(continued from part 3)
GENESIS SURVIVER GAIARTH: A post-apocalyptic world sees a young
boy with no parents brought up by a stranded war robot (warroid) as a
soldier but when a mysterious enemy slaughters the only parent he had
ever had, he goes to war only to find that the war had ended many
years before. He meets up with a battered warroid who has no memory
of his past but seems to be full of surprises and a girl who gets the
hots for him, when she isn't thinking of money, and the group go off
treasure hunting, only to find that their hunt will eventually turn
into a fight to save the planet and end the long dormant war ...
Available from AnimEigo.
[Entry by Chika]
GENSOMADEN SAIYUKI: An amazing adaptation of the original "Journey
To The West". In this retelling, the Sanzo priest (Genjo Sanzo) is
accompanied by Son Goku, Cho Hakkai (with his flying dragon Hakuryu),
and Sho Gojyo. On their way to investigate the resurrection of
Gyumaoh, they encounter several demons, and that's about where the
similarities end to the other versions. Sanzo's a cursing, drinking,
gun-toting monk with blond hair, Goku's always hungry, Hakkai uses chi
blasts, Hakuryu can turn into a jeep, and Gojyo's a poker playing
womanizer. Basically, to rip off an old car commercial, this isn't
your father's "Journey To The West". The main force trying to stop
the Sanzo party is led by Kougaji, who is being forced to oppose Sanzo
by Gyukumen Koushu, Gyumaoh's concubine. Aiding Kougaji are his half-
sister, Lirin, and his trusted friends, an apothecary named Yaone, and
a warrior named Dokugakugi. Action, adventure, mystery, mysticism,
introspection, an awesome opening song, and a sense of humor that
shows up whenever it feels like it, all make this a top-notch anime.
Licenced by ADV in North America, and by Madman in Australia.
Official website:
<http://www.enokifilmsusa.com/library/saiyuki.htm>
Official North American website:
<http://www.advfilms.com/favorites/saiyuki/>
[Entry by Bill Martin]
GEO-ARMOR: see KI****N HEIDAN
GEOBREEDERS: It's a time when cats are feared. They possess the
ability to change into nekojin (cat-people), enter electronic
equipment, and they torture humanity. The best way to defeat them is
with the use of talismans that have been plugged into a computer.
However, not all of the "Phantom Cats" are evil. Such is the case
of one named Maya who hangs around Yoichi Taba, the lone guy working
for Kagura Security. When Maya gets kidnapped, Yoichi gets "forced"
into hiring his Kagura Security compatriots to get her back. Hijinx
ensue when the ladies try to take advantage of his situation.
Available in North America from CPM.
[Entry by Bill Martin]
GHOST IN THE SHELL: Hong Kong, years from now, and a collaboration
work between Masamune ****row and western influences to produce a
special police force on the hunt for a mysterious creature that steals
peoples' "ghosts" and reprograms them for its own purposes. However,
it seems to be so elusive that it is questionable if it is actually
one person, or even human. The common factor with the force is their
cybernetic upgrades. Based on the successful manga series, though the
manga is nowhere as dark as the film. Some folk refer to this film as
"Frain's Folly" as it saw the end of Andy Frain at Manga Video after
poor sales in the UK.
[Entry by Chika]
GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND-ALONE COMPLEX: The latest animated
version of the story of GHOST IN THE SHELL, a series originally
created by Masamune ****row, features all the characters that were made
famous in the original series and just about all the same mecha and
premise of the original. This version, however, bears closer
resemblance to the manga original with all the humour still very much
present from Batou's flippancy to the adventures of the "Tachikomas",
the robot tanks with their own AI and a short series to boot at the
end of each episode: "Tachikomatic Days". In this post-WWIII
setting, most folk are at least partially cybernetically enhanced,
including the use of artificial brains. This leads to a number of
possibilities for crime which section 9 must deal with. The series is
divided mostly into stand alone episodes and an ongoing story about a
serial blackmailer known as the "Laughing Man". Available from Manga
Video.
[Entry by Chika]
GOKUDOU-KUN: Sword and Sorcery go "slumming" in this bawdy tour
across the myths and magical tales of dozens of countries. Teenaged
thief, swordsman and sometime sorcerer Gokudou wants the simple things
in life: unlimited wealth, beautiful women, and a chance to get away
from his old witch Mother (who happens to be a very good sorceress).
He sets off on a series of adventures that take him to strange lands
with odd companions and the occasional body switch. Comedy,
adventure, pretty girls and even musical reviews make GOKUDOU-KUN a
fast-pasted and fun piece of "low fantasy".
Licenced by Media Blasters in North America.
[Entry by Dave Baranyi]
GOKUSEN: A successful comedy based on the manga which also spawned
a live-action series (drama).
Kumiko Yamaguchi is a nerdy, gl*****-wearing new teacher anxious to
start her new future of molding the impressionable minds of Japan's
youth at an all-boys school! But her dream takes a slight detour when
she's given the worst class in the school - filled with delinquents.
If that's not enough, she's also the last surviving heir of Yamaguchi
clan - the largest, most powerful yakuza clan in Japan - and if her
Grandfather's lackies have their way, their next boss.
Even though Kumiko (or Yankumi as her students nickname her) may
seem geeky and weak, she was raised in a yakuza household where she
learned to fight and be strong from the toughest yakuza in Japan. As
a result, she is able to save her students from all sorts of trouble,
but eventually the students, and even the faculty, begin to suspect
she's more than just a bookworm. Especially when she lapses into
yakuza lingo and rough talkin'.
The series creates plenty of laughs just with the tension Yankumi
faced being a teacher to delinquents and the demands placed on her
being a yakuza heir, but it's the characters make this series. The
characters are troubled and rough, but likable. And Yankumi is so fun
and spirited that her optimistic spirit is infectious. You can't help
but root for this motley crew of hooligans and gangsters.
Age: 14+ Warnings: Fighting (fisticuffs), swearing (in the dub),
and criminal behavior.
[Entry by Travers Naran]
GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES: A powerful and moving story about two
children orphaned when their village is fire-bombed in WWII. This is
an excellent work by Studio Ghibli that should include the warning
"May cause severe sadness." The art is fabulous and the story has a
strong emotional impact.
Available in North America from CPM.
[Entry by Robin Casady]
G.T.O. (a.k.a. GREAT TEACHER ONIZUKA): Even though the series
starts off with an shot up a schoolgirl's skirt, the series follows
the exploits of Ekichi Onizuka in his quest to be a great teacher and
all the troubles he encounters. From the vice principal to the class
that hasn't keep a teacher all year in who knows how long, he's got
his hands full, then there's the fact that he's got the hots for a
fellow teacher. Released by TokyoPop in North America.
[Entry by Bill Martin]
GUNBUSTER (a.k.a. AIM FOR THE TOP!): An affectionate parody of
mecha anime and a good story concerning the life and times of Takaya
Noriko, a schoolgirl whose father died in mysterious cir***stances
during an ongoing war with a strange alien race. Noriko has to learn
how to control her mecha, make friends, deal with a traumatic love
affair that ends badly, and try to prop up her mentor who, while she
starts out strong enough, she suffers later on. All this set against
deteriorating friend****ps caused by the effects of time dilation!
Previously available on VHS in the US from US Renditions, then from
Manga Video; the licence has expired. Be aware that the UK version,
distributed by Kiseki Films, is edited.
[Entry by Chika]
GUNDAM (Mobile Suit Gundam, Stardust Memories, War in the Pocket,
MS Team 08, Zeta Gundam, ZZ Gundam, Char's Counterattack, Gundam Wing,
etc.): One thing to keep in mind with GUNDAM is that there are two
main continuities. One is known by the Universal Calendar and the
other is the After Colony calender. The UC timeline is the original,
while the newer GUNDAM WING universe uses the AC timeline. Other than
that they have giant robots and semi-realistic near-future Earth space
civilizations at war, they don't interrelate much.
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM was the first 'gritty' and 'realistic' giant
robot stories, paving the way for other series. Before MS GUNDAM,
most giant robot stories were vehicles for selling toys in Japan.
GUNDAM revolutionized the genre by putting a background and a more
realistic use of giant robots. GUNDAM is war story, with extras.
Adding in ambiguous allies and enemies and an unusual manifest
destiny, it managed to tell a compelling story of a young man thrust
into the middle of an unwanted war. He and the ****p he ends up on
become the pivot on which their history is decided. The UC timeline
has the colonies rebelling against a static Earth Federation. One of
the more interesting points is that no one is really good or evil, per
se. Both have faults and heroes, both have their villains. The
Gundam units are on Earth's side for the most part.
MS GUNDAM, STARDUST MEMORIES, WAR IN THE POCKET and MS TEAM 08 all
are based (loosely) in the UC timeline. They all use or make mention
of the One Year War.
Many GUNDAM shows are available from Bandai in North America.
GUNDAM WING (and the finale, GUNDAM WING: ENDLESS WALTZ) are based
in the newer AC (After Colony) timeline. A repressive Earth
government is tyrannizing everyone, holding an iron grip over their
colonies. The colonies finally rebel, using five Gundam mobile suits.
Piloted by young freedom fighters, they are the colonies best hope to
break the iron grip of Earth. Part soldiers and part terrorists, the
young pilots fight and interact with foes. Still a war drama, GUNDAM
WING puts an effort into some social commentary on war and death.
GUNDAM WING has been televised in the U.S., and is available from
Bandai in North America and Madman in Australia.
[Entry by Arthur Hansen]
Official website: <http://www.gundamofficial.com/>
GUNDAM WING: see GUNDAM
GUNDAM WING: ENDLESS WALTZ: see GUNDAM
GUNNM: see BATTLE ANGEL
GUNPARADE MARCH: Don't be fooled, it is not what it seems. The
trailer, the box blurb, and even the first few episodes make GUNPARADE
MARCH seem like a second-rate GUNDAM (with lots of girls) versus the
alien invaders who will save the Earth saga. The army mecha division
is even based at an all-girls' high school with only two boys on
campus for extra shonen-ness.
Ever hear of 'a wolf in sheep's clothing'? This series is a shoujo
high-school romantic-angst story masquerading as a shonen mecha
adventure. In truth, there are few battles, and when we leave this
little corner of the war, the war goes on. Also, even though there
are girls everywhere, there is basically no fanservice except for the
single change-of-pace romantic-comedy episode that has some above
average bloomer service. There is, however, an adorable little
8-year-old girl with a tragic backstory.
Available from Media Blasters.
[Entry by Rob Maxwell]
GUNSLINGER GIRL: This is a thirteen-episode series set in
modern-day Italy, rife with political and police corruption, organised
crime and terrorism. A shadowy government agency uses cyborged
adolescent girls as assassins, tied to their supervisors ("fratello",
or siblings) by brainwa****ng and mental conditioning for obedience and
loyalty. The story is often bloody and violent but also includes
scenes where the girls interact with each other and their fratello in
a remarkably sympathetic manner. Each of the girls featured has a
distinct personality, often mirroring their fratello for whom they
feel "affection" in differing ways.
In the wrong hands this series could have been superficial;
Madhouse are to be congratulated on avoiding the obvious pitfalls.
The character animation is not the finest but the backgrounds are
faithful to the Italian cities the stories are set in. The violence
is realistically displayed; blood and death are inextricably linked in
this series. Technically, the depiction of firearms is pretty well
spot-on. Each of the girls has a signature weapon and uses it
appropriately, a rarity in anime. American R1 licencing was announced
by FUNimation in June 2004; the R2 Japanese DVDs are already being
released.
[Entry by Robert Sneddon]
GUNSMITH CATS: Rally Vincent and May Hopkins are bounty-hunters in
Chicago. Rally is a sharp-shooter with a passion for fast 70's s****ts
cars, and May likes explosives - lots of explosives. A BATF agent
named Bill Collins "hires" Rally to help him break up a gun-smuggling
ring, and big trouble ensues, leading eventually to the Mayor's
office. Based loosely on the manga by Kenichi Sonoda. Good art and
animation. Some violence and lots of shooting. Three episodes.
Available from ADV Films.
[Entry by Ben Cantrick]
H
hack//SIGN: see .hack//SIGN
HAGANE NO RENKINJUTSU****: see FULL METAL ALCHEMIST
HAIBANE RENMEI (variously translated as ASH WINGS ALLIANCE,
CHARCOAL FEATHERS FEDERATION, or variations on these): HAIBANE RENMEI
is a mysterious and low key story about a girl (Rakka) who wakes up in
an unfamiliar but seemingly normal world, except she now has pale grey
wings and a halo. Unable to remember her past life or even her name,
Rakka is welcomed into a community of other winged and haloed girls.
Are they angels? None of them know what they are, so they simply call
themselves Haibane (grey wings). The nearby town is populated by
normal people, who seem to view the Haibane as little more than
beggars. A high wall surrounds the entire district and no-one,
Haibane or human, knows what lies beyond; only the crows and some
mysterious visitors to the town are able to go beyond the wall. In
the early episodes Rakka spends her time making friends and finding
out about her new world, but her carefree days come to an abrupt end
halfway through the series when one of her new friends mysteriously
disappears, leaving Rakka bewildered and grief-stricken. From then on
the series has a much darker tone, as Rakka looks into her soul and
wonders how she ended up in this walled place (a refuge or a prison?),
and tries to learn the secrets of the inscrutable Haibane Renmei
(Haibane Union), the monastic order which regulates their lives.
The series is by Yo****o**** ABe who also did the character design
of LAIN, who Rakka resembles. 13 episodes.
Licenced by Geneon in North America, by MVM in the UK, and by
Madman in Australia.
[Entry by Shez]
HAPPY LESSON: Most ordinary boys Chitose Hitose's age can only
dream of a harem of beautiful women. Many of them are at that
rebellious phase in thier lives, fighting their parents at every step.
Imagine his surprise when in one fell swoop, Chitose suddenly finds
himself living with a harem of five beautiful women, who all want to
be his mother!
Ordinary boys of Chitose's age might for at least part of the day
replace the annoyances of family life with the annoyances of school
life, but even here, Chitose finds no reprieve, as his "mothers" are
also his teachers!
Throw in a cute younger sister, an idol older sister, an "evil"
genius, and the class representative who wants his head on a platter
(or a string tied around his heart), and it's a safe bet that Chitose
Hitose's life is anything but ordinary.
A harem comedy that turns the genre on its head, HAPPY LESSON is a
fun filled romp of an answer to the question, "What is family anyway?"
Available in North America from ADV.
[Entry by Abraham Evangelista]
HARE+GUU: see JUNGLE WA ITSUMO HARE NOCHI GUU
HARE NOCHI GUU: see JUNGLE WA ITSUMO HARE NOCHI GUU
HELLSING: Great Britain's secret weapon against things that go
bump in the night is a paranormal division called Hellsing, which
keeps a vampire named Alucard as its ace agent. He is very effective
in dealing with the targets, but he's also snarky, sadistic, and has
the hots for his "Master", one Integra(l) Hellsing. This tale of
vampires as vampire hunters has it all: a buxom young vampire who
angsts about losing her humanity, a kickass butler with killer floss,
a division of the Vatican dedicated to wiping out monsters, and of
course the aformentioned Alucard and Integra. Some of the animation
quality is atrocious, but overall the series is dark, cool, and leaves
you cheering for more. 13 episodes, subbed and dubbed.
PARENTAL ADVISORY: Extreme violence (blood, gore, torture, and
Alucard doing really scary stuff), swear words up the wazoo (bleeped
out on TV, mostly), and lots of ***ual tension.
Licenced by Geneon in North America, by ADV in the UK, and by
Madman in Australia.
[Entry by Dot Warner]
HERE IS GREENWOOD: Hasakawa has the worst luck: He's late for his
high school entry exams, then he's late for high school, and his older
brother has married the woman of his dreams. As he heads to school,
he figures things are looking up, until he finds out he's been put in
"GreenWood", the dorm notorious for its weird residents. Having a
roommate who looks like a girl is the *least* of his problems ...
Previously released on VHS in North America by Central Park Media;
the North America DVD licence is held by Media Blasters.
[Entry by Catherine Johnson]
HEROIC LEGEND OF ARISLAN: see ARSLAN SENKI
HIKARU NO GO: Hikaru was your typical hot-blooded youth who had no
interest in Go until he met Sai, a go-obsessed spirit who died before
he could achieve his fondest wish: to play the "hand of god", the
perfect move. After being possessed by Sai, Hikaru begins taking
interest in this strange "old man's game" (as well as gaining the
rivalry of Touya Akira, another go prodigy), and discovers that he's
surprisingly gifted, even without Sai's help. Basically, it's go as a
s****ts anime, a premise that works surprisingly well, understandable
even for people who don't play the game. The series contains 75
episodes and a handful of specials.
[Entry by Dot Warner]
HIS AND HER CIR***STANCES: see KARE**** KANOJO NO JIJYO
HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE: Although only 18 years old, Sophie Hatter
lives like a much older woman. One day during an outing in the town,
she attracts the attention of two powerful sorcerers, the bishounen
Howl Jenkins and the well-preserved Witch of the Waste. Becoming a
pawn in the conflict between them, Sophie is turned into an old lady.
Seeking to break the spell, Sophie leaves her home and makes herself a
job as the cleaning lady in Howl's castle (think steampunk RV).
Based on Diana Wynne Jones' novel of the same name, Miyazaki's
version of HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE incor****ates a wartime context for the
pseudo-European setting and provides Howl with the motivation for
fighting the act of war rather than in a war. Unlike Miyazaki's other
work, which focus on young characters, HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE explores
issues of maturity and aging as Sophie and Howl come to terms with
adult responsibilities and the Witch of the Waste faces up to her true
age.
[Entry by laurie cubbison]
HUMANOID: Fairly retro feel here in a story about the creation of
a scientific genius, referred to as a "humanoid". The planet on which
this happens is also the resting place of other and greater
technology, power which the planetary governor wouldn't mind getting
his hands on. The story seems to revolve around the development of
the humanoid, some of which is voluntary, indeed resonant of KEY THE
METAL IDOL, and around the deeds of the governor as he realises his
folly ...
[Entry by Chika]
HYPER POLICE: It is the distant future, normal humans are
considered an endangered species. It is the time of the monsters/half-
breeds. This is the story of a 6-year old cat-girl by the name of
Natsuki Sasahara. She works as a bounty hunter with various other
monsters. However, the company that she works for is having financial
troubles, one of her co-workers has a crush on her, one is trying to
eat her, and those are just her partners ... Can she survive when
times are tough? Can she get her own Bounty Hunter license? And ...
can she find a pair of undies that she doesn't have to cut out a
****tion for her tail?
[Entry by Bill Martin]
I
I CAN HEAR THE SEA: A snotty Tokyo girl moves to a provincial sea
town, there she clashes with her new classmates in high school. Told
from the perspective of one of the local boys who is first appalled by
her, but later befriends her when he finds out about the divorce of
her parents and helps her cope with her family problems. A sweet,
subdued story about growing up to be an adult and about first love
with some interesting insights into everyday life of Japanese school
and college students.
[Entry by Hanno Mueller]
ICZER-1: An ongoing battle between races with planet-tra****ng
abilities comes to Earth. Humans suddenly start turning into weird,
bloodthirsty monsters without warning. Into this havoc comes Iczer-1,
a girl (well, she looks like one, anyway), and she enlists the
unwilling help of a young human girl called Nagisa to help pilot the
big Iczer-Robo mecha. The story behind this is a bit convoluted and
difficult to explain without introducing spoilers, but there is a link
between Iczer-1 and her enemies, and there is a bigger menace waiting
in the wings. A later series, ICZER-3, is based on this series.
Was available from US Renditions when US Renditions was still in
operation; currently licenced by Media Blasters.
[Entry by Chika]
ICZER-3: Earth has been taken over by Big Gold's daughter (see
ICZER-1) and Iczer-1 is in no fit state to do anything about it. All
there is left is Iczer-1's little sister, Iczer-3, but she is very
much a rookie. Just as well that Nagisa is waiting aboard the only
remaining Earth ****p, sitting waiting on the moon along with its crew.
The story is very similar to ICZER-1 except that there isn't quite so
much body-snatching; each episode seeing the crew and Iczer-3 battle
each of the baddies (mostly rejects from the Negaverse!!!). Iczer-1
and Iczer-2 both emerge at the end, by the way. ICZER-3 is available
subbed from USMC.
[Entry by Chika]
I'M GONNA BE AN ANGEL: see TEN**** NI NARUMON
INU-YASHA: Hundreds of years ago in Feudal Japan, during the
Sengoku Jidai (or Warring States Era), there was a half-demon, half-
human hybrid named Inu-Yasha. He sought to capture the ****kon no Tama
(or Jewel of Four Souls) for himself, but Kikyo, the priestess who had
guarded the jewel, sealed him away with a sacred arrow. On her
deathbed, she was cremated along with the Jewel ... but the story does
not end there. In the modern age of the present day, Kagome
Higura****, a seemingly ordinary girl, is thrust back into the Sengoku
Jidai by a magical well, and must now protect the mysteriously
reappeared ****kon no Tama from the fearsome demons and ogres that
wander across the land. But can she rely on Inu-Yasha, the
resurrected half-demon, to help her defend this enigmatic jewel? A
gothic horror/adventure series, with romantic comedy elements, from
Rumiko Takaha**** (creator of RANMA 1/2 and MAISON IKKOKU). Licenced
by Viz.
[Entry by Nicholas A. Jalowick]
IRIA (a.k.a. ZEIRAM, THE ANIMATION): Set in a future time Iria is
a bounty hunter in training. She, her brother Gren and their boss Bob
are hired to for a rescue mission when the most dangerous lifeform in
the galaxy Zeiram shows up as part of the cargo. Escaping to the
planet Taowajan with no idea on the fate of Gren or Bob, Iria must
deal with the authorities idea of urban renewal which is to allow
Zeiram to run loose in a city slum. Later on all records of the
rescue mission have vanished and Iria must contend with a conspiracy
that wants to silence her before she can find out what their plans for
Zeiram are. (6 episode series on VHS and DVD by US Manga)
[Entry by Bruce Grubb]
IRRESPONSIBLE CAPTAIN TYLOR: Through a series of coincidences (or
are they?), Justy Tylor (aged 20) becomes captain of the Battle
Cruiser Soyokaze, which is full of misfits and rejects. His
easy-going, do-your-own-thing manner annoys and confuses friend and
foe alike, and his amazing successes keep people wondering: Is he
incredibly lucky or incredibly clever?
Available from The Right Stuf International.
[Entry by Catherine Johnson]
J
JOURNEY TO THE WEST: see GENSOMADEN SAIYUKI
JUBEI NIMPUUCHO: see NINJA SCROLL
JUNGLE EMPEROR LEO: see KIMBA THE WHITE LION
JUNGLE TAITEI: see KIMBA THE WHITE LION
JUNGLE WA ITSUMO HARE NOCHI GUU (a.k.a. HARE+GUU): Pure madness in
a jungle that seems to have escaped from a Salvador Dali painting.
Ten-year-old Hare's quiet life in the Jungle with his mother Weda is
turned into a comic inferno one day when Weda brings home "cute"
little Guu, a girl who appears to be around Hare's age. But Guu turns
out to be an inexplicable being - unimaginably powerful and yet a
cynical trickster who seems to be there specifically to turn Hare's
life into a living damnation. HARE NOCHI GUU is a brilliantly witty
series with astoundingly imaginative writing that at its core is based
upon some very memorable and likeable characters.
Licenced in North America by AN Entertainment.
R1 official website: <http://www.hareguu.com/>
[Entry by Dave Baranyi]
JUUNI KOKKI (a.k.a. THE TWELVE KINGDOMS, CHRONICLE OF TWELVE
COUNTRIES, JUUNI KOKUKI): Youko ****ajima is summoned into another
world alongside two of her classmates after she is attacked by
mysterious beasts at school, and becomes embroiled in a political
struggle over the rule of one of the Twelve Kingdoms that make up this
world. This is only one of the storylines that occupies this 45
episode series, however - later story arcs follow others who have been
swept into the Twelve Kingdoms through Youko's perspective. What
perhaps seems like a slightly stale coming-of-age girl-in-another-
world story is given a darker twist than many other such shows,
featuring racism, assassination and betrayal. There's a lot more
focus on political and cultural aspects compared to, say, ESCAFLOWNE,
although the slow pace and excessive angst may put some off. The
first two story arcs are available on DVD in Region 1 from Media
Blasters, with the first disc of the third arc due shortly.
[Entry by Andrew Hollingbury]
K
KACHOU OOJI: see LEGEND OF BLACK HEAVEN
KALEIDO STAR: Sora Naegino travels to America to fulfil her dream
of joining Kaleido Stage, an incredible circus. Even getting in is
hard enough, however, and with opposition from the prima donna of the
Stage, Sora's journey to become a Kaleido Star is certainly not going
to be plain sailing.
KALEIDO STAR adds little new to the shoujo s****ts cliche
established back in AIM FOR THE ACE with its story of one girl's rise
to the top, but it is endlessly entertaining thanks to a brilliant
cast of characters, a heroine you can really root for and some
excellent animation from Gonzo (especially during the various
"production numbers" the circus puts on).
The first season of 26 episodes is now available from ADV on Region
1 DVD, with the second forthcoming shortly.
R1 official website:
<http://www25.advfilms.com/titles/kaleidostar/>
[Entry by Andrew Hollingbury]
KALEIDO STAR: NEW WINGS: In the second season of KALEIDO STAR,
Sora Naegino faces challenges from an arrogant perfectionist and a new
rival eager to take her spot as she discovers what is needed to become
a true Kaleido Star.
The NEW WINGS series continues the outstanding animation and vocal
talents from the first season, and adds a bit of depth and challenge
to the plot, as Sora faces her own demons as well as the challenges
from the other performers eager to take what she wants from the stage.
The second season of 25 episodes (plus an "Extra Stage" OVA
episode) is now available from ADV in Region 1.
[Entry by Michael Falkner]
KAMICHU!: Hitotsuba**** Yurie surprises her middle-school friend
Mitsue one lunchtime by announcing she has become a God ... thus
begins a delightfully sweet story of friend****p, godhood, aliens,
calligraphy, unrequited love, adventure and the climbing of many steep
hills. Set in the town of Onomichi on Japan's Inland Sea, this
superbly animated series mixes ****nto mythology with schoolwork, magic
with lost cats, and makes passing references to other popular anime
series like AH! MY GODDESS and READ OR DIE.
The entire series runs to 16 episodes on DVD. Twelve
slightly-edited episodes have been shown on TV in Japan, and Geneon
has announced an American DVD release for all 16 episodes starting in
June 2006. A manga is currently running in Dengeki Daioh.
[Entry by Robert Sneddon]
KAMIKAZE KAITOU JANNU (a.k.a. KAMIKAZE PHANTOM THIEF JEANNE): TV
series, 40+ episodes. Animated by the SAILOR MOON anime team,
KAMIKAZE KAITOU JEANNE takes the storyline of SAINT TAIL and gives it
some new twists. Maron is a 16 year old girl with two secrets: an
inner loneliness due to her divorced parents' failure to contact her
in years; and the fact that she's the reincarnation of Jeanne d'Arc
(Joan of Arc). Sadly, Maron's adventures seem to have nothing in
common with those of her namesake, except that both are on missions
from God. Egged on by the diminutive angel Fin that only she can see
or hear, Maron must steal and destroy art treasures that have become
possessed by demons. Her missions are hampered by a detective's
daughter who is determined to capture Kaitou Jeanne, and by masked
rival Sindbad. The bishoujo character styling is very SAILOR MOONish,
whilst the storyline is CARDCAPTOR SAKURA with added cops'n'robbers.
Although the episode plots are feeble and cartoonish, the central
character Maron is engaging and just deep enough to make you want to
see "just one more" episode.
[Entry by Shez]
KANNAZUKI NO MIKO: In a town named 'Paradise' lives Kurusugawa
Himeko, a quiet and clumsy girl who lives life at her own pace. A
pretty if unremarkable girl, her only specialties are photography and
being late.
Himeko quite literally falls into the life of Himemiya Chikane, the
'princess' of the school, and daughter of an influential family.
Chikane's popularity is rivaled only by the school's 'prince', Oogami
Souma.
Souma is Himeko's childhood friend and every bit Chikane's rival in
athletics, popularity, and his attraction to Himeko. Souma's family
tends the shrine outside of town.
Upon learning that she shares a birthday with Himeko, Chikane
schedules a "private birthday party for just us."
Then things gets weird.
The night before the birthday arrives, and Himeko's musings on the
coming party are interrupted by a black moon, and the coming of one of
Orochi's heads, who rises from lake as mecha, with the stylings of a
Gundam, but a matrial arts move list stolen straight from the
Super-Robo genre.
Will it be a happy birthday? Who win Himeko's heart? Will the
Orochi bring eternal darkness to the world, or will the sun and moon
priestesses seal him away? Stick with KANNAZUKI NO MIKO, and find
out!
Loosely based on the legend of the Orochi, KANNAZUKI NO MIKO is a
compelling shoujo yuri unrequited love story with shounen fantasy
elements and mecha. KANNADUKI NO MIKO spans 12 episodes, and is
available in R1 from Geneon Entertainment.
[Entry by Abraham Evangelista]
KARE**** KANOJO NO JIJYO (a.k.a. KAREKANO, or HIS AND HER
CIR***STANCES): Yukino Miyazawa is an intelligent and popular student
who craves the attention this gives her, and she works hard to keep
the impressions she makes in all her classmates' minds. However, on
the day of her high school entrance ceremonies, she finds that the
position of incoming class representative that she wanted so much has
been taken by a boy named Arimi Souichiro. While this enrages her,
she eventually finds herself drawn closer to him, and he to her. When
their popular masks finally slip in front of each other, they find
that they have fallen in love.
This romantic drama was Gainax's first TV series after the
legendary NEON GENESIS EVANGELION, and carries over some of its
experimental tendencies, only this time to more comic effect; they
carried that over and built on it in future series such as FLCL and
ABENOBA**** MAHOU SHOUTENGAI. Based on the popular shoujo manga by
Masami Tsuda, and, whilst a quality series, the anime has a
frustrating non-ending, since the manga is still running in the
monthly "LaLa" at the time of writing.
Licenced by Right Stuf.
[Entry by David Watson]
KAZEMAKASE TSUKIKAGE RAN: see TSUKIKAGE RAN
(continued in part 5)
--
Rob Kelk <http://robkelk.ottawa-anime.org/>
e-mail: s/deadspam/gmail/
"I'm *not* a kid! Nyyyeaaah!" - Skuld (in "Oh My Goddess!" OAV #3)
"When I became a man, I put away childish things, including the fear
of childishness and the desire to be very grown-up." - C.S. Lewis
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