Shelf Life

Almost 200

The review: Unlike Lain's dark and morose atmosphere, NieA_7 is much more lighthearted and carefree, occasionally indulging in moments of slapstick comedy that would be unheard of in Lain. The story is about an everyday 18-year-old girl named [TOP]

The review: With Bandai's new release, Junkers Come Here manages to win the awards of being the best family film this year and also possessing the world's worst DVD cover for this year. It's a film that would appeal to families everywhere, fans of anime or not. Starring a young girl whose parents are almost never there, the story is a heartfelt piece about friendship, growing up, and just trying to make the right choices in a life where you can never really know which path to take. Hiromi's best friend is a cute little Schnauzer named [TOP]

The review: I'm probably the only girl in the world who loves panty shot shows, but they amuse me to no end, and Najica is high on that list. With the first DVD + box being packaged with a pair of white cotton panties, you know right off the bat that in of white-flashing fan shots, it doesn't get better than this. Najica is a perfume creator working for the elite CRI Cosmetics company. At night, though, she works for the same company—as a secret agent. She goes around rescuing people that need to be saved, pummeling bad guys that need to be hurt, and being the all-around kind of gun-toting lady you'd see in Charlie's Angels. On her first excursion, she goes to rescue a girl from an evil lady. The girl turns out to be an android named Lila, who is now her new partner. What's amusing about Najica is the low camera angle in many of the scenes. This creates the opportunity for a torrent of panty shots that guys might find hilarious, but girls might find grotesque. Either way, if you're a fan of panty shows, this is high heaven for you. If not, well, it'd be best to stay away from this one.[TOP]

The review: As almost everyone must know by now, two versions of Initial D were released on the disc, a “Classic” version and a “Tricked Version,” word. Let's talk about the Classic version first. The story is about a guy named Takumi (Tak) who drives a tofu delivery car. Sooner or later, he gets roped into a downhill street racing team because he's the best driver in town, so the series follows him and his personal ordeals, as well as his quest to be the best racer he can be. While the story may sound stupid, it's oddly addicting and almost exhilarating. The CG car races get repetitive after awhile, but they're still exciting enough to pull viewers to the edge of their seats, even if they don't give a fig about cars (before watching the series!). It's certainly something that everyone needs to try at least once.[TOP]

The review: Over the past decade, famed director Satoshi Kon has cemented himself a title as one of the best directors in the business. It's therefore no surprise that Tokyo Godfathers is anything short of amazing. Weaving emotion and action into the imposing backdrop that is Tokyo, it's a touching film that can be enjoyed by anime fans of all tastes. In the peace of Christmas, three unlikely characters meet our acquaintance: an old drunk, a drag queen, and a teen runaway. They stumble upon an abandoned baby, and it is then that their lives change forever. Instead of turning the baby over to the authorities, they embark on a journey to track down the parents, with only a locker key for a clue. As they travel, viewers get a glimpse into their life and the histories that they've had to live. With the same surrealistic charm as a Sabine Weiss work, it plunges the audience into a sea of intrigue and heart-touching solidarity. If you haven't seen this movie yet, make sure to put this on your list.[TOP]

The review: Ask any [TOP]

The review: For many people, Azumanga Daioh is largely hit or miss. Either you think the show's hysterical and cute beyond comparison, or it misses your funny bone by a mile. Packed with Japanese cultural in-jokes, a colorful cast of characters, and plenty of gags, it recreates high school through the lives of several high school girls. The audience jumps in right as two new girls transfer into the class—a cheerfully adorable 10-year old prodigy named Chiyo, and a rather estranged girl from Osaka named Ayumu. As the show's short episodes roll forward, viewers are slowly introduced to the quirky girls who make up the cast. From Sakaki, a quiet girl with a penchant for cats, to the boisterous Tomo, the personalities dotting the show are diverse and entertaining to follow. Depending on your taste of humour, the repetitive gags that litter the episodes may get very dull after awhile, as they hardly change throughout the disc. Towards the end of the first volume though, viewers get introduced to the first prominent male of the series… a perverted male teacher who would like nothing better than to stare at prepubescent girls all his life. As predictable as he is, I found him absolutely laugh-out-loud hilarious. Really, this is the kind of show which, if you watch hit long enough, you'll find something that will make you laugh. Truth be told, it's not for everyone though, so if you haven't seen this before, definitely give it a rental before you make any decisions about it.[TOP]

The review: You haven't experienced the beauty and depth of anime until you've seen Memories. Created by [TOP]

The review: The second I saw the opening animation for the series, I was sold. Kicking off with a chilling, all-CG sequence complemented with gorgeous Russian vocals provided by [TOP]

The review: If anime series were fish, Wolf's Rain would be rainbow trout… quiet, beautiful, graceful, and damned tasty broiled with salt and ginger. One of the best series to come out this year, Bandai's release of Wolf's Rain is a necessary staple for any fan's shelves. Wolves used to roam the land freely, but eventually, they became extinct. Hundreds of years have ed since the last wolf was seen, but they're still amongst humans. Literally so, for they prowl the streets along with humanity, disguised as regular people but still able to see each other for the creatures they really are. After all of this is revealed in the first few episodes, inklings of the story begin to unfold and the wolves start to come together. They are searching for one thing… Paradise. A utopia that only wolves know the location of, this place can only be reached after they first the Flower Maiden. Even though she's nearby, the strong lead characters must go through a few ordeals first, with plenty of luscious fight scenes and harrowing escapes. Entwined with vivid art, a strong character base, and great pacing, Wolf's Rain is a must-see on this year's anime list.[TOP]

The review: “Your TV is awesome!” “So is your dick!” Without a doubt, any show that has that dialogue exchange in it must be worthy of checking out to some degree. A contrast to [TOP]

The review: Sometimes, real life is a lot more interesting than fantasy—even if it's scripted and animated. That's part of what makes Genshiken one of the best shows out this year. Sure, it doesn't have super villains or masked heroines, but it has something even better: realistic people doing ordinary things. Following the manga almost exactly, the series follows a college club named [TOP]

The review: Kodocha is bliss in a bag. Almost literally, too, since the art box comes with a MythWear shoulder bag. Regaling the adventures of sixth grade TV star Sana, the first disc is mostly just fluff that sets up the friction between her and a bully named Hayama. What sets this apart from a lot of other comedies though, is that this show is sincerely funny. All of the characters are so wild and so vivacious that virtually all of them can bring you to your knees in laughter. If not your knees…well, you'll at least be smiling. That's really the biggest draw of the first volume. The series may get more serious later on, but for now, the story is simple: Sana versus Hayama. For now, most of the fun is just seeing how all the different characters interact with their environment. Whether it's seeing Sana freak out at the breakfast table, or watching for her mom's weird squirrel-house hats, everyone is just so unpredictable that it's hard to tear your eyes away. For several years, fans have been begging for this show to come overseas, and boy, was the wait worth it. If you're aching for some goofy comedy and firecracker characters, Kodocha has your name stamped all over it.[TOP]

The review: Gankutsuou is an exquisite feast, both aesthetically and mentally. From its uniquely experimental visuals to the lush, rumbling voice of the Count that rolls warmly into the ear in Japanese, English, and French, the series will tickle every sense and leave viewers gasping for more. Based loosely off [TOP]

The review: Even after four episodes, one thing is clear—Fullmetal Alchemist is the best series to be released this year. No, it's the best series that will be released in the next five years. It has everything that a masterpiece needs: an engaging storyline, engrossing characters, deep messages, and enough action and humor to keep any viewer riveted. There is one cardinal rule of alchemy, and it's that nothing can be created unless something of equal value is exchanged. Challenging this rule, Ed and Al tried to resurrect their dead mother, but the reaction that took place ripped away Ed's arm and leg, and took Al's body. Now that four years has gone by, they are traveling across the country to look for the Philosopher's Stone, rumoured to have the ability to amplify alchemy so that the Law of Equivalent Exchange no longer applies. Following one lead after another, their travels take them to many a deserted town, each filled with its own dangers and dirty secrets. Captivating and wonderfully written, this series is a requirement for any anime fan's collection.[TOP]

The review: What the hell did I just waste an hour of my life on? This?! Some may argue that Eiken is a parody of all the bad anime elements out there, like the ginormous bouncing breasts, the tentacle rape, and the milquetoast hero, but I honestly, there's no excuse for this [TOP]

The review: It's all about the flavah, baby, and Samurai Champloo's exploding with it. From the lame (it it, it's hokey) opening theme to the record scratches that dot the episodes, the show is body rolling with style. Mugen and Jin's lives were crossed when they ended up on the executioner's block together. They escape with the help of their sick samurai skills and a peppy girl named Fuu, but now they have to carry out a promise to track down a samurai who smells of sunflowers. Along the way, they wind up as bodyguards for the yakuza, fighting each other on opposing sides. Mixing exciting sword fights with a suave hip hop soundtrack, Samurai Champloo is really in a class of its own. The characters are a firecracker of energy and the swordfights are a hurrah a minute. Throw in those sexy beats to make it stand out from all the other samurai shows, and we've got one hell of a winner. Check this out.[TOP]