Kämpfer

★★☆☆☆
Author: Toshihiko Tsukiji
Director: Yasuhiro Kuroda
Music: Tatsuya Katou
Animation: NOMAD
Key Broadcaster: TBS

Summary
Natsuru Senou is a high school boy, who happens to have a crush on Kaede Sakura, an upperclassman. However, one day Natsuru finds himself a girl! He then finds out that he is a Kampfer and have to fight this "game" under control by "moderators" against enemy Kampfers.

Review
I watched this because it was fairly famous and someone had recommended me to watching it. This was bad beyond my imagination. The first three episodes were serious, and got me interested, but from then on it began to lag, and by the time the story hit climax, I couldn't really take it seriously. Also, the final episode was even worse, going way off the story line. I thought this was a great example of the trend where Mangas and light novels are being animated without much thought or story stock. The plot itself is pretty interesting, so I would give them a second chance at making a second season to make it have much more substance to the story. Oh, the little stuffed animals were interesting regarding their voices. If you have watched enough anime, you will understand XD. Rated PG-13 for people who can stand quite a lot of pervertedness and a guy turning into a girl :P

Anime Report: July 17, 2010

Summer is shining, and it's getting pretty damn hot. Here's some updates.

• Bakemonogatari: Watched it, LOVED it! I would rate this higher than Railgun, there for becoming my best anime for 2009. I think I'm going to be buying the Blu-rays for this :D
• To LOVE-ru Second Season Confirmed!: The big hit ecchi manga To LOVE-ru is back on TV this October after the OVA series and the manga have concluded in June. I hope they go over Kotegawa's valentine day episode...
• MUSIC JAPAN: NHK's MUSIC JAPAN is going to finally run the Anime Song Special 3 on August 1 and August 8! I hope they do an international broadcast through TV Japan. Must see are the duets of Nana Mizuki and Yukari Tamura, as well as Yui Makino on a rare television appearance as she will be doing the first ever Seiyuu artist European tour, and new forces such as fripSide.
  

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Report on Summer Animes...am I late?

Okay, I finally finished all of the Animes I was after for the Summer Animes, so finally, I get to review them! I have yet to watch Seikimatsu Occult Academy, though.

Second Cool Animes

• K-ON!!: I was totally not expecting a second cool! Last season only ran 12 episodes with 1 on DVD, but this time it looks like a full 26 episode run. Recently I've been slacking off on watching K-ON!! (the last episode I watched was 8, currently the series is at 15 ^^;), so I can't really review, but this was something unexpected :)
• Kaichou wa Maid-sama: I just started watching this today. Yes, it's a shoujo manga based anime, but it turned out MUCH better than I had expected.
  

The REAL Summer Animes

• Kuroshitsuji II: A real cruel anime, or atleast for the first episode. I heard that this had a lot of comedy, but I didn't see that at all in the first episode. The second episode looks much more softer. I haven't seen the first season, so I can't really compare, but story wise this should fare well.
• Asobini Ikuyo!: Takes place in Okinawa. An Alien girl happens to crash in an ocean near Okinawa and encounters this boy (I forgot his name already!). Although this sounded like a harem/ecchi anime, there were hints throughout the episode that hinted some seriousness.
• Strike Witches 2: The panties girls are back XD The feel itself is like the first season, where the 501 squadron fights off the Neuroi attacks. Can't keep an eye off this one.
• Shukufuku no Campanella: Oh boy, this one is going to be a darkhorse. When the previews were out, this one seemed like the most uninteresting one. The series come out, and it's a harem anime and actually has some substance to it.
  
• HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD: Fell in love with this one at first sight. Although this one is a horror with a plot similar to that of Biohazard, the music and the effects make this one unique and very interesting.
  
• Amagami SS: The controversial one of the season. Based on a Gal game Amagami, this one talks about how this boy tries to get a date. It makes you embarrassed as you watch.
• Ookami-san to Sichinin no Nakamatachi: The title and the style of this anime makes it seem like it's for little kids, but actually not. See for yourself.
• Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~: The infamous boob anime. The second season starts out with more serious action from the beginning, obviously with the usual comedy touch as well, however :D

AIC and J.C.STAFF are really cranking up their production level. I love both of them, but I hope they're not so over worked that their quality will drop and financially fail (like what happened to Slayers' E&G Works and Strike Witches first season GONZO).

Here's my top 5 "Animes that I expect goodness" ranking

1. HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD
2. Ookami-san to Sichinin no Nakamatachi
3. Strike Witches 2
4. Asobini Ikuyo!
5. Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~
   

Random Recent Update

Summer Break is half way done, and I was kind of bored, I decided to give an update on things other than the fact that my downscroll button on my laptop broke :(

• A Certain Magical Index 2nd Season: It has been confirmed that the second season is in production right now, as they announced it on their official website. Although it has yet to be announced, many speculate that it will run starting this October.
  
• A Certain Scientific Railgun OVA: Railgun OVA is out for pre-sale reservations now! I'll decide once information on what it's about comes up.

I watched a couple of animes recently, by the way.

• Kanokon: What the hell is this!? It's such an odd ball I'll right a review real soon, so wait till then...
• Strike Witches: I watched this since the second season was about to start. Disregarding their uniform (...), it was a very refreshing anime, nice blue skies and a great feel to it. Will also write a review soon.
• kiss×sis: Watching it as I am writing this post. I'll report on it once I finish. It ran last season by the way.
• WORKING!!: Finished! Yay! This one was pretty good actually.
• When will I ever get to watching Shana S: III. Overture vol. 1? I need some Shana essence in my blood again XD
  

Summer Animes! (Part 2)

Okay, nearly a week has past. So I went on watching the new animes, and found some darkhorses...

• Gakuen Mokushiroku: HIGHSCHOOL OF THE DEAD - Okay, this one is DAMN GOOD!!!
• Shukufuku no Campanella

Once I watch Strike Witches 2 when it comes out tonight, I'll write a brief review of each of the ones I watched. I believe there's one more yet to come after Strike Witches, which is "Asobi ni Ikuyo!"

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu

Rating: ★★★☆☆
Author: Yuusaku Igarashi
Director: Munenori Nawa
Music: Takeshi Watanabe
Animation: Diomedea
Key Broadcaster: ytv

Summary
Haruka Nogizaka is a perfect high school girl whom everyone loves and admires. However, she has a secret that can never be let out to anyone; she's an otaku (if you watch anime and still don't know what that is, look it up on wikipedia :P). One day, her secret is accidentally broken out to her classmate, Yuuto Ayase. He promises to keep that a secret, and agrees to help her.

Review
The idea itself isn't that very new. A similar plot can be seen in the now on-air Kaicho wa Maid-sama! That kind of gives the reason I gave this a 3 star rating. The first few episodes were serious, and I was predicting the entire series would go on that way, but I was wrong. I'm just reviewing for the first season, by the way. Recommended for those above 13 and don't mind a couple of sexy scenes XD

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu

My Rating:★★★★☆
Author: Kenji Inoue
Director: Shin Oonuma
Music: Nijine/Lantis
Animation: SILVER LINK.
Key broadcaster: TV TOKYO/AT-X

Summary
In a school where students battle for their choice of classrooms with avatars and their hitpoints based on their academic scores, the protagonist of this story Akihisa Yoshii is placed in class F, the lowest ranking classroom. Proportionate to his grade, his classroom is like an abandoned building. He and his "stupid" friends have to fight academically against higher ranking classes with hopes that they can acquire a better equipped classroom.

Review
Baka Test, or so it's called in shorter terms, was pretty interesting to watch, and I went through the 13 episodes in 2 days. It's like a typical gag manga put together with lovecom and the school setting, and that would normally give this a 3 star rating. What adds the extra star is the diversity of characters (you'll see what I mean by that XD), and the intriguing idea of combining cult and academics to fight for facilities. Although it's not a real "clean" anime (the type of comedy), it shows great friendship and gives a real nice feel after you watch each episodes. Recommended for all ages and interest groups...okay maybe not for under 10 XD

Summer Animes! (Part 1)

Just as Spring Animes come to an end, starting today, we'll see a whole bunch of new series starting!
I did a quick research on what was out there, and here I'll list my summer hopefuls, the ones I predict will be good.

• Kuroshitsuji II
• Amagami SS
• Strike Witches II
• Ookami-san to Sichinin no Nakamatachi
  
• BLACK LAGOON Season 3
• Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~