Kaze no Stigma

Genre:
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural 

Duration: 24 Episodes 

Synopsis:
Yagami Kazuma, whose real name is Kannagi Kazuma, was banished from the Kannagi household when he was 12 because he lacked power to become a Fire Mage, the magic specialty of the Kannagi family. As a result, he left and began a new life under a new name. 4 years on, he returns, with powers comparable with those of his father, Kannagi Genma, but of a different element. He is now a Wind Mage. Upon his return, three Kannagi family members are killed, and he is the top suspect, since there are traces the Kannagi trio are killed by elements of the Wind. His father goes on a search for him, and challenges him to a duel. Kazuma wins and his father is hospitalised. Kazuma goes on to prove his innocence by helping his blood cousin, Ayano Kannagi, and his blood brother, Ren Kannagi, defeat the real villains who killed the Kannagi trio. This is just the beginning of the trio’s adventure where they will face many magic users and magi, both good and evil alike. As their adventures unfold, and as they seem to be working together for most of the time, Ayano begins to develop feelings for Kazuma. Kazuma, on the other hand, either has no feelings for love, or has not noticed anything, or simply being ignorant. 

Story:  9/10
This anime is one-of-a-kind, at least to me. This is the first time that I’ve watched an anime, expected something to happen, and it did not, but when I did not expect anything to happen, it happened. I’m talking about the genres. They are very misleading. They are not consistent, but yet, they exist. Strong enough to be included in the genre list, anyway. There are 3 parts to the anime which I notice the genres are somewhat intertwined. The first few episodes have, as I recalled, not the slightest bit of comedy, and I was expecting it, since I wanted to watch this anime because of the Comedy element. There are killings, bloody acts, and more. No laughing matter. Then came the next few episodes, and I was expecting more violence, but comedy and romance took over, just like that. This is the second part I’m describing. The third part refers to the last few episodes, where there are dramatic elements involved, and the bloody killings return. The storyline however, remains intact. The story never really strayed, unless you count the usual romantic and comedy elements like amusement parks and hot springs. Apart from that, Kaze no Stigma focuses on the life of Yagami Kazuma, a banished kid who returns to seek revenge, but instead gets involved with family matters, as if he’s been accepted back into the family line. 

Characters:  8.5/10
There are not many characters to worry about, since there are only a few focused ones. The only ones worth looking out for are basically the main protagonists Kazuma and Ayano, and Kazuma’s younger brother, Ren. Kazuma is a cool and collected character, who always considers well before executing his moves. He has a dark past, and it makes him destructive and violent, at which time almost nobody has the power to stop him. Ayano is a typical girl of an anime where she likes a guy and does not admit it. Her characteristics are that she is serious and aggressive, similar to Kazuma, but she does not calculate her moves before executing them, which almost always results in her acquiring Kazuma’s help in the end. As the story progresses, she develops feelings for Kazuma, and gets jealous easily when other girls are with him. Ren is an admirable character. He looks fragile and weak on the outside. He is, initially. However, he grew in strength when things get personal, and that is when his true powers show. Ren seems to be the only one in the whole Kannagi clan who Kazuma actually cares and worries for. 

Animation:  9/10
The animation is absolutely amazing. The effects that occurred when magi clash together are well animated. The proper use of colour to show different elements of magic helps viewers understand which mage belongs to which element of magic. The effects are, to me, what will keep viewers hooked to the screen. Apart from the effects, the characters are also drawn beautifully with fine details to show their differences. The usual anime sort of animation, and that alone to me, is of a high standard. 

Music:  7/10
The songs for this anime are not very pleasing to me. The opening Blast of Wind, sounds quite slow for an anime with a lot of action-packed scenes. There are two significant endings songs, Hitorikiri no Sora and Matataki no Kiwoku, with the latter being one of my favourite original soundtracks. The former has the same flow as the opening song, and is sung by the same singer. But hey, songs that are not pleasing to me might be pleasing to others, so check them out either way. 

Overall: 8.5/10
The anime, as I have mentioned before, is one-of-a-kind, because the genres are inconsistent. This makes it special, not entirely off-focus. No other anime has made me felt this way that I’ll be pulled from one genre to another fairly quickly and without warning. Viewers can expect multitudes of movement and action, since protagonists tend to fight whenever they meet. So for the action-loving viewers, this is a must-watch.

Lucky Star

Genre:
Comedy, Slice of Life 

Duration: 24 Episodes 

Synopsis:
Konata Izumi is a very enthusiastic girl who has excessive love for animes and video games. Kagami Hiiragi is a straightforward girl who views things in a very realistic way. Her twin sister, Tsukasa Hiiragi, happens to be a blur girl who behaves in an overly cute way. Miyuki Takara is a very intelligent girl, but she has problems focusing on the environment, resulting in mistakes that somewhat make her turn people on. Four friends with different behaviours make their way through their high school life. Listen to them talk about life, debate about the simplest of matters, like how to eat a chocolate coronet, and why some students don’t get to choose to wear either their summer or winter uniforms when they feel like it, but follow the season pattern instead. The four friends will meet many characters along the way, each with their own funny traits. Characters like their teacher Nanako Kuroi, Konata’s cousins Yui Narumi and Yutaka Kobayakawa, and a variety of schoolmates in their high school. 

Story:  9.5/10
Story? What story? This anime does not even consist of a plot. So why do I give it such a high score? It is because of its highly excessive randomness. Probably the most random anime in the market today, Lucky Star promises to bring laughs even to the toughest of tough guys. No kidding. Take a simple matter like imagining a person’s future job. Usually one would think that there are many diverse jobs one can apply for, but by looking at somebody like Konata, all the images she imagines in her mind are all the same; sitting in front of a computer. Watch it, and it will be funnier than me explaining the scene. Another example that grabbed my attention is the part where Tsukasa asks Kagami for advice on how to deal with sleepiness when studying, and Kagami advises Tsukasa to sleep early and wake up early the next day to study. The typical outcome of not waking up at the usual time instead because of the ‘I vaguely remember turning something off at some point’ action is portrayed in the best way possible here. Plot? Storyline? Who needs it when you’ve got this much randomness. 

Characters:  9.5/10
Some people might think that Lucky Star is an anime with too many characters. But the fact that each of the characters has their own traits and how they relate to many people in real life is the main capture point here. Viewers will be surprised at how accurate the behaviours of the characters might fit theirs, and make them feel embarrassed or proud of themselves depending on how their behaviours are shown in this anime. Apart from the four main characters mentioned above, the other supporting characters are no less entertaining. Nanako Kuroi is a gaming teacher who always plays with Konata online resulting in the latter sleeping in class, and Yui Narumi is a comical I-don’t-give-a-damn-about-studies type of police officer who gets pissed off whenever somebody drives faster than her, and gives nonsense advices like ‘If you don’t know the answer, just write something close to it’. Then, there is Minami Iwasaki, neighbour of Miyuki, who is all cool and collected, but she has a weakness of being envious about people with large breasts. There are simple to many characters to talk about, and watching the anime will be the best way to understand each and every one of them. 

Animation:  8/10
The animation is moderate, if I should say. It is not as graphical or realistic as ‘Mecha’ animes or even most action-packed animes, but more like drawn for kindergarten kids. Even so, the differences between each character are very apparent, even though the surroundings seem like they are drawn with sketches. This is a random anime with cutely drawn characters, to put it short. Oh, and if there is a main focus on a scene, like only two characters talking to each other, then the crowd, if any, is drawn as outlines instead. Simple animation at its best, maybe.  

Music:  9/10
There is only one obvious song for the whole series, and that is the opening ‘Motteke! Sailor Fuku’, a fast-paced song showing the characters of the anime dancing and cheerleading. A great song to listen to, especially when you’re feeling down, as many people agreed on. There are also other songs that are included in the anime, and all of them are taken from other animes, some of which are Doraemon and Full Metal Panic. This happens during the ending, when the four main characters are having their karaoke session. The background music, or sounds, is just perfect for this anime, since it is filled with lameness and randomness. I cannot describe the background music, it’s… quite random, if you get my drift. You’ll have to watch the series to listen to it. 

Overall: 9/10
Overall, a great anime, one worth watching with friends, especially those who are into these types of random animes. Great to watch when you’re feeling down, too. Greatly recommended to the anime community. This is one anime not to be missed. You may call it stupid, but to others, and most of the anime-loving people, it’s brilliant.

Tsukuyomi Moon Phase

Genre:
Comedy, Mystery, Romance, Supernatural 

Duration: 26 Episodes 

Synopsis:
A photographer renowned for capturing pictures of the supernatural, Morioka Kouhei, becomes fascinated when he stumbles upon a beautiful girl in an ethereal German castle. Known only as Hazuki, she is no ordinary girl. She is a vampire hungry for human blood, and tricks Kouhei to think she is giving him a present. But that ‘present’ is enough to set her free of her spell, thus enabling her to escape the castle. Hazuki then starts living with Kouhei and his grandfather, Ryuuhei. Little does she know that they will start encountering mysterious occurrences due to vampires trying to bring her back to the castle where she is supposed to be held captive in, even though as a Mistress of the Castle. While trying not to get captured, Hazuki fights alongside Kouhei, Ryuuhei, a vampire recruit Elfriede, and Kouhei’s relatives Seiji, Hikaru and Kaoru. 

Story:  8/10
A great anime in terms of storyline and randomness. This is not your everyday vampire anime, where blood and gore are witnessed. Moon Phase develops around a vampire girl Hazuki and her ‘claimed’ servant Kouhei. Their encounters with vampire nemeses are what viewers can look forward to the most, thanks to the animation of spells being casted and vampires flying here and there, you get the idea. The story itself shows enough development, of how Hazuki fights to stay away from her captive place, and humans fighting alongside her to keep her safe. The introduction of new characters along the way brings more life into the anime, as it is like only Kouhei and Hazuki in the beginning. Characters like nemesis-turned-ally Elfriede, and rivals-turned-associates Hikaru and Kaoru, are just what Hazuki needs in order to drive those evil vampires away. Randomness adds flavour, especially washpans. Yes, washpans, those giant pan-shaped containers Japanese people wash their clothes in. In the anime, anyone making a weird statement or said something lame can expect a washpan dropping on their heads. This is similar to the action of falling down with their feet on top whenever someone else tries to be lame but failed in a way. These are what viewers can look forward to when watching the anime. Although the ending can be somewhat predictable, the events leading up to that ending, however, are not. 

Characters:  8.5/10
The characters are what that makes this anime go, actually. There are plenty of unique characters, all with their own abilities and personalities. Starting with the main protagonists, Kouhei and Hazuki both develop well throughout the anime. Kouhei, from someone who cannot sense supernaturalism even though he is from a bloodline of mediums, develops into someone who can blast away the fiercest of spectres with one blow, but that is before he is freed of his spell, which then enables him to see the unbelievable. Watch to find out more. Hazuki, a simple and elegant vampire Mistress of a castle, with the initial name Luna, develops into a noisy and lively little girl, though still a vampire, but more human-like then before. She has come to develop feelings for Kouhei, and vice versa. There is however, one character that stays consistent throughout the anime. That would be Ryuuhei, Kouhei’s grandfather. But, that is still entertaining in itself, because he is lame throughout. Elfriede, vampire nemesis-turned-ally, is initially ordered to bring back Hazuki to the castle. She, however, is set free when she too, sucks blood from Kouhei. She then helps them in their quest to protect Hazuki against any other vampires that may be pursuing her. 

Animation:  8/10
The animation is somewhat similar to other well-drawn animes. The characters have distinct differences which sets them apart. But the main point here is not character animation, but the sequences of the battles fought between the humans and the vampires. Drawn with upmost details and animated with stunning visual effects bring the standards higher, especially for an anime that is not considered ‘action-packed’ because it does not consist of enough ‘Action’ elements. The beginning scene of this anime, which shows an eerie castle with the usual ghastly atmosphere, may make viewers think they are in for some horror and gore. Expect everything but that. Kudos to the animation team for successfully tricking viewers who don’t read the reviews before watching this anime. That being said, Moon Phase sure packs a punch, for a non-Action anime. 

Music:  7/10
Lame and random, and gothic and eerie. These are the words to describe the soundtracks of this anime. Lame and random being a description of its opening scores and gothic and eerie being a description of its ending scores. The opening themes Neko Mimi Mode and Tsuku Yomi Mode are somewhat random, where it is believed that all the items shown have a connection to the word ‘tsuki’, which means ‘moon’ in Japanese. The ending themes are very eerie, and really deprived me of watching the previews of the next episode. The songs for this anime do not click for me, but who knows, it will for many of you, especially those who like randomness and Gothicism. 

Overall: 8/10
Moon Phase is an anime worth watching, since it is not your everyday vampire story. Funny and random, and sometimes sad and depressing, it consists of many elements that makes it one of the most complete animes, and it does not leave viewers hanging, because the anime is finished in a well-mannered way. For those who, like me, prefers Comedy and Romance genres, yes, this is one anime to watch.

Tokimeki Memorial ~Only Love~

Genre:
Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, School Life 

Duration: 25 Episodes 

Synopsis:
Aoba Riku is a student who has been transferring from school to school due to his father’s work. However, when he finally settles in Tsumugino High, he has unexpected events waiting for him. On the first day of his ‘settling-in’, he already finds himself in the middle of a Student Council event which involves him getting chased by every guy in school in order to obtain a beautiful girl’s contact detail. That beautiful girl’s name is Amamiya Sayuri, a school idol, a high-grader, and a perfectionist. Riku will meet many friends along the way, and not all of them are humans. Hiyoko-Kun, a small little chick, gives advice to Riku whenever he is having problems dealing with situations. Riku will also meet two more beautiful school idols by the name of Kasuga Tsukasa, a volleyball player with an all-out expressive attitude, and Yayoi Mina, a shy and soft-spoken swimming athlete. Their story unfolds when Riku begins to get caught up in a love-square, or love-diamond, involving him and the three main lead female characters. 

Story:  8/10
This series is a typical school life anime, with a show of how students facing everyday problems and overcoming it, and in this case, Riku managing his love life. However, all is not what it seems. A little chick by the name of Hiyoko-Kun, will surely captivate many viewers with its actions and intentions. There are a variety of characters throughout the anime, each with their own unique talent and behaviour. There are so many of them, that by the end of the anime, it is still impossible to remember the names of the other characters, apart from some memorable ones like Student Council President Sakurai Haru and the cold and cool all-round tough guy Inukai Koya. I think the story also has a typical ending, I shall not elaborate further, but it is quite saddening, how Riku makes his decisions to end it all. Viewers may be disappointed or relieved after watching this anime, all depending on which female lead they support. A touching ending, one which might not make you cry, but nonetheless make an impact on you on how you can carefully plan your decisions in life, especially your love life. 

Characters:  8/10
As I have stated before, this anime consists of too many characters, and that it is impossible to remember all of their names by heart. But then, all of them seem to be different and unique in their own way. Riku is a normal everyday guy, while Tsukasa is an over-expressive girl, and Sayuri is an overall genius. I think the development of the characters is very well done, especially the development of the main protagonists. The one true character that develops the most throughout this anime is not the main character Riku, but his fellow female lead, Sayuri. She is very shy and closed-minded at the beginning of the anime, but towards the end, she starts to have feelings for the opposite gender, and becomes more opened and expressive, probably the biggest change of a character in the entire anime. But you would not have guessed who she has feelings for. Watch the anime to find out. For Riku, he does not change much, only that an outcome in the end makes him a better man, since he has to make a direct decision to settle something once and for all. For Tsukasa and Mina, they both have a similarity of opening up to the opposite gender more, because, in Tsukasa’s case, she does not mingle with boys, and for Mina, she simply is a shy and quiet girl. The outcome in the end affects everybody that plays an important part in the anime, mainly the lead protagonists. Basically, the outcome makes them become better people, makes them to want to move on and not be stuck in the present because of a huge decision. You will understand once you have watched the series. 

Animation:  9.5/10
The animation of this anime is one of its strongest points. The backgrounds are beautifully painted, the details are perfectly sketched, and mostly importantly, the characters are well drawn. The girls especially, having the most varied of diversities, that they are recognisable by appearance, but not necessarily by name. Each girl’s hair can be distinguished from one another, even though if they shades are alike, it is thanks to their facial assets that enhances their differences. The guys are also varied in their own way. And not to mention some of them are very detailed. One example would be Dojima Kyohei, the manner of which he is drawn, with full facial lines, and hair features shown in every angle, he is one of the well-created characters in the anime.  

Music:  9.5/10
This is another strong point of the anime. The music themes are definitely worth listening to. The opening song Yokan speaks of encouragement, recommended to those who always feel down in the dumps and needs cheering up, provided there is no one around. The ending song Kiseki no Kakera feels quite upbeat, and it speaks of, well, love. Enough said. The second ending song Himitsu, well, it is not one of my favourites, so I am not able to comment on it. All I can say is, the songs fit the anime perfectly, the longing, free-flowing melody that dissolves the hearts of many who would actually take in the words sung and recite them quietly along.  

Overall: 8.5/10
Overall, I think that this is an anime worth watching, because romantic adolescents can learn from it. Not that it teaches much, but it shows how a decision can affect almost everybody connected either directly or indirectly in your love life. Viewers can expect some predictable events that may occur due to the protagonists’ decisions, or be surprised by none other than Hiyoko-Kun, the little chick. As usual, to those who love the powerful combination comedy and romance elements, then this is the anime for you. For those who love horror and violence, I warn you now, do not watch this series. You are just wasting your precious time. A conclusion, an indispensable comedy and romance anime to add into your collection. 

Kanon 2006

Genre:
Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life, Supernatural 

Duration: 24 Episodes 

Synopsis:
Aizawa Yuuichi is a normal teenager. He has a cousin named Minase Nayuki. After seven years, Yuuichi returns to Nayuki’s hometown, where she lives with her mother Minase Akiko. Even though he has visited this town when he was young, he has almost forgotten everything that happened. When he sets foot in the new town, he meets with a little girl who looks 5 years younger than her actual age. But Ayu is not the only girl that Yuuichi encounters while he is in this town. There are nearly 6 other girls that make an appearance here and there in the anime. And predictably, all of them have different personalities to boot. Nayuki has the encouraging and never-give-up personality. Ayu has the cute and cuddly personality. Other girls form other different mix of behaviours. The soft and fragile type in the form of Misaka Shiori. The childish and naughty type in the form of Sawatari Makoto. The cold and few-words type in the form of Kawasumi Mai. The kind and caring type in the form of Kurata Sayuri. There are more girls to show, of course, but you just have to watch it to find out. These girls form and affect Yuuichi’s development throughout the series.  

Story:  9/10
The story slowly unfolds as the episodes go. There is no sign of a rush or a squeeze of events because it is now turned into a 26-episode series, with great emphasis placed upon the development of the characters. The strongest genre of this anime is probably ‘Drama’, because of its unpredictability and outcomes of certain events, no matter how natural or supernatural it may be. The romantic factor of the series forms up in two different parts of the series, once in the first half and another in the second half, with Yuuichi having a slight relationship in the first, and a strong relationship in the second. The other female characters do fit in perfectly into the picture, bringing the complexity of the series to a whole new level. Yuuichi bonds with each and every one of them, some forming close friendship, others mutual. Unexpected twists to be expected, keeping in mind how supernatural the outcome may turn out to be. Some may think the ending is unthinkable, or even disappointing, but the series has suffered enough losses throughout. 

Characters:  9/10
One of the strongest points of the series, the development of the characters is what the viewers may look forward to when watching this anime. Obviously, Yuuichi’s development might be the most ‘complete’, given the fact that he is the main protagonist. In the beginning of the series, Yuuichi steps foot into the town with no memories of what that occurred here seven years ago, but as the story unfolds, he begins to understand and remember the significance of events that he encountered while he was young. Other female leads also developed well throughout the series. Makoto seems childish and naughty at the point of time Yuuichi finds her, but as the episodes go, she develops supernaturally. I shall not elaborate further on this. Ayu looks to be her cute and cuddly, love-seeking self, until towards the end of the series that is. Her development seems more complex than that of Makoto’s, and will take some time to indulge and understand. Another female lead, Mai, is of the cold and quiet type, one who does not speak much nor show emotions to others. But towards the end, she responds quite well to others, even though not with words, but gestures or body movements. 

Animation:  10/10
The strongest point of the anime. The animation is unlike any other I have seen before. Apart from the characters, especially the girls, who are drawn in a cute and lovable kind of way, the backgrounds and weather effects also add to the magnificence. Buildings and surrounding instances like trees and lampposts are defined and detailed. The snow, which is like the main weather of this anime, is animated smoothly, making it look as realistic as possible. Incredible animation, kudos to the animators who made this possible. To know how magnificent the animation is, you just have to watch the series to find out. 

Music:  7/10
The weakest point to what would have been a perfectly-created Japanese anime, the music is not as I would have figured it to be. The opening Last Regrets, yes it is sad and emotional, and it fits the series, however, it is too sluggish, and listening to it is like listening to a death song. No offence, but if it’s played at twice the speed, it may have turned out better. The ending song Kaze no Tadori Tsuku Basho, is also a letdown. It has a moving tune to it, making it unsuitable for this kind of anime. The mood is there, since it is a song that has something to do with the word ‘Memory’, but to me, it just didn’t click. What really pulled the points up, are the background music throughout the anime. The different songs and scores that played in the different episodes are simply intriguing, and you often have to listen to it in order to feel calm. There a lot of background music in Kanon, and I can’t name them all, not even one of them, really. 

Overall:  8.5/10
Overall, this is a wonderful anime to watch, especially if you like a moving and emotional story to follow. Although it may get slothful at few points of the series, the characters are what that really brings the viewers back to the screen, because their personalities are varied and diverse. This diversity also makes a viewer wonders what’s going to happen next in the episode, or in the following episode. This anime will surely keep those emotional and romantic people glued, thanks to its Drama and Romance elements.