First Episode Review for: Phi Brain – Kami no Puzzle

Summary : A rebellious puzzle genius is lured into a world where common brain puzzles are magnified to fatal levels and given a super human “puzzle power” (yes i did a WTF as well)

Animation : Just ordinary quality, bordering on the good, the giant puzzles are well done though

Plot Potential: well its like a franchised version of bayblade, you would think it would be boring but it was the most engaging none ‘serious plot’ aniume i have seen in a while

Characters: Quite fun, like Pokemon characters but 5 years on

Music: Not bad opening theme and quite a bit of “the clock is ticking” type of music

Reminds me of: As i said before, a more serious none franchised form of Bayblade

Overall: Only the Japanese could do a series like this basing a really fun series on the most feeble premise, this should be geeky and sad but its as good as any but a few anime, very watchable, thought i don’t know how they will keep the quality of puzzles up

Disclaimer: These are mini reviews of anime’s that are fresh out in Japan and are not licensed in the UK, buy them once they have been licensed or at the very least buy the merchandise, remember if the anime makers make a loss, THEY WILL STOP MAKING ANIME!!

First Episode Review for: Chihayafuru

Summary : The story of a beautiful but unconventional and therefore unpopular girl who is obsessed with a card game called Karuta and her search for other people to play it with

Animation : Nice and bright with a slight haze overtone pleasant to watch

Plot Potential: I don’t know if this is going to be like Yu-Gi-Oh! or if the game it just a link for the characters, but it was a good mix in the first episode

Characters: Very good and original characters with lots of depth and background even in only one episode

Music: Light background music

Reminds me of: A more solemn version of Yakitate!!

Overall: A surprising anime, and one that makes me want to actually play the card game, ill be watch this from now on.

Disclaimer: These are mini reviews of anime’s that are fresh out in Japan and are not licensed in the UK, buy them once they have been licensed or at the very least buy the merchandise, remember if the anime makers make a loss, THEY WILL STOP MAKING ANIME!!

First Episode Review for: Persona 4

Summary : An older teenager moves to a new town when his parents move away for a year, as soon as he arrives the occult murders start!

Animation : Good, a bit of unnecessary computer animation, but otherwise a nice subtle anime with good details

Plot Potential: This looks like it will thankfully be a mixture of plot and action, the same level as you would see for a western none animated series such as Dexter

Characters: Very human characters, with only traces of the normal stock characters you would expect in such an anime (eg the loud short haired girl)

Music: Only slight background music

Reminds me of: Monochrome Factor (but without the Yaoi)

Overall: This is one I will be watching on an ongoing basis, I hope the plot turns out as deep as is initially hinted at

Disclaimer: These are mini reviews of anime’s that are fresh out in Japan and are not licensed in the UK, buy them once they have been licensed or at the very least buy the merchandise, remember if the anime makers make a loss, THEY WILL STOP MAKING ANIME!!

First Episode Review for: Kyoukai Senjou no Horizon

Summary : Future looking world where no one seems normal (like a world populated only with super heroes), a practical and violent school exam takes place on a giant ship floating though the atmosphere

Animation : Very very good animation, the first versions that have come down off the wire are not doing it justice, this maybe worth a blueray import

Plot Potential: An incredible, packed 24 mins for a first episode, but there is no obvious plot, they obviously realised this and crammed the history and most of the future plot in the end credits, weird, but who am I to grumble.

Characters: Very good costume design, and excellent original settings, there are some stereotypes but well done, completely over the top and often inspired

Music: Good pumping battle music and some soulful singing by the main character

Reminds me of: err, sort of like the hectic parts of Oh my goddess with a bit of Slayers in it and then added to Blue Exorcist

Overall: Just on looks alone I will be watching this, the start up credits were such a mix of character designs that I initially thought is was some sort of vehicle for a marvel vs Capcom style game (so much so I went and looked the series up, but no it is apparently a genuine series), good fun

Disclaimer: These are mini reviews of anime’s that are fresh out in Japan and are not licensed in the UK, buy them once they have been licensed or at the very least buy the merchandise, remember if the anime makers make a loss, THEY WILL STOP MAKING ANIME!!

First Episode Review for: Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasali!

Summary : A school resolves class disputes with full blown wars, sort of like a demented school version of “the art of war” but with fan service and power poses,

Animation : Very much standard fair, not bad enough to complain about, but not good enough to notice

Plot Potential: Quite a lot actually, it could become a political drama played out in a school with added dragon ball Z

Characters: Stereotype overload, lots of them, there is even a one eyes German woman with long hair in boots and baggy pants

Music: Standard fair, nice use in the fight scenes though

Reminds me of: Clamp school detectives crossed between Fate/stay night

Overall: Entertaining and a fun 24mins, but im unsure where they are going to go with it, need to give it a couple more episodes before deciding, but very promising

Disclaimer: These are mini reviews of anime’s that are fresh out in Japan and are not licensed in the UK, buy them once they have been licensed or at the very least buy the merchandise, remember if the anime makers make a loss, THEY WILL STOP MAKING ANIME!!