Anime Archive: Page 1

Now and Then, Here and There (今、そこにいる僕, I who am Now There) feels older than it is, in many ways. The show aired in 1999, but its artwork is a distinct throwback to the rounded, organic style of 80's and early 90's anime. Its plot, too, feels out-of-place among modern anime: slow, deliberate pacing; meticulous care devoted to realism (despite the fantasy/sci-fi setting); little comedy and no breaking the "fourth wall." It is very much like Fantastic Children in those respects, so much so that I would consider Fantastic Children the spiritual successor to Now and Then, Here and There.

Yeah, yeah, last anime fan alive to watch GTO, blah blah. As you probably know, Great Teacher Onizuka is a comedy about a perverted ex-gang member named Onizuka who takes the world of education by storm with his outrageous "teaching methods." That's all you need to know about the plot, because that's pretty much all there is to it.

I don't particularly go in for fashion, and dramas are not my favorite type of anime. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed Paradise Kiss, a romantic drama about fashion, modeling, love and self-discovery. I'd heard virtually nothing about this short series, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it quite engrossing and well-produced.

Stop what you are doing right now and watch Fantastic Children. I'll wait.

I had heard so little about Fantastic Children that its superb quality took me completely by surprise. I have no idea why this show hasn't gotten much attention, but the fact that it hasn't is a tragedy (as with Crest of the Stars and Giant Robo).

Trinity Blood is classic Gonzo: fun and stylish, but lacking substance. That's a shame, too, because the show had real promise at the start.

I really enjoyed watching Chobits, though I can't easily explain why. It's a well-executed romance with likeable characters, but what's really refreshing is that Chobits doesn't rely on the ridiculous confusions and misunderstandings that drive too many romantic comedies, nor on random coincidences interrupting the revelation of important plot information (Cardcaptor Sakura, I'm looking at you). Or maybe it's just that Chii is really cute.

My initial impression of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha was, "this is exactly what you'd get if unskillful men tried to duplicate Cardcaptor Sakura." By the time I finished the series, though, that impression had improved significantly. The show is a bit formulaic, and the quality of its artwork is inconsistent (the onsen episode was particularly bad); but on balance it's still worth watching.

All the cool kids are watching it, but does Futakoi Alternative measure up? In a word, yes. It's not a masterpiece by any means, but it is definitely good. More importantly, pictures!

I can't believe I took so long to get around to watching Planetes. It has all I could have hoped for: engaging, lovable characters brought to life by top-notch voice acting; a compelling plot that hits all the right notes; a novel and realistic sci-fi setting; a fantastic soundtrack; and an ending that feels just right.

Berserk: Excellent.
Berserk's ending: WTF.

That is all.