Hyouka (Anime) Review

Hyouka (2012)
Format: TV Series, 22 episodes
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Summary: A serious KyoAni means a slow and plodding plot, but beautifully drawn backgrounds and animation.
Overall Score: 8/10

Tokyo Godfathers (Anime) Review

Tokyo Godfathers (2003)
Format: Movie, 92 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 3 stars

Slightly eccentric, entirely focused on character drama, this anime film feels a little out of place as an anime film. Satoshi Kon seems to be more comfortable dealing with realistic subjects in a realistic setting. With this, it really shows that he should really start thinking about directing live-action dramas because he seems quite adept at that. But he has gone on record to say that he loves drawing too much to give it this medium.

Unlike Ghibli's anime-ish stylings, Kon sticks to a more realistic style that is still somewhat recognisable and unique. For me, the most recognisable features of his films are its slight weirdness or eccentricity, and the animation. Tokyo Godfathers is a well-animated, heart-warming tale, but drags on slightly too long and lacks the creativity that made Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress such a joy to watch.

Millienium Actress (Anime) Review

 
Millennium Actress (2001)
Format: Movie, 87 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 4 stars
Summary: This film blends reel life and real life seamlessly, proving that sometimes, real life can be stranger than fiction. A unique film that still retains Kon's style, without the confusion.

Perfect Blue (Anime) Review

Perfect Blue (1998)
Format: Movie, 81 minutes
Director: Satoshi Kon
Studio: Madhouse
Score: 4 stars
Summary: Satoshi Kon's directorial debut went perfectly. It quickly establishes his style of storytelling and cinematography, which is closer to live-action films (in particular, Alfred Hitchcock) than anything else in anime. It is not a mere copy though, as Perfect Blue proves; animation is used to it's fullest to confuse and intrigue the viewers.

K-ON! Movie (Anime) Review

K-ON! The Movie (2011)
Format: Movie, 109 minutes
Studio: Kyoto Animation
Score: 4 stars
Summary: A love letter to the fans of the series. It's hard to imagine a more perfect way to end this franchise.

Sankarea (Anime) Review

Sankarea (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: Studio DEEN
Director: Hatakeyama Mamoru
Score: 4 stars
Summary: A very flawed gem, but still very worth the watch. Takes the zombie genre in a slightly different direction.

Sakamichi no Apollon (Anime) Review

Sakamichi no Apollon (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: Mappa
Director: Watanabe Shinichiro
Music: Kanno Yoko
Score: 4 stars
Summary: Mature and realistic story-telling coupled with fantastic music from Kanno Yoko, this series swells with emotions and musical crescendos.

Acchi Kocchi (Anime) Review

Acchi Kocchi (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: AIC
Score: 3 stars

I'm not gonna lie; This show is all about Tsumiki and Io. Every moment these 2 spend together brings up a stupid grin on my face. Tsumiki is so adorable, and Io is so sweet! The writers also do a good job of keeping things fresh every week, coming up with new ways for Tsumiki to be embarrassed and Hime to nosebleed.

tsuritama (Anime) Review

tsuritama (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Director: Nakamura Kenji
Character design: Uki Atsuya
Score: 3 stars
Summary: Strong start and a great cast of characters, but some awkward writing and bromance, as well as the production committee's inability to maintain a budget spoil the rest of the show.

Haiyore! Nyarlko-san (Anime) Review by Darren

Haiyore! Nyarlko-san (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: Xebec
Score: 4 stars

Haiyore! Nyaruko-san is one of the series I look forward to the most each week. In the past 2 seasons, anime titles were usually dramas or serious shows. But, Haiyore brought back an important element that had been missing for so long: 'Energy'. So energized is Nyaruko, that she even fully recharged me with the weekly Space CQC while saving her beloved Mahiro-san.

Haiyore! Nyarlko-san (Anime) Review

Haiyore! Nyarlko-san (2012)
Format: TV Series, 12 episodes
Studio: Xebec
Score: 3 stars

Asumi Kana and her character, Nyaruko, brings so much energy to this show. Without her, this would get boring really fast. The rapid-fire rate at which references to other anime and games are being thrown around made it a really enjoyable show at first, but it quickly wears out its welcome and degenerates into a rather boring harem anime. The overall plot is laughably bad too.

So why do I still give it 3 stars? Because it is still an enjoyable show to just sit back, switch off your mind, and watch. Much like Ben-to did before it, Haiyore! Nyarlko-san is smart with how it presents itself: it doesn't take itself too seriously, and is just there for a fun time.

p.s. Short reviews for shows that I don't have much to talk about!

Fate/Zero (Anime) Review

Fate/Zero (2012)
Format: TV Series, 25 episodes
Studio: ufotable
Director: Aoki Ei
Original Creator: Urobuchi Gen
Music: Kajiura Yuki
Score: 4 stars
Summary: ufotable does an incredible job animating this dark world and Urobuchi Gen writes some really inspired dialogue. Fans of the Fate universe will love how intricately this prequel is crafted, while people new to the series will still enjoy the visuals and strong writing.

Uncharted 3 (PS3) Review

Game: Uncharted 3
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action Adventure
Overall Score: 8.5
Comment: Not as fresh as the previous game in the series, but Uncharted 3 still reigns as King of the Action/Adventure genre. The game is filled with enough visually impressive heart-thumping set pieces to make even Indiana Jones blush.

Shiki (Anime) Review

Shiki (2010)
Format: TV Series, 22 X 24 minutes
Studio: Daume
Broadcaster: Noitamina
Score: 4 stars
Summary: Expected a real mystery series, but ended up as a fantasy thriller. Great build-up and intense conclusion to a well-produced (relatively) long series.

Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion (Anime) Review

Mardock Scramble: The Second Combustion (2011)
Format: Movie/OVA, Approximately 1 hour
Studio: GoHands
Score: 2 stars
Summary: Loses sight of what made the first one fun to watch in the first place.

Steins;Gate (Anime) Review

Steins;Gate (2011)

Format: TV Series, 24 X 24 minutes

Studio: WHITE FOX

Director: Hamasaki Hiroshi and Sato Takuya

Score: 4 stars

Summary: Despite some slow moments the plot manages to hook you in week after week.

Usagi Drop (Anime) Review

Usagi Drop (2011)

Format: TV Series, 11 X 24 minutes

Studio: Production I.G.

Director: Kamei Kanta

Score: 3 stars

Summary: A nice slice-of-life series that gets a little preachy at times.

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (Anime) Review

Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica (2011)

Format: TV Series, 12 X 24 minutes

Studio: Shaft

Director: Akiyuki Shinbo/Yukihiro Miyamoto

Score: 5 stars

Summary: A genre-defining (or redefining) hit.

Arakawa under the Bridge × Bridge (Anime) Review

Arakawa under the Bridge × Bridge (2010)
Format: TV Series, 13 X 24 minutes
Studio: Shaft
Director: Akiyuki Shinbo
Score: 2 stars
Summary: Always hinting at a more mature storyline, this series ends up not delivering at all. The humour (and culture behind this type of comedy) does not translate well into other languages. For fans of Manzai perhaps?

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes (Anime) Review

Tantei Opera Milky Holmes (2010)
Format: TV Series, 12 X 24 minutes
Studio: J.C. Staff
Score: 2 stars
Summary: Weirdly enough, I laughed the most for this series due to its over-the-top comedy. But it is very cliche and does not have a satisfying plot/conclusion.