tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23235438903313133282012-01-31T22:45:28.953ZI watch way too much anime, and I spend way too much time writing - So, why not mix the two 'vices' and start writing too much about anime to boot?Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.comBlogger24021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-32630886490639581822012-01-31T22:45:00.002Z2012-01-31T22:45:28.982Z

Come school sports day, you'd rather expect the members of its karuta club to hide as far as possible from such activities.  Not so Mizusawa's ragtag bunch, who not only participate in an inter-club relay competition but go on to win (albeit rather improbably) in the final. Such is the driven nature of those within the club since their exploits at Omi Jingu, as all of the members on-hand have

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-67806180613020354702012-01-31T20:09:00.001Z2012-01-31T20:09:48.473Z

Ever wondered what your friends talk about when you're not around?  Of course you do!  If you plan on listening in on their conversation however, make sure you're listening in on the right people and not just someone who looks incredibly similar... This minor error on Tadakuni's part takes us onto the mainstay of this week's episode of Daily Lives of High School Boys, with East High and North

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-11849926177522616852012-01-30T23:27:00.002Z2012-01-30T23:27:55.629Z

There are a fair number of things you wouldn't want a girl you liked to do to you, whether it's suddenly starting to ignore you seemingly at random one day or walking off to catch the nearest train after you've made a half-baked confession of sorts to her one evening. It's the latter problem which confronts both Kaito and Ichika as this fourth episode of Ano Natsu de Matteru begins, and neither

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-72772129455856975272012-01-30T22:46:00.001Z2012-01-30T22:46:45.759Z

With serialisation meeting time approaching once again, the pressure is on for Takagi in particular as both marriage and serialisation become inextricably tied together - this is as nothing to the pressure felt by editor Miura however, with Ashirogi Muto's latest work getting a muted reception in the serialisation meeting preamble while Business Boy Kenichi looks likely to be put out of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-34247199032697782992012-01-30T20:47:00.001Z2012-01-30T20:47:25.858Z

After that incident with the umbrella last week, worries about the "curse" of class three have understandably amplified - even more so considering the fact that Sakuragi's moehter was also killed in an accident on the same day as her daughter. Our protagonist Kouichi misses the direct aftermath of the incident out of a requirement for a check-up on his lung, although the hospital does seem to be

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-81964597670358943902012-01-30T19:54:00.002Z2012-01-30T19:54:41.748Z

Having muddled through much of the series thus far, Yukiteru finally tasted defeat at the hands of Seventh, with this lovey-dovey pairing outdoing both himself and Yuno to leave them both hospitalised and with their respective cell phones stolen. Thus, we rejoin Yukkii as he undergoes his rehabilitation under the watchful eye (literally, just the one eye) of Uryuu, who has been brought in with a

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-56966445006494166652012-01-30T18:37:00.001Z2012-01-30T18:37:27.176Z

From saving the world (or at least the town), it's back down to earth for Madoka with this fourth episode of Rinne no Lagrange - but what's this, a new and mysterious transfer student at her school? The new "student" in question is Muginami, the odd girl which Madoka previously met on-base during her previous adventures in robot piloting - intriguingly, it turns out that Muginami wasn't supposed

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-88546009849150030422012-01-29T12:44:00.001Z2012-01-29T12:44:56.078Z

Did you really think that the murders and mysteries within Inaba had been solved and cleared up?  Of course not, and after a decidedly quite spell it appears that it's time for the Midnight Channel to begin broadcasting once again. This chain of events is brought about by "student detective" Naoko, who makes an appearance on television both to show his prowess and discuss how he still has doubts

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-59529950751378763182012-01-28T20:01:00.003Z2012-01-28T20:01:48.604Z

Finally freed from his captivity at the hands of Senjougahara, thanks in no small part to Hanekawa, Koyomi finally gets the chance to return and aid his sisters after Tsukihi's plea for help received to his mobile phone. The trouble is, do the Fire Sisters really want their big brother's help?  It certainly doesn't seem like it as they refuse to tell him anything about what's doing on, much to

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-56073403944532879272012-01-28T12:58:00.001Z2012-01-28T12:58:28.602Z

Despite their secretive armaments and an Exile of their own, it seems that even Glacies' massed forces are powerless to resist the Federation's own Exile, brought to bear once again courtesy of Princess Liliana.  But with Glacies laid to waste, is the horror of the destruction wreaked upon this land the final straw in turning opinion against ruling president Luscinia within factions of the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-11293506980654598112012-01-27T20:33:00.000Z2012-01-27T20:33:07.092Z

Never mind culture festivals, the inhabitants of Tennozu First High School and the wider Loop7 region have some big problems on their hands - namely, that they've been labelled as contaminated by new president Keido and have thus been quarantined from the rest of Japan. With communications down and no real way of knowing what's going on in the outside world, the school's students quickly become

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-82346304879767433422012-01-27T18:57:00.001Z2012-01-27T18:57:21.698Z

When confronted with a random (and not to mention insincere) confession from a classmate out in town, there's nothing for it but for poor Rihoko to blurt out that she's really in love with Junichi, who just so happens to be standing right around the corner.  But did he hear her over the noise from a passing train? We're left guessing as to what Tachibana did or didn't see and hear as first

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-1580431101631747232012-01-26T22:59:00.001Z2012-01-26T22:59:42.624Z

Fond farewalls to Dian and her country of Glacies prove to be short-lived for Fam and company, as their departure throws them straight into the face of a massive Federation fleet making their way for Glacies borders with a view to invading this secretive land.  Can one small vanship really do anything to help prevent a bloodbath? Regardless of the possibilities, Fam immediately turns tail in the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-58149016869195514672012-01-25T23:18:00.002Z2012-01-25T23:18:52.733Z

Takagi and Miyoshi's relationship is back on the right track (well, if you consider marriage to be "the right track"), while Aoki and Nakai's relationship is anything but, although it's probably for the best all things considered.  Thus, it's time to get down to one of the pivotal issues of the manga business - panty shots! With Nakai putting himself very much out of the running, the questions

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-56432511990585439672012-01-25T20:42:00.000Z2012-01-25T20:42:06.596Z

With the fun (or hardships in Narukami's case) of the summer over, it's back to school for a new term as we hit episode fifteen of Persona 4: The Animation.  Not only that, we also get a new transfer student to ponder, with young assistant detective Naoto Shirogane joining the school to suggest his increased prominence within the series moving forward. Still, if going back to school is normally

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-29126194481516235282012-01-24T23:14:00.001Z2012-01-24T23:14:59.454Z

The effects of the alcohol consumed by all and sundry last episode might have worn off, but the foggy memories of the previous day haven't quite worn off by the next morning. While Kanna soon finds herself faced by some minor embarrassment from that afternoon courtesy of Remon, this is as of nothing compared to the worries of Kaito and Ichika, with the former imagining a horribly bungled

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-29609482615992775612012-01-24T22:38:00.001Z2012-01-24T22:38:33.372Z

It's summertime!  Okay, well, it's not actually summertime, as this week's Daily Lives of High School Boys self-referentially points out, but let's just say it is for the sake of this episode, okay? Of course, summer can only mean one thing for a high school boy - chasing after girls on the beach!  Of course, this is easier said than done, as Hidenori realised when he comes to the shocking

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-62989182036127970562012-01-24T20:44:00.001Z2012-01-24T20:44:14.601Z

With the national karuta contest out of the way, where next for Chihayafuru and its bunch of lovable wannabe masters? Recap-land, that's where, as this episode spends most of its time retreading the ground covered so far.  Unfortunately, Chihayafuru seems to be a series that doesn't sit well with such a condensed treatment based on the evidence of this instalment - it feels dull, clunky and

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-30740151438981670202012-01-24T19:20:00.002Z2012-01-24T19:31:43.016Z

With an impromptu visit to a decidedly eerie shop selling dolls turning into another enounter with the ever-more mysterious Mei Misaki, we finally get to clear up one of those mysteries - what's underneath that eye patch?  The answer is, of course... Skittles! Okay, okay, not really - behind the eye patch is an artificial eye, which Mei claims allows her to "see things she shouldn't be able to";

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-86258033237072910992012-01-23T20:27:00.002Z2012-01-23T20:27:43.611Z

Yukiteru might have rid himself of Gasai Yuno's attentions (for the time being at least), but with new diary owners popping up left and right this isn't exactly the time to relax or celebrate by any stretch of the imagination - still, at least Deus Ex Machina has been kind enough to explain just how these new diary-wielding maniacs have managed to pop up in the midst of this survival game. In

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-39971563327087836122012-01-22T22:36:00.001Z2012-01-22T22:36:40.842Z

In Madoka's world, it seems that giant robots are like buses - you don't see any for a dedicate, then a whole load all crop up at once.  This is quite a problem when two of said robots are quite clearly not on your side. Not that even this seems to faze our newcomer of a Vox Aura pilot - at least, it doesn't when Madoka realises that the latest enemy on the scene is in danger of causing damage

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-30958503337007734432012-01-21T19:05:00.001Z2012-01-21T19:05:26.925Z

Book clearing duties may be over, but Araragi's conversation with Kanbaru isn't quite over as episode three of Nisemonogatari begins, with the latter proving to be rather astute at picking up on the interest other girls have in the form - not that it's difficult to be more astute than Koyomi as he continues to even clock what the whole Nadeko "Twister" incident had to do with anything. It's when

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-66571253623087977002012-01-21T12:00:00.000Z2012-01-21T12:00:05.439Z

As the realisation came to me earlier this month that it's almost time for this 'blog's "birthday", I figured that I'd done pretty well to hit the three year mark.  It was at that point I realised that I started the 'blog in the January of 2008, making this the fourth anniversary of the site's inception. So here I am, four years later with almost 2,400 entries, close to a million unique page

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-72971913976055945942012-01-20T21:02:00.003Z2012-01-20T21:02:42.132Z

Last week's Guilty Crown felt very much like an end of series affair, with the immediate threat defeated and the possibility of a second Lost Christmas prevented despite the loss of Gai. However, as we return to this very different looking Tokyo we soon get a glimpse of why there is still much left to do, with the ravages of the virus giving the city an eerie look while all communications are

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-21320897353652534252012-01-20T18:39:00.003Z2012-01-20T18:39:59.028Z

With Ayatsuji's story out of the way, we go back to the future for episode three of Amagami SS+ as Rihoko Sakurai gets her turn in the spotlight - an important moment for this series given how poor Rihoko was left hanging in a one-sided crush by the original series. Rejoining her story a few months later, it's clear that nothing has changed in this regard - Rihoko is now tea club president with

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-31596253495832214732012-01-17T22:55:00.003Z2012-01-17T22:55:49.277Z

One of the great things about being of the male persuasion is that you can be amused for hours by even the simplest of things - like a big stick for example.  Cue the opening gambit of this second episode of Daily Lives of High School Boys. In this case, finding a stick in the street offers an opportunity for our trio of high school lads to play at being in an RPG, with decidedly amusing

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-6226390524948565702012-01-17T21:31:00.001Z2012-01-17T21:31:24.117Z

Facing off against the reigning Queen of karuta, Chihaya finally finds herself up against the competition she so desired, although perhaps this particular competition is a little too stiff as she looks set for a thrashing at the hands of Shinobu Wakamiya.  However, with her first card finally won come the end of last week's episode, is there time for a spectacular comeback? Despite finding her

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-46170620368758063172012-01-17T18:46:00.000Z2012-01-17T18:46:13.708Z

After a far too predictable opener, Ano Natsu de Matteru's second episode kicks off with an explanation of how Ichika Takatsuki fell out of the sky from her own point of view, thanks to a seemingly frivolous journey to try and find an image she has stuck in her head gone horribly wrong.  Not that anything went particularly right for Kai during the incident either, mind you... With that out of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-82743448173233189922012-01-16T23:29:00.002Z2012-01-16T23:29:22.026Z

From running a one-person school club through to (unwittingly) meeting an alien and going on to pilot a giant flying robot and thwart an enemy attack is quite a leap - then again, we already know that Madoka Kyono is no ordinary girl given her experiences a decade previously. Having fended off the attack of an enemy robot, Kyono quite reasonably assumes that's the end of the matter and that her

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-10555347879803090162012-01-16T22:52:00.001Z2012-01-16T22:52:31.774Z

After dipping back into the past and the true events of the original Grand Race which Fam loves to harp on about, we're returned to both harsh reality and the present for episode thirteen of Fam, the Silver Wing. With the Sylvius missing, Fam, Gise and Millia at least find themselves in a place of safety thanks to Glacies pilot Dian, who clearly recognises Fam as having saved her during their

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-72395592205450615982012-01-16T20:10:00.002Z2012-01-16T20:10:37.714Z

Despite finding creepiness in every corner in its opening instalment, it's school life as usual as Another's second episode begins, with the students of the fated class 3 carrying on with art classes and the like as you'd expect from any normal school. Despite this however, there's clearly still plenty that our protagonist Sakakibara hasn't been told, with mentions of the class "curse" slipping

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-30864559579908922642012-01-16T19:21:00.001Z2012-01-16T19:21:58.395Z

As this second half of Mirai Nikki begins, things are looking pretty good for Yuno - she has her beloved Yukiteru under lock and key, Hinata is similarly at her bidding and the rest of the group in pursuit of her are having a gas... quite literally.  So safe is Yuno in her current position that she's happy to pad around the hotel security room she's "borrowing" in her underwear - Hell, she's even

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-50046361311552235772012-01-15T23:30:00.002Z2012-01-15T23:30:51.961Z

I think it's fair to say that things were a little fraught in terms of the love lives of our two burgeoning manga artists by the end of last week's Bakuman, so how on Earth are they planning to sort out their mess? In Mashiro's case, "sorting things out" seems to have been confused with "having a blazing row" - after being told by Miho that she can't trust him before hanging up, he calls her

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-17235252962569952542012-01-15T22:53:00.001Z2012-01-15T22:53:41.082Z

After presenting Nanako's view of the summer last week, this time around it's Yuu Narukami's turn to get the focus turned upon his relaxing summer - at least, it would have been relaxing were it not for a certain fox. Having lost her umbrella on account of said fox, Narukami decides to buy Nanako a replacement - a task which is easier said than done for a jobless student.  Thus, our protagonist

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-78099370727962358782012-01-14T18:53:00.001Z2012-01-14T18:53:45.453Z

Despite this series ultimately being all about them, we weren't really properly introduced to the so-called "Fire Sisters" in Nisemonogatari's opening instalment - an oversight rectified by the beginning of episode two, which brings us a quick run-down of the personalities of tomboyish Karen and short-tempered Tsukihi and the team which is created when you stick these two middle school girls

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-49428824628349512882012-01-13T19:39:00.002Z2012-01-13T19:39:43.501Z

Noriko Kurosawa will stop at nothing to win the student council presidency from rival Tsukasa Ayatsuji - although is that really even her actual goal, as she pursues Junichi Tachibana as her primary method of attack to engineer a dramatic end to last week's episode. Such drama is, perhaps sadly, short-lived however, as Ayatsuji sees straight through what Kurosawa is trying to do and has little

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-89817835242967766822012-01-13T18:36:00.002Z2012-01-13T18:37:28.889Z

A second coming of Lost Christmas on the horizon... Gai seriously wounded... Inori about to be kidnapped by some malicious interval?  Yep, I'd say that's pretty heavy as mid-series cliff-hangers are concerned. This is, however, not even the half of it, as before we know it we're in flashback mode to a simpler time, and a summer involving Shu and his big sister Mana.  Yes, that's right, Shu has a

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-14357966982326730072012-01-11T19:51:00.001Z2012-01-11T19:51:30.529Z

It's flashback time as Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing returns from the Christmas break, seeing as leap back a decade to a simpler, happier period of the show's world.  Well, that's the plan anyhow... With the world brought to peace by the hard work of Queen Farhanaz, this week's episode more specifically focuses upon the Grand Race so beloved of Fam and friends - indeed, we spend much of the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-26300430736198269172012-01-10T21:12:00.002Z2012-01-10T21:12:57.465Z

After the drama and disappointment of the team finals last week (which were over surprisingly quickly, I must say), it's time for Omi Jingu to host the individual competition of the national karuta finals, which of course means that it's a now rejuvenated Chihaya that's our focus. Although we already know all about Chihaya's own prowess when it comes to playing karuta, this week's episode allows

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-75768843790399704242012-01-10T20:20:00.001Z2012-01-10T20:20:35.178Z

Tadakuni is just an ordinary high school boy - so ordinary in anime terms that he runs out of the house when he's late for school carrying bread in his mouth.  Thankfully, this clichéd opening scene is merely the catalyst for a flight of fancy regarding even more ludicrous foodstuffs to eat on the way to school, a Gundam invasion and the requirement to fight off said invasion using a party of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-4807870717108556562012-01-10T19:35:00.001Z2012-01-10T19:35:33.758Z

Kaito Kirishima (or "Kai" to his friends) is a budding film-maker with a love of the humble film camera - a hobby which very much relates to his opening monologue querying what happens when someone dies and the importance of leaving an indelible mark on the world as a result.  Ironically, his pondering about death is well-timed, as some late night star gazing leads to a mysterious incident that

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-40433769242847086682012-01-09T22:58:00.001Z2012-01-09T22:58:40.715Z

A winter season show with opening and ending themes from Megumi Nakajima?  Sold!  Not that I'd ever pick up a new series based on such shallow facts, of course.  Ahem.  Actually, in all seriousness its trailer looked pretty good too, giving me more than enough reasons to add this to my winter watch list. With a beautiful golden beach and shining sun, Kamokawa isn't just some kind of miniature

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-12404681988487213362012-01-09T20:29:00.001Z2012-01-09T20:29:14.402Z

P.A. Works' outing for the winter, Another, begins with the kind of scary story you might hear at any school as an attempt to spook people - a tale of a popular girl named Misaki who died in a tragic accident, but was never forgotten by her classmates.  In fact, said classmates pretended she was there for the rest of their time in the school, setting a decidedly creepy precedent for such things.

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-45985693479468838302012-01-09T19:27:00.000Z2012-01-09T19:27:56.438Z

After a New Year break, it's time to rejoin the insanity that is Mirai Nikki, albeit with a seemingly normal goal in mind as this thirteenth episode begins with Yukkii and Yuno heading off to the mountains to spend a night star gazing.  Ahhhh, how romantic... at least, it is according to Yukiteru's plans, but it seems that Yuno has other ideas. As Gasai suggests something of a detour to take

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-16606694301437661542012-01-08T21:07:00.001Z2012-01-08T21:07:20.601Z

Although Takagi and Mashiro have plenty of important things to attend to as they focus upon their new gag manga and getting it ready for its all-important debut in NEXT, perhaps they should also turn an eye a little closer to home and, more specifically, the women in their lives. Indeed, there's rivalries all around this week in Bakuman's world, with Miura and Yamahisa facing off in the Jack

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-21274666956185042102012-01-07T18:23:00.002Z2012-01-07T18:26:28.317Z

I don't think it's too much of a push to say that Bakemonogatari was one of my favourite shows of 2009 (well, 2010 if you include the seemingly endless wait for the final episodes), so the return of Koyokmi Arararagi (oops, I stuttered) to kick off 2012 is pretty much the most welcome thing I can think of from this year so far. Unsurprisingly perhaps, this opening gambit of Nisemonogatari begins

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-358197043724785632012-01-06T20:20:00.000Z2012-01-06T20:20:06.295Z

So here we are, back in the occasionally faintly kinky world of Junichi Tachibana for this winter anime season.  What a start he seems to be off too as well, sharing a bathroom with the lovely Ayatsuji with little more than a towel to protect her modesty.  It's like some kind of dream... In fact, it is a dream, as Junichi is brought jolting back to reality thanks to his ever-doting sister Miya.

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-70936258024418497092012-01-05T22:57:00.001Z2012-01-05T22:57:24.328Z

After a break for the New Year, Persona 4: The Animation returns just in time for... another break, this time in the form of a summer break for Narukami and company. Not that our protagonist seems to have any intention of using the summer and the apparent resolution of the town's murders for some rest and relaxation - instead, we see a decidedly tired and listless Yuu leaving the house early

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-12105493562651380372012-01-03T20:15:00.002Z2012-01-03T20:15:43.035Z

It is perhaps a sign of Chihayafuru's success in what it does that I've missed it arguably more than any of the other series which took a one week hiatus over the Festive break - but now we're back, with Mizusawa's finest (well, three of their finest and a couple of others if I'm being harsh) at the steps of Omi Jingu and ready to take on the best the rest of Japan has to offer. Then again, are

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-85414650446770648972012-01-01T15:14:00.001Z2012-01-01T15:14:48.373Z

So, it's that time again, that most people call New Year but I prefer to think of as a series of unrepeatable expletives that I mutter while rocking back and forth in a corner until it's all over.  But hey, this article isn't about that, this is all about the good (not so good) stuff the world of anime brought us over the course of 2011, with those magic moments awarded by a much sought-after

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-29092041727271331082011-12-27T23:49:00.002Z2011-12-27T23:49:23.979Z

With their recent differences settled, all is well between editor Miura and his pair of young charges as we dig into the second half of Bakuman's second season, meaning that it's back to the grindstone and the serialisation game for Ashirogi Muto. With agreement finally reached by all parties to focus on a gag manga, Mashiro and Takagi still have two conditions - firstly, that they want to

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-21309191524147164232011-12-27T12:45:00.003Z2011-12-27T12:45:43.657Z

After a pretty needless filler episode last week, Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing resumes its normal service this week, and boy does it have plenty to cover. The important moments begin right from the off, with Millia officially signing up to an alliance between Turan and Anatoray - another step closer towards rebuilding her devastated homeland.  What's more, Dio has a guest to introduce in the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-25483432052570763572011-12-26T21:08:00.001Z2011-12-26T21:08:49.496Z

All good things must come to an an end, and today sees us say goodbye to Squid Girl for the second time - is she also going to say goodbye to one of her most treasured friendships however? The mainstay of this episode concerns itself with a falling out between Squid Girl and Eiko in the wake of the former over-writing the latter's hard-earned save game.  Once the argument escalates to the point

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-66794538917110178622011-12-26T12:40:00.003Z2011-12-26T12:40:58.840Z

Which is worse - shooting a man in the stomach, or eating the doughnuts meant for a comatose child in front of his distraught mother?  Such is the kind of moral conundrum that Mirai Nikki brings to us. Then again, doughnut eating etiquette is hardly at the forefront of Yuni, Yukkii and Uryuu's minds as they find themselves surrounded in a hospital as Kurusu does everything in his power to hunt

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-24593555599190071562011-12-24T20:45:00.000Z2011-12-24T20:48:07.077Z

So, tomorrow is a day of celebration; the one truly unique day each year that we should all remember the true meaning of, that true meaning being to take a break for one day and do something other than watch large quantities of anime - a day more widely known as Christmas. With that in mind, there's nothing further for me to do here than to wish you all a very Merry Christmas indeed - I hope you

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-84246758160623999192011-12-24T20:37:00.000Z2011-12-24T20:37:09.850Z

We might be at the end of this second season of Working, but it's a time of crisis at Wagnaria, with major revelations which only grow in their immensity as the episode progresses. In fact, speaking of growing it's exactly this issue that plagues Takanashi and Sato in particular, as word reaches them of a shocking development, that being Taneshima's new-found ability to reach the accident report

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-66581367734161767592011-12-24T15:00:00.000Z2011-12-24T15:00:10.732Z

It seems as though we have the killer in our grasp through the eyes of most people, with the decidedly odd Mitsuo handing himself in to the authorities.  Is he really the killer though?  Such questions are only reaffirmed as he becomes the latest person to make his appearance on the Midnight Channel.   With a view to apprehending him as much as rescuing him in mind,

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-25908215607368256162011-12-24T12:00:00.000Z2011-12-24T12:00:07.085Z

For my second and final selection from the trio of offerings served up to me as part of Reverse Thieves' Secret Santa, I'm actually genuinely curious as to the exact reason why Night on the Galactic Railroad ended up on my list of recommendations.  On the one hand, I'd like to think that my Secret Santa picked up on some subtle Tweets discussing the Bungaku Shoujo movie (which relies heavily upon

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-2838217817826582492011-12-24T09:00:00.000Z2011-12-24T09:00:11.527Z

Never mind gift-giving, mistletoe, snowmen and all that jazz, there's only one true meaning of Christmas - the anime 'blogosphere's Secret Santa!  Kindly organised once again by the smooth criminals at Reverse Thieves, the Anime Secret Santa gives entrants the opportunity to pick three hitherto unwatched anime series or movies for an unwary recipient, which said recipient can then watch and 'blog

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-28282523381619797172011-12-23T23:26:00.002Z2011-12-23T23:26:39.132Z

I will broach no argument with the following statement - Toradora is the best anime romantic comedy of all time.  Needless to say, this opinion has left me veritably frothing at the mouth with the prospect of rejoining Ryuuji, Taiga and company for this one-off OVA to accompany the show's Blu-Ray box set release. Unsurprisingly given the way the series (and its light novel origins) closed off,

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-84099101590330083572011-12-23T20:20:00.001Z2011-12-23T20:20:52.131Z

It took the poor guy long enough, but at last Kodaka is faced with the realisation that his old friend Sora from ten years previously is in fact Yozora - quite the tear-jerking reunion, isn't it? After Yozora's new, short haircut springs this surprise on him, we take a pause - or more precisely, we rewind to take a look at some of the show's early events from Yozora's point of view.  Although

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-53293780481691231682011-12-23T18:40:00.003Z2011-12-23T18:40:44.777Z

Going into its final instalment, Mawaru Penguindrum has an absolutely colossal amount to sort out of its tangled mess of plot threads and concepts - can it really squeeze everything into under twenty-five minutes? The answer is, ultimately, "kinda".  Offset against some ill-explained flashbacks which sees Shouma and Kanda imprisoned in boxes as children, this episode is effectively the final

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-83728231300995859562011-12-22T23:09:00.001Z2011-12-22T23:09:21.802Z

"Lost Christmas, I gave you my heart, but the very next day"... oops, sorry, just trying to get into the Christmas spirit.  So, Lost Christmas' second coming, eh?  Not what any of Japan's civilian population wanted that's for sure, but it's exactly what they get as we move towards the half-way point of Guilty Crown. With some of GHQ's powers that be rebelling for reasons that aren't yet quite

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-59499907601716476732011-12-22T20:08:00.000Z2011-12-22T20:08:03.201Z

With Rinroku Kaishou dead, it seems as if Un-Go's finale is all set to turn our "defeated detective" Shinjurou into an eventual victor.  But is his rival really deceased at all? If last week's episode didn't drop enough hints that Rinroku is still very much alive, then the arrival of invitations to the remains of the television studio supposedly handed out by the man himself only serves to ask

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-91701609181784602552011-12-21T11:51:00.001Z2011-12-21T11:51:07.027Z

A New Year means new anime to watch, meaning that as always I've sat down and compiled a season preview article for UK Anime, detailing each show along with images and trailers to give us a flavour of what we have to look forward to (and perhaps dread on occasion) come January.  Why not check it out at the link below? Winter 2012 anime preview What series are you planning on checking out

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-45778419501556487892011-12-20T23:17:00.001Z2011-12-20T23:17:15.436Z

After winning their tough and all-important regional tournament at the climax to last week's instalment, it's only fair that Mizusawa's newly-crowned champions get a little more time to enjoy their glory, trophy and all, even if that joy is offset against the devastation felt by some members of the losing finalists. Despite their achievement, it feels like a very quick return to earth for

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-79910985061492234672011-12-19T22:17:00.002Z2011-12-19T22:17:29.273Z

As Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing hits what is effectively its half-way point, so it also delves into one of those time-honoured television anime conventions - the recap episode. Aside from its closing moments and the promise of a visit to Fam and Gise from the latter's father, there's effectively absolutely nothing new here, simply a voice-over explanation from Gise and Millia as to their

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-69340690523773858502011-12-19T20:23:00.002Z2011-12-19T20:23:39.277Z

When Sanae thinks she's figured out the power of hypnosis, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who she most wants to use it upon - watch out, Squid Girl... Of course, Sanae's hypnosis isn't quite as effective as she might like to think, a problem not helped by the others at the restaurant playing along with her whims.  When Squid Girl turns up with some truly impressive hypnotic

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-2766027992818227752011-12-19T19:34:00.002Z2011-12-19T19:34:34.718Z

It seems that we have a new and unlikely alliance in the world of Mirai Nikki as episode eleven begins, with detective Keigo Kurusu seeking out the help of Minene Uryuu of all people. With that deal seemingly done and dusted, Kurusu uses his cronies to bring Yukiteru and Yuno in for questioning - although Yuno soon gets antsy about the possible danger Yukkii figures there's nothing to worry

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-29837240955814763952011-12-18T23:11:00.001Z2011-12-18T23:11:47.652Z

Despite all of their hopes and the assertions of others, and even given the opportunity to publish two one-shot pieces in consecutive issues of Jack, there's nothing but disappointment in the survey results which come from those two outings. Still, despite only charting in tenth and ninth place respectively, at least Mashiro and Takagi seem to have proved their point regarding the strength of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-11795418602706379792011-12-18T00:00:00.001Z2011-12-18T00:00:47.730Z

Not only is this the penultimate episode of Working's second season, but it's also a record-breaking one, as Inami celebrates a new achievement in terms of the number of days she's gone without punching anybody! Despite this new landmark in her androphobia, Inami still wants to test herself and push herself to the limit - but how to do it without endangering the lives of the men working at

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-37820775522220064152011-12-16T22:57:00.001Z2011-12-16T22:57:09.485Z

As we reach the penultimate episode of Mawaru Penguindrum, we begin with a flashback.  Wait, that isn't really news is it, it would be more comment worthy if we didn't begin with a flashback, right? Anyhow, after exploring the showdown between Momoka and Sanetoshi on that fateful day in 1995 which seemingly put paid to both of their lives, it's back to the present day to find that Himari isn't

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-22396523500982701362011-12-16T20:12:00.002Z2011-12-16T20:12:54.135Z

The summer holiday may almost be over, but with a week still to go time remains for one last fun club activity before those involved return to everyday school activities. In typical anime fashion, that final jaunt is a visit to a nearby festival, albeit a visit disguised by the need to check out the local takoyaki rather than daring to admit that a festival might actually be fun.  So, off the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-43111833151168123002011-12-15T23:17:00.001Z2011-12-15T23:17:38.149Z

No matter how impressive their efforts in rescuing potential victims from the strange netherworld beyond the television, it seems that Narukami and company still aren't capable of saving everybody, as we find ourselves with another body strung up by a television aerial in Inabi. This time around the victim is the teacher of some of our Persona-wielding crew, Mr. Morooka - a moron he may be, but

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-26559061811476639772011-12-15T22:34:00.001Z2011-12-15T22:34:26.962Z

Despite the actions forced upon him last week, this tenth episode of Guilty Crown sees Shu right back in the thick of things with another mission.  Or does it?  Perhaps not... Given what he's been through, it's probably fair to cut Shu's less than stellar mental state some slack, as he hides away from both school and his home while distancing himself at the same time from the Funeral Parlour,

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-46428985160423815132011-12-15T21:21:00.001Z2011-12-15T21:21:26.016Z

With death, explosions, murder and conspiracy in the air, you couldn't really ask for a more charged atmosphere as Un-Go enters its penultimate instalment, complete with a governmental hearing that effectively sets Shinjurou and Kaishou against one another. While Rinroku deflects the initial questions surrounding whether his company is involved in developing and selling arms, and possibly the

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-79939533787321806592011-12-13T20:08:00.000Z2011-12-13T20:08:03.704Z

They made hard work of it, but Mizusawa's karuta team have made it to the regional final while also gaining a lot in terms of understanding the teamwork and togetherness required of them to progress... and not a moment too soon, as the final is about to get underway. After a period of fretting about how they should line-up given the strengths of their opponent, Chihaya has a rare moment of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-7423133817031589972011-12-12T22:57:00.001Z2011-12-12T22:57:16.300Z

Ashirogi Muto are well and truly playing a tactical game as this week's Bakuman kicks off, submitting their Hitman 10 storyboard for serialisation while trying to short-circuit that very same process by entering another manga, Future Watch, as a one-shot competition entry. Unsurprisingly given the relative lack of competition, Future Watch storms the judging of the one-shot competition, with

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-40789422033994120852011-12-12T20:23:00.001Z2011-12-12T20:23:35.710Z

When you're sat between Squid Girl and Chizuru, what chance does a girl have of getting their chopsticks on any grilled meat?  None whatsoever, as Eiko learns to her disappointment at the start of this week's Squid Girl. Try and she might, all of her plans to grab some tasty beef for herself  fail to the point of backfiring on her in some instances, and come the end of it all it's Takeru who

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-59577219995144575292011-12-12T19:41:00.001Z2011-12-12T19:41:43.378Z

Episode ten of Mirai Nikki begins with Yuno digging a decidedly big hole (literally, not proverbially) - but to what end?  Hold that thought, as we'll return to it later. In the mean-time however, the first half of the episode proper shifts our focus to Minene Uryuu - more specifically, it's a flash back to her relatively recent past as she finds herself taking on Third and his murder diary to

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-79489301527428796132011-12-11T22:44:00.001Z2011-12-11T22:52:18.638Z

After what can relatively be regarded as a victory last time around (and certainly, there are few victories more precious than "not dying"), you'd think that all would be well in Fam's world, especially given that it's both her birthday and an opportunity to celebrate the fulfilment of her contract with the captain of the Sylvius. However, things aren't quite that cut and dried for our heroine -

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-88993828112070432942011-12-10T19:54:00.001Z2011-12-10T20:38:39.764Z

It seems as if people are always going missing in and around the Wagnaria restaurant, and this latest episode of Working adds Daisy to the list of those missing in action. "But who is Daisy?" I hear you ask - well, that's the name of Yamada's teddy bear gifted to her by Soma, and so distraught is she when said bear goes missing that effectively the restaurant's entire staff goes on the hunt for

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-30512465328184894122011-12-09T19:48:00.001Z2011-12-09T19:58:58.402Z

Remember Double-H, the band that would have been Triple-H had Himari been involved with them?  Well, they turn up to offer Himari a present as this week's Mawaru Penguindrum begins in return for the scarves they received from her.  But where is Himari?  Is this idol duo even vaguely important to the plot? While the answer to the second question seems to be "no", the first question is rather

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-33509332521061427622011-12-09T18:31:00.001Z2011-12-09T18:40:16.458Z

Following discussions surrounded it last time around, it's time for the almost inevitable training camp episode of Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai this week, and equally inevitably Sena just so happens to have a large summer house by the beach available for the exclusive use of the Neighbours Club. Of course, our collection of loners struggle somewhat with the normal traditions of such a club,

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-25372113803081602642011-12-08T22:57:00.001Z2011-12-08T23:08:44.468Z

Despite identifying Rise as the next likely victim of Inaba's killer, it seems that the Persona-wielding gang can do little to prevent her from being dumped into the world within the television, as before they know it Risette's turns on the Midnight Channel take on an even more risque form.  Shame that record button didn't work huh, Narukami? Anyway, with Rise kidnapped, there's only one thing

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-50453782522807402962011-12-08T22:16:00.001Z2011-12-08T22:29:32.647Z

A week away on business for Gai seems to offer up a rare week for normal, everyday activities in Shu's world - not that these possibilities last for long as Yahiro returns to the scene, complete with his extremely ill brother Jun. Indeed, Shu and Yahiro's uncomfortable reunion comes as quite the coincidence, with the latter escaping from GHQ forces having escaped their facility with his brother,

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-71154862287681272162011-12-08T19:10:00.001Z2011-12-08T19:26:04.916Z

The novelist of the previous story arc's plans might have been put to a halt, but the catalyst for his "work", the mysterious Bettenou is still at large - a point which worries Shinjurou and also becomes a major focus of this new multi-part arc. We being by focusing our attentions on a group known as Full Circle - a mysterious collection of hackers and crackers with a penchant for posting

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-49764127281513903552011-12-06T22:53:00.001Z2011-12-06T23:08:59.007Z

Birthday celebrations out of the way, it's tournament time already for Chihaya and company as we reach episode ten of Chihayafuru.  To celebrate the occasion, Mizusawa school's newly formed team are even kitted out in traditional hakama for the event. Given their entry to the tournament as a team against opposing groups of five players, it seems as if Chihaya, Taichi and Nishida should have

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-57142620894239705682011-12-05T20:11:00.001Z2011-12-05T20:33:42.965Z

A simple walk turns into a game of "house" (no, not the TV show with Hugh Laurie) for Squid Girl... or should I say Squid Man... as this latest episode of the series kicks off via a playtime session with a rather demanding little girl. In fact, never mind her demanding nature, perhaps more worrying is her take on family life - as time goes on, she ends up roping Eiko, Sanae and Kiyomi into her

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-76701852024454982742011-12-05T19:26:00.001Z2011-12-05T19:38:42.568Z

Having gone to the dogs by the end of its previous episode, we're left with a diary holders stand-off as this ninth instalment of Mirai Nikki begins, as Yukkii's new "friend" Hinata holds his life in her (and her friend Mao's) hands as she looks to finish off newcomer to the scene Akise. At this point things take a slightly odd turn, with Akise cooling suggesting that they put any attempts to

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-17420277903022957122011-12-04T20:58:00.001Z2011-12-04T21:39:44.325Z

The climax to last week's Last Exile saw Sylvius enter rather a tight spot, with a massed armada of Ades forced quite happy to unleash Hell upon their craft unless they choose to hand over Millia into their control... or indeed, probably even if they do choose to do so. Despite the protestations of Millia, Sylvius' captain knows the situation and is never likely to either turn tail and run

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-52725267585749110212011-12-04T18:57:00.001Z2011-12-04T19:12:41.013Z

Never mind episode ten, this feels more like it should be labelled as episode one of the series as it's back to the beginning for Ashirogi Muto in their quest for serialisation and an anime adaptation. After musing over the route they should take, Mashiro and Takagi settle on the idea of testing the waters with a one-shot manga for their next effort before diving back into the waters of

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-89810960585603047262011-12-03T18:45:00.001Z2011-12-03T19:00:18.831Z

We haven't focused too much on Inami's androphobia during the course of this second season of Working thus far, but that all changes for this tenth episode of the series. With Inami already seemingly a little on edge, the last thing she needed was to share a break room with poor old Sato - unfortunately for both parties, that's exactly what happens, leading to a rather uncomfortable and rather

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-85037454985231371052011-12-02T23:47:00.001Z2011-12-02T23:59:34.447Z

When there are surprising revelations aplenty around, you can always rely on tabloid journalists to start sniffing out every last morsel of a story.  So it goes that this twenty-first episode of Mawaru Penguindrum sees just such a journalist sticking his nose into the Takakura family's business, starting with Ringo and then moving on to the siblings themselves. Of course, we call them siblings

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-73767381844992720522011-12-02T20:59:00.001Z2011-12-02T21:13:42.338Z

After her adverse reaction to the packed swimming pool last episode, it seems that Yozora still has swimming on the brain as she demands that her charges in the Neighbours Club bring their swimsuits along to the club for their next meeting.  Mind you, given Yozora's idea of how to dress for swimming, perhaps it's better than she never made it poolside last week... Aside from some horsing

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-49051349663414643022011-12-01T23:30:00.001Z2011-12-01T23:39:34.842Z

Now for something completely different... seemingly a million miles away from the sleepy town of Inaba, this week's Persona 4 introduces us to a pop idol and soon to be movie star named Rise Kujikawa (or Risette to her fans) - not that it seems like she'll be holding this position much longer, as she announces her intention to quit to her manager just before going on stage. With her announcement

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-27243199538223745822011-12-01T22:34:00.001Z2011-12-01T23:02:42.182Z

After all the stress of recent times, Shu probably deserves some time for rest and relaxation down the beach, and that seems to be exactly what he has planned along with some of his schoolmates as this week's Guilty Crown begins. Of course, nothing is simple or relaxing for Shu these days, and this little trip is in fact organised at the behest of Gai, as he eyes another operation against GHQ

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-48870548726273110132011-12-01T19:37:00.001Z2011-12-01T20:12:45.685Z

Having been thrown into a world that was more than a little surreal last week, is there any hope of escape for Shinjurou as he finds himself as the prime suspect in a murder case which has a decidedly odd feeling to it? Of course, with his master (or should that be servant?) missing, Inga soon finds himself inundated with problems of his own, while even Kazamori's technical capabilities can do

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-53574079511507575382011-11-30T22:24:00.001Z2011-11-30T22:46:30.083Z

The karuta club now has all of its requisite members and is ready to officially swing into action... with one slight alteration, that being that the club advisor refuses to allow Chihaya herself to act as club president.  But hey, she can always be captain instead, right? So, as club activities begin, it's time to start practising in earnest, with Chihaya taking the lead with the seemingly

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323543890331313328.post-85092645449013602052011-11-30T20:45:00.001Z2011-11-30T21:00:59.325Z

With burglaries rife around the area - Squid Girl isn't perhaps the first person you'd turn to when it comes to looking after your home while you're out, but Eiko and Chizuru are left with little choice but to leave our titular character for their own devices for a day as they head out to work. Needless to say, when a burglar does turn up he finds himself mightily confused by Squid Girl's

Andy Hanleyhttps://profiles.google.com/108660282032612253653noreply@blogger.com0