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

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!"

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~
  

Angel Beats!

My Rating:★★★★★
Director: Seiji Kishi
Music: Jun Maeda, ANANT-GARDE EYES
Animation: P.A. WORKS
Key broadcaster: CBC

Summary
Yuzuru Otonashi finds himself waking up on the cold concrete floor of a school he has never seen. As he looks around, he spots a girl, pointing a sniper rifle. She tells him that he is dead, and if he doesn't attack a certain girl, code named Tenshi (Angel), he will be vanished.

Review
Another Key/Visual Arts work, the first since CLANNAD ~after story~. The original idea was brought about by Jun Maeda, one of the founding members of Key. As most of you obviously know, Key is famous for its tragedies, and I guess you could consider this too. I just finished watching the last episode yesterday, and was slightly dissatisfied with the ending, but was good enough to give it five stars. Unlike CLANNAD and AIR, comical descriptions were seen, and was funny to watch. Honestly, looking at the plot, the series could have lasted one more cool, since it felt kind of rushed. I recommend to anyone who likes philosophical sci-fi (say like Evangelion), but buying the Blu-ray or DVD is a different matter :P

On order!

Just ordered A Certain Scientific Railgun Blu-ray Disc 4. Since it sold out a while ago, I had to go through a used dealer, and cost ￥2,000 more than the original price :(

This disc will include episodes 10~12, the climax of the first cool. I plan to buy discs 1~4 and 7&8. Costly, but I think it's worth it

Well, definitely looking forward for it to arrive!

Sekirei

My Rating:★★★☆☆
Director: Keizo Kusakawa
Music: Hiroaki Sano
Animation: Seven Archs
Key broadcaster: Tokyo MX

While looking for summer animes, I found Sekirei ~Pure Engagement~ (then called Sekirei SS), the second season for Sekirei. I wondered what it was about, so I decided to watch the first season beforehand.

It was better than I though, incorporates sci-fi with lovecom, also has a To Love-ru hint (the exact term being harem XD), and made me watch the entire series in one night. However, like most animes of this sort, had bad mood/feel making elements. The story itself has a huge potential, so I'd like to watch the second season (starts 2010.07.04), as the story should involve more of the 2nd stage of the Sekirei project, which is more active.