Darknives Anime & Manga Blog

The Five Kages!

Well, it doesn’t stop with Gaara and all the other Kages are finally revealed, along with some of their shinobi escorts. Things are looking exciting, lots of new characters with strange weapons appear. Kind of reminds me of Naruto in the beginning, when you never knew what to expect from most characters and what kind of attacks they had.

The first ones, from the Rock Village, they look normal, the Kage looks old and not so great anymore. Still, because of this, I’m actually expecting them to surprise us by revealing to be really strong. They were also very funny.

Then, there’s the Mizukage, who I liked because she’s hot lol and seems to have a short temper and a problem with man. Also, accompanying her are two shinobis and I’m really curious to find out about the little boy’s techniques. I didn’t think we would get to see another one of the seven great samurais. His sword looks very curious.

Last, it’s the Cloud village Kage who we already met. They are as crazy as ever. I loved the way he got out through the wall lol.

Back to Konoha. Naruto ends up not being able to tell them about Sasuke. Which makes the girl attack him. He lets her do it as a way of repaying for what Sasuke did.

Meanwhile, Danzo starts his evil plans. It seems he’s not just looking up for Konoha. First he wants to find Kabuto, so he can silence him, in case he knows of his past alliance with Orochimaru and second, so he can get his hands on Orochimaru’s techniques. It’s probable that he will attempt to assassinate Anko in the process. Not sure if Yamato too will return to Anko’s side and end up in the middle of it.

They talk about assassination like a sure thing. I hope Anko doesn’t go down that easily. And can’t wait for something to happen to make Naruto take some action and show the Cloud girl how strong he is. lol Anyway, great chapter, just when you fought everything was settled and only the final showdown remained, Kishimoto comes and makes everything fresh again.

• Personal Enjoyment: 5/5

Guardian Of The Iron Wall

This episode continues in the style of the previous one. Sasuke and Suigetsu’s relationship is given some little fillers that are fun and welcomed. By the way, the OP has been upgraded and has some very cool new scenes about the new arc.

There’s some more filler showing Karin’s character, mainly stuff that makes her look evil. Kind of a waste of time. Anyway, some more filler and flashbacks occur, all very cheesy. Also, I wasn’t expecting Karin’s voice to be so strong but, it suits her well.

Well, Karin ends up agreeing to go with them, because she’s in "love" with Sasuke.

Overall, it was an average episode. The animation was bad, although there was some good art. Still, the main drawback of the episode was the overall low quality of the filler material.

I’m sad to see that the next episode doesn’t seem to improve on the animation. This episode will have some very cool scenes and quick fights. I hope they don’t ruin it with low production values.

• Next Episode: Guardian of the Iron Wall

Fierce Fighting Concludes?
Towards a New Battle!

Allon is not done, and the Captain Commander finishes him. The fight scene was awesome, even though it was quick, Allon going mad and powering up was really intense. I wasn’t expecting the animation quality in this episode to be this high. And then, Allon gets trashed in half, I guess it’s okay to cut monster in half but, normal people have to be censored..

The Commander defeats everyone. Halibel decides to improver her power and finally shows her rank, tercera. Hitsugaya notices the need to go bankai a second too late and receives some major damage. Meanwhile, Kyoraku and Stark start taking it a little more seriously too.

Now that everyone is powering up for the real fight, it’s time for some more Hueco Mundo. In there, Renji, Rukia and Sado are taking care of incoming hollows and the Exequias. I think there was a little filler but still, nice touch to Rukia’s attack where some Exequias were only partly frozen.

Overall, awesome episode, really good execution, they really made an effort for this final episode before the break. And about that, it’s another "no logic continuity" break, to give more time for the manga to move on. At least, this time they announced and explained it.. Hope it’s just some few single episode’s, at least I’ve liked the less the fillers when they are huge arcs, like Lurichiyo.

• Next Episode: Wonderful Error

^Call.76
Home

They attack and Kyle’s defense holds on. Still, the second attacks shatters it. I’m not sure it was pure strength, as Kyle’s barrier is really strong but, probably an attack specific to break it. Anyway, Kyle, Ageha and Frederica stay to fight while the others go find Nemesis’s master.

Once they enter the facility, Amakuza recognizes it as an old Government’s psy research facility, kind of a prison for illegal research (I suppose psychiers were forced). And, the master finally appears, it’s a woman like I predicted lol. Although I know nothing right now, her appearance was really powerful and cool.

Not much to say, can’t wait for the next one and see what will happen with Nemesis’ maker.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

The Beasts of Dublith

Despite what happened, Izumi must follow her beliefs and "expels" Al and Ed from being her students because of them working for the military and everything. Still, they stay friends. They are now going to try and help Al regain his memories, because he has seen more of the truth than them, so, there may be some info in there.

Anyway, Al gets kidnapped by Greed and his chimera’s who want him to tell them the secret to transmuting a soul. Well, I was a little worried about my favorite character feeling weird with his new seiyuu or not being up to the original. Well, nothing to worry about, I loved his voice, his attitude, his animation. Really, Greed continues as my favorite character for this part of the story.

So, Ed goes to save him and ends up in a fight with Greed. He figures out how to remove his armor but, he’s already too wounded to fight straight. Izumi appears and changes the odds. Now, I don’t remember very well what will happen anymore, I guess Greed will just leave them and end up confronted with Bradley.

The episode was AWESOME. Scar’s scene was really well made, and it’s animation allowed us to quickly foretell the rest of the episode’s quality. Ed and Greed’s fight was really cool and well done too. Not sure it’s better than on the original anime in terms of the choreography but, the production was higher.

Really looking forward to the next episode. I’m expecting more high level fights and really dramatic episode. There’s also Lin, the other favorite, who should appear soon. Loving the series.

• Next Episode: Those Who Lurk Underground

The Devil Lord Of The 6th Heaven

Quite a short chapter. Toyohisa wakes up to find the mysterious girl’s "friend". His instinct are set on alert and when the guy standing in front of him claims to be Nobunaga, he attacks him. Nobunaga was a "legendary" figure, long dead in Toyohisa’s time. Anyway, the fight is stopped by the girl’s arrival.

She immediatly breaks the fight by "bullying" them lol. She quickly puts Nobunaga preparing the dinner. She then puts Toyohisa helping too. This scene was really funny, I like the "dominant-female" lol

So, for now, the characters and their relationship is turning quite interesting and funny. As for the plot, still no clues but, there’s big potential. Also knowing it came from Hellsing’s mangaka, I’m really looking forward to this series, too bad the next chapter is only coming out July 30th, and with this one being so short.. :(

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

Zabuza’s Blade

Sasuke gets his first recruit, who accepts to follow him if he helps him get Zabuza’s sword.

So, the first scene was really well done, with all the tension from the manga well portrayed. Suigetsu seems odd at first, his clothes and hair color don’t match well with my perception of him in the manga lol, I’ll just have to get used.

There was a lot of filler. Suigetsu didn’t just get the sword from Zabuza’s grave like in the manga. I remember the manga having much more power when they first showed Zabuza’s grave again, along with the abandoned sword. Anyway, the filler between Sasuke and Suigetsu was cool and funny. Even though most of the episode had crappy animation, the drama and "acting" parts were all well done and very detailed.

Anyway, they have to go to this castle and get the sword from a guy who took it. There’s an attack on that castle and Sasuke and Suigetsu infiltrate it in the middle. Sasuke makes a bet with Suigetsu. I think this was kind of off from Sasuke’s personality but, at the same time, he made Suigetsu promise not to kill anyone. Anyway, we’re told later that it was to test him.. although they weren’t any real opponents, doesn’t make much sense of Sasuke to test him this way.

Well, the episode’s animation was so so, the characters had nice details when interacting with each other. The fighting was crap, even thought it was fluid. The filler managed to stay relatively well within the series reality. The comedy was good. Entertaining episode, I just hope the next ones don’t drag the plot much.

• Next Episode: Guardian of the Iron Wall

Superchunky From Hell

For starts, loved the color cover, awesome art, very cool.

So, Stark is amazed with Ukitake’s attack, it seems it was a Cero. He makes Ukitake use 2 more times and figures it out. Ukitake’s zanpakutou can absorb an attack and shot it right back through the other sword. That’s why the swords are connected.

Ukitake says there’s no problem in joining since the other two also joined together to fight. And what was that about Kyoraku’s bankai shouldn’t be seen by everyone there?

Anyway, Starks decides to test a little more and decides to shot 1000 ceros. Upon hearing this, Kyoraku stops him from doing it with another "cheap" shot. Stark is surprised at him, I think for so quick to finish the fight in a not so fair way. But, Kyoraku has to do what he has to do for the best of the world.

But, suddenly, they are interrupted by a garganta opening. Kyoraku and Ukitake are afraid that someone strong enough to backup the Espadas could be coming, they are already filled as they are.

And surprise, Wonderweiss appears and he brought something along with him. Well, in it first appeared, I was thinking it was the Vizards, although it would be too soon for their appearance. Now, well, no idea what that monster is. Maybe it’s an higher level hollow than a menos, something really strong. At least, it shouldn’t be Yammi lol.

I think we have this and maybe another fight to finish. And by finish I mean that it will end in a cliffhanger and then, we’ll be back to Hueco Mundo to see they fight Yammi. And only after that we’ll see how all this fights in Karakura end. And I’m guessing it will be better for the bad guys, and then the Vizards will appear. Just a guess.

Can’t wait to see what Wonderweiss and the monster will do.

• Personal Enjoyment: 5/5