Reviews

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
Anime Review

Fruits Basket Volume 3

Reviewing an anime series like Fruits Basket is something of a daunting prospect for me; it’s just so damn perfect in nearly every way that I find it extremely hard to pin down exactly what…

• 23rd August 2004
Anime Review

Slayers Great

While being a little uncertain of what to expect from Slayers Great, my fears were quickly settled within the first 5 minutes of this short movie. It quickly becomes apparent that this is a fun, …

• 19th August 2004
Anime Review

Full Metal Panic Volume 6

With Full Metal Panic now nearing its climax, both the character development and action have been stepped up in this volume, resulting in a much more exciting and tension-filled few episodes.…

• 18th August 2004
Anime Review

Pretear Volume 4

Prétear has been a fun, if slightly melodramatic series; bringing the kind of adult themes to a genre previously dominated by pretty dresses and funny hair-cuts.

Picking us up where the last…

• 13th August 2004
Anime Review

Pretear Volume 3

Prétear is certainly a strange series, and one that I’ve come to really enjoy. Despite it’s appearance as a sappy ‘magical girl’ show, Prétear continues to surprise…

• 11th August 2004
Anime Review

Azumanga Daioh Volume 1

The prospect of reviewing Azumanga Daioh was always an interesting one for me. I don’t naturally gravitate to these types of ‘cute-comedy’ shows (I’m more of an action…

• 4th August 2004
Anime Review

Tenchi Muyo! OVAs 2

I’m finally able to respect all the fuss surrounding Tenchi Muyo! I’m not sure whether it’s because I’m finally getting used to the crazy cast of characters or if these…

• 2nd August 2004
Anime Review

Kiddy Grade Volume 1

Coming to the UK after receiving pretty mixed reactions from fans in both Japan and the U.S. is Kiddy Grade, yet another high-profile series from the ‘style over substance’ artists…

• 29th July 2004
Anime Review

Psycho Diver Soul Siren

Bosujima is a psycho diver; someone with a rare talent for fixing broken souls and uncovering past traumas. Yuki is one his patients; haunted by past demons and torn between loyalties, not only…

• 27th July 2004
Anime Review

Ninja Scroll TV Volume 2

After the frankly mediocre first volume of Ninja Scroll TV, I wasn’t harbouring too much hope for this. I couldn’t get behind any of the ‘heroes’ and found the story …

• 24th July 2004
Anime Review

Rune Soldier Volume 1

Rune Soldier is a fantasy based anime in the classic sense; big swords, big egos and a bunch of elves. However, instead of taking the ‘sweeping epic’ route perfected by the likes of…

• 24th July 2004
Anime Review

Queen Emeraldas

I was pretty hyped up to see ‘Queen Emeraldas’ after discovering it had been formed in the brilliant mind of Leiji Matsumoto; a renowned anime director behind original projects …

• 22nd July 2004
Anime Review

Serial Experiments Lain Volume 4

And so we reach the climax of the mind bending epic; Serial Experiments Lain. It’s been an incredibly challenging and thought provoking series, and will no doubt split viewer opinion in…

• 22nd July 2004