Angel's Anime Rating Guide

With the demise of Tower Records, I've decided to give myself a Christmas present - a subscription to Heavy Metal Magazine. The first issue of my subscription arrived a few days ago. Now all I need is a place to store the new issues. I've got about four inches of real estate available and I'll probably use that up in fairly short order.I started collecting comic books many years ago and have an eclectic taste. I tended to avoid the major publishers and gravitated toward independent releases. After the collecting bubble burst, a lot of the independents either went out of business or some of the series that I really enjoyed were discontinued. I had a difficult time finding characters and series that would stick around long enough for me to enjoy. I researched various characters and series, but after a while my tastes shifted to anthologies. In the early 90's, I was just starting to develop an interest in anime and was transitioning from comic books to anime. Tower R

I've joined several webrings over the years and I've never had any luck with any of them. According to Wikipedia ... A webring ... is a collection of websites linked together in a circular structure, and usually organized around a specific theme, often educational or social. They were popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly among amateur websites. To be a part of the webring, each site has a common navigation bar; it contains links to the previous and next site. By selecting next (or previous) repeatedly, the user will eventually reach the site they started at; this is the origin of the term webring. Three webrings simply evaporated into thin air. Their hosts dropped out of existence without a trace and without warning. In two other webrings, I was asked to take over management. In one case, I declined and found myself chastised by the ring owner. In the other case, I accepted, but was informed later that ring's owner "was going in a different direction&

Way back when this site was hosted with Verizon, I won the Silver Award from Anime Cosmo on December 3rd, 2006 at approximately 6:24:19 in the early evening. Anime Cosmo reviewed my site at the time and suggested some changes. Of course, I lost my web host not long afterwards and had to move my entire site to Blogger . There used to be a link to Anime Cosmo , but, sadly, the site no longer exists.

Recently, I took the opportunity to watch  Stellvia ... Foundation 1 In the year 2167, Mankind suffered from a cataclysmic disaster as a massive wave of electromagnetic radiation from a nearby supernova washed over the Earth. Yet, Mankind was able to survive by pulling together to support each other in this time of crisis. The year is now 2326 and the new generation of people are preparing for the second wave to hit. One young girl, Shima Katase, is going off to Stellvia, a space pilot academy, where she will learn how to protect the Earth and the family she loves. Foundation 2 Feel it. Feel as though you are the center of the universe. The coordinates reported by the data are nothing more than a relative value. Place yourself in the absolute coordinate. -- Kouta Otoyama A project that took 189 years to prepare, to create a barrier in the outer space with a gigantic generator and surround the whole solar system. This was the strategy to protect human beings from the Second

Recently, I took the opportunity to revisit the  Last Unicorn ... In the Last Unicorn, humankind has stopped believing in the power of unicorns, and a fearsome, fiery red bull has driven all of them ...except one ...to the end of the earth. The Last Unicorn embarks on a perilous journey through an unknown land in an effort to save her brothers and sisters. I picked up a VHS version sometime in the late '80s. In the early '90s, I tried for a number of years to track down the soundtrack using local sources to no avail. I picked up a handful of America's CDs hoping that one might contain some of the songs that I heard, but, no dice. In the late '90s, I stumbled into the information super highway and discovered that there was a German CD available on, of all places, Amazon . The first thing I ever bought on-line was the soundtrack for the Last Unicorn . To be clear, the songs are in English, but, the CD was made in Germany. The  Last Unicorn  soundtrack CD has 15 tr

I've taken the opportunity to revisit Samurai Champloo ... Volume 1 Mugen's a buck wild warrior: violent, thoughtless and womanizing. Jin is a vagrant ronin: mysterious, traditional, well-mannered and very strong as well. These two fiercely independent warriors couldn't more different from one another, yet their paths cross when Fuu, a ditzy waitress, saves them from being executed when they are arrested after a violent swordfight. Fuu convinces the two vagrant young men to help her find a mysterious samurai "who smells of sunflowers." And their journey begins. Volume 2 No cash! Mugen, Jin and Fuu need money fast. Fuu tries to model, but it turns out to be a trap. When they arrive in the capital city, they delay their quest to join an eating contest, but find out the hard way they need to watch who they hang with! If some guy they meet isn't wanted by the cops, then he's trying to kill them or take their wallet - either way, you know they're goi

Recently, I picked up Kaena ... On a distant planet AXIS, a gigantic coiling plant, stretches high above the clouds... Compelled by a mysterious force, Kaena, will defy the High Priest and her people's ancestral beliefs to take the perilous journey through the Axis and discover what dark secrets lie beyond the clouds... A dying world, an evil force and a terrible secret... Kaena is a French-produced CG animation. The animators have produced a bizarre alien jungle environment with vines and branches that seem to go everywhere. The world is divided into three distinct levels with the Queen at one extreme, Opaz at the other extreme and the village in between. Although the world's inhabitants are drawn in great detail, the world itself is surprisingly sparse. Despite the deficiencies in the animators' world building efforts, the story was engaging and fast-paced. I don't really have a favorite scene in the feature, though. There wasn't really anything in the featu

I really, really enjoyed Ghost Talker's Daydream . Saiki Misaki is a very unique and memorable character... In Ghost Talker's Daydrean , ever since she could remember, Saiki Misaki has had the ability to 'talk' to ghosts. She works as a special consultant for the city's secret division that deals with supernatural cases. She also works as a dominatrix, where she has gained a cult following for her extraordinary ability to tame men's twisted desires. Despite the scintillating artwork and the suggestion that something naughty might turn up during the series, nothing along those lines actually happens. Now, of course, there are some bare breasts, the usual shower scenes and naturally Misaki seems to like romping around in her night work attire. There's also plenty of fan service to be found throughout. In the latter half of the series there's a truly bizarre hot spring side story where we find that Misaki has a distinctive lack of hair. The series has

Lately, I've been revisiting some of the older anime titles in my collection like: Supergal aka Maris the Chojo . For those of you who haven't heard of Supergal aka Maris the Chojo ... Japanese animation is taking the video world by storm. Rumiko Takahashi's the Supergal, the first of four stand-alone Rumik World titles the U.S. Manga Corps is proudly introducing to American audiences, is a terrifically hilarious example why! Her dad's an alcoholic. Her mom's an airhead. But by far, Maris' biggest complaint is that she's a Thanatosian. One wouldn't think this such a curse, considering that Thanatosians are six times stronger than the average Earthling. In fact, in Maris' future world, where violent crime abounds, this is a trait that could likely save one's life. Trouble is, the incidental destruction she wreaks on everything she touches has her constantly in debt, despite her reluctant use of an exotic alloy restraint she wears (most of the

Lately, I've been revisiting some of the older anime titles in my collection like: Mermaid Forest . For those who are curious, Mermaid Forest is the first half of the story about mermaids with the second half of the story being told in Mermaid's Scar . For those of you who haven't heard of Mermaid Forest ... A gruesome story of the supernatural! According to legend, if you eat the flesh of a mermaid, you will become immortal. But, for most, the truth is far worse. The lucky ones die. The unlucky ones are altered forever-warped into hideous monstrosities which live on forever! Yuta was once a sailor - he's traveled across this ephemeral world since the sixteenth century when he was cursed with immortality. For all those lonely years, he's been searching for another like him, an immortal woman, to share his infinite life. Finally, he seems to have found her; the young girl Mana. But others know the secret of mermaid flesh. Grave-robbing, torture, and hideous me

Lately, I've been revisiting some of the older anime titles in my collection like: Fire Tripper . For those of you who haven't heard of Fire Tripper ... No one noticed the gas leak - certainly not Suzuko, who's distracted by her six-year-old neighbor. By the time she notices the tell-tale scent, it's far too late. She can only watch in horror, as the gigantic storage tank explodes above her. When she awakens, Suzuko finds herself in a devastated land, but it's not modern Tokyo. Somehow, the explosion has blown her 500 years into the past, and landed her right on top of a medieval battlefield ! Life goes from bad to worse as she contends with brutal bandits, helpless peasants, and amorous rescuers. Torn between conflicting loyalties, Suzuko struggles to untangle the timelines, as she slowly comes to understand the strange force that has exiled her, and how it relates to her own mysterious past. And then, with her new home also in flames, time begins to loop b

Lately, I've been revisiting some of the older anime titles in my collection like: Laughing Target . For those of you who haven't heard of Laughing Target ... Will you love me forever? When they were only six years old, Yuzuru and his cousin Azusa were betrothed in a marriage arranged by their parents. The two children swore an oath to become man and wife. Now ten years have passed, and people change. Yuzuru is now dating Satomi; the two of them seem like the perfect couple. But Azusa has returned, and she expects Yuzuru to fulfill his childhood vow. What no one realizes is that Azusa has changed, too. Things happened to her in the intervening years - terrible things. Her shy demeanor hides something far different, deep inside. Now, a sinister presence is making itself felt. Strange Accidents. A figure always hiding in the shadows. What are the hungry ghosts? As the bloodshed begins, Yuzuru desperately struggles to put the pieces together. Renowned storyteller Rumiko Ta

I picked up the first two volumes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe . He-Man and the Masters of the Universe makes its debut on DVD in a robust collector's set, filled with extras any fan would enjoy. Part one of season one contains a whopping 33 episodes, following the hulky, well-tanned muscleman who masquerades as the irresponsible, goofy Prince Adam by day. The secret of He-Man's dual identity is only shared by The Sorceress (who's only powerful so long as she remains near Castle Greyskull, where she lives), Man-At-Arms (the king's gadget specialist) and Orko, a floating creature whose backwards magic spells often leave everyone with egg on their face (literally). He-Man's legacy was also its focus on family values, illustrated at the end of each episode through a moral lesson given by one of the characters. They range from the useful (Don't judge people by their looks) to the somewhat trite (When you're sad, sing a song). He-Man's nemesis,

I picked up the animated Flash Gordon box set yesterday and watched most of the first season. Though it only aired for two seasons, the 1979 Flash Gordon cartoon series is fondly remembered for its innovative use of rotoscoping (a form of animation that involves tracing over live-action footage for a remarkably kinetic effect). Closely adhering to the style and storyline of Alex Raymond's classic 1930s comic strip the series followed the intergalactic adventures of Flash Gordon as he his girlfriend Dale Arden and their scientific companion Dr. Han Zarkov fought to save the universe from the evil plotting of tyrannical space lord Ming the Merciless. The set includes both the first and second seasons on four DVDs and some extras on the fourth DVD. There are also little tidbits scattered throughout the chapter selection menus on each DVD. I wasn't too thrilled with the packaging. The DVD case is extra wide with spindles inside for four DVDs. The DVDs partially cover each other

From the creative minds behind Noir , comes Madlax , a compelling saga of two lives and the dark circumstances surrounding their mysterious connection... Volume 1 -  Connections Madlax An assassin, head and heels above the rest. She is a deadly poison, yet irresistibly sugar-coated. Nothing can surpass her skill in the art of combat-except perhaps her skill in the art of deception. She will find you, she will charm you, and then she will most certainly harm you. It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter where you are. It doesn't even matter if you know she's coming. Because in the end, strong or wise, rich or hardened, friend or foe, Madlax will have you eating bullets out of the palm of her hand. Margaret Burton An orphaned schoolgirl with issues the size of plump juicy peaches. Haunted by bizarre and cloudy dreams, she must not only endure the horrifying images of her past, but she must also traverse the treacherous path of high school. Margaret is lost

I picked up Mr. Stain on Junk Alley (Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta) because I happened to notice this big green cat's face staring back at me. I've always liked CG animation and I thought I might like Stain... Mr. Stain on Junk Alley (Ga-Ra-Ku-Ta) is the story of a street-dwelling bum who has uncovered a twisted and bizarre world within Junk Alley, the back lot he calls home. Now with the help of an unpredictable feline and a group of extremely unusual friends, Stain digs himself into the most magical, hilarious and sometimes disturbing adventures imaginable. Stain doesn't actually say anything. In fact, no one says anything. Stain is reminiscent of golden age animation like Tom and Jerry or Road Runner where the animators tell a complete story without a single word of dialogue. The CG effects are fairly simple, but, the animators have constructed a complete and believable world for Stain and his companions to live in. There are no naughty bits or gore. There is some violence, but, St

Harvest Night is a very violent and very adult title that is certainly worthy of the yellow and black warning stripes that adorn many other adult titles... Episode 1 Rose and Poppy There's a bridge that divides the town, separating violence from non-violence, immorality from morality, sexually abusive lifestyles from ordinary lifestyles. There's no order beyond that bridge. That's where Ryoko enters in search of her childhood friends, Masato and Honoka. What she finds there is Masato, now the leader of a gang that profits from violence and sex. Although Masato is a capable leader, he's not without trouble. Shinji, one of his subordinates, is deceiving him, and mutiny is brewing. We also meet Lisa, Shinji's girlfriend, whose cruelty winds up killing a girl from an opposing gang... Episode 2 Ashes in the Urn In an attempt to enslave Ryoko and make her become one of them, Lisa and other girls try to get Ryoko to sign a contract to be a hooker, but Honoka inte

Carl Macek, founder of Streamline Pictures and infamous for producing dubbed-only versions of certain Japanese titles, produced a dub of Porco Rosso several years ago for in-flight screening on Japan Airlines. But, this version was never released in the U.S. When Disney decided to release Porco Rosso , they created an all new dub... Take flight with Porco Rosso , a valiant World War I flying ace! From tropical Adriatic settings to dazzling aerial maneuvers, this action-adventure from world renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki is full of humor, courage and chivalry. True to form, there are no naughty bits. Despite the war setting, there is no bloodshed and no one dies. In fact, Porco goes out of his way not to kill. His sense of honor won't allow it. There's plenty of action though. And, the animation quality is excellent. Hayao Miyazaki's work is nothing short of amazing. My favorite scenes are the air battles. I enjoyed the entire production from beginning to end and I hav

Recently, I took the opportunity to watch Saikano ... TV Series Volume 1 A beautifully rendered story of two young high-school seniors in a rural countryside of Hokkaido. This is a love story of how their love for each other transcends and evolves to something infinitely deeper and binding. Shuji and Chise - find themselves caught amidst a war of destruction that needs to be fought. Shuji one day discovers that his girlfriend has been turned into "The Ultimate Weapon," an engineered weapon capable of destroying entire cities. Discover how Chise and Shuji, divert their focus of war, destruction, and killing, into love and strength. After completing her duties as a "Weapon," Chise starts to doubt her actions, as she watches city after city being destroyed. When an earthquake strikes during class, Chise reacts as if it were an attack and accidentally destroys a section of the school. After witnessing the incident, Shuji learns to fear his girlfriend, the Ultim

I took the opportunity to watch Daphne In the Brilliant Blue ... Volume 1 Initiation Maia is having a very, very bad day. Her life-long dreams to join the elite Ocean Agency are demolished when, despite everyone's high expectations, she fails the entrance exams. Then she gets evicted! Penniless, homeless, and unemployed, Maia finds herself in the middle of a shoot-out between fugitive convicts and the Nereides - sexy agents who only take the most high-paying and dangerous jobs. Desperate, Maia takes the only job she can find: playing bait in the Nereides' next operation! Volume 2 Reunion "Beautiful, Dangerous, and Desperate for work..." Nereides' sexy female agents will take on any job for the right price, no matter how dangerous or demanding. Yu Park, a deadly martial arts expert, returns to Nereides. She has been serving time for causing injuries to more than 20 bystanders just for trying to capture a petty thief. She is the close range combat specialist

Scrapped Princes s has the look and feel of an ancient medieval setting with knights and horse-drawn carts. But, throughout the series there are glimpses of super-science and advanced technology disguised as magic and sorcery.,, Volume 1 Family Ties Pacifica Cassul is known as the "Scrapped Princess." According to prophecy, she is the poison that will destroy the world on her 16th birthday. In order to avoid being killed, she must secretly wander the lands along with her two siblings who vow to protect the princess every step of the way. But being the Scrapped Princess means you must stay one step ahead of your enemy. Just how long will they journey before time runs out? Volume 2 Melancholy Wagon Tracks Her Birth Foretold the Destruction of the World The journey continues as they successfully evade the forces of Mauser. But a bounty on Pacifica's head is now set and a bounty hunter aims to collect using poison to end her life. Raquel and Leo must now set out

There was a lot of anticipation when Steamboy was released. Katsuhiro Otomo, the legendary director that brought Akira to the screen has returned to bring us Steamboy ... From the leader in anime and internationally-renowned director, Katsuhiro Otomo (Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis, Memories and Akira), comes his first feature-length directorial project since his breakthrough film, Akira. Ten years in the making, with a total budget of $22 million, STEAMBOY is the most expensive Japanese anime production ever. Victorian London is attacked by an army of futuristic, mechanized war machines and only Ray Steam - the young, brave inventor who knows the astonishing secret behind the invading forces incredible power - stands between the city's survival and ultimate destruction. With more than 180,000 drawings and 400 CG cuts, STEAMBOY is one of the most elaborate animated features ever created. STEAMBOY has been brought to life with an outstanding ensemble voiceover cast in

I was researching some of the older, unloved anime in my collection one fine day and for some reason that defies description, I thought that Satanika and Lady Death were somehow related. After further investigation though, I found that aside from both being part of the "bad girl" genre, there's not really any relationship between the two productions. A powerful story of innocence lost, savage betrayal and glorious rebirth, Lady Death begins in 15th Century Sweden, where Hope, the beautiful daughter of Matthias - a skilled mercenary who is in actuality Lucifer, the Lord of Lies - is accused of being the devil's consort following a hellish incident witnessed by local villagers. Sentenced by the town priest to be burned at the stake, Hope is visited by the malevolent Pagan as she writhes in pain. Unable to think clearly, she accepts Lucifer's offer of life in Hell over a hideously painful death... only to discover that there are far worse fates than dying.