“Isn’t She a Doll?” – Dolls (manga) – 6/10 Pumpkin Pies

Yet for better or worse we love things that bear the marks of grime, soot, and weather, and we love the colors and the sheen that call to mind the past that made them. ~Junichiro Tanizaki

Mangaka: Yumiko Kawahara

Genre: Drama/Fantasy/Psychological/Shoujo

Review Status: Complete (4 Volumes/4 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US.

Art: This has some lovely art, with lots of details and frills. It’s very shoujo in appearance, with lots of toning and shading.

Summary: Dolls are living plant life forms that look like beautiful women which can be purchased at a special shop for the right price. But be careful what you wish for. Set in an upside-down world combining a murky mix of science fiction, reality and moral ambiguity, Yumiko Kawahara's short stories examine the ineffable disparities that exist between the lover and the loved one. (Viz)

Review: Dolls choose who they belong to, and while the owners are charged incredibly large fees, they find themselves drawn- and sometimes repulsed- by the plants that behave as if they are alive. There are a number of different scenarios that occur, from discovering what happens when a Doll ages, to attempting to find a replacement for a dead child, to a Doll becoming the last will of a yakuza boss.

What this tries to do is get inside the minds of those people who are affected by them, the scenarios that occur when the Dolls are brought into their lives. However, most of the time the stories are completely unmemorable. They are too short to really get into any psychological fears or darkness, not only in number of pages but all the stories are stand-alone. There were a few that seemed to just start doing some wonderful things but were cut short due to time.

That’s not to say they were bad, just boring. A few of these did manage to stand above the crowd, though, such as that of the girl who told fortunes, and the man who was thought to be turning into a tree. Unfortunately, it was only when the story mainly focused on human characters and had the Dolls as a plot device that they were intriguing. Most of the ones that focused on the Dolls themselves fell short of being anything above average.

Overall, while this does present an interesting scenario, Petshop of Horrors did the psychological aspect far better.

Recommended: 12+. There’s virtually no language, no nudity, and no violence that I can recall. This does deal with some darker themes, such as the loss of loved ones.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Petshop of Horrors (manga)
Rozen Maiden (manga)

“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” – After School Nightmare (manga) – 9/10 Black Cats

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

Mangaka: Setona Mizushiro

Genre: Romance/Mystery/Drama/School/Supernatural/Psychological/Gender Bender/Fantasy

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US.

Art: Lovely. The art is reminiscent of CLAMP’s style, with elongated limbs and some gorgeous bishies. The panels are clean and easy to read (the flow is great, too). Some of the choices in

Summary: You have just awakened to find your darkest secret revealed to a group of people who would do anything to destroy you: your classmates! That’s what happens to Ichijo Mashiro, whose elite school education turns into the most horrifying experience of his life when he’s enlisted to participate in an after-hours class. The only way for Mashiro to graduate is to enter into a nightmare world where his body and soul will be at the mercy of his worst enemies. Can Mashiro keep the life-long secret that he is not truly a “he” nor entirely a “she” – or will he finally be “outted” in the most humiliating way possible?

Review: First impressions are everything in the world, and Ichijo does the best to keep his the way he wants it- as a guy. This is harder than it seems when his top half is definitely masculine, but his bottom half is most definitely not! However, when he’s entered into a class where nightmares become reality and he must face the inner selves of himself and his classmates. The thing is, his inner fear/self happens to be himself… but with a girl’s uniform on, making him instantly recognizable to those who cross his path.

His classmates take an immediate interest- a girl that’s been broken by her abusive father and a rapist, a playboy that thinks Ichijo is the prettiest thing that he’s laid his eyes on but has inextricable ties to his sister, others that would use him as they saw fit. They all have their own demons to fight. Others come and go as they ‘graduate’, disappearing from the hearts and minds of their classmates. Some are unable to overcome their issues and merely disappear.

Watching Ichijo desperately try to figure out the feelings he has about his own identity and the romantic struggles and drama that occur while it happens is interesting, if slightly obvious by the third or fourth volume. I think most people will be able to guess what’s going to happen, and while that disappointed me because of how one of the wheels gets shunted aside, the fact that they’re able to overcome that and still be good friends who care for each other is something unique and wonderful in this genre. It also plays into them finding themselves and their inner strength.

The meaning behind needing to discover themselves and their strengths, as well as what’s happening in the school, managed to be a wonderful surprise twist. The inner struggle Ichijo goes through takes on a far greater significance, with the two sides to him perhaps not being as philosophical as suspected, and the need to graduate being more than just graduation. It all snowballs into one of the best romance/mysteries that I’ve come across in quite a while.

Overall, this was a very interesting look at the psyche and had a great twist I hadn’t expected!

Recommended: 18+. There is incest (blatantly stated but the act is merely implied). Sex is mentioned (and occurs. Genitalia is not shown and the few sections it was in were *brief* and I didn't think it was happening until I read comments that happened later. Kissing and the leadup to sex does occur. There is violence- people get slashed with swords, torn apart, dug into- but there is no gore and it's not graphic, though blood is shown. There are also a handful of minor swears.

Other titles you might enjoy:
I.S. Intersexuality (manga)
Wandering Son (anime and manga)
Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)
Hour of the Mice (manga)
Arisa (manga)

“Proof Positive” – Nevermore (Visual Novel) – 6/10 Black Cats

Genre: Mystery/Horror

Type: Kinetic Novel

Review Status: Complete (Kinetic Novel- Single Storyline)

Licensed: It’s licensed and free for download at http://games.renpy.org/

Art/Animation: This has some very good art in it. It looks pretty professional, with good designs and deep, vibrant colors. The shading and coloring is also wonderful. There really isn’t much animation to speak of, but the transitions are used well and in the right places.

Voice Acting: Unfortunately, it’s a bit stiff and lifeless. I think that going without would have been the better way to go, because no matter how bad things seem in the story, the main narrator just can’t really get any emotion into his voice. His mother’s voice is better, and I’m indifferent to everyone else.

Summary: Strange nightmares are taking over his life, and the days and nights are melding together. Why?

Review: This has some surprisingly fantastic atmosphere. Real life and dreams come together with some startlingly dark imagery- crows, and the lines of ‘The Raven’ by Edgar Allen Poe. You flash back and forth between dreams and reality as they meld together. Flashes of the truth of what’s happening blend with the dark flashes of night.

Quite frankly, it’s an excellent setup for a supernatural mystery. What is affecting him? Who is that woman? What is the importance of ‘The Raven’?

What it all is, is a huge letdown. I was beyond disappointed in the reveal and the abruptness of the ending. I hope that there will be some sort of continuation, because it’s an excellent prologue. Left as it is… not so much.

Overall, while there was a lot of promise, there is a lot lacking.

Recommended: 8+. There is some weird, surreal imagery that might not be for the youngest players.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Hollow Fields (manga)
Bizenghast (manga)
Perfect Blue (anime)

“Trapped In Your Head” – Dragon Head (manga) – 10/10 Black Cats

All that is really necessary for survival of the fittest, it seems, is an interest in life, good, bad or peculiar. ~Grace Paley

Mangaka: Minetaro Mochizuki

Genre: Action/Mystery/Psychological/Drama/Horror

Review Status: Complete (10 Volumes/10 Volumes)

Licensed: No. It was formerly licensed by Tokyopop, but has not been relicensed.

Art: It’s a more realistic style than most, more like Satoshi Kon’s work than Studio Ghibli. In short- they look like people you could meet on the street.

Summary: In the horror of witnessing so many classmates perish before his eyes in a violent train wreck, Teru discovers two survivors in the tunnel: Ako and Nobuo. But salvation from this bloody carnage is far from their grasp. As they try to dig out from the wreck in order to come up with a plan to stay alive, the lack of light and food, combined with the stench of death and decay, will lead one member of the group down a dark and demented path. And with sudden, violent earthquakes shaking the tunnel, escaping to the outside world may lead them to an even greater danger... (Tokyopop)

Review: When a disaster happens, sometimes what matters more is actually surviving instead of finding out what happened. In the aftermath of the crash, that’s the priority of the three survivors. However, trapped in a tunnel for days on end, they aren’t left with much to do except speculate and worry.

The first part of Dragon Head delves into the psychosis that can occur in extreme isolation, when people must face conditions not much different than sensory deprivation. Their fears become paranoia, that perhaps there’s something in the dark, or someone that survived but isn’t showing themselves. A monster eventually takes form in their minds, and between it and sudden changes that could spell their doom if they don’t think on their feet, two escape into a world that’s desperately changed and may never be the same.

Hard philosophical questions are asked, and none of the answers are easy and clear-cut. When is it okay to take a life? At what point do you stop helping others and start looking out for yourself? When do you stop searching for answers and accept the world around you?

The biggest challenge they have to face is the world outside. A disaster of unimaginable proportions has occurred that has flattened towns, raised huge ash clouds, and sunk the coasts into the sea. The disasters they face grow worse as they travel onward towards Tokyo. People have become crazed by the events, creating both allies and enemies to the pair.

When you think things can’t get worse for them, they can. They do. As Ako and Teru continue their journey to Tokyo, they deal with all the things the disaster can throw at them. Earthquakes, food and water shortages, flooding, death, and have to deal with it all when they’re still suffering from the psychological effects of being trapped underground and not knowing what had happened for two weeks. The not knowing becomes their drive- they need to know what happened to their families and what’s happening to Japan and gives them one of their reasons to survive. The other is their own fears that haunt them.

Overall, this is a moving, engaging story of two people trying to survive in an apocalyptic world. It may not be pretty, but it is pretty good.

Recommended: 18+. There are two brief instances of partial nudity on Ako’s part, one where she’s unconscious and being groped, another where she’s in a bath. You only see her breasts briefly. There is also the implication of her having been dry-humped, and two instances of attempted rape. This is very violent, with people committing suicide and murder. There are people shot, stabbed, and beaten. You only see one corpse more than once, but the wounds aren’t gruesome. For the rest of the story they’re usually covered in ash or mud.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Drifting Classroom (manga)
Metro Survive (manga)
7Seeds (manga)
Akira (manga)
Jisatsu Circle (manga)
Doubt (manga)

“In The Eye Of The Beholder” – Ode to Kirihito (manga) – 10/10 Black Cats

Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides. ~Lao Tzu

Mangaka: Osamu Tszuka

Genre: Drama/Psychological/Thriller

Review Status: Complete (4 Volumes/4 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US

Art: Typical of Tezuka. The characters are far more cartoon-y than what you’ll find in most manga today, with some typical “older” touches to it- think those Mr. Magoo cartoons, and that’s what I’m talking about.

Summary: Kirihito Osanai is a young doctor who's just been introduced to the Monmow disease, which transforms humans into dog-like beasts and kills them within a month of the metamorphosis. While studying the pathology of the disease Kirihito himself becomes an unknowing guinea pig for his hospital's research into it. Under the auspices of research, Kirihito is sent to a remote village in the mountains, where he contracts the Monmow disease himself, and through a series of misfortunes, becomes estranged from his beautiful fiancée, Izumi Yoshinaga (the daughter of his hospital's Director and Chief Physician), and his close friend and rival, Urabe.

As the disease begins to transform Kirihito's body physically, the sudden metamorphosis impacts his character. Kirihito soon begins to doubt the medical world and after much resistance breaks down to accept his new role as a monster and spiritual figure in the quaint rural village he now lives in. Whether he is able to come to terms with his new life, however, it is certain that society will see him very differently. Quickly it becomes certain that Kirihito's life will be continuous strife dictated by the hospital that once employed him and is now looking to attain international acclaim by revealing the secrets (albiet incorrect) of Monmow's Disease.

It quickly becomes the secret mission of Urabe and Yoshinaga to find Kirihito and uncover the conspiracy and mystery behind this medical phenomenon, though Urabe seems to have motives of his own as pertains to the beautiful fiancée. Urabe, however, that is able to link the Monmow disease directly to water that runs from the mountain village where Kirihito is trapped, and the two doctors will independently discover the truth about Monmow. (Amazon.com description)

Review: Sometimes it’s really hard to sum up thoughts on a work. Ode to Kirihito is one of those ones. Kirihito is an honest, driven man, determined to not shake the boat too much. However, his honesty is a two-edged sword: When he goes against the hospital director and feels that he has discovered the true origin of Monmow disease, he is put in the sites of a man that will stop at nothing to support his theory and gain power and prestige from it.

You can tell what era this was written in. Osamu doesn’t shy away from showing the injustices that were perpetrated on people back then. There’s blatant prejudice and racism. At one point a character is nearly killed because she’s white, and (paraphrase) whites couldn’t catch a disease that until then had only been recorded in colored communities. Women are incredibly disenfranchised, with rape occurring several times simply because the man committing them was in love with them and ‘couldn’t control himself’. Sexuality plays a big part, from being used to oppress others to showing that even those who have differences aren’t all bad, as the racism works to show plays of power on the international stage.

It’s against this background that Kirihito must try and find a way to reveal the origins of the disease. He fights against ignorance and misinformation, and sometimes against simple blind hatred towards those who are different. Along the way he deals with the struggle of being considered less than human and the humiliation that comes with it, the question of whether it’s worth trying to survive in such unforgiving conditions, and whether he can actually succeed in his mission to avenge the woman he loved and find a way to right the misinformation the hospital director is trying to pass off as truth.

These questions are asked under the darkest of circumstances, from being used as a sideshow freak for a rich man, to finding a baby dying in the middle of a desert, to one of his companions dying in the dangerous way she lived her life. These events don’t exactly have happy endings. He might find the strength to move on, but they forever weigh heavily on his mind. Kirihito may have a measure of success at the end, but it comes at great cost.

There are definitely good guys and bad guys. Kirihito and most of his friends are sympathetic, dealing with deep flaws but ultimately being good people. The bad guys are mainly flawed, with few redeeming qualities, or what qualities they have dissolving under the need for power or under the pressure they face. It doesn’t make their stories less compelling. Actually, I feel it makes it moreso, as they overcome some obstacles but fail in others. They feel human, and utterly relatable in many ways. They make this story what it is- a brilliant work that showcases the effects of power and prejudice.

Overall, this is a moving manga about differences and revenge, and is a fascinating read.

Recommended: Adults only! People are killed in pretty terrible ways, from bombs and being shot to one instance of being fried alive. There is some gore- you see the wounds, the limbs, the bodies and blood spatter. It isn’t shy about the human body- there are several instances of almost complete nudity. There is also a lot of sexual imagery going on, from scenes of rape, attempted rape, and sex, or forced fellatiato. Thankfully the scenes are never completely graphic and often brief, with blackouts and symbolic pictures instead of being pornographic.

Other titles you might enjoy:
MW (manga)
Monster (anime and manga)

“A Little Bit Of Life” – Four Shoujo Stories (manga) – 7/10 Beach Balls

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. ~Maria Robinson

Genre: A mix of Shoujo and Josei stories. Other than that, it’s in the review for each one-shot.

Review Status: Complete (1 Volume/1 Volume)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US. However, it is out of print, and due to when it was brought over (’96), the art is flipped in the US printing.

Art: The art is slightly dated, though still pretty typical for shoujo series. The lines aren’t always clean, but you have long-haired girls and big eyes. Some of the art is better than others. The one-shots collected in this are from all different time periods- They Were 11 was published in ’75, while some of the others date from the 80’s and 90’s.

Summary: In the review for each one.

Review:
This collection of stories is was the first shoujo manga published in the US. It’s a bit of a shame that it’s now out-of-print. Four stories from various mangaka that sprawl various genres and situations, this collection shows the roots of shoujo. However, I regret that they didn’t always pick the best stories to be published and really show Shoujo’s abilities. Two were very good, but the other two were poor in execution and story. However, the two that are good are worth seeking out on their own.

‘Promise’ by Keiko Nishi (Slice-of-Life/Drama/Supernatural)
A girl’s who’s become lost in life meets a stranger who is strangely familiar, and helps her gain back some understanding and happiness in life. Reiko always knew her mother wasn’t going to stay a widow forever, but when her mother suddenly introduces her to her husband-to-be, it comes as a shock. Reiko’s feeling as confused and as in turmoil as many people do when their parents decide to remarry- something that’s far from uncommon in today’s society. She has a hard time coming to terms with it and wishes she were dead so that she wouldn’t have to deal with it all- like her twin brother who never got a chance to live. Of course, the mysterious stranger who becomes friend and confidant expresses the idea that perhaps her brother is the one who is jealous of her. Perhaps in dealing with all the stress and discomfort of family life, Reiko is the lucky one. This was nice because it’s so relatable for so many people. While it’s not the best one-shot I’ve read, it most definitely is one for when you’re stressed by family and feel like giving up. 8/10

‘They Were 11’ by Moto Hagio (Sci-fi/Psychological/Mystery/Shoujo)
Only 10 students were sent out in on the mission into space. So why are there 11? Who is the extra, and why are they there? This is by far the best one-shot in the volume. This slowly explores the mystery of the ship- why it was abandoned, what happened to the people on it- while getting into the psychology and suspicions of the students. Tensions start building from the beginning as they can’t verify who is and isn’t a student. Accidents begin to happen and things start centering on one student who has empathetic abilities. Whether these students will survive is questionable, and will keep you on your seat! Good enough to have had a movie version made of it, this is a great story for anyone who enjoys thrillers! 10/10

‘The Changeling’ by Shio Sato (Sci-fi/Shoujo/Drama)
Lin has come from earth to contact and research a civilization started a thousand years ago. What she finds is a civilization that had a revolution 70 years ago, destroying a decadent noble class and establishing a virtual utopia. But why did it happen only 70 years ago and no sooner? What’s the secret behind these people that have genetically engineered themselves to no longer be able to breed with humans? This story is pretty short and to-the point, written in the vein of ‘I, Robot’ or ‘Bicentennial Man’. It isn’t half as sophisticated as those stories, though, and fails to have much dramatic emotional impact when the secret is exposed or when the explanation for everything is given. With such weak characters and a rushed pacing, this is a very weak addition to the volume. 6/10

‘Since You’ve Been Gone’ by Keiko Nishi (Josei/Drama)
The second contribution to this collection by Keiko, this story is about a man who’s been visiting his mistress when an earthquake hits. Enticed to stay, he starts reminiscing about how he met and fell in love with his wife. But was it really love? Or does he love his mistress? What does each woman really mean to him? It’s not as well put-together as her other work in this, ‘Promise’, is. It only shallowly explores his feelings for his wife and how they got together, and his relationship with his mistress is downright annoying. His mistress behaves like an immature child, while his wife lives out-of-touch with the world. The plot is pretty tragic, though, since when he realizes who he truly loves that person ends up dying. Overall, though, this is another poor story. 5/10

Overall, the four stories in here do manage to convey the range of shoujo and josei stories out there, but are of mixed quality.

Recommended: 14+. There is a little language, I remember the d-word being said twice. There are two instances of Barbie-doll nudity or where the genitals are covered up. ‘They Were 11’ had alien races involved, and two of them are hermaphroditic until maturation- one never matured and lives an extended life as a monk among his people, another will gain the ability to become fully a man if s/he passes the test they are on. S/he and another guy develop a somewhat romantic relationship, and s/he states that s/he would become a woman for him. In another story, a man is having an affair. No nudity or sexual situations are shown, just his bare chest and some of her legs. Any and all deaths are either offscreen and/or implied.

Other titles you might enjoy:
They Were 11 (anime)
Solanin (manga)
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (manga)
Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms (manga)

“Can You Keep A Secret?” – Himitsu: Top Secret (anime) – 8/10 Beach Balls

Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets. ~Paul Tournier

Genre: Mystery/Psychological/Sci-Fi/Josei/Thriller

Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes/26 Episodes)

Licensed: No, this anime is not licensed in the US

Art/Animation: The palette of colors used is dark and subdued, almost dull. It’s a less well-know title by Madhouse Studios, so the animation is quite good, though the CG is very apparent and not always integrated well. Some of the styles look a little dated, but it has been over a decade since the manga came out, and that’s what the anime is based off of.

Dub Vs. Sub: There is no dub for this anime.

Summary: A newly developed method allows to display the memories of dead people. It is used to solve difficult murder cases. But at what cost? What of the dead's privacy as strangers poke about in their most private memories? What about the effects the imageries may have on the persons whose jobs require going through psychotic murderers' minds and experience whatever emotions and feelings these murderers felt as they skin and disembowel their victims?
(adapted from manga description)

Review: What are the secrets that drive people? Everyone has them. Some just happen to drive people into death and murder. Those are the secrets that this section investigate. By piecing together clues from the memories of those who have died, they discover things about people that are shameful, that are sad, that make them more human and real than just reading a case file.

How does this work? They take the brain of someone who has died in the last two days, hook it up to a machine that can ‘read’ the signals coming from the neurons within the brain, and using those connections they are able to see the things that happened within a persons’ life. It isn’t perfect- they are limited to what that person saw and sometimes heard, and we don’t store our whole life in our memories- there are some random ones, and some emotionally charged ones, and some important ones, but our lives are not stored like movies. However, using the clues within the memories of people, sometimes leaping back years, they are able to piece together most of what happened in a crime. Each case manages to make an innovative use of the machine and what it can do, keeping it fresh and interesting.

However, this isn’t a story about piecing together crimes, although that is a major component in the story. No, this anime is about the people in Section 9. Aoki, our main character, has been brought to Section 9 as an investigator. He navigates the world of Section 9, his own morals, and his family in order to try and find a balance in his life. It’s his questions and thoughts on what is happening that drives the best part of the series- the moral questions and issues that drive the series. The rest of the team all have their own issues and backstories, from Maki, the section leader that has a hard past to deal with, to Amachi, a woman with a slight sixth sense that is brought down in an investigation. Each person gets an episode to get into their characters, and while it does make them more real, they still receive very little character development.

The mysteries, while well done, and the characters, while decently interesting, are merely vehicles for the issues that are presented in the anime. This is all about privacy- how far does one go in investigating using these methods? When is it okay to divulge secrets that may destroy someone’s reputation? What happens when they intrude on another section member’s life? These things extend beyond the cases they work in and into their own lives- Aoki worries about his coworkers discovering his secret lust for his sister should he die and his father has secrets that have a lot to do with him. His coworkers carry similar worries and ideas. And even those issues delve beyond privacy and into things that affect society- you have problems concerning body modifications, homosexuality, and more.

How these are presented and handled creates much of the drama and makes the stories compelling. Everything is well done, but dealing with these is where the anime shines. This has a heavy psychological atmosphere that makes this heavy watching, but a very good show and handles these issues well. However, the anime does have some issues with various plot threads being dropped. The most noticeable of these is Aoki’s love/lust for his sister, which only is relevant for the first 4 or so episodes and then forgotten.

Overall, if you enjoy dealing with moral issues and society, then this is one to pick up!

Recommended: 16+. This is an anime that deals with some very heavy things. One person they investigate is homosexual. Some are having affairs. One deals with body modifications. Aoki is dealing with lust for his sister (this is not exploited or really dwelled on, merely mentioned). This does deal with murder mysteries, so there are deaths. Most are non-graphic, though the details behind what’s happening can delve into gruesome. I don’t recall any nudity, though there was at least one scene where Aoki sees his sister getting dressed and we see her back and the back of her bra.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Mail (manga)
Monster (anime)
Mouryo no Hako (anime)
Aoi Bungaku (anime)
Shiki (anime or manga)
Bokurano (anime and manga)

“Layer Upon Layer” – Serial Experiments Lain (anime) – 9/10 Beach Balls

The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn't understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had. ~Eric Schmidt

Genre: Sci-fi/Mystery/Psychological/Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (13 Episodes/13 Episodes)

Licensed: Yes, this anime is licensed in the US. However, it is out of print.

Art/Animation: This goes for pretty realistic artwork, but with slightly rounder edges. Think Saotshi Kon but a bit cuter.

Dub Vs. Sub: I preferred the sub ever so slightly on this- Lain’s voice was just a tad too high in the dub for me to enjoy listening to her. However, all the other voices were equally good in the sub and the dub.

Summary: Lain Iwakura appears to be an ordinary girl, with almost no experience with computers. Yet the sudden suicide of a schoolmate, and a number of strange occurrences, conspire to pull Lain into the world of the Wired, where she gradually learns that nothing is what it seems to be... not even Lain herself. (ANN.com)

Review: When one thinks of mind-bending anime, Serial Experiments is the one that most people are familiar with, the one that most people will recommend right off the bat. Lain doesn’t start off flashy, nor is it one that goes for strange things right off the bat. It’s a slow build into the strange and unusual. She gets an email from a classmate who supposedly committed suicide… but the email is too recent, too strange to not be from her. In an effort to find out more, Lain asks for a new computer. Though she has no skills, she reads up on them, and builds and modifies. Time progression can be measured in how complex and complicated her computer gets, taking over her room until there is almost nothing left.

While she is doing this, Lain encounters people that say they know her, but she has no memory of having encountered before. She encounters things that were dropped or left by this other Lain, things that allow her to delve deeper and deeper into the wired. As she becomes more involved in the Wired, looking for the other Lain, looking for answers as to what’s happened, Lain begins to open up and make friends. Alice, a classmate, begins to wonder about her, and as she and Lain grow close, things begin to speed up and complicate Lain’s life.

Serial Experiments has spawned a thousand theories- what is Lain, exactly? What are her powers? What is the overall message of the anime? During the course of the anime, many questions are brought up about this. She is obviously more than human- the fourth episode makes that clear. But things are brought up during it that conflict and contradict eachother. Is she an alien? A god? Something more? These are things that the person viewing must decide for themselves.

As those who are close to Lain and come into contact with her fall to terrible fates, and Lain is isolated even more than she was, she must make a decision: Will her presence here make those she cares about more miserable, or should she try to stick it out in the ‘Real World’?

Overall, this was a great anime that threw me for a loop. This is definitely something for those who like mysteries and conspiracy theories.

Recommended: 14+. This has some seriously disturbing scenes in it. A man becomes a creature that cannot be described in words, but is disgusting. There is some drug use. There are several implied suicides and murders that happen offscreen, and one death by fear/psychosis that happens onscreen (non-gorey, just some thrashing around). Because the friendship Lain has for Alice is so deep, this has been accused of having shoujo-ai undertones.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Kara no Kyoukai (anime)
Darker than Black (anime)
Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (manga)
Aoi Bungaku (anime)
Haibane Renmei (anime)
Ghost Hound (anime)
King of Thorn (manga)
Paranoia Agent (anime)

“Break Out Of The Shell” – Ghost in the Shell (manga) – 8/10 Flowers

Technology... is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ~C.P. Snow

Genre: Sci-fi/Action /Psychological

Review Status: Complete (1 Volume/1 Volume)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US

Art: Very 90’s, with big hair. More mature hairstyles for the time, since this does feature adults and not children or teens. The clothing also shows it, with big pants and shoulder pads. The cars are also pretty throwback. The characters have slightly more cartoonish designs than what some may be used to in comparison to the anime. The edition I got my hands on was flipped so it read right-to-left.

Summary: Deep into the 21st Century, the line between man and machine has been inexorably blurred as humans rely on the enhancement of mechanical implants and robots are upgraded with human tissue. In this rapidly converging landscape, cyborg super-agent Major Makoto Kusanagi is charged to track down the craftiest and most dangerous terrorists and cybercriminals, including “ghost hackers,” capable of exploiting the human/machine interface by re-programming human minds to become puppets to carry out their criminal ends. When Major Kusanagi tracks the cybertrail of one such master hacker, the Puppeteer, her quest leads her into a world beyond information and technology where the very nature of consciousness and the human soul are turned upside-down and inside-out.

Review: The future is an amazing place. Humans can get cybernetic upgrades, machines can take over complicated jobs that humans have trouble with. It can be hard to tell the two apart- except for one thing: The “Ghost” that marks out humans from non-humans. Call it what you will- Ghost, Soul, Spirit, they are all different names for the same thing. This manga explores the crimes that can be committed when there might be a little too much mechanizing going on with people. They can be hacked into, manipulated, even have their souls erased from their bodies and replace with someone else’s. The ultimate goal of Section Nine is to stop it, while minding international and national politics.

The politics can get a little complicated, but when aren’t they? There are heads of corporations and nations behind the worst of it, and sometimes you only get hints of who may really be behind things. The bad guys aren’t always punished. The victims can’t always be fixed or recompensed. It doesn’t take an idealistic look at the world.

For the most part, the stories are stand-alone, until the last three chapters. Those revolve around the “Puppeteer”, a cyber-criminal of immense skill. However, all may not be what they appear with this being. It is really a sentient being? Was it a person in the first place? Is it all a hoax on those who would come into contact with it?

The characters you might be familiar with from the movies and tv series are so very different here. The characters all feel more like people- they have more fleshed-out personalities. The Major in one chapter is in a relationship- a touchy-feely, loving one. Batou is even more of a joker, and Section Nine’s leader is a little more hot-headed and forceful than he ever was. With more stories covered, more detail given, this really shines as showing the personalities and quirks of people that make up Section Nine.

The one thing that I must note is that while this was made in the 90’s and is a bit dated in terms of clothes and hair, it is still solid-sci-fi. Bad sci-fi goes against what is known when it is written. Good sci-fi can last for years in terms of what’s scientific probable or possible. The science and technology that is shown within, and in one place detailed a bit, isn’t too far off from what’s being explored at the moment or is similar to technologies that we have. It makes for a pretty impressive read.

Overall, this was a fun ride into the world of cyber-criminals and future technology.

Recommended: 16+. I don’t recall a single f-bomb being dropped, and swearing is at a rate of less than one per chapter. Most of these are the d-word and h-word, but once ‘son-of-a-b*’ is used. There is one very brief, vague reference to drugs being used by one of the main characters. There are only two instances of what could really be called ‘gore’, one panel where a man is blown up and another two where you see a young man being shot (you see half his face gone, but not in CSI detail). For the rest, you see blood spatter, some injuries, and the bodies that are shown destroyed are those of robots. Human gore/death tends to be off-page. The worst the nudity gets is in one chapter where a robot, fresh off the line, escapes. As it was meant to replace someone’s actual body, it is nude, but the reader only sees it from the waist-up. The rest of the time, it’s no worse than Baywatch, or Seven-of-Nine’s bodysuit (Star Trek). Barbie-doll nudity when dealing with the “Puppeteer”.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ghost in the Shell (movies, several series)
Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human-Error Processor (manga)
Ghost in the Shell 2: Man/Machine Interface (manga)
Appleseed (anime or manga)
Pluto (manga)
Akira (manga)
Serial Experiments Lain (anime)
Real Drive (anime)
Kaiba (anime)
Time of Eve (anime)

“What Are Magical Girls Made Of?” – Puella Magi Madoka Magica (anime) – 10/10 Flowers

Love is more than a noun -- it is a verb; it is more than a feeling -- it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing. ~William Arthur Ward

Genre: Mahou Shoujo/Drama/Action/Psychological

Review Status: Complete (12 Episodes/12 Episodes)

Licensed: As of the beginning of July 2011, this anime is indeed licensed in the US.

Art/Animation: While the animation may not always be the smoothest, it is consistently good. The colors are bright, the style is distinctive, and the art can get downright trippy at times. This was created with a variety of different styles- you have fairly normal, recognizable designs for the ‘normal world’, but the Witches and their worlds (and occasionally some flashbacks) are more roughly-drawn, like crayons and paper puppets, or cut-outs over static patterned backgrounds. This in no way detracts from it- it brings the contrast between them into focus, and can also be downright disturbing in some parts.

Dub Vs. Sub: There is no dub for this.

Summary: Beloved family, good friends, laughter and tears - these things make up the ordinary life of Kaname Madoka, a second year student of Mitakihara City Middle School. One night, Madoka dreams of a mysterious dark haired girl struggling against a terrible evil; the next morning she discovers that the girl, Akemi Homura, has transferred into her class. This encounter will lead to an incident which will alter Madoka's fate forever. (MAL.net)

Review: Nothing in this world comes without a price. It’s an integral truth for us, and in the world of magical girls. Yet, in magical girl shows, everything is totally fine when they make a contract- they get to sing or play games, use their magic for whatever, maybe only having to fight an occasional monster to do so. It seems almost disproportionate. Why should a young girl be given immense magical powers for essentially no reason? Madoka takes that question and runs with it. How is it possible? Why is it possible?

And what if it wasn’t?

There’s magic, time travel, aliens, all used skillfully to bring us this what-if of the mahou shoujo world. And off of it makes sense in the grand scheme of the genre. By that same token, the things that we are familiar with are twisted and subverted, sometimes in the most horrific of ways. This is an anime that doesn’t go for gore for a cheap thrill, no- this goes for the psyche. It’s amazing as the most innocuous or happy statement can, under the right circumstances, become a most horrific one.

It’s great to see how this plays with symbolism. The double-scythe pendulum is perhaps the most obvious one. You have themes echoed throughout the story, from mere side characters that don’t know what perils our heroines are facing: “You can’t have everything you want”. Not everything is as it seems- sometimes it takes two revelations to figure out what type of person (or being) someone is. All in all, if you’re looking for an anime that will make you think and keep you guessing, this is it.

What makes it great is how it works so well with the plot and characters. The plot is typical of Mahou Shoujo, and yet made into epic proportions. Madoka is faced with saving the world. Most of the story is taken up with her indecision of whether to go through with it, unable to decide what she really desires in turn for agreeing to become one. Of course, that’s part of the subversion. How many magical girl shows have you seen where the heroine doesn’t take the opportunity eagerly? But save it she must, and her decision is a bittersweet one. The how is both saddening, and yet brilliant.

Madoka really would be rather shallow if it weren’t for the characters within it, though. Madoka seems like most magical girls- she loves others with all her heart, and wants the best for them. However, she doesn’t make decisions rashly, as is shown in her actions throughout the series. Her friends are fully fleshed-out figures, all of them people who want nothing more than the happiness of the people they love, and yet make mistakes along the way or fail to do so regardless. They have all been hurt in some way, but continue to fight. They never truly lose hope for the world. It is through the trials and their tribulations that you see Madoka grow as a character. She watches, but takes everything in and learns from it, making a decision that is more than any mahout shoujo show before her has dared go.

Overall, this was a brilliant take on the genre, and definitely something every fan (and even non-fans) should watch.

Recommended: 13+. The nudity is never more than your standard magical-girl nudity, and most episodes only shows up in the opening sequence. The language level is low, with a bare minimum of cursing, the worst of it being the word for illegitimate child being used once or twice. There are perhaps two instances of swearing besides that. The worst of the violence is when you see one person’s head being bitten off- this is NOT shown in graphic detail, you merely see the outline of it happening, and it is brief. Besides that, you have blood spatter, some cuts, and see girls’ dead bodies which are left intact. Most violent stories are told with what looks like animated puppets, and the violence is merely implied, though you see the aftermath (but as it’s shown symbolically with those puppets, it isn’t as bad as one would think). Some of the worst violence happens to Kyuubei, who is shot full of holes (no blood or gore), shot so he explodes (again, no blood or gore). During one brief scene, two adults are drinking in a bar.

For those who have religious sensibilities, think of Madoka as a Christ-figure.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Princess Tutu (anime)
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (anime)
Mai-Hime (anime or manga)
Revolutionary Girl Utena (anime)
Bokurano (anime or manga)
Serial Experiments Lain (anime)

“Who, What, When, Where, Why”- King Of Thorn (manga) – 10/10 Flowers

Man can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air, but only for one second without hope. ~Anonymous

Genre: Action/Horror/Sci-fi /Psychological

Review Status: Complete (6 Volumes/6 Volumes)

Licensed: Yes, this manga is licensed in the US. However, as Tokyopop is the licensor, its future status is undetermined.

Art: Crisp, clear, reminiscent of FMA in the angular facial and character designs. Plays heavily with light and shadow, with heavy shading.

Summary: Two twins, separated by fatal illness and a selective cure. Kasumi and her sister, Shizuku, were infected with the Medusa virus, which slowly turns the victim to stone. There is no cure, but of the two only Kasumi is selected to go into a sort of cryogenically frozen state along with 159 others until a cure is found. At some point in the undetermined future, Kasumi awakens to find herself and others who were in suspended animation in an unfamiliar world with violent monsters. Resolving to unlock the mysteries of her current situation and the fate of her twin sister, Kasumi struggles to survive in a treacherous world. (Tokyopop)

Review: What do you do when the world you know is gone? When Kasumi awakens from her sleep, she discovers that they haven’t awakened in a world with a cure for the Medusa virus- oh, no. They are in a world that’s who-knows-how-many years into the future, where nightmarish monsters roam the halls of a crumbling castle that they were encapsulated in, thorns grow everywhere they look, and the virus still spreads through their veins.

This manga wastes no time getting to the meat of the story. With everyone in a panic to discover what has happened, most end up getting killed off the bat, leaving us with our band of heroes: six people from all walks of life, that must now discover what happened and why the world is like what it is.

This manga is full of heart-pounding action and twists that are startling. To discover the answers, they travel all over the castle, to various labs and stations. They must face giant salamanders that spark electricity, a frog-monster that spits acid and hallucinogens, creatures like dinosaurs, and human defense systems that have managed to stay running. Along the way they discover things about each other and themselves. Marcus isn’t all he appears to be. Kasumi and her twin have a backstory that might be key to all the things that are happening. Tim and Katherine, a boy who was chosen but not his mother, and a mother that lost her child and regrets it deeply, find inner strength and courage as they face the trials that the castle holds. The other two, Ron and Peter, have the character development of minor characters, yet still manage to play decently important parts. Then you have the mysterious girl and an equally dangerous opponent.

They all are sympathetic to a degree, and seeing what they went through, how they became who they are and why they are behaving the way they are, is absolutely fascinating. It was nice to see solid character development alongside the main storyline.

Not everything is as it appears to be in this manga, and seeing all the plot threads come together is simply fantastic. The virus itself is more than what they originally thought, and becomes a key element in the story itself at a certain point. There is very little in this manga that goes unanswered- the story is tightly-written, the characters interesting and believable, the art clear and the action scenes done well. You can’t ask for more in this type of story, especially when it manages to put so much into so few volumes.

Overall, this is a great post-apocalyptic action story.

Recommended: 16+. This has the worst of FMA-level violence, all the time. People are shown dying- this usually involves limbs flying. There is very little actual gore- it’s mostly blood-spatter shown, even for the worst of wounds (including the aftermath of someone who committed suicide with a bullet through the mouth). This manga isn’t afraid to show bodies, though they are not fresh and, indeed, look more like mummies than anything. You do see a character attempt suicide, though her twin sister stops her in time. And in one scene, you do realize that a character committed suicide (again, gore-less but there is blood spatter).

Fanservice is incredibly low- the one sure instance of it is in an extras page in the back where the author says that it’s hard to draw nice boobs and prefers butts. A few instances where you get full-on cleavage is after a character transforms using the Medusa. However, this is about as fanservice-y as any classical painting. She has been acting as a mother to a young boy the entire time, nearly sacrificed herself for him once, and when she transforms it’s clear that her cleavage isn’t for kicks- it’s symbolic of her motherly instincts towards him, which is born out when she nearly dies protecting the boy. Any other possible nudity (which is virtually nonexistent), is Barbie-doll, or covered up by water/shadow/what-have-you.

The language level is a little high. Though the majority swears are usually not thrown around casually, you do have about 8 f-bombs, 6 g—d---s, and a handful of other more minor swears. It usually levels out between 5-7 instances per volume, with each volume getting a little more intense with the language and more frequent.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ergo Proxy (anime)
20th Century Boys (manga)
Full Metal Alchemist (anime, Brotherhood, or manga)
Bokurano (anime or manga)
King of Thorn (anime)
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (anime)
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (anime)

"Rose-Colored Glasses" - Tatami Galaxy (anime) - 9/10 Thunderstorms

"A thing long expected takes the form of the unexpected when at last it comes." ~Mark Twain

Genre: Comedy/Romance/Psychological/Mystery/School

Review Status: Complete (11 Episodes/ 11 Episodes)

Licensed: Yes, this anime is licensed in the US

Art/Animation: It can be a little odd to look at, but the animation is fabulous, and the quirky story and storytelling perfectly matches that art style.

Summary: The story follows a nameless protagnist as he, in a Groundhogs Day-style twist of fate, tries to find the 'Rose-Colored Campus Life that he's dreamed about. Can he find it? And how do his choices play out?

Review: What is you're Rose-Colored life? How can you reach it? Our nameless protagonist, a new student in college, has decided that the best way to to his dreams is to do... a little bit of everything! This anime explores the ways small decisions can change the course of your life, while sending our protagonist on wild goose-chases to discover the name of his penpal, the girl that he's fallen in love with.

As he enters college, our hero of sorts is innundated with innumerable choices for clubs and after-school activities. Which one shall he choose to gain popularity and the girl of his dreams? Each episode, it's something different, from the biking club, to the film club, to his fellow resident's prankster society. And from there on, you see our protagonist working hard, trying to reach his dreams, and all the while, getting distracted from what he really should be doing.

Returning a little bookbag charm to his senior.

What is great about this anime is how each story ties together. Little things from one episode carry into another- for instance, a pink kimono briefly mentioned and seen in one episode comes back two later as a fairly important object. Neko Ramen gets a particularly big spotlight. And a random appearance early on becomes key in the climax of the show.

The climax of it all turns out to be hilarious, fairly gripping, and almost cathartic as you finally see our protagonist battle with his demons of time and inactivity- to do what he should have been doing from the beginning, and get the girl that he should have been with all along. Like the viewer may be, he was too blind to see it, and that it was there in front of him all along.

The only thing that brings down the score for me was the unnecessary crudity in episode 4. It really could have been done without it, or kept it to a minimum. As it was, I think that those who aren't interested in dealing with breats all episode long can skip it. Thankfully, the fifth episode brought the absudity and hilarity back to its former levels.

Overall, this was a hilarious anime that is definitely one of the best rom-coms I've seen in a while!

Recommended: Yes. 18+, though, since this does end up having enough sexual innuendo to make quite a few uncomfortable. In fact, this is taken to an almost embarassing extreme in the fourth episode, where the story centers around our protagonist as he deals with a guy that has a breast fetish. Thankfully, it goes back to fairly low levels, the fetish barely mentioned or dealt with. It does get a bit sketchy when dealing with other things, such as a guy who's in love with a life-size doll, and there is almost some sexual activity (he chickens out before they kiss) that is mentioned/thought about by the protagonist.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Durarara!! (anime)
Baccano! (anime)
Trapeze (anime)
School Rumble (anime or manga)

"A Strange Encounter" - Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (manga) - 8/10 Turkeys

Bad things are always going to happen in life. People will hurt you. But you can't use that as an excuse to fail or to hurt someone back. You'll only hurt yourself. ~ Anonymous

Genre: Action/Romance/Ecchi/Psychological

Review Status: Full (2 Volumes/ 2 Volumes)

Licensed: Unlicensed in the US

Art/Animation: Very nice. The action scenes are clear and flow well, the art itself is well-defined and clear. It looks lovely.

Summary: Yousuke is bored with life, feeling that he’s going nowhere fast and still dealing with the turnmoil of a close friend’s death. That is, until he’s offered an escape- by being saved from being hacked in half by a chainsaw. The girl who saves him has been fighting the Chainsaw Man for quite a while, knowing beforehand where he’s going to be and preventing him from attacking normal people.

Review: This manga has a serious story beneath the pantyshots and sex talk- it’s about a girl who’s wrestling with her own demons and fears about life, and a boy who’s dealing with death and what it means to live. And in the end, they’re happy to be alive and deal with the problems and unhappiness that life might throw their way, and hope that they can deal with it together.

Overall, if you can get past the panties, you'll be rewarded with a very nice, serious story about life and loss.

Recommended: 17+. There are numerous pantyshots, some brief partial nudity and two panels of fairly sexual situations, a bit of bragging about sex (he's not and it's not particularly graphic), some minor violence with the two kids getting knocked about and the Chainsaw Man getting hit with numerous knives, but there is overall very little blood. There is also some minor language.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Ghost Talker's Daydream (manga)
Watashitachi no Shiawase na Jikan (manga)
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga)
Undercurrent (manga)
Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 (anime)
Dennou Coil (anime)
Grave of the Fireflies (anime)
Haibane Renmei (anime)

“Follow You To Hell” – Anne Freaks (manga) - 6/10 Turkeys

Revenge is an act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice. ~Samuel L. Jackson

Genre: Horror/ Action/ Psychological

Review Status: Complete (4 Volumes / 4 Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Simple and clean. Not that detailed, but good.

Summary: While trying to bury the body of his mother deep in the woods, high school student Yuri is approached by a strange girl who offers to help him. That is... if he promises to be her "parent killing assistant." Meet Anne Freaks, a bright, attractive teenage girl normal in every way - except that she's on a mission to kill her father, the leader of the dangerous extremist cult: the Kakusei Group. (ADV)

Review: This manga grips you from the beginning. You can see that all isn’t right with Yuri’s world- why he killed his mother (or did he?), the delisions he’s experienced since, and the terror he goes through as he tries to hide it from the world.

Then you hit the second volume. The plot and pacing become slow and tedious. You can’t afford that in such a short series. The characters do a lot of plotting and thinking. Things pick up in the third novel, with our protagonists starting out to make their move. The police, important to the plot at this point, also begin preparations to take out the main characters.

In the fourth volume everything comes to an end. The purpose and people in the terrorist group are surprisingly twisted, as twisted as Yuri has become under the influence of Anne- who’s transition from brave heroine to twisted murderess is rather abrupt. Her motives and ideas, which we thought had become clearer throughout the story, turn in a dangerous way. Unfortunately, the motives of the police are also left rather muddled, which leaved a little too much unclear to the reader.

Overall, this is a decent story. Not the best, but not bad for a short read.

Recommended: 16+, and only if you like this genre. There’s blood and you do see the aftermath of the violence- though you’re spared from the worst of the gore.

Other titles you might enjoy: Black Lagoon (anime)
Higurashi: When They Cry (manga and anime)
Future Diary (manga)
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga)
Goth (manga)

"Come And Play" - Kakurenbo: Hide-and-Seek (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

Weather forecast for tonight: dark. ~George Carlin

Genre: Horror/ Psychological/ Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (1 Movie/1 Movie)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art/Animation: While the CG does look a little clunky and the character designs a little odd, this still has enough dark atmosphere and bright colors to make up for it.

Summary: Among the ruins of the city, there is a game only children can play. It is called “Otokoyo”; a game of hide-and-seek. But whenever children play this game, one by one they would disappear into the blinds of the buildings… The story begins when a boy enters the world of Otokoyo, to find his missing sister.

Review: At 25 minutes, this is the shortest movie I’ve ever seen. And yet it manages to be a fairly good one! You follow a boy as he enters the game of “Otokoyo”, a game that you can play once a month, when the lights of the city flicker and begin to go out. The goal? To hide from the demons in the heart of the building for as long as possible. If you reach daylight, you win. Everyone else… disappears. Such was the case for out protagonists’ sister, and now he’s come to find her.

The players discover that the game is more dangerous and sinister than they believed it to be, and our protagonist learns that there’s far more to the game than he could have believed… a secret that is at the heart of the city….

Overall, this is a great short film to watch if you want a case of the shivers!

Recommended: Yes! No blood, no gore, but there are disturbing themes/implications, so ten and up.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Perfect Blue (anime),
Higurashi: When They Cry (anime and manga),
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga),
Bizenghast (manga)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Revenge is Best Served Cold" - Hell Girl (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

Evil is always devising more corrosive misery through man's restless need to exact revenge out of his hate. ~Ralph Steadman

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Supernatural

Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes / 26 Episodes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art/Animation: The animation is excellent. It’s smooth and never seems lacking. Some of it is recycled, but it’s not a lot (and the shots are shortened in later episodes) so I really didn’t mind. The colors used are vibrant, even though they are usually on the dark side of the palette. Though the show tends to go for the darker tones (pun not intended!) it still is quite appealing, and when they do use bright colors it is used judicially, in order to emphasize differences in moods, circumstances, the past and present. For example, her own little world is rendered in red and gold- somewhat symbolically, due to the death she deals with. As for character designs… Honestly, they aren’t terribly original in and of themselves, but the personalities that fill them make them incredibly memorable all the same. The background music is never intrusive, effectively conveying the mood. The opening and ending songs are very nice, but the opening seems a little out of place with its lightheartedness.

Summary: Hell Girl. For four hundred years, legends about her have been circulating. If you contact her, she will send the person who antagonizes you to Hell. Through the years, the method of contact has changed with the times, but her modus operandi has always been the same- you may only banish them if you truly want them gone from the world. Today, in the age of technology, one merely has to turn on the computer to do so. At midnight, and only for a minute, you may log onto a certain website and type in the name of the person you wish to send to Hell. Hell Girl will then appear, and she will give you a doll with a red string tied around its neck. When you wish to banish the person, you must pull the string. At that moment the contract will be made, and the person will be sent to Hell. But eventually you will have to pay the price….

Review: Dark. Depressing. Hopeless. That was all I could think about this anime during the few first episodes. Time after time you see people, dragged down by their hatred, greed, and fear, making their antagonists disappear. Their stories were told so compellingly that (and I can’t lie about this) if I were in the same situation, I don’t think that I could have resisted pulling the string and sending the person to hell, even if my own soul were at stake. And yet I couldn’t stop watching. What was it about this anime that made me want to keep going? Was it the compelling stories of the people who sought out Hell Girl? Was it my desire to know Hell Girl’s own history, why she did what she did? Was it the need to see someone- anyone- defy the pull of the string and escape eternal damnation?

Even now, I don’t think I can answer that. All I know is that it drew me in like few others have. I may never watch it again, but I will respect it for the powerful piece of storytelling it is. Everything about it screams “Yes! Someone put time and thought and effort into making me!” which, despite the darkness of the show, nonetheless warms my heart.

For me what truly makes this anime is the characters. The people who contact Hell Girl each have their own stories, their own reasons to do so. They tend to be young females, but both genders and varied ages do give their stories a wide range of incidents, so no circumstances seem to be repeated. But the endings to their stories also give this its flavor, as some end up relieved and at peace with their decision, while others see their decisions come to naught. The main cast consists of six people. First, there is Hell Girl, born Enma Ai. Though she first appears disturbingly- if not horrifically- impartial about sending souls to Hell, as the series goes on we discover that not all as it appears to be with her.

The circumstances of her death and the sacrifices she makes to protect her loved ones make it easier to see why she acts the way she does, and that not even she is completely impervious to emotions. Her minions/friends are also interesting, each with their own distinct personality and background story. Of course, this story must also have its protagonists that struggle against fate- Tsugumi and Hajime Shibata, a girl and her father who are direct descendants of the boy Ai loved. Hajime, a journalist, comes across an intriguing story about Hell Girl and drags his daughter down a twisted path to find the truth of it. In the process, his daughter and Ai’s existences become entwined in a way neither can stand.

Overall, I can’t say enough about this. It really is not for everyone, as some people might be bored by how long it takes for the main storyline to start, and those who like their anime light-hearted should stay far, far away.

Recommended: Yes. 16+, though, for disturbing scenes and violence. Several people are punished rather gruesomely, one woman is nearly raped, there is implied murder and attempted murder.

Other titles you might enjoy: Shigofumi (anime),
xxxHolic (anime and manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime),
Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Petshop of Horrors (manga),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Buraeu of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Don't worry, I used the blunt end of the knife." - Higurashi: When They Cry (manga) - 10/10 Pumpkins

I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. ~Author Unknown

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Drama/Mystery

Review Status: Partial (8 Volumes/? Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: This is where you see what the anime did with the art- each arc has a different artist, so each time you get different styles. You have some that look fairly realistic, and some that are very cute in style. The anime is an amalgamation of all these different styles.

Summary: After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios. (MAL.net)

The Higurashi manga is divided into several different arcs- you have the ‘question’ arcs, that present a scenario of what happened, and then you have the ‘answer’ arcs- what really happened. So far the arcs that have been released are (in order): Abducted By Demons Arc, Cotton Drifting Arc, Curse Killing Arc, Time Killing Arc, and the first part of the Beyond Midnight Arc. Some of these are manga-only and didn’t make it into the anime.

Review: Reading the Higurashi manga is an entirely different experience than watching the anime. You get more information on the characters, the colors and art is much cleaner and nicer, and you get more arcs, which is always good. You also get the best of what makes this a murder-mystery- you get good clues and you still get a good amount of gore!

I love how all the arcs present the characters. Each of them has their little quirks and backgrounds, and they’re still very loveable. I love watching them interact, and you get more of that here.

There really isn’t much more to say than what’s in the review of the anime, but I have to say, the manga manages to outdo it because of key information that you get that isn’t present in the anime.

Overall, this is one of the best horror manga out there.

Recommended: Most definitely! 16+ readers, please, for heavy gore and some minor fanservice in some of the arcs.

Other titles you might enjoy:
Future Diary (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"Everyone, live on." - Higrashi: When They Cry S2 (anime) - 8/10 Pumpkins

The future is called "perhaps," which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you. ~Tennessee Williams

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Psychological/Drama

Review Status: Full (24 Episodes/24 Episodes)

Licensed: Unlicensed in the US

Art/Animation: The art and animation is on par with the first season. Colors are still a tad washed-out, but overall decent.

Summary: Continuing from the first series, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Kai begins to shed some light on the dark mysteries prevalent in the preceding season. The young group of friends in the town of Hinamizawa continue to enter terrible conflicts with one another in their never ending summer of 1983, often ending with the brutal murder of one of their numbers. Furude Rika, with the help of her spiritual friend Hanyuu, tackles challenges over and over, trying her best to keep their lives from coming to a tragic end. With no end to the torture in sight, Rika must call upon the bonds of friendship and trust among her friends to discover the true villain of this eternal June. (MAL.net)

Review: If you wondered what happened to the town of Hinamizawa after all the death had finished, this series starts off with a glimpse into it. You gain a few more clues into the mystery of the town and what happened, and then are shot off into a few more mystery arcs before the true villain of the series is revealed.

This gives you the background of the happenings- why the people died, why the murderers were killing, and why the murderer was so determined to destroy Hinamizawa. And finally, you get the finale of whether the friends manage to stop it all in time to save themselves and their fellow villiagers.

While it does seem a little anti-climactic, it still was nice to see it all come to an end.

Overall, I loved seeing how all the characters came together to solve the mystery and defeat the bad guys. A must-see to complete the series!

Recommended: Yes. But since there is still some blood/gore, I still recommend this for those 16+

Other titles you might enjoy: Higurashi: When They Cry first season (anime),
Higrashi: When They Cry (manga),
Future Diary (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime or manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)

"To Change The Future..." - Future Diary (manga) - 9/10 Pumpkins

When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened. ~John M. Richardson, Jr.

Genre: Horror/Psychological/Action/Supernatural/Shounen

Review Status: Partial (6 Volumes/? Volumes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US

Art: Good, solid. It may not be anything special, but it isn’t bad by far!

Summary: Middle school 2nd year, Amano Yukiteru, is a boy who has problem making friends. He thinks of himself as a bystander and will always write down everything he sees in a cell phone diary.

Tormented by solitude, Yukiteru began to imagine things like a friend called Deus Ex Machina who is apparently the Lord of Time & Space. Seeing Yukiteru's miserable state, Deus gives him a new ability. His diary will now record events that will happen in the near future. Yukiteru is then forced to participate in a game which the winner will become Deus's successor. (Mangaupdates)

Review: This manga came out to little fanfare a while ago. I picked it up, not quite knowing what I was going to find. It turned out to be a Death Note-esque blend of plots, action, and sheer excitement.

The characters are all very different, with understandable (and sometimes despicable) motivations for participating in the game to become Deus’ successor. Yukiteru, our protagonist, doesn’t want to participate, but soon realizes that unless he wants his existence wiped from the face of the earth he must. Along his way he picks up a motley crew of other players and friends. They help and support him in his battle to keep the others from winning, because if he doesn’t then his family and friends are at risk. Explosions and gunfights abound here as they try to kill eachother of- some in fairly simple ways, others in ways that are pretty out-there but fantastic to watch!

The story develops wonderfully, and quickly. He encounters his first rival within the first volume, discovering that truly anyone could be a fellow player. The players are willing to do anything to win, including threatening those he cares about. There are certain restrictions to the usage of the Future Dairies. Each one has its own restrictions and limitations. There’s a lot of interesting ways to see how different ones work together, and how the loopholes can be exploited.

The only thing I have against this is that around volume six-heck, in volume three there's a big one!- definite moral ambiguities comes into play. Some people would probably put this down to certain moral lines being crossed, though others would likely understand or still want our protagonist to win, hoping that when he does he will set things right as the new Deus. I will continue the story myself to see how it all works out.

Overall, this is a solid psychological series that will leave you at the edge of your seat!

Recommended: Yes. It does have a lot of disturbing deaths and some gore, there is some sexually suggestive stuff (including rape), some partial nudity, so 16+, please!

Other titles you might enjoy: When They Cry (anime and manga),
MPD Psycho (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Doubt (manga),
Deadman Wonderland (manga and anime),
Liar Game (manga),
Future Diary spin-offs (Future Diary: Mosaic, and Future Diary: Paradox)(manga)

"Found you, Keiichi-kun..." - When They Cry (anime) - 9/10 Pumpkins

Destiny is something not be to desired and not to be avoided. a mystery not contrary to reason, for it implies that the world, and the course of human history, have meaning. ~Dag Hammarskjold

Genre: Horror/Mystery/Drama/Psychological

Review Status: Complete (26 Episodes / 26 Episodes)

Licensed: Licensed in the US
Art/Animation: The colors tend to be a little washed-out, and the art isn’t as nice as I’ve seen elsewhere. The good news is that the animation is decent, and overall it does what it sets out to do- tell a muder-mystery that’s happening in a small town!

Summary: After moving into the quiet town of Hinamizawa, Maebara Keiichi spends his days blissfully in school often playing games with his local friends. However, appearances can be deceiving. One fateful day, Keiichi stumbles upon news of a murder that had occurred in Hinamizawa. From this point on, horrific events unfold in front of Keiichi, as he soon learns his close friends may not be all that they seem. Based on the amateur mystery game by 7th Expansion, the story is told in a series of different scenarios. (MAL.net)

Review: When They Cry, or as it is more famously known, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, is a story about a group of friends that are the victims of horrific happenings. The story is told in arcs- a series of ‘question’ and ‘answer’ arcs, with each arc presenting a different scenario of the events that lead to the death of the protagonists. While at first it seems like nothing but an excuse for a gore fest, as you keep watching you realize that all isn’t as it seems with the murders. As you see first one person’s view of the same events, then another’s, people who at first seem innocent suddenly have deadly motivations, and others who seem like likely suspects turn out to be allies.

The characters are all sympathetic. You can’t help but like each quirky member, from the mischevious but scarred Sakoto to the tortured but gentle Rena. Each member has their own past and history- some good, some not so much. But they all smile with the others- they love their friends.

The only problem that I can really point out is that when transferring mediums from manga to anime, there were some key bits of information about the characters that got left behind or on the cutting room floor. Even without that information, as you get the bits and pieces of what’s going on and start to piece the clues together, you end up with a mystery as fantastic as any.

Overall, if you can get past the gore and violence then you have a great series.

Recommended: Because the violence and gore can be graphic and disturbing, 16+. But yes, this is a great series.

Other titles you might enjoy: Higurashi: When They Cry (manga),
Future Diary (manga),
Bizenghast (manga),
Elfen Lied (anime and manga),
Shiki (anime),
Denpateki na Kanojo (anime),
Hell Girl (anime),
Perfect Blue (anime),
Kara no Kyoukai (anime),
Monster (anime or manga),
Paranoia Agent (anime)
Muhyo and Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation (manga)