so musical is partially incorporated. But now there's some humor it , so I can rate it a bit higher. But it remains just an adventure story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Mahou no Mako-chan Mako the Mermaid 魔法のマコちゃん [1970-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/48)
Tags: Shoujo Fantasy, Romance
Mako is a young siren and daughter to the King of the Sea. In a stormy day she rescues the young sport Akira from a wrecked ship, but ends up falling in love with him. So, with help from the Witch of the Sea, she's transformed into a human, and becomes a highschool student who helps everyone with her strong sense of love and justice and her magical pendant, the "Tear of the Mermaid."
It's difficult for me to evaluate a shoujo without substantial humor. As a school shouojo with just protagonist in the focus it reminds Himitsu no Akko-chan the most of all previous ones. And I see nothing special in it.
Overall Rating: 5/10
12. Kick no Oni Demon of the Kick キックの鬼 [1970-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 2/26)
Tags: Shounen Combat Sports
An arrogant karate master named Tadashi Sawamura enters the kickboxing ring to prove his superiority, only to be beaten into a coma by a practictioner of the new art. After recovering, his trainer Endo convinced Sawamura to study kickboxing in order to regain his honor. The series is loosely based on the real-life exploits of champion kickboxer Tadashi Sawamura.
Dead serious and boring kick-boxing spokon starting with a defeat.
Overall Rating: 4/10
13. Inakappe Taishou General Inakappe いなかっぺ大将 [1970-IV] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/104)
Tags: Comedy, Sports
A comedy about a country boy that travels to the city to study judo. He ends up meeting the daughter of a prominent dojo and her judo skilled cat. Each episode features 2 stories.
Humor is rather decent, but nothing special. Protagonist is sort of simple-minded. Other characters are also just surface-scratching. Feels too childish.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Norakuro のらくろ [1970-IV] Eiken (Dropped 3/26)
Tags: Comedy
Norakuro is a black dog enlisted in the "Mokenrentai" (Fierce Dog Brigade), an Imperial army of dogs fighting in a war against the enemy Monkey Army.
Norakuro is a stray black-and-white dog in an army of white dogs who blundered his way while being a Private Second-Class.
This series was relatively faithful to the comics. One big change, however, was the addition of the army nurse Miko, whom Norakuro had a crush on. For this series, Norakuro was voiced by Nobuyo Ooyama, who would later become noted for voicing Doraemon.
I felt like I saw black and white pre-war anime of it, and it indeed turned out to be an old military franchise parodying USSR and USA in the form of animals. Watching it nowadays feels very weird and out-of-time, humor is either too simple or too specific to enjoy.
Overall Rating: 4/10
15. Otoko Doahou! Koushien 男どアホウ! 甲子園 (Dropped 0/156)
Tags: Action, Sports
The story of a dim country boy who dreams of making it to the high school baseball championships in Koshien. Each 10 minutes episode ran from Monday to Saturday.
Not found
Overall Rating: 0/10
16. Ijiwaru Baasan いじわるばあさん [1970-IV] Knack Productions (Dropped 0/13)
Tags: Comedy, Slice of Life
Based on a 1966 manga by Sazae-san creator Hasegawa Machiko.
This is another slice-of-everyday-life tale, centered around a spiteful old woman who causes trouble for neighbours with her constant bumbling and grumbling
Not found
Overall Rating: 0/10
Year 2012 is probably the last great year, at least it looks like that to me now. Extended list of masterpieces includes as many as 33 titles this time which is more than ever. But at the same time private stories more and more substitute epic stories, so I actually have trouble choosing one representing the year. Visual Novel Openings 2012 as usual.
My list of masterpieces in 2012:
'&' - Sora no Mukou de Sakimasu you ni -
1/2 Summer
Aete Mushi Suru Kimi to no Mirai ~Relay Broadcast~
Astelight Jourantan
Astraythem
Chuuning Lover
Dolphin Divers
Dracu-Riot!
Fata morgana no Yakata
Grisaia no Meikyuu
Gun Knight Girl
Gurenka
Hatsuyuki Sakura
Harumade, Kururu.
Kimi e Okuru, Sora no Hana
Kono Sekai no Mukou de
Kouyoku no Soleil -vii’s World-
Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai! S
Namima no Kuni no Faust
Otome ga Tsumugu Koi no Canvas
Owaru Sekai to Birthday
Re:birth Colony -Lost Azurite-
Root Double -Before Crime * After Days-
Rose Guns Days
Sakura, Sakimashita.
Shinigami no Testament ~menuet of epistula~
SINCLIENT
Strawberry Feels
Tiny Dungeon ~Brave or Slave~
Tokyo Babel
Tsuisou no Augment
Tsukumo no Kanade ~Kaketsuki no Yasoukyoku~
Zero Infinity -Devil of Maxwell-
It does not have that huge of a meaning which one to chose, so I'll only give CG to show my preference.
And I guess I need to choose at least one game for review from 2012 and it will be Astelight Jourantan , hopefully the full trilogy.
Foreword: This is going to a slightly unusual review, because I'm going to totally ignore main three heroines and focus solely on two side heroines because of Masada scenario writing and uniqueness of these two heroines compared to conventional ones.
Title: Dear My Friend
Developer: light
Date: 2004-07-09
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v519
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvEtF1Nh89A&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv-vEHq8MQwNWKJi9NyRbYch
Synopsis: This light-hearted, high school eroge surrounds the exploits of a soon-to-be non-average student named Kyoichi Morikawa. The son of the odd paring of a nurse and a poorly-selling novelist, he’s been living his life in mind-numbing virtuosity. One auspicious day his father returns home after running errands with a girl (about Kyoichi’s age) claiming to be orphaned. Being the good Samaritan, our hero’s father adopts the hapless girl. Now Kyoichi must explain the extraordinary circumstances to his one and only friend. Furthermore, seeing the main character with a girl has caused several of the female student body to take notice of him...
Game type: Charage
Character Design rating: 9/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 8/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Rating comments: I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the game. The two heroine routes I saw were unique and charming, protagonist contributed to gags a lot, and side characters really shined in here. A firm masterpiece, I say.
Protagonist: Kyouichi is not really our usual nobody. He has a face and a strong personality. He does not have piety towards girls and plays jokes on them a lot. He's almost as fun as Taichi from Cross†Channel, just less pervy.
Characters: There are five heroines.
Kushiro Mai is our main heroine. And - according to To Heart tradition - the most boring one. She's blushing at every second line and is extremely shy overall. But even she has something fun about her - she leans to Kyouichi all the time despite the environment. That becomes the source of some nice joyful moments. She's the only naive heroine in the game.
Kurihara Tsukuyo is the second heroine that's available from the start. She's our traditional ojou-sama, polite and kind. It's good that she's serious and not naive, but all the other heroines look more interesting to me.
Kitazawa Miyako is the last of three heroines available from the start. She's a genki heroine, but really intelligent at the same time, kind of Ayaka from To Heart. She would be my natural first choice if not for the other two heroines...
Kurosaki Komugi is our crazy alien or so she's introduced in the game. The cute girl with bunny ears swears like a sailor and picks up on everyone. She makes every scene whirl around her. By To Heart analogy she's definitely Multi.
Nagamura Saeka is kind of joker of this game. She looks like a serious sempai, but she turns out to be of mischievous kind. Masada went a long way to invent all kinds of plot twists for her route. The one fact is that in her route Kyouichi dates.... drums-drums... Mai! And Saeka kind of tries to support them. Finishing with To Heart analogies, she's definitely Shiho.
Story: Don't think there is integral story. Mai just starts living in Kyouichi family and attending the same class. Game starts with the choice between heroines, but if we start following Mai route there's later branching to Komugi and Saeka routes. I especially want to take notice of Kyouichi parents - they're marvelous and really funny. Guess now it's time say a few words about my attitude towards heroines. Both Komugi and Saeka routes were really good for the comedy part and quite good for the drama. Not really should game would make it to the masterpiece status for me without these two brilliant routes written by Masada.
Overall comments: I'll be brief since it's not a plotge. I never really cared for charage and grew a disgust towards the titles with great evaluation like Mashiro Iro Symphony or White Album 2 (I hope to bitch about it some day too). I got assured that I can appreciate a charage only in conjunction with some great story like in SubaHibi or Cross†Channel. So Dear My Friend really took me by surprise. There's no great depth or drama in here, but it's an absolutely enjoyable cozy read. And it's not all Masada's praise as Kyouichi's parents written by main author are equally enjoyable. Guess Dear My Friend produced a little revolution in me, and I've yet to know how to live with this thought.
Year 2007 is great for bringing two full 10/10 masterpieces Draculius and Dies irae and many more very nice visual novels. You all know that winner is Dies irae as it's probably main visual novel of all times. First version from 2007 was quite raw, and there are some funny negative reviews from 2007-2008, but light found inner strength to polish this version and even freely give away it to original buyers. New portion of Visual Novel Openings 2007 with songs.
My list of masterpieces in 2007:
Aster
Boku ga Sadame Kimi ni wa Tsubasa o.
Bullet Butlers
Demon Parasite ~Akuma no You na Tenshi no Kanojo~
Dies irae
Draculius
ExE
Gekkou no Carnevale
Happy Margaret!
Himawari
Hotel Dusk: Room 215
Itsuka, Todoku, Ano Sora ni.
Kira☆Kira
Koisuru Otome to Shugo no Tate - The Code Name is "Shield 9"
Reconquista
Sekai de Ichiban Dame na Koi
Sekien no Inganock -What a Beautiful People-
Shirogane no Soleil -Successor of Wyrd- <>
Soshite Ashita no Sekai yori
Zwei Worter
A nice round number. I tried to cover most of masterpieces already, so there are only three untranslated masterpieces left without my review. Will add two more curious enough games for me in the poll for EXTRA review. As usual, I don't have too much time to meddle with passed year, so will make my mind in 3-5 days time after publishing the poll:
Aster
Happy Margaret!
Miageta Sora ni Ochiteiku
Soshite Ashita no Sekai yori
Tsukutori
Ended up choosing only Lodoss-tou Senki as borderline masterpiece.
1. Fushigi no Umi no Nadia Nadia: Secret of Blue Water ふしぎの海のナディア [Gainax] (Dropped 3/39)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
In 1889, the world is on the pinnacle of great discoveries in technology. In mankind's grasp for the future, a sinister foe known only as Gargoyle, obsessed with restoring the former Atlantean empire to the glory it once held, begins his plans to take over the world. Nadia, with the help of a young inventor, Jean Roque Lartigue, and Captain Nemo of the submarine Nautilus, must fight to save the world from Gargoyle and Neo-Atlantis. Based on the Novel '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' by Jules Verne.
This anime loses a big time against Boy Conan and even against Flying Castle Laputa. Rather uninspiring and childish overall - can't see its value for adults. It's still above average.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. NG Knight Ramune & 40 NG 騎士ラムネ＆４０ [Production Reed] (Dropped 3/38)
Tags: Shounen Mecha Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Lamune is an ordinary 4th grade boy who loves playing video games. He buys one from a peddler girl and helps her sell the rest. At home, he plays the game called "King Sccasher" & beats it. The peddler girl then comes out of the TV screen and asks for his help, calling him "The Blood Relative of the Chosen Hero Lamuness". She is Princess Milk and takes him to Hara-Hara World where his role is to revive the Guardian Knights. To do this, he had to find an unlock the shrine which held Tama-Q, a robot who became Lamuness' Advisor Robot, and key to freeing the Guardian Knights. All of the Knights are free-thinking mechas except for King Sccasher which is piloted by Lamuness. Opposing Lamuness is Don Harumage and his minions Da Cider and Lesuka.
SD Mecha with elementary school boy is already pretty much doomed for me. No good humor spotted either.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Mahou no Angel Sweet Mint 魔法のエンジェル スイートミント [Production Reed] (Dropped 3/47)
Tags: Shoujo
Mint is a girl who happens to be the princess of the world of dreams and magic. The natural environment of her world is a reflection of the dreams of the people on Earth. It is now in danger as people lose faith in their dreams and let darkness enter their hearts. The environment of Mint's world is starting to wither and die.
On her 12th birthday, after a gala celebration with her father the King and her mother, she agrees to go to the world of humans to try to preserve people's hopes and dreams, and to prove that she has the qualities necessary to be a wise ruler. Her father arranges for her to stay with his sister, Mint's aunt Herb, who runs a gift shop on Earth called "Happiness Shop".
Sweet Mint continues to use magical girl attributes introduced in Creamy Mami and provides an optimistic outlook as she helps people around. At the same time I can't find anything in it that stands out above the average level...
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Idol Tenshi Youkoso Youko Idol Angel Welcome Yoko アイドル天使ようこそようこ [Ashi Productions] (Dropped 1/43)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Drama
A young girl and her flying squirrel goes to Tokyo in hopes of becoming an idol singer. On the way, she meets another girl who wants to become an actress, and together they work to achieve their dreams.
Just one episode seems to be translated. It provides super naïve outlook, probably indeed only for young girls.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 2 Spirit Hero Wataru 2 魔神英雄伝ワタル2 [Sunrise] (Dropped 3/46)
Tags: Mecha Adventure, Comedy
Wataru has been lived happily on earth after he defeated Doakudar. When he plays around with his friend, Ryujinmaru appears and ask him to fight again. It appears that the 7 Stars Mountain, the source of Mt. Soukai's rainbow, have been taken over by Doakadar (Doakudar's brother). If all the stars mountain loses their brightness, Mt. Soukai's rainbow will fade and everyone will live in the darkness for eternity. Once again, Wataru has to go through all the 7 stars system and destroy this new stronger enemy.
Only for fans of first season...
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Lodoss-tou Senki Record of Lodoss War ロードス島戦記 [Madhouse] (Finished 13/13)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
Created from the aftermath of the last great battle of the gods, Lodoss and its kingdoms have been plagued by war for thousands of years. As a quiet peace and unity finally become foreseeable over the land, an unknown evil begins to stir. An ancient witch has awakened, bent on preserving the island of Lodoss by creating political unbalance throughout the many kingdoms and keeping any one from maintaining central control. Only a mixed-race party of six young champions, led by the young warrior Parn, stand between this new threat and Lodoss' descent back into the darkness of war and destruction.
I remember that it impressed me greatly the first time I watched it. I still enjoy it, especially when full adventurer party is in action .
Overall Rating: 7/10
7. Cyber City Oedo 808 Cyber City CYBER CITY OEDO 808 (サイバーシティ オーエド ハチマルハチ) [Madhouse] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Detective Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
It is the year 2808. Three convicts are recruited as members of the Cyber Police to keep major criminal activity in Oedo (formerly Tokyo) in check. In return, their life sentences will be reduced by a few years for every mission accomplished. However, to ensure that these convicts are doing their job, the police have secured special collars around their necks. If they attempt to remove their collars or fail to meet the time limit of their mission, the collars will self-destruct.
Can be considered ancestor of Psychopass - even pistols have similar fingerprint locks. Each of three episodes focuses on one of three protagonists with some others also often participating. Well, I could not enjoy Cyber City. It's mostly gory action with a bit of intrigue beforehand. Not enough complexity or development for me .
Overall Rating: 6/10
8. AD Police AD Police Files ADポリス [AIC, Artmic] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Adult Cast, Detective, Gore, Mecha, Psychological Adventure, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense
The year is 2027 in MegaTokyo, six years before the Knight Sabers will make their debut. Boomers (artificial humans) are still a relatively new advancement, and the implementation and integration of boomers into society is still a bit buggy -- sometimes fatally so. Whenever a boomer incident occurs, though, there is the Advanced Police, a special force trained to deal with boomer crimes.
Leon McNichol is a rookie in the AD Police, and is just starting to become exposed to the horrors and tragedies one finds every day in MegaTokyo. He and his veteran partner, Gina Marceau, slowly learn about the ever-fading line that separates man from machine.
Very messy android action stories. Characters aren't introduced properly. Poor direction, hasty development, absolutely horrible endings. Maybe full-scale series make things right, but in this state can't recommend it to anyone.
Overall Rating: 4/10
9. Goddamn ガッデム [Studio Signal] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Seinen Racing Action
Car racing anime, based on the manga by Kaoru Shintani that serialised in Big Comic Superior from 1988 to 1990.
I've yet to see an interesting serious racing anime. But Venus wars was about racing partially too, and it was great. I blame scenarios - this is another super bland one with unremarkable characters.
Overall Rating: 4/10
10. Yagami-kun no Katei no Jijou 八神くんの家庭の事情 [Production I.G, Kitty Film Mitaka Studio] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Comedy
Well, in short, the mother looks like she's 14, and the kid is "openly" in love with her—loli x motha-con. His teacher, too, is in love with her mother, and so the love rivals duke it out in classroom, as well as plotting the downfall of their common enemy, his father. The father has a secretary who is in love with him. But once she discovered that he has such a "young" wife she turned her attention to his son, who is now torn between his own mother and a naive, motorbike riding girlfriend.
Wha? I mean... wha? In first episode son imagines wife of his father naked as he does not believe in their blood ties, but at the end of 1st episode she provides joint baby photos that are very persuasive. As I understand the concept, it would work only with borderline jokes while keeping things civil, and it indeed develops this way. In the end only curiosity urges to watch such silly, shocking comedy, but it is very soon satisfied with only repetition or stakes rising possible, and we already know it goes the repetitions way, so no real point in watching it.
Overall Rating: 4/10
11. Burning Blood [Magic Bus] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Combat Sports
Ryo Takagi is a trumpet player on the verge of hitting it big with his band, but he's also a natural fighter whose blood starts burning when he fights seriously; this gave him the nickname B.B ("Burning Blood"). After suffering absolute defeat at the hands of a young man named Jin Moriyama, though, Ryo decides to trade in his trumpet for a pair of boxing gloves in order to have a rematch the way Moriyama wants it: In the boxing ring.
It's above average boxing spokon as characters have their own motivations and problems and because there's pretty much zero boxing in the first episode. But it's physically impossible for me to enjoy a serious spokon, so genre fans should deal with it themselves, really.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Milky Passion: Dougenzaka - Ai no Shiro ミルキィパッション 道玄坂 愛の城 [Animation 501] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Josei Romance
Based on the Milky Passion manga by Morizono Milk. “Milky Passion” follows Hiromi, a 20-year-old woman working as a stereotypical office lady at a large Japanese company, who is whisked away into a car after work by two suspicious men and taken to a love hotel, where she’s told by the manager there that they want her to become the hotel’s new president. Before she can decline the offer, made to her because her late estranged father was the hotel’s founder, she’s given a fancy apartment near the hotel with designer clothes and accessories, which impress all of the people at her workplace, so she agrees to it. Qualifications? Experience? Who cares about those things when looking for your next president.
OVA is just 28 minutes, so it only has time to show prologue, several silly situations at love hotel and worry about rival. No sense in watching it.
Overall Rating: 4/10
13. Ikenai Boy イケナイBOY [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Harem Comedy, Erotica
An anime adaptation of the erotic manga "Ikenai Boy" by Yoshihiro Suma, serialized in Business Jump.
Our hero is the typical young energetic college boy, but he got a special gift. He has "magic hands" that puts all women in ecstasy. Obviously he is taking advantage of this gift by meeting one bishoujo after the other!
Second part of Ikenai Boy is marked as hentai, this one is mostly about nude massage. It's still closer to hentai as massage is in the focus and there's nothing else notable in this anime.
Overall Rating: 0/10
14. Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! I am THE Shiratori Reiko! 白鳥麗子でございます！ [Ajia-Do] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy, Romance
19-year old Reiko is a rich, arrogant, material girl, who refuses to admit her feelings for classmate Tetsuya Akimoto before it's almost too late. Reiko pursues him to Tokyo and enrolls at his university in an attempt to win him back.
Guess this concept got so many TV adaptations because of combination of reasons : 1) girl is fashionable and from rich family 2) girl is proactive and willful 3) lots of youth craziness with rules of morals not applying. I'm sure it can be a funny dorama, but to show it all within 45 minutes with rather poorly designed character sprites... was mission impossible from the start.
Overall Rating: 4/10
15. Taiman Blues: Ladies-hen - Mayumi たいまんぶるうず レディース編 真由美 [Tokuma Japan] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Delinquents
Mayumi runs away from home from to escape her predatory stepfather only to be abducted by members of a delinquent motorcycle gang. She's taken under the wing by Noriko, who invites her to move into her apartment, finds her a job in a service station and introduces her to the world of motorcycling. The two set up their own all-female gang - Eight Angels - but soon discover that local male-dominated gangs are hostile to this intrusion on their turf.
Just when I said there was just one anime series about female gangs, here it is second one. It's better than male previous version Shimizu Naoto-hen in every single way, mostly because it does not limit itself to just tale about gangs. Nice coming of age story, definitely above average, though nothing special.
Overall Rating: 6/10
16. Onimaru: Senjou ni Kakeru Itsutsu no Seishun 鬼丸 戦場に駆ける五つの青春 [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Adventure
During the Onin wars in Japan's medieval Muromachi era, five powerful warriors hire out their services to the highest bidder. Onimaru is the leader; Bo handles demolitions; Saru is as agile as a monkey; Osamu is a cool tactician; and Kiri is the sexy swordswoman. The group gains an extra member when Onimaru rescues Princess Aya who naturally falls in love with him and refuses to go away.
Not translated. It's mostly protagonist ninja with non-fighting girl princess defending against atacking ninja and some other warriors on several occasions. The company is colorful, there's some comedy and some explicit content, so overall rather average, but without translation not worth watching.
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Otokogi 男樹 [-] (Dropped 2/3)
Tags: Seinen Organized Crime
After his father leaves when he is very young, Kyosuke Murata grows up under the thumb of his overprotective mother, Shizuko. When he reaches adulthood, he is thrown into the harsh, violent world of Japanese gangland when his mother becomes involved in a gang-related crime. He goes up against the Murata-gumi organization, only to find that his estranged father is its head. Rising up through the ranks, Kyosuke eventually unites half the gangs in Japan beneath his own leadership, only to find that the other half have also combined to resist his new power, starting the greatest gang war in Japanese history.
Not translated. There have been several serious yakuza OVAs so far, and none of them were nice. I blame lack of scale. This one has an alright scale of the whole country, so might be Japanese Godfather or something, but third episode is not found, so the resolution is unknown. Overall, a serious anime with a lot of characters and gore, above average yakuza anime for sure.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Tonari no Tokoro となりのトコロ [Pastel] (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Comedy
Based on the original story by famous Japanese comedian George Tokoro.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
19. Furiten-kun (1990) フリテンくん [Knack Productions] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Seinen Comedy, Slice of Life
Continuation of the everyday life adventures of the avid mahjong player Furiten-kun.
Not translated. I quite dig kinky corporate parody humor. Would be a lot better translated.
Overall Rating: 6/10
20. Versailles no Bara: Seimei Aru Kagiri Aishite ベルサイユのばら 生命あるかぎり愛して [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Historical Drama, Romance
A theatrical re-edit/summary of the TV series. Some of the voice actors were changed (eg. Oscar is played by Keiko Toda instead of re-using the original audio by Reiko Tajima).
Not translated (except in Spanish) and very poor video quality. Fine for those who does not want to watch this whole series.
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Onna Senshi Efe & Jira: Gude no Monshou Gude Crest: The Emblem of Gude 女戦士エフェ&ジーラ グーデの紋章 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
Two partners Effera and Jiliora escape from a slave boat with the aid of their friend Orlin and a young boy named Kilian. When Kilian is killed in the escape Effera and Jiliora take it upon themselves to return Kilian's pendant to his two siblings who are being held captive by Baron Celdion, who is plotting to take over all of the neighboring countries.
Again, not bad small fantasy OVA does not go further than that and remains just not bad to the end.
Overall Rating: 6/10
22. Hashire! Shiroi Ookami White Fang 走れ! 白いオオカミ [Group TAC, Toho] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Drama
A boy named Lasset who lives on a farm in the rural northern US makes a perilous trek through the wilderness to a sanctuary 300 miles to the north to save the life of a gray wolf that he had raised from a puppy after an incident in which the wolf kills the family dog.
I've come to conclusion that all anime about normal non-speaking animals is made for kids and it tries to show morals and teach as first priority, and story is second priority and not that important or interesting usually. I think there were at least three similar anime about Silver Fang already, it stops to be funny on the second run let alone the fourth.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Kuro ga Ita Natsu クロがいた夏 [GEN Productions] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical, Pets Drama
Hiroshima, summer of 1945. A young girl named Nobuko saves a starving kitten from crows. She wants to keep the kitten, but her parents dismiss the idea. Nobuko eventually convinces them to let her keep it. She and her brother Makoto name the cat Kuro. Kuro quickly brings joy and laughter to the family. As World War II takes its toll on Japan, it becomes harder for Nobuko and her family to care for Kuro. One August morning, Kuro begins acting strangely...
This anime is stupid not because kitten saves protagonists two times and then dies heroically, but the way American fighter pilot flies low and with a smirk aims with machine gun scope at a small girl running with a kitten in the center of the street and launches a barrage. If you make movie like this, best not make any, really.
Overall Rating: 4/10
24. Heavy ヘヴィ [Artland, Nippon Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Drama, Sports
Gai, a karate expert in the New York slum, is trained to be a boxing champion by a cancer-strucken doctor and a transvestite suffering from AIDS. Based on the manga by Motoka Murakami.
Not translated. Another above the average boxing movie, but by how above is for spokons fans to decide.
Overall Rating: 6/10
25. Perrine Monogatari Movie 劇場版 ペリーヌ物語 [Nippon Animation] (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Shoujo Historical Drama, Slice of Life
Movie version of the TV series Perrine Monogatari.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
26. Makkuro na Obentou まっ黒なおべんとう [Kyodo Eiga] (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Historical Drama
n the 6th of August, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. A young boy, Shigeru, left home for his job as a building excavator that morning, carrying a bento made by his mother, only to never return home again. Before long, his mother managed to find Shigeru's remains, and she noticed the completely black and carbonized bento box next to them.
This is an anime adaptation of the original book, "Makkuro na Obentou (The Charred Lunchbox)" written by Kodama Tatsuharu and illustrated by Kitajima Shinpei. The bento box that becomes the focus of the story is actually on display in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
27. Obatalian オバタリアン [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy
The pejorative word obatalian is a pun between the Japanese word obaasan (old lady) and the English word battalion. Obatalian are known to always enter a train running as fast as they can, bumping others people in order to catch a free seat before the others. They haggle things that aren't normally haggled like grocery store produce. They are fearless and pitiless, just like a battalion of barbarians. This anime is follows 6 stories of one such Obatalian and her wake of destruction.
Not translated. But hilarious battle grannies, as expected.
Overall Rating: 6/10
Actual competition again, so can briefly forget about including all the minor fandiscs
1. Sentimental Death Loop センチメンタルデスループ [230706] qureate
It’s Noa’s birthday, and her good friend and schoolmate Nemu throws a party to celebrate.
Once in Nemu’s room, Noa is pleased to receive a black diary as a gift. Nemu, however, becomes enraged when she finds Noa distracted by a photo she found in the bedroom.
Nemu, beyond the reach of Noa’s words, draws a knife and plunges it into her dear friend. Again, and again, and again…
Noa’s consciousness begins to fade… But when she comes to, she’s in Nemu’s room again, unharmed but terribly confused.
Just when she considers writing it off as a strange daydream, she notices the black diary from before is already in her hands.
It wasn’t a dream…
Death claims you again and again. Will you be able to break free of this loop?
Higurashi imitation in RPGmaker
2. DeepOne -Ryoukai Shinpan- DeepOne-領界侵犯- [230727] Nameless
A world where destiny is set for everyone. But Itsukino Naoya meets witch Yuuki Kasumi, and together they stand up to resist the destiny. This is a story of fighting for the world and feelings. Are feelings a boon or curse?
First episode cried of incompleteness, and this is direct sequel. Though PC release is not anywhere soon, so there aren't console reviews yet clarifying whether it's the end of the story or another incomplete episode.
3. Haruka Ao no Hanayome ni 遥か碧の花嫁に [230728] Lump of Sugar
The seabed── Despite being a part of this earth, it is still an unknown world full of mysteries.
It all starts on a certain summer vacation.
While traveling to the south by a ship, they suddenly get caught in a big storm. The protagonist Haruki, his sister Minamo, and his childhood friend Natsumi, all fall into the raging sea.
When Haruki, who has already accepted death, regains his consciousness once again── He finds himself on a luxurious bed.
"Not even the sunlight can reach here, this place is 5,000 meters deep.
We are the undersea people, and this place is the underwater city Atalancia."
A maid with animal ears, Rosania informs him unenthusiastically.
And, as if to add another blow to the already surprised Haruki.
"The one who brought Haruki-sama to Atalancia, it was none other than me."
The Princess of Atalancia, Irionela's cheeks turn pink──
"I know this is a sudden request, and I'm feeling very ashamed, but──
Would you please marry me?"
Love at first sight by the Princess of the Undersea, with the addition of her sister and the second princess Lill, the life at the bottom of the ocean begins.
Suddenly rising, the whirlpool of love.
This intercultural love communication, where does it really flow to?
It can be called a soothing cute charage with varied routes.
4. Ore no Hitomi de Maruhadaka! Fukachi na Mirai to Misukasu Vision 俺の瞳で丸裸！不可知な未来と視透かす運命 [230728] Hulotte
"Oh, my. It's been a long time since we have a guest."
"For now, this is how it's gonna be.
Anything you like over there, just one, you can take it with you."
In the suburbs, deep in the forest, lies the "Witch's House". When they were young, a group of six childhood friends successfully visited the place. Each of them were given and took home, magical items. However―― Only one boy was different.
"I don't want anything. Instead, I want to learn magic, let me be your apprentice――!"
Some time has passed since then. The protagonist Kuze Shinra, is now spending his days as a servant of the "Witch of the Forest". Even though he is supposed to be her apprentice, he is not taught magic at all, but is forced to do household chores every day instead.
The only thing that he has learned is the "Magic of Clairvoyance", which he only uses to see the girls around him, their naked bodies! Day after day, he uses the magic on his childhood friends. Day by day, on his growing healthy body, his nose widens.
In such a life that he leads, suddenly, a change occurs.
"I come from Toulouse, France, my name is Lucie Stella Ecarlate.
My mission―― exterminating the witches."
From that moment, his daily life starts to change drastically. Childhood friends+1, the witches extermination, his true power, and numerous limits. But above all else―― This sudden changes in his surroundings eventually develop into romance and ecchi with the girls around him!
In such a life that he leads, suddenly, a change occurs.
Following the protagonist who is a witch's servant, a magical slapstick romantic comedy begins――!
More H tilt comedy as every heroine has a specific fetish that is empowered by magic.
5. Otome no Ken to Himegoto Concerto 乙女の剣と秘めごとコンチェルト [230728] ensemble
Months have flown by since the protagonist moved to this town and crossed paths with these lovely girls... The seasons have shifted, and now autumn is in full swing.
Autumn—students recognize it as the harbinger of a grand event - the school cultural festival! Our protagonist is knee-deep in a frenzy of preparations for this momentous event.
Today, tomorrow, and the day after, it's all about getting ready for the cultural festival after school!
Prepare, prepare, prepare!
But no matter how important the preps are, he knows spending time with his girlfriend is just as crucial.
Yet, even with this knowledge...
As the protagonist's personal time dwindles, the heroines' frustrations mount!
They put on a brave face, but their pent-up desires are nearing a boiling point.
Some can't hold it in any longer and lash out at the protagonist!
Still, the cultural festival is almost here!
Once it starts, they'll have no choice but to enjoy it together!
Takoyaki, crepes, haunted houses... and even a myriad of peculiar stalls and events!
How will our protagonist navigate the cultural festival with the heroine by his side...? The ball is entirely in his court!
Cross-dressing work where heroines feel relatively similar in knight school entourage.
Big companies seldom release titles in August as there's big competition from Comiket, so let's try to overview some of the prominent doujin games.
1. Purukura Aruma プルクラアルマ [230811] Seiran Soft
Theo has escaped to the human world from the war between the Land of Dreams and the Land of Illusions. While searching for a girl who can save the land of dreams using the legendary magic tool Purukura Aruma, she is attacked by a monster from the land of illusion. And such girl answers her help plea.
As you can see, more or less typical dark mahou shoujo fantasy.
2. Haiyuuenchi no Memento Memoria 廃遊園地のメメントメモリア [230813] Asanoha Seisakujo
A world devastated by war. While there are grown-ups who engage in endless battles and power struggles, some displaced children have built their own little paradise by name "Lagoon".
Boy Kai lives in "Lagoon" abandoned amusement park. He works as a "mercenary" to deal with enemies who seek expansion. Kai spends his days with his roommate and childhood friend, the doctor. However, there is a sense of incongruity...
Story does not stretch imagination as it's typical boy meets girl in a ruined world plot, but worldbuilding is done well and there are many side characters that feel alive, so everything is on a good level.
3. KUMA Mercy the Bear. [230813] non color
Main character meets a rude bear girl.
Work is built around long and polite speech of confused protagonist in contrast to calm and rude tsundere bear speech. It's short, but is able to produce a sense of nostalgia and warmth.
4. Uso kara Hajimaru Koi no Natsu 嘘から始まる恋の夏 [230813] LYCORIS
“Love can so easily turn people into liars.”
On a hill overlooking the sea is Minatocho’s Aoba Dai-ichi High School.
One night, 2nd year student, Tachibana Kaoru is completely heartbroken by her middle school homeroom teacher, Shimotsuki Mirei.
That scene is also seen by Minagi Shiori, a model student who is also in Kaoru’s class.
In state of despondence, Kaoru opens up to Shiori about her past with Mirei.
After listening intently to Kaoru’s story, Shiori, with a mysterious air about her, poses a question.
“Instead of forgetting someone you cared about… do you think it’s possible to simply overwrite those memories with different ones?”
“I’m not sure if it’s truly possible or not, but I might have to try something like that if I’m going to get over her.”
With that, Shiori suddenly makes a surprising request to Kaoru:
“I need you to help me forget about my older brother.”
It is a request to overwrite the memories of her older brother by going through a tour of her past memories.
Shiori has always wanted to live up to the standard of excellence that her older brother embodied,
but as she held a career counseling sheet in her hand, she realizes that she no longer made decisions for herself.
“Sure, okay. But how?”
Kaoru is enthusiastic about this “tour of memories” that she will go on with Shiori.
She too wants to forget about her teacher, who was her first crush.
Their relationship is then discovered by Inohara Riku, a fellow classmate who also harbors feelings for Shiori.
And so the curtain rises on this sometimes slapstick fun as well as poignant love story.
This yuri already has a translated tech demo and English release is only a matter of time, so there won't be lack of impressions
5. Zankyou Chitai 残響地帯 [230813] Paradolast
Eiji Shibukawa is a high school student who is preparing to take university entrance exams the following year. He was in the middle of self-study when he fell in love with Hotaka Gozair who was soaking wet outside. Eiji let her in the house for the Golden Week. However, the situation reaches point of no return by the end of the Golden Week as Hotaka circumstances get revealed.
System is difficult time management as you need to constantly search maps which takes from a minute to over one hour time. So it's easy to miss events that are planned for set time. Mystery and story can be called sloppy, but reaching True ending after all these flags gives a sense of accomplishment.
6. Harem x Shangri-La ハーレム×楽園 - Harem × Shangri-La - [230825] Hadashi Shoujo
The main character, Yoshiiri Amane (Changeable Name), is a transfer student who enjoys board games and puzzles. When he learns that his new school has a club activity related to board games and puzzles, he gladly joins. However, the board game club is...
“There is no need for activities like board game clubs in a school for learning!”
That's what the overly serious student council president decided, as the puzzle club was on the verge of a shutdown due to lack of members. Amane takes advantage of his clear mind to face the problems of the two club activities.
Surrounded by many girls who are members of the board game club and puzzle club, Amane's school life is turbulent. What is waiting ahead of him? Is it paradise? Or something else...?
This is clearly a barely concealed nukige that's not marked properly, but it's the closest thing to regular professional release that can be found in August if we don't count Otome.
Sen no Hatou, Tsukisome no Kouki is the winner this month, but Dungeons & Daimeiwaku -Great Edges in the Abyss- can also fascinate. Clephas did not see worthy candidates this month. Micchi is captivated by Tayutama 2 and D.C. fandisc.
1. Utawarerumono: Futari no Hakuoro うたわれるもの 二人の白皇 [160921] Aquaplus 1 2 3 4 5
Continues from directly after the events at the end of Itsuwari no Kamen/Mask of Deception.
"...I leave Her Highness... in your hands."
"Nekone, live on... and find happiness."
RPG is localized and has English reviews
2. Harmonia Harmonia -ハルモニア- [160923] Key 1 2 3 4
his is a story from a very, very distant era. The world has suffered from a great war. The contaminated atmosphere is turning ash gray, life on Earth almost came to a stop and water started vanishing. The world population has declined remarkably compared to the Golden Age. The people joined together to live in this world.
It was in these times that a "Phiroid", a robot that can feel, woke up in a decayed facility. The fruit of science before the war: a humanoid, feeling robot. They were promised a new partner, one that could make their life easier. However, the awakened Phiroid finds out very quickly that he is emotionless. Perhaps he was not finished during the manufacturing process since his right hand is not covered with artificial skin, his mechanical parts visible. The Phiroid wanted to get closer to humans. He continued to wander through this devastated world, looking for the emotions he was missing. One day, a girl takes him in. She thinks of him as human and kindly looks after him. A little but warm town.
The Phiroid boy began learning what feelings are while living together with this girl.
Game is released in English and has English reviews
3. Sen no Hatou, Tsukisome no Kouki 千の刃濤、桃花染の皇姫 [160923] August 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The ruins of the people's tranquility lie smoldering――
Two thousand years of prosperity have come to an end, the Empire conquered at the hands of degenerate invaders.
As what they once took for granted crumbles around them, its citizens nevertheless continue to strive for a better tomorrow, even as they are swept up in the tides of history.
Miyaguni Akari, the final heir to the imperial throne, seeks *power*――for it is her absolute *duty* to eradicate her sworn foes and reclaim her empire.
Tokita Sojin, a proud warrior without a past, seeks a *lord*――for the noble blade must be wielded in the name of *fealty*.
Fate shall see to it that their paths will cross――and it is not the domain of man to know whether their journey shall end in despair or in triumph.
There are English reviews
4. Tayutama 2 -You're the Only One- タユタマ 2 -you're the only one- [160923] Lump of Sugar 1 2 3 4 5
It has been 50 years since the release of the Tayutai which had been sealed in Ashihara-chou. Humans have since acknowledged their existence and the Tayutai have also moved towards living in harmony with humans. The town of Yakotami-chou where Sora lives was blessed with the country’s most favourable spiritual energies. As such, it was promoted as a place where humans and Tayutai can coexist, and underwent rapid development as it took in many humans and Tayutai.
One day, Sora happened to settle a trivial fight between a child and a Tayutai. It’s not uncommon to see such occurrences in this town. However, he was surprised when a girl with cute ears on her head appeared before him claiming that he was the one she had been looking for. She led him to the Tayutai shrine, Yachimata Shrine, and turned towards him with sparkling innocent eyes.
“I want you to be my husband!”
He couldn’t understand the girl Kohaku’s true intention, but after hearing an explanation from her mother Mashiro and deeply impressed with her enthusiasm, he agreed to help her realize her goal of forming the ‘Human and Tayutai Coexistence Society’.
There are English reviews
5. Dungeons & Daimeiwaku -Great Edges in the Abyss- 大迷宮＆大迷惑 -GREAT EDGES IN THE ABYSS- [160930] Liar-soft 1
In the world of sword of magic, expert miners discovered an underground labyrinth in a remote area of the continent. “The Abyss” is very huge inside, full of monsters and traps. However, it was rumoured that ancient treasures lie deep inside its depths and adventurers from all over came to challenge the dungeon. Among them is the young and foolish samurai Shouran, and his party consisting of the sexy but problematic alchemist Nicolite, the aggressive M ninja Hakumeimaru and the expressionless mysterious archer Kurozuka.
There is an English impression. Our usual Mareni with absurd surreal comedy and lewdness, but this time even more appealing due to fantasy setting.
6. Kanojo ＊ Step カノジョ＊ステップ [160930] Smee 1 2 3
The protagonist has moved too many times to count and this time, he has ended up in his grandmother’s minshuku located in Shirasagi, a rural town situated near the mountains. His sister told him that this was their last move, and after he graduates from school, he will be free to do as he wishes. After suppressing his feelings of love until now, he sets out to pursue his first love.
There are English reviews
7. Natsu no Majo no Parade 夏の魔女のパレード [160930] Wonder Fool 1
In a slightly different world, girls called ‘witches’ who are born with a rare mysterious ability are required to use their powers to help people. Living in the rural village of Kanahara-mura, Yukito is the son of the great witch Yuris. However, he has no magic ability whatsoever and lives a normal life like any other young boy. He thought his days would continue like this, until three witches-in-training appeared before him. The girls, Arisa, Carol and Topia, came to complete their graduation training “Witches’ Parade” in order to become a full-fledged witch. They ended up freeloading at his house, and he was asked to watch over them. He couldn’t just leave these eccentric girls who are new to the area alone, so he agreed to the request. However, that wasn’t the end of his suffering.
On that first night together, Arisa and Carol both proclaimed that he was their fiancé. He didn’t remember having ever made such a promise, but when he asked Yuris, she told him that he had promised to marry them when they became a witch. He couldn’t back out from a witch’s promise, so he must choose one of them before they complete their training, that is unless he already has a girlfriend. With his senpai Azuki aggressively going after him and his bracon imouto Saya returning from witch’s school, he senses that this will be the most boisterous summer of his life.
There is an English review
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1. D.C. III ~Da Capo III~ With You D.C.III With You ～ダ・カーポIII～ ウィズユー [160930] Circus This is the fandisc for D.C.III R X-rated and D.C.III P.P., with stories in both Kazamidori and Hatsunejima. There are after stories for the five heroines from Kazamidori and an if story in Hatsunejima where Kiyotaka could see the girls’ dreams, there’s also 3 new scenarios for Shiki, Sumomo and Mikoto. Fandisc
Kenpuu Denki Berserk is inevitably the winner here, but I also favor Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi II as a firm masterpiece because it's the rare sequel that even surpasses great original. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Ishinshishi e no Chinkonka can be considered as borderline masterpiece.
1. Kenpuu Denki Berserk Berserk 剣風伝奇ベルセルク [OLM] (Finished 25/25)
Tags: Seinen Gore, Military, Mythology Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Guts, a man who will one day be known as the Black Swordsman, is a young traveling mercenary characterized by the large greatsword he carries. He accepts jobs that offer the most money, but he never stays with one group for long—until he encounters the Band of the Hawk. Ambushed after completing a job, Guts crushes many of its members in combat. Griffith, The Band of the Falcon's leader and founder, takes an interest in Guts and duels him. While the others are no match for Guts, Griffith defeats him in one blow.
Incapacitated and taken into the Band of the Hawk's camp to recover, Guts wakes up two days later. He confronts Griffith, and the two duel yet again, only this time with a condition: Guts will join the Band of the Falcon if he loses. Due to his fresh injuries, Guts loses the fight and is inducted by Griffith.
In three years' time, Guts has become one of the Band of the Hawk's commanders. On the battlefield, his combat prowess is second only to Griffith as he takes on large groups of enemies all on his own. With Guts' immense strength and Griffith's leadership, the Band of the Hawk dominate every battle they partake in. But something menacing lurks in the shadows, threatening to change Guts' life forever.
It's still the best version of Berserk best arc Golden Age as more modern retelling cut things like band of Griffin interactions which is absolutely unacceptable. One of the best stories ever told, innovative and genius.
Overall Rating: 10/10
2. Kyuuketsuhime Miyu (TV) Vampire Princess Miyu 吸血姫美夕 [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Shoujo Mythology, Vampire Action, Drama, Horror
Evil Shinma (shape-shifting monsters and vampires) roam the Earth on a mission to unleash their darkness upon the Human race. Miyu Royal Princess from the dark is the Chosen One—the one being who must banish the Evil Shinma from the Earth. She has the power to offer Humans the gift of eternal happiness, yet is herself, trapped between two worlds; destined for perpetual solitude and internal conflict.
Miyu's only companion is Larva, once an evil Shimna; now her devoted guardian. Together they share a dark journey through the weakness of the human heart and the tragic loss of innocence. Cut off from humanity by the knowledge of what she is, Miyu lives an endless quest as both the hunter and the hunted, on the edge of darkness.
I rated 1988 OVA version as 4, so it's hard to expect much from alternative version. Basically, I don't like characters, I don't like theme and I don't like monster of the week concept.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Dr. Slump ドクタースランプ [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/74)
Tags: Shounen Gag Humor Comedy, Sci-Fi, Slice of Life
In Penguin Village, humans live alongside talking animals and objects. Senbei Norimaki is one of these humans, and he's an inventor with the lofty dream of creating the world's best robot girl.
The product of his efforts is Arale, but depending on your definition of perfect, she's anything but! Not only is Arale severely nearsighted, but she also has no common sense! At least she has super-strength, though that often proves to be a setback as well.
Although she means well, Arale only causes trouble for her neighbors in the whimsical Penguin Village!
I could never get to like Arale-chan as it looked too childish and absurd in comparison to Shin-chan and Maruko-chan. But with series reboot it might get more modern and complex... and of course it did not. One needs to appreciate simple absurd gag comedy humor to like it .
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi II Those Who Hunt Elves II エルフを狩るモノたち II [Group TAC] (Finished 12/12)
Tags: Shounen Isekai Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
After Junpei botched the second attempt to transport back to Japan, the four embark their journey once again to collect runes imprinted on skin of Elven females by stripping them. Celsia is cursed into the form of another animal this time.
I was afraid that with novelty gone old mechanisms won't excite anymore, but Those Who Hunt Elves proved once again that they can reinvent themselves. Now each episode works out of a theme, among those one science theory, two fairy tales, one Christmas fantasy and just cool stories about gags like dreaming pillows or elven toilets. One of those rare sequels that even surpass original.
Overall Rating: 8/10
5. Battle Athletess Daiundoukai (TV) Battle Athletes Victory バトルアスリーテス大運動会 [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Shounen School Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Sports
Akari Kanzaki has just joined an all-girls academy in hopes of entering the University Satellite, an elite sports training facility. She wants to win the title of Cosmo Beauty - a title held years ago by her mother. It's not an easy task for her as fear, doubt and peer pressure get in her way, but friends, rivals and fans slowly encourage her to overcome her obstacles and become the best of the Battle Athletes.
Just wow, OVA has not ended yet and there's a whole season of same sci-fic spokon bore. During three episodes I failed to understand what for to like this series at all - pointless action, average characters, below average humor and non-existing plot or concept.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Virus: Virus Buster Serge VIRUS -VIRUS BUSTER SERGE- [Plum] (Finished 4/12)
Tags: Detective, Mecha Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Neo Hong Kong, 2097: The world has changed. Advances in genetic engineering and cybernetics have created an environment full of artificially enhanced humans and intelligent super-computers that operate using biological software. But the same technology that has allowed man and machine to merge has made both susceptible to a new kind of threat—digital viruses capable of controlling their hosts.
What we got as initials is worrying - source is exploration Sega game, director who debuted for some episodes in the Bubblegum crisis OVA, four bishounens who mostly operate in the field and some girls who mostly supervise from HQ. As a result the whole virus stuff finishes by the end of 2nd episode and further on it's just aimless Bubblegum all over again without the same quality though.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Master Mosquiton '99 Master of Mosquiton '99 マスターモスキートン'99 [TV Tokyo] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Vampire Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
Catholic schoolgirl Inaho discovers that a vampire, Mosquiton, is feeding off of her classmates. So she stakes him, but he is revived after her blood comes in contact with the his remains. Mosquiton becomes her slave and also a history teacher. Together, along with Yuuki and Honou, the unlikely duo have many escapades and adventures. One of Inaho's main goals is to find the mythical O-Part to make some money!
Since OVA my attitude has not changed, and OVA is the better experience overall.
Overall Rating: 6/10
8. Yume no Crayon Oukoku Crayon Kingdom of Dreams 夢のクレヨン王国 [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/70)
Tags: Shoujo Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
The civilians of the Crayon Kingdom have always view their Princess Silver as a twelve-year old girl with a beautiful smile. However, unknown to them, the princess has 12 bad habits. This has created much distress to the Chameleon Prime Minister and the Crayon ministers for it would be embarassing if this gets out. One day, a party was held to celebrate Princess Silver's twelvth birthday. The princess was trying to seek her Prince Charming that she forgot to take notice of her bad habits. One of the boys at the party was so angry that he changed Silver's parents, the King and Queen, into stone. In order to break the curse and save her parents, Silver decided to set on a journey to locate the boy. Together with her companions, Silver begins her adventure.
Chibi shoujo travelling with anthropomorphic veggies and animals comedy is not something I crave for. Humor is ok, and that's what matters .
Overall Rating: 6/10
9. Fortune Quest L Fortune Quest フォーチュン·クエストL [E&G Films] (Finished 1/26)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Our story is set in another world, parallel to ours. We meet Pastel, an orphan girl, 18 years old, who lives with a group of adventurers in a small house. Pastel works as a writer and also a "mapper", charting towns, the countryside, rivers and mountains with sketches and illustrations.
She is highly respected by her friends as her intelligence and honesty are extraordinary. Living in the house with Pastel, we meet Clay, a young swordsman; Trapp, the son of a bandit chieftain; Kitton, literally a working dictionary and a descendant of the Family Kittons; Knoll, a big guy a with tender heart; Whitey, a baby dragon; and Rumy, an infant sorcerer of the tribe "Elf." Together this odd group become involved in many mysterious adventures from treasure hunting, to searching for a missing person, to challenging a riddle, to many more unexpected quests.
Seems to have only single subbed episode which is more of an introductory one. As long as such situation persists, let's leave it at OVA score.
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru Super Demon Hero Wataru 超魔神英雄伝ワタル [Sunrise] (Finished 3/51)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy
After the battle with Doakuder at Soukaizan (the "other" world where the rainbow has disappeared because of the devils), a demon world Devil came to Genseikai (human world) and stole Wataru's conscience. Because of that, Wataru's heart of justice and his memories of being Kyuuseishu (world savior) vanished. After Shibaraku and Himiko brought him back to Shinbukai (the "other" world, where Soukaizan is located), Wataru regained his memories, however his conscience was still missing. To get it back, Kyuuseishu Wataru must return to fight the devils, rescuing all of Soukaizan from catastrophe!
Chou Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru is the 3rd work of the Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru TV series by SUNRISE, and is considered as a "remake" series of the previous Wataru series. It started airing from October 2, 1997, and ended on September 24, 1998, every Thursday from 6:00 to 6:30pm, with a total of 51 episodes.
Silly chibi Sunrise mecha is back. Whatever.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Next Senki Ehrgeiz Next War Chronicle Ehrgeiz ネクスト戦記エーアガイツ [Studio Deen] (Finished 4/12)
Tags: Mecha, Space Action, Sci-Fi
Earth started space colonization by creating the Next Colonies. Next later rebelled, and created the Next Government. The rebellion became a war, and the multi-purpose Metal Vehicles, MVs for short, were changed for battle purposes. Meanwhile, Terra, an Earth Rebellion force, started creating more trouble for Earth. Now, a mysterious MV-like being, S.A.C ("S" for short), is loose, and Next wants it so that they can win the war. Terra's psychic leader, Hal, has been sensing "S", and wants to know more about the power it has. The future of these three groups will be up to a bunch of outlaws who live on the abandoned Next 7 colony, though no one knows that yet...
There was some potential, but as soon as average characters, then mecha and psychics kicked in, it got irreparable.
Overall Rating: 5/10
12. Ganbare Goemon Legend of the Mystical Ninja がんばれゴエモン [Trans Arts] (Finished 3/23)
Tags: Shounen Comedy
The evil overlord Makuamuge is planning to take over both the game and real worlds, and it is up to the ninja Goemon, his friends, girlfriend, and giant robot to defeat Makuamuge's henchmen and save both worlds.
One of the better examples of good video game adaptations, but it remains a children-tilt comedy.
Overall Rating: 6/10
13. Shinkai Densetsu Meremanoid 深海伝説MEREMANOID [Triangle Staff] (Finished 3/24)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
The story takes place in the underwater world of Mer. The army of the kingdom of Bars, until recently peaceful, begins a terrible war against its neighbors: the principality of Moslem and the ancient and glorious kingdom of Agadia. No one can explain how the small kingdom of Bars has reached such a power. In a short time, it manages to challenge much larger and more powerful realms. Meanwhile, two young 'spiritual knights' (Jo and Oz) make a living by killing marine monsters. The population, however, is not very tolerant towards the duo. People fear their powers, seeing them as a potential threat. The pair will unwillingly find themselves fighting the army of Bars, and the forces of darkness that have taken its head...
Animation is of very low quality, characters and plot disappoint.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Sakura Momoko Gekijou: Coji-Coji Coji-Coji さくらももこ劇場 コジコジ [Nippon Animation] (Finished 3/100)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy
The only thing that concerns Coji Coji is enjoying life and the wonders of nature. Coji Coji’s friends, on the other hand, are a varied bunch of colorful characters whose many idiosyncrasies have a tendency to create turmoil among one another. Coji Coji’s carefree ways and tendency to shirk responsibility are sometimes a source of frustration, but his childlike wisdom has a way of resolving all of their differences.
Not translated. Characters feel a lot like transformed Sakura class, humor is nice though specific to the theme of such weird youkai characters. There's also just one story for the whole episode, so pace is worse that in Maruko-chan. With second Maruko-chan still running , hard to say who this series is for.
Overall Rating: 6/10
15. Photon Photon: The Idiot Adventures フォトン [AIC] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Photon Earth is a young and gentle boy with superhuman strength and "Baka" (meaning "idiot" in Japanese) scribbled on his forehead (apparently by his troublemaking friend Aun Freya). One day, he finds himself engaged to the beautiful fugitive pilot Keyne Acqua after writing "baka" on her forehead. And that's the least of his worries as he must protect both Aun and Keyne from the evil Papacharino, who seeks to steal the secrets of "Aho" (another word for idiot) energy from Keyne's grandfather's ship.
It's coherent, but I'm still not that desperate to praise anything that is not a mess. It's a story of two kids bonding witch some additional characters and fanservice and eventually trouble. To get to decent I should at least somewhat like the characters, but, alas.
Overall Rating: 5/10
16. Macross Dynamite 7 マクロスダイナマイト7 [Production Reed] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Space Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Less than a year after the events that transpired in the Macross 7 TV series, Basara leaves Fire Bomber and travels to the planet Zola. There, he meets a girl named Elma, who is a big fan of Fire Bomber. It is also on this planet where he must once again use his Spiritia powers; this time, to stop an army of poachers and Elma's father Graham from killing a group of space whales travelling within the planetary system.
Lots of music, some bad karaoke and something like a story at times, but totally wasted on someone who never liked Macross 7.
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Saber Marionette J Again またまたセイバーマリオネットＪ [Hal Film Maker] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Harem, Mecha Action, Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Lime, Cherry, and Bloodberry, female-like androids called marionettes, have returned to Otaru`s side. The somewhat reformed marionettes of Faust (Tiger, Luchs, and Panther) are sent to stay with Otaru and friends to learn more about being human. Enter a seventh marionette named Marine, who has a mysterious power -- and they all possess the special maiden circuit that allows a marionette to feel emotions!
Same immature and unexciting development does not leave it a chance.
Overall Rating: 5/10
18. Baby☆Love ベイビィ☆LOVE [Studio Comet] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy, Romance
Seara loved Shuhei ever since she was a little girl. Although, Shuhei was three years older and much bigger than her. He told her to come back when she was older and more grown-up. A few years later, Seara grew to look like a high school student and managed to riggle her way into Shuhei's home. She will now attempt to win his heart, although there might be some obstacles in her path.
Rather banal and short romance with two pairs.
Overall Rating: 5/10
19. Sakura Taisen: Ouka Kenran Sakura Wars サクラ大戦 桜華絢爛 [Radix] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Mecha, Performing Arts Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The year is around the 1920's and the darkness of the demons have arrived. Now, only the people with large amounts of spirit energy can save the Earth. The Flower Division is now going to be sent out destroy the demons for they're our only hope for survival with their new steam-powered machines and unique fighting techniques.
If you want to learn a story or worldview or politics behind it all, look elsewhere since it's more like a prequel or introduction with just all-girl team gathering and operating with mistakes and then male protagonist starting to lead without mistakes. It bears next to zero information.
Overall Rating: 6/10
20. Yakumotatsu Eight Clouds Rising 八雲立つ [Pierrot] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shoujo Historical Adventure, Horror, Supernatural
Fuzuchi Kuraki is a quiet young high school student blessed with immense psychic powers and an ancient sword. He is searching for other magical artifacts with the help of Nanachi Takeo, a college student with latent powers of his own. They delve deep into the dark magic of Izumo, only to discover the secrets buried within the birthplace of all Japanese mythology.
Too many shounen ai allusions for me here and actually none of shoujo, lol. Anyway, it's just a bit of introduction into Kuraki and his circumstances story, and team is ready for new adventures... which aren't serialized.
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Detatoko Princess Suddenly Princess でたとこプリンセス [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy
Lapis is the princess of Sorcerland. She's beautiful, powerful and has a sparkling personality; it`s too bad that she's not that bright. She'll go to any length to protect the most innocent of creatures even if it means destroying the kingdom to do so. And lets not forget her obsession with pudding!
Detatoko Princess is a laugh-out-loud lampoon of all the fantasy stereotypes you've come to love with a generous heaping scoop of slapstick!
It's a very random fantasy slapstick comedy with more chaos than Slayers though still not as absurd as Magical Circle Guru Guru. And since all three episodes are individual stories, there's pretty much nothing in the "story" department.
Overall Rating: 5/10
22. Elf-ban Kakyuusei: Anata dake wo Mitsumete... エルフ版 下級生 あなただけを見つめて… [PP Project] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Harem, School Drama, Romance
High school students Mizuho Yuuki and Miko Kamiyama are best friends. Miko likes fellow classmate Tohru Nagase. Mizuho is determined not to get in the way of their budding relationship. But underclassmate Ai Minamizato also likes Tohru. Tohru must decide which girl he likes the most.
First Kakyuusei game had a unique combination of traits and showed up in fitting time, but all attempts to repeat or imitate it inevitably failed as it was a secondary product with different combination of traits in a different moment of time. It mostly starts to feel too banal, it's exactly the case for this OVA.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Kigyou Senshi Yamazaki: Long Distance Call 企業戦士YAMAZAKI ~LONG DISTANCE CALL~ [Ripple Film] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Drama, Sci-Fi
A 42-year-old salaryman is made to serve his company beyond the grave when his brain is installed in a super-powered android body in order to carry out corporate espionage.
Comedy is fine and there's even some action, but it's just 37 minutes long and the whole premise looks really weird nowadays as super exploited person dies from overwork and continues to be exploited in the afterlife eternally and forces others to work more and more intensely. With the whole corporate espionage kicking in, new product starts to be valued more than a lot of people lives. It's the message I would not want to convey to anyone.
Overall Rating: 4/10
24. Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan - Ishinshishi e no Chinkonka Samurai X: The Motion Picture るろうに剣心 -明治剣客浪漫譚- 維新志士への鎮魂歌 [Gallop] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Historical, Samurai Drama
The war against the Tokugawa Shogunate ended years ago. But there are some who are not happy with the outcome. Shigure Takimi watched his friends and family get slashed down in the name of freedom and prosperity. Now he and a band of desperate rebels have sworn to settle one final score. Only one man stands in their way: Kenshin Himura. But when Shigure discovers Kenshin's true identity as the Hitokiri Battousai, his fight becomes a personal vendetta.
A serious movie about Kenshin past with good samurai action is what I expected from it and that's exactly what I got, so no complaints here. Not for everyone, but it definitely can be enjoyed.
Overall Rating: 7/10
No masterpieces this month. But if I had to choose something, I'd probably point at Amazing Grace -What color is your attribute?- . Micchi is also happy about nukige Uchi no Imouto and RPG Fuukan no Grasesta .
1. Akuma Seijo ~Demon Girl Step~ 悪魔聖女 ～デーモンガール・ステップ～ [181130] SofthouseChara
Ruti is a demon who was vanquished a long time ago and a part of him was sealed away. Now in the present, he was resurrected by the pitiful Kyouka who mistakened him for a sex toy. He hatched a plan to train her as the evil mahou shoujo Dark Cherry and collect magical energy to fully regain his form. However, three figures of justice stood in their way: mahou shoujos Melody Queen, Lionel and Aya.
Something gameplay-intensive as usual
2. Amazing Grace -What color is your attribute?- アメイジング・グレイス -What color is your attribute?- [181130] Cabbage Soft 1 2 3 4
Shuu woke up in a snowy town with no recollection of his past. He thought it was a strange place with an antique feel of Europe in the Middle Ages and a deep appreciation of the arts. There was also a towering wall known as ‘Aurora’ which surrounded by the town and sealed it off from the outside. However, he was taken in by the townspeople and eventually attended Saint Aleia Academy and enjoyed his time with the other students there.
However, this newfound happiness was snatched in an instant when a mysterious fire destroyed the town on Christmas Day. Yune loved the town more than anyone and vowed from the bottom of her heart to change the town’s fate, turning back time to the December 2nd, the first day of Advent.
Why did the disaster occur? Why did the town’s fate remain unchanged no matter how many times they turned back time? Why were they able to turn back time in the first place?
There are English reviews
3. Fuukan no Grasesta 封緘のグラセスタ [181130] Eushully 1 2 3 4
"Grasesta, City of Interception", capital of the Kingdom of East Gohdia.
The city was built atop the subterranean labyrinth known as the "Black Pit", a remnant of the once thriving Demonic Lands of Samara, whose infamous name has been carved deep into the annals of Western history.
In order to defend the holy barriers keeping the "Blockaded Expanse" sealed up, the city, being the central hub of retaliation against the most fearsome of the Demonic Lands, requires vast amounts of manpower to be brought in to replenish its forces in the ongoing onslaught.
These reinforcements consist primarily of slaves that were sold from other countries and mercenaries that flock to the area in search for a chance at fame and fortune, soon turning the city into one whose populace had only one thing on their mind: treasure.
Our protagonist, "Judar Schwarka," is one such slave that's been sold to Grasesta due to being captured after a lost battle. To win back his freedom, he will have to step foot into the twisted landscape of the Blockaded Expanse...
RPG has English reviews
4. Haruka Drive! はるかどらいぶ！ [181130] Muffin
Yuuya has a childhood friend named Haruka who is innately frail and has been hospitalized since she was young. Other than that, she was a normal girl who loved to write novels. Even though she has her way with him, he treasures her as a trusted friend.
One time, she told him not to visit her until she finished writing her book. He reluctantly agreed and was restless for the next week while looking forward to meeting her again. But one week later, he was welcomed by the sight of a fantasy world. Next to him was a girl who looked just like Haruka. What happened to him and what does the future hold?
Scenario is rough and rushed. Visuals aren't to everyone's taste.
5. Kokoro ga Tsunagu Koishirube ココロが繋ぐ恋標 [181130] Kate
Lately Kouki has felt like he was being followed whenever he went. It was as if he was possessed by a spirit. He discussed it with his childhood friend Hinata and she didn’t really take him seriously. He wondered if it really was all his imagination, but then his peaceful days began to change. Even though he was asocial and never dealt much with girls, the energetic class rep Himeno invited him to a purification ceremony and the school’s famous mysterious girl Mashiro also invited him to her club. Suddenly, he was living a new life surrounded by girls.
One day on his way home, the strange presence that he had been sensing all this time suddenly became visible before him. He planned to shake the mysterious spirit (?) Kokoro off, but she continued to follow him around.
Game does not go full-scale moege, but it's a work that only beginners can enjoy with nothing deep and scenario offering the same solution for each heroine.
6. Love Coordination! ラブコーディネーション！ [181130] Shibasoft
Yuuto’s family runs the tea house Larimar Bell which is known for its delicious black tea. He helps out at the shop while chatting with his childhood friend Nao about what to do during the upcoming summer vacation.
However, when he returned one day, his parents were nowhere to be found. They left behind a letter indicating that they were leaving on a journey in search of rare tea leaves. So instead of his usual leisurely summer vacation, he was suddenly thrust into the task of running the shop until his parents’ return. It was impossible for him to do it alone, and Nao gladly offered to help… but there was one thing she wouldn’t do: wear such a girly outfit!
Together with the overly serious student council president Hijiri and cheeky kouhai Inori, his ordinary life becomes extraordinary.
Again, an average charage with story level just enough to not fall into moege
7. Otome ga Musubu Tsukiyo no Kirameki 乙女が結ぶ月夜の煌めき [181130] ensemble 1 2
Touya works at the residence of the Shijou family, one of the most prominent zaibatsu in the country, keeping an eye on and being of assistance to the lone daughter Ran. One day, it was decided that the free-spirited Ran will temporarily transfer to the Meigetsu Girls’ School. Since everyone at the school, from its students to the staff, are female, it would be impossible for a boy like Touya to enter on a moment’s notice.
“Well, I will be taking care of other duties while you are there then.”
“… What are you saying? You’re coming along too”
“Eh? But, it’s a girls’ school where boys are forbidden…”
“So you’ll be coming with me, as a girl”
Not only would he have to cross-dress, but she wanted him to take her place in some situations. Despite his protests, he was ultimately defeated by her tears and unwillingly consented to entering the school as Yuuki. Will he be able to continue helping her there without having his cover blown?
There are English reviews
Megazone 23 got a firm masterpiece score from me. Other masterpieces for me include Dirty Pair and Sangokushi (1985) . Great times begin from 1985 !
1. Shoukoujo Sara 小公女セーラ [1985-I] Nippon Animation (Dropped 3/46)
Tags: Shoujo Historical Drama, Slice of Life
Sent to an all-girls boarding school due to her father's overseas job, Sarah Crewe is a promising young girl who excels both academically and socially in her new life in London. However, her world is turned upside down when she is called into the headmistress' office and informed of news that no child wants to hear: her father has passed away.
Now an orphan, Sarah is stripped of her status as a student and is forced to work in the boarding school as a maid in order to support herself. To make matters worse, her once friendly peers suddenly turn against her upon hearing about her fall from wealth. Coming to terms with the unfortunate situation she faces, Sarah must learn to persevere and form new friendships in order to regain her dignity as well as her identity.
I need shoujo to have decent comedy or psychological drama to enjoy it. This one is just a boring observational coming of age SOL.
Overall Rating: 4/10
2. Megazone 23 メガゾーン23 [1985-I] AIC (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Mecha, Music Action, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi
Shougo Yahagi is a young motorcycle enthusiast living in a world of hot bikes, hard rock, and J-pop idols. The general populace go about their lives in peace, under the watchful eyes of a computer program in the guise of pop idol sensation Eve, unbeknownst to them. Shougo himself is mostly concerned with riding his motorcycle and picking up beautiful women like Yui Takanaka, who aspires to be a dancer.
Shougo's life suddenly changes when his friend, Shinji Nakagawa, shows him a top-secret project: the "Garland," an advanced motorcycle that can transform into a robot. Ambushed by the military, Shougo hijacks the Garland and escapes into the city. Evading the military with the help of Yui and her friends, he gradually discovers that their idyllic society is only an illusion.
First anime with a distinctive 80s look and feeling, including violence. First of three stories looked to me like Macross copycat, similar irrationally behaving characters and plot, stupid open ending. Second story was much more interesting with adult cast, absolutely innovative 80s adult visual style, lots of violence and a cool cyberpunk plot. Third story is the main one as uses some elements from previous parts, namely, Eve machine intellect and gives it all a conclusion. 3rd story holds so much potential that I see its traces in future Akira, luv wave and even C'sWare's Desire. I enjoyed it immensely, definitely much more than expected. Can't call it a perfect masterpiece due to structure of multiple loosely connected stories and first one being so-so, but it's a firm masterpiece for me.
Overall Rating: 8/10
3. Area 88 エリア88 [1985-I] Pierrot (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Military Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance
Shin Kazama, tricked and forced into flying for the remote country of Aslan, can only escape the hell of war by earning money for shooting down enemy planes or die trying. Through the course of the series, Shin must deal with the consequences of killing and friends dying around him as tries to keep his mind on freeing himself from this nightmare.
Three hours of whining that pilot is tricked into signing a contract, side-story of his fiance efforts to help him out and a bit of planes action with one very stupid moment where like 10 best pilots each costing 3 billion yen to train compete against each other with majority of them dying. It's so boring and stupid that I can't even give it a 6, as there's nothing interesting for me in here at all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Genmu Senki Leda Fantastic Adventure Of Yohko: Leda 幻夢戦記レダ [1985-I] Kaname Productions (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
For a year and a half, Youko Asagiri has fostered an unrequited love for one of her classmates. To express her affection, she composes a piano solo that she plans to show him when she confesses. When the moment of truth comes, however, Youko is not brave enough to speak to her classmate, and the ground suddenly swallows her up!
In an instant, Youko finds herself in the mysterious realm of "Ashanti." She quickly makes friends with a talking dog named Lingam, who explains that Ashanti is a sister realm of "Noa," the realm that Youko came from. The two worlds were once connected, but they were separated long ago by the warrior Leda in order to protect the people of Noa. Now, Youko's arrival has temporarily opened a path between the realms, which the evil forces of Zell intend to make permanent.
The forces of Zell steal Youko's cassette player under the belief that it is the mythical "Heart of Leda," a necessary artifact for their nefarious plans. However, Youko manages to evade their capture by transforming into Leda's warrior. With these new powers, will she be able to protect the people of Noa and return to her own world?
I thought it might be first isekai, but it's another representative of weird mecha isekai subgenre. Movie itselfhas nice action and overall can't say anything really bad about it apart of hasty and chaotic development. It's just unmemorable and insignificant.
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. Greed グリード [1985-I] Filmlink International (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy
To succeed to his father, Lid Kail sets out a journey to defeat the incarnation of the evil that seems to dominate the world. Longn and Mimau also began to journey to achieve his father’s will. On their way, Key and Bagda join them. They overcome some difficulties, and finally they met Vaii, the evil. They managed to beat Vaii, but it still doesn't solve their problem...
It might become the first traditional pure fantasy title, but it added robots , lasers and techno city with flying platforms anyway just because of supposed sci-fi and mecha popularity. Anyway, a group of adventurers moves towards the wall to defeat source of giants while fighting some giants with means of flight on the way ... sounds familiar?! I'm almost sure Attack on Titan creator watched this OVA. In the end, experiments and jumping through conceptions , as well as Deus Ex Machina resolution made this Greed anime a waste of time.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Ginga Hyouryuu Vifam: Kieta 12-nin 銀河漂流バイファム 消えた12人 [1985-I] Sunrise (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Space Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
This episode is a sidestory and can be inserted somewhere between episodes #18 and #21. This is a "mystery" and so the present writer does not tell the whole story. The Janus is sailing towards Taut when something unexpected happens.
This horny magazines stash story was hastily covered even in recap, so that goes as start and covers several ghost incidents. As with the whole series, I consider it to be good, but I can't emphasize with the characters or get real enjoyment from it, so for me it comes short of masterpiece status .
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Choujikuu Seiki Orguss Memorial 超時空世紀オーガス MEMORIAL [1985-I] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Summary of The Super Dimension Century Orguss TV series.
Why another recap is not translated while original 50 series are. Oh, now I get it. It's so horrible as majority of time is taken by relations with three girls. And the last 10% is literally previews given in the end of each episode one by one... absolutely stupid.
Overall Rating: 4/10
8. Urusei Yatsura Movie 3: Remember My Love うる星やつら リメンバー・マイ・ラヴ [1985-I] Studio Deen (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
It seems that when Lum was born, a postal screwup resulted in a witchy friend of the family not getting an invitation to the celebration. The witch put a curse on Lum, that she would never be happy with her True Love.
In the present, a new Amusement Park has been built in Tomobiki, and opening day finds the whole gang sampling its pleasures. At a magic show, however, Ataru gets turned into a large pink hippo-potamus, FOR REAL!
When Lum attempts to track down the magician that transformed her Darling, things start to get very weird, very fast!
Last OVA was rather decent, so I hoped that when show gets enough of everything else it would spawn at least some high quality stories. But instead it's again romance-related problem with yet another alien relative or whatever.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Kamui no Ken カムイの剣 [1985-I] Madhouse (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Historical Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
SA young boy named Jiro finds his mother and sister murdered in his home. Falsely accused of the crime, he flees from his village and meets a priest named Tenkai, who has him kill a rogue ninja named Tarouza. After fulfilling that task, Jiro undergoes training to become a master assassin. Many years later, Jiro finds out that he was an orphan and his real father was Tarouza, who had worked for Tenkai until he aborted his mission when he fell in love with an Ainu woman. The young ninja discovers that the Shogunate was to retrieve the lost treasure of Captain Kidd and use it to once again isolate Japan from the rest of the world. Using the clues that Tarouza had kept secret, Jiro—along with the female ninja Oyuki and a slave named Sam—travels to Russia and America to search for the treasure in hopes of using it to extract revenge from Tenkai.
I'm impressed that it's just not revenge story with a twist, but also adventure. It's decent and well done - I can give it that. But there's enough of loopholes/inconsistencies and rough directorship. I could not enjoy it fully. Can't recommend what I could not enjoy. Make a better scenario, not this fake.
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Bobby ni Kubittake ボビーに首ったけ [1985-I] Madhouse (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
"Bobby really does little else but work on his bike. He cleans his bike. He tunes up his bike. He rides his bike. One would call him a motorcycle otaku. His most recent achievement seems to have been getting photos of himself on a road trip printed in a motorcyclist hobby magazine. This leads to an unexpected result: a girl his age, who picked up that issue on a whim, decides to write him a letter. A long, rambling letter, but dreamily romantic just the same. Bobby admits to his sister that he's never gotten a letter from a girl before. He writes back, "I got your letter. I'm happy cause it was from a girl."
The "Bobby" referred to in the title is actually 17-year-old Akihiko Nomura, an underachieving high school kid with a deep love for motorcycles. His grades are failing, and his father – traditional and strict (but who must have also at some point gave in and allowed him to have a motorcycle) is trying everything he can think of to get the kid to apply for college. His mother is so silent, she might as well not even exist. Really, his support system lies entirely in his twinkle-toed little sister, who's nosy but cheers him on in her own way."
Now I know that MadHouse can be utter crap! Sleazy romance without events , without normal ending and with lots of cheap and scrooge animation, plus live action etc.
Overall Rating: 1/10
11. Arei no Kagami: Way to the Virgin Space Arei's Mirror ~ Way to the Virgin Space アレイの鏡 ~ Way to the Virgin Space [1985-I] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Space Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The story follows Daichi Meguru and Mayu, a young boy and a pilot, as they flee their war torn planet and into space. Upon their ship a stowaway android named Zero joins their quest as they travel through Halley's Mirror.
It looked like original story, so I decided to keep it even with this minuscule length of 26 minutes. As you can see, both protagonists are again reused from Space Express with only hair change. What can fit into 26 minutes? Right, one episode of Space Express, and this is basically it and could easily fit inside the series.
Overall Rating: 4/10
12. Kinnikuman: Seigi Choujin vs. Kodai Choujin キン肉マン 正義超人ＶＳ古代超人 [1985-I] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Sports
While Kinnikuman is on vacation with Mari-san's kindergarten class at Easter Island, the young wheelchair-bound Kouichi-kun laments being with an idiot like Kinnikuman, preferring to instead be with his favorite Seigi Choujin Buffaloman. Meanwhile, the other Seigi Choujins are also vacationing at ancient landmarks.
For the first time it's not the stupid wrestling with some prologue again. So I thought when side-heroes had their fight, but Kinnikuman spoilt it all with the wrestling ring, so the usual score.
Overall Rating: 5/10
13. Gu-Gu Ganmo (Movie) GU-GU ガンモ [1985-I] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Comedy
Movie version that lampooned several Japanese Folklore Tales, including that of Princess Kaguya.
Not translated. I'd prefer a coherent story to this constant running while featuring different stories.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Sangokushi (1985) 三国志 [1985-I] Shin-Ei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Historical
An anime special based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. Aired on NTV.
I'm a big fan of Kingdom anime, so I can't but compare every Chinese War anime to it taken that Kingdom is 10/10 . Surprisingly, Sangokushi stood firm, and I enjoyed it and its complexity more than I expected .
Overall Rating: 7/10
15. Nora ノーラ [1985-I] Filmlink International (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Space Adventure, Sci-Fi
Nora is on vacation in a "Holiday Inn" space station. When the artificial gravity fails, the whole space resort becomes chaotic but she helps solve the problem.
Another artificial intelligence fantasy. Don't see the need for it at all.
Overall Rating: 4/10
16. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam 機動戦士Ζガンダム [1985-II] Sunrise (Dropped 5/50)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space
It is Universal Century 0087, and the One Year War between the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon is over. The Earth Federation has created an elite task force, known as the Titans, who are responsible for hunting the remaining Zeon forces. However, the power-hungry Titans have shown themselves to be no better than Zeon, spurring the creation of a rebellious faction called the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG).
17-year-old Kamille Bidan lives in the colony Green Noa, home to a Titan base. Kamille gets in trouble after assaulting a Titan officer, an event that coincides with an attack led by former Zeon ace Char Aznable, now known as AEUG pilot Quattro Bajeena. When Kamille steals a Titan's prototype Gundam, he soon finds himself in the middle of the dangerous conflict.
Old psycho protagonist is gone, but new unstable one is on. Why it feels same boring as before... Very little happens plot-wise while same looking skirmishes take more and more time.
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Touch タッチ [1985-II] Group TAC (Dropped 3/101)
Tags: Shounen Love Polygon, School, Team Sports Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Sports
The story centers around three characters—Uesugi Kazuya, his twin older brother Tatsuya, and Asakura Minami. Kazuya is the darling of his town as he's talented, hardworking, and the ace pitcher for his middle school baseball team. Tatsuya is a hopeless slacker who's been living the life of giving up the spotlight to Kazuya, despite the fact that he may be more gifted than him. Minami is the beautiful childhood girlfriend and for all intents, sister from next door who treats both of them as equals. Society largely assumes Kazuya and Minami will become the perfect couple, including Tatsuya. Yet as time progresses, Tatsuya grows to realize that he's willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of his brother, except at the expense of giving up Minami to Kazuya. And thus the story is told of Tatsuya trying to prove himself over his established younger brother, how it affects the relationship between the three, and both brothers' attempts to make Minami's lifelong dreams come true.
Since I watched all the Nine trilogy, I have a serious cognitive dissonance with same looks and change of characters. Comedy and background filling have become much better, but apart from that it's the same Nine that focuses on SOL rather than on evens and forced development. It's rather pleasant to watch from time to time, but I don't see anything that I could get by watching a hundred episodes now as I don't need soothing or relaxation.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Choujuu Kishin Dancougar Super Bestial Machine God Dancougar 超獣機神ダンクーガ [1985-II] Production Reed (Dropped 3/38)
Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi
Emperor Muge Zarbados and his Empire of Death decide that their next conquest will be the faraway planet of Earth. Muge becomes even more fearsome because of Shapiro Keats, a power-hungry Earthling-turned-traitor. It's up to Shinobu, Sara (Shapiro's old girldfriend), Masato, and Ryo of the Jyusenkitai/Cyber Beast Force to pilot the four Jyusenki/Beast Mecha (Eagle Fighter, Land Cougar, Land Liger, and Big Moth [a mammoth mecha]), which can combine into the giant mech Dancougar.
Realization is better than expected with varying protagonists personalities, but seriously, with cliché synopsis like that it was doomed even at pre-production, even if done Sunrise.
Overall Rating: 5/10
19. Honoo no Alpenrose: Judy & Randy Alpenrose 炎のアルペンローゼ・ジュディ＆ランディ [1985-II] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/20)
Tags: Shoujo Historical Drama, Romance
While Randy was walking through the Swiss countryside he finds a small girl, who seemed to be the only survived person from an airplane crash. The little girl didn’t remember anything, and Randy decided to take care of her and he called her Judy. The both go their childhood together. A few years later, Judy, now 16 years old, wants to find her past. With the help of Randy, she leaves to research her origins. Her single clue is a song that she keeps hearing in her head, the song is called Alpine Rose. At a time of world war, these two young people will have to overcome many obstacles to arrive at their goal in this time of war, with having only each other to comfort and support. the depth of their love.
I need comedy or psychological complexity from Shoujo. This one got none.
Overall Rating: 4/10
20. Musashi no Ken 六三四の剣 [1985-II] Eiken (Dropped 3/72)
Tags: Shounen Combat Sports
Musashi no Ken is the story of a boy named Musashi who aims to be the Kendo champion. Part of the anime is him as a child, and part is of him as an adult.
I don't like shounens and sports, so what will happen if two are mixed? Kendo spokon with comedy, both of which I did not enjoy.
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Haai Step Jun はーいステップジュン [1985-II] Toei Animation (Dropped 3/45)
Tags: School Action, Romance, Sci-Fi
Jun is a very intelligent little girl who spends her time arranging all kinds of inventions. It goes until creating two small robots, Kichinosuke and Yukinojo, who become her best friends. Because of her intelligence, Jun gets into college at a young age and she meets and falls in love with a boy from her class who's called Zero. Zero is interested in motorbikes and not in school and is accustomed to not attending the courses. He got delayed in his schooling and thus is found much older than the other students and is there for humiliated for it. On the other hand Jun is way too young and little to be in college and is made fun of. Thanks to their common passion for mechanics, Zero will sympathize with Jun and will agree to dine with her in Harbor, the restaurant where Jun's parents live. This is long series of fun adventures and arguments that little Jun will make to allure her charming prince, who's twice older than her.
Not translated. An ok episodic comedy with ok characters. Remember Dr.Slump ? It's rather close, just with a silly strong protector boy .
Overall Rating: 5/10
22. Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami: Long Goodbye 魔法の天使クリィミーマミ ロング・グッドバイ [1985-II] Pierrot (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Idols (Female), Mahou Shoujo Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Shingo is planning the film "A Story of Two Worlds" starring Megumi. Yuu's transformation into Creamy Mami is happening without her wanting it. She is asked to star in the film too. But the magic doesn't last...
Spontaneous turning into Mami and back does not make this OVA more interesting than usual.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Dallos Special ダロス Special [1985-II] Pierrot (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha Sci-Fi
An edited compendium of the four OVAs were spliced together to create a movie which aired in theaters. Included within the was also a prologue, which used 50 extra shots that introduced the world of Dallos before the opening credits.
Just recap of the OVAs.
Overall Rating: 5/10
24. Soukou Kihei Votoms Vol.I: Stories of the "A.T.Votoms" 装甲騎兵ボトムズVOL.I STORIES OF THE "A.T.VOTOMS" [1985-II] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Military Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Recap special.
Not translated. There is one side story telling history of one character, nothing much.
Overall Rating: 5/10
25. Penguin's Memory: Shiawase Monogatari ペンギンズ・メモリー幸福物語 [1985-II] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Anthropomorphic, Military
Mike is a penguin soldier who returns home after being injured during combat. Estranged from his family and friends, he leaves his hometown and starts to roam adrift through the country.
Super weird, because all penguins look the same, and I can could only understand who's protagonist till he wore hand bandage... overall pretty normal post-Vietnam syndrome search of happiness after losing all direction in life. Very stupid as no good story is told .
Overall Rating: 5/10
26. Sengoku Majin Goushougun: Toki no Etranger Time Stranger 戦国魔人ゴーショーグン 時の異邦人[ÉTRANGER[エトランゼ]] [1985-II] Production Reed (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Sci-Fi
Remy Shimoda is in a hurry. She's on her way to a reunion with the other members of the Go Shogun team, and she's late. A police action with some robbers gets in her way, so she runs the robbers off the road. Her vision blurs and she gets into an accident. The movie splits into two with one plot following Remy's slow decline at the hospital with the Go Shogun members and former enemies at her side, and her experience in a strange city where she, and the rest of the team have their deaths foretold. Remy, herself, is plagued by visions of her death, and visitations from a threatening girl and her panther-like cat. The temple at the center of the city is the key, so the team sets out to battle their way into it. Based on the giant robot series "Go Shogun", this is a story focusing on Remy, the female member of the team.
It's pretty funny how a rather bland mecha Goushogun spawns a more serious time paradox side story. The worst thing is that characters are from Goushogun which means super bland.
Overall Rating: 5/10
27. Dirty Pair ダーティペア [1985-III] Sunrise (Finished 24/24)
Tags: Detective Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
If you're in a big trouble, call the World Welfare Work Association or WWWA. They will send out a team of highly trained capable agents called Trouble Consultants who can solve your problems. But if the team they send you is the Dirty Pair, there will be a lot of collateral damage aside from solving your problems.
It was the oldest TV series that I watched in full back in the days. It's still episodic which I usually don't like, but entertainment here is refined so well that it does not get boring. While anime is not perfect, it's is a perfect mix of comedy and adventure which is hard to beat inside this small niche.
Overall Rating: 7/10
28. Mahou no Star Magical Emi 魔法のスター マジカルエミ [1985-III] (Dropped 3/38)
Tags: Shoujo Mahou Shoujo, Performing Arts Comedy, Slice of Life
Kozuki Mai is an elementary student who wants to be a magician and perform in her family's "Magicarat" magical act; however, she is too young, and her magic skills are not very good. Then one day, she encounters a ball of light that was put into a stuffed doll of flying squirrel, bringing it to life and somehow giving her the power to turn in to the 18-year-old magician "Magical Emi." As Emi, Mai was able to join the magic act. But she must keep her identity a secret from her family and from her crush.
As usual, I'm expecting a decent comedy or a complex psychological story from shoujo. Emi has only comedy, and heroine from elementary school is too young to provide a decent comedy, so it gets too childish.
Overall Rating: 5/10
29. Urusei Yatsura OVA うる星やつら [1985-III] Madhouse, Studio Deen (Dropped 3/11)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The adventures of Lum, Ataru, Ten, and all the gang from Tomobiki continue in an assortment of new – but no less weird – stories.
Watch as Lum, Ataru, and Shinobu encounter a rabbit-clad youth, enter the Room of Destiny, and get a glimpse into their futures in "Inaba the Dreammaker," or see Ran's plans to use a sherbet cone-producing bird to open a sherbet shop one hot Tokyo summer go terribly awry in “Raging Sherbet.” Ataru has yet another bad experience with Lum's cooking in "I Howl at the Moon".
We've already seen three Urusei Yatsura movies, but looks like there are a lot of leftover longer stories around 55 minutes, so they are mashed together under OVAs. Seriously, by this point everyone must have formed an opinion on the franchise as it's not going to change already.
Overall Rating: 5/10
30. Soukou Kihei Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder Armored Trooper Votoms: The Last Red Shoulder 装甲騎兵ボトムズ ザ・ラストレッドショルダー [1985-III] Sunrise (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Military Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Released in 1985, this OVA tells a critical part of the story between the TV show's Uoodo and Kummen arcs. Although the TV series covered the Red Shoulders in some detail, we didn't get to see much of Chirico's time there or the people involved, and we get both of those here.
Main series was more coherent. Very messy.
Overall Rating: 4/10
31. The Chocolate Panic Picture Show The Chocolate Picture Panic Show ザ・チョコレートパニック・ピクチャーショー [1985-III] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Psychological Avant Garde
The Chocolate Panic Picture Show is a wacky musical OVA based on a manga by Fujiwara Kamui, serialised in Monthly Super Action and partly inspired by Jamie Uys's The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980).
Follow Manbo, Chinbo and Chonbo as they are flung into a strange, psychedelic world of madness they don't understand. See them cause chaos through their zany, unpredictable antics in this comical take on cultural imperialism.
I usually don't include OVAs under 50 mins length, but this 25 min piece looked original. And it definitely is, but no one said it would be any good. Utter waste of time on antics.
Overall Rating: 1/10
32. Mujigen Hunter Fandora Dream Dimension Hunter Fandora 夢次元ハンターファンドラ [1985-III] Kaname Productions (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Space princess Fandora and her sidekick Que are bounty hunters in an age where warp travel has become a reality, along with space criminals. Fandora possesses the red, magic, "Jewel of Lupia" which she uses to fight with when conventional weapons are ineffective. In pursuit of space criminal Red Eye Geran, they encounter in the kingdom of Lemia a mysterious evil religious leader who has taken control from its legitimate rulers. This individual possesses a blue jewel which will unify the dimensions of the universe and start an age of peace or terror if it is conjoined with the "Jewel of Lupia." And so Fandora and he are fated to meet.
Fandora mostly fights with swords and uses magic from tiara. Que can transform into any creatures, but is here mostly for comical relief. And for some reason there are again spaceships etc. Overall, not bad, but definitely not good.
Overall Rating: 5/10
33. Cosmo Police Justy COSMO POLICE ジャスティ [1985-III] Pierrot (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Space, Super Power Action, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
In the future humanity is spread throughout the galaxy. In their efforts to combat criminal espers the Cosmo Police are fortunate to have Justy on their side. However the esper criminals also know this and some of them are making plans for Cosmo Policeman Justy. As their leader says "There's only one way to kill the most powerful esper in the galaxy".
Another stupid space esper story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
34. Mahou no Princess Minky Momo: Yume no Naka no Rondo Magical Princess Minky Momo: La Ronde in my Dream 魔法のプリンセス ミンキーモモ夢の中の輪舞 [1985-III] Production Reed (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo
Minky Momo travels to an island where she finds a land of children and gets tangled up in an absurd, no-holds-barred standoff against the world's nations. Has "Dr. Strangelove" references.
Minky Momo is one of the youngest shoujo characters, so I'm plain incompatible.
Overall Rating: 5/10
35. Genesis Climber Mospeada: Love, Live, Alive 機甲創世記モスピーダ Love, Live, Alive [1985-III] Tatsunoko Production (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Music Action
After the original run of the television series, an OAV music video titled Genesis Climber Mospeada: Love Live Alive was specially (mostly due to demands of hardcore Mospeada fans) released in Japan in September 1985. The music video consisted of both old and new footage. The story of Love Live Alive chronicled the events after the ending of the original Mospeada, featuring Yellow Belmont as the main character. The music video focused on Yellow's concert and also on his flashback of past events.
Just release audio when you want to release music.
Overall Rating: 4/10
36. Soukou Kihei Votoms Vol.II: Highlights from the "A.T.Votoms" 装甲騎兵ボトムズVOL.II HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE "A.T.VOTOMS" [1985-III] Sunrise (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Military Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Highlight special.
Absolutely shameless mashup of previews in the end of each episode.
Overall Rating: 1/10
37. Ginga Hyouryuu Vifam: Keito no Kioku - Namida no Dakkai Sakusen 銀河漂流バイファム ケイトの記憶 涙の奪回作戦!! [1985-III] Sunrise (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
The story takes place in Kukto in D.C. 2060 - a year after VIFAM. Ypserlon has been restored to peace, though there still remains occasional skirmishes. The Thirteen are invited there for a ceremony by the new Kukto government (its members are formerly the rebels). As two unexpected people appear, they develop a new story. It is a quest for memory.
Epilogue with some miraculous revival bs.
Overall Rating: 5/10
38. Lupin III: Babylon no Ougon Densetsu ルパン三世 バビロンの黄金伝説 [1985-III] Tokyo Movie Shinsha (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Adult Cast Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Mysterious Babylonian Tablets unearthed in Manhattan provide tantilizing clues about the location of the Tower of Babel - not the biblical one, but the original one, built out of solid gold!
The Mob is out to get the gold, but so is Lupin III.
It's Thugs vs. Thieves when Lupin & Co. go up against a fearsome flyswatting Polish Mafia boss, a bevy of beauty-contest policewomen, Zenigata, the hard-luck Interpol Inspector, a mysterious bag-lady AND his own girl-friend in a trans-continental trust-nobody trek after a treasure of biblical proportions!
Lupin has different plots, but concept never changes, so don't expect scores to change as well.
Overall Rating: 5/10
39. Odin: Koushi Hansen Starlight Odin: Starlight Mutiny オーディーン・光子帆船スターライト [1985-III] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Space Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
In the year 2099, mankind has colonized parts of the Solar System thanks to the evolution of space travel. To venture further beyond what man has accomplished, the space vessel Starlight is launched. After rescuing a mysterious girl from a wreckage near the asteroid fields, the crew of the Starlight plot a perilous journey towards the Canopus system in search of the planet known only as "Odin" - the possible key to all forms of life.
Officially dubbed version is the only one around, which means one thing - sterile boring adventure for boys. Let's just say my worst expectations came true.
Overall Rating: 1/10
40. Area 88 Movie エリア88 劇場版 [1985-III] (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Military Action, Adventure, Drama, Romance
Kazama Shin, tricked and forced into fighting for the remote country of Arslan, can only escape the hell of war by earning money for shooting down enemy planes or die trying. As the war rages on, Shin has to deal with the consequences of killing and friends dying around him as he tries to keep his mind on freeing himself from this nightmare.
Not going to watch it as it's just a shortened version of three OVAs.
Overall Rating: 0/10
41. Akuma Tou no Prince: Mitsume ga Tooru 悪魔島のプリンス 三つ目がとおる [1985-III] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mythology Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
The popular Manga "The Three-Eyed Boy Comes Here" was produced as the eighth in an animated series for a special 24-hour broadcast. This time, the movie was produced by Toei Animation Co., Ltd. instead of by Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. Here, Tezuka Osamu was in charge of only the original story and a synopsis for animation.
Based on the original Manga, "Easter Island: Sea voyage," Sharaku and Wato investigate a mysterious old ship, only to find themselves getting involved in a sea voyage around strange islands. More emphasis was placed on entertainment factors than on theme, and this change in the concept line resulted in the withdrawal of Tezuka Productions Co., Ltd. from this series.
Well, Tezuka could make it into a great story. In this state of characters constantly getting hit by something... can only feel sorry.
Overall Rating: 5/10
42. Aoki Ryuusei SPT Layzner Blue Comet SPT Layzner 蒼き流星SPTレイズナー [1985-IV] Sunrise (Dropped 4/38)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Sci-Fi
The story takes place in an alternate reality based in the year 1996, where humanity is advanced enough to develop long-range space travel, as well as bases on both the Moon and Mars. However, the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union have not ended; rather, they've escalated as both sides build military facilities in space, and the shadow of nuclear conflict looms over humanity, both on and off Earth.
Meanwhile, on the Red Planet, an exchange program created by the United Nations to promote peace and understanding is about to begin; the "Cosmic Culture Club," consisting of 16 boys and girls, as well as their instructor Elizabeth, arrives at the UN Mars base. Among the passengers is Anna a 14-year-old girl who serves as the narrator for the story.
Suddenly, four unidentified humanoid robots classified as Super Powered Tracers are detected, engaged in fierce combat with each other. The UN base is caught in the crossfire and quickly destroyed, killing all but six members of the "Cosmic Culture Club"—Elizabeth, Arthur, Roan, David, Simone and Anna, and leaving them stranded on an inhospitable planet that has suddenly become a battlefield. As the battle ends, the lone SPT standing lands next to the terrified group and opens up revealing a pilot, who simply announces to them, "Earth is at stake."
Sunrise really tried to save it, and girl protagonist helps substantially, but it's still an ugly mess of action and random emotions developing in a painfully slow pace.
Overall Rating: 5/10
43. Ninja Senshi Tobikage Ninja Robots 忍者戦士飛影 [1985-IV] Pierrot (Dropped 3/43)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Space Adventure, Sci-Fi
Ninja Senshi Tobikage tells the story of a boy named Joe Maya. One day, Joe, who lives on Mars, witnesses a battle between aliens. Those from Planet Zaboom are attacking the princess of Planet Radorio, she has escaped from the emperor of Zaboom who is scheming to conquer the universe and has crash landed on mars.
Joe stumbles aboard the princesses ship, this starts a chain reaction of events that will alter their lives. Joe and his friends wield three powerful mecha beasts against the emperor of Zaboom and his forces, but the odds are stacked heavily against them. When all hope seems to be lost a mysterious ninja robot named Tobikage appears as if from nowhere to provide assitance, able to combine with the 3 mechanical beasts provides Tobikage with unmatched power, with his aide Joe fights the forces of Zaboom...
There is enough comedy and some simple relations, so it's slightly better than the average mecha.
Overall Rating: 5/10
44. High School! Kimengumi Funny Faces in High School ハイスクール！奇面組 [1985-IV] Gallop, Studio Comet (Dropped 3/86)
Tags: Shounen Gag Humor, Parody, School Comedy, Romance
A group of 5 male high school students that call themselves the funny-face group cause trouble at school with their crazy antics.
There are currently 16 episodes translated. I don't know what to say. I'm usually ok with absurd humor, but everything has its limits. There's a lot of courage to build a series around funny faces and several other funny teams of schoolmates, there is definitely a lot of potential. First episode introduced Kimengumi. Second episode introduced other four funny school teams. Third episode is about baseball that I refuse to understand and enjoy. So had to take another episode about summer school cleaning and nursing a sick person, and that one was finally rather fun.
Overall Rating: 6/10
45. Gegege no Kitarou (1985) ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 [1985-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 0/108)
Tags: Comedy, Supernatural
As civilization advances, people are beginning to lose the consideration and kindliness for Nature. This has incurred the wrath of the ghosts who are becoming increasingly unhappy with the selfishness of the human kind. However, there is a conflict of interests within the ghosts in which one extreme opposes the humans completely while another extreme desires the co-existence of humans and ghosts. Kitaro and his family belongs to the latter category and yearns to seek mutual understanding between the humans and ghosts. Kitaro's fight for love and hope continues.
I've watched so many Kirarou versions already that my score can hardly change.
Overall Rating: 0/10
46. Shouwa Ahozoushi Akanuke Ichiban! 昭和アホ草紙あかぬけ一番！ [1985-IV] Tatsunoko Production (Dropped 3/22)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy
Koujirou moves to Tokyo from Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido and insists on bringing his favorite horse, Hikarikin, with him. The alien king Rel arrives from planet Wedelun and gives him a belt that will allow him to transform into a Miracle Hero and to protect the world from alien menaces. He is more interested, however, in impressing the pretty Yuka, though his rival, Michinari, wants her for himself.
There are 12 episodes translated. Wow, this anime is strange in so many ways. First of all, I can't really call it Shoujo as protagonist is a boy and 90% of the time is devoted to him. There is a girl he competes for with a rival, but that does not mean it's Shoujo. It's an absurdist comedy with horse, alien boy and protagonist in superhero suit contributing to the majority of humor situations. Humor is totally fine, but need a certain mood to watch absurdist comedy .
Overall Rating: 6/10
47. Tenshi no Tamago Angel's Egg 天使のたまご [1985-IV] Studio Deen (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Avant Garde, Drama, Fantasy
The surrealist world of Tenshi no Tamago is desolate and devoid of the bustle of traditional everyday life. Instead, the world is filled with ominous phenomena, including floating orbs populated with statues of goddesses, gargantuan army tanks that seem to move unmanned, armies of fishermen who chase after the shadows of nonexistent fish, and caverns solely decorated with glass vessels of water.
In this run-down world, a young girl takes care of a large egg and scavenges for food and drink. She encounters a mysterious man with a cross over his shoulder, who soon becomes curious about who she is and what her egg contains. They decide to explore the lost and broken landscape together, questioning each other about the nature of faith, the purpose of the world, and the origins of their lives.
Girl finds a petrified bird and takes a stone egg from it deciding to hatch it. Travelling warrior cites Bible about Noah , then takes the egg while girl sleeps and breaks the egg with a weapon. Girl realizes it and jumps down to the water. Then petrified girl with petrified egg as long as dozens of other petrified figures fly on some platform up to the air. That's all there is to it, everything else is nonsense surreal meta crap. A waste of time, as for me.
Overall Rating: 5/10
48. Tatakae!! Iczer-1 Fight!! Iczer-1 戦え!! イクサー1 [1985-IV] AIC (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Nagisa is a schoolgirl with schoolgirl tendencies, waking up late, rushing off to school and meeting up with friends upon the way. One morning Nagisa comes across a woman dressed in a strange uniform who seems to stare at her, unnerving Nagisa. Later that day, whilst staring out the window, Nagisa becomes aware of a ball bouncing by itself which flings itself towards her window seat, shattering the glass yet not harming her... Turning back to the front she finds a gaping mouth bristling with teeth inches from her face and no-one else about. She screams and the world returns to normal with her standing and the centre of curiosity of her class... why did she scream?
Visuals are good, but it's just another story of the chosen won assisted by good alien versus evil aliens. Also did not like two Deus Ex Machina happening out of blue. There's nothing special about it at all.
Overall Rating: 6/10
49. Dream Hunter Rem DREAM HUNTER 麗夢 [1985-IV] Anime R (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Mystery, Ecchi
Rem is an ordinary woman in our world but, in the world of dreams, she becomes a dream warrior, defending humanity from the evils there. When dream demons reach the waking world, she fights them with the help of her pets which transform into a tiger and wolf.
Solving problems by intervening in nightmares and occasionally getting clothes torn is all you can expect from this anime. Detectives and ESP powers have never been of interest to me, so you should understand my disappointment.
Overall Rating: 5/10
50. Fire Tripper 炎トリッパー [1985-IV] Pierrot (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Time Travel Fantasy, Sci-Fi
On a day like any other, Suzuko meets one of her neighbor's children, Shu, in a park on her way back from school and decides to walk home with him. Tragically, they never make it home. Suzuko and the young boy are caught in a giant gas explosion, though instead of dying instantly, Suzuko wakes up in the middle of a battlefield full of corpses in the Sengoku period.
A group of marauding bandits attacks Suzuko, but Shukumaru—a boy who had come to loot the corpses to feed his starving village—saves her. Though they both return to the village, Suzuko refuses to give up searching for Shu and returns to the battlefield every day with Shukumaru trailing behind. Though Shukumaru lacks anything resembling modern manners, she gradually finds herself drawn towards him. Just what fate awaits this young girl in this bloody period in Japan's history?
Guess I'm not seeing pure fantasy in 1985 yet, but time travel isekai is also fresh. The twists were unexpected, so I can safely give it a six, not higher though as there are a lot of stupid things as well.
Overall Rating: 6/10
51. Dirty Pair no Ooshoubu: Nolandia no Nazo Dirty Pair: Affair of Nolandia ダーティペアの大勝負 ノーランディアの謎 [1985-IV] Sunrise (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Detective Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The Dirty Pair are traveling to the planet of Ookbar in search of a missing girl. Kei and Yuri have traced Missinie to the forest of Nolandia, but their investigations have stalled thanks to the less-than-helpful Chief of Security. But the Dirty Pair have never let a little bureaucracy stand in their way.
Detective with a bit of drama and a bit of comedy. Ok, but not outstanding.
Overall Rating: 6/10
52. Twinkle Nora Rock Me! トゥインクル NORA(ノーラ) ロック・ミー! [1985-IV] Filmlink International (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Sci-Fi
Based on a 1980 manga by Mikuriya Satomi, this adaptation differs considerably from the original. The story started in its prequel was completed with this second OVA.
Very cheap animation, in many of scenes there are spit screens changing only once per second. Absolutely horrible impression.
Overall Rating: 1/10
53. Love Position: Halley Densetsu ラブ・ポジション ハレー伝説 [1985-IV] Tezuka Productions (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Fantasy, Sci-Fi
The very first original animated video produced by Tezuka Productions about an agent who was sent riding on Halley's comet to the Earth. He was actually, though, given the order to destroy the Earth. Captivated by planet's beauty, however, he is no longer able to destroy the planet. Seventy-six years later, another agent from Halley's comet is sent to the earth to liquidate this traitor, who is now disguised as a girl named Lamina in Vietnam. Tezuka Osamu oversaw only the original story.
Lol, Tezuka makes another crazy thing - parody on Terminator. Kinda sad that Tezuka supervised only story as there's a lot of room for improvement in this story, e.g. total seriousness harms more than aids. If such story appeared before Terminator, it would be an absolutely different story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
54. What's Michael? ホワッツ マイケル？ [1985-IV] Kitty Film Mitaka Studio (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Pets Comedy
A series of adventures featuring the one cat apparently everyone in the world owns... Michael.
If I'm not mistaken, it was initially yonkoma manga, so anime is a collection of some 3-minute sketches corresponding one piece of manga. Good only as a meme.
Overall Rating: 5/10
55. Bavi Stock バビ・ストック [1985-IV] Kaname Productions (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
The universe has fallen under the cruel military rule of the despotic Ventika empire. However, a rebel police state planet known as G.P.P has discovered the existence of a little girl called Muma, that could well hold the key to bringing down the Ventika empire once and for all.
Despite her frightening potential, Muma is suffering from memory loss and is incarcerated in a maximum security prison. Charged with the assignment of busting Muma out and protecting her, the G.P.P send one of their most hardened elite, Agent Kate.
Upon completing her mission successfully, Agent Kate is assigned yet another mission immediately after. This time, she must rescue another person that will prove instrumental in overthrowing the empire. His name is Bavi Stock, a young man of incredible talent but the problem is he that he too is currently incarcerated on the Ventika's purpose built prison planet. Can Agent Kate break him out? And just what can this Bavi Stock do?
Bavi Stock is a 2 part OAV series. The first movie is called "Bavi Stock 1: Endless Target" and the sequel was called "Bavi Stock 2: The Revenge of Eyesman".
Not a masterpiece for sure, but still a nice story, maybe even for a six.
Overall Rating: 6/10
56. Chuuhai Lemon: Love 30s - Ame ni Nurete mo 酎ハイれもんLOVE30S 雨にぬれても [1986-IV] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Detective Comedy, Drama, Romance
Bug-eyed Katsumi (known as Chuhai to his friends) is a muscle-bound detective determined to use his strength and pig-headed stupidity to rescue his teenage girlfriend from a succession of embarrassing situations.
Based on a manga by Sho Fumimura and heavily seeded with background music from the 1960s U.S. hit parade.
Too short and lacking integrity to stay in memory. I'd say average.
Overall Rating: 5/10
57. Vampire Hunter D 吸血鬼〈バンパイア〉ハンターD [1985-IV] Production Reed (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Vampire Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
10,000 years in the future, the world has become a very different place; monsters roam the land freely, and people, although equipped with high tech weapons and cybernetic horses, live a humble life more suited to centuries past. The story focuses on a small hamlet plagued by monster attacks and living under the shadow of rule by Count Magnus Lee, a powerful vampire lord who has ruled the land for thousands of years. When a young girl is bitten by the Count and chosen as his current plaything, she seeks out help of a quiet wandering stranger, D. It so happens that D is one of the world's best vampire hunters, and he takes it upon himself to cut through Magnus Lee's many minions, and put an end to the Count's rule.
Higher than average quality vampire action, but I was not really impressed.
Overall Rating: 6/10
58. Yousei Florence A Journey Through Fairyland 妖精フローレンス [1985-IV] Sanrio (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Music Adventure, Fantasy
A gentle and talented boy named Michael played beautiful music on his oboe, and his greatest love was to play for and tend to the flowers in the greenhouse at the school of music where he attended. Unfortunately, his gardening made him constantly late for orchestra practice and resulted in his dismissal from the school. When Michael fell asleep that same night, he was awakened by a dainty Flower Fairy named Florence, who would take him on an enchanted journey to a land where flowers came alive, treble notes were mischievous, and adventure beckoned. There, he would soon come to realize that his love of flowers and desire to become a great musician could go hand-in-hand and help him to become focused in life and discover himself.
Is this Disney or something? Boy can handle his gardening problems in the kids section.
Overall Rating: 4/10
59. Gegege no Kitarou (1985 Movie) Spooky Kitaro ゲゲゲの鬼太郎 [1985-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural
Movie based on the 1985 TV anime with an original plot.
I've watched too much Kitarou already, not going to give it different scores anyway.
Overall Rating: 0/10
60. Kinnikuman: Haresugata! Seigi Choujin キン肉マン 晴れ姿！正義超人 [1985-IV] Toei Animation (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Sports
While performing in a movie at Toei Eigamura, Kinnikuman suddenly disappears. Somehow, he has been sent to Edo Period Japan. In Edo Japan, a villain called Shuten Douji (朱天童子) is threatening to destroy the Earth if he is not given Princess Mari. Always willing to impress a pretty girl, Kinnikuman immediately vows to destroy Shuten Doji. He disguises himself as Princess Mari and goes to meet Shuten Doji, but Shuten Doji and his Big Four (四天王, Shitennou) see through Kinnikuman's disguise and beat him up. Aware of Kinnikuman's situation, Terryman, Robin Mask, and the other Seigi Choujins travel to Edo Japan (via Kinkotsu-obaba's powers).
Freaking wrestling ring remains, so is my score.
Overall Rating: 5/10
61. Yukiguni no Oujisama The Snow Country Prince 雪国の王子さま [1985-IV] Toei Animation (Dropped 0/1)
Tags: Slice of Life
Koichi and his sister Yuki befriend Hanaguro, a swan who has flown to Japan from Siberia. Hanaguro is attacked by a dog, and the cowardly Koichi flees, but that night he has a dream in which he is whisked away to the Kingdom of Snow Prince, where he finds the bravery to help the other swans.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
