Saki

Miyanaga Saki is a first year high school girl whose family would get angry if she won the family mahjong games. But losing would also have its consequences. Because of this she develops a new way of playing that allows her to stay on the thin line between winning and losing, the +/- zero score, an almost impossible score. In a game that relies mainly on luck, the +/- zero score is harder than winning, but Saki can achieve this every time. Having always hated the game, her friend from middle school, Suga Kyotoro, forces her to play in the schools mahjong club. Her developed skill and superhuman luck has made her a worthy mahjong opponent, even to the middle schools national mahjong champion.

Aria the Origination

It is the year 2301. Man has terraformed Mars into a beautiful water planet, and has renamed it "Aqua". Built upon it is Neo-Venezia, an exact replica of old Venice, with beautiful waterways, palaces and plazas. Akari Mizunashi, a 15 year old girl arrives from Man-Home (formerly known as Earth) to become a gondolier trainee at a company called Aria Company. The company is lead by Alicia Florence, one of the three best gondoliers, also known as the three Water Fairies. Trough hard training, Akari aims to become a Prima herself. Many encounters and mysterious events are sure to follow on this planet of miracles.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Hanada Shounen Shi

After being hit by a truck and getting 9 stitches in the back of his head, Hanada Ichiro, the local troublemaker in a small village, becomes able to see ghosts, all of whom want him to fulfill their unfinished business.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

The premise of the project is the 70% or higher possibility that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake will occur in Tokyo in the next 30 years. The anime will depict what would happen if an 8.0 earthquake took place. The story will center on Mirai, a middle school freshman girl who goes to Tokyo’s artificial Odaiba Island for a robot exhibition with her brother Yutaka at the start of summer vacation. A powerful tremor emanates from an ocean trench, the famed Tokyo Tower and Rainbow Bridge crumble and fall, and the landscape of Tokyo changes in an instant. With the help of a motorcycle delivery woman named Mari who they meet on Odaiba, Mirai and Yutaka strive to head back to their Setagaya home in western Tokyo.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Spice and Wolf I

Kraft Lawrence, a 25 year old peddler travelling from town to town selling and buying various things to make a living during a period much like Europe in the Middle Ages. One night when stopped at the town of Pasroe, he finds in his wagon a 250 year old pagan wolf deity girl named Holo.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Antique Bakery

Antique Bakery, is a small bakery that's run by four handsome man. Tachibana, the owner. Chikage, who was send by Tachibana's family to watch over his childhood friend. Ono the "demonically charming" gay master pastry chef. And Kanda, a former boxer and Ono's apprentice.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com

Natsu no Arashi

More info: AnimeNewsNetwork.com



Gaaawwr…… I know deep down in my gut that Natsu no Arashi is a brilliant anime. The animation is more than satisfactory. Making good use of vivid colors and lively environment. Nice character designs with fluid movements. Although the occasional drop in quality is slightly noticable.

Love the vocals too. Really matches the personality of each character well and expresses vocal emotions so effortlessly. Characters are more than solid. Something you can really get attached to as you watch on.

You have Hajime, a schoolboy who passionately chases after his dream of being a superhero like we all once did and of being Arashi’s man. Spontaneous and confident in everything that he does. He is slightly unique in that he is possessed by a female ghost, which is Arashi. Kind, caring, friendly and slightly clumsy. Arashi died 60 years ago and has been a ghost ever since. Upon finding someone who Arashi can "synch" with, she gains the ability to travel through time. An ability shared by other ghosts. The other characters in the anime are just as interesting as the leads. But I rather no spoil if for those who hasn’t watched this yet. Cause the characters really are Natsu no Arashi’s strongest and best aspect and I want to leave the satisfaction of exploring the characters to you viewers.



But still it will not get a fat-5. The pacing of the anime felt somewhat slow. I’m not talking about episode 1 cause it was a "preview" episode of sort about the future and also gives the viewers a good idea of what to expect from the series. Instead, I’m talking about episode 2 to 8. How these episodes lacked the punch to keep me entertained. Despite having give the characters excellent depth with sufficient scenes of their past and exploring their personalities, it still managed to feel somewhat boring. They should have script a juicier plot in between mid series to give the viewers something to bite on to. Or at least made full use of the depth character had to play a more captivating plot.

If they pushed up Kanako and Yayoi’s story 2 to 3 episodes early. Now that would have been perfect. Unfortunately, having a big gap of excitement in mid series drops this down to a good solid 4-Stars. Still, loved the beautifully laid ending they had in episode 12.




Sneaky little trick here, using silhouettes of the female characters to give what seem like a naked pose to make sure no one could resist skipping the opening theme. I fell for it every single episode. :p


Belly button fetish is oh-so-apparent as a belly button shot appears multiple times every single episode. -.-"


Kenshiro made an "appearance" too. Lol! and so did Takumi and his Ae86


Look ma.. No eyes! Scary stuff... Lol!


The last time I saw a stumpy nose was from Hajime no Ippo.


Episode 13 = Fanservice aaaallll the way



Natsu no Arashi
Rating: 4-Stars
Torrents: Shinji

Samurai Champloo

Mugen is a fierce animal-like warrior with a unique Bboying (break-dance) inspired fighting style. Jin has a more traditional style but don’t think of this as a weakness because his skills are amazing. The two contrasting samurai warriors are far from friends, yet their separate paths seem to cross anyways. Mugen is wandering aimlessly through the city when he stumbles upon a teahouse where he meets Jin and Fuu (A ditzy waitress, but don‘t think she doesn‘t have anything hidden up her sleeves). Fuu convinces them both to come with her in search of a mysterious samurai that smells like sunflowers and their journey begins. This modernized hip-hop tale breaks the barriers of the common, historical, samurai anime.
Source: AnimeNewsNetwork.com



Hmm… Really bring about mixes feelings on this one when starting this series. It’s been a long time since I reviewed an anime that doesn’t come with school girls. Lol! Refreshing indeed. Samurai Champloo is really unique in how it rewinds and fast forwards, jumping around scenes which may or may not be related -.-“ Have yet to come across an anime which does this so extravagantly.



You have Mugen, the afro haired dude, cutting through whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Always eager to battle strong opponents to test his skills. Wielding a wild style consisting of leg work and using flair to jump around anything in a quick counter-attack.

Then you have Jin, the pretty boy of the anime. The traditionalist yet stunningly old fashioned conservative. gives the obvious impression as someone who does everything by the book yet knows how to bend the rules whenever required. A little stiff at times but still cool nonetheless.

And Fuu. Who is suppose to be the x-factor of the trio. Being unpredictable and bringing comedy and fun to the combi…



Hmmm… I’m writing about the characters in Samurai Champloo. I hate writing about character in my reviews. It normally mean 2 things. 1st is that I either have no other idea on what to write on. 2nd is that I resent a certain character enough for me to spent a paragraph hating. One-two liners are fine by me though :p
Heck even the sypnosis in ANN is better than my review. Shit!



If anyone didn't enjoy even a single opening or closing theme from Samurai Champloo, they are retarded. Trust me...

Despite including clues and hints in every episode of the whereabouts of the sunflower samurai, certain fillers still felt redundant. I should list a few episodes as an example but I’ve already forgotten them. And I just finished Samurai Champloo today. That’s how meaningless they felt. With the exception of Sara’s mini arc which was great!



What I CANNOT forget, however, is the excellent ending. Blardy Hell! I love the ending! Every tough decision made, every action the characters took, every reaction which followed. Words were flying around in my room as I raised my voice at the monitor during the last 2 episodes
“Mugen’s gonna fark your arse”
“What the fark?!”
“Don’t do this man!” etc. etc.
Obviously I only listed spoiler free lines. Despite all the flashy effects, stylishly exaggerated (at times) fight scenes, viewers will be reminded every now and then that this is a matured series as heavy sacrifices are incorporated to the story throughout the series. Not heavy enough to to shed a tear on, but will still put weight on your chest. 4-splendidly-ended-Stars!



Samurai Champloo
Rating: 4-Stars
Torrents: Anime4Ever