Title: Kamichu! aka Kamichu! ~ Kamisama de Chuugakusei
Episodes: 16
Company: Brains Base
Genre(s): Comedy/Drama
Air Dates: 29 Jun 2005 – 28 Sep 2005

Synopsis: One morning, Hitotsubashi Yurie wakes up to find out that she has become a deity, and with that, her life suddenly opens up to a whole new world as she uses her powers to help people and spirits alike. Although being a goddess does come with its perks, Yurie must still struggle through the basic things that junior high school students deal with, including trying to get Ninomiya Kenji’s attention as she works up the courage to confess her feelings for him.

Pros:

• Characters are enjoyable for the most part with Matsuri being the clear winner
• Comedy usually hits the mark rather well and Matsuri’s schemes are hilarious
• Spirits make a great addition the setting

Cons:

• Yurie’s not that interesting of a character
• Episodes that journey out of Yurie’s hometown isn’t too compelling

Review: My review on the Nihon Review.

Score: Good

Title: Monster
Episodes: 74
Company: Madhouse
Genre(s): Mystery, Drama
Air Dates: 7 Apr 2004 – 28 Sep 2005

Synopsis: Dr. Kenzo Tenma, a brilliant surgeon had just finished a successful operation when he encounters a distraught Turkish woman in the hallways. Upon seeing him, she demanded to know why he neglected to care for her son who had arrived first and instead, cared for a public official who arrived later. Conscience-stricken by hospital politics, Dr. Tenma vowed to be as fair as he possibly can. So when a boy with gunshot wounds comes in, followed by a VIP, Dr. Tenma operated on the boy, who survives, while the VIP dies. This decision would cost Dr. Tenma his promotion as he fell out of the Director’s graces, but soon after, the Director and the new Head Surgeon were found poisoned and all of the circumstantial evidence points to Dr. Tenma. Cast out as a fugitive, Dr. Tenma struggles to hunt down the real killer while evading capture from the law.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline from start to finish
• Characters are richly detailed, even the minor ones get attention
• Intelligently written and wonderfully directed

Cons:

• Ending is well resolved, though not on par with the rest of the series.

Review: Of all the series that I’ve seen up to this point, few of them have managed to deliver an emotional impact quite like Monster. From start to finish, this series managed to capture my attention and hold it all the way through, which is a rare feat for a 74-episode series. Through its excellent narrative, rich plot (complete with twists and turns), and well-developed cast of characters, Monster represents the pinnacle of what the medium is capable of offering in a mature, compelling story.

The first episode takes you into a moral quandary right away and the series begins asking a series of tough questions about fairness before probing deeper into the core of the human psyche. Part of what makes Monster so appealing is finding out an answer to the show’s basic premise of whether a monster lurks in every one of us. While the series answers that question through many different scenarios, not all of the resolutions will leave you comfortable. But because that’s what it was aiming for to begin with, Monster is able to engage its audience and deliver an unforgettable experience.

Its questions on morality and ethics only serve to complement Monster’s intricate plot which boasts some of the best storytelling that I’ve seen. The story’s scope stretches beyond the mystery and suspense, and to say that the plot is competently executed is an understatement. Every story arc is brilliantly done to the point that it left me with a deep impression, and even now, I can recall even the most minor arcs with a surprising amount of clarity. That is where this series shines: there’s never a dull moment. The pacing is as perfect as it can be and every minute of it keeps you enthralled. To put it simply, Monster’s story flows excellently from beginning to end and ties it all together into a complete package without a single episode anywhere close to being wasted.

Finally, the main characters are some of the deepest that I’ve ever seen. This series makes an excellent effort in the way it explores each character’s background. By taking such a step for the main characters and even the minor ones, Monster manages to make them all feel real. The myriad of characters, from the relentless Javert-esque Detective Runge to the selfish heiress Eva Heinemann who becomes consumed with a desire to make Dr. Tenma pay for ruining her life (her words, not mine), are really well-developed, and for the main cast, you’ll see them change as the series goes on. Naturally, no review of Monster is complete without a mention of how Johann Liebert may very well be one of the best anime villains to ever exist. The length to which he goes to torment those around him is absolutely sadistic and few characters can match his calm demeanor that leaves the viewer unnerved because of his mastery over the basic concept of fear and how to inspire it in others, including the viewer.

There’s just so much to take in when watching Monster and one just cannot help but be impressed with the depths to which they went in exploring the characters and structuring the plot. Though it is audacious to make the statement that Monster may very well be the best show of the decade, it’s equally apparent that few shows can top it. With all that it puts forth, there’s really only one description that is fitting of such a series: a true masterpiece.

Score: Masterpiece

Title: ef – a tale of memories
Episodes: 12
Company: SHAFT
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Air Dates: 7 Oct 2007 – 23 Dec 2007

Synopsis: Hiro Hirono is a high school student who also works drawing manga. Unfortunately, in doing so, he’s had to skip out on school quite a bit to meet the deadlines. Enter Kei Shindo, Hiro’s childhood friend who tries to look out for Hiro’s well-being. However, her hold over Hiro is being challenged by Miyako Miyamura, a free-spirited girl who also has a habit of skipping school. Together, these three form what is essentially the first love triangle of the series.

The second story centers on Renji, a boy in middle school who befriends Chihiro Shindo, Kei’s twin sister and a girl whose eye is blind due to an accident and cannot remember anything that’s occurred more than 13 hours before. In spite of this Renji works hard to see her every day and together, the two start to undertake a project to begin writing a novel. Although Chihiro cannot remember long enough to ensure that the story will run coherently from one page to the next, it’s with the hope that by collaborating with Renji, she will be able to fulfill her dream of becoming a novelist.

Pros:

• Extremely good use of camera work
• Tenmon once again delivers a good soundtrack along with the OP and ED themes
• Excellent use of symbolism throughout the series

Cons:

• Use of cliches is somewhat annoying
• Some of the characters are difficult to like

Review: Melodrama makes for poor writing because the situations can feel so contrived and the characters feel unbelievable. Thankfully, ef – a Tale of Memories manages to avoid most of the pitfalls of the romance genre through their mix of interesting characters and the situations that they must deal with. Furthermore, ef would not have been so good if it weren’t for the camera work and screen effects which do an excellent job of complementing the characters, giving us an insight into their mindset or an in-depth look into their psyche.

Ef’s approach by using parallel storylines means that at least one of the plotlines should be appealing to the viewer. Hiro’s story follows the typical love triangle plot where Kei and Miyako vie for his attentions and he must choose between the two while Chihiro’s and Renji’s is more of a simple love story with a huge obstacle placed in their path that could destroy their relationship outright.

Hiro’s story is fairly standard in that conflict is sown once Kei and Miyako are aware of one another. Throughout this struggle, neither Kei nor Miyako are presented sympathetically because of the emotional baggage that they bring with them. In spite of this, they are given a lot of background information, allowing the viewer to get a feel for why they act the way they do. However, do not expect much in the way of character development; most of them don’t experience a major change in character or personality until one is forced to accept Hiro’s decision.

Much of the Hiro’s arc’s strength comes from the dialogue regarding theoretical ideas like a discussion over the commercialization of art versus staying true to one’s own vision. It’s those kinds of conversations that succeed in engaging the viewer by presenting a thought-provoking idea and giving the viewer an opportunity to spin those ideas around while listening to the characters’ arguments.

Chihiro and Renji’s story is the stronger of the two because of the way it presents amnesia as an obstacle. The reason why it’s so compelling is because the romance takes place not only through the two interacting with each other, but also through the book that the two decide to write together. Not only does an amnesiac writing a book make for an interesting situation, the symbolism and the parallels it draws between the main character in the novel and Chihiro’s life is excellently executed, especially when it forces Chihiro to make a fateful decision towards the end.

The poignancy of the stories is enhanced through the excellent use of the camera and quirky visuals. Director Shin Ounuma follows in Akiyuki Shinbo’s footsteps by using similar methods that accentuate the mood in a given scene and give us a picture of a certain character’s mindset by complementing their monologue with the visuals. In doing so, we have a more wholesome grasp for the character with all of their frailties and emotional issues.

In spite of all these positives, ef still doesn’t break away from the major clichés that are par for the genre. For a series that had excellent, original storytelling, the moments in which they resorted to clichés really stood out. Thankfully, those moments are few and far in between and did not impair my enjoyment of the series.

Through all of the symbolism that the writers employ and the excellent camera work, ef shows that it can competently present two stories while keeping it interesting and enjoyable. The few minor complaints here and there do not change the fact that ef – A Tale of Memories is a beautiful and compelling drama.

Score: Good

Title: Kurenai
Episodes: 12
Company: Brains Base
Genre(s): Drama, Slice of life, Action
Air Dates: 3 April 2008 – 19 June 2008

Synopsis: Shinkurou Kurenai is a high school student by day, but at night, he works as a dispute mediator, a job that can oftentimes turn very violent. After performing well at his job, his employer Benika finally hands him a new, dangerous assignment: the task of serving as Murasaki Kuhouin’s bodyguard. Murasaki Kuhouin is the seven-year old daughter of a rich and influential family and who was taken from her home at her dying mother’s request so that she can escape the prisonlike conditions within. This task will test Shinkurou’s mettle and ability to fend off the full force of the Kuhouins as well as his ability to open Murasaki’s eyes to how everyone else lives as he shows her how life is outside the Inner Sanctuary.

Pros:

• Well-developed characters, from the main leads to even the side characters
• Gripping storyline which is among the best of the more recent shows
• Action is very intense and very well-choreographed
• The episode in which they practice for that musical should not be missed

Cons:

• The second half’s execution is just a touch below the first half’s

Review: It isn’t often that a series comes along and delivers a solid effort that’s extremely close to perfection, but Kurenai has done just that. For the lack of a better phrase, Kurenai is a complete package from start to finish. Its characters and character interactions are deep and meaningful, the action isn’t there for its own sake but advances the plot, and the plot itself is paced really well with a storyline that catches your attention and never lets go until the end.

To talk about how excellent this series sculpts its characters and how deep one could go in analyzing them would take forever, which serves as a testament to this show’s masterful ability with character crafting. Murasaki is a very animated character and watching her interact with her duty-bound and resolute bodyguard Shinkurou is a large part of what makes Kurenai so enjoyable. Furthermore, they even made sure that the side characters got plenty of screen time and development, thus, bringing them to life. By the end of the series, you will have a very good grasp of all the characters, their personalities, and motivations, ranging from Tamaki’s carefree spirit, to Yuno, who is forced to show her serious side around everyone else while acting girly around Shinkurou, to Yayoi’s continued attempts to impress her mentor, Benika who is both an empowering and nurturing figure towards her subordinates.

The villains are also well-presented in that they have a despicable air of upper-class snobbishness about them, making them really easy to hate. It doesn’t help that Ryuuji Kuhouin comes across as a first class creep who is fanatically devoted to the Kuhouin traditions and his bodyguard Lin is a hateful woman with a love for senseless violence. The only sympathetic character from the villain’s side is Renjou Kuhouin who seems to be battling his doubts with his role as the family head while trying to uphold traditions. This internal conflict helps keep Renjou’s human touch intact, offering him a chance at redemption.

The plot is extremely engaging and the manner in which they interweave two different genres together is truly amazing, especially considering how smoothly the series transitions from a slice of life series into a solid action thriller with a spectacular musical bit thrown in for good measure (viewers will definitely have to see this for themselves). Admittedly, not everything is perfect because the segment dealing with socializing Murasaki into the real world was just a few notches better than when the Kuhouin’s entered the picture. In spite of that, both segments stand strong on their own, but together, they make the series a complete whole.

Finally, the visuals are very detailed and I particularly loved the art because it did an excellent job of showing the slummy nature of Shinkurou’s neighborhood with its darker tones. The animation was also fairly fluid, which was definitely apparent during the action sequences which had the bonus of being well-choreographed. Ken Muramatsu’s work on the soundtrack also meshed well with what took place on screen, filling the series with many catchy piano melodies which had a good mix of solemn and light-hearted pieces.

Kurenai’s ability to weave two distinct genres seamlessly together is already exceptional, but the way it deftly handles the plot and the characters makes this series a real winner. From start to finish, this series has taken an intelligent approach to anime that few other series can ever match. To not watch this series at all is to miss out on what may end up being the best series of the year.

Score: Excellent

Title: True Tears
Episodes: 13
Company: P.A. Works
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Air Dates: 6 January 2008 – 30 March 2008

Synopsis: Shinichiro Nakagami is an ordinary high school student except for his talent at drawing. There’s something about his artistic vision that keeps him going back to a teary motif, most likely stemming from a Hiromi Yuasa’s circumstances. Outwardly, Hiromi seems to show no sorrow and is very upbeat and energetic at school, but at home, her demeanor is much more solemn. Her behavior towards Shinichiro is already causing him quite a bit of frustration, and a meeting with Noe Isurugi only increases it further. Noe is different from most other girls in that she’s eccentric, mysterious, and is rumored to have the power to curse others, and yet, she and Shinichiro form a bond rather quickly. As their relationship develops, a tug-of-war ensues, and in the end, Shinichiro must decide what direction his artistic vision should go as well as which girl to open his heart to.

Pros:

• Excellent use of symbolism to detail the plot’s direction
• Visuals are absolutely stunning
• Music is really absorbing and enjoyable

Cons:

• Characters are largely unsympathetic and weak
• Noticeable plot bomb near the series’ end
• Ending was poorly executed as it used every cliché in the book to resolve it

Review: True Tears starts out really well and it shows all the promise of being a top tier romance series. Its characters are well-defined, the music does an excellent job of absorbing the audience into the series, and the visuals are beautiful and detailed. The plot is solid halfway through until its execution falters off and the series gets doused in cliché after cliché. While there are a lot of things True Tears does right, its shoddy execution towards the end almost undermines all it had set out to do early on, turning what could have been an excellent show into one that is merely passable.

The characters are fairly well presented because they are defined by the issues that they must contend with. Hiromi has to deal with Shinichiro’s mother’s cold, uncaring attitude, Noe must reconcile her inner feelings and determine what it means to cry, and Shinichiro must decide which of the two girls he loves more. While this plot isn’t exactly innovative, True Tears succeeds at catching the viewer’s interest through the way they frame the characters. Noe, in particular, is fun to watch because of her eccentricities, making her a fresh face in a tired sea of female character archetypes. Her struggles are pretty endearing, especially when she tries to come to terms with her feelings for Shinichiro and when she realizes that his feelings aren’t completely aligned with hers.

Unfortunately, the other characters aren’t up to par. Shinichiro’s indecisiveness ends up hurting both girls and does him no favors. While that sort of behavior is understandable for a kid his age, it’s still frustrating to watch. Even more irritating was Hiromi’s behavior and how catastrophe-prone it is at times. For example, she lied about who she really likes and showed an outward lack of sympathy to the motorcycle owner when his bike got into an accident. Her reaction to that incident was just cold and heartless, and her dishonesty towards her feelings for Shinichiro does little to make me sympathize with her plight.

The writers also make a few missteps along the way with some of the other characters. For example, Shinichiro’s mother’s coldness towards Hiromi inexplicably melts away and Aiko seemed to have been an afterthought because of how little of an impact she had on Shinichiro and the overall storyline. What they did manage to do right was to pace the story well and their judicious use of symbolism ranging from the plot of Shinichiro’s picture book, which served as a parallel to the storyline to the part where Noe’s finger bled, symbolizing how hurt she felt on the inside because of her glove, representing Shinichiro, did not protect her from the elements. Their approach to symbolism really showed a great deal of forethought and it succeeded admirably in complementing the storyline.

Furthermore, True Tears’s animation is extremely fluid and the background art is colorful and detailed. The series doesn’t disappoint in the music either with a lot of background piano melodies blending in seamlessly with the action on screen. And of course, the opening Reflectia performed by eufonius bears mention because it is a soothing and enjoyable piece.

In spite of its flaws, True Tears isn’t entirely without merit. However, they are still problematic enough that I would not recommend True Tears to any but the most ardent romance fans. And even then, it’s not even going to be at the top of the list because there are just far better romance shows to watch.

Score: Decent

Title: Spice and Wolf
Episodes: 13
Company: Imagin
Genre(s): Drama
Air Dates: 9 Jan 2008 – 26 Mar 2008

Synopsis: As autumn rolls around, Lawrence Craft, a traveling merchant, begins making his rounds buying, selling, and bartering. Upon reaching the village of Pasroe, he finds the townsfolk getting ready to celebrate the wheat harvest. After meeting up with an old apprentice of his named Chloe, he goes back to the wagon only to find a woman with the ears and tail of a wolf sleeping there. When Lawrence wakes her up, the wolf-woman introduces herself as Horo, the wolf goddess of the harvest. She explains to him that her time is long past as people turn to Christianity and forsake the pagan ways. Although she has served the people of Pasroe for a long time, she now yearns to return home to the cold lands of the north. With that, she strikes a deal with a reluctant Lawrence and accompanies him on his travels.

Pros:

• Premise is extremely intriguing and engaging
• Horo and Lawrence display an amazing amount of onscreen chemistry
• Underrated soundtrack with an excellent intro theme to boot

Cons:

• Animation quality is inconsistent due to budget constraints
• Begs for a second season because the journey remains unfinished

Review: It isn’t often that a series with such an unusual premise like Spice and Wolf’s rolls around. After all, this series follows two unlikely travelers: a merchant (Lawrence) and a supernatural being (Horo) who engage in economic transactions such as bartering and haggling as they travel back to Horo’s home in the north. While such a plot combination could potentially be boring, Spice and Wolf does an excellent job of blending the premises together to create a show with a solid, interesting plot and excellently-portrayed characters, making it an enjoyable series overall.

Spice and Wolf succeeds at making its plot fresh and engaging without delving too much into the tedium that generally characterizes economics. Simply put, the plots that the scriptwriter throws out there are so outlandish that it piques one’s curiosity to see where they will go with such an idea. For example, the subplot revolving around currency devaluation scams is able to keep the viewer enthralled over how Lawrence will be able to capitalize on such a phenomenon and profit off of it. Such economics-based plots are just plain fun to watch, partly because of the novelty factor and partly because the conversation is intelligently done, especially when it comes to watching the characters reasoning and speculation with regard to the economic hurdle that they are up against, be it currency devaluation, bargaining, or smuggling.

Although the plot is extremely good, the series just wouldn’t have had the appeal that it does without the main characters Horo and Craft Lawrence. It’s almost unbelievable how well those two mesh together. Lawrence is a bit more of the serious, earnest type who slowly begins to loosen up after having to deal with Horo’s coquettish and playful behavior. The interaction between the two is absolutely seamless and Jun Fukuyama (Lawrence’s voice actor) and Ami Koshimizu (Horo’s voice actress) deserve praise for bringing the characters to life.

By focusing so much on Horo and Lawrence, other side characters don’t get too much character development. Chloe definitely suffers from this since she did have a lot of potential to serve as a good rival to Horo, but gets the shaft when it comes to screen time. Only the shepherdess Nora gets any substantial amount of screen time, and at least there, the viewer got to know her character a bit better. The rest of the characters are just flat and the viewer never really gets a deeper feel for the motivation behind the characters’ actions aside from the profit motive.

Furthermore, by compressing a show of this scope into 13 episodes, the producers were forced to speed the plot up along the way, especially during the last few episodes in which the story moves from one event to the next a hurried pace that felt at odds with the slow and steady pace it had exhibited up to this point. While the story does resolve the last story arc rather well, the overarching plot remains unfinished, which leaves the option open for another season.

Spice and Wolf is a delightful little journey that has shown that economics can be made to be an interesting topic of study, especially when it’s combined with such great protagonists who interact so well together. Although the series does stop far short of the final destination, the leisurely pace at which it goes makes it wonderful and relaxing. Hopefully, Spice and Wolf is successful enough that we can see a continuation of this enjoyable story and see what new economic conundrums pass their way as they head back to Horo’s homeland.

Score: Very Good

Title: Yotsunoha
Episodes: 2 (OVA)
Company: Hal Film Maker
Genre(s): Romance, Drama
Air Dates: 29 February 2008 – 28 March 2008

Synopsis: Makoto, Nono, Iori, and Matsuri had been best friends for ten years when it was announced that their school would be shut down and that all of them would have to relocate to new schools. Before the four went their separate ways, they agreed to bury a time capsule with their precious memories under a tree on school grounds and to meet again in three years. Three years have passed and there had been little contact between the four friends, but somehow, all of them found their way back to their old school, only to find that the time capsule was missing. As they set about to find it, the feelings the four had for one another would surface and the time they spent there would allow them to resolve their past issues with one another.

Pros:

• Decent presentation of the storyline
• The ending was actually handled well

Cons:

• Many parts of the plot in which I shook my head in disbelief
• Characters are cardboard cutout clichés and their motivations doesn’t always make sense
• Nono’s voice actress got annoying at times

Review: There have been quite a few shows out there that deal with taboo topics and each of them has had various degrees of success. For good or for ill, the lolicon taboo has not had a decent show to its name. While Yotsunoha takes a step in the right direction, the constraints of its length as well as its other pressing concerns makes it fall short, rendering it merely as a passable romance anime series. It isn’t downright terrible by any stretch, but there are enough glaring issues with this OVA to make the viewer cringe.

Part of the problem with this series is its origin as an eroge, which the viewer can readily identify based on its cast. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of the better ones as far as characters go because by and large, most of the cast is made up of shallow character archetypes. The girls include Iori, a large-breasted but air-headed and clumsy girl, Matsuri, the token tsundere, and Nono, the loli who’s overly devoted to the main character for some unknown reason. It also does not help that Makoto, the male protagonist, is a thick-headed pervert who is so dense and unappealing that it begs the question as to why the girls enjoy his company so much. I suppose that the answer lies in the fact that this is an eroge adaptation where anything’s possible. Unfortunately, it does not change the fact that the characters lacked depth beyond their superficial clichés, making it difficult to really connect with them as characters.

The flow of the story was bit fragmented because the plot relies on flashbacks to give the proper context to the dialogue. Once the viewer has a good grasp of the past events that shape each character’s feelings towards one another, the story becomes a little bit more palatable due to its presentation. My hopes had been pretty low after watching the first episode because of how ridiculous the character interactions were, but I was surprised to find how well the second episode managed to make up for it. The producers did an excellent job of taking the plot progression and working it in such a way that the series flowed smoothly without feeling forced. The way they eased into the ending felt natural and did an excellent job of tying up enough loose ends to make it all satisfactory.

As far as sound direction goes, Nono’s voice very annoying because of how grating it was. Every time she tried to endear herself to Makoto, I just winced in pain at her high-pitched, unconvincing delivery. Thankfully, only her voice was an issue because the rest of the characters were decently voiced. The music also doesn’t stand out too much either, but because it was so short, there was never really much time to develop memorable melodies.

In spite of all the issues that plagued the series, Yotsunoha manages to do a decent job with the material that it has to work with. It was not enough to make it a remarkable series, but given what could have gone wrong, it was not as terrible as it could have been. For a series that presents a loli character as the male character’s love interest, it succeeds at being a simplistic romance series that is neither outstanding nor terrible. Anyone looking for a compelling romance should look elsewhere.

Score: So-so

Title: Shigurui
Episodes: 12
Company: Madhouse
Genre(s): Action, Drama
Air Dates: 19 July 2007

Synopsis: In 1633, the Shogun has declared that a combat tournament take place and famous swordsmen from around Japan all travel to the palace to take part. The structure of the tournament is set up so that fights are a duel to the death, which suits the first combatants of the tournament just fine due to their past history with one another. Fujiki Gennosuke had been an assistant swordmaster at the Kogan Ryuu Dojo and the one to succeed as the Headmaster until he was unseated by Irako Seigen, an upstart who successfully bested Fujiki in combat. Fujiki’s dethroning triggers the start of a bitter rivalry which would result in much bloodshed and can only be satisfied by the other’s complete annihilation.

Pros:

• Excellent animation during the combat sequence
• Atmosphere is very absorbing
• Characters are pretty well-developed

Cons:

• None of the characters are particularly likable
• Plot’s pace is very slow, moving as quickly as molasses at times
• Conflict between the two rivals don’t really get resolved

Review: Shigurui stands out as an odd bird. First off, the story revolves around a vendetta between two swordsmen and the events that lead up to this rivalry and hatred which leads to senseless, graphic violence. Secondly, the characters, while fairly well-developed, are molded in such a way that none of them are really all that likeable or even sympathetic. But just because a series has such characteristics does not make it a bad show and despite the odds, Shigurui manages to create a strong impression through its ability to tell an excellent, albeit slow, narrative and by creating an atmosphere that is both absorbing and compelling through its animation.

One of the first things the viewer will notice is that this show moves really slowly. At the beginning, they bombard you with a lot of historical facts that have little relevance to the overarching rivalry between Fujiki and Irako. Because of this, you may be misled into thinking that the emphasis is on the duel at the palace when it is not. But once the narration finishes up detailing how Irako is accepted as a student at the Kogan Ryuu Dojo, the events, which had unfolded at a snail’s pace, falls into place rather quickly. The story becomes really gripping and the tension becomes so thick that you can cut it with a knife. This tension is accentuated further through the tense, slow buildup to the fight sequences which can also get irritating, but the ensuing combat is a joy to behold for reasons that I will explain later. Unfortunately, the ending leaves the viewer hanging by not taking steps to resolve the duel between Fujiki and Irako.

The story does an excellent job of describing the characters. Although the viewer gets a very good impression for how the characters think and feel, none of the characters are particularly likeable. Fujiki Gennosuke harbors grudges intensely that it’s impossible for him to put his pride aside and Irako Seigen is a man of passion who lets it take control of him, bringing him to his downfall. As for the side characters, they are, by and large, thugs and brutes who delight in violence and vengeance more than anything else and are absolutely loyal to Master Kogan who himself is a brutish, violent man. So with characters filled with jealousy, arrogance, and a delight for brutalizing others all gathered in one convenient spot, it’s easy to see why things turn out bloody. While their motivations are very clear, viewers will be hard-pressed to find any sympathetic characters.

To make the mood of the show match the grim situation, Madhouse has done an excellent job creating a dark and gritty atmosphere. Furthermore, the animation is extremely fluid, especially during the combat sequences. The scene in which Fujiki and Irako go off to kill two twin brothers from a rival school will forever remain etched into my memory as to how detailed the destruction looked. The same can be said of stark-gray scenery during Irako’s downfall where the coloration used matched the mood and tone perfectly.

Make no mistake about it. Shigurui’s petty rivalries that lead to senseless violence and a cast of characters that’s utterly unlikable and despicable makes this show seem like one to avoid. But do not judge too quickly because in spite of all that, it hides a sort of strange beauty that stems from its artwork and its compelling storyline. So while the casual viewer should be aware what he or she is getting into, also understand that Shigurui is definitely worth watching to the end.

Score: Decent

Title: 5 Centimeters Per Second (Byousoku 5 Centimeter)
Episodes: 3 (OVA)
Company: Comix Wave
Genre(s): Romance
Air Dates: 3 March 2007

Synopsis: Takaki Tono and Akari Shinohara had always been really good friends since childhood. This friendship would eventually blossom into love, but as they got older, circumstances forced them to move further and further apart. The increasing distance between the two tests the strength of their love as well as their ability to deal with their daily life despite being so far apart.

Pros:

• Absolutely gorgeous artwork and stunningly detailed animation
• Characters are easy to identify with in an excellent plot
• Music is absolutely beautiful and gives the scenes strong impact

Cons:

• Ending might not be everyone’s cup of tea; somewhat underwhelming

Review: If there is anything that Makoto Shinkai’s works are known for, it is the amazing quality of the artwork as well as a plot revolving around distance and how it creates barriers to romantic relationships. 5 Centimeters Per Second follows this formula, while adding in a few shifts in the point of view to make it differ a bit from his previous works. Although this change in perspective fills up one episode, the focus is still on the protagonist Takaki Tono. By framing the story around Takaki, Shinkai has succeeded in creating a brilliant work that shows not only Takaki’s hopes, dreams, and aspirations in full detail, but also how those hopes prevent him from looking beyond the past.

Takaki’s inability to let go of the past is what makes him an identifiable and sympathetic character. As the story goes on his character flaws become all that much more apparent and the viewer can begin to identify the point at which his longing for Akari becomes an obsession that will not allow him to go on with his life. The way this change is presented to the viewer is definitely well done, especially by having the viewer look at this situation through Kanae’s, Takaki’s classmate, lens. Her narration and interaction with Takaki provides the viewer with an outsider’s view of how others perceived Takaki and allows for a well-rounded view of his character. It helps that Kanae is a deep character with her own set of motivations and goals and by watching her attempts to bond with Takaki, we gain some small degree of sympathy for her and see how she serves as an excellent contrast to Takaki.

The excellently done characters and plot have succeeded at tugging at our emotions, but the impact would not have been as strong if it weren’t for the stellar animation and the wondrous soundtrack. Shinkai’s animation had always been top-notch, and 5 Centimeters just keeps on pushing the bar higher. Every frame is just rich in detail, ranging from the lighting at the train station to the stunning beauty of watching cherry blossoms drifting along with the wind. The music also packs quite a punch with Tenmon at the helm. His melodies complement the scenes by strengthening the emotional impact and delivering an excellent soundtrack.

Finally, the ending lacks definitiveness. While it shows that Takaki’s life is in a rut, the OVA never really suggests that he breaks out of it. The last segment of the third episode consists of a series of flashbacks, while stunningly beautiful, does not really go anywhere. In light of how well done everything else was, the ending was just a tad bit underwhelming.

In spite of the ending, 5 Centimeters Per Second is solid all the way through. Every component works well to deliver a wonderfully romantic story that slowly becomes frayed by distance, from the breathtaking animation all the way to the soundtrack which complements each scene nicely. For people looking for a serious romance, you can’t go wrong with 5 Centimeters Per Second.

Score: Very Good