Hirofumi OKUDA

Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga - Spider-man: The Manga
Anybody call for a depressed, melancholy, self-hating webslinger? 2010-08-19

ANNtv - Studio Pierrot: Behind the Anime
Last year we were lucky enough to go behind the scenes at Studio Pierrot, getting to see the team hard at work on Naruto, Bleach, Blue Dragon, and several others. And now, at long last, you get to see it too! [discuss] 2010-08-18

Anime News Nina! - 2010-08-18
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter's got nothing on this. 2010-08-18

Now Streaming: Gad Guard 1-26s, 1-4d
In a dystopian future, a rare compound reacts with emotion, and takes a new shape. For Hajiki, is feelings apparently = giant robot. And he's not the only one. Here's the whole thing subbed, and 1-4 dubbed. [discuss] 2010-08-18

The X Button - Missing Inaction
Todd looks at some of today's best Japan-only RPGs! Plus Cladun, Costume Quest, more Harvest Moon, and yet another version of Persona 3. 2010-08-18

Now Streaming: Oh! Edo Rocket 1-26 (s)
Of all the questions that prospective customers might ask a young fireworks-maker in 19th Century Japan, "please build me a rocket that will get me to the moon" is surely not high on the list. But that's just the start of this rollicking comedy. Check out the whole thing subtitled, now! [discuss] 2010-08-18

RIGHT TURN ONLY!! - Magic Mushi Rooms
Explore the wonders of the imagination with titles like Mushishi, Ikigami and Shugo Chara! Then look around in disappointment as you realize you still live in the real world. 2010-08-17

Shelf Life - Gaoing the Distance
Erin gets her fill of robot anime this week. Plus, Harry Potter minus the Dumbledore fanart.
- GaoGaiGar s1, disc 1
- Guyver complete BD
- Soul Eater pt 4
2010-08-16

Bakuman GN 1
Clings to the traditional shônen ideals of friendship, challenge, and victory, only with our hero wielding a pen instead of a sword. Literally.

Tytania collection 1 DVD
A laid-back hero butts heads against a quartet of powerful Dukes in this space opera laden with classical European styling. The series definitely gets better after a weak start and should be of particular interest to those who favor sci fi anime with a broad scope which features action but is not a slave to it.

Wolf God GN 1
Unfortunately this first volume still falls short of being much past mildly-entertaining, especially when things start looking too familiar – Koyuki is kidnapped and Kyounosuke is now enrolled in her school, you say? In combination the story and art may be enough to give Wolf God a fighting chance but it's not likely to leave many howling for volume two.

Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime (Novel)
The book tries almost too hard to be everything at once: a mystery wrapped up in an enigma wrapped up in a slice-of-life slightly-magically-realistic school story.

Junjō Romantica DVD 1-3
The main couple of the story is actually the least worth wasting words on, and this is a serious problem for the show. There are good ideas with above-average execution, but they're lost in the noise of something not really worthy of attention outside its own world.

Crimson Cross GN
Does the world really need another vampire story right now? Digital Manga seems to think so. Perhaps it's the success of their Vampire Hunter D releases, a manga cult-classic, or maybe it's just certain outside influences. Either way, Crimson Cross is about as ‘vampire’ as you can get… unfortunately.

Highschool of the Dead episodes 1-6
How much you like this blending of horror and high school romantic comedy/drama clichés will largely depend on how jaded (or not) you are about the Zombie Apocalypse genre. It certainly delivers on its promise of plentiful action, bloody violence, and fan service, though, and tells a remarkably good story so far.

Hellsing GN 10
This isn't the series firing on all undead cylinders; it's the series cleaning up its loose ends before closing shop.

Naruto Season 3 Box Set 1
Sasuke tries to depart the Hidden Leaf Village, and Naruto tries to stop him, leading to their long-awaited head-to-head in this regrouped rerelease of earlier boxed sets. While some parts are tedious and typical franchise and genre flaws are evident, this set has some of the first series' best content, too.

Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino BLURAY
The bad news is that the improvements in plotting and strong new characters are overshadowed by a more negative difference between the seasons: the 1st was slow, but the 2nd is boring. Il Teatrino's writing is sharp, but its direction is limp.

DNA² DVD 1