5/3/13

[AOW] Fate/Stay Night (4/28-5/4/2012)


One of my roomates bought this anime on DVD  a few weeks ago simply because Best Buy now price matches to Amazon... they are going to lose lots of moola lol. Anyways, I've been a fan of all things in the Fate universe for a while now, but I never saw the anime in English... which now that I'm watching it I sure did not lose out by watching this one in Japanese. Though, I am a fan of Liam OBrien's sexy voice. Mmmm. Well, he does a pretty good job as Archer (the male pictured above) but the rest of the cast is pretty weak in the voice department. I particularly really dislike Sakura's vocie- it is way to child like. BUT if you are ok with watching in Japanese with subs, do it. Save your ears the trouble. The only reason I'm watching this one in English is because I've seen it before... and I like to have some anime playing while I work on my blog.


Type: Visual Novel Adaptation
Genre(s): Action, Fantasy, Magic, Shonen, Drama, Tragedy
Episodes: 24
Synopsis:
Raised by a mysterious sorcerer after the horrific death of his parents, Shiro Emiya has only just begun to help others using the small tidbits of magic that he's learned. However, when he's suddenly caught in a battle between two more powerful Magus, Shiro finds himself performing a spell above his expected ability, summoning the beautiful spirit warrior Saber to protect him! But safety is only momentary as Shiro and Saber now find themselves thrust into in a secret world of dark magic and deadly challenges: a no-holds barred duel to the death known as the Holy Grail War! At stake: a prize of unimaginable power. But can the inexperienced Shiro and Saber survive long enough to even enter the contest? First they'll have to withstand waves of treachery and assassination, even as Shiro scrambles to learn everything he'll need to know to stay alive as seven teams of Magus and Spirit Servants face off in mortal combat! 

[previous AOWs]

4/26/13

[AOW] Victorian Romance Emma (4/21-27/2013)


Victorian Romance Emma needs an English dub! This is a legit romance anime set in England and is two seasons long. AND it is really good! All it really needs is a proper English dub to be one of the best romance anime ever! I've seen both seasons and loved them. RightStuf!, get your acts together and dub this anime!


Type: Manga adaptation
Genre(s): Drama, Historical, Seinen, Romance
Episodes: 24
Summary:
In 19th-century London, class lines are sharply drawn, and the social standing to which people are born dictates the path their lives will follow. Emma, an honest and hardworking young maid, never felt her place in life to be a burden. But then she met William, a member of the gentry and the eldest son of a wealthy family. His warm smile and earnest affection threaten to capture her heart... but can love truly conquer all?

[previous AOWs]

4/21/13

FAL-Con 2013 Promotional Giveaway

A few days ago I was able to announce the Fellow Anime Lovers convention's (aka FAL-Con) official venue, now I want to promote the convention in a way I know many people would appreciate- that would be with a giveaway! This giveaway includes 3 prize packages that each include a little something for you to get signed at the convention by the special guest of your choice (well, except first place because they get 3 items). To win one of these packages is simple:

First- you have to like my r//w[g] fanpage on Facebook.
Second- Like the contest link.
Third- Share the contest link.
Fourth- Comment on the link which prize package you want most to least. For example "I'd love to win that Fal-Con badge, but if I had a second choice it would be for that lovely Sebas-kun pillow!" So that I know that if you don't win first place what other pack would make you happy as well.
Lastly- Please help promote FAL-Con by telling your friends it's going to be at Bassette Center Mall (in the movie theater) from 10am-11pm on Friday May 17th and Saturday May 18th, 2013.

Now I bet your wondering to yourself "what are the prize packages?" Here they are:


For an extra chance to win, feel free to comment on this blog post as well ^_^

I'll be announcing the winners on  May 10th, 2013.

4/18/13

[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.

4/15/13

[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]

4/14/13

[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.