One-Punch Man Review

Are you tired of overpowered superheroes that always win? Do you want to see a superhero that is a brilliant satire of the genre, while still offering a strong story of its own? Well, look no further than One-Punch Man, possibly the most fun and entertaining TV series of 2015!

One-Punch Man is a 12 episodes television series about an average guy named Saitama turned superhero with the ability to win any battle with One-Punch. Instead of the clichéd origin story of learning how to use his powers or overcoming struggles, Saitama, aka One-Punch Man, already wins every battle with a single punch, but as he complains, what's the challenge? He is completely bored with winning every battle and thus he seeks out stronger opponents to battle, while saving the City Z.

As the series continues, we are introduced to many new and inventive heroes that provide both insane action thrills and hysterical comedy. Even though Saitama's battles end in one punch, the other heroes of the Heroes Association create insane action set-pieces. Each of the heroes is unique and highly varied, even for someone like myself who has seen thousands of superheroes across various mediums. The overall plot of the series essentially follows Saitama, and his sidekick, Genos, as they climb their way up the ranks of the Heroes Association. In each episode, they encounter new threats to the city and explore various tropes, such as the overpowered protagonist, the public's view of superheroes, and the massive destruction and casualties caused even after a victory by the heroes. All of this is executed with an excellent comedic tone that fits the series perfectly.

Characterization: 9.5/10- Saitama is a brilliant parody on overpowered characters like Superman or Goku from Dragon Ball Z. But unlike Superman, Saitama doesn't care if he kills the monsters that try to destroy the city. He literally just punches them once and boom, they’re dead, but not before either an epic build up or a hysterical punch-line. As a character, he is used to explore the various tropes of overpowered heroes, as well as creating hysterical situations.

Genos is a cyborg, who is introduced in episode 2, and after seeing Saitama's incredible strength, he begs Saitama to serve as his master and teach him how to be strong. However, Saitama only accepts after a Genos agrees to pay part of Saitama's rent, in a very comical scene. Genos provides many of the best action sequences early in the series, and sets up an interesting plot thread for future seasons.

One-Punch Man's villains are a constant revolving door of monsters and various creatures that threaten the cities. Many of the villains are either absolutely hysterical or extremely badass and inventive!

The supporting cast of heroes is another brilliant set of characters. Whether it is the inspirational Mumen Rider or the highly offensive Puri Puri Prison, you are not likely to forget the slew of insanely fun characters.

Direction: 10/10- Holy crap! One-Punch Man is the most insanely hyped up anime ever. Each battle gets my blood pumping like nothing else! Instead of the Dragon Ball Z type screaming matches and still frames that some of grew up watching, One-Punch Man actually animates the action sequences in high detail. Every episode's battle is a mastery of action animation, and if you like superhero action, you should definitely check out the battles.

Acting: 9.5/10- Unfortunately, there is no English dub as of now. However, Viz Media is known for some solid dubs, so expect this insanely popular anime to receive one in the near future. As for the Japanese cast, Makoto Furukawa as Saitama pulls off the deadpan delivery to absolute perfection! And Kaito Ishikawa as Genos provides the perfect type of over seriousness to make the humor hit even harder.

Animation: 10/10- Studio Madhouse blew everyone away in the first few episodes with animation quality on a level well above what you come to expect. While the action sequences are amazing, later in the series, you can clearly see that a few corners had to be cut during the comedic scenes with very occasional off model moments and a lack of key frames during some of the less action heavy parts. However, these few missteps are a minor blemish on one of the most visually impressive spectacles of animation you will have the pleasure of viewing.

Soundtrack: 9.0/10- Makoto Miyazaki's score is the perfect type of heroic music that makes every battle extremely hyped up! When you hear the hero theme, you know that something awesome is about to go down, and the series never disappoints!

Humor: 9.5/10- Ultimately, One-Punch Man is a satirical comedy, and if you are familiar with either superhero or shounen action tropes, this series is bound to make you laugh. Many of the jokes come from simple things like Saitama going to the convenience store to buy groceries and running into a random monster. And the comedic timing of the series is spot on!

Opening and Ending: 9.2/10- "THE HERO!!" by JAM Project is the perfect hyped up song for such a hyped up series. It is fast paced and gets me pumped up for each and every episode.

Non-Otaku Appeal: If you like superheroes and don't mind some funny weirdness, like a giant crab-man, then give One-Punch Man a shot. If you have any nostalgia for superhero cartoons as a kid or something like Dragon Ball Z, then you should definitely give this series a chance, because it is just fun.

Entertainment Value: 10/10- Honestly, no other anime, heck, no other TV show was as entertaining as One-Punch Man was last year. Each episode got me pumped up, made me laugh, and then got me excited to see the next one! It was the highlight of every week.

Overall: 9.7/10- One-Punch Man is fun, exciting, and full of wit and charm. If you want a visual extravaganza on par with any Hollywood superhero flick, as well as hilarious humor that will leave you in stitches, watch One-Punch Man you won't regret it, and at 12 episodes, it won't take long to watch.

Closing comments: There is a reason One-Punch Man is #2 overall on IMDB's top TV shows, and that's because it is a dang good show! To start watching this insane series, click here to watch it on Hulu or watch it on Hulu in the video below.

Recommended for: Superhero fans, Animation fans,

Note: One-Punch Man contains animated violence and occasional suggestive themes.

To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Angry Birds Movie - Official Teaser Trailer

Angry Birds, the insanely popular mobile game, is now getting a feature film, and the trailer is here! And.... "I have a bad feeling about this." Seriously, this does not look that great. It does not scream a kid's film, and yet the humor is almost nonexistent, at least for me. Like just anyone, I have played Angry Birds, and while it is not a favorite of mine, it is a fun game to play when you are waiting around, or at least before I downloaded some comics and manga to read. Anyway, the trailer is giving me a bad vibe. It looks like a flop. However, the brand name of Angry Birds is likely to get butts in the seats so to speak, and Angry Birds is insanely popular with kids, as well as adults. The cast looks solid with the notable ones being Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Bill Hader, and Peter Dinklage. Also, the use of Michael Jackson's "Bad" is quite good. Otherwise, nothing about this trailer makes me think that the movie will be anything more than an average or below average animated flick. What think? Please comment below, and check out this live-action fan parody trailer made back in 2011.

Note: Netflix Picks return this week!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

10 Surprising Facts About Despicable Me’s Minions

Lights on Location returns with a writeup about box office giant Minions from the Despicable Me franchise!

What makes animated movies fun to watch is that the creators are not constrained with having to look for filming locations, making unbelievable creatures and even avoiding the laws of physics? The Despicable Me franchise was one that has become loved by many children because of its ridiculous premise and funny characters, one of which are the Minions. Now that they have their own movie, the Minions have become more famous than ever. You can see them in pens, t-shirts, tumblers, and other items. These lovable creatures have captured the audience in their simple mindedness and comedic mishaps. But even when they're well known, there are still things that the audiences might not know about them. Here's a list of 10 surprising facts about Despicable Me's Minions.

Fact #1: All of the Minions have male names
We don't know why that is, but all the minions have male names. Now whether this makes them all male or just loves the sound of masculine names is a mystery. They love to dress like a girl sometimes, so that just complicates things more.

Fact #2: Minions can breathe and live even in outer space
Minions are almost invulnerable beings that can survive anything you throw at them. They've been squashed, shrink, dropped, and they still come out feeling only a bit dizzy. One minion even survived outer space for a while after he was given a douse of the anti-gravity serum.

Fact #3: Purple Minions are evil because it exactly opposes the Minions in spectrum color
These cute little creatures can turn into horrible monsters too. When they do, their color changes to purple, which is the opposite of yellow in the color spectrum? These creatures will eat anything that gets in their way, which makes them terrifying to anyone in close contact with them.

Fact #4: Minions are now the official mascot of Illumination Entertainment
After the success that the Despicable Me movies have brought to their company, this animation film production company has adopted the Minions as their official mascot.

Fact #5: Banana is the favorite fruit of the Minions, second are apple and papaya
When children think of Minions, it's usually accompanied by the sound of Banana. As is the case with the Minions, they'll do anything for a banana. It's even one of the words that they can actually say correctly. Plus they made a song about it!

Fact #6: A third Despicable Me film is currently in the works and is set to release in 2017
The Despicable Me franchise has made over a $2 billion dollars so it's no wonder that they're making another one. Mark your calendars kids! It's still far ahead, but expects the film to come out in 2017.

Fact #7: Minions don't like to leave unanswered
You better make sure that you tell them your specific orders, or else they'll just stand there staring at you waiting for your answer.

Fact #8: Minions only have 3 fingers
As with all animated characters, the Minions are missing a few fingers. They only have 3 fingers, but that doesn't stop them from helping Gru with making any diabolical plan that he has. That being said, the other characters do have 5 fingers in the movies, so it's probably just them who has 3.

Fact #9: The population of Minions is 899 according to Pierre Coffin
Imagine having a family of 899 people that are all males. That would be unbearable. Luckily the Minions are fun loving creatures who just want to spend their time serving the most evil villain in the world.

Fact #10: There are 9 known Minion's names - Dave, Stuart, Kevin, Jerry, Tim, Mark, Phil, Bob and Norbert
It can be quite hard naming all 899 of them with just male names, but we don't know if their names repeat or it's individual to them. The only named Minions in the series are Dave, Stuart, Kevin, Jerry, Tim, Mark, Phil, Bob and Norbert.

The Castle of Cagliostro Review

To kickoff the Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki Retrospective, let’s take a look at Miyazaki’s feature film directorial debut, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro, or simply, The Castle of Cagliostro.

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Action Adventure, Heist, Anime, Animation,

Release Date: December 15, 1979

Running Time: 100 minutes

MMPA rating: PG (maybe PG-13)

The Good: Fun action and adventure throughout, Likable characters, Perfect pacing, Effective introduction to the franchise, 

The Bad: Tonally inconsistent,

Plot: 8.1/10- The film’s plot is simple yet effective. While the movie uses the "save the princess in the castle" cliché, it never hinders the film nor feels clichéd. One of the film's strong aspects is the pacing. Never is there a dull or boring moment throughout the film as it goes about its classic thief caper story. 

My main issue problem with the entire movie is the tonal inconsistency. During multiple points, the tone goes from semi-serious action adventure to a kid's movie. The more serious parts are more effective, but the more lighthearted moments still have their place. With that said, the English dub does lean towards the more family friendly vibe than the Japanese. 

Characterization: 8.0/10- Despite being my first experience with the cast of characters, after the brief ten minute introductions, the viewer knows everything that they need to know about the characters and their dynamics. Each one is distinct and memorable, even if the screen time for Jigen and Goemon was limited. Being the star, Lupin III is obviously the most entertaining and most well realized of the character, although he is portrayed as a more heroic character than other adaptations. Lady Clarisse falls into the "damsel in distress" trope, but she is still likable and served as an important plot point well.

Direction: 8.8/10- Even as one of Miyazaki’s earliest works, The Castle of Cagliostro contains his trademarked high flying adventure. It lends being overly cartoony at times, but overall, the action set pieces are a blast to watch.

Acting: 8.0/10- Regardless of whether you watch the film in the original Japanese or in the 2000 Manga Entertainment English dub, the film holds up well. However, as previously stated, the English dub creates a more lighthearted tone than the Japanese dub since the villain sounds more threatening and less like a cartoon character in Japanese. With that said, David Hayter, of Metal Gear Solid fame, does a great job as Lupin. Currently, the dubbed version is available to watch for free on Hulu.

Art Style: 7.9/10- For late 70s animation, TMS Entertainment’s animation holds up well under Miyazaki’s direction with it featuring elements of his now iconic art style, particularly the female character designs. Otherwise, the fluidity and background art is top notch for the era.

Soundtrack: 7.8/10- Yuji Ohno’s score is upbeat and fitting of the old school caper tone.

Humor: 8.2/10- While some humor falls flat, for the most part, the action comedy elements of the film work rather well.

Overall: 8.1/10- With its mix of adventure, comedy, and good old fashioned fun, Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro combines old school thief capers with the spectacle that animation affords, and the results are a blast! For a debut film, Hayao Miyazaki could not have been much better!

Recommended for: Action Adventure fans, Animation fans, Anime fans, Miyazaki fans, Studio Ghibli fans,

For another opinion of the film, you can read Ian's review over on Banon's Roar! by clicking here. I would like to thank him since his review convinced me to watch the movie.

If you want to watch the entire movie in dub, you can watch below on Hulu.



If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki Retrospective

Studio Ghibli is one of the only foreign animation studios to reach relative mainstream success in North America and Europe. Chances are you might have already seen one of Studio Ghibli's films or have at least heard of them, even if you did not realize it, thanks to Disney's brilliant marketing. A few of the studio's most recognizable works include Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle, although their work spans more than 20 feature films.

Pixar producer and director, John Lasseter, often cites Studio Ghibli founder, Hayao Miyazaki, as an inspiration for his work, and he has worked personally with Miyazaki as the director of Disney's English dubs of Ghibli films. There is even a Totoro plushie in Toy Story 3.

In short, regardless of your opinion of Japanese animation, if you consider yourself a film fan, especially of animation, you need to at least watch the studio's most critically acclaimed works. Fans of Pixar, Disney, or family films should also check out the studio's work.

My inspiration for this Studio Ghibli retrospective comes a request from reader, Matthew Birkhofer, who requested "You should make a list of the best Pixar & Studio Ghibli movies, in one list to see where movies add up!" during the "Ask Me Anything" post, which I will answer soon. Since ranking Studio Ghibli and Pixar would result in the bottom half being mostly Pixar and the top half mostly Ghibli, it felt redundant. So, instead, I plan to review every single Studio Ghibli film over the course of this year, including the early work of Hayao Miyazaki before he started Studio Ghibli. The retrospective begins tomorrow with a review of Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro. Please give me some feedback on your opinion this idea in the comment, and whether or not you are interesting.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Inside Out Review

Inside Out, Pixar's adventure into the human mind. Is it a triumphant return to form for the studio or another missed opportunity? 

Ever since Toy Story 3, Pixar movies have been in a slump with unnecessary sequels and movies that lack the sophistication viewers have come to expect. If you have read my reviews of 3D animated films, you might know that I have a very mixed opinion of the genre. I am tired of animated kid’s flicks that get by a pass on criticism because "it's a kid movie." All too many fall into the same clichés, especially in the Final Act, and even some of Pixar’s are overrated. However, for the first time in years, I can say Pixar has made a movie that is truly for all audiences with Inside Out.

Directed by: Pete Docter

Genre: Animation, Family, Comedy, Adventure

Release Date: June 19, 2015

Running Time: 94 minutes

MMPA rating: PG

The Good: Exceptional 1st Act, Not an entirely clichéd ending, Clever concepts and presentation of the mind, Colorful visuals, Amy Poehler is fun as the lead, Several hilarious scenes, Good message, Solid pace, A few surprisingly emotional moments, Actual consequences, Catchy main theme,

The Bad: Could have been funnier, Bing Bong is annoying at first, Drags in the middle act,

Plot: 8.4/10- Like many great animated films, the 1st Act is exceptional. The film introduces its many imaginative concepts to portray the inner workings of the mind, while making it simple enough for a child to understand. Many of best parts are how the writers come up with fun ways to show how the mind works. You could say that certain elements of the mind are over simplified since emotion does not always govern people's action, and you would not be wrong. Aside from that, the streamlined portrayal of the human conscious is one of the most original ideas I have seen in an animated film in a long time, even if it takes some cues from the old Cranium Command ride at Disney's Epcot.

Due to the unique nature of the plot, the constant introduction to various new concepts keeps the pacing steady. Towards the middle it does drag a little with the introduction of a certain character, who derails the pace for a time, but there is little more to say than that.

Thematically, the film conveys a nice message that is different from the norm. It is something that is important for kids, but will also resonate with adults as well, and it does not feel forced, which is a rarity for the medium.

Lastly, the finale manages to break from the terribly clichéd "Happy Ending" by having a few actual consequences. It could have been more impactful if they tried to end on a slightly less happy note, but it is certainly one of the better kid's movie endings of late.

Characterization: 7.5/10- The five emotions, Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger, and Disgust are each distinct and memorable. The film does a surprisingly good job at making you dislike a certain character, yet making your opinion change by the end. Riley, the character whose mind these characters inhabit, is mostly there to drive the story forward, yet is also most important to conveying the main theme. Lastly, Bing Bong is the obligatory character that is present to appeal to little kids, and like all characters of his type, he is annoying, especially at first. He does not ruin the film, but he does detract much from a certain part that he is in, although he is significantly less annoying towards the end.

Acting: 8.2/10- Amy Poehler, as Joy, is the standout of the cast, and her peppy demeanor is perfect for the role. Mindy Kaling, Lewis Black, Bill Hader, and Phyllis Smith each fit the roles of the emotions excellent, and the rest of the cast each give a solid performance.

Animation: 8.3/10- Opting for a more simplistic, yet colorful, art style, Pixar, and director Pete Docter, deliver the level of animation quality that you expect from the studio. With that said, it rarely dazzles you with any unique artistic style or high detail, but it does everything that it tries to do well.

Soundtrack: 8.7/10- Of his work thus far this year, Michael Giacchino delivers his finest work yet with Inside Out's score. There are many catchy tunes, and the soundtrack is even worth listening to on its own.

Humor: 7.9/10- As funny as the 1st Act is, I feel as though the film misses some opportunities to maintain a contain level of laugh-out-loud moments. The best humor comes from the humorous ideas of how the mind works, and seeing the inside the other characters' minds. With that said, Inside Out is Pixar’s funniest movie in a while, considering that their latest features have lacked humor that the adult audience can laugh at.

Entertainment Value: 8.2/10- Aside from Bing Bon's introduction, Inside Out turned out to be an incredibly enjoyable time at the theater, and most definitely worth my time and money, which is hard to do for a "kid's movie."

Overall: 8.0/10- Inside Out is a welcome return to form for Pixar with one an original concept, solid humor, and a message that can resonate with audiences of all ages. In fact, Inside Out is one of the best American animated films in the last five years, albeit well below The Lego Movie.

Closing comments: Inside Out will almost certainly win the Best Animated Feature Oscar, even if When Marie was There is more deserving. However, for the time first time since Toy Story 3, it will almost deserve it.

Recommended for: Families, Pixar fans, Animation fans,

Please check back tomorrow for my Top 25 Sci-Fi Movies list.

Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Pixar's Lava Review and Inside Out First Reaction

Preceding screening of Inside Out, Lava is Pixar's short film that was originally screened at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival last year, but is now being screened to the public. The film is a simple musical love story about a lonely volcano singing about he wishes that he would have someone to love. Essentially 7 minutes of singing, the short does seem to drag on longer than its runtime. However, it manages to convey an emotionally manipulative short film that tries its hardest to make the audience feel something. Does it succeed? A little, but not too much because I knew exactly what it was trying to do. 

Overall: 7.5/10- With that said, the animation is simple, yet good, and as a whole, it is worthwhile enough to recommend that you make it to your seat before it starts. Being Pixar, it will probably win the Oscar for an animated short film...

Now for my Inside Out First Reaction, I had a surprisingly good time. In fact, for the first time is more than a decade, I watched an animated film in theaters. The last one I watched was Finding Nemo back in 2003. I wanted to see The Lego Movie last year, but things did not work out, and I was glad to see Inside Out in theaters. Being so late in its run in a relatively small town, there were not many people at theater. Surprisingly, there were only 5 or 6 kids and about 20 adults, which shows how Pixar movies truly appeal to the adult audience as well. Before my review of the film tomorrow, here are a few reviews by fellow critics, and let me know if you have reviewed the film and I will include it below.

Review by Jordan

Review by Daniel

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Peanuts 2015 Official Trailer Review

Yet another promising trailer is here with the Peanuts! Peanuts is based on the popular comic strip of the name, although many know it more for Snoopy and Charlie Brown, the main characters of the comic. I have enjoyed the comic strip ever since childhood, so I am actually interested to see if this can capture the fun of the original comic. What also interests me is the unique art style. It looks like a blend of 3D, stop-motion, and the original comic strip. The use of textures is also unique and interesting to create a look different than the norm. As for the trailer itself, the use of The Who's song, "Baba O'Riley," and DJ Khaled's "All I Do Is Win," stars with a good nostalgic tone and "All I Do Is Win" takes it for a comedic twist. The characters all seem to be the same ones that I grew up with, so let’s hope the humor will be just as good as well. What do you think of the trailer? For me, this is one of the only animated films that I might want to watch this year, what about you?

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Parasyte Review

Today, I want to post about one of the best television series I have seen in a very, very long time. Parasyte is the type of anime that can have crossover appeal to those that are interested in science fiction, drama, suspense, and even horror to a degree. If you enjoy well written fiction then Parasyte is an excellent example, and it is only 24, 20 minute episodes, so it is equivalent to watching a 12 episode normal series, and it has a conclusive ending. If you are interested in watching the series, you can officially on Crunchyroll.com by clicking here.

Plot Summary: One night, worm-like parasites that takeover the brains of their human hosts mysteriously descend upon the Earth. When one of these parasites attempts to takeover Shinichi Izumi, it fails to reach the brain and is forced to takeover Shinichi's right hand. With a sentient right hand, which names itself Migi (right-hand in Japanese), Shinichi must coexist with Migi to survive as other man eating parasites try to kill Shinichi due to his brain remaining intact.

Despite the seemingly simple summary, Parasyte -the maxim-, aka Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu, is a thrilling and thought-provoking anime that is a must-watch.

Going into Parasyte, I knew nothing about it other than it was based on an old horror manga about man eating parasites, so I expected another pointless censored-gore-fest like Tokyo Ghoul (anime, not manga). After episode four, I knew it that was far from the case...

The Good: Edge-of-your-seat suspense, Dissects what it means to be human, Avoids tropes and cliches, Emotionally riveting, Thematic depth, Deep character development, Constantly high quality animation, Never holds back on gore, Mature romance, Shocking plot twists, Superb performances, Shinichi and Migi's cooperative partnership, Intense score, Terrifying at times, Thought-provoking,

The Bad:

Fall 2014 - Winter 2015 | 24 Episodes | R (for violent) | Madhouse

Action | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Seinen | Suspense | Thriller

Plot: 10/10- Parasyte is paced to near perfection. Every episode moves the plot towards its ultimate destination with even the slower episodes providing greater insight into the characters and plot.

Constantly throughout the series, plot twists are thrown at the audience to always keep you on the edge-of-your-seat. Countless times I would catch myself holding my breath, literally gasping in shock, or breaking out in a cold sweat due to the amount of suspense the anime creates. This tension is able to be built up because early in the series you are shown that anyone can die, and yet it never overplays the death-card to the point of exploitation with just enough characters dying to always keep you on your toes, so to speak. Despite the suspense and thrills, Parasyte even manages to be emotionally impactful, much more so than most other anime.

Thematically, Parasyte portrays various thought-provoking ideas without ever allowing the themes to overshadow the story or characters. One central theme is what it means to be human, and Shinichi and Migi's cohabitation turned almost friendship is a perfect venue for conveying this idea. Later in the series, you begin to question who the real monsters are: the parasites or us humans, and are we really all that different? Parasyte never once pulls its punches. It has something to say and it will go as far as required to make its point. Another venue to convey its themes and character development is through very subtle symbolism, which might not be apparent upon first viewing. Despite the heavy overtones of various themes, the series rarely loses focus on the characters and plot.

One common misconception is that Parasyte is a horror anime, and while there are horror elements, it is more of a suspense drama with science fiction and elements. However, Parasyte is far more terrifying than any horror series because it creates so much tension.

Being based on a manga that has finished its run long ago, Parasyte has a definitive and conclusive finale that wraps almost everything up well. Sure, some viewers might have wanted to know where the parasites came from, but that is never the point of the story, and the ending leaves you fulfilled and not wanting more.

If a negative had to be stated, it would have to be episode 22. It slows down the story before the big rush towards the conclusion, which some viewers might dislike, although I had no issue with it. The only other minor issue is that the environmental message is overstated ever so slightly, although it is one of the better uses of said message in a long time.

Characterization: 10/10- Shinichi Izumi is the protagonist of the story, and he starts out as a likable and compassionate guy. As the series progresses, he slowly begins to lose his humanity, thus turning into the one thing that is trying to kill him: the parasites. His journey is a compelling ride that makes you feel for him as character, especially when his actions cause conflicts with his family and girlfriend. From beginning to end, Shinichi transforms into a different person with a very organic sense of growth, which is reflected by the series’ themes.

Migi is one of the most unique anime characters in recent years. He is literally a hand that can morph into deadly weapons, and yet, his development is a minor image to Shinichi's transformation. The characters symbiotic relationship is rife with inner conflict and distrust as neither side wanted to be in this partnership. As the series continues, their relationship slowly changes as each one begins to understand the other, which makes for compelling drama and thought-provoking material.

Satomi Murano is Shinichi's girlfriend, and she symbolizes Shinichi's humanity and who he once was. The romantic relationship between the characters is believable and mature without much of the typical annoyances that plague almost all anime today.

Despite the parasites being monstrous creatures that devour humans to survive, one antagonist becomes a fleshed out character with motivations to the point that you care about the character. As for other supporting characters, Shinichi's parents are surprisingly well developed as entirely believable people, compared to the almost non-existent parents in every other anime. Kana Kimishima is the only supporting character who is not as well realized as the others, although she is still very well utilized.

Action/Suspense: 10/10- No other work of fiction, not just anime, builds up more tension than Parasyte (more about the suspense under "Plot"). As for the action, Parasyte is not necessarily an action series with overly long battles, but when Shinichi needs to fight for survival, the fights are intense and often use strategy to outwit rather than simply overpower the opponent.

Acting: 10/10- Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shinichi Izumi gives a superb performance that reflects the character's change throughout the series. Aya Hirano gives Migi a fittingly bizarre voice, and fan favorite Kana Hanazawa plays Satomi and gives a fine performance. 

Animation: 9.7/10- Studio Madhouse's animation is incredibly consistent with very few mistakes, except for the CGI. The designs for the characters and parasites are very interesting and unique, and the animation’s fluidity never takes a noticeable drop. Thankfully, the anime manages to avoid the annoying censorship of violence by using shadows to skillfully obscure the most gruesome frames, yet never censoring anything important.

Soundtrack: 9.5/10- If I hear one more person complain about the use of dubstep in the soundtrack I am going to punch something. Sure, there are three scenes in the early part of the series where the techno dubstep-like music sounds a bit strange, but the majority of Ken Arai's score always sets the right mood, especially with tracks like "Next to You." The techno tracks even make the suspenseful sequences all the more intense and nail biting.

Humor: N/A- During the first few episodes, there is a bit of humor with one off-color joke, albeit a funny one, but it generally not a humorous series.

Opening and Ending: 9.6/10- The OP, "Let Me Hear" by Fear, and loathing in Las Vegas, is a cut above the band's usual autotune "screamo" music, and it fits the series well as it gets you pumped up before every episode. The ED, "It's the Right Time" by Daichi Miura, is a slow and pleasant piece that serves as a perfect way to calm down after each episode's pulse-pounding cliffhangers or to compliment the often tragic episode conclusions.

Entertainment Value: 10/10- Parasyte was the highlight of every week for the past six months; it made each Wednesday so entertaining and intense.

Overall: 10/10- Virtually flawless, Parasyte -the maxim- (Kiseijuu: Sei no Kakuritsu) effortlessly balances riveting suspense, emotional character drama, and thought-provoking themes without ever allow one aspect to overshadow the other. No other anime has ever been able to execute all these aspects to such an effective and mature degree in the past. Undoubtedly one of the best works of fiction in years, not just anime, Parasyte receives my first ever 10 out of 10 as an anime that is about as close to perfect as an anime as can be. 

Closing comments: If you are adverse to gore, or only watch anime for mindless ecchi or shounen action, then Parasyte might not be for you. Otherwise, do yourself a favor and watch Parasyte; it is truly amazing.

Watch if you like:  High quality anime, Suspense/Thrills, Sci-Fi, Drama, Thought-provoking themes, Horror, Gore, Madhouse, 

For more of my anime reviews, click here.

When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace (Inou-Battle) Review

From the creators of Kill la Kill, Studio Trigger, comes Inou-Battle wa Nichijou-kei no Naka de, translated as When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace, or Inou-Battle for short, a series that follows a high school Literature Club, whose five member receive mysterious new powers without explanation, and with no enemies to fight, the characters live out their daily lives with their newfound powers. 

Anime about clubs are a dime a dozen, and while there are several recent anime that have used the setting to tell unique stories, like Kokoro Connect or Hyouka, or even the classic, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (review here), most in the genre are more or less the same thing. So, does Inou-Battle set itself apart from the other anime in its genre? Let's find out!

Plot: 7.8/10- Conceptually, Inou-Battle delivers the most unique twist to a club series since Kokoro Connect by giving the characters powers, yet not giving them superpowered adversaries to fight, at least not at first. The first half of the series tells slice-of-life stories with a superpowered twist. However, after the first few episodes, the series shifts focus from superpowered antics in daily life to almost straight up slice-of-life romantic comedy, and even though it somewhat squanders its fascinating concept, the development given to the characters is rather excellent. While I wish that it have balanced both elements, the heavier focus on the characters made me genuinely care about each one. 

Towards the later portion of the series, the secret behind the powers is revealed, and what little we get to see is satisfying. Unfortunately, the series ends on a potentially strange note. Once the entire secret behind the powers is revealed, certain events are set in motion, yet the series just ends. In Inou-Battle’s defense, the ending is consistent with the themes of the series, and while it is a solid conclusion for a first season, if this all we get, I will be disappointed.

Characterization: 8.0/10- Technically, Inou-Battle is a harem anime. A common misconception is that the harem genre automatically entails fanservice, and while that is often the case, technically the term "harem" in relation to genre defines any story where there is one main character (MC) has three or more potential romance interests that actively pursue the MC's affection. On the other hand, the ecchi genre is what defines anime with fanservice, because a series can be ecchi without being a harem. With that cleared up, Inou-Battle uses the harem aspect of multiple girls vying for the affection of one guy better than most other harems because it gives specific attention to each individual girl and her story, while providing ample reason for why the girls are interested in the main male protagonist, in this case, Jurai Andō.

Andō himself is chuunibyou, roughly translating to "Middle School 2nd Year Syndrome." Chuunibyou generally refers to someone who has delusions that they have magical powers or are someone of great importance, although there are many different varieties of chuunibyou. Andō pretends to have special powers trapped within his hand, and eventually, he does receive a power, albeit a seemingly useless one. However, his previously useless knowledge of what are the morally right and wrong ways to use certain powers that come from reading manga, light novels, ect, is what makes him incredibly useful to the club. 

Unlike the other characters, we rarely receive an insight into his thoughts, whereas the other characters are often the focus of inner monologues, so as to almost give us the same view of Andō as the girls do. Whereas many harem protagonist are annoyingly weak, so as to make you wonder what makes him a "chick magnet," and while Andō might be a little on the bland side, he is a likable and caring guy. 

As for the girls, each one is surprisingly fleshed out with moments of unexpected emotion. Of course it is nowhere as powerful as top notch drama anime, but for a comedy harem, it will surprise you. Also, the interaction between the characters is a lot of fun to watch, especially the loli character Chifuyu, whose affection for Andō is executed in a tasteful and sweet way.

CUTENESS OVERLOAD!

Action: 6.0/10- Despite featuring "Battle" in the title, Inou-Battle has very little action, and that is not a bad thing by any means, although that appears to be one of the reasons so many viewers did not like the series.

Acting: 7.0/10- No one stands out among the Japanese cast in either a good or bad way, but the actors do execute the more emotional scenes well.

Animation: 7.7/10- Compared to their work on Kill la Kill, Studio Trigger's animation is more typical for the genre, yet very consistent for the majority of the series. The character designs are all very appealing without being too moe at any point, and when the powers are used, the animation holds up incredibly well. For the most part, the fanservice is mild with only a few swimsuits.

Soundtrack: 6.4/10- Honestly, Elements Garden's score is not all that memorable, but it was never bad either.

Humor: 7.7/10- Inou-Battle contains some of the typical pleasant humor like most club anime, while mixing in some superpowered humor. It is generally humorous when it tries to be, and thankfully the series never devolves into fanservice humor.

Opening and Ending: 7.4/10- The opening and ending are fun and energetic just like the series itself.

Entertainment Value: 8.4/10- Inou-Battle might not have been the off-the-wall insanity fest that Kill la Kill fans expected from Studio Trigger, but its consistently lovable characters and fun use of the concept made every episode a pleasure to watch.

Overall: 7.9/10- Providing you have the correct expectations going in, Inou-Battle is fun, pleasant, and often sweet anime that uses the harem concept to further develop the characters. Sure, it might not be the over-the-top madness fest that Kill la Kill was, but it is a well executed comedy drama that desperately needs another season.

Closing comments: When Supernatural Battles Became Commonplace is an all around underrated anime. It might not have been groundbreaking, but the characters made it fun to watch every week.

Watch if you like: Comedy, High school genre, Superpowers, Fantasy, Haruhi Suzumiya, Studio Trigger,

To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.
Also, if you have reviewed this anime, leave a comment with a link to your review and I will post it here (providing it does not contain any explicit content).

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Gonna be the Twin-Tails!! Review

Ore, Twintails ni Narimasu (Gonna be the Twin-Tails!!), or OreTwi for short, is a perfect example of how bizarrely fun anime can be. The anime is about Sōji Mitsuka, a twintail obsessed high school student, and after the Ultimegil, humanoid-dinosaur like aliens attack earth, a mysterious woman, Twoearle, tells Sōji that the Ultimegil are from a parallel universe and that they freed off of the "attribute power" of humans, specifically traits like a girl's love of twintail hairstyle or other similar things (seriously, you cannot make this stuff up). To combat the Ultimegil, Twoearle gives Sōji the Tail Gear, that when activated, transforms him into Tail Red, and in this form, he changes into a girl. 

Crazy concepts like this is one of the reason why I love anime. Where else are you going to find a series about aliens stealing the love of twintails from the hearts of humanity!? OreTwi excels in capitalizing on the absurdity of the concept for comedic effect. Many elements of the plot can be considered dumb, but it somehow all works to create one incredibly enjoyable package, providing this is your type of anime. Somehow, OreTwi manages to look like it is taking itself seriously, while not taking itself seriously, which sounds like an oxymoron, but if you watch it, you know what I am talking about.

As for the characters, Sōji's obsession with twintails often produces a lot of great comedy with how he cares more about twintails than almost anything else. Usually, when a guy turns into a girl in a series, you expect him to do certain things, and the series actually makes fun of the norm due to his obsession with twin tails. Later in the series, he even goes through the classic hero's struggle, which is strangely reminiscent of Spider-Man 2, and it is resolved rather humorously. Aika Tsube, Sōji's childhood friend, is a fun twist on the tsundere archetype since, instead of punching/kicking the protagonist for doing things, she beats up the other female character, Twoerle, for making advances towards Sōji, which produces often hilarious results.

The rest of the characters like Twoerle and Erina Shindō are entertaining to watch interact. However, I do have to give a shout out to Sōji's mom for being the most hilariously understanding anime mom ever. Also, the villains are absurdly over-the-top in their love of various weird things.

Production IMS' animation is all around solid, except for episode ten, which is oddly out of place among the rest of the episodes due to horrendous animation quality. The action sequences, while not special, get the job done, and the background art is slightly above-average. Also, the character designs are quite good. The only problem is that OreTwi is technically an ecchi anime, and as such, there is fanservice and ecchi humor.

Overall, Gonna be the Twin-Tails!! is one of the most strangely entertaining anime of the 2014. It is the type of anime that is so weird and wacky that it just works. Even though it might not be thought-provoking or well written, OreTwi succeeds at being off-the-wall ridiculous fun. However, it is certainly not for everyone.

Watch if you like: Comedy, Ecchi comedy, Mahou shoujo, Wackiness, 

*7.4/10*

More Fall Anime Reviews:
Fall Anime Review: Part 1
Fall Anime Review: Part 2
Fall Anime Review: Part 3
Amagi Brilliant Park Review

The Fruit of Grisaia
In Search of the Lost Future
Terra Formars
Rage of Bahamut: Genesis
Wolf Girl and Black Prince
Yona of the Dawn
Yuki Yuna is a Hero

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Chaika - The Coffin Princess Review

Chaika - The Coffin Princess (Hitsugi no Chaika), a fun fantasy adventure from Studio Bones, the studio that brought us such classics as Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.

Hitsugi no Chaika is set in a fantasy world where a mysterious white haired girl named Chaika is on a mission to collect the remains of her father, the evil Emperor Gaz. Gaz who ruled over the land for 200 years until eight powerful warriors, known as the Eight Heroes, killed him. Since the Emperor's remains contain powerful magic, the eight heroes divided his remains amongst themselves. In the first episode, Chaika encounters Toru Acura, and his sister Akari, both of whom are warriors known as Saboteurs, who are then hired by Chaika to recover the Emperor's remains so that she can give her father a proper burial. What ensues is a fantasy adventure as Chaika and her companions try to recover the remains from the Eight Heroes. 

Even though the plot summary might sound like a typical shounen, Chaika is a different type of shounen series. Instead of the usual clichéd wacky humor, exaggerated animation, and themes of friendship, the series is more of a classic fantasy adventure like Tolkien's The Hobbit, except with a world featuring heavy sci-fi elements along with the fantasy. The series is split into two seasons, with season one titled "Chaika - The Coffin Princess" and season two "Chaika - The Coffin Princess: Avenging Battle," consisting of 22 episodes in total.

The Good: Lovable characters, Superb voice cast, Appealing character designs, Well placed humor, Studio Bones' quality animation, Chaika is adorable, Tolkien-esque fantasy adventure,

The Bad: Characters are sidelined in the last six episodes, Rushed conclusion, 

Plot: 6.7/10- Chaika's plot is relatively simple, at least in the first season, and the beginning of the second.

For the first 14 episodes or so, it s a character driven story with the MacGuffin being the Emperor's remains. What makes this premise work is that story progresses because of the characters actions. On their journey, the characters encounter different parts of the world, and try to take back the Emperor's remains. Along the way, some plot twists are thrown in, which makes you question the original goal. Season two gets off to a strong as it unravels the mystery behind Chaika's origins and forgotten past. Unfortunately, by the halfway mark, the series shifts to a plot driven narrative as it charges towards the rushed finale. As far as rushed finales go, Chaika's is far from the worst, but its lack of focus on the characters is disappointing considering that the characters are the best aspect. Due to said ending, it really soured my initially positive opinion of the series. 

Unfortunately, season two sidelined the characters in favor of a rushed conclusion. The early episodes of the season still contained the lovable character dynamic, but the second half mostly focused on the story. On the plus side, at least the story received a conclusion. All too many anime leave the audience without a proper conclusion, and Chaika at least delivered that. It may not have been satisfying, but at least we got one.

Characterization: 8.0/10- What makes The Coffin Princess so much fun are the characters. Chaika is an adorable young girl, who does not know why she must find her father's remains, but is nevertheless driven to give him a proper burial. She also talks in adorably broken Japanese, and she has an innocence about her that you cannot help but love. However, she is given enough character development to prevent her from being a moe-blob, and she is almost never used for fanservice.

Even though Chaika is the titular character that steals the spotlight, Toru Acura is technically the main protagonist. What makes Toru different than a typical shounen protagonist is that he, despite his age, is already an experienced warrior, so he is a soldier without a war to fight, which is the driving force behind his servitude to Chaika.

Akari Acura, Toru's adopted sister, and Fredrika are two likable supporting characters, who are often the comedic relief in a deadpan type manner, round out the quartet of heroes in this fantasy adventure.

What makes the main four characters so likable is the banter between them. Each one has a distinct personality that works brilliantly to create an entertaining dynamic.

Even though the final antagonist is disappointingly shallow, the antagonists of the first season, and part of the second seasons, are well rounded characters. 

Action: 8.2/10- Chaika's action is not the most spectacular work from Studio Bones; however, it features many well animated and choreographed action sequences, which utilize the unique fantasy and sci-fi elements.

Acting: 8.6/10- The cast is very distinct with Chika Anzai being the most notable member of the cast as Chaika. Her delivery of adorably broken Japanese really brings the character to life. The rest of the cast all do a fine job in their roles, bolstered by an always noteworthy performance by Chiwa Saito. 

Animation: 7.9/10- Studio Bones' continue to excel at action anime with Chaika being a highlight. While the animation is not on par with their other work from the year like Noragami or Captain Earth, it was still top notch work. The character designs in particular should be commended. 

Soundtrack: 6.5/10- Seikou Nagaoka's score is the type that is rarely noticeable, but never detracts from the experience, so it did its job for the most part. 

Humor: 8.4/10- In typical Bones' fashion, Chaika has a perfect blend of humor and adventure. Unlike their previous works, the humor never uses the over exaggerated shounen expressions and animation to portray the humor with most of it coming from the banter between the characters.

Opening and Ending: 7.5/10- Each opening and ending have great songs and generally strong animation that make them worth watching several times.

Non-Otaku Appeal: Even though there is has a similar tone to the Hobbit, there are other superior anime that newcomers to the medium should watch first, like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

Entertainment Value: 7.9/10- Until the final six episodes, the series was always a pleasure to watch.

Season 1: 8.0/10_Season 2: 7.2/110 = Overall: 7.7/10- Ultimately, Chaika - The Coffin Princess is a tale of two seasons. Season one is a fun fantasy adventure with the type of lovable characters and fantasy adventure that is reminiscent of Bones' past work. On the other hand, season two is an unfortunately rushed conclusion to the story, even though it still contains a few of the highlights of the first season.

Closing comments: Even though the disappointing finale left me a bit bitter, as an overall adventure, Chaika - The Coffin Princess is one that is mostly certainly worth your time if you want to watch a good fantasy, providing you have already seen the superior Rage of Bahamut (review here).

Recommended for: Action fans, Fantasy fans, Shounen fans,

To read more of my anime reviews, you can click here.

Also, if you have reviewed this anime, leave a comment with a link to your review and I will post it here (providing it does not contain any explicit content).

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.