matteroffact

Sacred Star of Milos provides an interesting side story in the FMA universe. Taking place
sometime after Ed and Al have discovered the true nature of the Philosopher's Stone. While little in the movie implies that it must be fixed in either the original series' plotline or that of the Brotherhood series, the spirit and tenor of the film is much more that of the original. The themese are mature, the violence more brutal and the general feel more intense than Brotherhood. FMA fans that prefered Brotherhood to the original may find Milos a little intense and graphic. Fans of both series will likely like... See full review

The Girl Who Leapt Through Space is a curious bit of anime brain candy. It has a little bit of everything thrown in: mechas, school life, teen angst, fan service, high tech, moe, slapstick, plot and the like. The scifi setting fills the visual landscape and the renderings are actually rather entertaining, but the show never really takes itself seriously enough - i can quite tell yet if it is meant as pure . There isn't anything particularly special about the series, but given that it is scifi but not too technical (like Planetes), action packed without being one long fight scene (like Bleach), fan servicey... See full review

If you are one to enjoy a cool cast of characters running around doing awesome stuff, then this is an anime series for you. From the very beginning moments when Suara's song during the intro credits kick in, you know this is going to be a fun series. five stars may be a little generous, but i think it fits. 

The story follows a protagonist who has lost his memories as he makes friends, dares great things and tries to lead a people to peace and prosperity. While doing so, by force of his character, he draws in a number of side-kicks who are intriguing and engaging. 

My only... See full review

Tears to Tiara won't be the best anime series you ever see, but it is definitely worth watching for a variety of reasons. Leaf, who designed the game from which the TV series was developed, has a knack for putting together interesting worlds and populating them with enjoyable characters. Unlike its cousin, Utawarerumono, the storyline doesn't get out of control at the end. However, the characters, while definitely enjoyable, are not quite as robust as those in Utawarerumono. but there are a few reasons that this series is definitely worth watching. 

1. The use of mythical elements from a... See full review

While some reviewers have compared Summer Wars to a Miyazaki type of work, Summer Wars really fills a space between Isao Takahata (Pom Poko, Only Yesterday, My Neighbors the Yamadas) and Satoshi Kon. Summer Wars has the pace and intrigue of Satoshi Kon but melds in a human side similar to Isao Takahata's more slice-of-life type works. The characters are warm and believable, the action fast paced, and you will fret and cheer along with a fantastic crew of characters in a fun to experience world. 

The story follows math nerd Kenji into the vibrant and chaotic family life of his classmate... See full review

This six episode series is mind-blowing on multiple levels. All of which make this a must see film for anime fans. It isn't that the storyline is particularly brilliant (it is crazy and, oddly, rather simple), but this is first class anime. Naota's whirlwind coming of age experience echoes Shinji's Freudian crisis in Evangelion without being all consuming. The action and animation shows the vividness and edginess of Gurran Lagan, but with more innovation and creativity and insanity. The soundtrack - one long rock and roll trip - fits the mood and, honestly, is just damn good music. The animation is stunning... See full review

Makoto Shinkai's third film is a tour de force that shows off his growing mastery of beautiful scenery, pristinely depicted emotions, and heart wrenching story telling. 5 Centimeters plays off the ephemeral nature of beauty and joy - the speed at which a cherry blossom petal falls - to say profound things about the nature of love, human relationships, and the strain that the passage of time and the demands of modern life create. I was utterly caught up in the beauty and tragedy of the story and count it among one of the very best anime i have ever seen. 

Shinkai has often been compared to... See full review

a few quick points to know about this series to help gauge whether you want to watch it. 

1. The anime is not the manga. so don't be disappointed. given the ongoing status of the manga series (which is highly entertaining) and the need to adapt for anime format, the story has undergone a few significant changes that give it more of a sense of resolution than the manga does. so know that you are watching a different story (and different style of art as well - looks more like Bakemonogatari than the manga). 

2. While not the manga, the anime version is still quite entertaining... See full review