Akira TAKADA

Now Streaming: Heroic Age 14-26 sub
Now things kick into high gear as the crew of the space battleship Argonaut struggle to free humanity from slavery in the second half of the Greek mythology-meets-Space Opera that is Heroic Age. If you haven't seen it yet, the first half is still here, and 1-4 of the dub is here. [discuss] 2009-11-13

Astro Toy with Rob Bricken: Final Fantasy IX Play Arts
Rob really hates Final Fantasy IX and subsequently, the lackluster toys that came from it. 2009-11-15

The Gallery - Yooani
For the 50th column, Yooani drops in to talk about shading, doing cover art, the Korean art scene, and delicious tomatoes. Plus: a sarcastic intro, free of charge! 2009-11-14

Now Streaming: 27 minutes of Evangelion 1.0 (dubbed)
It's Evangelion like you've always known it, only prettier. And now that Funimation has spiffed it up with a new dub, they want everyone to see the film in all its glory. Here's a selection of clips from the final product, totaling almost a half hour! [discuss] 2009-11-13

Hey, Answerman! The Apology Song
This week, Brian tries to temper some harsh words that were exchanged last week with a civil discourse! Later, there are questions about AMVs and YouTube, harem shows, and the grim specter of death! Plus a new Hey Answerfans and Flakes galore! 2009-11-13

ANNCast - Tara & Yuri's Infinite Conversation
Voiceacting supercouple Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt stop by to plug their new book, "Voice Over Voice Actor", and subsequently get grilled. Plus: the FMA movie bluray, and Patlabor 2 - again! 2009-11-12

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.

Dragonaut: The Resonance DVD part 1
A young man becomes obsessed with a young woman who can transform into an alien biomechanical dragon in this weak effort from Gonzo. While not a total disaster, it does not give much hope for the rest of the series.

Rosario + Vampire GN 9
If this is the kind of stagnation and dullness that permeates the monster world, then we should all be thankful for being human.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order GN 12
Alita is back and even more powerful than ever, but aside from a couple of fantastic scenes the story progression lacks the sense of excitement and anticipation commonly seen earlier in the series. Seeing one of the all-time-great sci fi action series in such a storytelling decline is saddening.

Legends of the Dark King Sub.DVD
Gory bottom-feeder entertainment with the IQ of a slimy and not particularly gifted mud puddle.

Popotan DVD
This license-rescued series about three sisters who travel across space and time to talk to dandelions uses fan service like a crutch, which may allow it to limp through the weaker early parts and hold viewer interest until the stronger later ones. If nudity is not your thing, though, then look elsewhere.

The Sigh of Haruhi Suzumiya (hardback)
How does one possibly write a sequel to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya? For Nagaru Tanigawa, the answer was simple: do it all over again.

Beast Player Erin Episodes 1-25 Streaming
A well-thought-out children's fantasy centered around a pleasant and intelligent girl. Hardly spectacular, right? Wrong.

Andromeda Stories GN 1-3
Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away… Whoops. Wrong trilogy. Or not.

Puni Puni Poemi DVD
Have you ever found yourself thinking the following? “Man, Excel Saga is really good, but I just wish it weren't paced so slowly!”... Nabeshin and company decided the world needed a two-episode OVA that covered about as much material as ten episodes of Excel Saga.