Kimi to Boku - Pure Laidback Humor

This post's title doesn't really make any sense, does it?
Anyways, I watched Kimi to Boku out of curiousity. If you ask me, slice-of-life anime doesn't really interest me that much although I do read some shoujo slice-of-life mangas but this anime was shonen to boot. That was not really my thing. INITIALLY. To my surprise, I enjoyed it quite more than I expected. I thought that watching the first 5 minutes would be enough to make me hit the close button on the page but I lingered and that next thing I knew, it was over and I wanted more! WOW!
So, basically, as what I just mentioned Kimi to Boku is a slice-of-life shonen anime about 4 childhood friends. The story revolves around their friendship and their everyday lives as high school students. The 4 of them have totally different personalities but despite that they remain friends and still hang out even if they are in different classes. I haven't read the manga so I don't know much yet but from what I read in many synopsis, there will be a guy who would join this circle of friends and would bring some change.
I dare say that that summary doesn't sound a least bit interesting to me but you just have to see it to know what I mean. I never was a fan of the slice-of-life genre and I have to say, if I'm not mistaken, this is the first slice-of life anime that I have watched. Really.
What I love about this anime is, of course, the characters and the bond they have -- their friendship. Watching the anime makes me think and wonder how totally different people actually become friends for a long time especially when they even have few similar interests at all. The friendship that the characters portray is very evident even when you are just listening to their ordinary conversations.
Forgive me for this review because I know that you might just say, "That's what a slice-of-life genre works, right?" Well, I'm new with this stuff so please bear with me.
Kudos to the voice actors for making me hook with this anime even after just one episode. Each of the character's personality were portrayed well, thanks to them. I love all of them and I can't wait for the other guy's appearance and see what he will bring.
I love the subtlety and the simplicity of the anime because when the animation is simple, other important things become clear such as seiyuus, conversations, facial expressions, etc unlike action anime that would simply highlight the action scenes more.
Well, as far as I know, I enjoyed watching the first episode. I can't wait for the next one, next week!
So for y'all who wants a refreshing anime who feel tired watching the same old action animes, you can add Kimi to Boku in your must-watch anime every week! It will run for 12 episodes only so just squeeze it in to your hectic schedules and I'm sure you'll have a good time, like I did. Hopefully, you do enjoy it or you'll blame me for wasting all your time. :-)

THEY ARE BACK! - Hunter X Hunter (2011)

 

Let's face it, almost every person out there who watches anime have already heard about Hunter X Hunter and most of them probably watched the original series, their OVAs included. Anyhow, it seems that most people are still pretty psyched and excited, at the same time anxious, of this remake. This anime is a remake of the 1999 anime which is an adaptation of the still running manga of the same title. 

For you guys who haven't watched or read Hunter X Hunter, I believe a brief and simple introduction is a must. Basically, Gon, the main protagonist decides to become a hunter to search for his dad who is a hunter as well. Before becoming a hunter, one has to take the hunter examination which consists of lots of difficult tasks. Here, Gon meets his companions, Killua, Kurapika and Leorio. 

Not much spoiler there for other people's benefit. Nevertheless, I have to say, watching the first episode was quite something because I think it would take a lot of getting used to with all the new seiyuus and stuff but it was good. There are still some things that they left out though since it was a pretty much fast-paced episode. It was like squeezing the first 3 episodes in the original anime to fit into just one episode. Makes you think of FMA: Brotherhood. Moving on, personally, I think meeting Kaito (Kite) the hunter was an important part to show but they didn't and that's one chunk missing for those who don't know Hunter X Hunter. Mito's voice actress sounds a little old than what she looks like, it was creepy. I had a bit of goosebumps there. Gon sounds extra cuter which is a bit weird but no complaints. I love Leorio so far. Kurapika was good but nothing special really. I can't wait for Killua's appearance since he's my favorite HxH character and how he would be portrayed would, I think, make or break this series. 

As for the music, it was pretty decent. It was good but I have to say, I loved Ohayou before. I read in the anime forums that the background music sucks but I don't see how although it was nothing great as well. 

There's still lots of things to take into account but the animation, especially with the modern technology and everything, is great compared to an anime made 10 years ago. I mean, come on, obviously. 

Let's just watch how this remake would turn out. I heard that this will run for 45+++ episodes. What happens by then would determine if they would continue doing HxH until the end. 

Kudos to Madhouse for a good remake. I hope it gets better. :-)

Ao NO EXoRCist!!! - unexpectedly flabbergasting!

First off, it's been approximately 7 months or so since I last made a review. Well, that has something, wait, no, EVERYTHING to do with LAW SCHOOL! It's been a month since summer break started and I still a month more to enjoy the rest of this blissful vacay. If you're asking why I just made a review now, that would be because I was busy reading manga and the only anime I watched this summer so far was Ao no Exorcist. I did watch the first episode of Deadman Wonderland which I just recently finished reading the manga till the last update before the first ep was released. I just hate to tell you this but it was rather a bit disappointing so I haven't watched any episodes after it. The other anime released at the same time the first episode of Deadman Wonderland came out was Ao no Exorcist. I was a bit hesitant to watch it because the trailer was good but not really enough to get me interested but I watched it anyway and I was totally flabbergasted! I didn't expect the anime to be so good and I haven't read the manga by then, really!

Ao no Exorcist (aka Blue Exorcist) tells the story of Rin Okumura who after some unfortunate events lead him to go on a journey to become the most powerful exorcist and beat the hell out of Satan who happens to be his father. Confused? I just told you the general concept of the whole story. The whole story is about the whole world is divided into two dimensions where humans live in a world we call Assiah and demons live in Gehanna. Interference between these two dimensions is not allowed but despite all this demons still interfere in Assiah by possessing creatures or objects. Exorcists exist solely to maintain peace and order in Assiah by exterminating these demons. The ambitious Satan wanted to dominate Assiah and to realize this, Rin bore the curse of being Satan's illegitimate son who possesses a body that of Assiah and a soul that of Gehanna. Rin's foster father, who is an exorcist, sacrificed himself to save Rin and his death made Rin want to take the path of being an exorcist and beat Satan.

Well, that was interesting enough. After watching the 2nd episode, I read the whole manga until its recent chapter. I have to say, Ao no Exorcist is one of the few anime series that won't disappoint you after reading the manga. You know, I have this flaw, when I start reading the manga, I lose interest in watching the anime or that I am not so enthusiastic in watching it. I just watch it for the sake of watching it. Well, most of the times that is. Ao no Exorcist won't disappoint you and the seiyuus are very amazing! The songs? SUPERB! Come on, Uverworld as opening and 2pm, a good korean band, as ending, NICE! READY READY READY for the TAKE OFF! :-)

Ao no Exorcist is one of the best anime so far this 2011! :-)

Angel Beats -- left me with mixed emotions!

     Angel Beats is one of those uniquely mind-boggling anime that would leave you wanting for more when it ends and makes your mind think of what-ifs or leaves you with more questions than when you started it. Amazingly, this anime just had everything in it without ruining the whole series. What I am trying to say is that, in this anime we find just the right amount of humor in it, and a lot of emotional/sentimantal scenes in it but has great action as well! I found myself laughing so much and silently wiping off those tears I tried not to shed as well. All in all this is one anime that makes you reflect on a lot of things.
     Before everything else, Angel Beats is an anime which dives into a world where people who get stuck in it because they died with regrets or, more or less, were not able to fulfill their dreams. This another concept of what we call "purgatory". Human souls are sucked into this world and we then find the protagonist, Otonashi, who suddenly finds himself waking up in this world without an inkling of what is happening. Imagine waking up one day only to find someone who suddenly tells you "You are dead". Otonashi joins this certain group who calls themself the Afterlife Battlefront and fights with them against a girl whom they call "Angel" or tenshi in japanese. From here on, he struggles together with his newfound friends to understand what the purpose of this world's creation to human souls such as theirs.
     I love this anime because it had lots of emotional stuffs going on amidst all the battles of the Afterlife Battlefront. The ending was quite heart-wrenching too but, nevertheless, quite satisfying and unexpected too. The anime's soundtrack is also very good and we get to see this anime band called "Girls Dead Monster" which is of course was made for this anime only but their songs were quite good. I loved their "Crow Song" the best.
     Well, what more can I say? This anime is amazing! I recommend this to anyone who wants a lot of action in an anime with humor and emotional stuff! Have a great time watching this unique anime that would satisfy your needs of a totally different kind of anime.

Amazing! High School of the Dead has paved its way to awesomeness!

This anime series has so much in it that you should not miss this at all!!!! NEVER! This anime is very unique in more ways than just one. This is all about zombies, yeah -- zombies, but I love how they present the story. I know you have seen movies like Dawn of the Dead and all that crap (but I haven't!) but I do not know why I love this anime so much even after just watching the first episode. First of all, before I go on telling all the things I love about this anime, I'll just tell you a lil bit of what I know about it. This series is all about Japan being flooded by zombies and also the rest of the world for that matter. It centers on a group of high school students trying to survive until this mess actually ends. Sounds a little bit boring and a bit stereotypical but don't get fooled because, mind you, just watching the first episode would make you get hooked up with this anime.

I love everything about this anime. It has nice drawing (a lot of ecchi stuff too which I usually hate). The music is amazing and the best part is that the plot presentation. I love how the plot develops in a smooth way and haven't I mentioned that action scenes fill up more than 70% of each episode? Not to mention all the blood and gore that it has too!
If you want some new kind of anime and a good watch -- I recommend this anime to every anime freak out there! You'll definitely have a good time on this one! :-)

Hilarious B Gata H Kei!!!!

This is a series I just finished last week and it was so fun the whole time. It was about a popular girl named Yamada whom anyone would think has a lot of sexual experiences when, in reality, she doesn't have any of those things. To spice things up, she sets a goal of having a hundred fuck buddies to learn a lot about sex. There she goes looking for a perfect target for her first fuck buddy and then she nevertheless choose a guy who also doesn't have any experience like her. This is where the story starts rolling.

In this anime, we find the protagonist going through a lot just to have that first time but in her journey towards that ultimate goal, she learns a lot of things -- that sex is not what it is if it is not that with the right person. Although she climbed hills and mountains to have that first time, she gets to understand what love is and learn what love is all about.
I like this series in a way because it makes you laugh a lot. A good series to watch on those boring days. Really.

Gundam Seed - a nice spectacle!

Gundam Seed is the 3rd Gundam series that I watched and it was an unexpected delight although it has its own flaws but it was still a great watch. Shouldn't expect less for a Gundam series.
Gundam Seed is all about the same usual plot that we see with other Gundam series but very unique in its own way. This series is all about the protagonist, Kira, who is a pacifist but was eventually thrown into a war he was not willing to take part in and in which he plays a very big role. The series happens at a time where mankind is divided into two - the 'Naturals' (ordinary human beings) and the 'Coordinators' (human beings that are genetically altered to have unnatural abilities that make them stronger than most people). During this time, an unfortunate event caused a huge conflict between the two that resulted to an all-out war that would eventually mean the eradication of one or the other because either don't have any wish to co-exist with the other. In the middle of this huge war are two friends who are forced to fight each other for the things that they want to protect but could they ever find a way to escape this path that they are pushed into taking?
What I love about this Gundam series is the friendship that the two main characters share. Although the mobile suits are a bit lame compared to Gundam 00 but Freedom and Justice were amazing. The only downside that I see with this series is that it was dragged too much in its first 20+ episodes which I, obviously, don't appreciate but the 2nd half makes up for it especially the last 10 episodes which was really fast-paced.
I am looking forward to watching Gundam Seed Destiny ASAP if I ever have the time to watch it since I enjoyed watching Gundam Seed and I hope it won't be a disappointment.