Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Episode 99 - Natsu vs Gildarts


Introduction
Fairy Tail has a good habit of breaking up the action properly. While the majority of the episode focuses on Natsu, enough material with the other characters is covered to keep the episode from feeling monotonous.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Anime Reviews: One Piece Episode 523 - A Surprising Fact! The Man Who Guarded The Sunny!


Introduction
It's one of the more satisfying One Piece episodes in a while, with some really good art. Though the animation does suffer in places. And important questions are answered.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Anime Reviews: One Piece Episode 522 - Everyone Together! Luffy, Setting Out For The New World!


Introduction
The review may be short, but the episode was good. There's some painful moments for Sanji fans, and some decent comedy for everyone else.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Anime Reviews: One Piece Episode 521 - The Battle Is On! Show Them What You Got From Training!


Introduction
Sometimes an episode can be hard to summarize. Not because it isn't good, but because for some reason I can't seem to write extensively about it. Is that a bad thing? Well, I know that I feel more accomplished when I write longer reviews, but maybe you like shorter reviews?

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Anime Reviews: Beelzebub Episodes 16 - 43


Introduction
A while back I decided to stop reviewing Beelzebub. I did this because at the time I had too much on my plate and needed to cut back on my work load a little. The excessive use of filler killed the enjoyment of the series for me as well, and while negative reviews are both fun to write and read, I needed to drop a series from my review pile. This one just happened to be the first on the chopping block.

Since then I have picked up a few more series, and learned more about how to write reviews. I've also changed my approach on how to review series I am behind on. It just didn't sit well with me to leave this series unreviewed when I'm picking up so many other series. And at the time I dropped it I had resigned myself to expecting this series to be cut short. Obviously that has not happened, so it is with great joy that I catch up with all the missed episodes, starting off a new weekly review series.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 7 - Suspicious Tropical Paradise


Introduction
What I thought was going to be an incredibly awkward episode turned out to be one of the funniest of the series. And yet, still awkward.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 6 - I'll Beat You, and Beat You Good


Introduction
Is there such a thing as 'too goofy'? If there is, I hope I never find it. Some people might be turned off from this episode, particularly in the latter half. But others might just find something that makes this one of their new favorite shows of the season.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 5 - Would You Love Me?


Introduction
In a strange move the anime decides to pull a plot thread from later on in the game to the foreground. Is it a good decision? Who knows, but it makes for an entertaining episode.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 4 - Somewhere Not Here


Introduction
Sometimes action isn't necessarily a good thing. While it may be more interesting to watch, it does tend to create episodes that are difficult to recap. This episode we get a lot of action as well as several shifts from present to flashbacks. In other words, my kind of recapping nightmare.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 3 - We Are Friends, Aren't We?


Introduction
Persona 4 The Animation continues its quest to prove it deserves to exist. Does it take full advantage of the medium, or is it just another attempt to cash in on a popular series? You be the judge! But in the meanwhile, let me tell you what you should think.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 2 - The Contractor's Key


Introduction
The stakes are raised, as a second murder hits close to home. Yosuke tries to figure out the connection between the murders and the TV world. Unaware that he will end up having to face his true self.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Anime Reviews: Fairy Tail Dub First Impressions Episodes 1-4


Introduction
Four episodes of the Fairy Tail dub have been released on Funimation's simulcast. I was originally going to review each episode as it came out, but that would be too much work. Sure I could use this as a chance to review all the episodes I never reviewed, but really, who cares? Instead I'll give you a first look at the long awaited Dub, and we can see if it stands up to the original. I'll save my commentary on following episodes for when I get my hands on the DVDs.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Manga Reviews: House of Five Leaves Volume 1

One of the advantages of the Manga Movable Feast that I've discovered is that it helps me expand my taste in manga. Without it I never would have given any of Natsume Ono's work a chance. And I'm glad I did try it out, because I've once again realized how narrow my tastes really are.

While I enjoy comics in general, and manga in specific, I've never been the first person to argue that they are literature. Not because I don't think they are deserving of the label, but because it's a discussion I've never felt I needed to become a part of. My personal opinion on the matter is that there's no need for arbitrarily labeling things according to their perceived worth. Everyone should just enjoy what they enjoy. House of Five Leaves is challenging that opinion in a way I cannot ignore. And so I will take my first step into this debate.

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 25 - Time, Stop



Introduction
A battle of two brothers who fight against their father in order to protect the world they love. It's the Okumura brothers versus Satan. Who will win? All I can say is, work that swag, Mephistopheles.


Monday, November 14, 2011

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 24 - Satan's Spawn


Introduction
Satan proves to be a rather difficult foe. He's not infamous for nothing. But the Esquires will stop at nothing to take him down.

Our heroes.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 23 - Truth

Introduction
Out of all the episodes of Blue Exorcist I have seen, none have puzzled me more than this one. Because this episode goes so far as to do something that just makes no sense. When I say it makes no sense, I mean it makes absolutely no sense.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Anime Reviews: Persona 4 The Animation Episode 1 - You're Myself, I'm Yourself


Introduction
I've never actually played Persona 4, but I have watched a friend play it, and watched the Giant Bomb Endurance Run videos. So I'm familiar with the story and characters. I consider it one of my favorite video games, that I've never played.

Gah!

Magazine Reviews: Shonen Jump October/November 2011 - Issue 9


Introduction
I'm always on the lookout for new things to review, new blog posts to write. I'd been toying with the idea of reviewing the American Shonen Jump every month, but hadn't ever gotten around to it. But since this issue is a pretty important one, I figured that now was as good a time as any to try this new type of review out.

And yes, this is a little late, I was debating whether I should even write this at all, considering the magazine will be going away soon. But in the end I'd already done some work on this, and figured I might as well. It may not be as relevant anymore, but if nothing else, it'll be good for progeny or something.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Anime Reviews: Blue Exorcist Episode 22 - Demon Hunting

Introduction
When Rin is woken up by Kuro, he realizes that Yukio never came back to their room. He is about to text him, only to realize that he is about to be late for class.