Tuesday, 8 January 2013
[Alcot Honey Comb] 1/2 Summer (JAP)
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Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage Preview
Anime Info
Synonyms: Black Lagoon 2nd Season, Black Lagoon Second
Season
Japanese Title: BLACK LAGOON the Second Barrage
Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Oct 3, 2006 to Dec 19, 2006
Producers: Madhouse Studios, Geneon Universal
Entertainment, Front Line, FUNimation Entertainment
Genres: Action, Seinen
Duration: 24 min. per episode
Rating: R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Synopsis:
Okajima Rokuro - now known almost exclusively as 'Rock' -
was once a typical, put-upon Japanese businessman. Then, on a routine business
trip, he was kidnapped and ransomed by the Lagoon Company: a band of mercenary
pirates operating out of the crime-riddled city of Roanapur. Abandoned by his
bosses, he joined the Lagoon Company. Now he must try and stay afloat amongst
the ever-shifting politics of the criminal underworld, while simultaneously
avoiding death at the hands of his quick-tempered, gun-toting co-worker, 'Two
Hand' Revy.
Review:
Less episodic than the first “Black Lagoon” season, “The
Second Barrage” features only three story arcs, the first two are three
episodes long each and the final, closing story arc spans six episodes.
Filled with crazy gun-toting babes, wild shoot-outs, mob
wars and non-stop action “Black Lagoon” as it's a roller-coaster ride that
rarely slows down the pace.
When it does slow down, it finds time to have the characters
take a look at the insane, rotten world they live in, walking a fine line
between idolizing and condemning that criminal world, depending on which
character's view is being explored. This is an interesting element; as it makes
the series more realistic, as for humans, right and wrong still do depend on
their personal outlook in life.
Especially the first plot arc, featuring child assassins
that were severely abused as children who left them mentally scarred and
severely psychotic, handles some very heavy ethic themes. But it does so well,
not shying from showing sickening things, they make you stop and think at how
such events can affect people and twist their lives and personalities into
misery you do not even want to imagine.
Most character development is seen in Revy and Rock,
although their personalities and positions at the end of the series may not
seem very different than before, they both have changed significantly.
Rock remains an interesting character since he never truly
delves into the criminal world of his comrades of the Lagoon crew. This is even
a pivotal plot point in the final arc, where he is quite accurately accused of
remaining in the twilight, not choosing to either return to a normal life or to
fully accept a criminal life like the others.
In the end Rock acknowledges he hasn't chosen a life like
Revy's, but he has said goodbye to his past in Japan. He consciously remains in
the twilight because he feels it gives him a unique vantage point on
everything, a view and insight the others can no longer have because they are
lost in the criminal world. So while his position remains roughly the same,
Rock does change as he was forced to reflect on his life and the choices he
made, motivating them with renewed reasons.
Revy still is as foul mouthed and short tempered as ever,
but we see she suffers an internal struggle. She wants to push Rock away and
send him back to the normal world because she feels he cannot really live in
her criminal world. Yet we also see signs of her humanity, wanting to hold onto
Rock and perhaps change her own life, to finally escape from the world of death
and despair she has always lived in.
Revy also begins to show surprisingly humane and soft
expressions around Rock, and it seems being around him has had a positive, soothing
influence on her. This may be something she sought herself, as she was the one
who originally invited Rock into the Lagoon crew, into her world. No matter how
much she may state he doesn't belong there, she was the one who brought him in
and Rock chooses to stay there.
No matter how much their personalities may be opposites and
collide, Rock and Revy's own bond continually grows, showing a deep trust has
formed between them.
Even when Revy gets frustrated because she does not
understand what Rock is thinking or what he wants to achieve, she eventually
tries and comes to understand him, something she would not do for another
person. Rock too seems to become better at handling Revy, and while he may
never fully understand her, he doesn't pity her because of her past and accepts
her for who she is.
We also get some surprising new insights into Balalaika, no
doubt to make her look more sympathetic to the viewer's eye or perhaps to make
the juxtaposition between her innocent youth years a stark contrast to her
blood lust as a capable leader of her former Russian army troops, part of the
Russian Mafia group 'Hotel Moscow'.
Only Dutch and Benny do not get much more character
development and end up barely appearing in the closing story arc which takes
place largely in Japan.
Animation in “Black Lagoon: The Second Barrage” is good, all
the characters are distinguishable and well animated in most scenes, this goes
for the action as well. However dips in the animation can be seen here and
there, but never to the point where it bothered me.
The soundtrack is fine, with typical guitar and fast beats
to accentuate the action, though this second season also featured a mellower
ballad for the child assassin arc. The eclectic opener 'Red Faction' by Mell is
used this second season as well, which is fine with me as it's a catchy tune
with raw guitar chords.
Thursday, 27 December 2012
Black Lagoon Reviews
Anime Info
Japanese titles: ブラック・ラグーン
Type: TV
Episodes: 12
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Apr 9, 2006 to Jun 25, 2006
Producers:
Madhouse Studios, Geneon Universal Entertainment, FUNimation Entertainment
Genres:
Action, Seinen
Duration:
24 min. per episode
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Synopsis:
Okajima Rokuro is a Japanese businessman in a town full of
Japanese businessmen. His normal day consists of social drinking with clients
and being kicked around by his bosses. He finally gets a break though, as he's
sent by his company to the tropical seas of Eastern China to deliver a disc.
But his boat gets hijacked by a band of mercenaries hired to retrieve the disc.
Rock (as he is newly dubbed by his captors) catches the interest of the only
female mercenary Revy as she thinks he's worth a ransom, taking him hostage.
However, the disc that was stolen has a terrible secret that's unknown to Rock,
which causes massive confusion and chaos for both him and his kidnappers.
Reviews:
Black Lagoon is an Anime that centers on a group of modern
pirates who call themselves the 'Lagoon Delivery Company'. They operate in
Southeast Asia, and they basically deliver anything at all as long as the price
is right.
Story wise, the episodes are a collection of completely unrelated
short stories, showing the different jobs that the Lagoon Delivery Company
takes on. The storyline are fairly unique, ranging from a run in with a bunch
of wannabe Nazis to delivering papers for a Chinese Triad. Each short story is
packed with action and superb gunfights, and the plot speeds along, leaving no
time to be bored.
There isn't an 'actual plot' to link the whole series
together, but with all the fast-paced action, you don't really miss it.
However, there are some recurring elements that tie the series together, such
as the belief that there is no such thing as right or wrong, it just depends on
how something is justified.
The animation quality for Black Lagoon is amazing,
especially during the gunfights. The overall animation is extremely smooth and
character movement is fluid, without annoying jerks in the animation. Also I
love the angles that are chosen, as well as how they frame certain scenes, as
it increases the impact that the animation gives.
The images are also well rendered and extremely detailed,
especially the guns. Black Lagoon is rather more realistic than other Anime and
features very few exaggerated facial expressions and the like. Heavy attention
is paid to details, especially in the rendering of the backgrounds. The
animators also play around with dramatic lighting a lot, and this helps to
create extremely outstanding scenes.
In terms of sound, the upbeat OP fits the show extremely
well, while the ED is a quiet enigmatic piece. A unique feature of the ED is
that unlike most other Anime, there is no clean break between the episode and
the ED. The ED starts softly when the episode ends, and blends in very nicely.
Most of the in-episode music for Black Lagoon is fast and
upbeat, and it fits the situation extremely well, and at times, it helps to
create a very tense and dramatic atmosphere, which is very fitting for Black
Lagoon, considering the nature of this Anime.
Characters may seem to be somewhat stereotypical at first,
but as the series progresses, we discover the many different aspects of each
character's personality. Black Lagoon places a lot more emphasis on character
development than most gun fighting Anime, and the interactions between
characters are interesting to watch.
The main characters are very diverse, each of them having a
different set of beliefs and their own strengths and weaknesses. There are no
perfect characters in Black Lagoon, every one of them has some kind of fault,
and that makes them all the more human, allowing viewers to empathize with them
more.
Throughout the series, many minor characters are also thrown
into the mix, each of them unique in their own special way. While some
stereotypes may be present in Black Lagoon, the characters are still sure to
surprise you in some way or another.
I gave this series an overall 10, but I will be the first to
admit that it may have been a little biased because I love action. But still,
Black Lagoon is an amazing Anime, with high quality animation and a fitting
soundtrack. If you are the type who cannot stand long, drawn out stories, then
Black Lagoon is the Anime for you. With the fast-paced and epic butt-kicking
action, Black Lagoon promises not to disappoint.
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
[Minori] Natsuzora no Perseus (JAP)
VISUAL NOVEL INFO
Title: Natsuzora no Perseus
Original title: 夏空のペルセウス
Aliases: The Brave Under The Summer Sky
Developer: Minori
Publishers: Minori
Release Date: 2012-12-21
Description
Toono Shinra and his younger sister Ren have an ability to move a person's pain to themselves or other people. Due a certain circumstances, they move to a village in prefecture Nagano located near the Iida City to started a new life. There they befriended 3 girls who each actually have harbored a pain for a long time.
Will they able to heal the girls' pain?
Toono Shinra and his younger sister Ren have an ability to move a person's pain to themselves or other people. Due a certain circumstances, they move to a village in prefecture Nagano located near the Iida City to started a new life. There they befriended 3 girls who each actually have harbored a pain for a long time.
Will they able to heal the girls' pain?
Main Character
CG GAME
Oh! I really like the art. Minori art is always beautiful.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Vividred Operation
Hi everyone,
Here is the update for upcoming Anime TV winter 2013. I represent you Vividred Operation.
Summary -
An original sci-fi action anime featuring a 14 year old
girl. The story takes place in a peaceful island filled with nature and
technology. There are five main heroines. It is peaceful world where science has solved all problem. Will airing in January 2013. The director, Kazuhiro Takamura (Strike Witches) are the designer of character.
PV -
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