anime review: air.

Air.
Key/VisualArts 2005.

Animation: 9.0
Sound: 8.5
Story: 6.5
Character: 7.0
Enjoyment: 10.0
Avg Rating: 8.1

Animation
Beautiful CGs, backgrounds are amazing. The characters were well-drawn, even if the huge weird-looking eyes on most of the female characters put me off. Hair is nicely done for the most part. Major props in this category go to the rendering of the backgrounds.

Sound
Air has a memorable opening theme, which it takes full advantage of by slipping it into many major scenes. Ending theme was boring after the first time through. Rest of the soundtrack was good and really helped to bring about the atmosphere of the anime, but nothing to write home about.

Story
This is where Air fails, somewhat. The storyline is enjoyable throughout, but it makes no sense whatsoever in retrospect. The first few episodes are full of promise - light, interesting, and beautiful. True to the game it was based on, however, Air then goes into the whole one-girl-per-episode formula. Which isn't to say that it's *bad* - a central theme clearly starts to form, revolving around the concept of wings. The plot draws the viewer in, and builds up all the way up till the end of the Dream Arc (Episodes 1-7). The start of the Summer Arc (Episodes 8-9) is somewhat jarring, as we're suddenly teleported over a thousand years into the past. Any discomfort is soon smoothed over, however - this subplot is entertaining in itself, and provides many insights into the events of the Dream Arc as well as further developing the central theme. The Air Arc is where the problem lies - or more precisely, where the problem manifests itself. The energy level drops again, initially, as we're left to wonder why the main character is now a crow while everything that happened in the Dream Arc is given a recap. I loved the Air Arc, however - it was my favourite part of the whole anime. I personally feel that the most emotional scenes happen in this part of the series. The problem is that it just doesn't flow with the rest of the anime. Unlike the first two arcs of Air, which talk about wings and dreams and the curse of winged beings, the final arc deals mostly with the concept of a parent's love. And the thing is that it's all so INTERESTING so you don't realize that the story is screwing itself over until you finish watching the whole damn thing.

Character
What can I say? The characters in Air are old anime clichés. But at least they're bearable. The hero, Yukito, is pretty cool. Somewhat antisocial and cynical, Yukito also suffers from the curse of being the persona in a dating sim - he constantly has internal monologues. The other important characters in the anime are all female. The other two eligible girls, Kano and Minagi, are pretty one-sided characters with little or no development, as is Michiru. Misuzu, the main female character, also shows some decent (and much-needed) development in the latter episodes. Haruka, Misuzu's foster mom, is brilliant, easily the most memorable character in the anime.

Enjoyment
Despite some of its shortcomings, Air is a thoroughly enjoyable anime. Everything has this nice, clean, refreshing feeling about it - from the stylized title to the nameless town where the bulk of the anime takes place in. The plot draws you in and keeps you there, in that lazy little world of sunset-lit beaches and little extraterrestrial/dog hybrids. Great anime if you're looking to escape from the real world for awhile.

Saikano -- The Last Love Song on this little Planet

Saishu Heiki Kanojo - 最終兵器彼女

This anime ended in 2002, so everyone can prob find episode summaries. I shan't be focusing on the plot details, but Saikano is defintely worth watching. Why?

Saikano definitely has its flaws. Firstly, i have no idea why a girl like chise would be chosen as an ultimate weapon. There are surely commandos out there much more suited for the job.

Secondly, saikano could pretty much turn out into a harem anime. And once again, Shuji is the typical loser who fits the bill of a harem guy( think Manaka).

Thirdly, It is absolutely impossible to transmutate a small girl into a nuclear device a million times more powerful than a nuclear reactor. Its spastic ok?

Fourthly, A lot more of Chise could have been produced. + the AI, it means more control. Why use Chise?

However despite these flaws it was still great. For one, it realistically depicted the horrors of war. Not the soldiers, but the innocent civilians.

The whole erosion of the mentality of the characters is so clearly seen its painful. the loss of a friend, then a childhood companion, and to know you girlfriend is a primary catalyst of this destruction is just too screwy. Nevertheless, the emotional conflict was well depicted.

We also get to see the way people try to live out their remaning lives to the fullest, trying to find happiness from the numerous tragedies and the immenent doom of the world.

All these are very thought provoking.

And the ending was just a killer.

Saikano isn't my favourite anime, but i'm sure to remember it for a long time.

Black Cat 06

Episode summary:

Train faces off with Sephira and Creed faces off two other Chronos members. Don't know why they've been sidelined, but Cerebrus members are shown this episode.

Sephira is pissed that Train has abandoned his gun =). More cat and mouse chasing, pretty fun to watch XD. The parallel occurences were.. violent. Creed decides to torment the Chronos numbers, and brandishing his kotetsu, (now enhacned with a tao blade), he makes easy work of them.

Bug Member of Creed's team appears. (can't bother to remember his name). The usual talisman stuff, and there! the real ploy of Creed is revealed. Talk ensues and Train is decided to be of less priority than Creed at the moment.

Saya meets up with Train and flirts around, running about, drinking milk and the sorts. Its getting pretty boring, but hey, that the last time we'll see her around.

Thats right. Creed finished her off this episode. and Train, full of anguish, decides to take revenge.


Thoughts:

Sleek animation as usual, and a very nice episode on the overal. As of now the anime has spun at least 45 degrees off the manga track. As a standalone however, it isn't doing too bad. Saya. death scene was very well made, sort of choreographed.

Next episode we see the team bonding. ( sven, train ,rinslet, eve). Its probably then that the action picks up . Yayyyyy!

Black Cat 05

Episode summary:

Train Heartnet decides to leave Chronos. After a reaaaallly long and boring debate, he leaves, and Creed is tasked with briniging him back.

On the flip side of the coin, Sven and Rinslet are enjoying lighter times, since Sven is recovering from his injuries. Some bickering and jokes, and we also see Eve trying to milk as much as she
can out of books available.

Meanwhile, Train engages in a brilliant fight scene with Creed, gun vs sword. Train manages to blast the sword at the hilt, and the blade falls off. Creed is defeated, and he feels very happy because it confirms his need for Train.

Train decides that it is best for Saya to keep his Hades. A little flirting , and Train's moods is lifted after the fight scene

Creed isn't gone for good though, and the story sets off with the Chronos finding them again. This time, Sephira comes to confront them. We also learn about Creed's ideals, and his wants of revolutionising the whole world together with Train. :X

Thoughts:

Pretty much a well planned episode, although nothing of that sort happened in the manga, i've come to believe the manga and the anime run along absolutely different lines. so as an anime, this episode has been a tad boring most of the time, but it helped a lot in character and plot development. The brief fight scene was nice too, probably a prelude to whats gonna happen in the episodes to come. I'm enjoying Black cat for now =)

Black Cat 04

Episode Summary:

Sven and Rinslet team up to save Eve, and they fight a losing battle against Train, who enters the mansion to erase Eve. Sven uses his right eye, finds the room before Train does, and has a brief conversation with Eve.

Rinslet finds the database deep within the mansion, and is disgusted by the warped monsters created via nanomachines.

Train finds Eve shortly after, and Sven sneaks off with Eve after dealing Train a punch. Stopped by uncle. Eve is forced to wear a device that turns her into a monster, and Sven, in all his gentlemanly honor, takes a stab from Eve while removing the device from her.

Train locates the escaped trio soon after, was about to execute Eve, but Saya's words made him change his mind. That night, Train smiled for the first time.

Thoughts:

Pretty good episode, although the whole story is way off the manga, i guess thats how they put action into the start. Character development wise, it fits the manga, but now two development plots are being squashed together. Saya and Trains past were two years early in this anime. Nevertheless, great animation and I look forward to subsequent episodes.

Black Cat 03

Episode Summary:

Train and Sven escape from the mansion.(duh)
This, however, is followed by two important events. One, the revealing of Rinslet as her true self, and second, interaction between Sven and Eve that is to set the strong bonds for later.
Nanomachines introduced in this episode. Apparantly it allows the body to transmutate into all sorts of funny stuff. As if your science teacher would buy that. =P.

What we do get to learn more about is Creed, Train's partner and an extremely freakish man.
He also becomes extremely powerful later, but thats another story altogether. In this episode we get a sneak peak at his warped mentality.

Highlights:
Lets do a recap on things thatcan make a person stronger in this series.
1) Crazy training that results in superhuman speed and strength.
2) Crazy wrist strength that allows Train to deflect bullets with his gun, and fire 6 bullets simultaneously, and reload in a split second.
3) Crazy metal alloys that make bullets seem like cotton, and can withstand the heat from 6 rapid fires.
4) Nanotechnology, ie nanomachines.

So, the only thing that is left is TAO. How are they gonna pull it together? Beats me, but for now, i'll enjoy the fluid animation, and Eve, of course, with her practicing her techniques.

Hiatus

yo. the purpose of my second post is to annouce my hiatus. it will last for either 1 week or 4 weeks. So good game. I have to mug for GCE 'O's in 1 weeks time. so good luck and bye for now.