Encyclopedia

Manga - G

Evangelion: 2.0 You Can [Not] Advance
Evangelion 2.0 feels as though the project has been put on mood stabilizers: it's not any happier, but it's more stable and certainly more focused. And in the end, it's a vast improvement. It hurts so good.

S.A Sub.DVD
Despite a flimsy premise and lackluster male lead, this story about a girl doomed to perpetually finish second to a chief rival who has secretly fallen in love with her (mostly) succeeds for two simple reasons: it is often quite funny and occasionally endearingly sweet.

Claymore GN 15
The Whole Truth comes out, but other parts are actually more interesting, as Norihiro Yagi answers many long-standing questions and orients the series for its next climactic run. Although certain parts may be a letdown, there is still a lot to like.

Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee Episodes 1-6 streaming
This is an anime for those of us whose inner child does not dream of conquering the world, but simply making it a better place ... one delivery at a time.

Comic Party: Revolution DVD
Another in the growing field of otaku-life comedies. Although perhaps comedy is the wrong word. Aren't comedies supposed to be funny?

Tower of Druaga: the Aegis of Uruk DVD
Forget that it was based on a game only two generations removed from Pong; this is unexpectedly involving popcorn fare with a wickedly circular sense of humor. Good stuff all around.

Blue Drop Sub.DVD Complete Collection
An amnesiac girl enrolls in an all-girl boarding school where she meets and forms a tumultuous relationship with a secretly alien beauty in this sci fi-themed yuri series. Despite its gimmicky foundation, this nearly-overlooked gem is elegant in execution as it focuses more on developing its characters and relationships.

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Movie Blu-ray
Fullmetal Alchemist is a series for the ages, and even if this part of it doesn't quite live up to its earlier incarnation, it's well worth watching and definitely worth owning. Fans will deeply appreciate this better-looking re-release.

Hayate the Combat Butler Sub.DVD Part 2
The (small) boost in emotional content notwithstanding, this is still the series to hit up for a watching experience that is consistently fun and never taxing.

Magikano: The Complete Series DVD
This is a collection of gags in search of a plotline, and when it finally does find a story to tell, the change in tone is so abrupt that you end up wishing it had stayed pointless and stupid.

A Perfect Day for Love Letters GN 2
Each story is an emotionally satisfying vignette, showing how the mere act of writing can change the way people see each other—and the way they see the world.