[Anime of the Week] Mawaru Penguindrum (7/31-8/6/2011)

So um... the Summer 2011 anime season has been well under way (most series are now at 4-5 episodes) and there are some interesting shows playing, one namely being the one I've chosen as AOW this time. Interesting fact is this anime is being directed by the same one as Utena. You can really tell when side views of the characters faces are shown, so keep an eye out all ye Utena fans who have been waiting for the directors next work to finally come out.

Runtime: 24min/ep
# of Eps: 12
Type: original
Rating: T
Synopsis:

The story centers around three siblings, twins Kanba and Shouma, and the ill sister, Himari Takakura. Himari passes away after going out on a trip with her brothers. She was however, miraculously saved by a spirit thriving in a penguin-shaped hat. In return for her extended life, the twins must search for an item known as the Penguin Drum with the aid of three penguins which are visible only to the siblings.

[Anime of the Week] Re:Cutie Honey (6/26-7/2/2011)

This version of Cutie Honey is a remake of the anime, and it has a live action movie made based on it that you should check out as well.

Runtime: 45min/ep
# of eps: 3
Type: manga
Rating: teen
Synopsis:
A mysterious organization known as Panther Claw make their presence known by terrorizing Tokyo and giving the cops a run for their money. Police are further baffled by the appearance of a lone cosplaying vigilante who thwarts all of Panther Claw's evil schemes before disappearing. That cosplayer is Honey Kisaragi, the result of the late Professor Kisaragi's prize experiment. A master of disguise, Honey can magically alter her physical appearance and outfits. But with a push of the heart-shaped button on her choker, she transforms herself into Cutie Honey, the scantily-clad, sword-wielding warrior of love and justice.

[Anime of the Week] The Big O I & II (6/19-25/2011)

Started rewatching the second half (also known as Big O II) of Big O. It beings me back to the days where I had to wake up at like 4-5am to watch "more mature" anime on Adult Swim.

Runtime: 24min/ep
# of Eps: 26
Type: original
Rating: teen
Synopsis:
Paradigm City is a place without a past. 40 years ago, something happened that wiped the memories of everyone in it. Unfortunately, the people of Paradigm City were very busy before then, making Megadueses (giant robots) and monsters. People who were born after the memory wipe are gaining/recovering memories of the past and using them to build newer threats. With the help of The Big O (a faithful giant robot), his butler Norman and the android Dorothy, Roger Smith keeps Paradigm City safe. As problems mount and more memories surface, Roger's past and Paradigm's future begin to become suspect...

[Anime of the Week] Ao no Exorcist (5/29-6/4/2011)

This past spring season of anime has left me sad. There were tons of anime I had been looking forward to such as Deadman Wonderland and Steins;GATE that saddened me... in the end I've only really kept up with Ao no Exorcsit and Nichijou =/

Runtime: 24mins/ep
# of Eps: 25 + 1 special
Type: manga
Rating: teen
Synopsis:
This world consists of two dimensions joined as one, like a mirror. The first is the world in which the humans live, Assiah. The other is the world of demons, Gehenna. Ordinarily, travel between the two, and indeed any kind of contact between the two, is impossible. However the demons can pass over into this world by possessing anything that exist within it. Satan the god of demons, but there's one thing that he doesn't have, and that's a substance in the human world that is powerful enough to contain him!! For that purpose he created Rin, his son from a human woman, but will his son agree to his plans? Or will he become something else...? An exorcist?

"6 Manga You Must Not Read" [commentary]

I did some research on the manga found in this Sankaku Complex article. It was hard finding most of these on the manga reader sites I use most...

The cover of this first one is very interesting. The whole swim suit mixed with a wedding dress is apparently every otaku's dream to have a girl wear for them. You'll have a hard time finding this one in English because according to Baka-manga it was never translated.

I know someone who is a big fan of Aki Sora, and I personally have started reading this one here. Normally I don't read manga with incest (I dropped Onii-chan after only a few chapters), but this one comes highly recommended so I decided to give it a chance.

This one actually peaked my interest the most, but yet again Baka-manga has it as not translated. =(

The other manga listed I have no interest in at all 'cause they apparently were made just to please the perverted otaku out there who have no life outside of their room.

[Gundam News] 1/144 HG GM III (to be released in July) [by striker0]

Bandai is giving love this time around to Gundam Unicorn, in the form of the RGM-86R GM III. This is from ZZ Gundam bear in mind, and not the Unicorn version, which has different colors As some know, the GM is the mass produced version of the Gundam, using similar technologies, but also keeping it's cost down by not using some of the more complex systems that the prototypes use.

This model is due out in July, and at around $20 or so depending on the current exchange rate, it's sure to make some of us mass produced or grunt type lovers happy.

[Anime of the Week] Elfen Lied (5/1-7/2011)

I just finished reading the manga version yesterday and decided to give the anime version a rewatch. I'm on episode 12 as I post this and it's very evident the anime did a bad job of putting the moments needed to actually make me cry like the manga did. If you haven't read the manga and liked the anime you better go read it!

Runtime: 24min/ep

# of Eps: 13 + ova

Type: manga

Rating: Mature

Synopsis:

The Diclonius, a mutated homo sapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possesses two horns in their heads, and has a "sixth sense" which gives it telekinetic abilities. Due to this dangerous power, they have been captured and isolated in laboratories by the government. Lucy, a young and psychotic Diclonius, manages to break free of her confines and brutally murder most of the guards in the laboratory, only to get shot in the head as she makes her escape. She survives and manages to drift along to a beach, where two teenagers named Kouta and Yuka discovers her. Having lost her memories, she was named after the only thing that she can now say, "Nyuu," and the two allow her to stay at Kouta's home. However, it appears that the evil "Lucy" is not dead just yet...