My Top Five Anime

I know I said I wouldn't post much about anime. But I figure since my mother is my only real reader I can do whatever I want! Or maybe I'm more limited by that. I haven't decided yet. The point is... yeah.

For those not in the know, anime is Japanese animation. Unlike in America, animation is enjoyed and appreciated more by many age groups in Japan, which I think is really cool and it allows for a lot more diversity than what you seen in American cartoons. I've been watching a decent amount of it lately so here's my top ten list.

5 - Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

Before I proceed with this list, it's important for me to stress that I don't cry in movies and shows and stuff. Making me cry is a fairly difficult thing to do, so when a rare gem comes along and brings tears to my eyes, it earns a special spot in my heart. Okay that was cheesy but I don't care.

Anohana has a beautiful storyline, compelling and well written characters, and one of my favorite soundtracks ever. And it has made me cry more than any book, show, movie, or whatever. It's about this group of childhood friends who went their separate ways when their friend Menma died. Years later, the leader of the group, Jintan, is living day by day sluffing school and bumming around his house when Menma's ghost or spirit or reincarnation or whatever starts hanging around him. He soon discovers that he's the only one who can see her, and he has to unite his friends to "grant Menma's last wish" despite the fact that they can't actually see her.

This show is not for everyone. It's a feels show. It's a depressing show. But if you can handle/enjoy some romance, drama, and extreme bittersweet moments then you might really enjoy this one.

4 - Death Note


Death Note is a show about a brilliant high school student named Light Yagami who effortlessly ranks top in the country academically. His life is pretty dull until he gets his hands on a notebook that allows him to kill anyone he wants just by writing their name. He vows to rid the world of all criminals, but when a mysterious detective going under the alias "L" appears, Light finds himself in a deadly game of cat and mouse wherein the first one who's identity is revealed will die.

This might just be the most addictive show I've watched. From the very first episode it hits you upside the head with one of the most original and intriguing concepts I've ever seen. It latches onto you and refuses to let go until you've watched all 36 episodes of the most addicting series you'll ever see.

3 - Angel Beats!

Angel Beats! gets some bonus points cuz it's one of the first anime I watched and the anime I've watched most, and it's just a cool show. It's one of the few shows I've watched that can't really fit into one genre in particular. It's got romance, comedy, drama, and action elements, along with it's own band that puts K-On to shame... *shudders* oh K-On...

So the show starts off with our hero, Otonashi, waking up LOST style in a massive and fairly eerie high school where a girl with an assault rifle in tow informs him that he is dead. From then on, the series changes directions entirely every single two or three episodes as Otonashi explores this world and discovers the truth behind it all.

All in all, this is an excellent and well thought out story. It was originally going to be a 26 episode series, but it got cut in half. You can tell they sort of rush to fit everything they need to in 13 episodes, but I think it keeps the show fresh. 

Again, this show is "a feels show." It's made by Key (Clannad, Little Busters, Air) so it definitely tries to suck you in and make you cry, just like Anohana. It ain't for everyone, but I personally like that sort of show.

2 - Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

I like this show! It's a good show! Its about alchemists, which are, in this context, scientists who use science to perform magic and change things into other things (or transmute). The story focuses on Edward Elric and his younger brother Alphonse. The two boys committed the cardinal sin of alchemy when they tried bringing their mother back from the dead, and as a result Ed lost his arm and leg, and Al lost his whole body, being left with nothing more than a soul bonded to a suit of armor. The story follows them as they go on a journey to recover their original bodies and also uncover dark secrets about alchemy that could threaten the entire world.

This show is such a remarkable series with some seriously awesome action sequences and clever dialogue. The animation is fantastic, as is the music, and this is really just the sort of show that everyone should watch. So watch it!

1 - Clannad

There really wasn't anything else I could put at the number one spot. This show is life changing. I know that's a bold statement to make, but in the case of Clannad it is definitely justified.

This show is about this third year high school student, Tomoya Okazaki, who lives day by day with no plans for his future as he struggles with a bad home life and an alcoholic, apathetic father. One day he meets a frail, awkward girl named Nagisa and he decides to help her revive the school's drama club.

The show is a solid comedy for season one, but the second season is where the show really shines. The amount of character development these lead characters undergo is amazing, and the strong overwhelming themes of family, love, and forgiveness, combined with the top notch detailed animation and music are sure to bring a tear to your eye at least once.

So that's that. My top five anime. Bam.

So I Lied

I had good intentions. I really wanted to honor Pixar with a week of reviews. But I got busy with junk. My dedication did not outweigh my laziness and my workload. I DO have a few Pixar reviews on the horizon, as well as some Ghibli movies and some more top 10 lists and what not, so stay tuned!

Pixar Week

Hey guys, it's been a while. I've decided to take a little break from my regular reviews to celebrate the amazing works of Pixar. Over the next week or two I'm going to be reviewing at least one Pixar film a day, starting Sunday. I may not be able to watch every single film, but I'm gonna try my best. See you guys soon.

The Adventures of Tintin Movie Review

Soooooooooo... I'm bored and I have a computer in my lap. So I'mma review this Tintin movie I saw on Netflix a week ago.

This was something I very much wanted to see when it first came out in theaters. You wouldn't normally expect to see names like Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson and John Williams in the credits of an animated movie, but that's exactly the case with The Adventures of Tintin. Let's jump right in, shall we?

Animation: A

This is one of the easiest grades I've given since I started this blog. This is a largely visual-based action adventure flick, and as such, the animation is spectacular. The character design is great, the landscapes gorgeous, and every little detail of the art is absolutely perfect. Just... easy A.

Sound: A-

I had to score this high because of John Williams spectacular Academy Award nominated jazzy original score, but really the audio as a whole is a mixed bag. The voice acting in the main cast, particularly Tintin, is very well done. But some of the voices for the minor characters seem out of place.

Writing: B

This is where the film struggles. Yes there are plot holes. Yes it is a little more slapstick than it should be. But that's not the point. The point is, while not the most well written film, the movie is more about adventure. It's sort of a young Indiana Jones type thing. Tintin is a very likable character, and it's very enjoyable to watch him unravel this fun, albeit contrived mystery.

Overall: A-

If you like great european Jazz music, rip-roaring adventure, and you're willing to tolerate some minor plot holes and slapstick humor then you'll like this film. It's a good watch and it's on Netflix, so I'd definitely recommend it!

If you guys have something you want me to review, or if you want to let me know what you think then leave a comment. I'd appreciate it.

Dan Vs. Review

I've done lots of Cartoon Network review lately, so I decided I'd shake things up a bit. Dan Vs. is a cartoon created by Dan Mandel and Chris Pearson which is currently airing on The Hub. I watched a few episodes, then got sick of it and quit watching, but I just started watching again so I could review it. You guys don't even appreciate all the crap I go through for you!... Actually, that''s a lie. I have yet to review anything I dislike, and this show is no exception. Let's get started shall we?

Animation: B

Dan Vs. is a Flash animated cartoon, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I should probably say for those not in the know that Flash is software that makes animation considerably simpler and easier. Many cartoons these days that use Flash are beautifully animated, but if the animators aren't careful it can look stiff and choppy. While Dan Vs. has wonderful character design and a really cool aesthetic, it suffers from somewhat lazy animation. The animation isn't BAD. Don't get me wrong, this is no Johnny Test, but the animation just isn't as slick as it could be. Some of the movements, particularly in the background, are robotic and choppy.

Sound: A-

There's nothing for me to really complain about here. The music isn't anything special, but for a cartoon like this it doesn't need to be. It's seamless and never draws attention to itself, which is probably a good thing.

The voice work is pretty good. For most cartoons like this, the determining factor of whether the voices are good or not is whether or not the VA's are having fun. If they like the characters and they like the material, then they'll probably sound good. That's the case with Dan Vs. The VA's are talented and they have fun with it.

Writing: A-

The first season of the show had a fairly simple outline for each episode. This character with severe anger management, Dan, got revenge on something that annoyed him. Each episode followed the exact same formula, and while it was entertaining, it got boring very quickly. The second season however, changed things up. They broke away from the traditional formula and begin making episodes simply following Dan without a linear plot or a target for revenge every episode. I think the show benefits from the new formula, and it's very clever, but it still gets a little boring every now and then. It's the sort of show I can only watch every once in a while after my DVR is depleted of Adventure Time.

Overall: B+

This is a legitimately good show, and there are tons of references and jokes. It's not quite as entertaining as some of the other cartoons on TV nowadays, but it's a pretty good watch with some really funny material and likable characters. If you're bored and you see the title while channel surfing you should definitely check it out.

So yeah! If you have something you want me to review, or if you want to tell me what a horrible reviewer I am, then please say so in the comments.

ParaNorman Review

In preparation for the upcoming Oscars this February, I hit up the Redbox and picked up some Academy Award nominated films that I'd been meaning to watch. One film that I'd been particularly excited for was ParaNorman.

ParaNorman looked promising. It was a 3D stop motion film released this last summer, created by the same folks who brought us Coraline. It was directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler and written by Chris Butler.

Now I had really high expectations for this film, and I'm happy to say that it delivered in a huge way.

Animation: A-

I'm really not sure how much of this was straight up claymation and how much was CGI but whatever it was, it was spectacular. The claymation was a bit choppy at times, but that's to be expected. It was slick and vivid when it really counted. The character design was awesome and a pleasure to watch. Also the cinematography and "camera angles" were really impressive, especially for an animated movie.

Sound: A

First let me start with the music. This film had my favorite original score from an animated movie since Up. The music was beautiful and really just the icing on the cake. Jon Brion, the film's composer, really came through in a big way, and I'm strongly considering buying it and putting it on my iPod.

The voice acting was just about as superb. You could tell the entire cast was having fun, and with the material they were given, how could they not have fun?

Writing: A

At first I thought the story was a bit contrived. Like The Sixth Sense and Coraline had a baby. But I was very much wrong. At first we were just shown Norman's every day life. He goes around talking to dead people. Everyone in his town naturally thinks that he's mental so he faces quite a lot of bullying at school.

The greatest thing about the story is the way that, while it's kinda bizarre, it takes itself very seriously when it needs to, creating some very touching emotional parts.

(Also, parents should know this is the most sketch animated kids movie I've seen. Seriously, there's cussing and sex jokes and lots and lots of death. Just a heads up in case you were thinking of watching a fun family film with your six year old)

Overall: A

I still haven't seen Pirates, Frankenweenie, or Rise of the Guardians, so you have to take this with a grain of salt, but that has to be my favorite animated movie of 2012. And Wreck-it Ralph really set the bar high. The music, animation, and writing were all superb... so if you like music, animation, or writing, then you'll like this movie. Really guys, you should check it out.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to tell me what you think in the comments. Peace out.

Top 5 Most Disturbing "Kids" Cartoons

I like doing top 5/top 10 lists. So here's one that I thought would be fun. These are, at least for me, the top five most disturbing "kids" cartoons.

5 - Adventure Time

Adventure Time is much more subtle than the shows on this list. After all, how could a show full of candy critters, korean rainbow unicorn dragons, and talking shapeshifting dogs be that dark? Well Adventure Time is actually a very disturbing show, full of heavy post apocalyptic undertones, several depictions of Hell and death, and sexual metaphors. This all works because the show doesn't take itself very seriously. While Finn is likely the last living human on Earth, they don't dwell on it very much. Despite being a post apocalyptic world, the land they live in is actually rather happy and vivid. It's not until you see the nuclear warheads in the theme song that you're reminded of the show's dark history.

4 - Regular Show

Regular Show is borderline adult swim. It's full of blatant sexual jokes and references that really have no place in a kid's show, and there are several shootouts and deaths throughout the series. This is the last show to come on before Cartoon Network switches to Adult Swim, and it really shows.

3 - Invader Zim

Invader Zim has some incredibly scarring and gruesome moments. In the Lice episode, Zim's skin gets ripped off and green goo oozes every where. In the Best Friend episode, one of the character's eyeballs are torn out and replaced with robotic ones. But one of the most notorious examples is the "Dark Harvest" episode. This one TERRIFIED me as a child. In it, Zim is afraid to see the school nurse because he lacks human organs and he doesn't want to get discovered as an alien. So he steals them from the other students in the school. That's right. He steals peoples organs and replaces them with random objects, such as a TV remote, a dumbbell, and even a living kitten. It's a horrific episode that still gives me the creeps to this day.

2 - Courage the Cowardly Dog

Courage the Cowardly Dog is one of the most bizarre, but extremely well designed cartoons I've ever seen. The main character, Courage, rarely says even a single word, so the show is almost entirely visual. It just has such a great, spooky aesthetic that you really wouldn't expect from a kids show.

1 - The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy

To be honest, I didn't watch this show that much as a kid. The episodes and TV movies that I did catch were some of the darkest (yet brilliant) things I'd ever seen. The show is about these to kids, Billy and Mandy, who win a bet and pretty much enslave the Grim Reaper. Together, they go through many dark adventures together, spending much time in parallel dimensions and horrific underworlds. The main thing that bothered me though was that the episodes rarely ended miserably with a the world being taken over by spiders who enslave and devour the humans or with a character being placed under house arrest for all eternity for something. But in good old cartoon fashion, everything is back to normal in the next episode.