Encyclopedia

'J' Releases

Chicks On Anime - Best Friends Forever
Female friendships take the spotlight this week as we look into female duos like Nana and Nana, and Utena and Anthy. 2009-02-24

Hai Fidelity - Rozen Maiden Piano Sound Album
The latest Rozen Maiden instrumental album goes under Rachael's microscope. 2009-02-24

Ramen Fighter Miki #9 - Watch it free on ANN!
Miki is a strong fighter. Megumi is fearsome. Kankuro is... intimidating at least. But all of them quake in fear at the sight of Miki's mother. Does she have any weakness at all? Inquiring minds want to know! (USA/CAN only, TV-PG) 2009-02-24

Shelf Life - Clanning Up
Beautiful boys and dying girls are all it takes to liven up this week's releases.
- Clannad pt1
- Ouran High School Host Club pt2
- Rozen Maiden: Traumend v3
- The Wallflower pt1
2009-02-23

Interview: Tony Oliver on Adventures in Voice Acting
Veteran voice actor, producer and director Tony Oliver lets us inside Bang Zoom's Adventures in Voice Acting workshops. 2009-02-22

Astro Toy with Rob Bricken: Wave High Advanced Model Tachikoma
Wave Corporation's latest Tachikoma figure gets what's coming to it. 2009-02-22

The Gallery - Hyeondo Park
Hyeondo Park, artist for the manga adaptations of Huckleberry Finn and the comic Sam and Lilah, enters the Gallery. If discussions of wolves, curses, viruses, and Shakespeare isn't a dynamite way to kick off the weekend, I don't know what is! 2009-02-21

Kamichama Karin Chu GN 3
It continues to settle for "good enough" ... which really isn't good enough in a genre where everything's already been done.

Toward the Terra Part 3
Jomy leads the Mu on the final push to Terra, overcoming great sacrifices along the way, while Keith rises in power to oppose them in this dramatic conclusion to the remake of the 1980 movie. For all its predictability, the series executes its dramatic components supremely well.

Red Blinds the Foolish GN
In Red Blinds the Foolish, est em appears to have found her voice, both literally and metaphorically. The work as a whole is artistically coherent, thematically unified—and, every once in awhile, heartrendingly beautiful.

Higurashi: When They Cry GN 2
The second volume of the Higurashi: When They Cry manga series to be released by Yen Press is the conclusion of the “Abducted by Demons Arc.” One of the “Question Arcs,” and it certainly raises many perplexing questions left deliciously unanswered by the end of a book that only begins to scratch the surface of Ryukishi07's complexly realized world.

Naruto DVD Box Set 12
It's about time they changed the series' name to The Adventures of Naruto in Filler Land.

Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service GN 8
Volume 8 marks a return to the series' very essence: mysterious ghost stories with appealing characters and flawless visuals. With the elements coming together like that, what's not to like?

When They Cry DVD 6
More murderous psychosis is in order as the first season's final story arc delves into the foundations of the series' basic premises. While it does resolve some plot elements, the ending gives more the impression of a subtotal than a final bill.

Otomen GN 1
As long as you take it for the puffery that it is, do not tire easily of its gimmicky raison d'entre, and are not offended by the implication that the perfect woman can only be a man, Otomen is a fun manga series.

Claymore DVD 3
Though this volume begins to weave more typically shonen-styled elements into the plot, Claymore's ruthlessness lingers, and with it a brutal edge that keeps it perched firmly atop of the action anime heap.

Rozen Maiden Träumend DVD 3
As far as unsatisfying endings go, Rozen Maiden Träumend ranks somewhere on a level with the Major League Baseball All-Star Game that ended in a tie.

Nodame Cantabile GN 14
After the awkward meandering of the last couple of volumes, it's nice to see Nodame Cantabile back on track with Nodame and Chiaki trying to advance their music careers. Whether you're into it for the unique characters, the expressive performances, or both, this volume has it covered.