Angel's Anime Rating Guide

A while back, I picked up  Sorcerer on the Rocks aka Chivas 1-2-3 ... It's Shibas' job to rid his kingdom of powerful sorcerers and demonic monsters - for a price of course! In short, Shibas is a bounty hunter a very well paid bounty hunter! Although he may be debauched, debased and a real bastard at times, his services don't come cheap. He's that good! So good, that when a local nasty needs a powerful sorcerer to serve as a sacrifice, the "honor" goes to Shibas. It's just his bad luck that Shibas has no intention of cooperating...

I've rarely met a vampire I didn't like, so, of course I picked up Blood: The Last Vampire ... At the Yokoto Air Force base in Japan, a nervous American military is on the brink of the Vietnam War. But a greater threat exists within the walls of the heavily guarded compound: Vampires. A team of top-secret undercover agents dispatches a mysterious young woman to destroy them... she is the last remaining original. Featuring brilliant character designs, top-notch animation and a stunning musical score, "Blood: The Last Vampire" is a breakthrough in digital filmmaking, taking anime to a whole new level.

Elf Princess Rane  is notable for being an unfinished series... Move over Indiana Jones! Here comes Go Takarada! He's brave! He's smart! He's handsome! But how many treasures can a high school student find in his own hometown? Well, that'll never stop our energetic hero from trying. His abundant enthusiasm does pay off one day when, while running away from a very aggravated priest whose shrine he has just trashed, he runs straight into an Elf Princess named Rane.

A while ago, I picked up  Gasaraki ... Volume 1 The Summoning The flames of war explode in the Middle East as two shadow forces unleash monstrous new weapons of mass destruction! But in a world in which giant robots are real, the most dangerous weapon of all lies buried within a human mind. Yushiro, the fourth son of the mysterious and powerful Gowa family, finds himself at the center of events that will change the future of mankind forever! Nothing can prepare the human race for what is about to be unleashed in Gasaraki!

Long ago, I picked up Gate Keepers ... Volume 1 Open The Gate 1969. Strange invaders threaten Japan's recovery from the devastation of World War II with a shocking form of guerilla warfare. Fortunately, a new type of hero has been discovered among the teenage population of Japan - the Gatekeepers! Able to channel "gates" to other dimensions, this new generation of heroes are the only thing standing between Earth and total annihilation!

Years ago, I picked up Masquerade ... Volume 1 Darkness of Love 19-year-old Gen has been alone for most of his life - maybe that's why he seeks comfort with so many women. But in their arms, he transforms into a mindless supernatural being! Luckily, he's met a sexy scientist to extremely interested in his condition! Can beauty tame this savage beast?

Maze looked like it might be a lot of fun, so, years ago, I picked up the VHS version of Maze ... TV Series Volume 1 Ultimate Rage Transported through time and space, Maze wakes up with amnesia in a zany fantasy world, only to find herself surrounded by evildoers and babysitting a spoiled young princess. Luckily, she has developed explosive superpowers to help her cope. But, these new powers come with a price... Every night, she transforms into a lecherous man! To top it all off, she must rescue a fugitive (and overly affectionate) princess from a mysterious warrior cult. But Male Maze would rather be chasing the ladies... every night, Maze transforms into a flirtatious man!

I picked up the soundtrack CD years before Memories was ever available in the US... Memories is a beautiful anthology of three unique animations, based on stories by the director of Akira, Katsuhiro Otomo. Each piece features a different director. Episode 1 Magnetic Rose Who expects to find an opera diva in the dark recesses of space? She dwells alone in a rose garden with her cherished memories and one very dark secret. Directed by Koji Morimoto.

Sometime in 2001, I came across a preview for Mezzo on the Green Bunny web site... OVA Mezzo Forte For Mikura, danger is routine and killing is as easy as breathing. Sleek and sexy, she was born with a gun in each hand and a grin on her face. Even though she specializes in taking risks, things get a little too hot when her company takes a kidnapping job. The target is a baseball team owner named Momokichi, but he turns out to be a powerful underworld boss! Mikura and her team are beset by countless heavily armed bodyguards, along with Momokichi's vicious daughter, Momomi. She's used to getting what she wants, and her lethal skills make her the perfect match for Mikura! Take time off to clean the guns, because this year's action masterpiece is waiting. Mezzo Forte is from the acclaimed writer, director and animator, Yasuorni Umetsu, creator of the best selling Kite.