Masao ŌBA

Now Streaming: Spice and Wolf II 1-12 (sub)
Learn about economics and markets... and do a little bonding with a cute anthropomorphic wolf spirit. The first series is here. [discuss] 2010-12-28

US Premiere: Oreimo 12 - My Little Sister's Advice Can't End Here (Good End)
Kirino says she just needs one final favor from Kyousuke... but just what is it and why? Lots of surprises in this final TV episode of Oreimo! [discuss] 2010-12-25

Brain Diving - The NHK Took My Baby Away
Brian shuts himself in with the Welcome to the NHK light novel and discovers the world of the hikikomori. 2010-12-28

Astro Toy - Luka Megurine Figma
It's a pink-haired, fish-wielding vocaloid! From Figma! She'll sing her way right into your heart (and wallet). 2010-12-26

Kimikiss: Pure Rouge DVD 2
Love deepens, hearts are broken, people learn to move on from one-sided attractions, and much experimentation with udon noodles goes on in a run of episodes which sometimes plods along but rarely stays dull for long. Great for those who are fans of romantic tales, avoidable for everyone else.

Yotsuba&! GN 9
Azuma is imaginative and talented enough to express a child's sense of wonder—and it is that wonder, that wide-eyed innocence, that is Yotsuba&!'s greatest gift to the world.

Bleach DVD Box Set 6
A blissful return to the main story arc. No enforced character stasis, no side-stories—nothing but advancing plot, shifting character dynamics, and gobs of superpowered action.

Panic X Panic GN 2
The best thing that can be said about Panic X Panic is that it is mercifully short: the suffering ends after just two volumes and there's no need to even read the one-shot that fills up the rest of this one.

Ghost Hunt GN 11
While a pleasant throwback to earlier stories, it's all the more depressing that this eleventh volume is so lackluster in comparison and likely the last we'll ever see of this once loveable cast of ghost hunters.

Vampire Knight DVD 3
Perhaps aware that its love triangle was eating it whole, this is the show setting out to prove that it can move beyond lovelorn teens and perverse romance and still succeed. The short of it? It does.

How to Draw Shojo Manga
More than just a guide for shojo specialists, this book offers advice that applies to all types of manga—and where better to learn from than real industry insiders?

Butterflies, Flowers GN 5
While it's very serious and dramatic at times, the book never lets you forget it's intended silliness, ensuring throughout that even the most potentially steamy moment simply bookends one far less serious.

Sekirei DVD
The overwhelming fanservice means the show isn't for everyone, but for those so inclined, it's a rewarding series with a big heart and plenty of powerful emotion.

Nyan Koi! DVD
A young man allergic to cats must fulfill the wishes of cats or become one himself in this variation on a standard harem romantic comedy. Although it is certainly capable of being funny and sexy and does have its moments, there are definitely funnier, sexier, and better-looking recent series of its type.

Desert Punk DVD 4
Throughout its run Desert Punk has been a “hit or miss” series, partly because it tends to revel in its excesses. This volume is mostly a “hit,” however. It can be rude, crude, and socially unacceptable, but that's also part of its fun.