Summer ends...

As the season of summer comes to an end so too do the anime shows of this season. While it was not the strongest season on offer so far this year, that distinction currently goes to spring, it was not without it's gems. So without further adieu.

The Top 5 Shows of Summer 2016 

5. ReLife

Who hasn't thought of what it would be like to go back to high school? ReLife shows you what it might actually be like. While high school is the setting that we find our characters the show is much more about redemption and second chances then typical high school fare. Strong characters and an interesting plot make this a compelling show, however mediocre visuals prevents this from climbing any higher this season.

    4.New Game!

Following on the heels of the success of Shirobako we have another meta anime that shows us how some of our favorite mediums get created. Animes like this really go to show that strong characters can carry a series and that sometimes you only really need a setting so your characters have somewhere to run around. An all female cast and some fan service lend themselves nicely to the shows theme, but a lack of conflict makes for a lack of impact.

3. Amamma to Inazuma

TSUMUGI!.....

And Kotori is kind of cute too.

Honestly Tsugumi is really the best reason to watch this show. Unfortunately that means if you don't like her you won't like this show. The show can feel a little formulaic at times but it never fails to warm the heart. There is also a cooking theme in this show, but it is pretty light here, lacking the depth of our next show...

2. Shokugeki no Soma  

Seconds please! If you liked season 1 of Shokugeki no Soma, and you should because it's awesome, you are gonna like season 2. It's really that simple. The fall elections, which this season focuses on, is pretty much non stop Shokugekis. This season does what an anime based on a manga really should do, make you excited to read the manga. My only complaint is it's only 13 episodes long.

1. Mob Psycho 100

If One Punch Man left a gaping hole in your anime life, as he does in everything, then Mob Psycho 100 is doing it's best to fill the void. Great visuals, interesting characters and a plot that hints something much deeper, this show is the clear choice for best of season. No spoilers just a recommendation to go watch it.  

Honorable Mentions:

Re zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

Tales of Zasteria: The X

Love Live! Sushine

Masou Gakuen HxH

Oregairu Musings

With the final of Oregairu Zoku only a few days away and Volume 11 of the light novel on the verge of release I decided to share some of my musings on the main characters of Oregairu. Oregairu is a series about the relationships between people and these relationships are dependent on 3 factors. Understanding of self, understanding others and being understood. Each of the main characters in Oregairu exemplifies one of these themes, and struggles in the others.

 Hikigaya's strength is his sense of self. Hikigaya is very sure of who he is and what he wants. This attitude was probably formed in response to his various rejections in middle school as a kind of defense and was cultivated as a result of  his isolation during his hospitalization in his first year of high school. As Hikigaya says himself he really wants to understand others. He is constantly observing people and looking for the meaning behind their words. However as Hiratsuka-sensei points out he is unable to read what is in peoples hearts. Where Hiki really fails is being understood  by others. People often think Hikki is an uncaring and rotten individual. He is actually quite considerate of other people, even willingly sacrificing himself to spare others.    

Yui's greatest trait is her ability to be understood and accepted by others. Yui has always been a popular girl and she has continued to be so by going along with group. This however has lead to Yui lacking a strong personality of her own. In order to maintain peace she forfeited her own desires. After meeting Yukino Yui has decided to start paying attention to her own needs. Yui only has a very surface level relationship with her "friends" in class and doesn't truly understand them. She is trying to change this with her new friends Hikki and Yukino. 

Yukino is great at understanding other people, she has spent most her life living up to the exceptions of those people. Yukino's ability to read people, as well as her belief that people should confront their own weakness has lead to people believing her to cold.  The one thing that Yukino truly desires is to be accepted by others, as herself. Not as Haruno's sister and not as a daughter of the Yukinoshita family, simply as Yukino. Yukino's weakness, is her lack of her own identity. Yukino is caught within shadow cast by her family, particularly her sister. She cannot make a choice without being compared to her sister or being accused of trying to differ from her. She wishes to be accepted for herself but she is not even sure who that is.


The members of the Service Club each have their strengths and weaknesses, and the compliment each other perfectly. Hopefully they will continue to support one and other and grow as individuals as they try to forge something genuine.

Oregairu Zoku Episode 13 airs Friday June 26 2015.
Oregairu Volume 11 releases on Wednesday June 24 2015.  

Manga Monday: Hajime no Ippo

One of my favorite mangas, and probably one of the longest running, Hajime no Ippo takes into the world of pro boxing. Makunochi Ippo is a high school student getting ready to graduate. Instead of dreaming of the future  Ippo spends most of his time helping his mother with the family fishing business, causing him to miss out on friends and after school activities and making him a target for bullies. After one particularly bad beatings Ippo is rescued by man named Takamura. Takamura turns out to be a boxer and he lends Ippo a tape of Mike Tyson knockouts, telling him how Tyson used to get bullied when he was younger. When Ippo goes to the gym to return the tape Takamura lent him, Takamura tells him to take out his frustrations on the heavy bag. Turns out Ippo has tremendous power in his fists, a trait not over looked by gym's owner and head trainer. Thus begins Ippo journey into the world of boxing. Now there are currently 981 chapters so if you wanna get started you better start now. There is also an anime which I recommend. So come join Ippo as he struggles to find the answer to the question What does it mean to be strong?

 Here's a little taste of the OVA, Champions Road. 

WARNING may contain spoilers.

Champions Road OVA Intro

  

Throwback Thursday: Sorcerous Stabber Orphen

 Now I caught some flak for my last Throwback, apparently to some 10 years isn't old enough to be called a "throwback", but let me know what you think. If you wanna see older animes in this section leave a comment. Anyway today's Throwback is Sorcerous Stabber Orphen. The title really tells you all you need to know about the plot. The main character's name is Orphen and he stabbed a sorcerous and because of this his life has become a lot more difficult.  Exiled from the Tower of Fang Orphen is forced to make new allies, such as Cleao Everlasting and his new apprentice Majic Lin. Yes his apprentice, who is studying to become a sorcerer, is named Majic. Really? Orphen still has an ally in the Tower of Fang, his old friend Hartia. In order to keep up appearances Hartia dons a disguise of his favorite manga character when ever he helps Orphen. Unfortunately for Hartia when reveals his name as "Black Tiger" he is mistakes as "Shrimp Man". Black Tiger Shrimp I guess? Hartia is actually one of the funniest characters in the anime, even funnier then the comic relief characters Volkan and Dortin. Overall this is a great series with memorable characters and surprisingly deep and interesting story.  So if you are into fantasy anime take a look and if you enjoy the series there is a second season called Orphen: The Revenge. Of course it has a killer opening theme too.

Opening Theme

           

Review: Summer Wars

Story: 5/5

Animation: 5/5

Design: 5/5

Voice Acting: 5/5

  A truly touching tale that's really more about summer love then "Summer Wars".  Computer nerd and math genius Kenji Koiso's simple summer plans, watermelon and fireworks, are turned upside down when he agrees to help his secret crush Natsuki. Turns out Natsuki need Kenji to pose as her boyfriend at her family reunion. Why doesn't this kind of stuff ever happen to me? Kenji's problems are just starting however, as it turns out there is A.I virus running lose in OZ and it turns out he might be to blame for it.  Director Mamoru Hosoda, of  The Girl Who Leapt Through Time fame, delivers once again with a heart warming tale that seems to capture the spirit of summer. Beautifully animated, beautifully designed, I defy anyone who is a fan of anime to say they don't like the way this movie looks. It's easy to see why this movie has won the amount of awards it has. Even the English voice acting is superb, which is good because to ruin this masterpiece with a hack dub would be beyond criminal. I  honestly recommend this movie to everyone, not just anime fans, it's that good. Watch the trailer and you'll be saying Koi Koi.

Trailer

New Releases September 18 2012

Hope you saved your pennies because here are the new releases for this week.

Venus Wars                                                                                        $19.95

Fafner: Complete Collection (Blu-ray / DVD Combo)                     $59.98 

King of Thorn (Blu-ray / DVD Combo)                                                $24.98

The Tower of Druaga: Complete Collection (S.A.V.E. Edition)             $29.95

Allison & Lillia: The Ultimate Collection                                                $69.98

Persona 4 - The Animation: Complete Collection 1 (DVD) sub            $59.98 

Persona 4 - The Animation: Complete Collection 1 (Blu-ray) dub        $59.99

Looking Forward To: Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru

I will let you guys know right now I am sucker for romantic comedies, and I am an even bigger sucker for redheads. So when I see a new romantic comedy with a kawaii redhead protagonist it's a sure fire knock out. Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru, based on the manga of the same name, centers around a three character love triangle. Eita the male lead is solely focused on his goal of getting into Medical school, however this all changes when recently returned school queen bee Masuzu enters his life. Chiwa, Eita's childhood friend, isn't about to hand him over without a fight. If you can't wait the manga is currently on chapter 16. The anime hits this coming January, 2013, so pick your team

  

VS

Japanese TV AD