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.

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.

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.

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'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.

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...

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.

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 . From the back of the VHS box: 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!

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!

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.

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.

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),

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

I've been revisiting Dominion Tank Police lately. I picked up  Dominion Tank Police  some time in the early '90s when anime in the form we all know and love was still new to the world beyond Japan. Original Series Act I Crime Brigade In the year 2010, the earth has been encircled by a toxic cloud so noxious as to require the population to wear gas-masks. Human morals have fared no better-a violent crime is committed every 36 seconds! Leading the attack on society are the cat sisters Annapuna and Unipuma. Sexy but ruthless, these bioengineered commandos ally with grotesque half-human, half-cyborg gang leader Buaku in ceaseless, naked aggression.

After looping the opening theme song (Hateshinai Tabi - Hajimari no Toki aka Unending Journey - The Beginning of Time) for  Bubblegum Crash for several hours (I like the song), I've decided to actually look very closely at the opening in as much detail as my humble DVD player will allow. Why? It seemed like a good idea at the time... In  Bubblegum Crash , the Cyberpunk saga of to Knight Sabers which started in Bubblegum Crisis  continues! MegaTokyo, A.D. 2034. The Knight Sabers must face their deadliest foe -- the Voice.

After many years, my Urusei Yatsura collection is finally complete. At 37 VHS tapes and 62 DVDs, Urusei Yatsura is, by far, the largest series in my collection - with Robotech , Starblazers and Ranma 1/2 trailing far behind.... From Rumiko Takahashi, creator of Ranma 1/2 and Inu Yasha , Urusei Yatsura aka Those Obnoxious Aliens starts it's TV run with the Oni deciding to take over the Earth. They give humanity one chance for survival, if a Ataru (the unluckiest person on Earth) can defeat the Oni champion, Lum, in a game of tag, humanity will be spared...