Anime Blog 30: Descendants of Darkness

Wiki Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descendants_of_Darkness

Hello once more! I am still alive I promise!

So today's anime is a 13 episode Shojo called Descendants of Darkness. This is actually one I watched recently (and mostly because it has Shonen-ai themes) :)

Ok so quick summary there's this organization that investigates suspicious deaths (by hands of vampires and such...) and Tsuzuki works for them but has no partner. He is partnered up with this new kid named Hisoka. The two originally don't get along but with the help of Uber-evil Dr. Muraki (not the good kind of help) the partners begin to get along and understand each other. After that a lot of Fit hits the Shan (if you know what I mean XD ) and lots of deep dark secrets emerge not only about Hisoka and Muraki's previous "relationship" but things about why Tsuzuki hasn't had a partner in so long and the like.

So I really enjoyed watching this (I saw it Dubbed in case anyone wants to know). I really liked the art and the show itself (except for some of the creepy flashbacks...and Muraki...I don't like Muraki) but even though the show was really confusing I still liked it (especially the Tarot card arc, that was awesome!) And this is really random but Watari (the blonde guy) is played by Eric Stuart who plays James and Brock in Pokémon :p

Now there were some hinted shonen-ai scenes (and some more Yaoi-ish scenes but not in a good way) in the show but the show doesn't really focus on that too much and it doesn't have enough to be counted as shonen-ai by demographic (though I wonder about some shows and their tags...)

So ART!

 

(L to R: Gushoshin, Muraki, Hisoka, Tsuzuki, Tatsumi, Watari, The other Gushoshin)

 

 

But now time for Pros and Cons!

 



Pros:

• Shonen-ai-esque
• Good art
• Neat story idea

Cons:

• Creepy Dr. Muraki
• Really confusing story

Pros seem to outweigh the cons again today! I hope those of you who are interested will give Descendants of Darkness a chance!

Till next time and thanks for reading!

~Kei

Anime Blog 29: Death Note

Wiki Page

So today's anime is Death Note, a 37 episode Shonen with 3 Live Action movies and an 11 episode Live Action Japanese Drama.

**UPDATE: The end of the Live Action Drama teased a trailer for a 2016 Live Action Movie. This post will be updated after that film is released.

So I watched Death Note when it came on Adult Swim and I fell in love with it! I liked that he became a criminal killer until he went crazy (because they were catching on to him) and had to start killing EVERYONE! I loved the fact that Light was his own antagonist. Oh and I love the fact that L's real name is *SPOILER!* L. Dumbest name ever...

I also thought the live action movies were done really well and casted superbly. However L Change the World was a little weird for me because it changed how things really happened....

On another note this is the anime that I got my mother hooked on. She loves Death Note! She honestly wants one. I was going to buy her one for Christmas but she told me that if it didn't actually work she would kill me...so needless to say, I didn't buy one. I also thoroughly enjoy the opening especially the parody of  Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel ceiling. That was a really nice touch. And Ryuk was just an awesome character...I mean he warned Light at the beginning and actually made good on his promise at the end.

**UPDATE 2015: The Live Action drama was...interesting. It changed Light from a genius into an average guy. The story followed the same basic route and even though I didn't like the actors as much as the Live Action Movie actors, they weren't too bad. My main complaint: That Near and Mello were one character. Apparently Near has a split personality and that's who Mello is...that was weird for me. Not a fan. But I did actually like Misa in this version. Not 100% sure why but I actually liked her a lot in this version :D

So for fans of the show, you may or may not like it. Depending on a number of things. I personally liked it well enough, the anime was better, but it was ok :D

Anywayz...ART!

(Bottom L to Bottom Right: Near, L, Light (middle), Misa, and Mello)

(L to R: L, Ryuk (in back), Light, Rem (Back), Misa)

 

 

Ryuk, Light, L, and Near

 



But yeah...and Opening!

Ok time for pros and cons:

Pros:

• Unique storyline
• Protagonist is own Antagonist
• Well done casting (for the live actions)
• Really good story

Cons:

• Watching Light go crazy can be a bit much sometimes...

Yeah but that's about it. I can't find any other cons with it really!

Thanks for reading!
Until next time,

~Kei23

**Shipping addition: I sometimes ship LightXL...**

Anime Blog 28: Bus Gamer

Well...after forever I have returned. For those of you who actually follow this you will have noticed that I no longer post anything about my anime forum; unfortunately it's dead and burned and from now on I'm going to go back and post the wiki page (or equivalent) to give extra info for those of you who care about what really happened in the anime! :D

Wiki Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_Gamer

Moving on: Bus Gamer was 3 episodes of OMG I LOVE THIS SHOW! The premise was that a whole bunch of companies in some city (probably Tokyo) are going to play a game involving 3-man teams fighting over a disk that contains all of an individual company's secrets. Basically protect your team's disk at all costs and try to steal the other team's disk. People actually send in applications for this game because depending on the number of rounds you win...the more money you get.

3 random people turn in an application and all 3 of them leave one question on the application blank...thus they become a team and have to work together...they're all completely different.  Toki is a really good fighter, Nobuto is also a good fighter (but in a different style) and is really good at information gathering, and Kazuo is mostly useless...in a fight that is. He's good at solving puzzles and setting traps.

I'm not 100% sure why I love this show so much but I REALLY WANT MORE OF THIS! It had plenty of action and comedy...but no romance...and strangely I liked it that way!

So as always ART!:

(L to R: Kazuo, Toki, and Nobuto)

 

It's time once more for pros and cons!

 

Pros:

• Nice art
• Awesome story

 

Cons:

• Too short (so there's no ending...)

 

Since there's only 1 con...PROS WIN!

 

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

Kei

Anime Blog 27--Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic

wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante's_Inferno:_An_Animated_Epic

Well internet world...it's been quite some time. I apologize for not keeping up with my blogging...my work schedule has been pretty hectic. So today's "anime" is the Animated Epic of Dante's Inferno.

I watched this not too long ago and I must say that even though it only kinda follows the original I really enjoyed it! This movie was based off of a video game and 6 different animation teams worked on it. So there are 6 different art styles throughout the whole thing; some are similar and some are so totally different you wonder if you're watching the same thing!

The story follows Dante as he makes his way through hell with his guide Virgil to save his lover Beatrice from Lucifer. Most of the art was awesome while some of it was a bit weird for me :) Oh and did I mention Steve Blum plays Lucifer? Oh yeah. That totally happened :D and Mark Hamil (AKA Luke Skywalker) plays Dante's father.

ART! (which is a bit difficult...b/c there are 6 different ones and they aren't in order...)

 

(L: Virgil, R: Dante)

 

 

(L: Virgil, R: Dante)

 

 

(L: Dante, R: Virgil)

 

 

(Dante)

 

(Dante)

(L: Virgil, R: Dante)

 

So yeah...there's all the art styles...I really like the one that I put second to last...it was my favorite.

Pros:

• Most of the art was awesome!
• Steve Blum & Mark Hamil
• Based on an awesome story!

Cons:

• Some of the art...
• Story is really different so...it could be hard to follow
• Because it was done by so many different people some of the early events happen differently at the end...not a fan of that. Also with the art change it can be hard to figure out who people are...

So the pros and cons are somewhat even...I say if you like the game, watch it. If you really want something that follows the book, don't.  :D

Thanks for reading! Until next time,

~Kei

Anime Blog 26-Bad Teacher's Equation

more info: AnimeNewsNetwork Page

Warning! Considered Yaoi!

Alright so today's anime is Bad Teacher's Equation which is a 2 episode Yaoi OVA.

The story follows Atsuchi as he transfers to a degenerate high school to be with his first love, Ma-chan, who teaches as a health teacher there. Lo and behold when Atsuchi arrives and meets the health teacher...he's not at all like he used to be! Also he meets an old friend, Kouji,  who had promised to marry him one day...he's pretty funny! So let me spoil it slightly...Ma-chan (Masami)  no longer works at the school...his brother Masayomi does.

Now the art is older but I still liked it for the most part...sometimes the shining eye thing was weird but whatever.

ART!

(L to R: Masayomi, Atsuchi, Kouji)

But overall I really enjoyed this one. At first I was confused because Ma-chan didn't know who Atsuchi was but I figured it out right before the show pointed it out! It was really cute and I suggest Shonen-ai fans to watch it...I wouldn't say Yaoi simply because it wasn't graphic...at all...as a matter of fact I don't think there was kissing really...hmm...
OH and did I mention Kazuhiko Inoue (the seiyu for Kakashi Hatake in Naruto) plays Masayomi!? I LOVE his voice!

Pros:

• Yaoi (?) of course!
• Kazuhiko Inoue!!!
• Cute story
• Decent art

Cons:

• Only 2 episodes
• If Kazuhiko Inoue is in it there can be NO MORE cons!

Well that's it for this one! Thanks for reading and until next time!

~Kei

Anime Blog 25-Deadman Wonderland

wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadman_Wonderland

Hello again internet world! I have returned once more to blog about more anime. Today's anime is Deadman Wonderland, a 12 episode Shonen with an OVA (which is just one characters background).

So I watched Deadman Wonderland (henceforth referred to as DW) on Cartoon Network. I found that I really enjoyed DW if only for the awesomely violent backdrop that the story takes place on. The show was a bit confusing at first, but it's that "I'm confused but so is the main character, let's figure this out together" kind of confused. Also on a side note I love that Colleen Clinkenbeard plays Warden Makina...HUGE BOOBS! All I gotta say about that. But anyways I do like the art and Senji was my favorite character for some reason!

ART!

 

(L to R: Tamaki, You, Makina, Ganta, Shiro)

 

So it's time again for Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Colleen Clikenbeard
• Awesome Storyline
• Senji
  
   
• I mean look at that face! Who can't love that!?

Cons:

• Too short, the end was abrupt and confusing

But honestly that's the only con! Hope y'all enjoy it!

Thanks for reading, Till next time

~Kei

• 

Anime Blog 24-Dazzle

wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dazzle_(manga)

Hello Internet World! Today's anime is Dazzle, AKA: Hatenkou Yuugi.

Dazzle follows a 14 year old girl named Rahzel and two guys named Alzeid and Baroqueheat. Now I will admit that the story can be a bit hard to follow because it's only 10 episodes and doesn't get very far but it is sad but in a cute way...if that makes sense. But yeah, I really enjoyed this one but I do wish that it had been a bit longer. Oh and it has REALLY pretty art!

ART!

 

 

(Left to Right: Baroqueheat, Rahzel, and Alzeid)

Time once again for pros and cons!

Pros:

• Pretty art
• Sad but Cute storyline

Cons:

• A bit too short
• Story can be hard to follow because too much was left out

Voila! The pros and cons are even...you should still watch it though! I mean it's a Josei so it's technically made for older women but whatever!

Thanks for reading!

Until next time,

~Kei