Update: 4/20

Thank you to everyone who has read my blog so far! I really appreciated every view I got and I had a ton of fun writing.
However, at least for now, I will no longer write here because I have been given the opportunity to write at SushiGoKart.net.
Please, if anyone has enjoyed my content, please go check it out!
Thanks again to anyone who has read this blog!

Aoi Sekai no Chushin de: Episode 1: The Hard Wars of Consume

Aoi Sekai no Chushin de has an interesting premise. From what I understand, it is essentially a allegory for the console wars of Sega and Nintendo, with various characters representing the likes of Sonic or Mario and set to the backdrop of a war between the Segua (Sega) and Ninteldo (Nintendo) Empires. Being a fairly avid gamer, I was persuaded by this fact to start this show, although in my lifetime, I have only witnessed the console wars between Sony and Microsoft.

Right off the bat, we witness the death of Til, who is the friend of our main character, named Gear (unusual, but memorable names) in a melodramatic sequence that set the tone for this show, which I assume is not to be taken too seriously, given its subject matter. I thought that this sequence was an appropriate satire to he overblown deaths and cliche back stories of most video game characters, which was a positive. After a generic title sequence that unfortunately disappointed me after the exquisiteness of Girlish Lover and the Oreshura title sequence in general, we are given a little bit of back story on the war, which has gone the way of the Ninteldo Empire for the most part, under the rule of Marcus, who is representative of Mario.

I won't give away too much of the rest of the story, but rest assured, it is every bit as generic as it sounds. Gear, being the equivalent of Sonic, is determined to help the Segua Empire win its war against the utterly ridiculous generals of the Ninteldo Empire. If there was a comparison I could make to accurately describe the scenario, it would be with Dynasty Warriors, which I was constantly reminded of throughout the show. From its overpowered and exaggerated personalities, especially of the Ninteldo side, and its hard rock soundtrack which has lulls in between fighting scenes, which sounds almost identical to something out of a Dynasty Warriors battle, I was immediately reminded of a video game.

Considering its source material, I thought that this was the correct feel for the show, which was a fairly entertaining piece of work, in a campy and over-the-top way that appealed to my sophomoric sense of humor. I understood that Aoi Sekai no Chushin de wasn't meant to be anything more than what it appeared to be initially, which was a shallow piece of action anime.

On the animation side, it isn't anything really special. The characters look good enough, with distinct appearances that ranged from acceptable to utterly generic. I was actually disappointed with the fact that Marcus had a far more unique character design than Gear did, which I thought should have been reversed. The colors are rather dull, and I can't shake the feeling that this anime came out much earlier than its 2013 release date would suggest.

As far as the dialogue and characterization goes, it won't win any awards soon, and I'll leave it at that. The dialogue is nothing more than some fodder for the plot to proceed, and there isn't much attention paid to consistent characterization. The most glaring example is Opal, which switches gears from being a strong independent female who does not want to rely on men and instead, her own strength, to a weak, submissive, and oddly perverted girl who falls for Gear the moment he defeats her. And that change isn't gradual, which I could understand more if it was revealed that she was covering up for some sort of insecurities with a tough demeanor or something along those lines. Instead, it is radical, occurring in a matter of minutes, and I was jarred by the sudden shift in personality.

Other than that, the rest of the characters are serviceable. Gear is not a particularly intriguing protagonist, and the rest of the cast is forgettable, except for Tejirof, a mercenary hired by the Segua Empire. However, given that his defining feature is his lechery and perverseness, I don't think that it's necessarily a positive for me to remember him (literally, his first line is, "Sorry I was late. I was busy pleasuring myself." Not the best way to greet your future coworkers). I will give him credit though. He does have a knack for finding a way to plug in a joke about poking his stick into something in basically every scene he is in, which I suppose is some sort of achievement on his end.

Overall, Aoi Sekai no Chushin de is nothing special, despite the interesting premise of a representation of the console wars. Unfortunately, it falls victim to poor writing and characterization, which ultimately drags it down from being anything more than a generic action anime with some ecchi moments. If you go into this show with an open mind and low expectations, there is some entertainment that can be found. But this show likely won't be getting any more views from me in the future.

Rating: 5.5/10.0

Aoi Sekai no Chushin de is not going to win any awards soon, but if you enjoy sex jokes and that sort of thing, then there is some value to be found. You just have to look closely.

Oreshura Review: Episode 13: Fin

Warning: This is a long post.

Although I will not review the other 11 episodes in between, I will admit that Oreshura has been quite the roller coaster ride for me, over the course of the entire series. It has been a while since a series like this has stuck with me and plagued my thoughts with its finale. When I finished Infinite Stratos, I didn't think twice about the characters or the plot, and I simply moved on the next series. However, I will admit that I have found a soft spot for this series in my heart, and it won't be leaving anytime soon. 

For those of you who have not watched the episodes in between, I will warn you now that this post contains SPOILERS!

This episodes starts right where the last one left off, with Eita (literally) crashing into Mana, who explains a little about Masuzu, and urges Eita to go find her, which leads to him running into the Oredere contest that Saeko introduced to the girls earlier. This sequence is complimented by a title sequence that is melded with the events of the episode, which means that the theme song Girlish Lover(which I am a huge fan of) is nowhere to be found, which is to be expected in this kind of episode, and is actually the right move, considering that this episode is noticeably less comedic than the rest of the series in general.

After a remarkably candid confession from Chiwa, which fits into her more straightforward character, Eita meets with Hime, who gives a confession of her own and leads to Ai getting disqualified from the contest, which is a nostalgic scene that reminds us exactly how far the characters have come since the start of the series. 

And then, comes the most memorable ten minutes of this entire series, which starts with Masuzu going onto the stage and stating that Eita has broken up with her, a reference to the previous episode when she "released" Eita from their agreement. In response, Eita walks up onstage to convince her otherwise, leading to a surprisingly touching exchange during which we see Masuzu truly lower her walls for the first time in the series, revealing her own feelings of inadequacy, which have been hinted at all series. 

Eita then makes a surprisingly bold move of admitting that he loves Masuzu, with quick cuts to the other girls that make you realize exactly how much weight Eita's choices have, because in choosing Masuzu, which is a decision that most series would not make and gave me more respect for Oreshura, he is truly doing damage to the other girls. Added to the power of his confession is the type of self-deprecating rhetoric he uses, which really reflects the kind of conflicting and confusing feelings that they have for each other. I thought that the choice of dialogue was really strong, and accurately fit into the characterization of both Masuzu and Eita. 

In addition, Masuzu admits that, despite hating Eita early on, she has grown to have conflicting feelings for him, leading to a heartfelt and emotional kiss between them, leading up to a quick shot of the other girls once more, again reminding us of just how important Eita's confession was to the status of the collective relationships he has built up over the course of the entire series.

Then the episode cuts to the next morning, where Masuzu and Eita are in bed and she delivers one of the finest lines I have ever heard by telling Eita, upon embracing him and acting like a true girlfriend that, "When I do this, I feel like I'm rotting from the inside out. But if I am to rot and return to the earth with you, then maybe that won't be so bad, after all."

Just the way that Masuzu words it, after she seems that she is fully accepting of her feelings and lowering her walls for a small moment, makes you realize that their romance is not perfect by any means. But in the end, it doesn't matter, because neither of them are interested in perfection, being the fake people that they are. They are the outcasts, the pariahs, the untouchables, in their own distinct ways. And perhaps, that is the exact reason why they deliver one of the most intimate and moving moments of the entire series.

Following that, Saeko tells Eita that he must get rid of the harem, unless he wants to incite conflict. And, to his credit, he tries, failing horribly in the process, with a particularly memorable moment with Ai that is a bit ridiculous and draws you a bit out of the moment, but is enjoyable nonetheless . And after a particularly honest and well executed confession by Chiwa, the series is left ending ambiguously with Chiwa and Masuzu staring each other down, hopefully hinting to a second season, although nothing is official yet. And immediately following is a quick run through of the events of the series and some new material, all set to my new favorite anime ost, Girlish Lover, and like that, Oreshura is over, for the time being. 

SPOILERS END HERE

If you couldn't tell from my rant above, I really enjoyed Oreshura. It started off auspiciously enough, looking like it would be an enjoyable series to have a few chuckles with. However, over the course of the last thirteen episodes, it really grew on me, and I found that by the end, I genuinely cared about the characters and where the plot was going. 

Oreshura was not just another harem series, as it shook off boring and predictable fan-service for a well executed and interesting plot, that really kept me locked in for every episode, wondering about what was going to happen next. It wasn't really anything particularly inventive or different, but it was a well made product on the technical side, with consistently good animation and voice acting that was right in line with the characters they were portraying. 

Beyond that, Oreshura touched me emotionally, and I found that, upon finishing this series, I felt a certain emptiness that only an engaging series could evoke. I felt a similar feeling at the conclusion of Ouran Highschool Host Club, Code Geass, and Fate/Zero, to give you an idea of exactly how attached I became to this series over time. Now, that's not to say that Oreshura is on the same level as these shows, but the fact that I could even be reminded of such accomplished series is a compliment of the highest order. 

As I said initially, I think that Oreshura is a great series that anyone can get into for a few laughs, but also, with the final few episodes, it has the ability to really draw out some emotion that elevates it from being more than just another harem show. Overall, I think that this was a great series that anyone can really get into and enjoy for a well made romantic comedy show that has an interesting medium between hilarious and touching moments.

Rating: 9.5/10.0

This episode was an extremely satisfying and worthy conclusion to an well made and interesting series that I really enjoyed.

Series Rating: 9.0/10.0

With consistently strong elements in every episode, Oreshura has been quite the enjoyable ride. It consistently goes above and beyond the normal conventions of a harem series and admittedly grew on me as time went on. It is definitely a series that I would recommend to everyone. 

Video Game News: Persona 3 Movie Adaption

From Ishaan on Siliconera.com

After much waiting and speculation, the news has come out that the Persona 3 film will be released this year in Fall and will be titled Spring of Birth. In addition, another Promotional Video has been released, this time with more content. Here are a few things to take away from this announcement:

1. Makoto Yuki- The Protagonist's name, which was previously revealed as Minato Arisato in the unfinished manga adaptation of Persona 3, has been changed to Makoto Yuki for the movie adaptation. This doesn't really have much to do with the actual content of the movie, but I thought that it was an interesting move to change the previously established name.

2. Fuuka Yamagishi- The fact that Fuuka was billed as one of the main characters means that this movie will at least stretch to the second Full Moon Operation where Fuuka was rescued and introduced to the team. This in itself is interesting because from this pace, it can assumed that there will be around four movies, which is definitely exciting for Persona fans who want to see a faithful and well made adaption. This is a video game with tons of content, just in the main story without even mentioning all of the Social Link Events, so I think that they are making the right choice by stretching it out into more movies, likely one for each season of the year.  I would much rather wait longer for better content than to have it all released at once in a messy adaptation.

3. The New PV- Not much to say here except the animation looks good and exactly what I would expect from a movie. The look of the Dark Hour is appropriately dark and creepy, and Orpheus' appearance looks to have translated well to the movie. All in all, the production values seem good and this is a franchise that certainly deserves better treatment when it comes to adaptations.

The future certainly seems bright for the Persona franchise, with its successful releases of Persona 4: Golden and Persona 4: Arena lately. I am personally a huge fan of Persona 3 and 4, and I am definitely looking forward to watching and reviewing Persona 3: Spring of Birth this Fall!

Psycho Pass Review: Episode 1: Crime Coefficient

From Danny Choo on Flickr

Psycho Pass is a crime thriller set in the near future, in which the police force uses a system called Psycho Pass (hence the title) to measure various aspects of one's personality, including his or her Crime Coefficient, which is the probability that he or she will commit a crime. Those who are above a certain specified level are automatically labeled as criminals, and set apart from the rest of society.

And that was the extent of my knowledge going into this show, which is one of the more intriguing series out there, at least in my opinion. Oh, and the fact that it was written by Urobuchi Gen. That would certainly add to the overall appeal of this show to a newcomer. I will admit now that I loved Fate/Zero, although I was without the benefit of having knowledge of Fate/Stay Night, so admittedly, I had high hopes for Psycho Pass right off the bat.

The first episode starts off with an incredibly tense scene, with one of our main characters, Kougami Shinya facing off against Makishima Shougo. No explanation is given, but its an exciting scene nonetheless which ends with a smooth action scene and a stylish kill by Kougami, which reflects the kind of gritty and dark world that this show is planning on introducing us to.

After that, we are introduced to another of our main characters, Tsunemori Akane, who is fresh out of the CID(Criminal Investigation Department) Academy and is immediately thrust into her first case, which just so happens to occur during a rainstorm, and there, we have our anime!

Just off of the first few scenes, I instantly got reminded of the video game Heavy Rain, which included some futuristic elements juxtaposed with a crime thriller, set in front of a backdrop of constant rainstorms. And the idea of having a young and upcoming detective paired up with an older and jaded mentor is ubiquitous by now, but it is an useful way to explain the world of Psycho Pass, which does need some exposition to really understand.

This might have just been me, but I found that they sort of glided over the information at a speedy pace, which forced me to rewind a couple times to get a handle on some of the terms and such, but I also appreciated that they didn't waste too much time on explaining the various parts of the show, as it could have bogged down the pacing.

The look of the anime is dark, with lots of heavy colors and shadows that add to the experience. It looks and feels like a crime thriller should, which is rough and harsh, and I got that right off of the opening scene, so I have to give the show credit for nailing its look.

However, my main focus during the first episode was almost completely on the dialogue, as it was compelling and thought provoking. The fact that one's Psycho Pass could be affected not by just genetics, but also by stress and traumatic events was an interesting twist that could definitely present questions later on. Also, the question of whether or not people who have not even committed crimes yet should be punished for the possibility of their future actions was an interesting dilemma that left me with some serious questions about the morality of the actions of the characters, and of the whole Psycho Pass system as well.

Overall, Crime Coefficient was a strong start to Psycho Pass, with spot on visuals, dark atmosphere, and interesting dialogue that opened the door for future conflicts. I think that this show might not be for everyone, but for watchers who are looking for a show with serious substance and moral dilemmas, I think that one could do worse than Psycho Pass.

Rating: 8.5/10.0

This episode is ultimately what it is: an introduction to the characters and the setting, which it did a passable job of doing. However, it did go above and beyond the normal introduction with some strong dialogue and visuals, which reminds me somewhat of Fate/Zero's opening, which I enjoyed for the same reasons. 

Oreshura Review: Episode 1: The Start of My High School Life is a Battleground

From Danny Choo on Flickr

Ah, Oreshura. This show is the perfect victim for most unassuming viewers, including me. When I first saw the description for this show, the first thought that ran through my mind was, "Oh great, another harem show." There definitely is no shortage of those, that's for sure.

However, there is something about this show that is just, well, better than most.

Here's the rundown. After a misleading intro, we meet our main character, Kidou Eita, or Burning Fighting Fighter, as he sometimes refers to himself. But not before a theme song that somehow manages to be insanely catchy and always brings a smile to my face. And I suppose that's the first thing to say about this show. It always brings a smile to my face, which is essential for a romantic comedy series. It has to be funny, which it consistently is, with jokes that aren't just overblown cliche scenes.

But back to the main plot. Kidou Eita is a high school student whose only goal is to get into medical school by spending his time with studying instead of wasting it with girls, such as his neighbor, Harusaki Chiwa, who he sees in a sisterly sort of way (As for her perspective of him, you can guess from the fact that this is a harem show).

Enter Natsukawa Masuzu, the school beauty who just so happens to have the same idea of love as Eita does . She's tired of getting confessions all the time, so what's her solution? To find a fake boyfriend of course! And it just so happens that Eita is the perfect target, with his anti love ways and the fact that Masuzu has everything she needs to blackmail him with.

And with that, we have the premise of our show!

All right, I know the premise doesn't sound like much more than some generic harem fodder, and that's essentially what it is. It doesn't really try to do anything particularly innovative with the genre, but what it does set out to do is to entertain, and it does it well, especially whenever Masuzu takes advantage of her ownership of Eita's private notebook, which has some hilarious material within.

The look of the show is warm, with bright colors everywhere that are just pleasing to the eye. Honestly, I just love looking at the show, with smooth character designs and an overall relaxing feel to the whole show. Also, the choppy character designs that pop up whenever Masuzu reads out of Eita's notebook are perfect in contrast to the normally fluid animation that this show possesses, reflecting the "roughness" of Burning Fighting Fighter.

The characters are likable for the most part, the animation is smooth and pleasant, and the comedy is there. Beyond that, this show is easy to get into and watch. There isn't a huge amount of thinking involved when watching this show, and I appreciated that I could just put it on and enjoy the show without having to examine every little detail. This show is aimed strictly to entertain, and it succeeds in doing so.

I really think that anyone could enjoy this show, as long as they come in with tempered expectations. This show isn't going to do anything new or innovative, but what it will do is bring a smile to your face, and I think there's something admirable about a show that knows exactly what it's going to do and does it well.

Episode Rating: 8.0/10.0 (Good)

This episode does what it's meant to, which is introduce the main characters and let us get a feel for them, and it does it in an enjoyable way, if not particularly unique. 

Introduction

Let me start with a little story. When I first started watching anime seriously, I heard about a series called Ouran Highschool Host Club. At first, I wasn't interested. I mean, come on, it seemed so stupid and looked like it lacked any sort of lasting appeal for me. Still, I was intrigued and I decided to read some of the more positive reviews of it, still not entirely convinced by the posts I read.

But, despite my misgivings, I gave it a try, and surprisingly, I found that I really enjoyed it. In fact, I didn't end up finishing the series once, but three times, over the course of three years. Now, I use it as a benchmark for all other romantic comedy anime series I watch now. 

And then came Highschool DxD. Once again, I initially brushed it off as just another harem series with nothing new to offer. But, remembering the moral of my initial viewing of Ouran Highschool Host Club, I gave it a try as well, and found that I really enjoyed it. Once again, I was proven wrong.

I devoured all of the episodes within a week, and I even began reading the light novels, eager for more contact. I even began writing fanfiction about it, which most of you probably read initially before coming to this blog, so you know exactly how much I enjoy that series. 

It just goes to show, you can never tell a great series just from a few screenshots and a description. So, that's why I created this blog, to try and shed light on some series that I think people should really give a shot. 

-SCD