THE Anime Review Thread

[xzsadboyzx]

Main Title : Nodame Cantabile
Type : TV Series - 23 episodes
Genres : College, Comedy, Coming of Age, Music, School
Sub/Dub: English/Jap

Shinichi Chiaki is the top piano student at his university and an excellent violinist, but Chiaki doesn`t care about playing these instruments as much as he dreams of someday being a conductor. Chiaki, however, has several deeply rooted fears about traveling, and so finds himself "trapped" in Japan. Because he`s trapped, Chiaki starts to question exactly how far he can possibly go in music, especially when he`s passed over again and again for others he thinks are less worthy of musical scholarship and fame.

Recently dumped by his girlfriend for a "sausage" looking fellow, passed over for a chance to go overseas, removed from his star spot in the piano competition because he walked out on his piano instructor, Chiaki is at his limit. This is when he meets Nodame, or Megumi Noda. Nodame is a free — if filthy — spirit who reminds Chiaki that music can be fun. She reminds him what drew him to be a conductor in the first place and, in learning how to deal with Nodame, Chiaki learns how to deal with others. Chiaki begins to realize what is possible for him, even on the tiny island of Japan.

For Nodame, Chiaki is everything she isn`t. Clean, neat, dedicated, studious and inherently arrogant about his accomplishments and capabilities, Chiaki constantly bullies her into being more serious about life. He sees potential in her and her abilities as a pianist that she doesn`t care about. Nodame loves Chiaki and wants to be with him, but, because she`s not serious about her piano studies nor her personal hygiene, Chiaki denies her affections again and again.

But Chiaki and Nodame complete each other in ways no other can, a musical compliment that neither of them can completely escape entirely. Watching them grow as people and musicians, and even as a couple, is an interesting ride.

Taken from Anidb

Download: Very Easy but Required Torrent
Rating: 11/10 very funny with a little bit of music

[whiteday26]

Title: Death Note
TV series 37 Episodes. Genre: Crime, Rivalry, Supernatural

Yagami Light (pronounced Raito) is the son of the Japanese National Police Chief and a very smart student, and a strong sense of justice. One day he picks up a note book dropped by a very bored shingami (God of Death) that whenever you write someone's name on it, they die as exactly written.

Although, I liked the original manga ending better, this anime is still something you should not miss. The art is done in a slightly Gothic (in traidition of the original manga) manner which sets up the atmosphere, along with the music choices. and it could be fun for some manga fans to pick out the minor alterations the anime has (not left out completely, instead altered slightly). Overall, this animation is full of 'win' moments.
Rating: 10 out of 10, it was still enjoyable for a manga fan who already knew to the plot.

[t3ku]

Anime Name: Ghost In The Shell

Genre: Sci Fi, Action

Subbed/Dubbed: Subbed and Dubbed versions Available.

Review: Gits is placed about 50-100 years in the future, there has been 2 world wars since our(current) time. One nuclear war and one non nuclear war. America fell shortly after the Nuclear war due to not having technology to clean/scrub the radiation. Japan had developed such technology in the form of nano machines that physically dissolved the radiation. Because of this, there was a shift in power between eastern and western continents, the UN still exists, but with somewhat limited authority. In this time of technology, people have begun to 'cyberize' themselves, shedding flesh and blood bodies for cyborg bodies, transfering their memories to external storage devices like a hard drive. Crimes are no longer committed like we see them now, new crimes are done through information warfare, and various other technology related crimes that can now be committed in this advance future. To deal with crimes of this sort, a group of specialists was created to combat crime and maintain order, this group is known as Section 9. This show has a very deep plot, and has no repeating lines as seen in some other anime. The detail of art is staggering, if any, this is the best drawn anime I have ever seen. The story has a mix of action, politics, humor and light romance(very light). Any Scifi fan would like this series, I do recomend it.


Downloads: Very easy to download from torrents, took 2 days to download each season. Both seasons and all three movies can be found.


Rating: A 10, one of the best Scifi series ever.

[Barzillal]

Title: Ghost Hunt ゴーストハント (Japanese)
Number of Episodes: 25 Genre: Psychological, supernatural, Horror
Rating: 7/10
Brief Synopsis:
Tells a story of teenage girl Mai Tanayama and her fateful meeting with a psychic researcher Shibuya Kazuya where by a twist of fate she becomes an assistant of the researcher.

The anime is based on a manga with the same title. The story revolves around encounters of the paranormal. The main characters of the show then meets up with fellow Psychics, a retired monk who turned band member, a rich miko-priestess, a catholic priest and a celebrity pyschic. "Naru" (Shibuya Kazuya is dubbed as thus as he seems too full of himself e.g. Narcissist) heads the investigation using scientific means to explain the so called supernatural phenomenas. He is dissuaded and criticized by psychics as he starts off by saying it may not be cause by supernatural causes. He solves puzzles rather accurately which makes the anime really great. Similar to Death Note that gets you thinking and guessing. Character development is emphasized, hidden traits are one to watch out for too. It is mostly seen in Mai's perspective as she is no doubt the main character here. She is rather was useless until she then developed sensitivity to the supernatural. There are some scary moments but mostly mind-bobbling

screenies:

Spoiler

[nikunj]

Anime Name: Last Exile
Genre: Fantasy,Flying,Adventure,Sci-Fi
Subbed/Dubbed: Subbed completely, Easily available on net
Review: One of the better anime I had watched. It doesn't have crazy 1-1 fights but a gud and mature story. The story uses symbolism a lot.. Character development is a bit slow but by the end u will luv lead characters. The story has not a tiny bit of fan service, it is only bussiness.. If something is not essential then it is not shown. Also in my view the starting half of story is better than the later half. And muzic is awesome. U can watch it for music only.

plot outline:- The story is mainly abt a vanship(aircraft) pilot and his navigator who live in a war torn world delivering message and intend to cross grand stream(a violent upper atmosphere wind which none had crossed yet).

Downloads: Unknown
Rating: 8/10 (Good)

[Aeris of Iniquity]

Anime Name: Fullmetal Alchemist (Japanese: Hagane no Renkinjutsushi)
Genre: Sci-fi, Action, Comedy
Subbed/Dubbed: Avaliable in both, I preferred the original Japanese version.
Review: This story chronicles the story of two brothers, Edward and Alphonse, and their journey to right the wrongs done in their past. Edward Elric is a State Alchemist, one who is employed by the state for his uncanny ability to control Alchemy, which developed in their world instead of Physics, as did in ours. His younger brother Alphonse, or more commonly known as Al, is nothing more than an empty suit of armor. The story runs for 52 episodes as the brothers take on the 7 Deadly Sins (Greed, Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Envy, Gluttony, and Lust) and try to return their bodies to the way there were before. Also, there is a movie out - Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballa (Hagane no Renkinjutsushi: Shambarra wo Ikumono), which will be the next review I add here.
Downloads: Fairly easy to find. (http://www.galanime.com)
Rating: 10 out of 10, easily.

[.insanity.]

Anime: Gantz
Genre: Action, Ecchi, Sci-fi, Paranormal
Subbed/Dubbed: I watched the subbed version.

Review: I don't like to dwell on matters for too long, so I liked that Gantz was briskly-paced, with enough detail and emphasis on the things that need such; very accurate proportions are given out depending on importance of the subject. Taken from Wiki since I'm a lazy bastard. "The story begins when a pair of high school students (Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato) are seemingly run over by a subway train, after saving the life of a homeless drunk who had fallen onto the tracks. Following their untimely deaths, Kei and Masaru find themselves transported — alive and well — along with a number of people who have also just died, to the interior of an unfurnished Tokyo condominium from which the Tokyo Tower may be seen - and none of them are able to leave. At one end of the room is a featureless black sphere we later learn is called "Gantz"... By way of green text that appears on the surface of the sphere, Gantz informs those present that their lives have ended. Next, information on [aliens] appear on the surface of the sphere, shortly before the Gantz Team are transported to the location of the mission [to eliminate the alien(s)]."

Downloads: Direct downloads were hard to find, but the torrents were easily located.

Rating: I would love to give this series a ten, but there were some parts that were just so uncreative. For an action anime, the fight scenes were slightly disappointing. At least the absolutely amazing plot makes up for it, so a nine. :D

[Sparky3000]

Anime Name: GunGrave
Genre: a supernatural,science fiction, action, drama
Subbed/Dubbed: I watch both, they are both equal in sub vrs dub category, but it contains high level of foul language in both.
Review: The story is base on a playstation2 game Gungrave & Gungrave Overdose later one. The game is done by and Yashiro Nightow for character design. The story is about this guy name Brandon Heat who was killed and then resurected from the dead as "Beyond the Grave". Grave wants revenge on his best/childhood friend Harry McDowel who killed Brandon years ago. Grave also have to protect a girl name Mika, from the maifia and away from their power hungry leader Harry McDowel.
Downloads: This series is easy to find, its on the sites main page.
Rating: 10/10



Anime Name: Trinity Blood
Genre: supernatural, adventure,drama, science fiction, horror, fantasy
Sub/Dub: Both
Reveiw: Trinity blood is kinda of a mixture of Hellsing, Trigun,Chrno Crusades & vampire Hunter D.The story takes place in the future Europe after the Armageddon. A war between Human & vampire still continued on. The main character is a man named Abel Nightroad, who is a traveling goofball, vatican priest. But secretly he is part of a special underground group called AX. AX must protect human against vampires and try to maintain peace between the two races. But there is an evil group out there plotting to destroy the vatican and the entire human race. Will the AX will be able to save the human race in time?
Downloads: its on the main webpage both sub & dub
Rating: 5/10 Due to lack of good plot, backround story & character development (they should of stuck more to the novel)

[makaku777]

i just saw the newer naruto, and i quite like it. it's not too bad compared to other newer japanese cartoons. dragonball z though remains the greatest japanese cartoon of our time. no doubt about it.

[bonvnguyen]

Naruto Shippuuden is a continuation from naruto which has been ongoing since 2002. However, there hasn't been much action happening lately as well as the main plot is going slowly. too much talking and less action for me. Good animation though.

6/10. wasn't that great for me and good thing i stopped watching.