Anime Review: Date A Live

I have really mixed feelings about this anime... So I'll proceed with this review

A little word before I begin. Date A Live (デート・ア・ライブ Dēto A Raibu) is the anime adaption of the Japanese light novel series, Date A Live. It is directed by Keitaro Motonaga and produced by AIC PLUS+.

Well let the dating game BEGIN!

Story

Spacequakes, a mysterious phenomenon that destroys everything at the point of impact within a given radius. They are unpredictable and appear randomly. Itsuka Shido lives with his sister Kotori in a town that experiences lots of Spacequakes but has proper countermeasure to warn the population and limit the casualties. 

Here's an example of a spacequake

Oh wait wrong picture

One day Shido is (through some complicated circumstances) running to find his sister who is not in a shelter and a spacequake warning has been issued.

He doesn't find his sister but discover that those spacequakes are caused by a girl.

This girl called Princess (Hime) is standing in the middle of the spacequake impact. She is attacked by a squad called the AST who's objective is to kill these creatures called spirits.

Of course he is shocked. But he is more shocked when he discovers that his little sister Kirino.... euh I mean Kotori is actually the boss of a secret organization aiming to stop these spacequakes.

The more shocking fact is that to stop these spirits from wreaking havoc on earth the solution is actually to date them, show them that there are people who actual want her and won't deny her existence.
So yeah in the end Shido will have a harem. This gets a whole lot more interesting when the number of girls slowly grows and the attempts to sway Shidou’s heart commence.

Characters:

The characters all have some pretty unique personality to them that makes them pretty special. The main girls are all pretty interesting even though they aren’t really fleshed out that well. We have a kuudere, a yandere, a tsundere, a loli and the childish one.

Itsuka Shido, the good looking character who gets all the girls etc etc etc.... Your typical protagonist in a harem anime, very generic. Shallow, bland at best, he only serve to advance the harem. An interesting personality Shido has as described by Kotori: "onii-chan had become strangely sensitive to the despair inside people.—Mm. Something like everyone rejecting oneself—thinking that one will never be loved by anyone else. Well, basically what he had been like back then. If there was someone with such a melancholic expression, even if it was a complete stranger, he would probably go help them without a second thought."

The character that caught my interest the most is Tohka Yatogami. It’s still not quite clear how she gains the last name Yatogami. On my first impression, she resembles Saber from the Fate Series. The usage of armor, the aura she gives off and her nickname “Princess” are all very similar to Saber. She even shares the same hobby as Saber (specifically eating). It is hard to tell whether or not the author did this on purpose. Tohka is voiced by Marina Inoue (Mikazuki Yozora in Boku wa tomodachi ga sukunai)

Next is a..... uh.... how should I say it... Oh yeah a Yuno rip-off (Mirai Nikki). Kurumi Tokisaki, who is was the second character that caught my interest. She dresses like a gothic lolita which is not very common these days in the anime industry. She is depicted with a very sadist/masochist yandere tone and I must admit I kinda like it

Next is Kotori Itsuka serves as the protagonist’s beloved imouto (little sister). Technically, Kotori is Shido’s foster sister. Like any other kawaii imouto, Kotori was doomed from the beginning to become lolicon material, much like Yoshino who is also essentially a loli spirit. Other than her loli physique and her tsundere personality, there is nothing moe about her. Well there isn’t much to fit the criteria of moe anyways... Also I should mention that she is voiced by Taketatsu Ayana, some might know her other no...

Sound:

I don't have anything to say, the music is good, the opening is good but I have to talk about ending #1 and #2 Save The World and Save My Heart. They are pretty addictive and I kept listening to them for a while
Edit: The second opening was also a really good surprise and I enjoyed it a lot!

Animation and Art:

The animation and the art were really good, it is always a pleasure for the eye to watch anime with such a good quality. The level of details is really high but still not the best we can get (KyoAni does that). The animation during the combats is smooth and the quality never dropped which is very good point. Here's some image to let you judge.

Difference with the light novel:

Didn't read the novel can't say

Conclusion:

It's pretty complicated to say what I feel about this anime, it is your typical harem anime with some new stuff added that actually doesn't make it like all the other harem. I personally enjoyed watching it because I like Tohka and I would recommend that you watch it
My original score would be 8/10 but the fact that season 2 should be airing around Spring 2014 I shall rate Date A Live : 8.5/10
EDIT: Dropped the rating to 8 because season 2 was... not that good, and the animation quality was awful... 8 because The movie: Mayuri Judgement has been announced and confirmed for 2015.

Enjoy

Anime Review: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai

So there it is, my review of an anime I recently watched Boku wa tomodachi ga sukunai (not many friends)

Despite containing lots of fanservice and being very funny, this anime will teach you the value of friendship, that having a couple of trustworthy friends is better than a thousand "fake" friends.... okay now lets get to the review shall we?

Story:

Where to begin? Ah yes I know! With our main character: Hasegawa Kodaka!
Kodaka is a transfer student, he came back to the town where he grew up with his sister to live and go to school because he didn't want to follow his dad to the US.
So this guy is considered by his classmates a delinquent because he happened to always do the wrong thing at the wrong moment (like arriving late at class the first day of school after running and looking like a zombie in front of the innocent teacher scarring her in the process)

That kind of expression

One day while waking at school he notice that a girl in his class, Mikazuki Yozora, who is in general very discrete in talking to someone and laughing happily.

He enters the room and he notice that this girl is kinda complex-ed for creating an imaginary friend and talking to him (her air friend as she likes to call him/her). After telling each other's story, Yozora gets an idea and then leaves Kodaka telling him that she will contact him later.
The next day she catches him and tell him that she got an idea to make friends: founding a club! And thus the Neighbor Club was born.
To recruit member they attach posters all over the school with a special message that only people looking for friends will notice or understand

After finishing posting those flyers, they go back to the club room and are surprised when someone knock at the door saying she wants to join. Unfortunately it is Kashiwazaki Sena, a beautiful and popular girl with only fake friends. She wants to join so she could make real friends.

Things starts to go awry because Yozora hates Sena and Sena hates Yozora. We can see their reactions when Kodaka suggested that the 3 of them can become friends!

And here the story goes on, more people will join the neighbor club to try and make friends.
It is a really interesting story so I won't spoil it. You will love it!

Characters:

Despite his looks, Kodaka is actually a calm and collected individual who is soft-spoken and kind hearted. Kodaka would have initially called Yozora and Sena by their last names if not for the two demanding him to call them by their first names instantly. Kodaka would remain calm even when provoked or angry and is the only one among his club members who is still trying to get friends. Kodaka is always depicted to be somewhat "dense" at the feelings being expressed by most female characters towards him. But in reality, Kodaka is well aware of this, but only pretends that he does not know since he doesn't want anything to change from the relationship between him and most female characters

Mikazuki Yozora: Although Yozora looks nice, her personality is far from that. She is extremely manipulative, and would often trick the people to do her bidding. She have no qualms on who her victims were and have probably tricked almost all of the Neighbor's club members (save Rika) at least once, directly or indirectly.

Kashiwazaki Sena: On the outside, Sena appears to be an ordinary high school girl but in truth, Sena is arrogant and prideful by nature and is well aware of this, even once stating that she should do that since she's that good. Sena considers herself like some sort of queen or goddess to the school and would often treat her fellow male students as servants (not that they mind). Because of her personality and her beauty, she has no female friends. Sena also believed that there are two types of girls, the ones who would be her friends and the others are all not worthy of her. Sena also does not treat the boys in her class with much respect due to them constantly oogling at her and doing whatever she told them to, as such, Sena merely sees them as her servants. However, whenever Sena's ego is shattered by someone else (mostly Yozora), she bursts in tears and flings childish insults before running away. Sena was also shocked to see that Kodaka does not act like the boys in her class (wanting to be stepped on) and hence, views Kodaka in a different light.  Her feelings have increased to the point where she says that she wouldn't mind marrying him and that she was in love with him.

Sound:

The soundtrack is awesome. It really fits the situation and you will find yourself always singing or humming them. The opening is also great as it is sung by many well known seiyuu (Kana Hanazawa among them).

What I really loved while watching the anime were the piano themes.

Here have some example

The opening theme

Ending theme

Animation:

The art is actually one of the I've ever seen. Especially when you look at the character's lips. They have something that no other anime has. The animation was almost flawless, the background was well designed and it is really enjoyable.

Playing on PSP

Difference with the light novel:

Didn't read the novel personally but I was told the anime follows the novel very well

Conclusion:

This anime is hilarious, the jokes were simple cheesy and they managed to pull them off again and again and yet you find yourself laughing hear-tidily again and again. So if you are looking for an episodic anime to watch while you are cooking or whatever or just wanna have a good laugh this is the one.

Final Grade: 9.3/10

Anime Review: Sword Art Online

So today I will be reviewing a new anime that only finished airing recently: Sword Art Online.

Before I begin I would like to say that yes it is a popular anime, yes it has flaws but it is really enjoyable. Even though the beginning is a bit rushed, you will still enjoy every second for different reasons: The original story (and no it's different from .Hack// you hater, the Light novel was released before the .Hack// fanchise) the enjoyable music AND the lovable characters.

Story:

The story begins in 2022 when the first virtual gaming console with a full diving game was released. The game, called Sword Art Online created by a famous scientist Kayaba Akihiko, offers real life feelings and needs, like you have to eat, sleep and all.

The story follows the adventure of Kirigaya Kazuto (ingame: Kirito) a geek/gamer who lives with his uncle and aunt and has no friends. Kirito was one of the beta tester of the game thus having a direct access to the game without the need to buy it.

Things start to go awry when players try to log out only to find out that the "Log Out" button does not exist. The creator shows up claiming that all the players are now his prisoners in-game and that the only way to get out is to clear the game. Also in-game death means death in real life, "once you die in a world you die everywhere" - Kayaba Akihiko

Upon realizing what is going to happen, Kirito runs to the next town in order to clear quests and raise his level (this is a plus because these days most of the anime protagonist would have sat in a corner and cried... Yes I'm looking at you Haruyuki from AccelWorld)

Anyway Kirito start searching for the 1st floor's boss. While searching for him he joins a temporary party and meets a girl: Asuna.

While raiding the boss, the party leader gets killed and Kirito is the one who slays the boss. Other people understand that he must have been a beta tester and label him as a beater (combination on cheater and beta tester).
And thus begins his real adventure as a solo player in that jungle-like world.

I won't spoil the rest of the story, I will just say that the second arc (arc not season) is focused on the relationship between Kirito and his sister: Kirigaya Suguha.

Characters:

About Kirito, he's the badass type of boy who get girls easily and can solve all problems without even sweating a bit and has many friends. The boy most people want to be.

He’s a guy with a heart of gold.

He’s always at an advantage.

He can accomplish whatever he wants to with little effort.

He has an ‘ideal’ girlfriend/wife.

He’s admired by those around him.

He can ‘unintentionally’ make every other chick adore him, romantically or otherwise.

About Asuna: Asuna as the female lead is as stereotyped as they come. Much like Kirito, her character is heavily idealized. She’s pretty, popular, kind, caring and every other man wants to have a piece of her. Oh, and did I mention her cooking skills that level up with each passing day? After all, her foremost duty is to cook for Kirito and show how much she cares for him. While initially she’s portrayed as a strong, independent female player with a tsundere-ish attitude, it doesn’t take her long to make a transition from that to a deplorable damsel in distress, requiring her knight in black robe to come to her rescue whenever she’s in a bind.

Other characters like Silica, Klein, Agil, Lisbeth and Yui are here just to add some humor and make you laugh!

Sound:

The music is composed by one of the most renowned composers in the anime industry, Yuki Kajiura (nuff said!!!!). While the soundtracks aren't bad by any means, none of them stand out much except the one that plays during combat/intense scenes. In fact, that’s the only track that can be heard playing most of the time in the entire show.

Opening 1: Crossing Field

Opening 2: Innocence (didn't put the original video for spoiler purpose)

Animation:

Within the game, the vast tracts of greenery, the beautiful cities during the night, the castles… they’re all a pleasure to behold. The animation is also well-handled for the most part. Initially I wasn’t much pleased with the character designs but they gradually grew on me, and I personally find a few characters like Asuna, Klein, Heathcliff and Lisbeth to be very well designed.

Difference with the Light Novel:

The light novel goes more into details explaining things and deeper, especially the relationship between the characters. And it has more side story that are pretty enjoyable.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, sword art online is a great anime, even though the two main protagonist are very criticize-able the plot always has this thing that pushes you to continue watching it. For those who don't know it the Light novel is much more in advance, meaning that it goes after the end of the anime. I have read it and I can personally understand why were all these choices made. Bear in mind that every decision taken has a consequence in the future.

Final Grade: 9.7/10

Thank you for reading. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think and subscribe for more weekly reviews.

Season 2 has been announced!

Anime Review: School days

So as I said my first post will be reviewing the latest anime I watched: School Days

School day is a psychological. Do not think it is a regular love story between a boy and a girl playing in school, no no. It is an anime with a dark plot, twist that will make you go all Incredible Hulk on it (don't know how my PC survived this experience). It is about how cheating can mess up with your life and the heart and heads of your loved one. It shows how the human heart and mind are very fragile and how friendship is very precious and when destroyed in the worst way, it can have the worst consequences.

Story (Spoiler Warning when mentioned)

The story Starts with Itou Makoto, a normal high school person who listen to music and have some perverted thought like all boys of his age. 

Makoto has a crush on the girl that always ride the train with him, Katsura Kotonoha. Kotonoha is a shy girl with big boobs who always was victim of bullies since middle school.

Saionji Sekai (Makoto's friend) discover that he likes Kotonoha, and so she decide to help him and eventually hook them up

Now (and it was pretty much predictable) we discover that Sekai has feelings for Makoto and kisses him.

The first three episode are like the typical anime love triangle. Eventually Makoto and Kotonoha become lovers and start going out together.
Here things start to go the wrong way. Makoto on the phone tell Sekai that dating Kotonoha is "tiring"


I will be SPOILING the whole story in this section, if you don't want to be spoiled jump to the next section. You have been warned

I will make this short and not detailed. Watch the anime
Sekai and Makoto start "dating" without Kotonoha's knowledge, he's cheating on her and eventually he sleeps with Sekai (multiple times). The comes in Makoto's childhood friend Otome Katou.

Makoto is now cheating on Sekai and Kotonoha (who is convinced that Makoto still loves her) and eventually sleep with her (little detail worth mentioning, they are filmed and they don't know it)
So Makoto is now a guy who is obsessed with sex and is sleeping with every girl in the school. He eventually musters the balls to tell Kotonoha that it is over (followed by a reaction of disbelief from her)
Now we introduce Sekai's best friend Kyoura Setsuna. She cares deeply for Sekai and eventually goes to Makoto to make him promise that he will take care Sekai (because she is traveling) and even sleep with him to convince him (how intelligent)

Lets press on things. Sekai discover that Makoto has been cheating on her and falls into depression and to top it all is waiting for her periods which (wait for it) are not coming... pregnant. That's what you get B**CH.
She tells Makoto that she is pregnant expecting him to take responsibility. This news eventually slips and all the school now knows about it. All the girls are now avoiding Makoto who is now depressed. He doesn't want to go back to Sekai.
He finds Kotonoha on the road and eventually and apologize to her and she (stupidest thing ever) actually forgive him. They go back together, dating and sleep together. Sekai catch them in the act and just leave while crying.

Here is the most interesting part and the BIGGEST SPOILER, so if you DON'T want to be spoiled please do skip this section in particular

Sekai goes to Makoto's house so that they can talk about the child she is carrying (abortion in other word) she propose to make tea and goes to the kitchen. Meanwhile Makoto who left his phone in his room receives a message and go to check on it. It is from Sekai saying "Sorry..... Farewell" he turns around to ask her what is the meaning of this only to find her right behind him, knife in the hand, and stabs him.
Kotonoha come to his house and finds his dead body on the ground. She sends a message to Sekai using Makoto's phone telling her to meet him. Sekai go to the meeting only to find Kotonoha with Makoto's head (disgusting eh?). She tells Sekai that she is lying, she is not pregnant and it is just an excuse for Makoto to come back to her. She stabs Sekai.

Happy ending?
END OF SPOILER

Characters:

The characters in this anime are seriously some of the dumbest people I have ever seen. Makoto especially - after watching about 5 episodes I wanted to smash his face in. His idiotic expressions, his whiny sped voice, everything about him. I hated it all. I hated the way he looked, the way he talked, and everything he did. My hatred for this character is unparalleled to any other characters I might have ever hated in my life. The only props I can give to the people who dream't up this character was that we got to see him go from a selfish idiot to a selfish asshole by the end of the series.

That rant out of the way, I don't have much to say bout the other characters which was mainly composed of idiotic girls that for some reason or another couldn't get enough of this whiny faced idiot.

We only notice an evolution of Kotonoha and Sekai.

Sound:

The opening sounded great, but it didn't really suit the series considering how dark (and idiotic) it became. The opening was way too happy in contrast to the story. Otherwise, bgm was decent, even good at times. No big comments 

Here the Opening theme which I really liked

OST: Anata Ga Inai

OST: Kanashimi no

Animation:

 I thought the animation and character design was pretty good, one of the series stronger points. All of the character designs although not unique, were nice, and the colors brought out the mood fairly well. 

Difference with the Mangas:

In the mangas the plot is simpler. The beginning is the same, but we find a faithful Makoto who is not a stupid arrogant cunt. I liked it more than the anime.

Conclusion:

This story is more about the idea behind cheating and how it can affect you and all the people around. I am very neutral concerning the anime because without the ending it would have been the shittiest anime ever. Also bear in mind that the studios are making everything to make you HATE Makoto so that the ending would be better and more enjoyable

7.9/10, Watch if you want