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JJR1971

  • Sugar Land, Texas
  • Joined Jun 18, 2011
  • ? / M
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Satellite Girl and Milk Cow

Mar 5, 2019

Korean animated movie.  The animation is very amateurish and lacks the polish you'd expect from a Japanese studio.  The story and characterization are poorly written and poorly executed.  It's fine to have an absurd premise but this story fails at world building, fails at character backstory, fails at building convincing character motivation, fails at evoking sympathy from a discerning audience.  The film feels "rushed"; what is on screen feels more like the rough storyboard outline that needed more work but they ran out of time and just threw up what they had.  This film... See full review

5/10 story
5/10 animation
5/10 sound
5/10 characters
5/10 overall

Maid-sama!

Jun 6, 2016

My feelings about this anime are very mixed.  I really like the main character Misaki, she truly is a strong female lead, and I especially like Monica Rial's performance in the English dub. Misaki is a classic Tsundere and the ending pays off, but JESUS this anime ventures into some dark and creepy and downright rape-y territory to get there, sometimes subtle (School retreat episode) sometimes not so subtle (rival school student council president attempting to force himself on her).  Misaki is a very endearing character, but it's hard to watch episode after episode of men being shitty and creepy... See full review

7/10 story
7/10 animation
7/10 sound
7/10 characters
7/10 overall

Tears to Tiara

May 19, 2016

I'm a huge fan of Dubbed anime, but the fake Irish and Scots accents in this are just painfully bad.  You get used to it over time but it really grates on the ears at first.  Set in a fictional Roman Britain, a ragtag band of Gaels fights against the Romans and have the power of Celtic mythical beings on their side.  One of the Roman officers, Octavia, defects and sides with the Gaels.  Lots of political intrigue and scheming and combat.  It's a fairly decent anime, but probably the sub version in Japanese is the one you want to watch. 

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8/10 story
8.5/10 animation
8/10 sound
8/10 characters
8/10 overall

Eureka Seven AO: The Flowers of Jungfrau

Jan 20, 2016

This cute little OVA fits chronologically somewhere in the main narrative as a "side story"; it is pure "fan service" in the broadest sense of the term.  The female pilots tease Ao and make him dress up...like his mother! and Ao in drag is drawn very convincingly like Eureka from the original series.  They even throw in a Ranma 1/2 visual gag for fun.  Basically the trio of mech pilots are on leave and enjoying a brief vacation between missions.  They goof off and have fun with each other.  The animators probably had fun switching between obvious Ao in drag and... See full review

9/10 story
10/10 animation
9/10 sound
9/10 characters
9.5/10 overall

Godannar

Dec 27, 2015

Big men, Big mechs, Big Boobs! This is a delightfully ridiculous Giant Robot Mecha vs. Monsters action-comedy.  It features a young married couple, Goh and Anna, who are also pilots of combining Giant Robots, one male, one female, that together form Godannar, a super Giant Mecha that has at least twice the power of its component mecha combined, with unique finishing moves to deliver a coup de grace to Mnemetic Beasts who threaten humanity. Goh and Anna are the main defensive force protecting Japan from Dannar base, but they are part of a world-wide network defending humanity from the ongoing threat... See full review

7.5/10 story
8/10 animation
8/10 sound
8.5/10 characters
8/10 overall

Little Witch Academia

Dec 26, 2015

Go see this on Netflix, they have the English dub!  Heard all kinds of high praise for this show when it first came out.  It was a successful kickstarter project made good.  I had no idea there was any plans to dub it into English until one day it showed up on Netflix.  Features the voice talents of Erica Mendez (Kill La Kill, SAO II) and Stephanie Sheh (Naruto, Eureka Seven), among many others. It is the story of a little girl who idolizes a witch who is also a celebrity performer; when she gets older and attends high school, she still harbors this love and gets teased and ridiculed... See full review

9/10 story
9/10 animation
9/10 sound
9/10 characters
9/10 overall

Eureka Seven AO

Dec 26, 2015

OK, this sequel gets way more sh*t from fans than it actually deserves.  I own the series box set and have actually watched it all the way through. I've also watched the original series x2, and the original movie once.  I'm a huge fan of the original franchise AND... ...I don't hate E7AO.  Not even a little.  Is it as good as the original?  No.  But is it as bad as the other reviewers claim?  No.  It does shamelessly steal some visual elements from Neon Genesis Evangelion at a few points, but I can excuse that. It takes awhile for Eureka to show up in the story... See full review

8.5/10 story
8.5/10 animation
8.5/10 sound
8.5/10 characters
8.5/10 overall

Aquarion Evol

Dec 26, 2015

Okay, firstly, do NOT watch EVOL if you haven't seen the original series, Aquarion.  You will get so much more out of the experience if you wait and go back and watch the original series before starting this one.  Otherwise you literally don't know (the significance of) what you're looking at.  This is a tale of MYTHOLOGY, cleverly disguised as generic sci-fi mecha.  It's all about gods & spirits and reincarnation and being true to yourself and expanding your potential and blah blah blah.  It's very deeply psychological and mystical. The characters in EVOL are the reincarnated... See full review

9/10 story
9/10 animation
8/10 sound
9/10 characters
8.8/10 overall

Star Blazers: The Comet Empire

Dec 26, 2015

The cast of season 1 returns to reprise their roles.  Derek Wildstar is now provisional captain of the Argo, having assumed command after the death of Captain Avatar.  A new threat is emerging in distant stellar space and the Argo are determined to investigate and confront it, even if it means defying orders.  The Comet Empire are a new and aggressive power that pose an even greater threat than the former Gamelon foe!  Lots more action packed space adventure in this 2nd season.

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8/10 story
8/10 animation
9/10 sound
9/10 characters
8.5/10 overall

Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars

Dec 26, 2015

Definitely the weakest link in the chain.  This version of Star Blazers was only ever shown in certain US test markets and never got the wide release enjoyed by Seasons 1 & 2.  They were unable to get back the original voice cast, so it is rather jarring to transition from Season 2 to 3.  The Earth Defence Force finds itself between a rock and a hard place, having to find a new Earth amidst a galatic war between to alien empires, the Bolars (who are paterned after the USSR) and the reconstituted Galman (e.g. Gamelon) Empire under Leader Desslok.  Desslok has grudging respect for the... See full review

7.5/10 story
8/10 animation
8/10 sound
8/10 characters
8/10 overall

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Dec 26, 2015

If you are new to FMA, let me suggest that you should watch this version FIRST, then circle back to original (2003) FMA.  Yes, both versions are worth watching, in their entirety.  Here's why you should start with Brotherhood: while both versions of the story have a heavy dose of tragedy, FMA Brotherhood with reward you with little bursts of fist-pumping triumphant JOY, while original FMA is nearly always relentlessly melancholy.  Original FMA is a much more personal story, much more tragic, and centrally focused on Al and Ed.  FMA Brotherhood is a story with Al and Ed at the center, but... See full review

10/10 story
10/10 animation
10/10 sound
10/10 characters
10/10 overall

Black Blood Brothers

Dec 26, 2015

I avoided this series for a long time because I found the character design of the older brother on the box art to be patently ridiculous.  I similiarly avoided Desert Punk longer than I should have for similar reasons.  Proud to say I was wrong on both accounts.  This is a really good, short, action-filled series featuring vampires.  I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this show, once I got past my issues with character design.  If you like Hellsing or Trinity Blood, give this one a shot.

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9/10 story
8.5/10 animation
8/10 sound
10/10 characters
8.8/10 overall

Dirty Pair Flash

Dec 26, 2015

This is basically an "origin story" re-imagining of the original characters.  Kei is a tough tomboy from the streets, while Yuri is a prissy princess already working for the agency.  Yuri is tasked with recruiting Kei, and it's a tough sell.  Their lives keep crossing paths and eventually Kei joins up with Yuri, and slowly this bickering pair become friends.  It's amusing to see these immature "teen" versions of the original characters.  They were really incompetent in these years, getting the job done more by luck & pluck than skill.  Again, if you like... See full review

8/10 story
8.5/10 animation
8/10 sound
9/10 characters
8.8/10 overall

Dirty Pair OVA

Dec 26, 2015

One of the few iterations of the Dirty Pair that got an English dub, with Jessica Calvello voicing Yuri.  This is old school anime but it's goofy fun and I was able to watch it through my local library's streaming service, Hoopla Digital.  The animation is older (duh), but it's still a fun watch.  If you liked Irresponsible Captain Tylor, you'll probably like these Dirty Pair OVAs too.

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9/10 story
8/10 animation
8/10 sound
10/10 characters
8.5/10 overall

Kujibiki Unbalance

Aug 17, 2011

Kujibiki Unbalance, as I understand it, was originally just a "show-within-a-show" on Genshiken, a fictional creation that the characters of Genshiken would talk about and debate, and we would be entertained with alleged clips of Kujibiki Unbalance during Genshiken. Although inspired by this source, this telling of Kujibiki Unbalance is its own story, quite capable of standing alone on its own.  It differs slightly from the KU as seen in Genshiken, and some fans do no like this fact, but I personally did not mind.  It is a solid, fun story; the characters are engaging and... See full review

8/10 story
7/10 animation
7/10 sound
9/10 characters
8/10 overall

His and Her Circumstances

Jun 19, 2011

Kare Kano, or as is it is known in English, His and Her Circumstances is a slice-of-life Japanese High School Drama set in the late 1990s.  It is part comedy, part romance, part coming-of-age story and one of the few Japanese anime I can think of (Rumbling Hearts being the other) that tacitly acknowledges that yes, Japanese teenagers also have sex. Unlike Rumbling Hearts, which came out later, His and Her Circumstances merely hints at this milestone in Arima's and Yukino's relationship. Arima has a rather dark, sad, and troubled past, but Yukino often steals the show with her zany outbursts and... See full review

9/10 story
7/10 animation
8/10 sound
9/10 characters
8.4/10 overall

Suzuka

Jun 19, 2011

*warning, veiled spoilers* Suzuka is a deeply romantic story and slice-of-life Japanese High School drama cleverly disguised as a Sports Anime.  The titular character is a High School freshman track star and rising child prodigy attending school in Tokyo in full scholarship.  Yamato Akitsuki (秋月 大和 Akitsuki Yamato?) is also a freshman who has also just moved to Tokyo and is living with his aunt; He sees Suzuka... See full review

10/10 story
9/10 animation
9/10 sound
10/10 characters
9.5/10 overall

Big Windup!

Jun 18, 2011

I normally don't care or have any interest in Sports-related Anime, but this show was really, really good, since it was about so much more than just what happens on the baseball diamond, though there's plenty of that, too. This isn't the first show to make me re-consider Sports anime, though.  That would be Suzuka, which blew my socks off as a coming-of-age, slice-of-life High School romance cleverly disguised as a sports anime.  Suzuka impressed me so much, I was willing to give Big Windup! a chance. I think the fact that one of my most favorite male voice actors, Greg Ayres, voiced the main... See full review

10/10 story
8/10 animation
8/10 sound
10/10 characters
9/10 overall

Desert Punk

Jun 18, 2011

Oh my gawd, I freakin' LOVE this show...for me one of the best, funniest, raunchiest action/comedy Anime I've ever seen...Loved it so much I went out and bought the boxed set later.  (I usually aways do rental first before I commit to a purchase). Who knew a post-apocalyptic world filled with death and destruction could be so much fun? I admit, at first, I thought the Desert Punk costume looked kind of dumb, and kept away from this title for at least a year.  Then I happened to watch a trailer for it on a different DVD and said, well, maybe I should give volume 1 a chance.  I'm so glad I... See full review

10/10 story
9/10 animation
9/10 sound
10/10 characters
9.5/10 overall

Blue Drop

Jun 18, 2011

I watched the Sentai Filmworks English dub of this show via Netflix streaming.  Visually, this show is absolutely gorgeous.  The artwork is breathtaking, the ships in particular are very eye catching, especially the ocean scenes. The voice acting is good; It's so nice to hear Hilary Haag (Mari) playing a lead role in an anime again.  Hilary plays opposite Monica Rial (Hagino), who is my favorite English language voice actress of all.  Tiffany Grant is good in a supporting role as one of the upperclassmen (and daughter of the Director) at the girls school.  I love it when Tiffany... See full review

7.5/10 story
10/10 animation
9/10 sound
8.5/10 characters
8.4/10 overall