Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 98 - Who's The Lucky One?

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Introduction
And finally we are caught up to the current episode. Enjoy more timely reviews from this point on. I may not be the most analytical reviewer, a lot of my recommendations are based off how entertained I was by a show. Which is how I am approaching this episode. There are bits that could be complained about, but in the end it was entertaining, and that's all I'm asking for.

You can never have too many of these screenshots.

One Piece Anime Retrospective

Obviously I can't review every episode of the One Piece anime before the time skip starts. And even reviewing it in chunks would take too long. So instead I'm going to write a short retrospective article about my experience with One Piece.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 97 - Best Partner

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Introduction
With the beginning of a new arc come dire foreshadowings. Sideline characters get more focus, and best of all, new music! The start of a new arc is always one of the best parts of a lot of anime. The same is true of Fairy Tail.

Post Updates

I run a few extra blogs, on different topics. I've figured that I might as well periodically post links to new posts in case anyone reading this is interested.

My most recent post is on The Ironforge, a blog where I talk about medieval weapons. My most recent post is a personal experience where I got into a heated argument about how much swords weighed. While having lunch at Red Robin.

Yes. This happened.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 96 - That Which Extinguishes Life

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Introduction
With the previous arc at an end, now we take some time to recover before the next big arc. A good chunk of this episode is filler, but as is par the course, none of it is stupid. If nothing else, Fairy Tail can be trusted to be entertaining. No matter how odd it gets.

A New Helper Has Arrived!

Hello there, I'm Monorum though I prefer to be called Moe. I'm an unemployed, twenty-two year-old Asian who will be doing the Blue Exorcist anime reviews for the site from now on. Derek and I have known each other for a few years via chatting online. We've even met in person last year at San Diego Comic-Con 2010. He's easy to get along with once you get to know him.

While we were having our usual chats a couple days ago, Derek mentioned he has been busy lately and needed someone to take over for the Blue Exorcist anime reviews. Since I had been caught up with the series at the time, I offered to help him. I'm not in college right now but I am an English major which is why I decided to offer my assistance not to mention I have more free time than Derek does until I get a job where I am (which will not be easy considering the state I live in).

I look forward to bringing you reviews of the latest Blue Exorcist episodes as I hope to review more series in the future like Star Driver, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, and if possible, take over ongoing series reviews like Beelzebub in the near future.

And Toriko.
-The Editor

I hope the crows feast on your flesh.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 95 - Lisanna

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Introduction
With this episode the Edolas arc comes to a close. Besides the episode itself, we must consider the arc as a whole. Is it better or worse than the manga? Is this episode a good ending to the arc? Both questions will be considered in this review.

Year Of One Piece: Introduction

I originally intended to do this much later, but with the time skip in the anime coming up, I decided this would be a good time to start. A while back I was reading a blog that was focusing an entire year on Rumiko Takahashi's work. I liked the idea, and decided to do the same for One Piece. With a few differences. Instead of focusing on just the manga, I would review everything related to One Piece I could get my hands on.

This includes the Funimation DVDs, the released manga volumes, music, movies, ovas, games, the anime episodes. Basically anything goes. As long as I can get my hands on it. Originally I intended to spend some time gathering as much reviewable material as I could. But the timing is just too good now. So I'll review what I have now, and whenever I have the money I'll pick up new material. A year is a long time, who knows what I can find in that time. And who knows, maybe I'll suddenly find a ton of spendable cash.

Donations are appreciated.

In order to be certain that all your donations go towards Year of One Piece, I won't provide a donation button. Instead you can click that link for my amazon wish list, where I have entered the materials I might need later on.

I'm going to continue other reviews, especially weekly anime reviews, but I can promise at least one One Piece related review each week. More whenever I have the time.

A year is a long time, especially for one man. But One Piece deserves more than a year. And there is so much released even outside of Japan that I could easily fill a year with just that. So join me, every Monday (for One Piece anime reviews) and Wednesday as I delve deep into the world wide phenomena that is One Piece.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 94 - Bye-bye, Edolas

 

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Introduction
The arc closes in on the finale, as everything comes to an end in Edolas. Will Mystogan's plan succeed? Or will Natsu throw a wrench in yet another plan?

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 93 - I'm Standing Here

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Introduction
Sometimes there are episodes that could use a little bit of work on the pacing. But oddly enough even the drawn out episodes of Fairy Tail are not as irritatingly slow as some series have been in the past.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 92 - Those Who Are Alive

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Introduction
This episode illustrates what good filler is. Filler's entire purpose is to stretch out the story to keep pace with the manga publication. When it's bad, filler distracts; when it's good, filler fills in any holes left by the original.

Goodreads

I've recently joined Goodreads. It looks like a pretty nifty site, and I can post the reviews I write there here. So I'm going to start using that format for my book reviews. Should give me the motivation I need to catch up on my book reviews.

You can find my profile here.

Facebook Page Live

Deciding to abandon all shame, I have started up a facebook page. I normally like to keep my blog and facebook separate, since that's where all my family is. But social media is the way to go, so I figured I might as well bit the bullet and start actually using facebook.

So for your entertainment, I present my facebook page. It's just barebones right now, but I'll update it as I go along and pimp it all up.

Hope to see you there.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 91 - Dragon Sense

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Introduction
When one writes many reviews over a short period of time, one realizes that sometimes one does not always have something to say in the introduction. At which point one realizes that the only thing to do, is draw attention to that fact, and immediately get others to forgive the lame introductions prior and following.

One Piece DVDs Cheap on RightStuf!

Sometimes you just have to take advantage of a good deal. For example, these:

One Piece: Collection One
One Piece: Collection Two
One Piece: Collection Three

Are really, really good deals. That's twenty four episodes for less than twenty bucks. If I weren't a completionist who all ready had some of the previous One Piece DVD releases, I would be sore tempted to pick this set up. But since I have little to know money, I can't really be spending anything on leisure items.

What I can do is let you, my loyal followers, know about the deals that make even broke me tempted to stretch my wallet a little thinner.

RightStuf! is having a Bargain Bin sale for the last three voyages of season one of One Piece. I don't know if they are making space in their inventory—though the lack of voyage one of season one suggests that—but this is a great opportunity for any One Piece fans that were on the fence about buying the DVDs.

Each voyage is selling for $6.99 for a total of less than $21 for all three sets. That's forty episodes of One Piece for about the same as the twenty four episodes for $20 for the new Collections.

If you all ready have any of the season voyages, I recommend jumping on this opportunity. Especially if you're a completionist like myself. But if you just want to support One Piece in the United States, then I recommend breaking out your wallet for this rare opportunity.

Season One Voyage 2
Season One Voyage 3
Season One Voyage 4

Support One Piece, Buy One Piece Merchandise!

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 90 - The Boy Back Then

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Introduction
I consider myself a manly man. Whether this is the truth can be, and has been, debated. However, if there is one thing I pride myself in, it's my ability to remain stone faced, no matter the circumstances. For the past year anime has been going out of its way to prove me wrong. This is one of those episodes.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 89 - The Doomsday Dragon Chain Cannon

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Introduction
Every story has a moment where everything seems its darkest. This is a requirement to build proper suspense before the climax. Fairy Tail reaches this point this episode, as the arc continues towards its climax.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 88 - The Great River of Stars is For Pride

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Introduction
The thing about Fairy Tail is that unlike so many other shonen fighter anime, it doesn't waste the viewers' time. An episode like this one shows that perfectly, where not only does an entire fight begin and end in the same episode, but a second fight begins and ends almost immediately after that. It's only been eighty eight episodes, but an amazing amount of story has been crammed into those about forty four hours.

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 87 - It's Life!!!

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Introduction
While playing around with the new blogger interface I noticed that my anime reviews, particularly my Fairy Tail reviews got the most page views. So I decided that I should probably take advantage of this, and get caught up on Fairy Tail before I move on to catch up on the other series I review, as well as start up some new reviews very soon. And pick up a series I had dropped. So please, enjoy as I rush to finish off reviewing the Edolas arc, before we move on to the S-Class Exam arc.

And yes, I am excited that the anime will continue past the Edolas Arc.  We're approaching the big 100, so chances are the Fairy Tail anime won't be going away anytime soon.

Editorials: Post 300! Or, My Cat is an Idiot, Possibly a Wizard, or a Ninja. NINJA WIZARD CAT!!!

Oh well, two out of three isn't so bad.

I realized the other day that I have exactly 299 blog posts up on my blog. To mark this occasion I decided to write a more personal post. I normally save my writing blog for personal updates, but since no one ever reads that one, I decided a few personal posts here couldn't hurt.

Fail Blog is Fail

I just got a comment for my review of Toriko Episode 11. It was left by Anonymous, and all it said were the cryptic words: "fail blog is fail"

At first I thought, "What a jerk, I put a lot of effort into this. Who is he to dismiss my work because he, or she, does not care for it?"

Then I realized. It's not that Anonymous used an outdated internet meme to be critical of someone because it gives them a chubby. Oh no, it was not so simple. This person, this idiot savant, was sharing the fundamental truth all bloggers share. Sure his syntax could use some work, but the gem of truth was there, amid the midst of all that bile condensed into such a small package.

This is that truth, That blogs that fail, are in fact failing.

He could have told me what he did not like about my blog. He could have said something to help improve future reviews. He could have done literally anything, and it would have been helpful. But instead he chose the path most beneficial to me. For if I did not figure this out on my own, the lesson never could have been mine. Instead of giving me a fish, he taught me HOW to fish.

Truly, this person, this...Anonymous, is a modern day Confucius. Though he sits in his mother's basement, cheeto stained fingers leaving prints on his keyboard, he has abandoned all physical needs for the pursuit of true internet mastery. Only he alone knows when a blog is fail, and he gives his wisdom only to those worthy.

Thank you, Anonymous, I will never forget the favor you have shown me. I myself will pass it on to others. I will spread your holy word, that fail blog is fail. Bless you! Oh bless you great master!

Fail Blog is Fail!

Movie Reviews: Super 8

My cousin described this movie as being a callback to classic Spielberg movies. I have to admit that he's right. There is a lot going on in this movie that harkens back to a more nostalgic time in movies.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 15 - Act of Kindness

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Introduction
I would have to classify this episode as the last one in act one. Poopy has been splattered all over the ceiling, the status quo has been broken and Rin's secret has been revealed to his friends.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 14 - A Fun Camping Trip

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Introduction
Normally I would say this is the start of a new arc, except Blue Exorcist can't be broken down into arcs quite so readily. Instead I will say that this is the beginning of the end of act one of the series. The excrement has hit the proverbial fan, and we now move on to the second act.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 13 - Proof

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Introduction
Surprisingly little happens this episode, but a lot of background story is laid. Rin declares his secondary, more immediate goal, and the resident sexy chick is added to the cast. Also, I have very few usable screen shots for this review. Most of them will contain cartoon breasts. Just watch, my page views are going to sky rocket now.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 12 - A Game of Tag

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Introduction
I try not to ship. There is no faster way to ruin a new series than to start creating artificial relationships between characters. This is not an easy thing to do when the writer goes out of her way to make the male and female leads so darn cute!

Oh yeah, and there's some badass fighting.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 11 - Demon of the Deep

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Introduction
I consider myself a nice person. I'm not quite snarky enough to consistently write bad reviews for your entertainment. And really I feel that my role is more to tell people about good shows, books, and comics they should be watching or reading. But sometimes I find my hand forced, and the full force of my snark comes to bear.

Also, since I like you, I'm not going to torture you with a long plot summary before I tear into this episode.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 10 - Black Cat

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Introduction
I've let myself get way behind on my anime reviews, and now school has started. This is not a satisfactory state of events. As such chances are that you will be seeing a sudden influx of anime reviews. I'll be keeping them short, since that way I'll be able to get a lot more done.

I've also been reading a design book for one of my classes, so I've been getting a lot of ideas for revamping my site. Hopefully the changes to how I write my reviews will make things a little easier for you, the readers.