Anime of the Year 1995-III Summer - Mimi wo Sumaseba

No masterpieces again, but since most people seem to like Mimi wo Sumaseba let it be in the spotlight

1. H2 Ｈ２[エイチ・ツー] [Production Reed] (Finished 3/41) Tags: Shounen Comedy, Romance, Sports Hiro has two loves: baseball and porn, but due to an elbow injury, gives up baseball, choosing a school with no baseball team. His childhood friend Hikari attends a different school with baseball ace Hideo. The two of them wish that Hiro had not given up baseball. Hiro joins the soccer team and meets Haruka, a very clumsy girl who is also the daughter of his father's boss. Haruka is the manager of the unofficial baseball club at Hiro's school. When the soccer team challenges the baseball club to a game, with hopes of humiliating them, the baseball club nearly loses until Hiro, disgusted by the soccer team's arrogance, switches to the baseball club. I'm tired of repeating that all these Adachi Mitsuru spokons look soo much alike with same character designs that it makes me sick each time. Again appearances are slightly changed, but it does not help much. Romance is even worse than usual here, so don't even start if you don't like spokons .   Overall Rating: 5/10

2. Nurse Angel Ririka SOS ナースエンジェルりりかＳＯＳ [Gallop] (Finished 3/35) Tags: Shoujo Drama, Fantasy The Evil Forces of Dark Joker are closing in on our planet after having destroyed the beautiful planet of Queen Earth. Now, 10 year old Moriya Ririka, with the help of her childhood friend Seiya and the mysterious Kanon, must transform into the Nurse Angel and find the elusive Flower of Life, the only way to defeat the evil forces. The Flower of Life, that once bloomed all over the Earth, is where no one thought it ever would be. And Ririka must make the hardest decision of her life in order to acquire it and rid the universe of evil once and for all. Plot does not catch stars here, but for once magical girl show does not try to imitate Sailor Moon and creates unique concepts instead. Show's cute, has developed memorable characters and not bad humor. There's more to depth here than meets the eye.   Overall Rating: 6/10

3. 3x3 Eyes: Seima Densetsu 3x3 Eyes: Legend of the Divine Demon 3×3 EYES聖魔伝説 [Studio Junio] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Gore, Mythology Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Romance Yakumo has trained and searched for 4 years, following Pai's mysterious disappearance. However, when he finally finds her, not all is well as her memory seems to be gone. They attempt to return her memory by going to the Holy Land, birthplace of the immortal race of Sanjiyans. I'm not a fan of this franchise. First OVA is available only in absolutely dreadful quality, so I literally remember only some action from it. This second one presents decent gory action with a bit of SOL and great enemies, but with protagonists that I don't like. As for me, it's inferior to Blue Seed that is similar in spirit, but with more grown-un attitude and better cast of characters .   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy Magical Girl Pretty Sammy魔法少女プリティサミー [AIC] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Mahou Shoujo, Parody Comedy, Fantasy Sasami's always been kind of neat... but now she's been imbibed with a healthy dose of magic (which she plans to use to right the things wrong with the Earth, and, of course, help keep her brother Tenchi out of trouble). Naturally, there's going to be trouble: this time, it's the mysterious Pixy Misa... and Ryoko going at it against Ayeka (as usual) isn't making things any easier for her! Did not expect it to be Tenchi spin-off. Even fans admit that it does not live up to its original and I just notice myself facepalming more often than usual.   Overall Rating: 5/10

5. Ginga Ojousama Densetsu Yuna: Kanashimi no Siren Galaxy Fraulein Yuna 銀河お嬢様伝説ユナ ～哀しみのセイレーン～ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi Yuna Kagurazaka, a clumsy and sweet 16-year-old girl, had her life drastically changed when she won an intergalactic contest for the person with the purest heart. Now, she is an intergalactic superhero and magical girl known as the Savior of Light. She pilots the mecha El Line to maintain the peace of the universe. But Yuna's entire world is shaken when she is wrongfully accused of destroying a city with El Line. She is captured and taken prisoner by Misaki Ichijouin, a special agent from the Galaxy Alliance. However, Misaki soon realizes that she has been deceived and teams up with the rest of Yuna's friends to free the Savior and save the galaxy before an evil force is restored to power. As game spin-off, ok, but as self-sufficient anime too short and random.   Overall Rating: 5/10

6. Rakushou! Hyper Doll 楽勝! ハイパードール [Triangle Staff] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi Mew and Mica are alien androids sent by their boss to defend the Earth. Unfortunately for our planet, they are the laziest superheroines you will ever meet. Now most superheroes would drop whatever they're doing, transform, and proceed to kick monsters' butts... but these two would do no such thing. Mew and Mica just can't let their duties interfere with their ice cream, arguments, or whatever activities they happen to be engaged in at the time. When they are not Hyper Dolls they seem to be just ordinary, rather cute school girls, lusted after by the boys. Another weird parody on alien bikini armor superpower girls with magical transformation fighting huge monsters that is not memorable in any way.   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. Idol Project アイドルプロジェクト [Studio OX] (Finished 4/4) Tags: Idols (Female), Music Adventure, Comedy Mimu Emilton is a cute fourteen-year-old who has come to the annual Starland Festival to become an idol, just like her role model, Yuri. It is the most celebrated event on a united Earth, and Yuri, now the President of Earth, has encouraged people to join the ranks of Excellent Idols. Unfortunately for Mimu, she can never seem to make it to her audition on time, as misadventure after misadventure lands her in situations (usually involving undergarment exposure, I might add) that she escapes with the help of the current Excellent Idols, whom she befriends. Just as she makes her place on the stage and begins her audition, though, an unknown group of aliens kidnaps her and the Excellent Idols. It is only the beginning of a wild interdimensional goose-chase that places Mimu in the position to save the world, if only she can believe in herself. Anime based on simplistic games can't turn out well, this is just another proof of that ... and it manages to be even unfunny.   Overall Rating: 4/10

8. Bishoujo Yuugekitai Battle Skipper Battle Skipper 美少女遊撃隊バトルスキッパー [Artmic] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Mecha Comedy, Sci-Fi Despite the title, this is not a feature but the three-part OAV Battle Skipper (1995), which Takashi Watanabe directed before going on to Slayers. When the members of the Etiquette Club at St. Ignacio's School for Girls go down the tubes--literally--they acquire the skimpy outfits they wear to pilot the unfortunately named BSs or Battle Skippers, state-of-the-art military mecha. As "Extars," the Etiquette Club members fight to eliminate evil from the world, which means the bizarre schemes of Sayaka, the nasty, super-rich president of the rival Debutante Club, and her flunky, Todo. The series was created to promote a line of robot toys from Tomy, and viewers who are willing to accept high school girls' quarrels escalating into battles involving satellite weaponry may enjoy these silly adventures. It's a poorly paced bad humor boring parody with obligatory transformation scenes.   Overall Rating: 4/10

9. Mimi wo Sumaseba Whisper of the Heart 耳をすませば [Studio Ghibli] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shoujo Drama, Romance, Slice of Life Shizuku Tsukishima is an energetic 14-year-old girl who enjoys reading and writing poetry in her free time. Glancing at the checkout cards of her books one evening, she notices that her library books are frequently checked out by a boy named Seiji Amasawa. Curiosity strikes Shizuku, and she decides to search for the boy who shares her love for literature. Meeting a peculiar cat on the train, Shizuku follows the animal and is eventually led to a quaint antique shop, where she learns about a cat statuette known as "The Baron." Taking an interest in the shop, she surprisingly finds Seiji, and the two quickly befriend one another. Shizuku learns while acquainting herself with Seiji that he has a dream that he would like to fulfill, causing her dismay as she remains uncertain of her future and has yet to recognize her talents. However, as her relationship with Seiji grows, Shizuku becomes determined to work toward a goal. Guided by the whispers of her heart and inspiration from The Baron, she resolves to carve out her own potential and dreams. Well, that's a LOT of cringe. At first ever the same constantly running and out of breath Ghibli girl doing same SOL school stuff and meeting the same Ghibli a bit older and ironic boy. And all we get to know from the second half is that dream is to be writer , so a bunch of random fragmentary stories are thrown in . I notice so many same Ghibli manipulation moves, the same song to build everything around and a super cheesy ending that I want to facepalm in each occasion. Third in a row pretentious weak Ghibli work already. Just gah.   Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Slayers: The Motion Picture 劇場版スレイヤーズ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy In this prequel movie to the Slayers televison series, Lina Inverse travels to Mipross Island with her rival/traveling companion Naga the Serpent. While they originally came for the hot springs, they soon find them selves mixed up in a conspiracy involving a mazoku named Joyrock. Years ago, he killed all of the elves that inhabited the island and absorbed their power. They are soon joined by an old mage named Rowdy Gabriev, who was in love with one of the elves slaughtered and also wants to defeat Joyrock. Just a fanservice prequel that can't change initial attitude to the franchise.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Slam Dunk: Hoero Basketman-damashii! Hanamichi to Rukawa no Atsuki Natsu スラムダンク 吠えろバスケットマン魂!!花道と流川の熱き夏 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports Ichiro Mizusawa, a player from Rukawa's old junior high school, Tomigoaka, is diagnosed with a crippling leg condition and wants to play one last game with Rukawa. Hanamichi sets out to help the boy and fulfill his wish. All Slam Dunk movies are some 40 minutes long (or short). But every movie looked the same with some match in the center and a bit of humor on the sides . This time it's finally got more human dimension instead.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Anne no Nikki The Diary of Anne Frank アンネの日記 [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Historical Drama Amsterdam, June 12, 1942. Anne celebrates her 13th birthday and begins her diary, which she calls "Kitty". Hiding for two years from the German threat, the young girl writes about her idealistic views on the world, her ambitions, her fears and her first love, Peter. It's normal to that extent that it can be called boring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Hajimari no Boukensha-tachi: Legend of Crystania Legend of Crystania: The Motion Picture はじまりの冒険者たち レジェンド・オブ・クリスタニア [Triangle Staff] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural Ashram, desperate to find a home for his people, is tricked into selling his soul. 300 years later, Pirotesse's devotion to her king remains unshaken. In the sacred world of Crystania, amidst a civil war waged by shape-changing warriors, she searches for her beloved Ashram. She meets Redon, a young prince obsessed with avenging his murdered parents. Together, they confront Ashram's captor -- the bloodthirsty Barbas, who aspires to rule Crystania as "The God's King". A hasty, yet decent fantasy RPG story with focus on animals and shapechangers.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Ninkuu (Movie) 忍空 [Pierrot] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen Historical, Martial Arts Action, Adventure, Comedy How much humiliation can four people and a penguin take? Hard boiled Aito? Sexy bombshell Rihoko? Choji the red brief? Shining Fuusuke? Cutesy Hooter Hiroyuki? Oh, gimme a break! Who do these guys think they are? The Ninku? Unfortunately for the real Aito, Choji, Rihoko, and Fuusuke, they do. But little did these imposters know when they stumbled on this sleepy little desert town, that there’d be a price to pay for being treated like the real Ninku, namely, having to fight the deadly Heaven & Earth brothers! Fortunately for our phony friends, the real Aito, Choji, and Fuusuke step in, there’s nothing but trouble for the bad guys. Can the Ninku art of magic fighting beat the Heaven & Earth brothers deadly fighting style? For a 25-minute special it's fun enough, though fans only and nothing big.   Overall Rating: 6/10

15. Kazu & Yasu Hero Tanjou KAZU&YASU ヒーロー誕生 [Triangle Staff] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Drama, Sports Based on the real life events. Biography animation depicting the football careers of Kazuyoshi Miura and his elder brother Yasutoshi. Not translated. I don't like spokons and I don't like real biographies, so how would I evaluate this...   Overall Rating: 5/10

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