Yowamushi Pedal Anime Review

Yowamushi Pedal (Season 1)

  Year: 2013

 Produced  by: TMS

                 

Yowamushi Pedal is a fantastic sports anime about a first year otaku in high school named Onoda Sakamichi who joins the bicycle club. This show is full of lovable characters and a lot of suspense and cliffhangers. 

Characters

 -The characters in this series are well written. 
-You will find yourself rooting for everyone, even the main characters' competition.
-Each character has their own backstory and they develop as the series progresses. 
-The main antagonist in the series is very, well, “kimoi” but in season two we begin to understand him a bit better
-a ton of characters, all of them are likeable

Pros

-Great story line
-suspenseful
-you get sucked into the story
-amazing characters
-bromance
-plenty of episodes
-great for an anime marathon

Cons
-sometimes unrealistic(but better than many sports anime)
-some events are dragged on (many times its so entertaining you won't notice)

Overall
Would definitely recommend. The pros outweigh the cons and the series is very enjoyable.

Written by: Tory

https://twitter.com/ToryLeafgren

Love Live! School Idol Project Anime Review

Love Live! School Idol Project 

Year: 2013-2014

Produced by: Sunrise

Rating: 4.5/5

I went into Love Live! with the mentality that it was just another silly moe idol anime. I figured I'd watch an episode to see what it was and move on.

I didn't realize it would draw me in as much as it did. I watched the entire first season in two days, and moved on to the second season fully invested in the plot and characters. Muse is a group you want to root for, and you do despite all the trials and tribulations they encounter, mainly because the characters develop naturally and are just so likable, even the token tsundere in Maki-chan. Besides the characters development and overall likability, the music to this is just really, really catchy, and I still listen to it even after finishing the series months ago. 

In all, Love Live! is as adorable as it is well done. It's simple to make a half done idol anime, but this was fleshed out fully, as evident in the plot, character development, and the way it ended. I genuinely liked it, and guarantee you'll be saying "NICO NICO NII" by the time you're done watching it. 


Music-u starto!

Written by: Tony D.

https://twitter.com/AkibaBlare

The Fantastic Four Teaser Trailer Reaction

As a tried and true American comic book fan, I take great disdain in the general looking-down-upon of the reboot. If done well a reboot can be enough to forever remove the stain of the original, or even make it better.

The first Fantastic Four film was released one decade ago, in the magical land of 2005. (Hard to imagine, I know) Now hop in your TARDIS and thrust ten years forth, and you have a new, rebooted version of Fantastic Four being released this August.

We received the first teaser trailer today, and my goodness does it look promising. Although we know he is the villain, Dr. Doom is not shown in full Von Doom regalia, making it a very true teaser trailer, and less of a "Well heres a 2 minute version of the movie" as we often get.

What is shown is each member of the Fab Four, as they embark on the ill-fated space mission that made them stretchy, invisible, a rock man, and a man ablaze.

My personal favorite is Michael B. jordan as the Human Torch. Dejectors be damned! An African American can be a canonically white superhero, and I am sure he'll pull this off.

Overall, the teaser trailer teased me like a schoolyard bully, and now I can't wait to give them my lunch money and see this in August.

Check out "The Fantastic Four" when it's released August 7! 


Written by: Tony D.

https://twitter.com/AkibaBlare

No Game No Life Anime Review

No Game No Life 

 Year: 2014

Produced by: Madhouse

Rating: 5/5

Suffice to say, I think most of us have felt like outcasts at some point; on the outskirts of society, just watching the rest as move on by. We're on our own path. We fit in, only in one way, to be incompatible in others.

No Game No Life explores this idea of being an outcast in one way, and a hero in another, all with supernatural themes and of course, gaming.

No Game No Life is a well animated and visually presented anime,and although there is a bit of fanservice, its plot is not solely based on pantsu shots. The gaming element, which is present throughout the entire series, is what moves the anime forward, with siblinga Sora and Shiro playing hero in a series of obstacles and games. 

As I said, the anime is beautifully animated, with bright and vibrant colors being used throughout. The characters are well constructed, and the visual aspect is relatively flawless. 

There is quite a lot of fanservice, especially with main character Shiro and her constant underwear shots, but if you can move past this and see it far exceeds any other lolita ecchi, you'll be thoroughly satisfied with the plot and story. 

Overall, No Game No Life is a gaming, and thinking mans anime, one that stretched competitive moments over an episode or two. Sora and Shiro are pariahs in the real world, and have honed their abilities in gaming to almost invincible levels, all while forgoing human interaction other than each other. 

Cue the wincest.

Just kidding.

No Game No Life is in the same vein of the card game series, such as Yu-Gi-Oh, where the game being played is the main focus. Sora is a likable albeit snarky lead character, and Shiro is the cute, loli who is not as incompetent as what she seems to be.

If you don't enjoy gaming, or if you don't enjoy a little thinking to your anime, I'd suggest you skip this. It's not monumental, nor is it breaking new ground, but the visual presentation alone will make some people's interest peaked, and the story will likely keep it. 

Out of 5 stars, I give No Game No Life 5. If not solely for the amazing animation, I also genuinely enjoyed the story and theme, which is what the main focus of any anime series should be. If you are looking for well presented art with a strong story, No Game No Life is for you.


Written by: Tony D.

https://twitter.com/AkibaBlare

Your Lie In April Anime Review

    Your Lie In April (Shigatsu Wa Kimi No Uso )

Year: 2014

Produced by: A-1 Pictures

Rating: 3.5/5

This anime has a lot of ups and downs. There are pretty bad episodes and there are amazing ones. Lets talk about pros.

(Will contain spoilers)

Pros:
This show's art and music is great. They tell the story a lot like a book which I think is really nice. The story so far has me really interested and shows how long people actually deal with traumas. The character developement for Kousei is really nice too.

Cons:
Half of the main characters are very dislikeable. Tsubaki the childhood friend basically set up Kousei with the "new girl" of their group, gets into a relationship with another guy, and uses the excuse of "I see Kousei as a little brother." She also tries to mold him into this image of how she wants to see him. Furthermore, Tsubaki is the "violent girl" character but takes it way too far that it annoys me. She's just so stupid. Watari who's "in love" with Kaori always has his eyes out for new girls and when he forced Kousei to play at a concert knowing full well about his trauma he says "why are you messing it up for Kaori." The dialogue takes it too far by having to explain all the imagery they out out for you and re-use the same writing tactic by repeating a phrase over and over again through out the whole show. For example "let it ring." Apparently the trauma that happened with Kousei was two years ago but when they play flashbacks he looks like he's 4 when at the moment he's in his last year of middle school.

Overall, out of the 12 episodes I've watched, I'd give this anime a 3.5/5. It's pretty enjoyable, but if you don't like it early on it's not for you.


Written by: Danney

https://twitter.com/WOAH_Its_Danney

Seirei Tsukai No Blade Dance Anime Review

                                                               

                              Seirei Tsukai No Blade Dance 

                                               Year: 2014

                                                             Produced by: TNK

                                                                    Rating: 3.5/5 

A spirit contractor, those who are able to contract spirits and use them in times of battle. In Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance, an academy trains young maidens from noble families to achieve this. This academy is an all girls academy until Kamito Kazahaya makes his entrance. As the only male, he is quite rare because he is the only male spirit contractor in the whole academy/world. Claire Rouge, a cute red-headed loli contracts Kamito although he is not a spirit. Kamito however, agrees to be her contracted spirit after stealing her chance to contract the legendary sword spirit Est.

In the academy, maidens train to the best of their ability to become stronger with their contracted spirits. Those who are good enough are eligible to compete in the Blade Dance, a huge competition in which the best of the best compete against each other. Kamito wants to enter this Blade Dance, and win the competition. To be able to enter, you must assemble a team of elemantelers due to the fact it is a team competition. Kamito and Claire find other members to join their team as the story progresses. Once assembled, the season ends with their group going to compete in the Blade Dance.

Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is pretty funny and had me cracking up along the way. As this is a harem, there is a good amount of fanservice. Claire is a character with a very fragile heart. After the events of her past she became an outcast to others leaving her isolated. After meeting Kamito, Claire starts to open up her heart towards him because he is the only person in years who have paid special attention to her. However, due to her insecurities from the problems she faced in the past, she often gets jealous and a little heartbroken whenever she sees Kamito getting too close to a female.

Kamito is a guy who keeps his identity hidden from others. As he used to go by the name Ren Ashbell, a female elemanterler who won the previous Blade Dance and who is said to be the worlds strongest, he is trying to turn over a new leaf and win the next Blade Dance as Kamito and not Ren Ashbell. As being the only male in the academy, Kamito is subjected to many harem drama. This causes Claire to often threaten to burn him to cinders since her element is fire.

Est, is the legendary spirit that Kamito contracted instead of Claire. A loli, who has a human form, but can transform into a blade if Kamito requests it. Est is a funny character and is also the servant to her master Kamito. I think most people will like Est because of her personality and her likability. Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is a good show for all you harem/ecchi fans out there. Make sure you don't skip the ending song as well. It sounds really cute and it is also sung by the characters themselves.

Written by: Martin

https://twitter.com/Hoarsted

Fairy Tail Anime Review

Fairy Tail

Year: 2009

Produced by: A-1 Pictures

Rating: 2.5/5

If you like plenty of fanservice and friendship, this anime is just for you. If not then you'll really hate it. This rant is only based on the first season of the anime.

Rant: I honestly thought the show had a lot of potential but always ends things terribly. EVERY problem is solved the exact same way (friendship) and the amount of fanservice and nudity really makes you cringe.

The story has plenty of plot holes that won't be said because of spoilers and for some reason nobody ever dies. The only thing I can like about the show are the characters.

Overall I give the show a 5/10. The manga's recent arc has been really enjoyable so I suggest you at least take a look at that.

Written by: Danney 

https://twitter.com/WOAH_Its_Danney