Showing posts with label mangas. Show all posts

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Anime Review: Bakuman

Hello Mina and welcome to a review of : Bakuman

I break my reviews into 4 main categories (Storyline, Art logic, and conclusion) each with its own array of subcategories. Anything considered as a spoiler will be replace by a 1* (1 being any number) and added to the notes section at the end of the review. Enjoy!!!

Storyline

INTRODUCTION

The story start with Moritaka "Saiko" Mashiro introducing himself as a shy middle-schooler who has only one thing special about him: he's a good drawer. He loved to draw from when he was a little kid and he was always inspired by his uncle (a manga artist who got a hit manga a long time ago) to become even better (although his uncle kinda sucks at drawing :S). He also has a crush on his classmate Azuki Miho from the time they were kids and like to sketch her in his notebook. One day, he forgot his notebook in class and went to get it. When he got there, he found Akito "Shujin" Takagi (shujin meaning prisoner)

waiting for him, notebook in hand. When Saiko asked Takagi for his silence about his crush, the latter told him he has one condition: "join me in creating a manga." Saiko was reluctent and accepted just to shut him up. After some time Shujin tricked him into meeting at Azuki's house to support her in her secret dream of becoming a voice actress. He then went and told her that he and Saiko will create a manga together. In the shock of actually talking with his love, Saiko shouted out:

Embarrassed, she runs back inside her house and replies through the intercom: “Yes, but we must not see each other until our dreams come true.” his is how the manga author duo Ashirogi Muto was born.

STORY

In my opinion, the story is broken down into 3 main Arcs, each representing a season or so:

Beginning arc: This talks about the start of Ashirogi Muto, the trials that every manga artist has to go through, and how they pass them.
Rivals arc: this extends from the end of the first season to the middle of the last. It talks about Ashirogi Muto’s friends and rivals and the more advanced editor related problems that they face.
Dream-come-true arc: I guess this one is self explanatory.

The story went smoothly except when moving from one chapter to the next. It sometimes felt forced, but nothing that serious. The sheer number of characters and the different mix between them was an excellent source for ideas and plot twists.

CHARACTERS

Since the cast is soooo big and I don’t want to spoil it for you, I will only introduce 3 main characters.

Moritaka "Saiko" Mashiro:

Ooooops. Wrong Saiko. Ah Here he is:

Saiko is one of the Ahirogi Muto duo. He is shy and has a kind heart. One thing that everyone agrees on and is constantly reminded of is that he is as stubborn as a mule. He is the kind of person that does the best work possible, even if he has to pay for it with his health.

Akito "Shujin" Takagi:

Here we have the second member of the duo. This guy is an academic genius. He gets The highest grades in his class without the predicted effort and manages to write manga at the same time. On the other hand he is a “genius” when it comes to female relations. Boy does this guy get it in the first season. He shares the same mentality of Saiko when it comes to their work ethics and are always “on the same wavelength”.

Azuki Miho:

She is the main female character in this series. Although the whole plot relies on her and Saiko’s dream, she gets little air time. She is, as most of the characters, kind and understanding. In addition Azuki is shy and not open. She is also as stubborn as Saiko or even more.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

I didn't feel there was any notable character development per-SAE. Sure that there are some changes but it is a shame that the main character that developed and changed the most was Azuki with the lowest screen time, and neglect in season 3. The characters were build to embody different emotions: Eiji Nizuma is the unreachable perfection. Fukuda is the Kimpatchi Zaraki of the show. Hiramaru as the lazy genius. Iwase as the too prideful hard-worker. And the list goes on. Come to think of it, Aoki did have some development, but that’s basically it. (5/10)

THEME

Bakuman is straight forward. It’s drama is seen in the drive of the protagonists to overcome anything that stands in their path. It’s comedy is also seen throughout it. In the end, though, it is a great slice of life.

AUDIENCE

This is a story well fit for college students and new employees more then the rest. Kids don't really feel the pressure of society and family on their future. The ideal love that was scene in here looks too normal to them and they don't know how rare and unorthodox it is. It also has no battles or one-liners to compete with mainstream anime.

ART

Drawing

The art in Bakuman is not stable. Sometimes it's acceptable and others it is horrible.
You can see the time they spent on the art is low but they really wanted quality. This ended up blowing in their face. They ended up with few good pictures that they used again and again and again and again. There is a picture that represents Azuki's house that they used 4+ times and another 2 or 3 using different colours (time of day)

They also try to put too many things in the same picture thus impacting it’s realism.

To their defense, they got some great scenes here and there. For instance when Mashiro went to see his uncle's tomb,

or when he was in the hospital

or even here

the real shock I saw was when I saw this:

It's like there is a spotlight on the car AT NIGHT. Now look at the scenery behind the car, look at the characters, and finally at the front-ground. The quality difference is so over the place that it should get it's own name. "Horrishit" maybe. Finally, art-wise, I didn't feel a hint of difference between, 15 year-old Saiko and a much older Saiko (3.5/10)

LOGIC

STORY LEVEL LOGIC (The integrity of the story):

Story level logic was great, this is quite expected when looking at the theme of this anime and how it is purely event driven. This is probably why it is such a well known production(4/4)

EVENT LOGIC (The side-effects of previous events):

There is the first time I see this kind of Event Logic. This is a rare error, but I see some situations that have been over-analysed. This is probably done to increase the impact of a single event and make it worth more then it actually is. This gives some drive to the story but decreases the quality they worked so hard to produce story-wise (3/4)

INSTANTANEOUS LOGIC (at the moment):

It had no flaws here that I can think of. If anything, they took their time thinking about the atmosphere and how get the best out of it, and even, in some cases, add a twist of unexpected humour.(3/3)

LOGIC VERDICT

The logic in Bakuman is near perfect and should be held as an example for other productions. Be sure not to mix it with the story itself, because, as mentioned before, it has quite a few flaws. (9/10)

CONCLUSION

Although Bakuman has quite the list of problems it is still well known and loved. It has a unique main idea, and teaches a lot about manga, the source of our beloved anime. It has superb moments with its insane comedy that knocks you off your chair. It is a recommendation to anyone just for the sake of its popularity and informativeness.

Notes (spoilers):
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Kamisama Hajimemashita

Introduction:

I was listening to "Just Tonight" by The Pretty Reckless and somehow it reminded me of a task that has been on my laptop's sticky notes for quite a while: "Read Kamisama Hajimemashita's 100th manga issue". So, instead of searching for the translated manga issue, I decided to write a review for the anime hoping it would reignite my passion for the manga (it never died if you ask me) and refresh my memory regarding certain events.

Editor’s side note: Although this anime may look like an underdeveloped one , there is more than meets the eye. I also have a thing for bad-ass demons that have animal ears and tails ( call me a creep but the anime had quite a nice flavor especially when I was quite stressed due to my exams).

So what is Kamisama Hajimemashita about and what sets it apart from other anime that fall under "shoujo, slice of life, and mystery"? Let us take the first step and introduce the plot and hopefully things will interest you and get you watching the anime or even reading the manga which is much more developed and intriguing!

1- Plot: ( YOU by The Pretty Reckless is playing in the background which fits perfectly :P )

Momozono Nanami is a regular highschool girl until she is evicted from her house thanks to her reckless father who left her with debts and made his escape just before the debt-collectors claimed their rights. ( Quite a role model for a father if you ask me :P ! )

We are presented with Nanami sitting on a lonely park bench when she hears a man's voice requesting "HELP". Nanami sees a full grown man on a tree being harrassed by a dog. Nanami comes to his aid and chases the dog away.

Editor’s side note: This was quite a hilarious start if you ask me. Seeing the man on the tree, and having a young school girl chase the dog away ( by simply shaking her foot at it) made my mother laugh as she, my older sister and I rewatched the anime.

Mikage thanks the young girl for her help and inquires about her current state. Nanami retells how she has no home to return to and how her father left her to fend on her own as he made his escape. As a result, Mikage draws Nanami a map and tells her she can have his home, after all, he has been absent for 20 years and "TOMOE" would knock his teeth off if he sees him. Mikage kisses Nanami's forehead and tells her to make his home her own.

Enter Tomoe :3 ! <3

Editor’s side note: If I were Nanami and a strange man kissed my forehead or even approached me, I would dropkick him so help me GOD! ( I just wanted to point that out :P .)

There is no doubt that for every "golden deal" there is a catch, for there is no such thing as a "free lunch"! Apparently our young hero walked into what she calls an AYAKASHI haunted house. As she enters she is attacked by an angry fox familiar ( Tomoe, who is quite a hottie with epic fox ears and tail ). The latter tries to rip her throat out, only to stop at a split of a second pointing out that the girl is not MIKAGE. At that moment, two shrine servants, Onikiri and Kotetsu, state that she has Mikage's seal which deems her the deity of the shrine.

Onikiri and Kotetsu being harassed by the ladies who serve Tomoe wine :3

As a diety and the official inheritor of Mikage, Nanami has to attend to several tasks. Things start to hit a wild turn when several tests of faith, will and power are thrown at her. Will Nanami rise to the occasion or give up to her mere mundane nature? More importantly what does Nanami have to do to make Tomoe acknowledge her? Will she succeed in fulfilling her role as a diety of a shrine when her weak state and mundane nature constrain her from seeing "deity-fit tasks" to their proper ends?

Nanami sealing the familiar contract with Tomoe ( nyahahahahahah :3 )

2- Characters: (Need you Now by Lady Antebellum is playing which is quite true because I miss Tomoe)

Other than Nanami, we have Tomoe as a lead character. He is a fox demond and Mikage's familiar serving as the shrine's guardian. Other than the shrine tasks, he also writes down the believer's prayers which he has kept in journals that are neatly saved awaiting Mikage's return. In the past, Tomoe was quite a demon who would wreck havoc, massacre humans, and hunt just for the pleasure and to satisfy his blood thirst. This is revealed in the manga in more details, the latter lays the foundation for the coming arcs relating to his past and how it links to Nanami's. ( It was a great read discovering Tomoe's past and secrets; the manga left me eager and demanding ).

Kurama Shinjirou is a prominent pop-idol who is supposedly a fallen angle from hell ( his stage image :P ) when in fact he is a Tengu who descended the mountain 16 years ago. He picks on Nanami on the first day causing her to cry. Later on, when he discovers her deity nature, he tries to devour her, to which Tomoe comes to the rescue and injures Kurama with his fox fire after turning the latter into an ostrich. After that encounter, Kurama befriends Nanami and helps her out on several occasions including the event when Tomoe is shrunken into chibi/baby form and left defenseless.

There is also Mizuki who was the familiar of a different shrine deity who died and her shrine was submerged under water. He is one hell of a funny character ( wait until he starts playing the flute). Also, Mizuki has white hair and green eyes and usually rides on a snake and makes divine wine!

3-Music:

The into and closing songs is quite addicting. My mother ended up happily humming them all day! I wouldn't blame her for the tune is quite catch and the rhyme is a memorable one. The original soundtracks are quite.

COMMENTS:

I loved the anime; it was warm, mysterious, and quite relaxing. The story develops more and takes some good twists and turns both in the anime and more evidently in the manga. I bet manga issue 100 is going to be a total mind-blower. Keep in mind, that Tomoe has a very dark past and you will not be let into that past except by looking at the hairpin shown in the anime. The anime does not show anything regarding his past, yet , I hope there is a season 2 since the manga develops the plot further and will leave you with an open jaw on several occasions.

There is beauty in the anime/manga's simplicity, and a touch of eccentricity that sets it apart. I recommend it to you all give it a 9/10 compared to its fellow anime that fall under the same sub-genre.

I hope you enjoyed the review and would give the anime a try :3 ! I am off to read manga issue #100 !

Friday, May 3, 2013

Anime Review: Shinsekai Yori

Yeah I was pretty busy these days sorry but I promise to try and write more often.... GOMEN NASAI!!!!
Anyway this time I will be reviewing an anime that deserve much more attention and was dropped by many because they failed to understand the real message behind this anime.

Everything in life is covered in mystery. Do you choose to live in blissful ignorance, or do you make a difference against the harsh realities?

Before I begin you should please take note that if you came here expecting a funny and positive anime leave. Shinsekai Yori is not a light watch, it requires you to always analyze the situation, the concept and ideas being discussed to enjoy the serie to its fullest. It also provides you with experience.

This review will be spoiler free, read without hesitation.

With this being said, on with the story.

Story:

The first scene takes place in the modern days with people exploding and dying for some unknown reason.

A thousand years later, the world is ruled by humans with psychic power called Cantus which can make the impossible possible. In this new world, Man has neither need nor want for technology and reigns supreme over the New World's indigenous species called Bakenezumi (Queerats) and other new organisms we come across as the story unfolds. All seems well and peaceful in the Utopia man has created for itself, however Man's evolution came at a price and the New World's mysterious history is written in blood and hidden in secrecy.

The story follows the steps of Saki Watanabe and her friend, Asahina Satoru, Ito Mamoru, Akizuki Maria and Aonuma Shun, at the Sage academy where they are known as group one and learn to control and harness their Cantus.

From left to right: Shun, Satoru, Saki, Maria and Mamoru

Despite the dark, foreboding tone set from the beginning, it's not until the group uncovers a secret on their school trip that everything starts to go dreadfully wrong for them. Disappearances, assassinations, and invincible beasts aptly called 'Fiends' are but a handful of the mysteries revealed to Saki and her friends. Society is evidently not the utopia that it seems.

There are 2 time skip in the story and all of them will leave you like "what the hell? Why are you doing this you know it's wrong" but we later discover that everything has an explanation.

The story also treats lots of subject; I will discuss a few here:

As if to defy the conventions of mainstream anime, sexuality plays an important role in the story. The main characters are not innocent and devoid of sexual feelings, even despite their young age in the first two arcs. Much like us, they fall in love, experiment and desire to act out on their feelings. They are not restrained by otaku concepts such as 'purity', and this is an immense benefit given the mature tone of the series. One further thing to note is that they do not only express romantic and sexual desires towards the opposite sex but towards the same sex as well.

This created so much controversy, I wonder why... Even if the viewer finds bisexual interactions to be uncomfortable, there is scarcely a scene that displays such behavior in the first place. These relationships are not used for superficial shounen-ai or shoujo-ai appeal, but are instead there to reflect the characters maturing in a society unconstrained by social stigma.

Wow if I'm going to talk about every aspect of the story I'd better make a Wiki page... I guess this is enough story wise.

Characters:

There are very good characters but not much detail or development were given to them, aside from maybe Saki. Saki, the main lead and the narrator, serves as a sort of proxy for the viewer so I will focus mainly on her.

Saki is a calm, smart person who always know how to maintain her cool even when facing danger or learning shocking things (like how their society came to existence). She cares deeply for her friends and refuses to abandon them. She is also very stubborn.

Interestingly enough, most of the other main characters, aside from Satoru, are mostly used to reveal some secret of the world. The side characters are mostly people presented to give the viewer some much needed info.

Sound:

The music is mostly composed of haunting choirs melodies, percussion and ambient noise which serve to "heighten" the tension. There is no opening, just 2 ending theme.

Ending 1

Also there are a lot of OST that really stand out. Here are some of them

Also there is this one soundtrack that some of you might recognize, it is called New World by Antonin Dvorak! It is really a relaxing soundtrack and I invite each and every one of you to listen to it!

Animation and art:

The art is somewhat unusual but fitting for an unusual story, more so than any other art style I can think of. Though not much attention is given to detail as far as facial characteristics go, it beautifully depicts the scenery and maintains an overall cleanliness to it anyone ought to be able to appreciate. Truly, it is beyond my ability to describe the fascinating world of Shinsekai yori but I would wager it is unlike anything you have likely seen; before.

A1 Pictures has done this series justice in its world building, using just the right colors and shading to create a perfect blend that is both visually pleasing for the average viewer and stays true to the story's setting. The studio has done an above average job the majority of the time with the animation, slipping up only occasionally and consistently producing quality episodes. It is worth nothing that there are some scenes - quite a few actually, that are absolutely breathtaking in their beauty.

And of course this is only augmented by the angelic scores that play at just the right time, at just the right pitch to deliver a powerful trifecta performance of story, art and sound in an astonishing meld.

One of the strongest aspects of Shinsekai Yori is its atmosphere. Throughout every episode exists an overbearing sense of dread and melancholy: the feeling that something very bad is about to happen, and indeed it often does. The pacing is also very much on the slow side, with several expository episodes before the story finally takes off, but once it does it becomes very difficult to stop watching.

Shinsekai Yori is a macabre, sometimes uncomfortable story that will succeed in immersing you in its dark atmosphere. There's nothing else quite like it out there, which makes it an especially enticing experience.

Difference with the Manga and the novel:

Didn't read the novel but the mangas is another story. What I mean is that it is very close to the anime but with some difference.... Also it contains lots of yuri (No I am not making that joke)

Conclusion:

Overall, Shinsekai Yori is an excellent anime. It’s a chilling tale that will leave you impressed long after you've finished it. It slow paced and subtle story actually end up working in the anime’s favor. It’s detailed and intricate story as well as its themes will leave the viewer immensely satisfied in the end. Some of the best kinds of stories are the one that make you feel emotion, and boy will this anime invoke plenty of that. It’s a spectacular show that shouldn't be missed by anyone.

Final Grade: 9.8/10 Must Watch

Saturday, April 6, 2013

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?