Over 400 in-depth anime reviews, Japanese lessons, and more.
Thinking too much about anime since 1998.
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Latest Review Persona
Tense, intriguing, and full of potent, understated drama, but so focused on its emotional core it overlooks the plot.
Latest Review Baccano!
A dark, violent, dramatic, hilarious, non-linear puzzle that is about as much fun to put together as anime can possibly be.
Latest Review Rescue Me Mave-chan
Embarrassingly crazy excuse for lame fanservice, awkward drama, and lots of stupidity.
Latest Akemi's Anime Blog Posts
Notes and musings about what we're currently watching, as well as goings-on in Japan.
Sekimatsu Occult Gakuin: Now That’s A First Episode
08/30/2010
A stock horror-comedy setup made fresh by a combination of sci-fi/horror cliche overload and a way-funky sense of humor--if this show manages to be even half as much fun overall as the first-episode spectacle, it's going to be a good one.
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Toradora Season 1
08/16/2010
Toradora is uncommonly upfront about its seemingly obvious romantic conflict, tempers the colorful character-driven situation comedy with an uncommon amount of substantive emotional drama, and, as of the end of the first of two seasons, entirely enjoyable.
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Spice and Wolf Novel 1
07/31/2010
I love Spice and Wolf, so I jumped at the opportunity to read the English translation of the light novel on which it's based. It's surprisingly good--similar enough to the anime adaptation to be entirely familiar, while adding enough that it feels like you get something extra out of it
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Kaiji: The Ultimate Gambler Live Action
07/22/2010
The first in an occasional series of comments on the manga/anime-based J-Dramas Akemi and I watch, Kaiji has decent actors and production values, but is either an unfunny comedy or a laughably bad drama, and largely a waste of time.
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Persona Midpoint Notes
07/21/2010
Persona is taking a while to get going, but having passed the halfway mark of the two seasons, I'm actually liking it more rather than less--more meaty character drama, less creepy mecha battles than expected.
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Square Enix Head Not So Into English
07/07/2010
Square Enix chief's amusing tweet: "I'd switch internal communications to C before I'd switch to English!!"
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Industry Newsfeed
News Provided by Anime News Network
Star Driver, Sora no Otoshimono: Forte Promos Streamed
2010-09-02 at 13:27:12
Star Driver Kagayaki no Takuto, 2nd Sora no Otoshimono anime debut in October Full Article at ANN
Funi Edits My Bride is a Mermaid's 2nd Ending Sequence
2010-09-02 at 12:42:35
Funimation cites technical issue with materials given for animation footage Full Article at ANN
Cencoroll 2's Production Green-Lit
2010-09-02 at 10:36:54
Story scenario, storyboards in the works for continuation of independent anime Full Article at ANN
Pretty Cure to Run on UK's Sky Satellite Service
2010-09-02 at 04:26:25
Magical girl anime to start on PopGirl, PopGirl +1 channels on Monday Full Article at ANN
Japanese Comic Ranking, August 23-29
2010-09-01 at 18:13:21
We Were There, Mei-chan, Deadman Wonderland debut in top 5 with Conan, Fairy Tail Full Article at ANN
Funimation Adds Disgaea Anime
2010-09-01 at 15:25:33
1st episode streaming now; DVD set of former Geneon license ships in early 2011 Full Article at ANN
Gundam 00 Film to Premiere at NY Anime Fest in October
2010-09-01 at 15:03:18
Sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam 00 TV anime to open in Japan on September 18 Full Article at ANN
New Manga Launch on U.S. Kindle, iPhone, Nokia Ovi
2010-09-01 at 14:05:09
Also: Crunchyroll discusses online manga distribution plans Full Article at ANN
Iron Man Anime, T.P. Sakura, K-On!! Promos Streamed
2010-09-01 at 10:43:45
Iron Man in October; T.P. Sakura in November; K-On!! actresses make census radio ad Full Article at ANN
Asahi Launches AGC38 Talent Group of 38 Girl Characters
2010-09-01 at 01:40:19
Studio hopes to develop anime, manga; simulcasted voice auditions begin next week Full Article at ANN