[AOW] Rebuild of Eva 1.0/2.0/3.0 (4/14-20/2013)

I've been an Evangelion fan for a while... in fact I used to watch the original anime in middle school when it was playing during night time [adult swim] anime block, which at the time was Monday-friday instead of just on Saturday. At the time I had a bed time of 7pm so I had to tape the episodes on a VHS so I could watch them after school. Oh the days before the DVR. You had to have some dedication to make sure your VHS player was set to record, and that the TV was on the right channel. I messed up a few times because I would forget to change the channel before going to bed or I wouldn't set the VCR for the right amount of time (usually had to set 10 min before and after just in case). Those were the days you had to prove your "otakuness" which I wasn't quite at the level I am now. I only really got to watch anime on TV if I was able to catch it in time or record. Blockbuster didn't have a very big selection... anyways, I'm ranting!

Ok ok, so I picked the Rebuild of Eva movies because it is an anime remake that not only improves on the series but makes the original look like poo. The Rebuild movies take out all the winy/annoying bits, add new story that makes more sense and even reanimates in a really good way (normally older anime is more detailed where as newer anime only looks crisper with lack of detail but that is not the case with these movies)... well at least the first two movies did. The third one on the other hand is kind of confusing but it is also the point at which the story differs A FREAKIN LOT! I might just need to watch it another time before I get the official feel and gist of the movie, but I want to call it "Piano Time with Shinji and Kaoru with some Action Fights" because the film was more about some conversations and pretty camera shots than battles between the Eva units and aliens.

Type: Remake

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Mecha, Scifi

Movies: 4

Synopsis:

After the second impact, all that remains of Japan is Tokyo-3, a city that's being attacked by giant creatures that seek to eradicate the human kind, called Angels. After not seeing his father for more than eight years, Shinji Ikari receives a phone call in which he is told to urgently come to the NERV Headquarters, an organization that deals with the destruction of the Angels through the use of giant mechs called Evas. Shinji's objective is to pilot the Eva Unit 01 while teaming up with the Eva Unit 00 pilot, Ayanami Rei.

[previous AOWs]

[S2013] Shingeki no Kyojin Ep. 1

English Title: Attack on Titan
Season: Spring 2013
Type: Manga Adaptation
Projected Episodes: 25

I've noticed more and more than when a manga gets released state side, an anime adaption isn't far off. This season alone we've seen Aku no Hana, and Shingeki no Kyojin; which each had only about 2-3 volumes of the manga released in English before the anime adaptations were announced. We also got an adaptation of Devil Survivor 2 (don't let that 2 confuse you, it's just an indicator the second Devil Survivor is getting an adaptation instead of the first much like how Persona 3 got adapted and not the first 2). I think the same thing also happened with High School of the Dead when it came out (manga was released state side, then an anime adaptation was announced). Oh, and I've also noticed the reverse. When an anime comes out if the manga hasn't been released state side you might see it after the season ends (see I don't Like my Big Brother At All). Maybe this is a sign that the whole online movement of offering anime for free legally has been allowing more manga that otherwise would be really hard to sell to be released with English translations... ok I'm starting to ramble. Back to the matter at hand which is the intital impressions of episode one of Attack on Titan (I'm using the English title from here on because it makes more sense to me).

There isn't too much to say about this episode other than it sets up the main character... well kind of. All I can really gather is he was an angry little boy who really wants to join something life threatening and become a hero; but his reasons aren't really shown- well his first reason isn't shown but another reason is given to him in the episode. He clearly has a reason at the start of the episode, so giving him another reason just seems a bit like overkill but that is a story problem, not an anime problem because this is based on already existing material.

Attack on Titan is well animated (which is to be expected simply because Production IG is on the bill and I have yet to see a bad series from them), with a good soundtrack and a pretty decent start (even though it was a bit overkill for a first episode). Go watch it now so that if your friends start talking about this one which I can guarantee anyone watching this season will, you'll be in the know.

[check out the other S2013 impressions]

[AOW] Pretty Rhythm: Aurora Dream (4/7-13/2013)

The anime gods are probably having a fit right now knowing that I'm featuring an anime I haven't even seen one episode of. WELL, sometimes I like to take chances and by the looks of reviews on MAL this anime can't really be bad now can it? I did really like Kalido Star (sans that English dub) so a show about ice skating can't be too boring. I plan to start watching this one pretty soon, maybe after catching up on initial reviews for the current anime season.

You can probably call this one a mix of that PreCure style, Kalido Star and almost any other cutesy sports anime aimed primarily at girls (PreCure is a magical girl anime but the character designs in this AOW remind me of it). It has those awkward 3Dish animation moments from the looks of this video.

Type: Manga adaptation

Genre(s): Sports, Music, Shoujo

Episodes: 51

Synopsis:

Prism Stars are performers on the new popular ice show, Prism Show. They are superidols whose techniques, singing and fashion sense are a cut above all others. Aira and Rizumu are two Prism Stars whose goal is to become the best, the Prism Queen. However, the road to success is bumpy.