Anime of the Year 2009-IV Fall - Ibara no Ou

It happens so that only Sunrise movie Ibara no Ou was more or less curious for me.

1. Fairy Tail FAIRY TAIL（フェアリーテイル）  [Satelight, A-1 Pictures] (Finished 3/175) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy  In the enchanted Kingdom of Fiore, the lively Lucy Heartfilia has one wish: to join the renowned Fairy Tail—one of the many magical wizard guilds scattered around the continent. Luckily, a chance encounter with Natsu Dragneel, the "Salamander" of Fairy Tail, whisks her into the legendary guild. From Natsu's rivalrous antics with ice wizard Gray Fullbuster to the frightening presence of the unmatched combat goddess Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail's powerful mages have a slight penchant for trouble. Through all the lucrative odd jobs and adventures to save the world from destruction lies an absolute and unyielding trust stronger than family that has formed between each guild member. Teaming up with Natsu, Gray, and Erza, Lucy finds herself amidst the guild's most misfit wizards. But as they constantly stand in the eye of every danger, there is one name that never ceases to resurface: Zeref, the feared master of dark magic. I tried it at least twice before since I could live with such synopsis. But I absolutely can't stand the contents - the humor, the stamps/borrowings, the shallowness. It feels like Slayers all over again.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Kimi ni Todoke 君に届け [Production I.G] (Finished 8/25) Tags: Shoujo School Drama, Romance Known for her semblance to the Sadako character of The Ring series, Sawako Kuronuma is given the nickname "Sadako" and misunderstood to be frightening and malicious like her fictional counterpart, despite having a timid and sweet nature. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, Sawako is naturally drawn to the cheerful and friendly Shouta Kazehaya, the most popular boy in her class. From their first meeting, Sawako has admired Kazehaya's ability to be the center of attention and aspires to be like him. When Kazehaya organizes a test of courage for the entire class and encourages her to attend, Sawako sees this as an opportunity to get along with her classmates, starting with Ayane Yano and Chizuru Yoshida. Through each new encounter and emotion she experiences, Sawako believes that meeting Kazehaya has changed her for the better. Little does Sawako know, her presence has also changed Kazehaya. I really tried. There is enough humor, but this shoujo does not really develop, at least up to episode 8 that I watched, and structure is more or less the same - consulting with friends and blushing about making some action. It gets boring for me. All the shoujo I like have better development and more intelligent actors.   Overall Rating: 6/10

3. Toaru Kagaku no Railgun A Certain Scientific Railgun とある科学の超電磁砲 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Super Power Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi The student-filled Academy City is at the forefront of scientific advancement and home to the esper development program. The seven "Level 5" espers are the most powerful in Academy City, and ranked third among them is middle schooler Mikoto Misaka, an electricity manipulator known as "The Railgun." When strange incidents begin occurring throughout the city, she finds each crime to be connected to the elusive "Level Upper," a legendary device that allegedly increases the esper level of its user. As the situation escalates, it becomes apparent that there is more to the Level Upper than meets the eye, and that Academy City may be a far more twisted place than the glamorous utopia it appears to be. Toaru Kagaku no Railgun focuses on Mikoto and her friends—and the dangerous situations they find themselves in—as they get caught up in the matter of the Level Upper. As Mikoto says, "There's never a dull moment in this city." Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. Sora no Otoshimono Heaven's Lost Property そらのおとしもの [AIC ASTA] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Harem Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi Ever since he was a child, Tomoki Sakurai has always woke up with tears after a dream of an angel. His childhood friend Sohara Mitsuki worries about this and decides to seek the help of Eishirou Sugata, an eccentric sky maniac. He concludes that Tomoki's dream is undoubtedly connected to what is known as the New World, a floating anomaly that scientists have failed to understand. Recruiting the New World Discovery Club's first members, Eishirou schedules a time to meet up in order to observe the mystery in the sky. That day, Tomoki's peaceful life is changed forever when a strange girl falls from the sky and begins to call him master. Sora no Otoshimono follows the daily activities of the New World Discovery Club as they begin to learn more about the Angeloids that have arrived on Earth. Light ecchi with pervy protagonist and magic to help him with that.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Darker than Black: Ryuusei no Gemini Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor DARKER THAN BLACK 流星の双子 [Bones] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Super Power Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi One night, as meteors streak across the star-studded sky, Shion Pavlichenko becomes a Contractor. Despite her brother's transformation, Shion's twin sister Suou continues to live a fairly ordinary life, attending middle school with her friends and getting caught up in the awkwardness of growing up. However, everything changes when her home is invaded by a masked man cloaked in black, destroying any sense of normality she once had. Revealed to possess latent Contractor abilities of her own, Suou is caught between family, friends, and her own sense of purpose as she ventures into the ruthless world of cutthroats and espionage that Contractors call home. Meanwhile in Tokyo, investigation surrounding Hell's Gate's sudden collapse is underway, and prophetic signs of doom point in the direction of a silver-haired doll. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Kämpfer けんぷファー [Nomad] (Finished 4/12) Tags: Magical Sex Shift, School, Super Power Action, Comedy, Girls Love, Romance, Ecchi Waking up transformed into a beautiful girl might be the stuff of some guys' fantasies, but when the suddenly effeminatized Natsuru is informed by a stuffed tiger that he's now a Kampfer, a mystical fighter who has to fight other Kampfers in female form, his life becomes a living nightmare! Putting aside the obvious "plumbing" issues, Natsuru's best childhood friend turns out to swing the other way and SHE has a crush on his new female body. Not complex enough? Natsuru's school has separate sections for boys and girls, so he and she are now double enrolled. The rumor-mill has it that he's dating herself. And there are other Kampfers attending the school who want to take her out, and he's not sure which ones mean "on a date" and which ones mean "permanently." Oh, and did we mention that some Kampfers use swords and guns?! Hormones, fists, and other body parts will fly as the daring, new gender-bender defender must become a contender or die! It's forced nonsense for the most part.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. InuYasha: Kanketsu-hen InuYasha: The Final Act 犬夜叉 完結編 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Shounen Historical, Mythology, Time Travel Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance Thwarted again by Naraku, Inuyasha, Kagome Higurashi, and their friends must continue their hunt for the few remaining Shikon Jewel shards, lest they fully form into a corrupted jewel at the hands of Naraku. But Naraku has plans of his own to acquire them, and will destroy anyone and anything standing in his way—even his own underlings. The persistent, unyielding danger posed by Naraku forces Sango and Miroku to decide what is most important to them—each other or their duty in battle. Meanwhile, Inuyasha must decide whether his heart lies with Kikyou or Kagome, before fate decides for him. Amid the race to find the shards, Inuyasha and his brother Sesshoumaru must also resolve their feud and cooperate for their final confrontation with Naraku, as it is a battle they must win in order to put a stop to his evil and cruelty once and for all. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

8. Nyan Koi! にゃんこい！ [AIC] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Harem Comedy, Romance  Junpei Kousaka is a second-year high school student who has an allergy for cats—a predicament that has made him hate cats and everything related to them. Unfortunately for him, though, he is surrounded by cat lovers: his family, his estranged childhood friend, and even his crush Kaede Mizuno. One day, while returning home from school, Junpei nonchalantly attempts to kick an empty can into the trash, but miserably misses. Instead of making it to the garbage, the can ends up breaking off the head of a cat deity statue. That fateful day, he is cursed with the ability to understand cat speech. However, he must keep his curse a secret from everyone else, because anyone who finds out will become more accident-prone and share the same fate as him. With the guidance of his cat Nyamsus and with no other choice left, Junpei now has to do a hundred good deeds for cats to lift the curse. If he is unable to complete this task, he will turn into a cat, and considering his allergy, that would be a death sentence for him! A harem where cats constantly demand help harming protagonist's personal life... so why was it supposed to be interesting again... anyway, protagonist is an average donkan and execution is nothing exceptional to stand out .   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. 11eyes イレブンアイズ [Doga Kobo] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Super Power Action, Supernatural, Ecchi When the sky turns red, the moon turns black, and monsters begin roaming the streets, Satsuki Kakeru is at a loss for what to do. Along with his best friend Yuka, they try to decipher why they have been sent to this strange world, which is seemingly empty aside from themselves. However, when the "Red Night" ends, Kakeru and Yuka believe it was all a dream—until it happens again, and they are left in a dangerous situation. They meet four others in the same predicament: Kusakabe Misuzu, an expert swordswoman; Tachibana Kukuri, a strange mute girl who looks uncannily like Kakeru's deceased sister; Hirohara Yukiko, a lively young girl whose personality reverts to that of a cold killer when her glasses are removed; and Tajima Takahisa, a young pyrokineticist. As the six of them band together to survive and discover what this mysterious world is, things take a turn for the worse as six shadows appear before them... The core story does not feel good to me as it's some of Shana, some of harem and lots of convenience poured in generously. Anime tried to delay the inevitable timeline shift as long as possible, but of course in the end it falls in the same fallacy as 3 Days visual novel. Immature concept gave immature results, and no amount of character appeal or development could mend that.    Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Aoi Bungaku Series 青い文学シリーズ [Madhouse] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Historical, Psychological Drama, Suspense 1. Ningen Shikkaku 2. Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita 3. Kokoro 4. Hashire, Melos! 5. Kumo no Ito 6. Jigokuhen I remember enjoying this collection a lot after initial watch. Now I have mixed feelings. First 4-episode story is just scandalous trash that is only popular for being autobiography followed by author suicide. Second story is an average fairy tale with a bit of horror, nothing out of the way. And that's  half of the series done already. But all the better stories are pushed to the second half. Kokoro vibes remind me of James Joyce Ulysses which is nice, but alternative view on the story is a lot less cool and just needless. There have been at least two anime versions of Hashire Melos, and can't say this reference to real world story has any meaning, just an additional reference. Kumo no Ito is a senseless waste of time in form of moralistic fairy-tale with enough violence. Last story has even less sense as it's just artistic expressional choice for ending. It's very sad, but I don't consider any of these stories deserving masterpiece title. Just not deep enough. Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Seitokai no Ichizon Student Council's Discretion 生徒会の一存 [Studio Deen] (Finished 4/12) Tags: Harem, Parody, School Comedy Imagine living life as the vice president of the student council, passing the days eating snacks, playing games, and bonding with a harem of beautiful girls. This is exactly the kind of life that high school student Ken Sugisaki leads, or so he thinks! Usually, the officers of Hekiyou Academy's student council are elected by popular vote, but an additional position is granted to the student who scores the highest on the exams. Ken, who historically has had below average grades, worked hard to improve them to be accepted into the student council, with the ultimate goal of surrounding himself with girls who fawn over him. Unfortunately for the vice president, things do not go quite as planned. Not only do the ladies of the council continually rebuff his advances, they also prefer to focus on more important and "boring" activities, such as organizing school events and managing the other clubs. But a few minor hurdles like these won't stop Ken from chasing after his dreams, even if they seem a bit ridiculous. There's only episodic humor and no story, so competition is great among similar titles. And humor is not to my liking, so pass.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Seiken no Blacksmith The Sacred Blacksmith 聖剣の刀鍛冶（ブラックスミス） [Manglobe] (Finished 5/12) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy Forty-four years ago, the surviving nations of the Valbanil War declared peace and forbade the use of the devastating demon contracts that ravaged the land. Now, inexperienced knight Cecily Cambell is eager to follow the example of her family and protect the people of the city using the sword she inherited from her father. Her first challenge arises in the market. A crazed swordsman wreaks havoc upon civilians and Cecily jumps into action to restore order. Overwhelmed, her weapon shatters, but a skilled stranger wielding a strange-looking sword intervenes. With the situation diffused, Cecily heads to a local blacksmith in an effort to restore her family heirloom. However, she finds out that her savior—the blacksmith Luke Ainsworth—may be the only person capable of such intricate repairs. Determined to have her treasured sword repaired, she seeks out the man who rescued her. However, a group of bandits suddenly attack a convoy headed for the city. The assailants look inhuman, and an ice demon appears. Luke suspects the use of a demon contract and calls upon a sacred power to defeat them. Meanwhile, a shadowy hooded figure lurks, watching from a distance. Who is this mysterious evildoer, and what does his appearance mean for the pair? Concept is ok, but realization is poor, characters are bland and short action sequences change with cute girl fantasy SOL which is a very sharp contrast.   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Kobato. こばと。 [Madhouse] (Finished 3/24) Tags: Iyashikei Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance The friendly and sincere Kobato Hanato has a wish to go to a particular place no matter what. To fulfill this desire, she is tasked with helping people in their times of distress. For each mended broken heart, a small candy-like fragment is produced and fills a special bottle. Once the bottle is full, her wish will be granted. As Kobato carries out her mission alongside her stuffed toy companion, Ioryogi, she encounters various people troubled by their different situations. From a child struggling with his parents, a high school girl troubled about romance, and everything in between, Kobato's naturally sweet smile and outgoing personality are ready to brighten their day! A good innocent shoujo, but it's just about helping others which is far from interesting.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Tegamibachi Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee テガミバチ [Pierrot Plus] (Finished 3/25) Tags: Shounen Adventure, Fantasy With his mother taken away from him and having lost everything, Lag Seeing is now a letter whose delivery has been assigned to Gauche Suede, a Letter Bee. Despite their troubling start, the two of them become friends, leading Lag to realize what his aim in life is: to deliver people's most important feelings in the form of letters, just as Gauche has done. Mailmen travel around fantasy steampunk world... to deliver letters. Seriously? Ridiculously stupid concept. What do mailmen do when they don't deliver letters? They discuss letters... it all makes me so mad. And of course pretty much everything in this road show is a filler. Bad even by shounen low standards.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Kuuchuu Buranko Welcome to Irabu's Office 空中ブランコ [Toei Animation] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Medical, Psychological Drama The world of psychology is far from strange to the unusual Dr. Ichirou Irabu, a resident psychiatrist of Irabu General Hospital. He and his charming nurse Mayumi run through several patients, each suffering from a mental illness that harms their everyday life. Patients should be wary of the seductive Mayumi, with her spellbinding looks and devilishly short pink nurse uniform. On the other hand, the doctor seems to have three separate personalities: a child with an oversized lab coat; an intelligent, youthful man with feminine traits; and a selfish, outgoing green bear. While curing his patients in questionable ways, Dr. Irabu often tries to gain something from them outside of his profession—and in doing so, occasionally forgets his role as a doctor. As each patient struggles to face the nature of their distress, an obvious yet invisible thread ties their paths together. RL and digitalized RL (like in movie Baton) is widely used here, and visuals in general are low effort here with many recycled elements and long still shots. Cases themselves are rather crazy than psychological. So it's painful to watch due to eclectic visuals and plot-wise can't even call it intriguing or amusing in any degree, so feels like a waste of time to me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Yume-iro Pâtissière 夢色パティシエール [Studio Hibari] (Finished 1/50) Tags: Shoujo School Gourmet Aside from her deep passion for eating cakes, the clumsy Ichigo Amano has never been successful at anything. After an encounter with Henri Lucas, a famous patissier, Ichigo's amazing tasting abilities—although unbeknownst to her—are discovered. Recognizing her talent, Henri offers her the chance to attend St. Marie Academy, a prestigious culinary school which specializes in desserts. In spite of the fact that she is a beginner lacking skills, thanks to Henri's recommendation, Ichigo is placed in the topmost group with the "Sweets Princes." The princes, famous throughout the school for their magical treats, are Sennosuke Andou, an expert in traditional Japanese sweets; Satsuki Hanabusa, with a flair for candied flowers; and Makoto Kashino, a gifted chocolatier. Ichigo and the Sweets Princes, each accompanied by their "Sweets Spirits"—fairies who make patissiers' dreams come true—all work towards their goals in the competitive world of sweets. Gourmet shows are just difficult to be made interesting. This is yet another one that did not fly for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

17. Sasameki Koto Whispered Words ささめきこと [AIC] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Seinen School Comedy, Girls Love, Romance Murasame Sumika is popular in the high school for her excellence in the marks and sports. However, she has a secret: she is in love with her classmate Kazama Ushio. Ushio also has a liking to the love between girls, but she hasn't noticed Sumika's feelings and has always been refused by other girls. Remember Aoi Hana with serious black haired girl in glasses and more genki bright-haired girl? Looks like it became paragon since Sasameki Koto is similar in many ways. And one episode of this slow-paced drag is more than enough for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Shugo Chara! Party! しゅごキャラ！パーティー！ [Satelight] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Shoujo Mahou Shoujo, School Comedy, Fantasy After overcoming the threat of the Easter Corporation, Amu Hinamori and the Seiyo Academy Guardians return to their council duties, eliminating any stray X Eggs they find along the way. With four of the five members graduating this year, the state of next year's Guardians Council is up in the air. In an effort to ensure the council's survival, the group recruits two "Guardian Apprentices" in the hopes that they will develop their own Heart's Egg someday. One of the Apprentices they take on is Rikka Hiiragi, a spunky and upbeat girl who is capable of communicating with X Eggs. As the Guardians have not been able to speak with these Eggs previously, Rikka's uncanny ability intrigues them. However, Rikka fears that she will never be accepted as a full-fledged Guardian if they ever find out what exactly she does with her ability. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza Haruka Nogizaka's Secret: Purezza 乃木坂春香の秘密ぴゃあれっつぁ [Diomedéa] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Ecchi  Haruka's manga and anime hobby is still concealed by her dear friend Yuuto, but Yuuto's other female friend starts to feel affection and attraction towards him, so a feelings war begins among their circle of friends. Meanwhile Yuuto tries to make Haruka happy doing what she likes the most: drawing manga, watching anime, and attending special anime events. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Tatakau Shisho: The Book of Bantorra Armed Librarians: The Book of Bantorra 戦う司書 The Book of Bantorra [David Production] (Finished 12/27) Tags: Super Power Action, Fantasy In a world where dead people turn into books and are stored in the Bantorra Library where anyone who reads a book can learn their past, Bantorra Library is maintained by Armed Librarians who wield psychic powers and their enemy is a religious society known as Sindeki Kyoudan. Setting is unusual, but there's basically nothing else - dubious graphics, poor characters, pace and story. Very unfocused and disintegrated storytelling with many changing protagonists, so could hardy care about them. In such messy state it just can't be recommended.    Overall Rating: 6/10

21. Asura Cryin' 2 アスラクライン 2 [Seven Arcs] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Mecha Action, Supernatural Following the first season, Tomoharu is now faced with a dilemma: if he doesn't form a contract with an "akuma," he risks losing his dear friend Takatsuki. However, doing so would compromise his own existence as it would result in him and his ghost friend Misao becoming an Asura Cryin'—mankind's biggest threat, according to their school's presidents. To make the decision even harder, Tomoharu and Misao have recovered some of their past memories—memories of a world that they didn't even know existed. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. Queen's Blade: Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono Queen's Blade: Inheritor of the Throne クイーンズブレイド 玉座を継ぐ者 [Arms] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Ecchi  After experiencing the numerous trials encountered on her journey, Reina has grown as a warrior. Determined to take part in the Queen's Blade tournament, she arrives at the capital city Gainos, where Queen Aldora awaits. There gathers a number of beautiful warriors who, like Reina, are there for the Queen's Blade. Amongst them is Reina's sister, Claudette, determined to restore the glory of House Vance; Tomoe and Shizuka, who are both fighting for their homeland of Hinomoto; Nanael who has been ordered to participate by the Archangel; and the subordinates of the Marshland Witch. All these beautiful fighters who gather in Gainos have been one objective, to win through the Queen's Blade, the tournament to select the strongest, most beautiful queen. Who would ascend to that glorious throne? That can only be determined via battle. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. White Album 2nd Season White Album Season 2  WHITE ALBUM 第2期 [Seven Arcs] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Harem, Idols (Female), Music Drama, Romance The second season of White Album, also known as episodes 14-26. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

24. Shin Koihime†Musou 真恋姫†無双 ～乙女繚乱☆三国志演義～ [Doga Kobo] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Historical Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi  Following the battle for Touka Village and clearing the area of bandits, Unchou Kan'u, Chouhi Yokutoku, and Shokatsuryou Koumei prepare for the next step of their journey. They encounter someone surprising—a young woman claiming to be Gentoku Ryuubi! After being framed for various crimes, Ryuubi is on a mission to reclaim her family heirloom, the sword of Chuuzan Seiou, and clear her name from the evil deeds she allegedly committed. For Ryuubi's own safety, the four girls join forces and pursue the sword as it repeatedly changes hands, but they are never quite able to catch up to the current owner. During the adventure, Kan'u and the others meet several familiar faces who happily do what they can to assist in the hunt. Meanwhile, Kan'u and Chouhi continue to learn that there is more to family than blood relations. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Fuyu no Sonata Winter Sonata 冬のソナタ [Studio Comet, KeyEast, REALTHING] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Drama, Romance  Based on the Korean Drama of the same name, Yoo Jin falls in love with Joon Sang as a young girl. After losing him in an accident, she decides to marry her childhood friend. However, Yoo Jin meets someone looking exactly like her lost love, putting her in a bind. The program featured 23 members of the original Korean cast voicing the characters and was broadcast with Japanese subtitles. I consider Korean doramas to be over-emotional, unnatural, eagerly convenient and often dealing with terminal illnesses. And this particular dorama adaptation fits all the bad spots precisely, so excuse me, but I'm dropping it early for all the stupidity involved in it.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Natsu no Arashi! Akinaichuu Summer Storm! Open for Business 夏のあらし!春夏冬中 [Shaft] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Time Travel Comedy, Romance, Supernatural The summer of a man's boyhood memories continue. Still on the cusp between childhood and being a man, he has linked with the ghost of a young woman from the World War 2 era. She, and the ghosts of other young ladies from that time, continue adventures alongside their linked partners, learning more about each other and travelling through time via their supernatural connection. While he struggles to see his crush on her come to fruition, meanwhile his friend—a girl his age, pretending to be a boy—seeks his attention as well. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

27. Miracle☆Train: Oedo-sen e Youkoso Miracle Train: Welcome to the Oedo Line ミラクル☆トレイン〜大江戸線へようこそ〜 [Yumeta Company] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Fantasy  The first version of the Miracle Train project focused on the stations of the central Chuo line, while the new anime and related stories deal with the Oedo subway line. As a result, the anime will feature a newer cast of characters—specifically, Fumi Roppongi, Rintarou Shinjuku, Izayoi Tsukishima, Iku Shiodome, Saki Tochou, and Itsumi Ryougoku. Bishounens and train stations - just what I needed! (not). If this is not reverse harem, then I don't know what is.   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. Kiddy GiRL-AND キディ・ガーランド [Satelight] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Super Power Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi  Twenty-five years after Éclair and Lumière, (from the flagship Kiddy Grade series), rescued the galaxy from destruction's doorstep, the GTO (Galactic Trade Organization), created after the defeat of the GOTT (Galactic Organization of Trade and Tariffs), act on behalf of universal peace by combating criminal activity. Their special ES division mirrored after the GOTT's ES (Encounter of Shadow-work) force, now includes publicly acknowledged ES member candidates. The series follows two such trainees, Ascoeur and Q-feuille, as they work their way to ES membership. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

29. Anyamal Tantei Kiruminzoo あにゃまる探偵 キルミンずぅ [Satelight] (Finished 1/50) Tags: Comedy  While searching for a run-away cat the twins Riko and Rimu Mikogami find a strange device that transforms them into "Kirumin." It also enables them to turn into real animals. Their older sister Nagisa soon joins them. Now the three have cute, funny and sometimes dangerous adventures. Kindergarten detective adventures with a bit of mahou shoujo spice is hardly something I can appreciate. But since distinguishing genre is comedy, let's see if humor makes it all great. And I did not spot ANY humor in the pilot episode if you don't consider girls kicking boys humor. And there's zero incentive to go further.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. Tentai Senshi Sunred 2nd Season 天体戦士サンレッド [AIC ASTA] (Finished 26/26) Tags: Seinen Parody, Super Power Comedy The second season of Tentai Senshi Sunred. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

31. Battle Spirits: Shounen Gekiha Dan バトルスピリッツ 少年激覇ダン [Sunrise] (Finished 1/50) Tags: Isekai, Military, Strategy Game Adventure Dan Bashin is a spirited teenager known for his aggressive playstyle in the card game Battle Spirits, earning him the title of "Clash King." One day, a mysterious green-haired girl transports him to the otherworldly land of "Grand Rolo," where disputes are settled by card duels. Upon his arrival, Dan is immediately thrust into a conflict between the kingdom's imperial army and its oppressed natives. There, he learns that he is a prophetic warrior known as a "bearer of cores' light," chosen to save the land from its evil king. Accompanied by a young boy named Zungurii and the eccentric witch Magisa, Dan travels across Grand Rolo and encounters the other chosen warriors through card battles. With the name of the Clash King gaining fame throughout Grand Rolo, secrets that lurk within the shadows of the kingdom's colonial past begin to surface. Only time will tell if Dan's campaign will affect the world on a scale much larger than he ever could have imagined. Sequel/Remake.   Overall Rating: 5/10

32. Gokyoudai Monogatari ご姉弟物語 [TV Asahi Music] (Finished 2/32) Tags: Comedy  Japan's TV Asahi network will premiere a television anime adaptation of Tetsu Adachi's Baka-Kyoudai (Idiotic Siblings) manga under the title Gokyoudai Monogatari (Sibling Stories) on October 10. The original manga has been running on an irregular schedule in Kodansha's Young Magazine since 1999. The story centers on a sister and her twin brother who live carefree lives in Tokyo's lower-class neighborhoods and have heartwarming encounters with the local people. It received an award of excellence at the 7th Cultural Media Arts Festival in 2003. Yuki Matsuoka will voice the sister Onei Jinushi, and Yumiko Kobayashi will play her twin brother Junichirō Jinushi. Sayaka Ohara will play the local restaurant waitress Shizuka. Not translated. Pretty nice comedy as if Shin-chan had a sister of the same age. Without translation there's no point to go on.   Overall Rating: 6/10

33. Wala! Pyeon-uijeom The Animation Welcome to Wara Store! 와라! 편의점 the animation [-] (Finished 0/24) Tags: Slice of Life  A comedy about three part time workers in a little convenience store and the zany customers they come in contact with. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

34. TO トゥー [Oxybot] (Finished 2/2) Tags: Seinen Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Elliptical Orbit: Fifteen years after its last contact with our world, a space freighter known as the Flying Dutchman requests permission to dock at a remote moon base. This mysterious ship carries liquid protons: a power source essential to the survival of Earth’s population. But before the precious cargo can be delivered, the base is ambushed by galactic terrorists who seek to destroy the new form of energy and issue a death sentence to all of humanity. Symbiotic Planet: Against a backdrop of intergalactic colonization and bizarre alien life forms, Aon and Elena – star-crossed lovers from rival countries competing for valuable natural resources – struggle to build a life together despite the objections of their superiors. Their budding romance is thwarted by an outbreak of alien fungus and the interference of a cutthroat militaristic madman. To survive, the young couple must maintain their faith in each other and learn to trust the unique creatures which inhabit this strange and wondrous new world. Both stories are ok at best with familiar plots and so-so CG.   Overall Rating: 6/10

35. Kemono to Chat けものとチャット [Indeprox] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Comedy  Fifteen-year-old Chacha is a typical teen with an atypical talent: she can communicate with cats. Though her friend Mito thinks this is the coolest ability in the world, Chacha finds her unique skill to be annoying at best and disruptive at worst. Whether she's dealing with countless strays proposing marriage, neighborhood cats offering to help her with tests or waking up to 'presents' on her bed in the night, Chacha's normal school life will be anything but! Just short crudely drawn yonkomas that I struggle to call comedy.   Overall Rating: 5/10

36. Ibara no Ou King of Thorn いばらの王 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen Survival Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense "Medusa," a deadly virus becomes a worldwide epidemic. In order to escape from this deadly virus, a handful of people are chosen to be put into a cold sleep, laying in a capsule hoping for the future cure. Kasumi, a teenage girl is one of the 160 chosen for this procedure, and is guided to a Cold Sleep Capsule Center (CSCC) inside an ancient castle. Understanding that it is hardly possible, Kasumi goes to sleep still anticipating for a reunion with her twin sister Shizuku, who also is infected with the virus. As Kasumi and the others awake, they notice that the CSCC is not as they remembered. Just like the story of "Sleeping Beauty," the castle is covered with thorn, and the awaken are attacked by unknown creatures and monsters! How long were they asleep? Where did the monsters come from? What has happened to the world? Abandoned in the midst of an enigma, the escapade of the seven survivors begins... I'm always ready to acknowledge Sunrise achievements ... when it's not their original scenario. Can't say it's a special scenario, because it's widely used cryogenic stasis for years and awakening in the world where civilization is already dead. So it's just survival action with a small group of survivors that constantly gets even smaller. But execution is good and thorn theme for the whole world is fresh, plus there's an intrigue how it's going to end.   Overall Rating: 7/10

37. Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike Tales of Vesperia ~The First Strike~ テイルズ オブ ヴェスペリア [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Military Action, Adventure, Fantasy Ten years after the Great War against the demon-beasts, the empire rules over the world and prosperity relies on the massive use of aer. Yuri Lowell and Flynn Scifo are two young men who have just enrolled the ranks of the prestigious Imperial Knights. One day, they are sent to the town of Ceazontania, where abnormal aer activity has reportedly caused the proliferation of horribly mutated beasts, with serious threat for the whole region. Meanwhile, the Knights Supreme Commander Alexei Denoia and the naive Princess Estellise are involved in a behind-the-curtains struggle for power in the capital. The situation in Ceazontania deteriorates as the garrison of Imperial Knights finds that they cannot expect any immediate support from the capital. Then, Niren Fedrok, commander of the Imperial Knights in Ceazontania, takes an unexpected decision that is going to change Yuri and Flynn's destiny forever. What are the secrets behind the extraordinary events that are happening around Yuri and Flynn? Will they be able to defend the innocent people of Ceazontania and stay true to their beliefs? Probably the best part of the Tales of Vesperia series as it seems to be prequel to the game and not game material. Still it's only above average, because there aren't outstanding elements.   Overall Rating: 6/10

38. Buddha Saitan The Rebirth of Buddha 仏陀再誕 [Group TAC] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Psychological Romance, Supernatural 17-year-old Sayako Amanokawa aspires to become a journalist, just like Kanemoto, an elite newspaper writer she looks up to. But Kanemoto, shamed from an erroneous report about a corruption scandal, jumps in front of a train and commits suicide. Since that incident, Sayako suddenly becomes able to see spirits and almost loses her life. However, from that near-fatal incident she experiences something extraordinary. The journalist inside her stirred, she embarks to find out about the truth. But the forces that stand in her way turn out to be much more formidable than she ever imagined. Tried to watch it normally, but it was so boring and slow and useless that I had to look at its origins only to know that it's another cultist movie Happy Science Movie 5. Since it's only harmful and superstitious, the score is corresponding.   Overall Rating: 4/10

39. Audition 오디션 [-] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Music  A cartoon by CHUN Gye-young, which was one of the most popular cartoons in the late 1990’s, is made into an animation after 8 years of work. The film’s leading characters, with appearances typical for girls’ cartoons, are already popular as various licensed products. Four musical prodigies, who never had a chance to get a music education, meet in a band called ‘Recycled Band’. In the band, they open their minds to each other and follow their dreams in music. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

40. Romangeun Eobsda What Is Not Romance? 로망은 없다 [Korean Academy of Film Arts] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Drama  Hwang Soon-bok is a father of four who isn’t gifted with great looks. He likes to make plans on family occasions which, in most cases, end in disaster. His wife, Koh Young-sook, is a nice-looking lady with bit of a temper. And, there are three daughters and a son who got their looks and personalities from both parents. The family is sitting around a table eating late-night delivery food on the night of the parents’ wedding anniversary. The kids want to hear about how they got married and father and mother each tell their different versions of the story. Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

41. Qiudao Fair Ways 球道 [-] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Drama, Fantasy, Sports - Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

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