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5 stars for entertainment value alone. It's basically a song that could have come straight out of Katamari Damacy, with almost 5 minutes of animated banana hammocks.  They flop, they're used to swing around, they're stretched over the head, and used for all sorts of shenanigans. Dongs: the anime.

For all of you reading this wondering how you can watch it as well, I have some bad news - this movie is a short film shown only at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan. When you visit the museum, they give you a pass to see whatever short film is playing on that day, and the films rotate every few months. I happened to see this movie not once, but twice, the two times I visited the museum (YEARS apart). I wish I had seen another film the second time I visited, but that being said, it's a truly fantastic movie. In the fantastical tale, Mei meets up with a baby Catbus that she can actually fit in, and the... See full review

My favorite of the Minna no Uta shorts so far, this magical tale is a visual treat (reminiscent of Koji Yamamura) with a delightful song in the backdrop. A cute fantasy adventure, and at only two minutes in length, a quick watch.

Another short shown on the Minna no Uta program, Kaijuu no Ballad is one of the more interesting ones I've seen solely because of the animation style. If you grew up watching classics like Dark Crystal, the monster design will appeal to you. At only few minutes, it's a decent enough watch.

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Boobs, jiggles and endless groping? Not for me, thanks. It's no secret that ecchi anime aren't my cup of tea – at least, they weren't until I stumbled upon Queen's Blade, a gem of a series that shows all women out there, especially the young and impressionable girls of the next generation, that any lady worth her pound of flesh had better be showing a lot of it. Sure, there are more innuendos and over-the-top naked breasts than you can shake a 'stick' at, but with such strong imagery and admirable moral lessons, I cannot in good conscience overlook this empowering series that will delight... See full review

Story When it comes to Death Note, the masses have spoken: it's a groundbreaking, gripping tale of deceit and intrigue that will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to end. With one of the highest average ratings on Anime-Planet and a level of hype that treads dangerously close to that of Naruto, Death Note has been deemed a "must-see", a "triumph", and "a series that no anime fan should be without". Except that it’s not. I’m not sure if my perception of reality is fatally flawed or if Death Note’s prominent... See full review

I present to you a series of quotes from the IRC channel while I was watching 1-4 to add this to the database.[sothis] well hey at least the nudity happens 1.5 minutes into the first episode[sothis] WHY DO THE BOOBS ON THE ANGELS POINT UPWARDS.[sothis] boob groping in episode 1 -_- [sothis] with nipple closeup [sothis] HOW HIGH BROW[sothis] oh jesus. [sothis] ok wtf [sothis] whats with the tentacles [sothis] WHAT [sothis] ok for fucks sakea [sothis] YES WE GET IT, NIPPLES EXIST[sothis] SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN STOP WITH THE CONVENIENT BOOB AT THE TOP OF THE SHOT SHOTS[sothis] oh sweet, acid spitting boobs mcgee... See full review

Just checked out Bakemonogatari 1-4. It definitely piqued my interest, though I'm not sure if its pros outweighed the cons.Pros:Extremely interesting animation - combining all sorts of styles (hard to explain what I mean) in a very symbolic ways. Gorgeous scenery, and very cinematic in a way. Quirky, appropriate musicWitty dialogue (though this is also a negative, see below)An intro that changes depending on the character of the day - I loved the stapler in the intro for episode 2, as an example. Cons:Bakemonogatari is a textbook case of 'too... See full review

There's no mistaking that Aoi Hana is exceptionally drop dead gorgeous. With watercolored backgrounds that appear to have been taken straight out of Iblard Jikan and a flawless mix of CG and regular animation, Aoi Hana would seem to be a must-see.Except that it's so, so incredibly boring that I almost cried alongside the characters in Aoi Hana, who also incessantly cry.To be clear, I like slow anime; Kino no Tabi, ... See full review

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I wanted to like Batman: Gotham Knight; really, I did. When the similarly-constructed The Animatrix was released years ago, I put off watching it only to finally realize how spectacular the collection of shorts really was. Given that success, this time around, I picked up Gotham Knight immediately, eager to see what Studio 4C, MADHOUSE and the other companies came up with. Unfortunately, unlike with The... See full review

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Though I had Marine Express at my disposal for several years, I kept finding it difficult to get past the first thirty seconds of the disco-inspired, cheesy as hell opening track. Luckily, I finally found the determination to move forward and subsequently realized that Marine Express – save for the last thirty minutes – is an engaging, action-packed thriller that even newer anime fans can enjoy. Created by Osamu Tezuka, the 'God of Manga' himself, Marine Express is a crossover anime with an interesting premise: an underwater train is embarking on its maiden voyage, and plenty of... See full review

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What do space detectives, burly men in jaguar masks, demons from another world, man-eating fairies and tentacles have to do with each other? That's right - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. It should come as no surprise, then, that the farce known as Battle Royal High School is as ridiculous as ridiculous can get, comprised of a mishmash of genres and styles so varied that its creators were clearly playing a game of drunken Mad Libs while in the drawing board phase. The first 10ish or so minutes, I kid you not, play out something like this: 1. Guy in jaguar mask fights other guys not in jaguar masks. 2... See full review

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According to external sources, B.B. Fish is based on a fifteen-volume manga of the same name. Generally one-episode anime adaptations tend to be too confusing and don't provide enough of a background on the characters and situations to be enjoyable. B.B. Fish, while gorgeous to the eyes, is no exception. With no explanation of who the characters are or why they're interested in what they're doing, you're dropped into the middle of a deep sea dive with Ushio and Sara. Random nakedness and pseudo superpowers ensue, followed by shots of gorgeous scenery. ...what?! But wait, there's more. A... See full review

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What do you get when you cross an artist skilled at calligraphy, a decent yet oft-clichéd story and lack of budget? The weak and disappointing G-9. G-9's story alone is satisfactory enough; though short, it succeeds at becoming a pleasant sci fi story with a bit of a twist. There are monsters with hidden origins, a woman who can't remember who she is, and inner monologues galore - all of which add up to an acceptable viewing experience. Yet beyond the generic aspects lie a number of problems: the ‘twist' is one that won't be new to sci fi fans; there's an exceptionally long... See full review

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Throughout the ages, mystical creatures of yore have captured the attention of fanboys and girls alike - but zombies might take the cake for the ultimate in cult followings. From the films of George Romero to the seemingly-endless flood of 360 games, zombies are prevalent throughout mainstream media - especially in the last few years. Whether Capcom decided to release it at such a convenient time or not, those currently charged up by the gory zombies-in-space action on their console will eat up Resident Evil Degeneration with fervor. Taking place after the events of Resident Evil 4, the world... See full review

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Violence? Check! Blatant and explicit sex? Check! Animal torture and otherwise deranged murders? Check! It could only be one thing: Ichi the Killer. Let's get one thing straight: I haven't seen the disturbingly famous Ichi the Killer live action movie, nor do I ever intend to. Torture for the sake of torture isn't my thing, and the only reason I picked up its prequel, Ichi the Killer Episode 0, is to add it to the database. After sitting through its entirety I can say one thing for certain: Ichi the Killer Episode 0 lives up to its predecessor's notoriety. This short look at a brutal... See full review

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Lina and Gourry and puns, oh my! After numerous movies and television series, Slayers Premium (aka Slayers Movie 5) was slated to be the last journey of the loveable and bumbling cast - that is, until an announcement in 2008 confirmed that a new television series was on the way. Regardless, with a hilarious story and varied cast of old favorites, Slayers Premium is easily one of the most entertaining and accessible titles in the franchise that I've had the pleasure of seeing.Story-wise, Slayers Premium is admittedly nothing special. It follows Lina and one of her cohorts (Gourry, in this... See full review

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Yawwwwwn. As specified in one of my previous Detective Conan OVA reviews, I have a firm belief that each OVA became successively worse. While none of the OVAs could beat Detective Conan OVA 5 in suckage level, Detective Conan: A Challenge from Agasa (aka Detective Conan OVA 7) comes dangerously close. The initial premise is boring from the get-go: the Professor has been kidnapped and wants the children's help in saving him. Of course, he's given them various clues to help them along their way, and Conan and company use their powers of deduction to decipher said clues, as always. Soon... See full review

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I'm starting to think that each Detective Conan OVA is destined to become progressively worse. The first OVA was outstanding, the second was interesting, and from there on out they began to suck in various ways. Detective Conan: The Target is Kogoro! The Detective Boys' Secret Investigation (say that five times fast!) easily wins the award for the most boring, uninteresting Detective Conan OVA I've seen thus far. The first five minutes peg Detective Conan OVA 5 as being far more of a side story than a standalone feature. Sure, there's a mystery to be solved and bad guys to take... See full review

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On my quest to add every Detective Conan OVA to the database, I inevitably ran across Detective Conan: Conan and Heiji and the Vanished Boy (aka Detective Conan OVA 3); while the most sentimental yet of the Detective Conan OVAs, it also proved to be one of the less interesting attempts. The first problem is the story: while only thirty minutes in length, it's disjointed and somewhat random. Conan and Ran have traveled to Osaka and, as always, run into a mystery they can't refuse. First, they meet three children who have a strange resemblance to their friends at home. Is there a reason... See full review

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Like a good detective story, tasty food, and expensive wine? Look no further than Detective Conan: 16 Suspects (aka Detective Conan OVA 2). Unlike the comedic romp of Detective Conan OVA 1, Detective Conan OVA 2 is much more of a traditional Detective Conan watch. The gang has been invited to Inspector Shiratori's house to celebrate the building's completion, and what follows is a party gone wrong. His expensive wine bottle is broken, and everyone is a culprit! As always, Conan must use his powers of deduction to figure out what truly happened - with Heiji's help. Like most Conan... See full review

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Normally, a Detective Conan episode or movie is a thrilling, harrowing ride filled with clues to follow and a mystery to solve. While Detective Conan - Conan vs Kid vs Yaiba (aka OVA 1) has none of these qualities, those who enjoy a good dose of wackiness and zany fun will surely appreciate its merits.Detective Conan's creator was also at the helm of Yaiba - a comedic tale of the son of a swordsman and his exotic animal friends who take residence in Japan. Detective Conan OVA 1 merges this story and the story of Detective Conan together in a rather hilarious way: Conan is dying to read the... See full review

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Osamu Tezuka's short film Muramasa seems like nothing special at first glance. The animation is overly simplistic and grainy, the audio is a bit underwhelming, and the premise seems ordinary; however, the outstanding twist that follows makes Muramasa an absolute must-see.At only nine minutes in length, it's nearly impossible to go into details when discussing Muramasa's story. Let's just say it involves a samurai, a sword, lots of straw men, and a kickass conclusion. Once you finally have an idea of what's going on, you can't help but grin - and that's an... See full review

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As an adult, I have vivid memories of watching Bambi as a child; while I loved the animals, I was always uneasy with the part where Bambi's mother is killed. Watching Chirin no Suzu is similar to watching Bambi in that it begins with the death of a parent; but unlike Bambi, Chirin is a take-charge, no-nonsense soul who will stop at nothing to become strong and avenge his lost loved one - to a fault. And that in itself makes Chirin no Suzu the more compelling - and disturbing - tale. Chirin's story begins innocently; he lives a carefree life with his mother and the rest of the sheep... See full review

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Sometimes the first five minutes of an anime are all you need to know if it will bore or excite you; but sometimes, these precious minutes end up being nothing but the ultimate fake-out and disappointment. Bus Gamer, in true Ergo Proxy fashion, begins with a bang and a promise of an engaging, high-octane story to come - and then accidentally flushes itself down the toilet, never to be seen again. I loved Gantz. I loved Bokurano. I loved the 90s movie "The Game" starring Michael Douglas. Give me entertainment about people willingly or unwillingly stuck in a game with dire consequences... See full review

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An entertaining parody at heart, Murder shows us a murder scene which is solved in a variety of different ways by a variety of different people. The only recurring sequence is the beginning of each scene, in which a woman opens a door, sees a dead body, and screams. What happens afterwards is anyone's game! Though short in length, Murder is a treat to watch. Each segment is cute on its own but as a whole, they form a whole that is amusing at the very least. From vampires to James Bond, plot elements help paint a unique picture that will appeal to a variety of fans. There isn't much else... See full review

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Watching Saishuu Shiken Kujira is pretty much like giving yourself the ultimate facepalm - except that your hand is covered in knives which are covered in hydrochloric acid. Following in the footsteps of such gems as Alice and Wild Cardz, SSK easily manages to capture a coveted BOS (bag of... excrement) title and take its place on the wall of suck.Picture, if you will, a whale in the sky. Now picture it with bulging breasts and exposed panties....well ok, maybe the two aren't combined, but those two items pretty much sum up the entirety of SSK. This wacky and clever plot device is... See full review

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Have you ever wanted to watch Barbie on the big screen? Replace the American staple with a line of dolls called Pinky Street, and you have this cute, yet relatively shallow anime. While Pinky Street has two episodes, each is a completely separate story - the two together totaling only thirty minutes in length. The first episode follows a girl who has a tomboy reputation and a desire to immerse herself in the world of fashion; and the second follows a Pinky Street fanboy who has just gotten into a fight with his friend. In each episode the characters are taken to Pinky Town where they partake in... See full review

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Finding a realistic anime about space travel can be a most elusive and difficult task. While many a series has been constructed to tout the deeds of intergalactic bounty hunters and tell the tales of alien invasions, rarely are we shown mankind's attempt to extend its arms into the reaches of the beyond. Moonlight Mile focuses on the drama and relationships of those who desire to travel to space; Wings of Honneamise is a first-hand look at a fictionalized space race on Earth; and Space Fantasia 2001 Nights, the most epic of all, takes us upon a journey that spans centuries and generations... See full review

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I know what you're thinking: On Your Mark is only seven minutes long and a music video; why in the heck am I choosing to review it? While other longer and more interesting titles surely exist, On Your Mark has one distinguishing factor from other music videos out there: it was directed and written by the man himself, Hayao Miyazaki. With a lack of narration, On Your Mark follows the journey of a winged beauty and her helpful benefactors as they attempt to free her from her bonds. Little can be said beyond this, and even these specific events are somewhat unclear. Who was keeping the angel... See full review