“It is not the sword that will change the world. It is words.”
In the opening titles, we see first Saint Germain, then Robespierre writing words of power on thin air. And the words ‘revolution’ and…
The thirteenth episodes of ‘tactics’ ended on an ominous note as the sinister Raiko Minamoto revealed his plan to break the pact between exorcist and folklorist Kantaro and his companion Haruka…
The World R:2 is a newer and improved version of the MMORPG featured in the TV anime series ‘.hack//sign’ which was notable for its wonderful score by Yuki Kajiura. New series ‘.hack//roots’ plunges…
‘They have existed since the dawn of time. Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. Shortly after life emerged …
Hot on the heels of ‘The Anime Encyclopedia’ comes this comprehensive guide to manga (in translation). Its author and compiler, Jason Thompson, is singularly well-qualified for the task, having…
‘France will change. It must change!’
The opening words of Volume 2 are full of foreboding: it’s Holy Week and D’Eon and his friends are on the trail of the Russian fur merchant Vorontsov whom they…
The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917 (Revised & Expanded Edition) Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy 2007 Titan Books 896 pp £19.99
This is one book that no …
Every once in a while an anime TV series comes along that manages to sustain and develop a terrific and involving story over many episodes; ‘Fullmetal’ Alchemist is one of those rare treats. Each…
“I’ll protect you.” This is the fervent promise that Gundam pilot Shin makes to the fair-haired girl, Stella, he rescues from the sea.
And how have they met? It all starts with Shin, off-duty, catching…
‘Basilisk’ opens in the grounds of Sunpu Castle in 1614 A.D.. It is cherry blossom time. In the presence of the retiring shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, and his chief retainers, a bizarre duel is about…
Volume 4 gets off to a flying start (literally) as the Minerva is attacked by mobile suits on the way to Suez. Neo Roanoke takes to the skies with the Extended pilots Auel and Sting, leaving Stella…
Cagalli is out of her depth. She has been trying to do the right thing for the nation of Orb but events have overtaken her. Yuna Roma Seiran, her violet-haired fiancé (could he be any more obnoxious?)…
A floating coffin marked in blood with the word ‘Psalms’ is dragged from the River Seine. Inside lies the perfectly-preserved body of a beautiful young woman. It is Lia de Beaumont, beloved older…
Modern History
The revving of car engines kicks off the opening images of the titles, so that we’re in no doubt that ‘Otogi Zoshi’ has left Heian Kyo far behind. Against a washed-out…
Burning the Past
The first two volumes of ‘Otogi Zoshi’ have followed Hikaru’s adventures as she travels from clan to clan to find and bring back to the capital the precious legendary stones called…
For a series that sells itself as ‘the only anime to be set in Venezuela’, ‘Jinki:Extend’ is remarkably lacking in Venezuelan local colour. Sure, there are a couple of info dumps about table mountains…
‘Sometimes, Special Powers Are A Curse…’
Mai Tokiha and her younger brother Takumi are settling into their new life at Fuuka Academy. They have made friends, despite Mai’s discovery that…
Freshman Keiichi Morisato is not having a good day; he oversleeps, his bike won’t start, the other members of the Auto Club take advantage of his helpful nature, leaving him behind to clean…
Who hasn’t longed at some time for a magical and powerful companion to rescue them from the dreariness of everyday life? Kantaro Ichinomiya has dreamed since boyhood of finding and setting free…
