Bayonetta was a popular action computer game. It got great reviews, sold well over a million and had intense combat. It had a “witch time” system in which the frantic melee slowed down and your sexy witch could take down angels and fight back against the impressive bosses. The movie, Bayonetta: Bloody Fate, follows a […]
Ghost in the Shell: Arise “Ghost Pain” review
“Ghost Pain” is the first episode of the re-imagined Ghost in the Shell OVA. It may be one of only four in the series as each episode is intended to receive a limited cinema release in Japan a month before the Blu-ray release. Ghost in the Shell features a new voice cast. We also have […]
Dealing with death through doppelgangers: Hal movie review
Hal is a movie about a robot who becomes human as part of an outlandish attempt at “robot therapy”. In this instance we’re dealing with someone who’s not been able to cope with the death of a loved one and has withdrawn from the world. The robot “Q01” doesn’t just become human – they become […]
Steins;Gate: Fuka Ryouiki no Déjà vu movie review
Steins;Gate began life as a visual novel in Japan. It’s one of those games where the ‘player’ gets to read through like a book, with pictures of the characters, and occasionally has a choice to make that effects what happens next. It’s useful to know that those “make a choice now” moments are represented in […]
A review of Aura: Koga Maryuin’s Last War
Aura, by Seiji Kishi, is an anime that takes a look at school culture in Japan. In particular it looks at the “cool” kids at the top of the popularity pile in contrast to the less popular geeks.
A review of of Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
I enjoyed the series Neon Genesis Evangelion. I enjoyed it despite the “hero” Shinji being something of a milksop. I enjoyed it despite the weird ending. The ending was weird, I’m told, because they ran out of budget. Solution – lots of surreal stuff happens. Over. You’re left asking “What?” As sometimes happens with series […]
Sakasama no Patema: Patema Inverted review
This is the first time that I’ve enjoyed an anime while being barely able to watch it. Patema Inverted is about the brave and curious girl who goes exploring in her underground world of tunnels and ruins and discovers a horrible truth. The film is sci-fi to the extent that it is set after a […]
Little Witches Yoyo & Nene review
Intended for children, despite being directed by Takayuki Hirao responsible for Tokyo Fish Attack, Little Witches will entertain anime loving adults. I enjoyed it even if there was a tendency to throw in rainbows and hearts. Nene and Yoyo are are pair of curse breaking sisters. They’re Witches for Hire in a fantasy world. Yoyo, […]
A review of Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl
Fuse Teppo Musume no Torimonocho seems to be called either Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl or Fuse: A Gun Girl’s Detective Story in English. I think Hunter Girl fits better. Fuse by Masayuki Miyaji is a blend of fantasy and Japan history. There’s plenty of action here; samurai warriors and werewolves, with rooftop chases […]
Gusukobudori no Denki: The Life of Guskou Budori review
Surreal and Buddhist, I’m told. The Life of Guskou Budori is based on Kenji Miyazawa’s novel. A significant change in the anime is that the characters are anthropomorphic cats with the exception of spirit like entities from dream sequences which look like grotesque people. Cats are cute and all that but The Life of Guskou […]
