It's here! It's different! This year we're running a 24-7 anime preview guide; check back daily for our critics' takes on the newest shows from Japan! Reviews Now Available: Kanokon, Bus Gamer, The Tower of Druaga, Chi's Sweet Home, Itazura na Kiss, Blassreiter, To Love-Ru, Macross Frontier, Kurenai, Code Geass R2, xxxHOLiC: Kei, Zettai Karen Children, Vampire Knight
Magikano DVD 1 Beware any series whose female lead makes the deadly procession from fatefully encountered bishoujo to mysterious transfer student to live-in maid in a single episode. Seriously, that should take at least two episodes. 2008-04-10
Hai Fidelity - Gackt: 0079-0088 Rachael takes us on a tour of Gackt's Gundam theme song cover album, with little to no irony. 2008-04-08
Shelf Life - The Nana Diaries Is life as we know it real? Or is it just a figment of our anime? Find out this week.
- Baki the Grappler s.2 Box
- Black Cat boxset
- NANA live-action
- Zegapain v. 2, 3
Magikano DVD 1 Beware any series whose female lead makes the deadly procession from fatefully encountered bishoujo to mysterious transfer student to live-in maid in a single episode. Seriously, that should take at least two episodes.
Simoun Sub.DVD 2 A stabilizing cast, the emergence of Neveril from her funk, and the intriguing gender and religious issues raised by the content elevate the series from the level of a merely unusual yuri sci fi production to something extraordinary.
Kanon DVDs 2-3 More encounters with cute girls, and the big secret of one comes out, as the series reaches the halfway point. While it may be specifically designed to pander to fans, it represents pandering done right.
The Twelve Kingdoms Novel 2 The original novel on which the anime's second story arc was based comes to life with a focus on the long-absent kirin Taiki. A wonderful world and wonderful writing make this novel just as engrossing as the first one.
Tweeny Witches DVD 1 While this decidedly nonconformist magical girl series may have some problems, lack of vision and creativity are not among them. Worth a look even by those who do not normally care for the genre.
Gintama GN 5 On the surface, it may look like just another one of those "Ha ha look at silly people do silly things" comedies, but observant readers will laugh all the more because of the series' satirical edge.
Shuffle! DVD 1 Fans of harem romantic comedies might be able to tolerate this bland and uninspired exercise in brazen stupidity, lame jokes, and disgusting sweetness. All others should stay well away.
My Dearest Devil Princess GN 2 Expect some mild entertainment in this volume, but let us never forget the series' true purpose: boobs, butts, and easily removable clothes.
Phoenix DVD 3 Allows itself to get preachy and metaphysical at the end, but delivers plenty of cruel twists of fate, epic-scaled plotting, and mythical inventions before it does. All that, and the meaning of life too. You just can't beat that.
5 Centimeters Per Second DVD This story of longing and connections, told in three parts, has the all the style, elegance, and eloquence of Makoto Shinkai's previous works. It may not show much variety, but it proves again that no anime director is better at making this kind of story work.