CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Anime Reviews ⇢ Contributors ⇢ airichan623

Contributor Report: airichan623
The following is a list of all ratings and reviews submitted by airichan623. The links below can be used to quickly scroll down to a specific title. Quickly scroll to... Baccano! Black Rock Shooter (TV) Black Rock Shooter [OVA] Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 FLCL Full Metal Panic! Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu Ghost Stories Guilty Crown Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You) Macross Frontier Macross Frontier: The False Songstress Macross Frontier: The Wings of Goodbye Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (anime) No. 6 Ouran High School Host Club Paprika Princess Tutu Puella Magi Madoka Magica Romeo x Juliet Shugo Chara! Shugo Chara!! Doki-- Spice and Wolf II Summer Wars The Secret World of Arrietty Tsubasa Chronicle: Spring Thunder (OAV) Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations (OAV)
Baccano! (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 9 - Nudity Rating: 4 - Theological Themes: 0 - Other Negative Themes: 6
Black Rock Shooter (TV) (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 4 - Other Negative Themes: 5 Review Let me just start this by saying that the OVA version of Black Rock Shooter is much better. The animation in this series is beautiful, and I encourage you to watch this for the sake of that alone. This is a very dark series, but I find it an interesting insight into the mind of the depressed. In this show, all emotional struggles are fought out physically in a "Other World." It's a sad and depressing series, but beautiful all the same, as it encourages people to not resign themselves to a certain fate, and reminds us that we can always rewrite our own futures. That being said, the biggest flaw of this series is its own length. The concept deserves a lot more time and it lost some of its power in that everything was crunched into such a short amount of time. Still, I personally liked this series a lot. Violence/Gore The "Other World" is filled with violence and multi-colored blood (its never red for some reason). However, Kagari is very abusive towards Yomi in the "Real World" to the point of actually cutting into Yomi's skin. Certain characters also go mildly insane and almost hurt each other or become self destructive. One girl also paints a disturbing picture depicting blood. Nudity/Sexual Content Not much here, except for Black Rock Shooter and Black Gold Saw's bikini tops and tiny shorts. Also, some people would call this a Girl's Love (shojo-ai) series when it really isn't. It's all in your interpretation. I saw it as friendship myself. Theological Themes None that I can think of right now. Problamtic Themes This is a very dark series in tone, and is not for younger viewers. A girl is also suspected of burning her own house down and (presumably) killing her parents in the process.
Black Rock Shooter [OVA] (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 5
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 7 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 5 Review Yay! I get to talk about Code Geass (squee!). Now if haven't already guessed, Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion is probably my favorite anime of all time. I've watched it probably 6 times now. If you are even considering watching this, GO BUY IT NOW. If I had to give the idea in a nutshell, it's pretty much Death Note mixed with the good parts of Gundam SEED. Yet...it's so much more than that! GO WATCH IT NOW. Sub Versus Dub Both the sub and the dub of this series are both fantastic, so I just recommend sticking with your natural preference. The sub cast is the best in the business. The dub cast is made up of the best in the business--Johnny Yong Bosch as Lelouch, Yuri Lowenthal as Suzaku, Kate Higgins as C.C...if you have favorite English VA, they probably appear in this series or its sequel. Personally, I prefer the dub. Violence/Gore This is a Sunrise-produced mecha series, so expect lots of giant robot fighting and explosions. However, when the action isn't inside mechs, it's pretty bloody. This is a war story, and the accompanying violence include scenes of genocide and bombings as well as the usual battle violence. No flying limbs or organs, but there is a lot of blood (Splatters from wounds, pools around bodies, etc.). Characters are threatened with chainsaws, knives, and guns. Characters are forced to commit suicide or murder against their will. Nudity The most condemning (and for me, the most irritating) part of Code Geass is the fanservice. One large-chested girl takes a takes a shower, and a bit of nipple is seen from the side. Later, a boy interrupts this same girl bathing in a waterfall; she proceeds to charge with with a knife him only to be thrown to ground (still naked), cuing a enormous breast bounce which, again, shows some nipple (this time from the front). Elsewhere, a woman sits up in bed and the sheet slips down revealing her nipple for a second. Also, C.C. is shown nude holding her chest in the ending credits. There are also scattered instances of undetailed male and female nudity (hair usually covers chest) in dream sequences. On the DVDs, the special feature "Picture Drama Episode 3.25" is to be avoided as it is an unentertaining useless fanservice bathhouse scene. IMPORTANT These in-show nudity instances can be avoided by watching the TV or (Bandai-uploaded) Youtube releases, which blurs out all breast detail. The episodes in question are Spoiler: episodes 3, 13, & 17. Sexual Content (see, I had to do two parts to cover it all!) Characters kiss. Side characters make comments about chest sizes, underwear stealing, and sexual orientation. Characters fall on one another in embarrassing positions. The ending credits include a picture girl teasingly groping another girl. Multiple female characters wear cleavage-bearing shirts and short skirts. Most disturbingly, a female character masturbates (it is insinuated that she is a lesbian). On the DVDs, Picture Dramas depict cross-dressing. Theological C.C. is repeatedly referred to as a "Witch" and once as "the devil" due to her power to give Geass. Lelouch refers to himself as a demon at one point. References are made to Shinto beliefs in nature spirits. Suzaku's childhood home was a Shinto shrine. Ashford Academy also has a chapel/church for some reason. Problematic Themes Morality-wise, nothing in this series is black and white, and if this is upsetting to you, don't watch this. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion made me really think about what is right and wrong, and when is it right to kill. Lelouch believes that in order to abolish great evil, the ends justify the means, even to the point of killing and deception. Suzaku, on the other hand, believes that no matter what may be gained, the ends never justify the means. Then there is the issue of Geass. Lelouch's Geass gives him the power to command anyone to do his bidding. Is it right for him to command others to kill or lie for his own benefit and thus violate their free will? These questions are never given a clear answer, which may be concerning to some. On an unrelated note, it should be noted that Britannia, while a monarchic empire, bares strong resemblance to America (The capital of Britannia is in America). The rebellion led by Zero and his supporters is clearly terrorism, but given the evil of this empire, its meant to be seen as justified, thus casting terrorism in a positive light. Elsewhere, the emperor clearly calls the triumph of the powerful and the oppression of the weak as simply a part of evolution. Conclusion Like I said before, I adore this series. The female leads a strong, the emotions are raw, and the moral questions raised really make you think. However, for many, the greatness of the good in this series outweigh the content issues. While this is not a completely original story idea, it is most well-executed of its kind, and is a must see for any anime fan.
Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 6 - Theological Themes: 5 - Other Negative Themes: 3 Review Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2 is the direct sequel of iCode Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion. Code Geass is without a doubt my favorite mecha series, and possibly my favorite anime ever (I've watched both series somewhere around 5 times). I laughed, I cried, I rinsed, and I repeated. Review When comparing story execution and plot, the first series was much much better than R2. That being said, the two series are inseparable and R2 should always be viewed after the first series. Furthermore, the ending of R2 is arguably one of the greatest anime endings to date, and possibly one of the more shockingly fitting. However, as many a reviewer has said before me, the beginning and ending are fantastic, but the middle is just plain "meh." Some of the "big reveals" of the series are rushed while side stories like the China arc take up more time than they need to (and then there's the comedy episodes...). Some major plot holes arise, and much of the plot hinges on "miraculous recoveries" from seemingly fatal circumstances. Still, I really enjoyed this series. I still adore these characters, and the way Suzaku acts in this series makes me want to cry...even new characters like Anya Alstriem and Gino are super awesome to watch. Difficult sibling relationship between Lelouch, Rolo, and Nunnally is grippingly interesting. That being said, I really dislike how they treated the character of Kallen (I like to call it Gundam Seed Destiny syndrome). In the first series she was one tough chick, but suddenly she becomes overly emotional and just a source of fanservice--a real injustice to a great female character. Other characters change a lot, and some call this character inconsistency. While this is partially true, much of it is circumstantial and justifiable given the situations these characters are living through. The animation for R2 is immensely better than the first series' due to higher production values and a primetime TV spot in Japan. The mecha fights are beautiful and the character designs take on a much more flattering composition than before. The music is, as expected beautiful, with the highlights being Hitomi's insert songs "I Became a Bird" and "Continued Story." Violence This is a war story, including mecha battles and ground soldier battles. The mech battles are mostly bloodless. However, a lot more blood is shown later in the series and these deaths aren't just soldiers--mecha ruthlessly gun down civilians, people are shot at close quarters and stabbed through the head and heart. A fitting level of blood is shown here, but it splatters quite a bit and pools around bodies. Though not immediately visible, Spoiler: millions of civilians are vaporized by the equivalent of the atomic bomb. Other scenes include more slapstick violence. Sexual Content/Nudity With the exception of one scene, there is really no nudity in this series, the exception being a scene with a naked woman with conveniently placed hair. Waay less nudity than the first series. That being said, R2 REALLY ups the ante on the fanservice. Dresses show IMMENSE cleavage, and even the outfits with high necks are fit so tightly that the outlines of the breasts and butt are clearly visible. One character wears a revealing bunny suit for an infiltration scene and later pilots a mecha in this getup, cuing lots of cleavage bouncing. Actually, every female pilot gets her own fanservice screen time with lots of jiggle. Elsewhere, female characters are shown in the shower with steam hugging their chests. The school swim team hosts a cafe and prompts various skimpy bikinis and swimwear. Elsewhere, a female character falls on top of a guy in a compromising position. One especially creepy man seems to be interested in raping a female prisoner. A boy makes reference to "things a woman can do to comfort a man." Several characters kiss. One adult couple ends up becoming pregnant outside of marriage--they later marry. Some fangirls will also try to convince you that there is also boys'-love in this series, but that's only in their heads. Problematic Theology C.C. is still referred to as a witch. The idea of Geass and C.C.'s immortality are explored in full, revealing a cult-like "Geass Order." A flashback takes place in a church with a nun. Spoiler: The Emperor's main goal is revealed to be to destroy "God." "God" is defined as a kind of "collective unconscious." To defeat his now-immortal father, Lelouch uses his Geass to "request" of the "God" that time continue to march forward. A character proclaims "There is no God." The Emperor of Britannia quotes the 10 Commandments as lies created by the weak to protect themselves. Elsewhere, a media man refers to "turning a leader into a god." Problematic Themes Minor swearing appears here and there. R2 continues the debate over whether the "ends justify the means." Nearly every action is a moral quandary. For example, consider Lelouch's question to an enemy: "Let me ask you something, Lord Guilford. Supose there is an evil that justice cannot bring down. What would you do? Would you taint your hands with evil to destroy evil? Or would you carry out your own justice and succumb to that evil?" No morality in this show is black and white, and many times there seems to be no right answer. Among the characters, hypocrisy seems to be rampant as they question and go back on their own ideals as they try to do the right thing. If this is bothersome to you, then this is not the series for you. -- For me, one theme stands out to me: the wish for the future. One character desires the past, another desires the present, and one desires the future. In the words of Lelouch: "Why do people lie, it isn't only because they struggle against each other, it's also because there is something that they're seeking. You now want a world without change. How stagnant, you could hardly call it life. The same as a world of memories, just a world that's closed and completed, that's a place I wouldn't want to live in." It's a strong message, especially coming from a character like Lelouch who lives with so much guilt, despair and regret for deaths he caused and could have stopped. It makes you realize- "If someone with that kind of past can desire the future...so can I." Overall, if you can stomach the fanservice, the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion series are a must-see for any anime fan. "NOW, I, LELOUCH VI BRITANNIA COMMAND YOU: ALL OF YOU, WATCH CODE GEASS!"
FLCL (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 6 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 4 Review Closet Otaku's desciption of this title gives you a good idea of the content level in this series. However, I really liked this series in spite of this. I recommend the dub due to the fast pace of the dialogue and the hundreds of cultural references throughout. This series, in all of its insanity, does have a rather simple yet relatable message: "growing up is hard to do" and tells it wonderfully. For more on this series' quality, I recommend looking up web anime-reviewer JesuOtaku's video "Anime Review: FLCL."
Full Metal Panic! (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 3 - Nudity Rating: 4 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Ghost Stories (Jump to title) - Overall: 6 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 7 - Other Negative Themes: 10 Review Oh Ghost Stories...what to do with you. Reviewing Ghost Stories is like reviewing two different series, since the dub and sub are as different as night and day. This review mostly applies to the dub (the more worth your time version). Why? This is what happened according to VA Greg Ayres (he told a group this at a con): Ghost Stories was a show given a large budget and an A-List cast and a primetime air-slot...where it proceeded to flop miserably. The Japanese company offered it to ADV Films, begging them to make a profit on this miserable failure, and they didn't care what they did to it as long as it made some money. ADV relented, and licensed the show but basically threw away the script. In its place, ADV created a dub that feels more like an Abridged Series fandub from Youtube (DBZ Abridged, Code MENT, YuGiOh Abridged, etc.) The characters and plot are the same, but in the place of serious dialogue is VA ad-lib, pop culture references, crude jokes, and self-parodying satire. What was once a PG-ish level horror anime was now a dubbed over with Family Guy-style humor. AND IT WORKS. Subtitled Version As a subtitled show, iGhost Stories is simply just another generic "super sleuths" horror anime about a bunch of kids as they try to banish the ghosts from the old schoolhouse using a spellbook by Satsuki's now-deceased mother. The first episode or two weren't horrendous, but the rest of the series is...well...bluntly speaking, BORING AS ALL GET OUT. The ghosts would only be scary to young children (though truth be told, I would have been scared if it wasn't for the dub because I'm a wimp when it comes to horror). Note: I'll admit it, I never watched it as a sub. But I got the gist of it anyway. Dubbed Version If the sub were to be given a PG rating, the dub would be a TV-MA. The [gag] dub is a comedic fandub-style low-brow humor fest of in the vein of Futurama, American Dad, The Office, and Family Guy. Example: the spells to seal away a snow ghost? ("Go with the-snow, but not the-snow, that is yel-low!") Lol wat?- and thats one of the cleaner ones! Pop culture references are made left and right referring to actors, movies ("Where'd you learn that force field spell?" "Jessica Alba in that Fantastic Four movie, even though that movie sucked."), and Voice Actors ("It's bigger Chris Patton's ego!") They're a little outdated now (this was a 2004 dub) but its still funny. And by the end the fourth wall barely is left standing ("oh no...not the creepy violins!"). It's pretty hilarious, though a lot of the jokes are quite offensive-in short, if you hate the humor of the shows mentioned above, you'll hate this show. -- Note: Each of these content ratings will be different for sub and dub, fyi. Violence/Gore Sub- It's a horror show, so expect the usual "pools of ghostly blood," skeletons, people being attacked by monsters (off-screen), and ghosts who died terrible deaths trying to kill people. Supernatural attacks put people in the hospital. (The dub points out the fact that many episodes directly rip-off famous Japanese horror films like The Ring). Dub-not much difference. Nudity/Sexual Content Sub- Just a couple of panty shots. (kinda creepy considering these characters are all in elementary school) Dub- The biggest target of the jokes. Jokes make fun of child molestation, homosexuality, and pedophilia. Dialogue also mention or insinuate hiring hookers, groping, masturbation, STD tests, premarital sex, underage pregnancy, abortion, and everything in between. More prominently, the dub clearly says that Satsuki's mom was a lesbian, and in the diary calls female ghosts "attractive." Hajime also seems to be obsessed with panties. Leo is often called gay and Hajime calls him a "f" Theological Themes** Sub- If you haven't guessed iGhost Stories is about...ghosts. (gasp!) Thus, lots of unhappy spirits of the dead and stuff. Creatures of Japanese legend appear, and at one point characters a trapped within the spirit world. A group of girls attempt spells together using some kind of Satanic ritual, and someone attempts to resurrect a dead animal using voodoo. Also, one of the main characters, Momoko is a psychic, and often channels the spirit of Satsuki's mom. Leo is a paranormal fanatic. A main character in this show is the demon named Amanajaku who is forced to inhabit the body of a black cat. Dub- Definitely the most offensive part of the entire dub (for me at least) was Monica Rial's version of Momoko. In the dub, Momoko is one of those obsessive right-wing evangelistic Christians who hates Jews, Muslims, and gays. She is constantly spouting off random Bible verses or trying to convince the other kids to accept Jesus. She calls people demons, tells them they're going to hell...basically, the Westboro church-type. This character is insufferable, racist, homophobic- the worst kind of caricature of the Christian. Her attitude leads the other characters to mock her "born again" status a ton. While this element shows up less and less as the series goes on, it's still very offensive. Also, Greg Ayres' Leo is a Jewish (mostly ethnically) but is stereotyped and mocked accordingly. Problematic Themes Dub- This dub includes a lot of racial stereotyping and racist jokes ("Run faster! Pretend a big black man is chasing you!"). Like I said earlier, with their mockery, NOTHING is off-limits here. Satsuki's brother is portrayed as being "semi-retarted" and is barely intelligible most of the time. In short: basically, this entire series is crude and problematic, hence the 10. Lots of language in this series as well, quite a few uses of b**, d, and sh. Girls are called "whores" and "sluts." However, in the last 3-4 episodes it seems they didn't care about keeping a lower rating anymore, resulting in about ten or so uses of "f*". ~~~ So do I like or dislike this series? I honestly don't know. I laughed a ton, but I just frowned at some of the more tackless jokes. It's crudely funny. If you like/ don't mind that stuff, watch this for a laugh. As for me, I just feel sort of guilty for watching iGhost Stories*. I gave this series a six because I laughed, but if it wasn't for that it would have ended up with a 3 for its offensiveness.
Guilty Crown (Jump to title) - Overall: 4 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 4 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 5 Review This is a show with enormous potential put proceeded to drop the ball. The animation is beautiful, as the beautiful music written by supercell of Vocaloid fame. The plot however, is disappointing. Only the characters of Shuu, Inori, Hare, and a couple others are fully developed, leaving you feeling kind of incomplete at the end. Overall, it's a fine series, but the same type of thing has already been done 100 times better. If you're interested in this sort of action-adventure supernatural-girl-gives-cool-powers future earth mech story, I recommend Code Geass instead.
Kimi ni Todoke (From Me to You) (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 1 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 1 Review This is probably the sweetest most adorable romance anime I have ever seen. Very clean, definitely suitable for all ages. A beautiful story of friendship and early romance. Note: This anime has been licensed for distribution by NIS America. There will be no dub, only English subtitles.
Macross Frontier (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Macross Frontier: The False Songstress (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 6 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 3 Review Wow...just...wow. Macross Frontier: The False Songstress is probably the best movie adaption of an anime series I have seen to date. The animation is beautiful, and the music is fantastic (that includes series from the TV series and brand-new songs). The series plot was condensed nicely while reworking it just enough to give the story a whole new feel. My only gripe with this movie is the emphasis on Sheryl, which was great except for it meant less screen time for Ranka. That, and the near exclusion of Klan from this movie. Violence For a movie with not much time devoted to the mecha battles, there sure was a lot of blood. Most notably, blood spurts everywhere when a pilot is smashed by an alien. Civilians are killed (by explosion) and attacked mercilessly. However, the majority of the violence is within the context of mechas, so mostly just lots of exploding ships and buildings. Nudity/ Sexual Content The most problematic section of this review. Sheryl Nome, being a famous pop idol (think Britney Spears and the like), wears a lot of skimpy outfits for during her concert performances. One in particular is akin to stripper apparel, showing her bare backside. Her breasts visibly bounce quite a bit as well. In her concert performance, while singing a song about a dark and light side, she kisses another woman (who appears to be herself). Her shirt slips down at one point almost revealing her bare bosom (much to her embarrassment and Alto's). Luckily for Ranka, she only has to wear a bikini for a performance at one point. Also, Ranka holds some tuna buns that highly resemble bare boobs up to herself as she serves them. Alto was once a kabuki actor known for his roles as women (earning him the nickname "Princess Alto"), and confides that it caused him to be confused about his gender identity for a while. Another male character is clearly gay. This movie also does not shy away from showing any nudity. Sheryl takes a bath (her nipples are obscured by the water), and she stands up and we see her bare backside. Another woman conducts business while in the shower and her nipples are visible for most of this scene. Theological Themes None really, aside from the above mentions of cross-dressing, lesbian kisses, and homosexual characters. One of Sheryl's songs seems to talk about blurring the line of good and evil and refers to heaven and hell. Problematic Themes A driver yells (in English) "God d*** you." Minor cursing throughout. Characters speak of cyborg implants into human beings.
Macross Frontier: The Wings of Goodbye (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 7 - Nudity Rating: 5 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season (Jump to title) - Overall: 6 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 5 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer (Jump to title) - Overall: 6 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 6 - Theological Themes: 1 - Other Negative Themes: 4 Review Review Oh, Gundam SEED... I have a big love-hate relationship with this series. One moment I adore this series, the next I'm shredding it to bits. Ok, starting with what I love about this series. I love the characters. Cagalli is one of the strongest female leads in a Gundam series (in my opinion), and Lacus Clyne is someone I want to be like (I've cosplayed her multiple times). Furthermore, I adore Athrun Zala - as a fangirl and as a ordinary fan. Even the side characters get their time to shine, and you really care about what happens to them by the end. I cried a lot while watching this series, even for characters I hated. The plot is good, though the way it's told isn't (I'll get to that soon). Themes of betrayal, love, and friendship come through great, and the struggle between the Coordinators and Naturals is difficult question handled beautifully. And, now, with the new Remaster available legally on YouTube, the character designs look great. I say "now" because before the remaster everyone's faces look the same, to a humorous degree. However, the models were improved and the faces look much more natural. The music is also pretty good for this series, and the OPs and EDs by T.M. Revolution and Nami Tamaki are serious earworms. The 1st ED is by See-Saw, which is a duo group. While See-Saw is rather unknown, the songwriter and non-singer of the group is anime soundtrack composing legend Yuki Kajiura. Now to my gripes with the series. Sub versus dubWatch the sub. The dub in fine, per se, but I found Kira's voice to be more annoying in English, Athrun's voice too deep, and Cagalli sounded really whiny and immature. My biggest gripe with this series is the first 15 episodes. While the first twi are fantastic, there was really no plot up to episode 15 and the first character I liked, Lacus, showed up at episode 8. Finally at episode 15ish, I started liking the series enough to marathon the rest very quickly. However, those first episodes were annoyingly boring, with lots of talking and boringness. However, after episode 15, the series gets REALLY good. In short, this series would be 10x better if it had been 10 episodes shorter. Also, a lot of people, like me, will get really irritated with Kira, our main character, since he's such a wimp sometimes. That being said, he's a pacifist, and truly doesn't want to be a fighter, so I guess it's understandable. Violence/Gore This is a mecha show, so a lot of exploding manned robots and spaceships. There is little blood, although sometimes a pilot's helmet goes red before the mecha explodes. Characters also point pistols at one another. One character attempts to stab another at one point. Typical war violence, but with minimal blood shown. Sexual Content/Nudity The most problematic area for this series. The opening theme features the naked silhouette of a very busty woman. A naked girl's form can be seen through some sheets. Characters kiss, and a teenage couple leave a bedroom together, implying impure relationships. However, unlike most Gundam series, SEED also deals with sex as a main plot point. In particular, a male character is seen putting on his pants with an obviously naked girl in the bed behind him. It is later made clear that they had sex. This is not sex out of mutual love. The female in question Spoiler: Fllay Allster has sex with Kira to "motivate" him to fight. This girl, twisted by grief, is just using her sexuality to her advantage for evil intentions.It is also worth noting the two characters involved are 15 and 16, which apparently caused an uproar from the original Japanese audience. One redeeming aspect of this is that I almost find this sex scene not as encouragement of underage/extramarital sex but actually condemning, since for the characters involved it does more harm than good. That's my personal interpretation, however, so take that as you will. Theological Themes While the subject of spirituality never comes up exactly, I gave this series a three because of the ongoing theme of human genetic engineering (a hotly debated issue in Christian circles). -see next section- Problematic Themes Coordinators are humans genetically altered before birth, giving them superior physical and mental characteristics to the rest of the human race. The entire war in this series is between the Coordinators and Naturals. The subject of Spoiler: cloning also becomes crucial to the plot later in the series.
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny (Jump to title) - Overall: 3 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 4 - Other Negative Themes: 2
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (anime) (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 4 - Other Negative Themes: 2
No. 6 (Jump to title) - Overall: 7 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 0 - Theological Themes: 6 - Other Negative Themes: 6
Ouran High School Host Club (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 2 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 1 - Other Negative Themes: 2 Review This is the series you watch when you need a laugh-- whether it be with friends, or when you need something to make you smile, Ouran is the way to go. It's laugh out loud funny, and is general a pretty clean series for teenagers. The only note is, again, about the hosts that pretend to be gay, as well as two fairly prominent side characters who are transvestites/transsexuals.
Paprika (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 5 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 2 Review *Movie Notes* I adore this movie on many levels. If you enjoyed the ideas in Christopher Nolan's Inception, then you should definitely see this movie. However, unlike Inception, dreams are being infiltrated for the sake of psychology rather than crime. This film's dream sequences are also far more dream-like than those in Inception. Have you ever woken up from a dream and realized that so much of it made sense yet the visuals make no sense? That's what Paprika feels like. I would recommend this movie anime fans and movie fans alike. *Content Notes* This movie was rated R by the MPAA, with good reason. I would recommend this as a 16+ film. NudityFemale nudity happens rather frequently. The lower regions (if on camera) are undetailed, but the breasts are quite detailed in their nudity. Violence/Gore: While there is not a lot of blood in this movie, there is one particularly disturbing dream sequence in which a female character is pinned to a table (like a butterfly) while a man plunges his hand literally into her (without blood) as if she was jelly and proceeds to work his hand up through her torso and head (including her private areas) as if he's caressing her organs while telling her how much he "loves" her. This entire scene takes a total of maybe 90 seconds, but it's rather disturbing scene all the same.
Princess Tutu (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 3 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 3 - Other Negative Themes: 4
Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 4 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 5 - Other Negative Themes: 6
Romeo x Juliet (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 5 - Other Negative Themes: 0 Review Note on dub/sub: I HIGHLY recommend the Funimation's dub of this series. The characters are well cast, however, the script is fantastic. In the spirit of Shakespeare, much of the dialogue sounds like, or is, a direct quote from Shakespeare. Also, it is worth a mention that this series was released with a TV-PG rating on the box, which gives you a pretty good idea of the content level of this series. The soundtrack from this series is exceptional, and is worth a listen regardless of whether or not you've seen the series.
Shugo Chara! (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 2 - Nudity Rating: 4 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 2 Review The lead character, Amu Hinamori, is a 6th grader who struggles to be true to herself. However, this isn't as easy as it first may appear since she really does know who she is supposed to be! One night, she wishes on a star that she could learn to be herself...and presto! She wakes up one morning to find 3 "eggs of her heart" in her bed, each containing one of her "would-be selves" or "guardian characters." This makes her fit to be a member of the "Guardians," a special school club for those who also have one of these guardian characters. Together with her new friends, Amu learns to use the power of her guardian characters to defend the "heart's eggs" of her friends and classmates from the evil and mysterious Easter corporation! ~ Shugo Chara! could arguably be called the best magical girl series since Sailor Moon. Takes what could have become another bland shoujo series into a fun and entertaining show for tween girls. While a lot more drawn out than the manga version and with a lot of one-shot X-egg chases, the filler episodes are right on par with the ones taken from the manga. It should also be noted that the poppy happy J-pop themes are extremely catchy and the insert songs by Nana Mizuki are...PHENOMENAL. This anime was one of my gateway drugs to the world of anime. I loved the characters and the themes. I mean, who doesn't like a good happy story about following your dreams, right? And somehow, it does this without being overly cheesy either! Violence Details Really your typical magical girl-style fight sequences and peril. The Easter Corporation often calls for their employees (some of whom are forced into working for them) to crush the "heart's eggs" of children, causing them to lose hope in that dream. Sexual Content/Nudity No real nudity except for heavily glowing magical girl transformations. Sexual content though is where things get messy. A certain character is rather overprotective of her older brother to the point of it being more of an incestuous attraction. She kisses him on the lips once, and tries to kiss him a couple other times (she refuses). However, she later gives up on this. Ikuto, a high school boy, often makes teasingly awkward comments to Amu about chest size and the like, and at one point bites her on the ear. One thing though: There are a lot of romantically tense scenes with Amu and Ikuto- and they seem totally fine...until you really think about the fact that Amu is a 6th grader and Ikuto is a high schooler (it's REALLY easy to forget though). At about half-way through the series, it is revealed that one of the girl characters is actually Spoiler: a crossdressing boy. (This character leaves at one point as a girl but returns to school as "her" twin brother.) Amu has had sleepovers with this character, and even changed in front of her. However, apparently this is not by choice, as it's apparently a tradition of their family for Spoiler: boys to spend much of their young life as girls in order to be able to dance more effeminately. (Akin to the practice of kabuki plays casting boys as girls). It's kind of awkward, and even the character himself is embarrassed of it. However, it's not too deeply explored. Theological Themes There is some talk about horoscopes and fortune telling.
Shugo Chara!! Doki-- (Jump to title) - Overall: 4 - Violence Rating: 2 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 2
Spice and Wolf II (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 5 - Theological Themes: 7 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Summer Wars (Jump to title) - Overall: 10 - Violence Rating: 3 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 2 - Other Negative Themes: 3 Review Rating Note: The MPAA gave Summer Wars a very appropriate PG-rating upon its US theatrical and video release. This is a great family film to be enjoyed by movie and anime fans of all ages alongside the works of Hayao Miyazaki. I have shown this movie to my parents, and they enjoyed it just as much as I do. The morals are great for children and parents alike- family, perseverance, acceptance, teamwork, and perseverance. To give you quick idea of the plot, it can be easily compared to that of the 1983 Matthew Broderick film War Games. As an indicator of how great this movie is, it was rated the best anime of 2010 in the CAA forums. The Japanese language track is great, as is expected, since all characters were played by actors of the same age as their on-screen counterparts. The English dub tries its best with an adult-only cast and succeeds rather well. The dub cast includes FUNimation regulars like Brina Palencia (Natsuki), J. Michael Tatum (Wabisuke), and Maxey Whitehead (Kazuma). Sexual Content/Nudity Being a family film, on-screen nudity issues are minimal, and are not sexual in nature. The only seen of real consequence is a short bath sequence. All body details are obscured by body parts, towels and steam. (Comparable to the bath scene in My Neighbor Totoro) More problematically, naked Natsuki leans out of the bath house to chase a baby and a male character catches a small glimpse of her before covering his eyes. Elsewhere, a woman breastfeeds her baby (nothing is visible). One grown family member is shunned over his status as an illegitimate son, and this becomes central to the plot of the story. However, it is handled very tastefully. When family members hear that Kenji is Natsuki's "fiance," the assumption is made that she is pregnant. Passing references are made to children having crushes on family members, love fortunes, and "getting cuddly" with the opposite sex in bed. Characters kiss. Violence Characters fight in both the virtual world and the real world. In the virtual world, tournament video-game style matches are held, leading to kicking, punching, etc. Little blood is seen, though a little splatters from the mouth after a critical hit. In the real world of the Jinnouchi family, a character is threatened with a spear-like Japanese naginata. Some characters through punches. The only blood is from nosebleeds, caused by punches to the face, stress, and as well as being comedically "turned on." Theological Notes A Japanese funeral is held. Other Problematic Themes Many adult male characters smoke and drink beer/sake, and one or two get drunk. Minor PG swearing.
The Secret World of Arrietty (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 0 - Nudity Rating: 0 - Theological Themes: 0 - Other Negative Themes: 0
Tsubasa Chronicle: Spring Thunder (OAV) (Jump to title) - Overall: 8 - Violence Rating: 5 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 5 - Other Negative Themes: 3
Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle (Jump to title) - Overall: 6 - Violence Rating: 3 - Nudity Rating: 2 - Theological Themes: 4 - Other Negative Themes: 3 Review Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle is one of CLAMP's most recent works to be made into an anime, and arguably the most popular in recent years. And why shouldn't it? For one, Tsubasa serves as a sort of "crossover series" for all other CLAMP works, and nearly every character is based off a previous incarnation in a different series. If you like CLAMP at all, your favorite CLAMP characters return in this series- including leads Syaoran and Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura, Chi from Chobits, Mokona from Magic Knight Rayearth, and Yuko from xxxHOLIC. In fact, you could almost say CLAMP got lazy and didn't want to design any new characters. And yet, it works. Why? Tsubasa Chronicle is a "dimension-hopping" story, so while these characters look and sometimes act like their pervious incarnations, they are completely new characters (ex., Syaoran is a kind, nice guy now!). Furthermore, this is a series for everyone. Like romance? You've got Syaoran's selfless devotion to Sakura, and the forgotten love she had for him. (so sad!) Like action? There's a fight/battle almost every episode. Like Fantasy? Fai's a wizard, and other characters later acquire magical powers for themselves. Already an anime fan? You could potentially call this InuYasha's storyline done right. And the best part? It's very, very clean. In fact, you could put this on TV as children's programming without much editing at all. This is a series for the whole family to enjoy. My sister and I watched this series together, and it made us both into even bigger anime fans than we were before. Review That being said, this series is far from perfect. While I would rate Season 1 (episodes 1-26) at a 7, but I would rate Season 2 (ep. 26-52) at a 5. While Season 1 had the fantastic manga to follow to create the plot, the second season surpassed where the manga was, leading to a large decline of story quality (basically, it was all filler-style world visits). And, due to the same problem with catching up to the source manga, this anime ends feeling unfinished, leaving you to either watch the Tokyo Revelations OVA next or just reading the manga for a complete ending. Personally, I recommend Season 1 and recommend just skipping Season 2. Music Notes Even if you disliked this series, the music is a must-listen. Yuki Kajiura's beautiful fantasy score is absolutely beautiful. "Song of Storm and Fire" will send chills down your spine, and "You are My Love" can bring you to tears. I LOVE THIS SOUNDTRACK. Sub Vs. Dub Both are fantastic, though I found Monica Rial's version of Sakura to be rather grating, and she can't sing very well. Other than that though, the dub is great. I advise you to just go with your usual preference. Content Notes There is very little to talk about in the area of content issues. The only really condemning thing in this series content-wise is in the theology section. The entire plot is centered around the use of magic. Fai is a wizard (though he never uses his power), and the group visit Yuko (known as the "Space-Time Witch") who gives them the magic to cross dimensions (a magic circle appears every single time they use it). Also, ghosts seem to be drawn to Princess Sakura, and communicate with her. In one world the group acquires magical abilities with animal-like forms, and in another they encounter two characters who Spoiler: end up becoming "gods" in their world (they are seen as golden idols). Other than that though, this is a very family friendly series.
Tsubasa: Tokyo Revelations (OAV) (Jump to title) - Overall: 9 - Violence Rating: 6 - Nudity Rating: 3 - Theological Themes: 5 - Other Negative Themes: 5
Other activities: 5 records found.