Sunday, August 21, 2011

By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet


If no one has gotten the title, this next anime is related to Shakespeare. This anime is called Romeo x Juliet. Obviously it's based off the famous Shakespearean play, but trust me when I say that it's really great.

The story follows young Juliet, a citizen of Neo Verona who masquerades as a boy called Odin for an unknown reason and fights against nobles abusing their power by becoming a masked Robin Hood character known as "The Red Whirlwind". While attending a ball with a friend, she meets Romeo who she falls in love with at first sight. Her sixteenth birthday approaches, and it is revealed that Juliet is really Juliet Fiammatta Ars De Capulet, the last surviving member of the Capulet family that was massacred in a bloody coup d'état led by the house of Montague, which makes Juliet remember the night 14 years ago when she saw her parents murdered in front of her eyes. This only makes it worse when she finds out that the boy she fell in love with is Romeo Candore De Montague. While trying to lead a rebellion against Leontes Montague, head of the Montague family and prince of Neo Verona, Juliet faces challenges of her identity as The Red Whirlwind, keeping her real identity as a Capulet a secret, and trying to manage her love for her Romeo. What will become of these star-crossed lovers?

I haven't watched the entire series and I feel like I should have before making a review, but I like the series enough to do so. This anime version of the famous play is by far the best version out of all the versions of Romeo and Juliet I have seen. It even includes references to other Shakespearean plays and other characters from his plays. Even William Shakespeare is a character for a little comic relief as he's a procrastinating playwright. With a great combination of drama, fantasy and romance, this anime is by far one of the best ones I've seen so far.

~Liz~

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Language of Flowers


My sister was told to watch this anime some time back and I got myself hooked on it as well. Its name is Shuffle! (The exclamation mark is part of the title).

This story is set in a fictional universe in which humans live in peace with gods(have slightly pointed ears) and demons(very pointed ears). Both races are equally kind and for ten years, people have been immigrating between worlds.

The series focuses around seventeen year old high school student, Rin Tsuchimi who attends the multi-racial high school National Verbena Academy. Eight years ago he lost his parents to a car accident that also took the mother of his friend, Kaede Fuyou. Around the same time after he began living with Kaede, he met two mysterious girls at different times by the names of Lisianthus (Sia for short) and Nerine who accompanied their fathers during business meetings. After becoming lost in the human world, Rin befriended them and made them happy.

Eight years later, Sia and Nerine transfer to his school, and Rin becomes a marriage candidate for both of them while other girls he knows seek him as well for a potential boyfriend. Who will Rin choose: Sia, the princess of the Realm of the Gods, Nerine, the princess of the Realm of the Demons, Kaede, Rin's childhood friend, or even Asa, the energetic "Shocking Shigure"?

Watch and find out!

I used the title because there are a lot of allusions to flowers in this anime. Anyway...

This anime is kinda for more mature audiences cause there is some nudity. But if you're able to get past that, the story's really good. Another good recommendation.

~Liz~


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Chiiiiiii


I added another anime to Netflix that I thought would be good, and I got completely hooked on it. Name of anime: Chobits.

Centered around the life of Hideki Motosuwa, he is a held back student trying to qualify to be in a university by studying at a prep school in Tokyo. He dreams of having a persecom: a computer in the form of a person (hence name). He didn't think his dream would be granted when he finds a persecom in the form of a beautiful girl with long blonde hair lying with a pile of garbage bags. After carrying her home and turning her on, she instantly adores Hideki and can only say the word "chi" which becomes her name. After trying to have her analyzed twice and having six persecoms crash in the attempt, it is confirmed that Chi is a custom-built persecom. It was even suggested that Chi could be one of the Chobits: a type of persecom that is able to have its own free will and possess emotions. Though it's a possibility, it's only a rumor.

As the series progresses, Hideki teaches Chi many words, concepts, and different behaviors. As this happens, Chi slowly begins having mysterious functions come out and even starts developing feelings for Hideki that she's not supposed to have. Even Hideki slowly starts having feeling for Chi as well despite the experiences his friends had with persecoms. Could Chi be one of the Chobits?

This anime is a very cute romantic comedy and of course very hilarious. Really want anyone who has read this to definitely watch this anime.

~Liz~

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

And I'm Back!


So for the first anime review in forever on here, I've chosen the anime Soul Eater which I've been recommended to watch by many people.

Set in the fictional city of Death City, a school exists to protect the world against evil souls called kishin and witches that have a taste for bringing destruction to the world. This school is known as the Death Weapon Meister Academy, or the DWMA for short and was created by the grim reaper, Death. This anime follows three of the students and their weapon partners: Maka Albarn with her scythe Soul Eater, Black Star with his shadow weapon Tsubaki, and Death the Kid with his twin guns Liz and Patty. The goal of all meisters is for their weapons to absorb 99 kishin souls and the soul of one witch so the weapons will have the power to become a death scythe, a weapon able to be used by a grim reaper. As these meisters work to make their weapons death scythes, they also work to fight against forces who wish for anarchy and world destruction.

I love this anime cause it's both funny and serious at the same time, so even if during a really important fight there is still some comedic relief. The characters are really great both in and out of action. I even got my sister hooked on it too because it's pretty easy to follow even if you're in the middle of the series. So like all my other friends that told me so, I tell you to go watch it!

~Liz~