Anime Reviews
[Review] The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya
Review by: Fernando Ramos
Director: Tatsuya Ishihara
Animation Production: Kyoto Animation
When creating a theatrical version of a beloved TV franchise, there are two routes to take. The first is to just stick the exact same thing with some prettied-up animation and plaster it on the big screen. Just look at any Shonen Jump franchise. The other is to remember that a film allows for many possibilities and create something a little more innovative. Two relevant examples of this are Tenchi Muyo in Love and the amazing Urusei Yatsura: Beautiful Dreamer. Those were movies that were unmistakably connected to their series yet used the theatrical format in a way to create something that can be an experience that stands well enough on its own while giving fans a chance to see their favorite characters in Tyranovision.
[Review] When They Cry
Review by: Fernando Ramos
Director: Chiaki Kon
Animation Production: Studio DEEN
Distributed by: FUNimation
It’s been about three weeks since I’ve seen the last episode of When They Cry, perhaps better known as Higurashi no Naku koro ni. The reason it’s taken so long to write this review is because I have no idea what to make of it. Standard horror show? No. Too many cutesy moments. Moe fluff? The writing is too smart. Deconstruction of moe fluff? Too pandering. A month and a few missed deadlines later and I’m still not sure.
Ghost Hunt
Directed By: Rei Mano
Animation Production: JC Staff
Distributed By: FUNimation
Review By: Bradley Meek
Ghost hunters should have standards. Unexplained noise or bizarre accidents don’t necessarily mean there's a ghost in your house after all. Sometimes things that are unexplainable are just that: unexplainable. So it's nice to see that the characters in Ghost Hunt approach their cases in a way that's more Hercules Poirot than Scooby Doo or Madame Cleo.
Case Closed: Captured in Her Eyes
Review by: Jason Fetters
Director: Kanetsugu Kodama
Production by: Toho Animation
Distributed by: Funimation
Have you ever wanted to go back to being a kid knowing what you know now? You would probably hesitate to do so after watching Captured in Her Eyes.
Jimmy Kudo is an intelligent high school student who is forced to take a poison that transforms him into a kid. Kudo takes the name Conan Edogawa and helps Detective Richard Moore by solving cases that Moore can’t on his own.
Review by: John-Paul Natysin
Director: Koichi Mashimo
Animation Production: Bee Train
Distributed by: Funimation
Long, long ago, a man named Koichi Mashimo founded the animation studio, Bee Train. Since 1997, they have brought us a myriad of anime titles, wildly diverging in quality. Among them are all of the .hack// titles and some arguably mediocre “girls with guns” shows like Noir and Madlax.
From I"s & I"s Pure Complete Set
Review by: Sean "Pants" Mitchell
Director: Yousei Morino (From I"s), Mamoru Kanbe (I"s Pure)
Animation Studio: Studio Pierrot
Distributed by: Viz Media
"Dirty thoughts are very bad!"
I"s is a story about love, but not the heartwarming love that would make sense. Rather, it's about that kind of awkward love that exists between a borderline stalker and his semi-willing prey. Don't try this at home kids, unless you desire prison or, at the very least, a restraining order.
The Law of Ueki: The Complete Series
Review by: Jd Banks
Directed by: Hiroshi Watanabe
Animation Studio: Studio Deen
Licenser: FUNimation Entertainment
Remember waking up on Saturday morning, flinging off your covers and racing for the TV hoping to catch the latest English-dubbed anime episodes? Though the (precious few) anime series on Saturday mornings don’t have the appeal they once did (no more pre-Freeza Dragon Ball Z dubs to watch multiple times), picking up a box set, in a way, can be a time machine to those weekend mornings. If you pick up the right one, that is.
[Review] Cased Closed The Phantom of Baker Street
Review by: Josh Dunham
Director: Kenji Kodama
Animation Production: TMS Entertainment
Distributed by: Funimation
[Review] Bardock: The Father of Goku
Review by: Josh Dunham
Director: Daisuke Nishio
Animation Production: Toei Animation
Distributed by: Funimation
