Blog Archives

Neon Genesis Evangelion 1.11: You Are (Not) Alone (2007)

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Posted on July 11, 2010 by Samson

When Neon Genesis Evangelion was first released in the mid-90s, it rapidly gained international popularity and became quite a phenomenon. Viewers were generally really impressed by the majority of the anime, so much so that they were able to forgive the very messy ending. Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone is the first of four movies which together will form a new theatrical edition of the classic anime. Enhanced with never before seen footages and plenty of visual and audio … (read more)

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Bleach: The Diamond Dust Rebellion (2007)

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Posted on May 19, 2010 by Deni

It’s both a blessing and a curse that Bleach is the kind of show it is. With its non-stop action and a vast array of characters it’s little wonder it’s so popular; after all, when you practically have every possible character type covered – from the rebellious hero with the heart of gold to the comical and lucky bumbler (and so on and so forth) – you basically have something that will appeal to everyone. But the very things that … (read more)

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Elemental Gelade (2005)

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Posted on February 10, 2008 by Tom

Two weeks ago I claimed I would never pick a disc to review based off the title alone again. It’s quite odd that the system of random luck of picking based off the title alone got me the massive dud School Rumble and also this standout title Elemental Gelade. Based on the manga of the same name, Elemental Gelade, may hit some of the same notes and themes present in the fantasy genre, yet still maintains enough freshness … (read more)

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Saiyuki Requiem (2001)

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Posted on March 12, 2007 by Deni

Today’s lesson: the pros and cons of the Original Animated Video, otherwise known as the OAV (or OVA – Original Video Animation – depending on your viewpoint), as exemplified by the Saiyuki movie, Requiem.

Originally, OAV was a term coined to describe the movie-length spin-offs that spawned from existing TV series. These days, they could be almost considered a rite of passage – you’re not a real series unless you’ve done a such-and-such-The-Movie. Well, maybe not, but from Cowboy … (read more)

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Saiyuki Reload (2003)

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Posted on March 12, 2007 by Deni

This is perhaps the second last time you’ll hear me harp on this subject, and actually, I’m sort of wondering what more I’ll be able to say about Saiyuki. With this new series – Reload – the Journey to the Max boys are back, mixing it up with a couple of story arcs from the manga (both Gensoumaden and the new, still on-going manga series, Reload) and a few anime-only episodes as per the standard manga-to-anime formula. The quality in … (read more)

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Saiyuki (2000)

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Posted on March 12, 2007 by Deni

This is a completely biased review. I’m not ashamed to admit it. Everyone’s got their little secrets, their weaknesses, right? Well, mine’s Saiyuki.

Sometimes known as Gensoumaden Saiyuki, the anime is based on a manga series by Kazuya Minekura that started serialisation around 1996 (and is now published in the US by Tokyopop). It was inspired by the famous Chinese story Journey to the West, better known to Western audiences as Monkey, and it’s everything … (read more)

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Chrono Crusade (2004)

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Posted on September 15, 2006 by Andy

I honestly don’t know whether to be appalled or impressed at Chrono Crusade’s astonishing absence of production direction. Having chosen to set Chrono Crusade in the roaring twenties, Studio Gonzo proceeds to jettison the time period like ballast in a Richard Branson balloon. Characterisation, dialog and costuming are straight from the anime action props department. Except for a few greatcoats, clockwork cogs and antique cars, the whole thing feels, well — contemporary… I’m not saying I’m a stickler for period … (read more)

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Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (2002)

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Posted on November 25, 2005 by Mat

The Gundam name has been around since 1979 with the original series, Mobile Suit Gundam. This series has in turn spawned a number of sequels, with each series maintaining a core theme of big human-controlled robots, known as Gundam, that deliver hurt on a large scale. Each new series brings with it new characters, stories and timelines, making each independent of the others. The latest incarnation of the Gundam universe is known as Mobile Suit Gundam Seed.

The … (read more)

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