Marianne RECTOR

Hey, Answerman!
Brand new questions, brand new answers! This week: why there aren't any Hentai reviews on ANN, One Piece and its chances in America, and the first entry in Answerman's "Field Guide to Anime Fans!" All that and your answers to last week's Hey, Answerfans! 2008-02-08

Buried Treasure - Urban Square
This week, Patlabor and Ghost in the Shell screenwriter Kazunori Ito turns his rookie writing frustrations into a film noir parody. 2008-02-07

Anime News Nina! - 2008-02-06
Nina encounters vagrant children hanging out in the manga aisle, and learns a startling truth! 2008-02-06

RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Like a Girl Out of Hell
Super Bowl? What Super Bowl? Surely you're much more interested in checking out new manga like Hell Girl, Strawberry Panic, Vampire Hunter D, and our first-ever Reader's Choice! 2008-02-05

Shelf Life - Chop Squadron
Robots!! Cannons! BOOM!
- Beck v. 4, 5
- Glass Fleet v.2
- Gundam MS-Igloo v.1
- Initial D Live-Action BD
2008-02-04

School Rumble DVD 3
Four more episodes of romantic misunderstandings, really stupid behavior and embarrassing situations. From the moment the words "School Rumble" come spinning onto the screen, you know you're in for undiluted good times. And really, it'd be churlish to demand anything more.

Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo GN 1
More than just a collection of freaky-monster horror tales, it's really more about human drama, and revealing the follies of the most advanced species on the planet.

Angel Sanctuary DVD
Incest and angels acting bad highlight this sharp-looking rerelease of the 2000 OVA series, which mixes shojo elements with intensely graphic violence. It is more an introduction for the manga version than a stand-alone production, however.

Kiddy Grade DVD
This newest boxed set is the best offering yet for Gonzo's sharp-looking sci fi anime take on the cop buddy genre. Likable central characters, pretty designs, and more depth than may initially be apparent help make this a highly entertaining series.

School Rumble DVD 2
Shows the first signs of the shaggy underdog panache with which the series can balance big laughs and understated emotions, and of course is still a big ol' goofy good time.

Step Up Love Story Sub.DVD 2
The series would be nothing without its sex content, but mature viewers may appreciate these episodes of the series also known as Futari Ecchi for more than just that. They display a slight overall improvement compared to the first volume.

Oh My Goddess! First End
The franchise's first novel may not be a technical masterpiece but tells an interesting story and remains completely faithful to the characters and universe Kosuke Fujishima created. More for long-time fans than newcomers.

Galaxy Angel Rune Sub.DVD 4
Think of Rune as the original Galaxy Angel's annoying, hyperactive little sister; definitely spawned from the same gene pool, but lacking all the charm and humor of its elder sibling.

Cat's Eye Sub.DVD
Essentially a cross between the Charlie's Angels TV series and Lupin III, this sexy, mature early '80s series about a female cat burglar team certainly shows its age but also shows that entertainment value endures.

Coyote Ragtime Show GN 2
It would be nice to say that this is an exception to the rule that says that manga adaptations of anime properties are sub-par rehashes, if only because it would be nice to say something different, but it isn't.

Hajime no Ippo DVD
Fun characters and quirky humor aside, a boxing show lives or dies by its fights. Fighting Spirit's are simultaneously educational, utterly absorbing, unbearably tense, and soaringly cool. Eat that Rocky.