Rinne no Lagrange: Final Review

Time to wrap up the Winter 2012 season with final, final review for the series Rinne no Lagrange. This mecha/not-sure-what-to-qualify-this series follows the story of Madoka who discovers a powerful secret hidden just outside of her hometown of Kamogawa. Human history, as we know it, was merely the tip of the iceberg, as Kamogawa becomes the scene of a galactic struggle over the legendary Vox mechas. Supposedly to have nearly destroyed the Earth thousands of years ago, humanity took it’s technology into the stars, leaving the Vox behind, all for the preservation of the human home world.

Along the way, Madoka becomes friends with the alien princess (and moe incarnate) Fin E Ld Si Laffinty (“Lan” for short) and starcrossed refugee, Muginami. As the trio pilot the three Vox units against the Kiss forces attempting to take the Vox for themselves (and probably nefarious purposes as well). With an OVA and second season to come, I really don’t feel I can review the plot. It’s hardly begun and I think there’s much more in store for our trio of heroines. Though, so far, I’m very much emotionally attached and was heartbroken to see the group split up at the end of this first season (I hope they don’t wait too long to reunite in the next season).

Animation was stellar and I loved the streaming trail that followed the Vox units in flight, as well as the detail in, well, everything. The action and fight scenes were superbly framed and my only complaint was that the best parts of the fights were shown after-the-fact, leaving me upset for a few minutes (or sometimes a whole week) that they had cut out the action-y goodness. I’m also not very pleased that Muginami returned to Kiss with Villaguilio WITH THE VOX IGNIS!!! She just delivered the super weapon into enemy hands… At least Lan (the one I like) is on the hunt for her in the Vox Rympha. I can’t imagine Madoka sitting on Earth for too long. Pretty soon she’s going to be itching to get back to Muginami and Lan, so she’s not going to wait much before she jumps in the Vox Aura and scares everyone on the base half to death (and I eagerly await July for exactly THIS scene…)

 

Final rating for Rinne no Lagrange:….9.0 Great animation, compelling story, but maybe a little lax with the giant robots. I’d like more giant robots. More giant robots…would be nice. Not that the cute schools scenes weren’t…cute, but a certain point, it just feels like filler. I have high hopes for the continued story, and more giants robots.

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

 

…….giant robots, please :3

Another: Final Review

Back with the 2nd final of the Winter 2012 season, the horror series, Another. Truth be told, this is honestly the first horror series I’ve ever genuinely watched. And while most definitely scared like 80% of the time, I did enjoy the ride and wasn’t just a senseless gore-fest like I had feared it would turn into. With a premise that became more mysterious with every episode, Another became one of my favorites of the season (despite the somewhat sleepless nights).

 

The story revolves around the strange phenomenon that results in the deaths of many students and the relatives of students in class 3 of Yomi North High School. After Kouichi moves to town, he finds a class held in the grip of a 20 year old curse, and sets out to find a solution with the strange, Misaki Mei. In an attempt to stave off the deaths, the class decides to treat a student as if they didn’t exist, each year, a student from Class 3 is ignored, in hopes the dead will return to death, and the rest will be spared. After not going over so well, with both Kouichi and Mei being treated as the dead students, the gang from Class 3 puts their heads together to try and stop the deaths halfway…

After following leads and a blood bath of a school trip, the curse was ended (at least for the year), with both Mei and Kouichi safe and sound (though, most likely mentally scarred). I was very pleased that the actual “dead one” totally caught me by surprise. No “it was an un-named student always in the background” or not actually a character from school, a character you would’ve never guessed (unless, I don’t know, you read the book or the manga) was the “dead one” the whole time.

With characters you’ll hate to see die, but love to see go bats*** crazy, Another has depth that’s hard to compete with. As well as a visual portfolio that rivals anything else this season, Another gets top scores from me. Rating:…. 9.1
Though horror is definitely not my thing, I’m really glad I gave Another a try. Though…not looking for any more horror any time soon. Let’s run down the things Another has made me scared of: umbrellas, slippery stairs, lightening, panes of glass, idle construction equipment, burning houses, crazy classmates, motor boats, falling rocks….

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko: Episode 13??

Back with a surprise I found on my reader deck, the 13th episode of the Spring 2011 series Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko. If memory serves, this was the final episode that got cut from airtime because of the earthquake disaster. I’m a little ashamed I forgot about it. But I’m also a little miffed about having to wait a year to see this.  The final, definitive episode of what’s hopefully Denpa Onna’s first season (second season please! I must have more Erio!!)

This final episode attempts to wrap up the story the series followed a year ago around Makoto, Erio’s cousin, as he gains, and losses, adolescence points through socializing with friends like Ryooko and Maekawa, helping his cousin Erio who had some traumatic experience and now lives as an outcast believing she was abducted by aliens, and surviving his strange aunt Meme. At the festival (that Makoto helped to bring to their side of town by playing on a baseball team with Maekawa and hitting a home run, potentially with esper powers), Makoto meets with Ryooko and treats her to a reward for winning her basketball game in the 12th episode. Still keeping the amazing animation and fanservice, we’re given a visual treat and more inside jokes that’ll make you want to rewatch the entire season (oh, I want to so bad right now…I miss the good ol’ days).

Later, Makoto meets up with Erio in top of the shrine hill, where he and she gaze at the stars…until Yashiro makes her appearance. She declares that she’s got some truth to tell Makoto, and goes through her “Boy Who Cries Wolf” anecdote, leading up to more unbelievably convincing proof of her esper powers….BRINGING DOWN A METEORITE IN FRONT OF THE SHRINE, EXACTLY THREE STEPS AWAY FROM WHERE MAKOTO WAS STANDING AND YASHIRO TOLD HIM TO MOVE AWAY FROM!!!! If she’s not an esper…she’s got incredible luck.

In a state of shock and awe, Makoto spends the next few days nulling things over, was she an esper? Or maybe an alien? Did she know the meteor was coming and arrived to warn Makoto, saving his life? This again raises questions about Erio being an alien as she once claimed. In the end, he settles for simply not knowing, life will continue, and so will his journey through adolescence, he has the whole summer to look forward to, after all.

I can’t begin to explain how emotional I’m getting being able to see Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko again, I’m not sure if it’s nostalgia, or just amazement at how developed Makoto and Erio have become. He used to be such a socially inept transfer student, and she used to be an antisocial shut-in, but just look at them now. I’m more curious about this town that I was a year ago, especially finding out Yahiro took her pseudonym from the shrine in the city, which was known for meteor strikes. We (or perhaps just I) need a second season!….please?

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku

(I’m definitely re-watching Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko again soon :3)

Tamayura~hitotose: A Brand New Year/Final Review

Hey minna,
back with my favorite slice of life for the season, for the final episode of Tamayura~hitotose.  Fu and friends’s exhibition finally begins, with Momoneko-sama as their first customer… Their show brings in all of their friends and family, from near and far, as Fu showcases her photography, Kaoru her aromas, Norie’s sweets, and Maon’s original recital of “The Fairy of Takenoko; Noko-chan”.

Fu’s photos instill all the emotions she sought to capture into everyone who viewed them.  Kaoru finally gets to properly display her talents for her father.  Everyone can’t get enough of Norie’s sweet confections.  And Maon thrills the audience with her daring tale of Noko-chan (played by Kou).  Even Shihomi compliments their hard work, and points out that, without knowing it, Fu has grasped something very important.  It’s that very important lesson that Fu finally realizes, on a cold mountain road New Year’s Day (after Sayomi took a “wrong” turn) as the sun begins to rise over the city and lighting the mountain view.  It’s through using her father’s camera, and continuing to take pictures of the things she enjoys, that she remains connected with him.  She has the ability to continue making memories with her father when she takes pictures, no matter what the circumstances.  And with a very heart-warming ending, one that ties together all the lessons Fu has learned as well as what Norie, Kaoru, Maon, and all of her friends and family have learned as well.

A very pleasing, and thoughtful, slice of life series that, admittedly, is more plot-driven than your usual slice of life.  Fu’s unfolding life leading up the exhibition are lined with experiences and people who, along the way, show her just what life has in store, and who can be there with you to help you through the hard parts.  But the story wasn’t singularly centered around Fu, many episodes explored the backstory and maturing of her friends as they discover their own potentials.

The animation stayed great throughout the entire series and I really liked how multiple backgrounds, character designs, and intricate side items really improved the overall visual quality to something beyond your typical anime series.  The music was almost criminal how they picked just the right time to let loose some touching melody just as I fear I can’t hold in my joy/anxiety/tears any longer.  Highly recommended to any slice of life fan, and also recommended as a first-view to any one new to the slice of life genre.

Tamayura~hitotose will dearly missed, but I feel like this was a great place to leave the series.  Fu and her friends have their whole lives standing before them, just as they close a chapter in their lives, they begin a new one (as denoted quite well by the New Year).

Until next time,
- BeldenOtaku