Anime Dreamer #2 woohoo!!!

Yes, yes I know I haven’t been around, and this one has been pushed back in favor for 2 or 3 things that’ve been going on, but lets skip on that and talk about some more awesome stuff.

SUMMER 2008 has come and fading away and honestly, there isn’t anything that has particularly took my interest away from the great Anime I’ve yet to see or are watching anyway.

The trio I’ll talk about this time around -  Air (Key & Kyoto Love), Gurren Lagann (The Almighty) and Someday’s Drea.. *yawn*

You get the idea, Enjoy this Anime Dreamer!

Air

The inevitable was me watching this at some point, and I did, in a few days, and I say no more than – I loved it.

Just kidding, really though, as this is Key (the makers of the original Visual Novel) and Kyoto Animation’s (Studio that adapted it into this Anime) first adaptation, followed up by Kanon and Clannad, of course, it seems from the very beginning it was a magical combination, and this was one I had yet to see.

Air was refreshing, delightful, soulful with a dash of bittersweet love as its short (13 Episodes excluding the Summer Specials) length manages to pack so much in, it feels like you’ve been watching it for much longer than you really have.

It does stand out from its future related titles Kanon and Clannad, as it isn’t [Male Protagonist x Girls = Story Arcs]…………….. then again, it was quite like that.. no, it WAS like that, but like the others, the story varied enough for them not to conflict with your interest in the others, which is the problem with most Harem anime “Oh no, not AGAIN”.

The Voice Acting is great, you don’t question it, meaning it everything fits and just works.

The only flaw with this, which gets a lot of people, is the ending ‘point of view’ that they use, and how it works out, and why they did it. I think its about personal retrospective on how they view the ending… some may find it pointless, well thought out, confusing or something else, it doesn’t hurt the Anime though [to me anyway].

This leads me to my conclusion – this is another Key/Kyoto vision gone above and beyond. Wonderful stuff you just have to check out when you can.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

It was this point, at a Forum I’m at and a few of the members started to discuss Gurren Lagann and I got intrigued, read up on its ‘supremacy’ and how it was one of the true epics of recent times, so, naturally, I just had to check it out.

Being someone who is more used to more detailed animation styles, it was odd seeing this looser, more comic / manga-like animation – but I didn’t dislike it, I grew to love it as the story rolled on; a story about a kid (Simon) who was being told by  his best friend, Kamina (who refers to Simon as his bro most of the time, which is very appropriate as they are as tight as brothers can be) that there is a place above the ceiling of this underground place that they inhabit – a surface – that he knows exists because he can vaguely remember his Dad showing him that place – and before you know it they are going to try and smash through it already. Their attempt was unsuccessful, but later, a Robot – properly refered to as a Ganmen later on, smashes through and then the legendary story begins.

If you want to know more before you look for it, check out our fellow blogger, beaner2k6′s review of it here: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann Review

By the end (I finished watching 5 Episodes consecutively) I was so astonished, so taken by how this story developed into such epic proportions, it isn’t easy to put into words. The Characters, the relentless pace, the real effort of the Voice Actors, everything is just perfect here… and with one of the finest OPs I’ve got to hear to compliment.. it is just one great thing after another; you’re just left wanting more by the end of each episode, and more so every time you finish one. Gainax have really made a masterpiece my todays standards.

This, without a doubt, will be an Anime that won’t be forgotten, as it’s definitely marked its place in the Anime History Books.

If you don’t believe me, watch it yourself and you won’t be disappointed!

Gurren Lagann will be adapted into a 2 Movie version, covering both chapters.

Someday’s Dreamers –

Mahou Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto

Urgh…

Well, I started this because its sequel has been airing and thought it would be cool to pick it up.

First, of course I had to watch the preceding story… and that didn’t fare well.

In fact, I didn’t even finish it. I was getting so bored with it, that I didn’t even bother finishing it.

Voice Acting isn’t great, gets samey, tasteless, very quickly.

Animation isn’t something to behold.. and there isn’t much to say about Audio as such either, I didn’t particularly the OP or ED tracks.

I don’t really need to say much more and won’t… disappointment. [Especially considering the plot sounded half decent.]

…………. it is odd that I react to an Anime in this way, after all, I love Slice-of-Life, and in a way this really shows off what Slice-of-Life is, truly though.. there is so much better days to go by than these. Go watch Lucky Star, Manabi Straight or Aria instead.

Epilogue

I don’t like to end on a low note so I’ll mention whats keeping me interested at the moment.

• Aria the Animation has been keeping very happy… I’ll keep some of the quick review for #3 but it really is just a pleasent watch, it gets you mind off troubles, anger, any negative things on your mind and leaves you with a relaxed and content mood that is certainly welcome at any time.
• Clannad ~After Story~, ef – a tale of melodies is nearing by the day!! woooo!!!
• Theres Aria the Natural and Aria the Origination after Aria the Animation, leaves me with peace of mind knowing there will be plenty of it to see!
• A new Da Capo OVA, “D.C.I.F. – Da Capo If” will be coming out, following Kotori Shirakawa’s path – it will be included in the complete Da Capo boxset released Christmas Day in Japan.

Well that ends it for this Anime Dreamer.. I’ll be off to dream some more..

~ Senseito

Related posts:

1. Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann
2. Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann 01
3. Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann Music

Filed under: Anime, Reviews, Senseito's Blogging