New Anime Series: Blaz Blue Alter Memory

November 7, 2013 by Mark Myers Leave a comment

First Episode(s) Review for: Blaz Blue Alter Memory

Summary:

Based of the computer game series BlazBlue, a lone fighter is being slowly overtaking by the great power he possesses, all the while being hunted by those who wish that power for them selves.

Animation:

Very detailed backgrounds with slightly flat cell characters over the top, perhaps this is done to to make the battle scenes easier to draw as they are very very fast and involved.

Plot Potential:

I’m assuming you must have played the game to know what the hell is going (so much so that I went to see if this was the first series or a continuation), but it has settled down into the standard “haunted anti hero in a timeless cycle of battles” theme, I reckon by the 3rd episode it will become a background Anime, but it is fun and the fight scenes are very well done.

Music:

Not up to the visuals

Reminds me of:

A light hearted Devil May Cry

Overall:

A good blood stirring series, Makes me want to go play the computer game…. Oh sod…. I HAVE this computer game, got it at an convention because I wondered what everyone was getting so excited about, so when today’s work is finished I will go and give it another try

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!!

New Anime Series: Aika Zero

November 5, 2013 by Mark Myers Leave a comment

First Episode(s) Review for: Aika Zero

Summary:

Somewhere someone decided it would be a good idea to do an Anime where all camera angels would be based on the floor and all characters would be young women with very very very short skirts and thus was “Aika Zero” Born, they have put aliens in there as well as secret agent and spy stuff so I suppose that is all right. If you are from England and a certain age, I will just say James bond merged with The Benny Hill Show and you will get the point

Animation:

Not bad at all, a lot of attending to skin tone and body shape.

Plot Potential:

Err yes, there must be a plot, but as about 10% of the screen estate at any one time is devoted to white panties, I cant read the subtitles.

Music:

bouncy 70’s tunes, quite jolly really

Reminds me of:

There is nothing like it except the original Agent Aika

Overall:

Fun, but fan service level is such that even though it is mild for Japan, it really is bordering on a 18+ for most countries. (no my screen caps don’t reflect this)

New Anime Series: Ars Nova

October 31, 2013 by Mark Myers Leave a comment

First Episode(s) Review for: Ars Nova

Summary:

Mankind has had its butt kicked and been driven from the sea by a fleet of ships that look like normal warships with glowing bits stuck to them, humanity has been relegated to the land with all communications cut. but now a traitor from this “fleet of fog” has teamed up with a young captain to help humanity fight back … but why? what are her motives?

Animation:

90 percent computer animation, which has not made friends with me but there are lots of bright lights and big guns which is helping

Plot Potential:

It’s a strange plot that feels like an Anime version of the search for the Graf Spee but conducted by cute girls with a taste for English culture & tea, not sure what I make of it but I do want to know what is at the bottom of it all.

Music:

Both the opening and closing these are totally mp3 player quality (goes to find them)

Reminds me of:

Strike_Witches in the sea, with a bit of Chobits thrown in for fan service

Overall:

Another anime with a good plot, I’m struggling to get involved due to the plastic nature of the animation, but it’s holding me more with each episode, so it may be my gateway drug to giving computer animation another chance.

New Anime Series: Strike the Blood

October 29, 2013 by Mark Myers Leave a comment

First Episode(s) Review for: Strike the Blood

Summary:

A super vampire comes about every so often capable of shaking the stability of the world, this time its a young lad who really does not want the job and realises fully what damage he could cause, adding to his problems is the young female demon hunter (who is world inexperienced but very violent) that is sent to watch after him.

Animation:

A “by the numbers” competent production , nothing I would be ashamed to show a none Anime fan but then again nothing that rocks the world.

Plot Potential:

It’s a good background Anime (meaning you can glance away from the screen and not miss anything vital to the plot), but with it being very very close to A Certain Scientific Railgun or Stay fate night its going to have some proving to do, thought the male hero not being an Idiot is a good start (I have not face palmed even once)

Music:

American Hard rock (good head banging stuff)

Reminds me of:

A Certain Scientific Railgun ….Hell it’s damn near a copy

Overall:

Good fun and one that I fully expect to be franchised in English for those that need a dubbed version.

New Anime Series: Galilei Donna

October 24, 2013 by Mark Myers Leave a comment

First Episode(s) Review for: Galilei Donna

Summary:

Three brilliant sisters of various ages born of brilliant but very dysfunctional parents get caught up in a mystery involving pirates and other exciting space things (don’t look at me I don’t know whats going on at the moment but its something to do with Galileo)

Animation:

A mixture of muted cell and computer animation, its nothing to write home about and the computer overlay is not of the best, but they have done a good job of the facial expressions of the characters.