Anime Review

Anime Review

Kiddy Grade Volume 4

Kiddy Grade #4 is the much awaited change of pace for a series that has thus far struggled to establish any kind of memorable plotline. By achieving what the previous volume merely hinted at, this…

• 5th November 2004
Anime Review

Love Hina Volume 3

Love Hina #3 presents us with yet more signature slapstick comedy and ‘slice-of-life’ drama that made the earlier episodes so successful, but the story has now notably faded into…

• 4th November 2004
Anime Review

Ninja Scroll TV Volume 3

Ninja Scroll TV has been a fun and exciting ride through a semi-authentic historical Japan; brimming with inventive monsters, crazed demons and some damn fine samurai warriors. Admittedly,…

• 3rd November 2004
Anime Review

AD Police

AD Police is a fine looking cyber punk thriller that is let down by forcing us to follow the exploits of a rather crude bunch of futuristic crime fighters. Being a spin-off from the famous ‘Bubblegum…

• 1st November 2004
Anime Review

Mahoromatic Volume 1

It would be harsh to label Mahoromatic as simply an excuse to parade around a selection of young ladies tightly clad in skimpy swimming gear, but then I would be pulling the wool over your eyes. …

• 26th October 2004
Anime Review

Full Metal Panic Volume 7

Full Metal Panic! #7 is the concluding volume of what has been another underwhelming piece of eye candy from the popular GONZO animation studio. There has been no real sense of suspense or drama…

• 20th October 2004
Anime Review

Azumanga Daioh Volume 2

Azumanga Daioh #2 continues to sublimely balance the fluffy mixture of zany high-school comedy and pure unadulterated ‘cuteness’ that made the first volume such a fun and amusing…

• 14th October 2004
Anime Review

Dead Leaves

Cool…, Dead Leaves just looks cool, and that’s exactly what this 50 minute OVA delivers. It’s a glimpse into the uber-creative minds at Production I.G – vivid character…

• 7th October 2004
Anime Review

Love Hina Volume 2

Sometimes it’s nice settling down into an anime production knowing exactly what to expect; and Love Hina is a perfect example of a predictable but still fun series. Comedy, loads of fan-service…

• 5th October 2004
Anime Review

Kino’s Journey Volume 1

I write this review after being utterly consumed by the beautiful, yet incredibly bitter world illustrated for us by Kino’s Journey; a story which follows a poetic drifter (or traveller)…

• 3rd October 2004
Anime Review

Kiddy Grade Volume 3

Kiddy Grade #3 finally gives this faltering series a much needed kick up the back side, crucially giving the story injections of both interesting plot development and conspiracy intrigue that…

• 1st October 2004
Anime Review

Rune Soldier Volume 2

By the end of Rune Soldier #1, the series formulaic comedy was starting to grate on the senses whilst all the time becoming increasingly predictable. Unfortunately, Rune Soldier #2 simply continues…

• 24th September 2004
Anime Review

Kiddy Grade Volume 2

I’m unsure about Kiddy Grade; the story seems to constantly hint at something deeper than the pure guns-and-lipstick formula we’ve become accustomed to since the first disc, without…

• 15th September 2004
Anime Review

Fruits Basket Volume 4

Fruits Basket #4 is one of the few UK releases I’ve approached with a real sense of enthusiasm and anticipation; up to this point, the series has just been outstanding – seamlessly…

• 14th September 2004
Anime Review

Love Hina Volume 1

Love Hina has made it over to the UK with a big reputation for tons of fan-service and many Tenchi Muyo!-like situations (the multiple girls swooning for just one guy scenario). So with this preconception…

• 14th September 2004
Anime Review

Voices of a Distant Star

Voices of a Distant Star follows the love (and tragedy) of two young people (Noboru and Mikako) who have just finished their final Junior High exams. They make plans to go to the same High School …

• 27th August 2004