Author: Takuto

Ben-To Review

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While ramen bowls and instant rice make for a quick, cheap meal, the premade bento box featured in grocery stores is the dinner for kings – some say it’s even to die for. Today, an anime centered on retrieving that ultimate dish not only for the driving guts, but for the incomparable glory.

Yo Sato, a high school pervert who revels in playing old SEGA games, decides to purchase a bento box from his local grocery store when he realizes that was his first mistake. Waking up from his unconscious state, he sees that all of the bento are gone. “Wolves,” intense brawlers who live thrive for the taste of a half-priced bento fight in the store until only the mighty survive. Yarizui, the “Ice Witch,” is the head of the Half-Pricer Club at his school, and upon his cold knockout, forces Sato to join the club and to enter the battle of the bento!

Taking an unnecessarily serious approach to the art of low-budget dining, Ben-To is hilarious. There really isn’t much more to say. It is a pure comedy, lacking any dark history or overly dramatic plot twists. The show is perfect for “rinsing your anime palette,” especially after watching something really intense.

The characters are also light-hearted. They each have their own unique names they are coined for: “Ice Witch,” “Lady of the Lake,” “Wizard,” so on and so forth. Over the course of the show, you begin to realize how they got their name, their concentrated strategies and styles, but most important, their motive and willingness to fight – the honor of the bento. None of the characters come from a distorted past, meaning that they are pure enjoyment! That’s not to say that “what you see is what you get,” however; you’ll be surprised by the interesting personas provided by each character.

It’s also amusing to watch the stereotypical archetypes duke it out in what? A grocery store. The quiet girl, the perverted girl, the ordinary high schooler, the “older sister,” the twins, the leader type – it all works, and it’s fascinating! J

I’ve never seen animation by Production David, but they did a fine job with the dramatic brawls that unfold in the store. And while the characters look really beautiful up close, specifically the eyes, even a couple feet away from the viewer the characters’ eyes appear really spaced out/messed up. It becomes distracting after a while, and during a few of the softer moments it kinda trashes the overall appeal.

Interestingly enough, the OST for Ben-To features many brass instrumentals, which is a cool change in music compared to other anime. For those who’ve seen it, it’s reminiscent of C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control.

The saucy opening “LIVE for LIFE” by Aimi matches perfectly as far as lyrics and context. The in-depth views of characters in the supermarket make the scene look very busy, and in the anime, it most certainly is! In contrast, each day concludes peacefully with the ending, “Egao no Housoku” by Mariya Ise, featuring a soliloquy-esque spotlight by the cerulean-haired red-eyed babe Yarizui.

There is plenty of ecchi scenes and fanservice, and while I’d like to say it’s for the girls, for a change it’s actually for Sato. Oshiroi, the perverted girl and innocent classmate, never stops shipping Sato with the other boys and older men in the series. She reminds me of Rikka from Haganai. Characters such as the student council president or the head of the judo club also have a bolt to pick with him. As a guy, the natural hatred by the setting followed by the slow growth to fondness is comical. Besides this, there are still plenty of skin-revealing scenes for everyone, so yeah . . . awesome.

There isn’t really much else to add besides the known fact that Ben-To is a must-watch comedy series. The ”shop till you drop” story makes for fantastic hand-to-hand combat, my favorite being Shaga, though I also like Yarizui, and it never loses its touch. Though the show’s not family friendly because of the platefuls of fanservice, it’s definitely a great watch after a really sad/dramatic or intense thriller anime. Ben-To will make you hungry, so why wait? The laurel wreath sticker has been placed, the “Wolves” are ready at their marks, the doors close, finally BAM – it’s time to dine!!

“Say your thanks before you eat.” – Sen Yarizui

Thanks for checkin’ out my rather quick review of Ben-To, a comedy action series booming with fun! I have not seen the dub yet, but I love Trina Nishimura, so yeah, got to check it out. Please give me a like if you enjoyed the review, as it makes my day! Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Date A Live Review

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So I crossed this show when I saw some of its key visuals: a powerful warrior clad in a violet, pink and gold-armored dress, with hair of a rich purple hue. Some know her as Tohka, but she’s also known as the girl who was revoked by her own show. Today, a shambling show of plot, yet a decent display of boobage – Date A Live.

Itsuka Shidou is yes, your average high school student. He lives a normal life with his red-headed little sister Kotori, despite him having bold blue hair (she’s got to be adopted). His life is disrupted, however, when another “spatial quake” explodes in his city, causing mass destruction and panic to spread.

These spatial quakes bring Spirits, mystical and powerful beings of unknown origin, coincidently hot/cute chicks. His sister also just happens to be the commander of an Anti-Spirit Team aboard the Fraxinus. As she and the other crew have analyzed, the only way to seal the powers of the Spirits is by making them fall in love with Shidou – and by giving them a kiss. “Kill or kiss the world,” as they say! Failure to accomplish the mission will be met by deadly firepower from the AST’s flying powered suits – worn by half naked women, might I add.

Date A Live is a harem, romance, action, school, comedy, mecha, sci-fi . . . so on and so forth . . . anime. It poorly jumps around between being absolutely serious, bat-sh*t crazy, and fluffy as daily life can be. I enjoy really dark, thoughtful, and intense anime, with a few slice-of-life scenes splattered during the appropriate times – and there are a couple of crafty surprises packed within the show. But this anime is not organized with its plot whatsoever.

Recall that scene from episode 3, the one where Tohka and Origami face off and she accidentally shoots/kills Shidou? That was easily the best moment of the anime; it was second to Kurumi’s creepy assault on the humans in the woods. Too bad the end of the series was met with just a mech fight (not hating on mecha anime or anything, but seriously). – _ –

Also, I don’t really see how the dating sim system the AST uses is helpful. By the time everyone reads the three weird options, votes on one, and tell it to Shidou through ear piece, the moment is long gone and would be too late to respond to questions. But whatever.

Besides Shidou having a really cute face, he’s just the boring middleman between the Spirits, taking in and returning expressions of “absolute concern,” because you know, he’s the good guy. I suppose he can be comical at times, and he’s not an annoying protagonist too, which are pluses, but yeah, he’s not anything new either.

I could sit here and talk about each of the Spirits and how “different” they all are, but really they can be grouped by stereotypes: Yoshino, the shy and quiet girl, Origami, the secretly-in-love-with-classmate, Kurumi, not gonna lie, a decent villain yet tossed to the side the last couple episodes, Kotori, the little sister, and that just leaves one girl – Tohka. While they are all entertaining, comedic, and cute (with great curves :3) they lack the flushing-out that I enjoy most.

Tohka is the first Spirit we are introduced to. She’s tsundere at first, but develops into waifu for Shidou. It’s similar to Asuna from SAO, though Asuna is a much better fighter and character! Anyway, not only does Tohka have a heart-warming food-consuming personality, she also has a beautiful design. When I think about it, Tohka is just Saber (Fate/Zero) if Saber did not have such strict social contracts binding herself. I love the purples, pinks, light blues and golds on her armor and in her sweet eyes!

Yet the one thing this anime had going for itself was put to the side because WHO THE HELL KNOWS. Tohka is a great fighter and by this point she is the best character, so why dump her? For the other girls I guess, but it ain’t worth it. After episode three, Tohka doesn’t get the spotlight again until the end; that’s +6 episodes of Tohka just eating and sitting on her ass. A shame.

This was the high point for the show – the animation by AIC Plus+. Again worth mentioning are the superb character designs, but additionally the sharp and colorful background scenes. I can’t recall low quality of any kind from this show, so a round of applause to them! The only thing I could complain about are the fight scenes, which rarely happen – and I’m talking all-out fights, not a missile launch here and there. The action sequences featuring the dominant Spirits clashing with the AST units are spectacular, but sadly few and far between.

The soundtrack was a real surprise for me. Not only are the daily life scenes well-supported by casual themes, but the dramatic sections are gorgeous and truly melancholic. Anthems for battle ring with a full on orchestra plowing down the field, and intensity is never lost by the OST.

Infamously known, the opening “Date A Live” by sweet ARMS quickly catches attention as an opener. Its passionate choir vocals along with an addicting melody are a great way to start each episode! The ending second “SAVE THE WORLD” by Iori Nomizu is also so catchy! I’m quite attached to them both!

But great background music and quality detailed animation won’t save the failing date that is Date A Live. The show brings nothing new besides its unique yet unorganized story idea, and if you’ve already waded through several harem anime, then you’ll know all of the ins and outs, getting more and more tired of this show’s determination to be something it’s not. If you are not a critical viewer and are simply looking for time to blow on an action/romance with comedy, impressive fights, and fan service then this is perfect. Otherwise it doesn’t live up to the hype.

“Just killing and killing and killing? You deserve to die and to die and to die.” – Tohka Tatogami

Yeah, bummer, it was disappointing. However, there is a second season, so I will be checking that out soon. Since I watched it in subs, I hear the dub for Kurumi is really awesome, so I might give that a watch too . . . if only I could ever find the time. Thanks for reading – slap that like button if you enjoyed my review and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone. Review

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Hideaki Anno had already captured the minds of millions when his most popular series Neon Genesis Evangelion was produced way back in 1995-1996. In 2007, he started the Rebuild of Evangelion, a series of movies that would reaffirm and branch off of the original series, hence, a rebuild. Today I’ll look at his first film, 1.0 (later to be released as a special edition, 1.11), and see if it meets his grand intent of pleasing fans and drawing in a wider audience with better visuals, music, and hopefully, an improved story.

2015. Tokyo-3 is the only remaining city in Japan after the Second Impact devastates the world. The lone city is not at peace, however, as gigantically scary extraterrestrial life forms known as Angels seek to exterminate the human race. As young boy who has not seen his father for over eight years, Shinji Ikari is called to NERV, an organization assembled to take down the Angels, where he will be piloting Evangelion Unit 01. Ikari’s father, the head of NERV, demands Shinji’s combat against the Angels; choose to not fight, and the already-injured and mysterious pilot 00 Rei Ayanami will be forced to. Getting himself into much more trouble than a robot fight, Evangelion 1.11 features the first three Angel clashes in remastered HD quality.

As far as changes go, this movie is almost an exact adaptation of the first eight or so episodes from the original series. As such you can check out my Neon Genesis Evangelion review here for a more in-depth review. The movie does a great job at recapping the old material, but of course, it drops quite a few scenes for time’s sake. Veterans of Evangelion might be disappointed with this, despite the new, incredibly detailing scenes that were added, but to newcomers it gets straight to the point.

The characters are also the exact same, with the exception of Shinji Ikari receiving less annoying dialogue. He just seems like a troubled 10 year-old instead of some rude brat when he refuses to fight at times.

For pacing, the show is rather rugged. It’s almost always on the edge of its seat, seeming like a string of intensity instead of a smooth-running film.

Another reason fans were let down was because it just didn’t feel like Eva. Everything is clear-cut and dialogue is cleaned up, making for fewer interpretive scenes and lessening the overall enigmatic effect. For unfamiliar people, this is a good thing, but for those who had seen the original, it doesn’t maintain the shady and “distorted” Evangelion quality.

I was pleased to hear that all of the main characters and some of the side were portrayed by the same English and Japanese voice actors. Props to FUNimation for the great dubbing!

The music is top-notch, though most of the tracks are just pulled from NGE. Model examples include “Decisive Battle” and “Angel Attack,” two of the main battle themes of the show. The ending, “Beautiful World” by Utada Hikaru, is simply a beautiful song, no joke. It was a cool way to end the film. I listen to it off and on as one of my alarms – it’s a great way to start the day!

Studio Khara revives the original series with amazingballz visuals! CG for the Angels, specifically the complete makeover of the 6th Angel (blue diamond one), is brilliantly done. Architecture is clean, for when Tokyo-3 goes into Angel alert, the sunrise combined with the colossal rising and falling buildings is a splendor. And of course, the Eva Units’ new computer graphics are glorious!

For a 2007 film, it easily rivals and surpasses most of the animated films of today. Fans will be pleased, as I was for sure. However, since it only encompasses the first quarter of the show, this will raise more questions than answers for newcomers to the franchise. Though it lacks footage and original atmosphere, Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone manages to be a great reaffirmation of the old anime, and masterful edition to the Evangelion series.

I hoped you enjoyed my quick few thoughts over the Rebuild of Evangelion’s first film! Drop a comment below if you had similar or different thoughts, because I love reading them ~ Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

No Game No Life Review

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I have this system that allows me to recommend anime even if they have this “read the manga” bull-sh*t ending. After all, it’s usually the ride that counts for me. No Game No Life is a quizzical anime adaptation based on Yuu Kamiya’s light novel series, and its lack of an animated ending hurts the series the more I think about it.

Bro and sis Sora and Shiro are gifted NEETs who form the notorious “blank” across the gaming world. Together they are an unstoppable force: pulling all-nighters, eating junk food, and learning all of the ins and outs of various games just to achieve victory – but they never cheat. They both find the real world to be harsh and even crappy, donning it as just another game. When challenged to a complex game of chess supposedly designed by God himself, Tet emerges upon their triumph, and the two are warped to another world.

In this world, God has outlawed war and violence, so instead of physical brawls, everything is decided by games. Want all the money from a bank? Beat its owner. What about living in a castle? Simply defeat the king – and that is exactly what “blank” does. With the humans or “Imanity” chased to the board’s edge by other races, is it up to Sora and Shiro to save the Imanity and conquer the gaming world – but in real life this time.

No Game No Life’s basic premise can be carried out in many ways, yet “beat the boss, next floor” format doesn’t flow in this anime, and that can be appreciated – to a certain degree. While you know Sora and Shiro will win all of exciting and intriguing games (cause if they lose there wouldn’t be a show), it’s the ride to that final draw that make 12-episode anime worth it. The games are wacky and chalked full of weird rules, however, that makes them so much fun to watch!

On the other hand, the slight lack of explanation in each challenge often results in seemingly impossible feats. The games can be confusing and drawn out to two episodes at a time. As such this show is a binge watch – you’ll lose track if you try to space your viewings out.

Sora overwhelmingly takes the lead as the perverted-older-brother-mad-hatter type of character. He’s clever and brainy, desiring to win a library for knowledge of the world that he and his adorable sister were thrown into. Logging it in their phone, Sora immediately makes it his top priority to challenge the God of this world. Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Kirito from SAO, Arata from TRINITY SEVEN) performs with such strong lust in his voice acting that makes for quirky dialogue. He certainly plays the role well!

For a female lead, Shiro is not that interesting. She’s cute, quiet, and relies on her onii-san. There is a much more intellectual side to her, unlike her brother, that makes for quick-witted comebacks and in contrast respectful monologues. While Shiro gets a couple of great episodes to herself – literally by herself – there isn’t really much else to say.

The only other mention is Stephanie Dora, an emotional young Imanity girl who is the daughter of the recently dead king. She is stubborn, whiny, and expressive, yet has an intelligent side regarding the Imanity. Because she flips from being a genius to a dimwitted casual – just to make Shiro and Sora seem smarter, might I add – she was poorly treated by the writer(s). Stephanie is easily likable, but only when she has her dignity intact.

NGNL’s animation by Madhouse is rather . . . how’s to say, bright? The effective use of reds, blues and other vibrant colors as outlines instead of the usual black adds to more eye-appeal. Everything else is also energetic in color; these upbeat hues help to bring the world of games alive! It’s fun J and not like your average anime!

Sound-wise, I wasn’t too impressed. There are a few “Aha!” tracks for the intense gaming climaxes, but the more emotional bits are supported, yet without memorability. I can recall the epic challenges that Sora and Shiro surpass, but I can’t remember any of the characters spewing out their passion, and part of that is because the actual-game-sounding music just wasn’t on-par with the anime. Besides “Predawn,” it’s not bad by any means, but could have been more.

The show gives off this foreboding vibe, as if Tet foreshadowing the darkness behind the gaming world is where the series would end, however, we never get down to the heart of things. That disappointed me most. A perfect reflection of my thoughts are in the opening, “This game” by Konomi Suzuki. The piano introduces us to a mysterious and devious land, yet past this rich piano solo, the song turns into your average anime opening, revealing its sense of playful trickery.

I have troubles recommending No Game No Life particularly because it just ends with another game. Upon release of a second season, which is most likely, then I will 100% recommend this anime to anyone, despite the mild nudity. The characters can drag the anime down a little bit with their ecchi playing, but when the boobs are put away, No Game No Life functions as a great piece of entertainment, and I enjoyed its cleverness thoroughly.

“’Checkmate’ doesn’t mean you’ve simply cornered the enemy king. It’s a declaration that the enemy king is yours. That’s why I said it the first time I met you. ‘Checkmate.’” – Sora

The anime has been licensed by Sentai Filmworks, so we can expect a dub release sometime soon hopefully. Thanks so much for reading my review over this fun gaming anime! If you had similar thoughts, hit that like button and follow me for more material like this. Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

I’ve Been Nominated!? (Liebster Award)

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A while back I was nominated for the Liebster Award, and I’m now finally following through with what that entails. Before I start, I would like to thank anyone who has stopped in and read my material, commented, liked, and even followed since I started. A special thanks goes to LitaKino, for without her, I would not be writing this post. Thanks LitaKino!

To the questions!!

  1. What made you start your anime blog?

Well, I’ve always wanted a small café or business, the kind where everyone knows each other, etc. I honestly want to start a YouTube channel, as videos are easier to watch and tend to attract more customers 😉 but I thought I’d start solid with a blog first, then build up from there if I got more into it. The blog also functions as a file for my anime adventure through time and space, logging my exact opinions the moment I finish a show!

  1. Ice cream or pie?

Ice cream for sure – I always like picking at a good ol’ slice of pie, but for some reason I can never finish it!

  1. What is the most expensive thing anime-wise you have bought?

                If we’re talking single items, then that would be Sentai Filmwork’s recent Collector’s Edition release of Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!, which cost me about $80.00. For complete series, I own Aniplex of America’s DVD release of Fate/Zero Seasons 1 & 2, which cost me about $130.00. Both totally worth the purchase though!

  1. What other hobbies do you have?

I collect anime, play the cello, competitively swim, and read, write, draw, and play guitar on the side. I’m never bored.

  1. What is your current opinion on how the world is?

Preface stage. There is a lot of tension building up everywhere, good and bad, and I know it’s leading up to something terrifyingly gigantic that will change our world on a global scale . . .

  1. Do you have a favorite genre of anime you like to watch?

I really enjoy intense psychological thrillers that change my perspective on the world. But after watching them, I force myself to watch something fluffy or slice-of-life afterwords. They both come hand-in-hand.

  1. Is there an anime character you really would like to cosplay?

Too many to count! Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan), Saber (Fate/Zero), Shion (No.6) and the list goes on. However, I will be wearing a Tennouzu First High School uniform from Guilty Crown as a casual cosplay for Shu Ouma!

  1. What is one anime thing you are stalking to buy currently?

Log Horizon: Collection 1 on Blu-ray. It will be mine.

  1. Do you think wordpress is an easy blog site to use?

I’ve never been good with web design stuff, so considering that I’m finding my way around it quite well must count for something!

  1. Do you have any favorite anime reviewers you love to follow?

I love to follow all of my followers and then some on this blog! On YouTube, the infamous Arkada of Glass Reflection. He’s been an idol for a while now. I also enjoy stalking Slightly Otaku from YouTube with their anime unboxings and hilarious thoughts.

  1. Do you have an anime crush?

I’d be lying if I said no, but I’d be a hooker if I said yes because I crush on everyone boy and girl LOL. Sinon (SAO II), Saber, are to name a few . . . I’ll save the rest for a later date 😉

Facts about me!!

  1. I’ve always wanted a YouTube channel, but I’ve never started for some reason
  2. I tend to like most of all things related to anime – Yaoi not “un-included”
  3. If you do not stop me – I will buy it
  4. While I run this little café, I actually don’t care much for straight-up coffee. It’s good, sure, but yeah
  5. I’d be willing to sacrifice possessions, memories, and even a few people (I’m not crazy I swear!!) just for a long rainy day
  6. If I could be in any anime I’d be in A Certain Scientific Railgun’s Academy City as an esper
  7. I occasionally enjoy chick-flicks, my favorite being Monster In Law
  8. When I eventually do, I want die EPICALLY (again, not crazy at all)
  9. I do this little Anime Movie Theater with my siblings where I pick 5 to 10 shows, print posters, they buy tickets that fund the anime I buy, and we watch them together >.< otakus unite! The next Theater Premiere is this summer and it’ll probably be one of our last 😥
  10. I’ve been trying to write my own light novel series, as I can draw, but a manga would take forever. Like the Survey Corps and the Titans, I’m fighting a losing battle
  11. I love wedding cake and Steins;Gate is real.

Heads up, I will recommend these people regardless of them having 1,000 followers or not.

And now for a few people whom I nominate, as they deserve to be read from more often:

Danineko’s Otaku Blog – the cute blog of a South African otaku

The Otaku Judge – a reviewer with truthful things to be said about a variety of shows

tcondon1 – “review all the things” great day-by-day episode reviews

Rocco B – though they’re not anime I’m watching, humorous episode reviews and just overall thoughtful

thelimitlessimagination – ponderous thoughts in a fan-loving shoujo style

ZeAnime – interesting news in the anime and Japanese community

Shay-shay’s Anime Blog – blogger with cool topic ideas and just fun reads like challenges and fanfic

LitaKino – back at ‘cha for fangirling to the max and for being an awesome blogger friend

If you’ve already been nominated and you’re on the list, no problem, just comment below with a link to your Liebster Award Nomination post because I want to read it! If there is a question here that you feel the need to answer, feel free – comment away! 🙂

Questions for my nominees (again, you can simply comment below with an answer to one if you have already been nominated):

  1. What is your favorite Japanese animation studio?
  2. What do you do for fun besides anime stuff?
  3. Cats or dogs?
  4. Yaoi or Yuri >.< or none!?
  5. What was the first anime you have watched?
  6. What do you like most about anime?
  7. Do you see yourself still with anime ten years down the line?
  8. What do you think of fanservice in anime?
  9. What anime made you scratch your head for a while?
  10. Do you recommend anime to non anime fans around you, or do you keep it to yourself?
  11. If this café served actual beverages/food by an anime character to you, what would you order and from whom??

Official Rules of the Liebster Award:

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:

  • Thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
  • Display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)
  • Answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.
  • Provide 11 random facts about yourself.
  • Nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)
  • Create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.
  • List these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:
  • Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!).

 

You all have such interesting blogs; each having something to admire! I would like to thank LitaKino again for the nomination – it’s such a wonderful thing for a small-town blogging community. I have had a lot of fun writing this, and I hope you have had fun reading this! Catch me in my anime reviews and as always, until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

End of February Update 3/2/15

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~ Konnichiwa, and I’m back with another update for anyone who actually cares! LOL

As those who’ve been in the café recently know, I’ve had the pleasure of diving myself headfirst into Evangelion, an old staple for the deconstruction of robot anime. While that has definitely been the highlight of my month, I have also been diggin’ around FUNimation’s website – specifically in the slice-of-life/harem genres to quell my pensive Eva mood.

Recently finished:

Neon Genesis Evangelion – though confusing at times, it struck a nice chord with me, read my review!

The End of Evangelion – the thorough conclusion to the series, check out my thoughts here

Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone – what it lacks for in retaining original quality makes up for with winning animation, review on the way

No Game No Life – cut-short anime in need of a second season, review on the way

 

Currently watching:

Ben-To – only two episodes in, but it seems it doesn’t get more complex than this

Date A Live – been wanting to watch this one for a loooonnnggg time, and I hope it doesn’t disappoint

Unbreakable Machine Doll – yeah, I haven’t technically started this one yet, but it has an interesting setting

Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Redo – again, waiting to pick this up, but I might as well include it in this update

Parasyte – things are definitely reaching an end, but I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad one

Log Horizon – is it sad to say that I am awaiting its end? It’s fascinating, yes, but it drags quite a bit

ALDNOAH.ZERO – season two continues to flesh out one of the main characters and support itself with more clever fights; bravo!

 

And for those who read these, I still have not even touched the Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume One. It’s a good book – I swear! – But yeah, no progress . . .

Thank you to all of my new followers and of course, returning customers! I love reading what you guys have to say, even if it’s just a “hey” or whatnot 🙂 Please continue to like and follow like ya do, and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

The End of Evangelion Review

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Between Neon Genesis Evangelion ending with two episodes of solid ideology talk in Shinji’s mind, and the lack of explanation by SEELE regarding their “Human Instrumentality Project,” how did the series physically end? The End of Evangelion finally gives fans resolution, but does it raise more questions than answers?

First off, the soundtrack for this movie includes many classical pieces that provide an epic feel to the battles. Robots and Angels would be shooting lasers and fighting like crazy, yet all you would hear are the powerful strings and band waltzing around. Really neat touch to the already-unique qualities of Evangelion.

The animation is surreal; especially the spiritual ending the movie is famous for. It’s breathtaking, yet makes you feel strange and without an appetite. Invoking a sense of rejuvenation, the movie’s high quality fight scenes and godly interventions are a splendor. Asuka’s fight against the mass-produced Evas in particular is one of my favorite fights I’ve ever seen in anime – and this film was released in 1997! You can just feel the weight of the colossal metal swords she’s swingin’ around!

There are a few curious shots, however, and particularly when real-life video clips are present for some odd reason –  but it all adds to the feel of the film (WTF) . . . I mean, I guess. . .?

This movie is divided into two 40-ish minute long episodes, which are supposed to break down what actually happens outside of Shinji’s mind in those last two episodes of the series. Making more sense now?

NERV is being attacked by SEELE, which causes pandemonium to break out everywhere. Shinji goes hysterical over the death of Kaworu and spends the first episode confronting the three lead females as to his remaining humanity, each represented by Naoko Akagi’s philosophy of herself: Asuka, the woman, Rei, the mother, and Dr. Akagi, the scientist. Misato embodies a ‘lil bit of each, and continues to act as the free spirit and love, which is why she is one of the last ones Shinji confronts. This is one of Evangelion’s most crucial themes, which is exploited quite thoroughly in this movie. Following Asuka’s last fight and when the three “are rejected by” or reject Shinji himself, they curl up in despair, which is continued in the second half. Shinji then sinks into the next and final phase of his development.

In the second episode and finale, Gendo Ikari attempts to acheive his ultimate goal – the bringing back of his dead wife Yui through the Angel of humanity’s creation – Lilith. Previously, an “accident” during Eva-01’s creation absorbed Yui’s soul and she was absorbed into the Eva as LCL. When Gendo tried to salvage his wife, the first Rei was born instead. This small detail is the cross point of many questions in the series, including why Shinji, Yui’s son, would have been the ideal pilot for Eva-01, and why Gendo was so insistent on Shinji piloting it.

By using the Rei models as clones for his wife, he had planned to unite her with the embryo form of Adam, the First Angel and genetic basis of the Evangelions, to supposedly “bring himself to his wife” or whatever. This fails, however, as Rei grows consciousness (plus a freakin’ personality) and rejects Gendo.

Rei proceeds to unite herself with Lilith, awakening the Second Angel in the process and creating an Anti A.T. Field that turns all humans but Shinji into LCL – the lifeblood of Lilith. The stage is now set for its grandiose climax!

Yui reacts to the rebirth and as a result, Shinji, piloting Eva-01 against Angels, must make a decision:

  1. a) allow instrumentality to succeed, “dissolving” the A.T. fields (ego) of humans so that humanity evolves to become one individual, or
  2. b) reject instrumentality and God knows what happens. . .

At the beginning of Instrumentality, before and during a Shinji’s decision-making,”Komm, süsser Tod” (Come, Sweet Death), an upbeat song plays in the background. I’ve never felt such feels like this with anime ever, and that scene right there was pure bliss. I feel I can just let everything go, that I’ve reached my own salvation with my anime journey.

Because the movie is so intriguing and justly satisfies with a divine ending, I have to take back a comment regarding Neon Genesis Evangelion, in that it is not a “timeless classic.” This movie, however, definitely deserves the title.

Hideaki Anno’s The End of Evangelion does indeed answer the painful questions pondering fans, yet it does so in a very artistic (interpretive) and “spiritual” manner. At its heart, Evangelion is a beautiful story about life. Whether its religious references even make any sense, the movie pulls all of its strings together, ties them in a knot of a balloon called “hope,” and lets it soar into the heavens, so-to-speak. The End of Evangelion is one of the best films to follow an anime ever, and if you haven’t seen it – you’re missing out on a masterpiece. Truly, you are.

“Anywhere can be paradise as long as you have the will to live. After all, you are alive, so you will always have the chance to be happy. As long as the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth exist, everything will be alright.” – Yui Ikari

Whew! What an experience! If you haven’t already seen Neon Genesis Evangelion, go watch it. Like now. I’ve been in such a ponderous mood ever since then it’s not even funny. 🙂 Enjoyed the review? Click the like button below and follow me for more material. Until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

PS: Here is a video or two I used to help recap all of the history of the film. If you’re confused about Evangelion, give it a watch – THEY REALLY HELP:

History Explanation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho07Ag6lV9g

How Rei is present in the beginning and the end – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNx-wsaEkZ4

Neon Genesis Evangelion Review

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As said in my “You Are (Not) Alone” Valentine’s day post, I had a pleasant three-day weekend to binge-watch the infamous robot anime Evangelion, a timeless classic in the anime community. So what do I have to say about it? Well, I can fully appreciate Ender’s Game now.

Fifteen years ago, the Angels, gigantically scary extraterrestrial life forms, caused The Second Impact, a catastrophe which wiped out half of humanity and literally threw Earth of its axis. In present-day 2015, the Angels have returned in Tokyo. To counteract, a secret UN agency by the name of NERV has developed weapons – human fighting machines known as “Evangelion.” Though they can only be piloted by fourteen-year olds, for some odd reason cause its anime, the heroic Evangelion robots hold up against the Angels with ease – most of the time.

Shinji Ikari’s whole world is thrown into chaos when his asshole of a father, the head of NERV, demands that Shinji pilot purple Evangelion 01 during a sudden Angel attack, even though his own son is terrified of the thought. Regardless of what he truly wants, Shinji must courageously force himself head first into intense battles, diving deeper and deeper into despair and insanity to uncover his self-worth.

Shinji is a difficult character to talk about mainly because his life is a double-edged sword; pilot the Eva and win – everyone loves you. Lose, however, and you’re on everyone’s death list. He has a pussy attitude and his constant apologizing gets on many people’s nerves. To top off this train wreck, he specifically says that distancing himself from others is easier than being with someone. As much as I want to say he is a hero, he really isn’t, but rather the child that humanity must pity. That’s not to say that his life is hell, though, because it definitely sucks! I think a distressed youth such as Shinji was the most interesting viewpoint the series could have had.

Misato Katsuragi, the sexy chief of operations officer at NERV, takes timid Shinji under her wing, serving as the motherly figure that was robbed from him as a child. She is pretty messy, as she leaves beer cans and instant-made food containers lying all around the apartment. For most of the show, she serves as the comedy and fan service side of things, but she’s way more than that. In work, she is punctual, intelligent, and a captain, while at home, Misato is relaxed, carefree, and a lover. Misato is a fun and awesome gal, and Allison Keith portrayed her with a quality-matching English dub performance!

Asuka Langley Soryu pilots red Evangelion 02, and as such acts as Shinji’s partner for parts of the show. She serves the plot as Shinji’s opposite with her busty German speaking and ballsy/brash loud mouth. She too suffers from intense mental grief, shown physically through the way she feels the need to conquer everyone else – that she is better and above all others. The two fight a lot and over the course of the show, she opens him up to a more social, sexually-open life. I especially enjoyed Asuka as a character and her English voice actress, Tiffany Grant. She nailed the German, I tell you! 😉 “Wunderbar…” God damn, I can’t even…

The one whom I was disappointed with was Rei Ayanami. Then again, I’m not one for silent characters. With her blue hair and red eyes, you get the impression right away that something about her seems, hmm, fake? She pilots the prototype orange/blue Evangelion 00. To the plot, she is much more in The End of Evangelion. For now, however, she acts as Shinji’s “love interest,” though they don’t get really far between his shyness and Rei’s awkwardness and lack of communication. Rei is the opposite side of the same coin to Asuka: a peaceful, compliant fantasy girl to a demonic, enticing sex counterpart.

So that’s all, right? Nothing else to the characters? Of course not. Neon Genesis Evangelion’s cast is massive; I’d be spending several reviews recapping just the complexity these last four characters if I could. They are all wonderful, intricate, memorable, and most important of all – human.

All of the characters are pretty screwed up though. Towards the second half and end of the series, they all descend into their own personal hell, growing more insane due to the vibe the Evangelion give off until they eventually crack. Even the good doctor Ritsuko crumbles in madness. It makes you feel depressed, shameful, guilty – just all of the things that they feel, really.

And the plot is the same way. What started out as a regular mech series that has fighters cleverly taking down enemies ended up soiling itself in darkness and messed-up plot turns. However, the show’s real antagonist,” Seele,” lacks so much explanation that they are hard to understand. They pull random crap out of nowhere and it can be really confuzzling. Character motives become distorted and you ultimately end up with a show soaked in raw twistedness.

To the animation by low-budget Gainax – IT’S NOT AS BAD AS PEOPLE SAY IT IS. Frankly, I found the animation to give the show a unique feel to it. Yeah, it’s crap during a plentiful amount of scenes; there are freeze frames where nothing is moving for a freakin’ hour; the Evangelion and Angels are not given justice in Gainax’s animation – so what?! It makes you feel eerie; the dull tone and paleness makes the story more mysterious in a sense. Praise to the Rebuild films – ABSOLUTELY – but this anime makes do with its poor studio budget, and I appreciate that.

The soundtrack supports many militaristic themes for the engaging battles, but nothing really stands out. Even more emotional moments lack interesting tracks. I suppose it fits the mood well, but it’s not a brilliant score by any means. One of the main things I took from this experience was the addicting opening, “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” by Yoko Takahashi. I kid you not; I never skipped this opening once when I watched the series. While the legendary lyrics don’t really match Shinji’s character, the song is still a must-listen! 😀

If you didn’t understand Neon Genesis Evangelion – that’s fine, did anyone? Just to name a few questions: Who can truly say when evolution has gone too far, as well as whether having a God is a good thing for humanity? As long as you grasped your own beliefs from this anime, then you have mastered the Evangelion experience, so-to-speak. Many believe this anime to be symbolic of life; some think Hideaki Anno was simply high when this show came out in 1995, and he probably was. Neon Genesis Evangelion truly masters character relationships, and is intelligent, creative, disturbing, unnerving, and downright weird. But at that, one hell of a ride. “Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men.” – Ritsuko Akagi

Thank you so much for reading my review over this timeless anime classic! Leave a comment below with any thoughts or questions you had. Hit the like and/or follow buttons for more content like this and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Happy Valentine’s Day: You Are (Not) Alone

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Minna san, konnichi wa!

As you all know, V-day is tomorrow, and I want to wish all of you a happy day full of love, family, friends and food! 🙂

I have been reserving this weekend to tackle one of anime’s most confusing titles, Neon Genesis Evangelion. I plan to watch the series first, then the End of Evangelion movie, and finally the remake movies, which I am most excited for. To be honest, I don’t really want to watch the series, just the movies, but hey, I better view this classic to its entirety!

For those who have seen it, do you have to watch the series? Or can you skip to the movies without losing too much detail? So puzzling!

Thank you to all of my new followers – you guys are the best! Also, thanks for reading my anime reviews – I greatly appreciate it! Happy Valentine’s Day from Takuto’s Anime Cafe, and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host

Yamada’s First Time (B Gata H Kei) Review

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“B Gata” meaning “Type: B” and “H Kei” meaning “Style: H.” Make of that how you will.

Everyone has sexual tendencies, but is it natural for a virgin teen girl to want to bang 100 guys her first year in high school? Well, Yamada is 15 years old, and this is her goal. She’s beautiful, popular, athletic, smart, and even musically talented – so why the sudden urge? We quickly discover that she has no sexual experience whatsoever when she corners a boy in the library and flashes him. But hey, as the saying goes, “The journey of a hundred miles starts with a single step.”

Like so many, I judged this show just hearing the title. After actually watching it, however, I was in love by episode one. This plot is definitely a hit-or-miss for some, considering its mature themes, but the show goes beyond that. While Yamada’s First Time lacks the actual sex, it teaches a valuable lesson about rushing into things, and how you might want to rethink things through before you do something regrettable. This anime is a one-of-a-kind gem that shines best when it strays from its goal.

Yamada is an interesting character, that’s for sure. She’s slutty, perverted to the max and simply a disaster. But despite her intriguing plot involvement, she is a really enjoyable character. Yamada can be the “go get em’” girl all she wants, but deep down she is only a teenager – she’s still growing and learning. Her lust to lose her V-card results in her chasing down the most unremarkable boy in her class, Kosuda, and she begins to realize that she might have feelings for him.

Kosuda (“cherry boy”) is doomed to her by the first episode – that innocent boy in the library, but he sure doesn’t think that! Kosuda is bland, boring and honestly looks like a background character. He represents the average boy in many ways, but stands out because he gets so freakin’ nervous about most everything related to Yamada. In that, he’s quite hilarious to watch.

While it’s fun following these two chase after each other, you realize that by the end of this short anime, Kosuda is all Yamada’s gonna get. The anime loves teasing its viewers with X-rated hot stuff, but then quickly pulls up its pants before anything unfolds. After watching so many ridiculous scenes with the two, you really want them to have sex – you do and you know it!

Accompanying the lead couple is Yamada’s enduring girlfriend Takeshita who advises her through her journey, Yamada’s Eros Deity, the brash and sexual embodiment of her darkest desires that promotes her banging boys, Kosuda’s quiet childhood friend Miyano who crushes on him the entire series, the perfectionist transfer student and rival of Yamada, Kanejo, and so many more. What can I say? Yamada’s First Time has an ensemble cast that manages to entertain and keep you laughing.

There’s not much to say regarding the animation. It lacks much detail in background scenery, but it gets the job done. You can tell the animators put extra work into making Kanejo and Yamada appear cuter than the others, as it shows when the two face off in various activities.

The OST is spicy and dramatic, fitting the tone and adding to the overall flavor of the series! Argumentative scenes are well supported while the softer romantic scenes strike the heart. I especially enjoyed the opening and ending, “Oshiete A to Z” and “Hadashi no Princess,” both by Yukari Tamura. The opening is just so catchy and tons of fun! J It reminded me of other S.A.V.E. titles like Strike Witches or Negima!?.

Yamada’s First Time is by no means a full-blown hentai, but rather a more playful ecchi. The show teases its viewers and services the fans. It’s a guilty pleasure that I enjoyed probably way more than I should have >.< Because of its mature content, the anime is not for everyone. But my god do I recommend it – absolutely. Yamada’s First Time is a precious and lovable anime. “Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down.” – Kobi Yamada

While I don’t currently own a copy, Yamada’s First Time in FUNimation’s S.A.V.E format is on my Amazon.com cart! For less than $15.00, it’s a must buy! Also, Brittney Karbowski’s role as Yamada is really good ~

Thanks for reading as always and be sure to check out other reviews for more recommendations. If you had similar thoughts or were inspired to watch this anime, then go ahead and hit that like button or drop a comment below! I welcome all new customers (followers) to the anime café and until next time, this has been

– Takuto, your host