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Showing posts from 2012

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Is This A Zombie...

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Recently, I picked up Is This A Zombie ... Some guys have no luck; he's got no pulse. That's life for unfortunate, undead Ayumu. First, he was murdered by a serial killer. Total bummer. Then he was resurrected as a zombie by a cute little necromancer. That seemed pretty cool until she moved into his house, refused to speak, and forced his rotting carcass to do all the cooking. After that, a magical girl in a pretty pink dress used her matching chainsaw to chop his corpse in half. Luckily, the necromancer's powers of resurrection trumped those of the chainsaw chick, so instead of dying (again), Ayumu became the world's first magical girl zombie. There's also a voluptuous vampire ninja who thinks zombie boy's a pervert - and a hideous crayfish demon who wants to devour him. Confused? All you gotta know is this: zombies, frilly dresses, demons, and moe chainsaws. Pink. It's the new dead. After High School Of The Dead , I couldn't NOT pick up Is This A

Children Who Chase Lost Voices...

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I picked up Children Who Chase Lost Voices ... From Director Makoto Shinkai (Voices of a Distant Star, 5 cm per Second) comes Children Who Chase Lost Voices! When she hears a strange song from a crystal radio, Asuna tunes into more than just a magical stream of music. Soon, she is transported to a mysterious world where mythical beasts roam and brave warriors fight for their lives. Agartha is a land of breathtaking beauty and unimaginable danger - a place where, it is believed, even the dead can be brought back to life. But at what cost? According to Wikipedia ... Children Who Chase Lost Voices is a 2011 Japanese anime film created and directed by Makoto Shinkai... Shinkai spent 2008 in London, after the completion of 5 Centimeters per Second. He returned to Japan in 2009 to start work on his next project. He released two concept drawings for this film in December 2009 and noted that most of his works in the past decade were stories about characters who have to part ways with

Akihabara Geeks...

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I was trawling the bargain bin at my favorite online anime e-tailer and look what came home with me -- Akihabara Geeks ... Akihabara is a neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan known as "Electric Town" for its rows of one-meter wide discount computer and electronics stores. In more recent years, Akihabara has evolved into a full-blown mecca for computer enthusiasts, anime and manga fans, doll or "figure" collectors, video gamers and "Otaku" of all kinds. Because Akihabara caters to interests outside of mainstream Japanese society, it captivates an entire subculture of devotees. Join us as we peruse the shops, streets and Maid Cafes to present an engrossing day in the life view of Akihabara, and focus on the unique people who are passionately plugged into this town. Akihabara Geeks  bares some similarity to Otaku No Video in that they are both related to fans and fanatics of certain aspects of Japanese culture.  Akihabara Geeks has less of a focus on anime tha

Space Pirate Mito...

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I was trawling the bargain bin at my favorite online anime e-tailer and look what came home with me -- Space Pirate Mito ... Season 1 Volume 1 Call Me Mom! Honor thy firepower and mother. Mito isn't just another space pirate, she's a three foot tall childlike alien with enough guts to outshine a supernova. She's known as the galaxy's most dangerous pirate, a wanted criminal who destroys a dozen police space cruisers every day before breakfast. But all she really wants is to be called "Mom." Aoi, her earthbound son, has no idea about his mother's infamous career, or even what she really looks like. She's always worn her mom-suit around him, but that gets destroyed when the Galactic Patrol follows her to Earth. Aoi's in for an adventure that will bring him to all corners of the universe, with the first working mom to carry a pulse rifle! Volume 2 Courting Disaster As a member of the Galactic Patrol, it is Mutsuki's duty to capture Space

Trinity Blood...

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In Trinity Blood , we follow the exploits of vampire hunter, Abel Nightroad... Centuries ago, Armageddon cast darkness across the world. From that darkness, the vampires emerged. Now humans and vampires tremble on the brink of war, and Abel Nightroad, a Vatican priest and agent of AX, protects the fragile equilibrium between the two races. Neither human nor vampire, he is strong in his endeavors for the sake of the world, seeking a safe path for all. Volume 1 Centuries ago, man's Armageddon birthed the vampires' wrath. As man and immortal clash, a reality-shattering threat looms. Hope resides solely in a new breed of hunter operating under the Vatican's authority. The true battle between holiness and evil has begun. Volume 2 As the struggle for existence continues, members of the AX are hard-pressed to keep pace with the mounting catastrophes. But even in the midst of global strife, life continues undeterred. Abel Nightroad has brought a new member into the fold; mu

Zillion...

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Zillion  arrived at a time when anime was still fairly new to the U.S. and distributors were experimenting with lower priced anime releases... Volume 1 In the 24th Century, mankind has entered a new phase of its ongoing development by establishing numerous colonies throughout the galaxy. When one of those colonial outposts, the planet Maris, faces annihilation at the hand of a ruthless alien race known as the Noza, the human colonists' only hope for survival rests in a mysterious alien weapon system known as the Zillion Gun. With enough of these energy-beam weapons, the Marisians could fend off the invading Noza troops. The problem is that only three Zillion Guns are known to exist, and the alien technology to manufacture more weapons seems unattainable. Thus an elite fighting trio, known as The White Knights is formed to wage a life and death battle for their homeworld's survival. Outnumbered and isolated, things certainly couldn't get much worse. Volume 2 More great

Zenki...

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Years ago, in the age of video tape, I picked up the VHS version of  Zenki ... Volume 1 Long ago, there was a demon lord whose life had been bound to a mountain dwelling monk. He was Zenki, the great and powerful. Under the control of the monk, Enno Ozuno, Zenki battled the forces of darkness before they were sealed for all time. Now, 1200 years and 55 generations later, the most powerful of all demon lords is needed once more! With the coming of the malevolent god Karma, evil forces are at work in the world, and the one person who can stand against them is a high school girl! Chiaki is the latest descendant of the legendary Enno Ozuno, and heir to the control of the mighty Zenki. When Karma's minions show up at her family's shrine to steal one of the deadly Seeds of Possession (they're like walnuts, only EVIL) sealed inside, Chialki is thrown into a life or death duel to meet her destiny! She must resurrect the all-powerful demon lord Zenki! Problem: Zenki seems to be a

Zeiram aka Iria...

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Sometime ago, when VCRs still stalked the Earth, I saw a preview for the live-action Zeiram movie... Live Action Zeiram 1 What's Zeiram? Zeiram is a giant renegade space alien who is lured to Earth for capture by beings from the planet Mays. What do you need to catch Zeiram? The standard issue warp machine, space bazooka, electric shield, and a computer named Bob. A breakthrough in futuristic space adventure, ZEIRAM is fresh and intensely visual sci-fi about a single night's battle between a female bounty hunter and a monstrous space alien. Fueled by action, drama, and comedy, ZEIRAM is a movie that rockets you into the next dimension! Zeiram 2 Finishing up an important case, the beautiful bounty hunter Iria returns to Earth. Along with her computer, Bob, and her assistant, Fujicrow, she is also assigned an android trainee. Unfortunately, the research team charged with building the android decided to implant the android with the most cunning combat lifeform in the un

Yu Yu Hakusho...

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Several years ago, I picked up the Yu Yu Hakusho movie: Poltergeist Report ... Movie Poltergeist Report Millennia ago, a devastating war was fought between the Netherworld and the Spirit World - the realm where human souls are judged - for possession of our world. Ultimately, the Netherworld was destroyed and Lord Yakumo, the King of the Netherworld, was banished to the depths of space along with his demonic legions. Emperor Enma of the Spirit World hid the Power Sphere - the source of the Netherworld's energy - where he hoped it would never be found again. He was dead wrong. Now, thousands of years later, the Netherworld is all but forgotten - until the "Land of the Dead" is laid to waste. Botan, a lone messenger, escapes to Earth in search of a spiritual investigator named Yusuke - one of five guardians from the Spirit World imbued with awesome, supernatural powers. To save the Spirit World, Yusuke and his allies must team-up against Yakumo's Demon-Gods for p

You're Under Arrest...

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You're Under Arrest is a fun series that centers around the adventures of the Tokyo Highway Patrol... OVA Episode 1 And So They Met Tokyo Highway patrol officers Natsumi and Miyuki get off to a bad start when Miyuki busts Natsumi for reckless Moped driving on her way to work. Things get worse when they find out they're going to be partners! But when they run into 'The Fox,' a mysterious figure who tools around defying every traffic regulation yet invented in an unbelievably customized Morris Minor, they'll need all their wits and every RPM in Miyuki's Nitro-Boosted Mini Patrol Car to successfully hound their opponent. Episode 2 Tokyo Typhoon Rally Storm clouds gather over Tokyo as a fierce typhoon bears down upon the city. Into the darkness and wind steals a mysterious yellow Lancia, taking advantage of the deserted streets to indulge in some high-speed harassment. Meanwhile, back at Bokutoo Police Station, is that love, or just negative ions? Intrep

Yotoden...

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Way back in the misty dawn of time, when VCRs still stalked the Earth, I picked up the VHS version of Yotoden ... Movie Wrath of the Ninja The year is 1580, and the unholy armies of Lord Nobunaga Oda steadily spread across Japan. Narrowly escaping the slaughter of her clan, a young ninja steals into the shadows. She is Ayame, the last of the Kasumi Clan, and the dagger she wields is one of three, mystical blades. She is joined by Sakon and Ryoma -- renegade ninja and the possessors of the sacred sword and spear. Now, these shadow warriors must unite their weapons and skills to fulfill The Prophesy of the Enchanted Swords -- or die trying... Contains never-before-seen footage! Chronicle of the Ninja Volume 1 The year a comet races across the sky, splitting the heavens, from the depths of the Earth the dark god shall arise once again... The year is 1580. An ominous comet dominates the heavens. Below, the battlefields are awash with blood as the unholy armies of Lord Nobunaga O

Karin...

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For some considerable time, I had thoroughly ignored  Karin . I did notice it on the store shelves, but, had for some unknown reason decided not to take any interest in the series... In 21st century Japan, a family of vampires settles down in Japan. They live among humans and sucked their blood quietly and discreetly. However their daughter Karin had a secret that she could not share… She did not suck blood like the rest of her family, instead, she is a blood-MAKING vampire! Volume 1 Infusion Karin Maaka leads an ordinary life in spite of the fact that she is from a family of vampires. Unlike the rest of her family, she has no problem with bright lights, sleeps in a bed instead of a coffin and loves to eat garlic. She is such an abnormal vampire that she doesn't even suck blood? she makes it! Everything begins to unravel when she gets uncontrollable urges every time she gets near her classmate, Kenta Usui. Will she hold back the urge to purge or give in to her need to bleed?!

Windaria...

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Years ago, when anime of any sort was scarce, I picked up the VHS version of Windaria ... Once upon a time... An epic fantasy set in a world destined to be destroyed by love and greed! The events which took place in Windaria could have happened anywhere... A simple. peaceful world plunged into a senseless war aggravated by greed and betrayal. Two rival kingdoms vie for fresh water and in the process end up destroying their entire society. As seen through the eyes of an innocent go-between, this tragic story details the depths to which loyalty and everlasting love must be tested, in a futile attempt to save a world from total destruction. Spectacular animation filled with powerful images and dramatic storylines, place WINDARIA in a class all by itself. An exciting, bittersweet love story which takes place amid the backdrop of brutal, violent, arcane warfare. The Chronicles of WINDARIA present one of the most fully realized fantasy worlds ever created. The film remains a classic exampl

Wind Named Amnesia...

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Sometime ago, I picked up the VHS version of  Wind Named Amnesia ... No one could have prepared for it; it came silently, sweeping across the earth. And everyone it touched forgot... everything. Who they were, how to speak, how to use all the implements of modern civilization. The amnesia wind swept away all of mankind's knowledge and thousands of years of human civilization vanished in an instant. Now, two years later, a young man wanders the landscape of an America reduced to barbarism. Miraculously re-educated after the disaster, he searches for the true heart of mankind... and for those responsible for stealing its memories. Accompanied by a mysterious woman who was somehow spared the wind's damage, he embarks on a coast-to-coast journey of danger and discovery pursued by a relentless killing machine. Featuring the collaborative efforts of Kazuo Yamazaki (Urusei Yatsura 4 - Lum the Forever), Hicleyuki Kikuchi (Demon City Shinjuku), Taro Rin (Harmagedon), and Yoshiak

Wicked City...

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Sometime ago, I picked up the VHS version of Wicked City ... Wicked City is a tour de force... breathtaking images of monsters, futuristic societies, other dimensions, explosive warfare bordering on the apocalyptic, and sexual situations in which humans and monsters repeatedly metamorphose into other entities. The film opens with a bang (so to speak). A human special agent picks up an attractive young woman, they go to his place and conjugate. When the two finish, the woman, instead of lighting up a cigarette, transforms into a spider-woman. Later, we come to find out she is a resident of the Black World, a world that exists in a parallel dimension populated by shape-changers with super-natural powers. Apparently a peace treaty is on the verge of renewal and she is part of a faction of Black World extremists who want to invade and conquer Earth. Through a combination of the disparate genres of the spy thriller and the horror film, Wicked City combines elements of both James Bond

Arakawa Under the Bridge...

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Since my local video store doesn't carry *any* titles distributed by NIS America, I had to order a handful of NISA releases from an online retailer. Among the titles that I have recently purchased is Arakawa Under the Bridge ... Volume 1 Ko Ichinomiya's family motto is "Never be indebted to anyone," but after losing his pants and falling into the Arakawa River, he quickly finds himself in debt to his savior, the cutely insane Nino who happens to live under the bridge. To repay her, he vows to help her with her desire to "experience love." Along the way he'll meet the river's other residents, including a hot-blooded kappa, a Sister in drag, and a literal rock star. Volume 2 Just when you thought things couldn't get any weirder by the banks of the mighty Arakawa, they go ahead and get weirder by a whole lot. Rec, Nino, and the rest of the riverside residents return, and with the addition of another batch of nutty citizens the insanity gets tu

Bunny Drop...

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Since my local video store doesn't carry *any* titles distributed by NIS America, I had to order a handful of NISA releases from an online retailer. Among the titles that I have recently purchased is Bunny Drop ... Daikichi, a 30-year-old bachelor, is surprised to meet a 6-year-old, Rin, at his grandfather Souichi's funeral. He and his family are even more surprised to learn that Rin is Souichi's daughter. When the topic of who will care for her comes up, the family shirks all responsibility of raising this "shameful" child. In an emotional outburst, Daikichi declares his intention to take Rin into his home. This is the story of two very different individuals coming together under one roof and learning what it means to be a family, an experience that teaches Daikichi what it means to be a parent. In reference to the source manga, according to Wikipedia : About.com's Deb Aoki praised the first volume for its "heartfelt drama and slice-of-life comedy&q