Space Bugs, Gut Bugs, and Squirrel Bugs: Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell (2011) Review

Director: Shoji Kawamori

Notable Cast: Aya Endo, Megumi Nakajima, Yuichi Nakamura, Aya Hirano, Katsuyuki Konishi, Sanae Kobayashi, Kikuko Inoue, Megumi Toyoguchi, Rie Tanaka, Tomokazu Sugita

 

Although I already had my ticket loaded for Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell after seeing the first Macross Frontier film two weeks prior, my gut feeling was not the most hopeful. Despite its highlights, the predecessor was something of a mess and a missed opportunity in my book (you can read my full review over HERE if you would so like) and it relatively dashed my expectations for the second film. Did I really want to see if they could piece together the shattered remains of tones and narrative left in the wake of The False Songstress?

 

With that in mind, The Wings of Farewell is, surprisingly enough, a substantial step up from Macross Frontier: The False Songstress. It fixes so many of the issues that plagued the previous one in its tonality and general character development. It’s not a perfect film, particularly in its stuttered narrative, but it’s entertaining enough and features some significantly fun set pieces to catch both old and new fans of the Macross world. 

 

This Song Has Me Buggin': Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (2009) Review

Director: Shoji Kawamori

Notable Cast: Jun Fukuyama, Aya Endo, Megumi Nakajima, Yuichi Nakamura, Aya Hirano, Kikuko Inoue, Megumi Toyoguchi, Hiroshi Kamiya, Kenta Miyake

 

The entire release strategy for Macross and/or Robotech in the United States is a fascinating endeavor to unravel. Although that history is fairly well researched and written about in a variety of places by incredibly knowledgeable fans and cultural writers, it remains one of the cornerstones of understanding the relationship between Japan and the United States through the lens of anime. It’s complicated and the two industries often mistranslated the appeal of these kinds of shows. Yet, with anime now being one of the biggest industries in the world due to more avenues of access, the time is ripe to re-evaluate the relationship as the tides rise. 

 

Although I am hardly an expert, only recently starting my journey through the anime landscape, the release of the Macross sequel series and its film, under the banner Macross Frontier, piqued my interest. Although the series and films had been obscure for western audiences since its debut in 2008 (with the final film dropping in 2011), the two films were finally getting theatrical releases in the US in 2022. For Macross fans in the US, what a time to be alive, right?

 

Yet, as I walked out with my family from seeing the first of the two films, Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (great title, might I add - considering the themes of music within the Macross series), a thought crossed my mind. Perhaps the release of Macross Frontier was influenced by the fact that this film is a messy barrage of self-praising referential moments, a combative combination of traditional animation and computer-generated material, roughly 200 thinly drawn themes, and main characters that waver between the traditional Macross love triangle and cringe worthy teen horniness. Compared to the other Macross films, which already have their highs and lows, The False Songstress is a wildly uneven and problematic ride. 

 

No Franchise Fatigue Movie Podcast: Burn, Baby, Burn Kyoto Inferno (Rurouni Kenshin Franchise)

For the latest episode of No Franchise Fatigue, Matt and Sean discuss the anime-based chanbara samurai series Rurouni Kenshin! As always we discuss important questions. Wouldn't being beaten with a blunt edge sword still hurt? What exactly causes a fire mummy's sword to shoot flame? Who is Sir Hops-A-Lot? Plus, you can hear Sean spew a series of words that constitutes the concept behind a video game and Matt gets to struggle to say Japanese names (like always). 

Check out our latest episode below or wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Akira (1988)

Director: Katsuhiro Otomo

Notable cast: Mitsuo Iwata, Nozomu Sasaki, Mami Koyoma

What does one even say about Akira, that could possibly replicate the feeling of watching it for the first time? I saw this movie, like many nerds in my age range, in my early teens. Fascinated by the idea of a cartoon that very loudly proclaimed that it was for adults. Lured by the twin sirens’ calls of violence and sex (because what else could “adult” possibly mean?), I don’t think any of us were quite prepared for what we were going to get. Violent, certainly, but adult in a way I certainly wasn’t expecting; philosophical, meaningful sci-fi, with a dash of body horror (a Japanese specialty), sharp political and social commentary, and stunning visuals, all while maintaining an undeniably punk sensibility. There is a reasonable contingent of people for whom Akira is the literal definition of cyberpunk. It was undeniably in the vanguard of the sub-genre, along with Blade Runner and books like Neuromancer and Snow Crash. It was defiantly not the hopeful retro-futurism of the 50s and 60s where technology exists solely for mankind’s benefit and our troubles came in the form of aliens, or worse, Russians. (pause for laughter) Instead, cyberpunk paints a future of giant mega-corporations and corrupt governments. Of technology run rampant and the devaluation of human life. It also deals with the next stage of humanity, be it psychics or transhumanistic technology. But more than anything, they tend to deal with trying to exist at the street level in such a horrorscape and looking for a little remaining humanity.

Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle (2018)

Directors: Kobun Shizuno, Hiroyuki Seshita

Notable Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Takahiro Sakurai, Kana Hanazawa, Tomokazu Sugita, Yuki Kaji, Junichi Suwabe, Reina Ueda, Ari Ozawa, Kenta Miyake, Kenyu Horiuchi, Kazuya Nakai, Kazuhiro Yamaji

As a huge Godzilla fan, it was a shock that I felt so disconnected and disappointed with the first anime film Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters. If you’re curious about those feelings, as they do set up the context for this next review, I would suggest just going and reading my review for the film HERE. In summary, the film went very far away from the usual core Godzilla material and was essentially crippled by its structure. While its sequel, or more fittingly it should be called next episode, Godzilla: City on the Edge of Battle does help the first film by actually adding some character depth to the story, but it’s also a film that inherently suffers from the same problems and only adds a few redeeming qualities to make for a better film experience. Fans of the first film will definitely love what City on the Edge of Battle is offering, but for those hoping for a lot more (i.e. me) it’s only slightly better than the first.

Gintama (2018)

Director: Yuichi Fukuda

Notable Cast: Shun Oguri, Masaki Suda, Kanna Hashimoto, Yuya Yagira, Hirofumi Arai, Ryo Yoshizawa, Akari Hayami, Tsuyoshi Muro, Masami Nagasawa, Masaki Okada

With Gintama, by the time the end credits rolled, I sincerely felt out of my element. There are a variety of reasons for this, but even within the first ten minutes of this cartoonish and comedic genre bending adaption of the popular manga/anime, Gintama makes it very clear that this is a film for fans of the style and the original releases and everyone else is just shit out of luck. Unfortunately, I’m part of the group that includes everyone else. I’m only educated on the rough elements surrounding anime and don’t actively dig into the genre. Gintama is a film dedicated to the style, tones, and general feeling for fans of the anime/manga. It’s two hours of outlandish slapstick style and randomized humor, impressive amounts of yelling, and a layered and often cartoonish sense of style that smashes together chanbara, science fiction, comedy, and action all into one genre. While I spent the entirety of the film in a state of perplexing confusion, it would seem that Gintama is made solely for the fans and rest are left on their own.

Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters (2018)

Directors: Kobun Shizuno, Hiroyuki Seshita
Notable Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Takahiro Sakurai, Tomokazu Sugita, Junichi Suwabe, Kenta Miyake, Kana Hanazawa, Yuki Kaji, Daisuke Ono, Kenyu Horiuchi, Kazuya Nakai, Kazuhiro Yamaji

When Toho Animation announced that its next Godzilla feature would be an anime, it was easy to see how that would appeal to people. As the months rolled on, the information about this anime, titled Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters, didn’t necessarily seem to coincide with what I associate with a Godzilla film. Namely, the film was a post apocalyptic space film where the plot focused on humans returning to Earth after abandoning it thousands of years previous because of Godzilla’s presence. Other information certainly made me cautious and as time wore on I found my expectations for the film plummeting to the point where I almost had no desire to watch the actual film when it was finally unleashed as a Netflix original just recently.

Still, I’m a Godzilla fanboy and so I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and prepared for Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters.

In this Corner of the World (2017)

Director: Sunao Katabuchi

Notable Cast: Non, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Natsuki Inaba, Minori Omi, Daisuke Ono, Megumi Han, Shigeru Ushiyama, Mayumi Shintani, Nanase Iwai, Tengai Shibuya III

Residing in the seaside town of Eba, a young girl named Suzu, who loves to draw and paint, works with her mother making nori (seaweed in an edible form). Some years pass, and she finds herself in in Kube, a quite large city that sports a Naval port base. There she meets a young man named Shusaku, whom she agrees to marry in an arrangement prepared by his family. Once the two are wed, she moves to Kube and starts to live her life and finds happiness in her new location, but the threat of the Pacific war looms over the city as her and the surrounding citizens find themselves dreading the days the inevitable attacks will come. An absolutely beautiful and poignant tale, In this Corner of the World is easily the finest animated film of the year, and deserves to be seen by as many people as humanly possible.

One thing that I love right from the get go about this movie is that it really draws you into the world and lives of these people that inhabit the few towns and cities set throughout. Even the smallest of characters are very well fleshed out and you get to know them all in and out. It truly feels as if you are a local citizen living in this world with them. It has a true sense of family and humanism that is represented with romance, drama, and just day to day life that goes by, through the ups and downs, naturally and with great ease. It feels as if an entire anime series is condensed down in to a two hour film, and while it may feel a bit long at times, the weight of what is to come is made all the more heavier by the beautifully written characters that you've come to love. More so, knowing the history and the tragedy that unfolded only adds to the drama and heartbreak. Without spoiling, there is a scene that is very bold and would've been cut from a film of this nature typically, at least going for a lighter rating for release, if the film were made elsewhere or perhaps by a different studio. It's haunting and will be ingrained in my mind for years to come.

Visually speaking, the film is absolutely breathtaking. There is a water-painted aesthetic to the film as a whole, but as we see through the eyes of Suzu and her artistic mind, the world unfolds around her like a painting. There are small scenes of her creating these paintings and drawings, and seeing her character paint these out feels surreal but realistic simultaneously. It is awesome to see stroke by stroke these paintings being created in real time as the scenes carry out. Animation within animation, truly a thing of beauty and something to behold. Certain key moments of the war itself coupled with her vivid imagination make for a unique cinematic experience filled with memorable sequences.

My one complaint, is that the film seemed to drag on a bit at times. I get that it was trying to make the world feel lived in and showcase the lives of Suzu and the people and family that surrounded her, and it mostly succeeds. Certain scenes felt bloated and dragged out to the point of exhaustion to the pacing and rhythm, like a missed note in a song, but it never entirely disengages the viewer. It is all worth it in the end though as it truly adds emotional depth to everything that plays out. That isn't to write off the scenes prior to the war unfolding, as there are a lot of truly wonderful moments, but certain scenes felt unnecessary to the plot or character developments.

In this Corner of the World is a film that will resonate and leave a deep impression in its viewers' hearts and minds. It's subtle and humanistic whilst also being rich and vibrant in its vivid imagery. It's a lighthearted film that dares to go into the darkest moments of tragedy and does so boldly with great success. This is one that should do quite well internationally and will surely get further award nods outside of Japan. It may be flawed at times, but is most certainly one of the standout cinematic pieces of 2017. Here's to hoping this makes to as many screens as it can. It needs to be scene and experienced by everyone. A lovely animated feature.

Blood+ ep. 1-50 (2005)

Let's get this party started!

Yello my friends! I finally did it. After about a month of dedication, I was able to complete the epic episode watching adventure known as "Blood+". Or as I like to call it, John's personal 100 year war. This battle began in 2005 and finally reached its end in July 2014. Alright so it wasn't quite 100 yrs, but man it felt like it at times. Let me explain. You see back in 2005 I was working part time at a Suncoast Video store, remember those? Life was swell then. Anyways at that time I was only able to see a few episodes of the "new" vampire series from "Blood the Last Vampire." After the first views I was sold, I mean who couldn't use more Saya in their life? Well as life does so often, it threw me a few curve balls and I had to put Saya in the corner for awhile. Then a few months back I noticed that my friends at Netflix had "Blood+" just sitting in my queue waiting for me to revisit Saya once again.  Several hours and 50 episodes later we danced our last dance or so I thought. More on this later, for now let us get to the review of "Blood+"

Synopsis - Inspired by "Blood the Last Vampire," "Blood+" is its own entity. While there are a few basic elements from the original movie "Blood+" should be looked at completely differently. For one the main character Saya has the name of the character but is far different from the original Saya. The basics of this story are pretty simple really. Saya, the main character of the series, is a seemingly normal 16 yr old girl. Living with her adoptive family and suffering from amnesia she slowly starts to get bits and pieces of her memory back. After an attack on her by a chiropteran Saya learns she is the only one that can stop these creatures. Armed with her special/badass katana, Saya sets out to find the truth about her past and these creatures.

While the series is set in 2005, her story starts many years before. Through her visions and memories we get to see the whole story unfold.

Can I get some theme music Haji?

Review - The thing with a series as lengthy as "Blood +" is you have to assume there will be many filler episodes. Truth be told I never really got that vibe here. I think there is so much story within the main story going on that it was easy for the writers to actual be able to stay the course and put out a quality product. With the original source material leaving a lot of people wanting more here in "Blood +" we are given 50 episodes or 2 seasons to really have the story come together. With that I feel like it was ultimately a solid piece of orchestrated goodness. I can walk away with a satisfaction that the story is complete and my love affair with Saya has come to an end.

On to the animation/ artwork, in a word: beautiful! 50 solid looking episodes with crisp colors and lots of blood shed. The action scenes are top of the line and with so much of the series being action it was good not to grow tired of it. I feel that the choreography is better than a lot of things done nowadays it definitely stands the test of time. Or at least 9 years worth.

Now for the characters. With a series this size and the depth of the story, character development is a must in my opinion. For me this is one thing that really hits home, it can make or break a series. Usually with a shorter anime series I tend to be a little more forgiving in this area. Thankfully with "Blood +" I didn't have to worry about this. Character development is one of the strongest things going for it.
From the main character to every side character, each person was given their due. In my humble opinion this is one of the most complete series that I have had the pleasure of viewing. It is truly amazing to see how the relationships are formed and the connections the chevaliers have with their masters. Devotion at its fullest.

One last dance

 Final thoughts - It took one hell of a journey for me to finally complete my mission with Saya. Now what? I know that there is another series out called "Blood C" and truth be told I will wait on it. It was a fun, blood splattering good time with "Blood +" and I really want to savor the series for awhile. I don't need no rebound series! I can honestly say this is a solid fun adventure filled with a great story and characters. If you do not fall in love with the characters from this series well I would be surprised.  Don't hesitate to check it out on Netflix or buy a copy below. With that said I will give "Blood +" an outstanding:

 Written By John Price

Samurai Flamenco (2013) ep. 1-22

Check out my sweet buckle!

Hey gang! I wrapped up my latest adventure in anime. This time I have chosen to spend some time with a new series called "Samurai Flamenco." If you have not seen this series then what the heck you doing reading this?! Get on Crunchyroll and get the series started. I will attempt to explain to everyone all the reasons why "Samurai Flamenco" should be on your watch list, so power up and let's roll.

Synopsis - Voiced by Toshiki Masuda, Masayoshi Hazama is young man hell bent on bringing justice to the world. With a flare for the dramatic and his super hero costume, Masayoshi will stop at nothing to clean up the city. Just one little problem, he has no super powers or weapons. Working as a male model by day, Masayoshi decides to follow his heart as well as his childhood dream to become a superhero. Taking the name of "Samurai Flamenco" our hero soon finds himself in real life trouble. Helped along in his quest for justice by police officer Hidenori Goto, an odd twist of fate allows him to discover "Samurai Flamenco's" true identity. This new found friendship leads to lots of trouble for both young men as they set out to fight crime of all varying degrees.

Hmm what to wear?

Review - Beginning with episode 1, I realized that "Samurai Flamenco" was a series after my own heart. Here we have an action figure collecting, good looking male model that decides to become a crime fighter. While the series starts out like an animated version of the comic/movie "Kick-Ass" it is much more. To me it is more like if Kick-Ass became a Power Ranger. Sound fun? Yeah I thought you might get excited. After the first six episodes the series really changes gears and gets pretty bizarre. We go from this young male trying to bring about a positive change in his city to our hero joining a team of "Power Ranger" like characters to solo again.  All the while his friendship with Goto has led to more and more trouble for them both.While humorous at times due to the main character's naivete, there is some serious dramatic situations throughout.
For 22 episodes, we the viewers, are taken for a serious ride to every kind of place you could imagine. The creators and writers of this show must have had a blast. I can not recall another series quite like "Samurai Flamenco". We see our hero go from regular dude to crime fighter. Battling an assortment of enemies ranging from common street thugs to intergalactic space beings and back to regular old psychopaths. All done with a sense of enthusiasm and amusement that seems almost realistic in its feel.

The look of the series is vast to say the least and delivers where it needs to. The illustrations should not go unnoticed. Colors explode throughout the scenes with so many different kinds of creatures it needs to be mentioned. With the amount of different settings and back drops we should really appreciate the effort given. Action scenes are abundant and do not disappoint with well timed explosions to bring the flare. There is a host of villains and heroes that add plenty of side stories to keep you invested. Don't go into this thinking it's all about action because there is a lot more drama to keep the story going strong too.

While I admit my love for this series is deep, I do have one complaint. Going back to episode 6 and the drastic change of pace. The series leads us to believe it is gonna be a different type of series and then BAM! Totally different direction. I almost lost interest at this point, but I am glad I stayed on. It is a very thin line between greatness or being completely terrible. I lean toward the greatness factor. The series does have its flaws, I must admit. Such as its writing of the characters and their development. Also the story itself can be confusing with major tone changes that can distract the viewer from what it is really trying to say. All in all, I found it to be an enjoyable series.

I shall fly on eagles wings!

To finish up on this review, I want to add that as of now this series is only available on crunchyroll or hulu streaming. I have not seen an american license for it so who knows if we will get a dub version. If you are like me and prefer a buffet to choose from then I can say that "Samurai Flamenco" has plenty to offer you.
It's somewhat crazy at times but a blast to watch  as "Samurai Flamenco" is full of surprises. So head over to your streaming home of choice and get the party started. Until next time kids keep watching anime! I give "Samurai Flamenco" a favorable:

Written By John Price

Occult Academy (2012)

Let the witching hour begin!

Hello people of the internet! I have been a busy little beaver of late and I am bring you another anime review.

This series is brought to us from NIS America via Crunchyroll.com. Are you ready to rock with me? Let's get it on!

Synopsis- In the year 1999, our leading lady Maya has returned to the Waldstein Academy (aka Occult Academy) to attend the funeral of her father. During said funeral, her father's corpse returns possessed by a spirit. Mood wrecker! After this little situation new school principle Maya decides the best thing to do is shut the school down. Only to have her plans stalled by a naked man falling out of the sky and right into her life. Bringing with him news of death and destruction from 2012 where the world has been overrun by aliens. At this point he begs her to help him find the Nostradamus Key and save all man kind.

She's an angel with a crossbow!!

Review - My first thoughts were 'wow a character named Maya a story based on the end of the world in 2012.' I chuckled to myself, but still felt the need to share this thought.  I will start with the animation which is clean and very appealing to the eyes. All the action scenes are very well done including the crazy magic battles.  I think viewers will agree with me here.

As for the story it plays out very similar to older TV shows like "X-Files" or "Scooby-Doo." Well not as silly or over the top like "Scooby-Doo," but similar.  As in most of the side story episodes involve Maya and the gang solving a mystery of sorts. Then it's bam!  Right back to the main plot which is saving the world. I really enjoyed a lot of the ways the writers incorporated different occult things into the series. Such as using a pack of chupacabras to try and stop the gang on one of their hunts for the Key.

Maya is a strong character, very smart, and a no nonsense kind of gal which makes for some great scenes with her male counterpart Uchida. Whom by all rights is quite the opposite of characters. Throw in the mix several side characters that add some uniqueness to the show. I think the cast is well done and the voice acting is pretty decent.

AW! The old twisted twister.

Final thoughts - If you are interested in the occult and looking for a solid anime series then I can say check this one out. Only 13 episodes long  and for the most part each episode holds it own in the series. Episodes 11-12 switched a gear a bit and offered up some stuff that was not seen throughout any of the others. Like most series, this one isn't perfect either. It's got a weak plot and while most of the characters are fun, they not the strongest. Maya is a lovable character and holds her own during the entire series though. She is classy, intelligent, strong willed, and determined. Uchida is funny in his own way. Quirky and awkward, but in a fun way.

I want to wrap this up with this. "Occult Academy" is enjoyable from many points. It offers a lot to many different kinds of viewers. I strongly recommend this series and if you are a collector of figurines as there is a very nice one of Maya out there. Remember kids keep watching anime. Until next time. I give "Occult Academy" a glowing:

Written By John Price

Kite (1996)

I cry because I kill you!

Hey guys/gals! Entering into this week's review I have brought about an oldie by my standards. I initially viewed this film back in the day. Well not this exact version as I had  viewed the more adult version if you will. So this time around I chose to watch the less sexy version. So slap on those bulletproof vests and meet me for an old fashioned shoot out.

Synopsis- Sawa is one messed up young lady! Sweet, caring college student by day. Ruthless, shoot you in the fucking face assassin by night. As all Japanese/anime school girls tend to be. Over powered by her son of a bitch mentor, Sawa is forced to do his bidding and kill anyone he tells her to. Then one sunny day it occurs to Sawa that killing people for reasons unbeknownst to her is for the birds. That my friends is when the shit hits the fan. Now Sawa and her assassin male counterpart are on the run for their lives.

Review - From the start, this film is a punch in the gut of a linear action film. Lots of blood, loads of violence. This is a story of a female assassin loaded with never ending ammunition to destroy her targets one bloody explosion at a time. With over the top action and a forgettable story "Kite" is certainly a product of its time. Anime Works brought this film and many others to us and this is not one of their better offerings. The characters all sound like they smoked 6 packs of smokes prior to recording. I can only assume  back in the 90's this gave both film and anime characters a more badass appeal. Or at least a villainous feel. I found it really distracting since every scene was Sawa blasting some phlegm slinging baddy in the head or other various body shots.Ultimately saving the sad sap from lung cancer.

How's that bullet taste MF!

Throughout this film our "hero" Sawa is faced with many adversities and hardships from physical sexual abuse to gun fights. Even through all of this she never seems too upset or broken down until the moment she loses an earring. What the hell!  Yea, this is the kind of crap that makes it very hard to relate to this film and the characters. To top it off she has to be one of the worst damn assassins ever. The whole idea of being an assassin is 'in and out' without being noticed. Not blowing up subway stations and entire city blocks for one dude.Throw in the fact that the animation isn't very good or realistic. I know this is anime and it probably isn't going for realism but every punch, kick or shot knocks down freaking buildings. It feels like it was meant to be an old porn script. Someone came across it grandpa's secret drawer and was like "SWEET let us animate this gem." The sad thing is there is more where this came from. Like "Kite: Liberator" or "Mezzo Forte" which also contains an adult version. Same ridiculous plots, same poorly executed crap. I can't for the life of me pick out one redeeming quality for this film. Maybe if you are into shitty scripts and animated boobs this would turn your crank. For me there are just way too many other titles for me to waste time on this crap. Don't get me wrong, I like action films/series and boobs as much as any red blooded man. I also like be entertained, and the overall vibe I got from this film was not entertainment . It felt excessive and creepy to sum it up. With that said I give "Kite" a:

Written By John Price

Attack on Titan (2013) ep. 1-25

Oh I got this!

Welcome to another review from yours truly. This time around I embark on an impossible journey to the not so distant future where humanity has been all but destroyed. In a world where giant naked Titans run about devouring people like snacks for no apparent reason other than it's fun! So tighten up those boot laces and march along with me as I try to sum up this series in just a million words or less.

Synopsis:
 Centuries ago our world was destroyed by Titans so we the people decided what better way to protect ourselves then to build some very large walls to surround ourselves with and keep the Titans out. All well and good until a giant Titan suddenly appears one day to knock a hole through one of the walls. This of course was problematic for civilization as the Titans began to enter the city for a feeding frenzy. Enter our hero Eren Yeager. Eren always dreamed of going outside the walls, to explore the other world and maybe one day join the Recon Corp., which is a military type group that explores the outside world and studies Titans. Along with Eren is his "sister" Mikasa. Like Eren's parents she is not receptive to his adventurous ideas, but all this changed on that fateful day when the wall was opened up.  After watching his mother being devoured by a Titan, Eren vowes to destroy all Titans.  It is his anger fueled passion that drives his decision to join the military in hopes of one day joining The Survey Corp.  An elite military group hell bent on destroying these Titans. This is no easy task as one can imagine. The Survey Corp. is pretty much the front line for this war on Titans and joining such a team is all but certain death.

Wanna know where the rest of my sword is?

Review:
 From the opening gut wrenching scenes all the way through out, this anime series will punch you in the face with non stop action. Its a revenge driven story for sure with a ton of story to tell. From our lead characters to lesser characters that still stand out among the masses, we get to see many views. There is more than adequate twists and turns to keep the viewers interested. This series came to me full of excitement. From  message boards across the internet to every anime and manga magazine hyping it up. The first time I saw the poster I was intrigued. After watching episode one I was hooked, I mean addicted.
Waiting for each new episode to hit Crunchyroll was painful. Often times I felt like a child a week before Christmas and a tree full of gifts just waiting to be opened. Could it be that "Attack on Titan" is the best anime of 2013?  Let me break it down for ya. You want action? Done and done. You want a hero that is slightly weaker than the rest with a tendacy to whine too much. Okay so Eren isn't your typical anime hero and that's just fine by me. How about stunning visual appeal? Yes! The action scenes are terrific. While the character design isn't glowing with greatness, it is certainly better than the source material. It has a unique feel to it, which really grew on me.

What would you say to a bit of drama and comedy mixed in with your action? Can I get a collective HECK YES PLEASE! It seemed like each episode ended with a punch to the gut cliffhanger that left me holding my breathe and begging for Saturday to arrive. Finally, how do you feel about strong story and great characters? All of these things are the reason I believe "Attack on Titan" is the top anime series of 2013. Here's to holding my breathe til season 2 arrives!

Sweet! Party at the wall. Bring a friend.

To wrap up this review I will say "Attack on Titan" is one of the finest series out there right now. It has such a great feel to it both in story and in animation. The music score is pretty great as well, it fits the show.  With that I say buy yourself a copy as soon as it streets or watch it on Funimation or Crunchyroll . I give "Attack on Titan":

Written By John Price

First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2011)

Hey all! Welcome back to the anime review section of Blood Brothers Film Reviews . After my recent review of "Fate/Zero" I had been feeling like I needed a few more history lessons. So I have decided to embark on a journey to the front-lines of World War II where the battle between the Russians and the Germans has come to a stand still.

In this stand alone film/ova we will follow around a gifted Russian clairvoyant named Nadya, who is the only agent left from the "First Squad" that can change the course of alternate history and stop the Germans from certain world domination.

 In the winter of 1941/42, an occult team of Russian teens called the the 6th Division set out to stop the Germans own occult division known as Ahnenerbe, who themselves are on a mission to raise the evil Baron Von Wolff from the underworld. Thusly turning the tides of war in the favor of the Germans.

This film is brought to us by Manga Entertainment in collaboration with Molot Entertainment and Studio 4degrees C. Directed by Yoshiharu Ashino  (Tweeny Witches) and starring American voice actor Cassandra Lee Morris (K-On) as Nadya. "First Squad" is a collaboration between Russian writers and Japanese animators, which sounds awesome, but someone was on the wrong page.

Right off the bat, this film makes sure you know it's not trying to be a historically accurate piece. Only using WWII as its back drop for over the top action scenes and no real story.

I am not real sure what the writers intended this movie to be, but I can't believe the final product is it. The idea is one that I for would love to see done right. I love WWII era films and action films, but trying to buy into this occult stuff just was not going to happen this time around.  The characters were as bland as dry toast without any sense of emotion and thus I had no emotion invested into them.  We, the viewer, are thrust into this film with little to go on and expected to know these characters and care about their outcomes. Reality disagrees. We get a little fake documentary type narration during random cut scenes and a little of Nadya's past through dream sequences. Otherwise we are on our own to follow this rocky road.

We like to party!

With very little to love about this film, I will say the animation is great. and I would expect nothing less from Studio 4 degrees C. It is clear they put a lot of effort into making this film look awesome.

I just wish they could have done this film with some decent writers and make it into something we could all enjoy. Instead we are left confused and wanting more. I feel like they just crammed everything together to spit out a film and the end result shows it. "First Squad" needed more time and structure to be a success or at least a complete film. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can snag a pretty cheap copy below. I will end with the fact that I actually watched this movie 3 times trying to find something I was missing but at the end I still feel empty. I give it:

Written By John Price

Another ep. 1-12 (2012)

While October might be past, that doesn't mean it's time to stop reviewing horror! This review is for the suspenseful and bloody series "Another". So grab your battle ax and hockey mask to join me in the corn maze of terror, this should be fun!

Synopsis- 26 years ago a middle school student from class 3/c suddenly died. The student, Misaki, was popular with classmates and a beloved athlete. After his untimely demise the other students and faculty decided to carry on pretending he never died until after their graduation. In the year 1998, a new student named Sakakibara Kouichi joins class 3/c and immediately feels the cold chill from the other classmates. One classmate catches his attention right away, she is the beautiful eye patch wearing Mei Misaki. No one seems to notice her and before long Kouichi is caught up in the twisted history that lies within the secrets of class C.

My review- When I first heard about "Another" I was excited to say the least. I had been looking forward to the next big Horror series and thought for sure this was it. As a horror fan there isn't too many titles to choose from within the genre. So I was attracted to this title right away. After only a couple of episodes, I started to notice a pattern within the series. Each episode played out like a "Final Destination" film. Each death was predictable and boring. Sure there is a bit of gore/blood shed, but unless I missed my calling as a psychic each death was easy to see coming.

This is just one of the  problems with this series. I felt like the main character Kouichi was not very well developed. He really had  no personality making it difficult to stay interested in him and the series alike. I will say that I am not too hard to please when it comes to entertainment. With that in mind, know how much I really wanted to like this series but couldn't find anything to hold on to.

My expectations going in were standard, but were met with disappointment throughout. I was hoping for suspense and action mixed with jumps and bumps in the night. What was delivered was only a small amount of suspense with teenage girls whispering to one another, building up suspense on a secret only they knew. However, that quickly faded turning into a series of bad dialogue and predictable outcomes. Again with poor character development I never felt emotion for any of the main characters. The deaths of these characters felt more like a game of how ridiculous can we make it as opposed to really making the viewer dread the outcome. I guess what it really comes down to is bad writing. Overall, the look of the series is nice enough to look at. Kind of like the hot girl you see everyday and then you finally speak to her but as soon as she opens her mouth everything goes to hell. "Another" is best left to your imagination. The writers of this series should spend some time developing their craft not taking what has already been done and watering it down.

I will end with this. Whatever the creators were trying to do didn't work for me. As a horror series it failed miserably . I don't care for gore for the sake of gore but if you want to watch a series that is fun to make fun of by all means this is it.  Here is to hoping I can find the next good horror series. With that I give "Another":

Written By John Price

Fate/Zero 2011 1-24 (2011)

Howdy ho friends! Hope all is well for you and yours. This time around I will take you all through a prequel of the very popular series "Fate/Stay Night" called "Fate/Zero". If any of yous out there are familiar with this series then well you must surely be familiar with "Fate/Stay Night". I, for one, have not had a chance to dive into it, partly because I wanted to see this series first. However now that I have completed this adventure, I will surely be on to "Fate/Stay Night".

"Fate/Zero" takes place 10 years before FSN and revolves around the 4th Holy Grail War. During these wars 7 mages from 7 magic using families must summon 7 heroic spirits to battle for the power of the Holy Grail. Each heroic spirits represents a historical figure from the past, such as Saber who is female King Arthur, Rider who is the completely ripped version of Alexander the Great, Gilgamesh, and legendary child killer Gilles de Rais to name a few. The power of the Grail will give the winning family one miracle to use however they choose.

I actually watched the entire series (2 seasons) straight through over a period of 3 days. Mainly because I was so drawn in to the story and characters. Partly because I really wanted to get a review out to the masses. :)

The Review: First off I want to say that this series is a visual treasure. The animation is top notch with fluid action scenes that really get your blood flowing. The colors are vibrant and full of life which is especially noticeable with all the battle scenes. As for character designs, this series offers up nothing new, but then again I am not sure where anime can go other than CGI and I am ok without that.  My favorite thing about this series is the character development. I feel that each and every character is given adequate amounts of backstory and development. With that in mind, plot pacing does suffer through the first 3rd of the series and a few later episodes are used to tell another key backstory. Considering what was needed to develop the story it didn't bother me at all.  However if you are an action fan be warned that the slow pacing between  action scenes can really cause one to lose interest.  If a bit of fan service tickles your fancy well keep on moving because you won't find any here. Unless of course sweet ass action scenes turn your crank.

While I truly enjoyed the series it didn't leave a lasting impression on me. The character development was there , but it lacked the heart to be a great series. I hardly felt an emotional attachment to the characters. The lone exception would be the child killing Master of Caster Gilles de Rais.. He very much creeped me the hell out.

 Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend this series. It is cleverly written and visually appealing. I found the characters interesting on a historical  level and was even inspired to research some of them. Gilgamesh and Gilles de Rais come to mind right away. To think that these fellows actually existed is pretty spectacular and disturbing for the latter.  So if you like action with a compelling story then hit it up. In closing I offer up:

Written By John Price

BTooom! episodes 1-12 (2012)

Let the games begin! 

Hey gang! I am excited to bring you all another anime review and it hasn't even been a month. Somebody has actually had a bit of free time lately and I have filled it with some pretty awesome anime titles.

This anime title is another in the fine line of titles brought to us by Sentai and Madhouse studios. Which, by the way, has put out some of my favorite titles hands down. "Btooom!" is yet another adaptation from a manga series which is kind of like American comic books, meaning that there is basically an endless supply of stories to pull from and I am totally fine with it.  So here it is, my review of "BTooom!"

Story- After waking up dangling from a tree strapped in a parachute our lead character Ryouta Sakamoto quickly realizes he ain't in Kansas anymore. Upon freeing himself he learns that he is on a tropical island and all the other inhabitants are trying to kill him. Within the first battle Sakamoto starts piecing together that this life or death game is oddly similar to a mega popular video game he was playing back home. "BTooom!" which is played by throwing bombs at your opponent. Last one standing wins sort of thing. Through a series of flashback scenes we learn how and why these people were chosen for this game.

Review- Do you like an action packed anime series plus have a soft spot for all things video games? Well then "BTooom!" is the one for you. This series was one helluva good time. From non stop bomb exploding action, to the coming together of teams, to figuring out you just can't let your guard down. No one is to be trusted. The plot really isn't anything new or original but if you think it is anything like "SAO" or "Hack/" you would be mistaken. Yes, there are similar elements with the whole battle in the video game/virtual reality thing but this is different. They bring the video game to real life and when you die you die . Of course you have several players that are very familiar from the VG version which help to aid them in real fights. The aforementioned Sakamoto is the #1 Japanese player and 10th best in the world. However it isn't just gamers that are stranded on this fantasy island of death, it is low lifes and even a member of high society looking to win this game and get back to their old lives. Visually, the whole series looks great. Lots of cool action shots and explosion scenes that really pop (no pun intended). The music for this series really set the mood for me too. Fast pace rock themes really played into the style of the series. Overall I enjoyed this series. I only real complaint is it ended so abruptly, I feel it could use a second season just to really wrap up the story holes.

So I will end with this. "BTooom!" has great action, a bit of romance mixed with violence and gore. The plot/story is solid not great. For my entertainment buck "BTooom!" brought it all. My rating is a healthy...

Written By John Price

 Be sure and comment if you have something you would like me to review.

Maoyu ep. 1-12 (2012)

One big happy family?


Look at me friends, I am on it this week. Another review for you to check out.

Maoyu is available on Crunchyroll streaming. I hope by now most of you have at least heard of this little gem of a site. Now we have a new player in the streaming field check out daisuki.net. So if you people of the web have time drop by and say hello its a pretty sweet site.

All right review time.

Synopsis- Sent out to destroy the Demon King, our hero named, yes you guessed it, Hero is quite surprised when he arrives at the Demon King's castle. You see this Demon King is a well put together redheaded stunner. Her name is Mao and she has more than a few surprises in store for Hero. The world of humans and demons is on the brink of war and Hero sets out to end this war before it starts. In order for that to happen Hero thinks he must kill the Demon King, however he quickly learns Mao is no ordinary Demon. She is all willing to end the war even if it means the end of her. The two enter into an agreement and the adventure begins.

Review- My first thought after seeing Mao was "oh great, another anime about boobs" I was way off. While she is well endowed in the chest area that is not a focus of this series. "Maoyu" is more about war and the cause and effect of it. It's a story that really hits on the current state of real world. From economic struggles of war ravaged countries to the players that benefit most from war. After a couple of episodes I started to think this anime seemed familiar and sure enough it has the same writer and director as the ever popular
"Spice and Wolf." While similar in both visual set up and economic education, the comparisons end there.
"Maoyu" has a fantasy setting to the core, but with a slight spin on it. I like how most characters are nameless generic pieces. Case in point: Hero. He is the hero of the story and nothing more. Mao is the mage and then of course the trusty female knight. Then the story turns and puts the characters into unfamiliar situations.
Now to be fair and honest,  this anime has very little action/fighting and can be boring at times if you aren't into this type of series. My expectations were slightly misguided by the original synopsis I had seen, but none the less there is a lot to enjoy here.

If you like cute love stories then "Maoyu" has a little to offer you. Most of the humor throughout the series is derived from the love story. If you really like economic driven stories then, BAM nailed it. All in all I really enjoyed "Maoyu" and its subtlety. The artwork and animation are spot on for what I expect from a fantasy anime. It is not the epic fantasy of heroes and villians that I was expecting but for me it was fun. If you liked "Spice and Wolf" and others like that then I think its a must see. Not likely to be everyone's favorite anime it does give us a nice break from all the in your face non stop actioners out there. With that said I give "Maoyu" a:

Written By John Price

Ninja Scroll (1993)

You need a shave my friend?

I am back!!! It has been awhile my friends and I am sorry for the delay.

I have decided on my latest adventure to go back to the past, visiting a classic title that I have never had the chance to experience. So without further delay I bring you my review of "NINJA SCROLL!!!"

By now, I am probably one the few 30 something anime fans to have never seen this movie or the TV series for that matter. There is something about these older titles that really make my heart smile. Understanding that every generation will look back and say things like "they don't make em' like that anymore," I really think that with anime this truly is the case. "Ninja Scroll" is another example of this thought. While this film has been a staple in the genre for 20 years now , as a first time viewer I found it rather entertaining. It's a violent, bloody, hard hitting gore fest, mix in some female exploitation and you a have a 90's era anime title not suitable for children.

The story follows Jubei, the Lone Ranger of feudal Japan. Minus the sidekick, mask, and the back story. Who am I kidding, he is nothing like the Lone Ranger. Jubei is a sword for hire, unless of course he feels you have a noble cause after which he might help you for free. While out on a stroll one sunny day our hero comes across a big gross looking monster about to have his way with a young lady. After intervening and saving the woman's life Jubei is in thrown into a battle between Japanese government, a criminal overlord, the 8 Demons, and the locals. So the adventure and bloodshed begins.

While I feel that this film is for adults only I can't help but think about the 90's and my own childhood. I was 16 when this movie came out and I would have loved it then. I can see my teenage self sitting around a TV with my buddies in anticipation of what was about to unfold. I had those same feelings as I was sitting down to watch "Ninja Scroll" as an adult. "Ninja Scroll" is still just as awesome today as it most likely was 20 years ago. The fluid fight scenes are cinematic gold. The animation is beautifully done regardless of the era. The film looks great all around. The story is a good one that has since been copied time and time again. If you have not seen this film yet, do yourself a favor and get to it.

I will wrap this puppy up and say "Ninja Scroll" gets: 

 Written By John Price