Darknives Anime & Manga Blog

Invitation to the Party

Jiraya’s dead, Pain says his secret is really important, if Jiraya had known, they would have lost. He had to fight him anyway if he was going to get the Kyuubi. He prepares for that. Zetsu is preparing to accompany him when the other Zetsu states there’s a fight he wants to watch more. Sasuke and Itachi.

Some interesting details, Madara shows his interest in Sasuke, Kisame is shown has having a really huge chakra.

Naruto finds Sasuke but, Madara, still acting as Tobi, interrupts them. The scene was generally well done and actually quite funny lol.

The animation was between good and bad but, this wasn’t a very action oriented episode. Really nice, Naruto keeps the quality level high.

The preview shows an amazing next episode. There will be some flashbacks but, all new drawn stuff, very high quality, with that sketch like look. As for the action bits, they looked strange. Still looking forward to the next episode.

• Next Episode: The Longest Moment

Bombs, Humans & the God of Death’s Disease

So, Shiron could predict the future. Wizakh brought her to help his organization. That’s how they discovered the buried dragon that carried the new pneumonia. She also saw how to make an antidote but, it was not on her power to do anything. The Church took advantage of it. She also found Shlamufen. They let her talk to the king, start creating the medicine and give her the sword. She becomes some kind of saint.

From what I understood, she ended up opposing the Church and they made her responsible for all the bad they had done. Or she lied herself so they would kill her. Anyway, Hamyuts doesn’t kill Colio and actually helps him. Makes some sense since he had part of Shiron’s book and wasn’t actually a threat anymore. She also seems interested in his progress towards being "human" again. And her main objective is Cigal and probably Shlamufen.

Anyway, Cigal spreads Dragon Pneumonia and the Armed Librarians discover it. Not only that but, a typhoon is coming to Toatt City. The Armed Librarians are now really weakened. Cigal has everything on his side to win against Hamyuts, I’m really interested to see their fight.

It was nice to have Colio find Iea.

Very nice episode, hope it keeps getting better.

• Next Episode: The Setting Sun, Shiron & Colio

The Ark Sways On The Lake…

So, Sawasaki, Shizume and Hazuki belong to the Section 3 Yayoi is going to join. They are now, as everyone else, searching for BK-201. Hazuki and Yayoi have some interesting conversations, it’s nice to have this new layer to the characters. Meanwhile, Hei has to train Suou but, she still has some "feelings". I really like her mix between contractor and human mind.

Anyway, Suou’s training goes to the practical stage and she’s put on against some guys. This scene is really funny. It’s cool that they even take some time to flesh-out some minor characters and make things more slice-of-life like. Anyway, Norio gets in love with Suou, not he’s going to last more than Nika. I’m liking that they are exploring the process of becoming a contractor from a child’s point of view.

Yayoi goes to investigate Shion’s house and meets Madame Oreille, I think. Not sure what’s going to happen from now on, so I’m not really looking forward to anything specific.

I liked this episode mainly for the humor. I think the story will mainly focus on character development from Suou for now.

The next episode seems to be continuing Suou’s growth as a contractor and have some awesome fight scenes.

• Next Episode: Gunpowder Smoke Drifting Away, Life Drifting Away…

Bombs, a Princess & a Gray Town

So, Hamyuts Meseta is the hot girl in charge of the Armed Librarians. Anyway, Colio’s group is found by an Armed Librarian., Luimon He figures out who they are and intercepts them. At that time, Cigal appears and attacks Luimon, using the same kind of magic, I suppose. Hyoue dies in the process and takes Luimon with him.

Relia meets Cigal and they talk about their Church. They believe one need to fulfill his desires to truly be happy, enter heaven and become the ultimate book. Nothing wrong with that, except they think they should fulfill all desires, even for destruction for example. Only True Man accomplish this, while Mocks work for them and Meat are basically tools. Relia, the only intelligent Meat yet that I don’t feel like beating up lol does the right thing and tries killing Cigal.

Meanwhile, Hamyuts, who’s really just a cold bitch, goes to find all Meets and kill them, this scene was really cool/shocking. Colio also starts to change after meeting Iea, he decides to protect the ever-laughing witch. Although she’s supposedly dead.. lol Anyway, it ends just as he’s found by Hamyuts. As for Cigal, not sure why he’s thinking the same as the Meets, if he’s just excited or if he wants Hamyuts to find him. Anyway, I called Colio special but, I guess he’s just a normal Meet. The first episode just showed part of the process of their brainwashing, or whatever they do to create Meets.

The art and animation were more or less like the first episode but, the action scenes here were well done. I really liked this episode, specially the last minutes. Not only was it well pulled and dramatic as I really like that dark mood and the stressing music they used. I’m really looking forward to this series right now.

The next episode preview shows more action and chaos. The characters are starting to develop and the Laughing Which story is becoming more interesting, can’t wait.

• Next Episode: A Bomb, a Human & the Sickness of a God of Death

The Long Awaited..
Kenpachi Appears!

Too bad they are making Kazeshini a pussy. I really liked because I though he was just like Zaraki and Ikkaku.. well.. anyway, Kenpachi makes the scene. He instantly takes care of Wabizuke. Kenpachi doesn’t really mind weighting some more lol

Zaraki puts the zanpakutou in their place, it’s like they don’t even matter. He only has eyes for Byakuya right now, the only worth opponent. Meanwhile, Yumichika, after talking with Ruri-Iro Kujaku, decides to stop doing nothing and fight again.

Yumichika ends up winning in a rather simple and stupid way, as many battles have already been. Kenpachi and Ichigo continue their fights

The animation was nice even though most drawings were ugly. Although I liked the beginning, I’m not looking forward to the next episodes, the last fights have been boring.

Medium episode like the others, a little improvement with Kenpachi’s appearance.

• Next Episode: Pursue Byakuya!

Ishbal Extermination

We learn that Mustang learn basic and flame alchemy through Hawkeye’s father. That’s also how he met Riza. Well, I don’t remember any of this from the manga, maybe it never happened, maybe I forgot lol. Still, (in that case) an interesting original anime piece (someone correct me if I’m wrong). This shows just how powerful Mustang’s alchemy is.

This whole episode really develops what happened in Ishbal greatly. Love Kimblee and how he actually was right, given the circumstances. Still, a lot was cute, really awesome scenes that fleshed out the war greatly. This is the episode I feel lost more because of the cuts.

So, an interesting episode. Nice to have everything that happened and character’s motivations explained so the story can now move on. Although the next one seems slow too. Cool Marcoh ending by the way.

• Next Episode: The Promise Made For 520 Cenz

The Fool’s Struggle

Ed and Al go up to the military’s headquarters. They meet Mustang and Wrath. It was cool seeing how much of a threat everyone considers Wrath. And the way that serious moment is changed to comedy was really good lol. Now that everything is out in the open they are basically obligated to not interfere with their plans.

Meanwhile, Scar ends up finding Marcoh who gets it as a blessing and asks him to kill him. A new Gluttony is also being born.

We are also let know that Ling and Greed are somehow "cooperating" and that there’s a possibility Ling can take over. Ed realizes Xing’s alchemy is different and that means not only a way to fight "Father" but also, maybe a possibility to get Al’s body back.

Nice episode but, not as exciting as the others, as expected.

The next episode will be about Ishbal once again. All that was left untold will now be known.

• Next Episode: Ishbal Annihilation Campaign

A Bomb, a Book & a Sinking Ship

Alternative Title: Armed Librarians - The Book Of Bantorra

Studio : David Production

Length : 13 Episodes

Year : 2009

Genre : Fantasy, Action

Synopsis: In a world where dead people turn into books and are stored in the Bantorra Library, where anyone who reads a book can learn their past. Bantorra Library is maintained by Armed Librarians who wield psychic powers and their enemy is a religious society known as Shindeki Kyoudan.

This episode starts interestingly, I was instantly drawn to it but, it wore out as it progressed. I liked the OP too, with it’s mix of noir visuals and pop/folklore music, not sure how to describe it.

We start with Cigal who pretends to become the greatest book ever, riding on a Shindeki Church’s ship when they are suddenly attacked by Armed Librarians. The Sindeki trade on "Meats", which were once humans. They also this Meats as bombs to protect them, being their final objective to kill Hamyuts Meseta. They also have one special Meat, Colio Tonies.

The people in charge of the Shindeki are the "True Man" while the "Mock Man" work for them.Then there’s Shiron Byacornise who used the Dragon Pneumonia to get rich. She also had some special sword. The armed librarians are looking for her but, she doesn’t actually seem like an evil character.

The animation and art seem like a mix between medium stuff and awesome stuff. Little effects and background details are really well animated, like the grass in the beginning. But, other CG effects are ugly and aren’t in now way well implemented with the drawings. As for the action scenes, nothing actually exciting.

The episode itself wasn’t much and didn’t excel in any area. Still, the story and characters really have potential and I really liked the last part’s setting and mood. So, I’m expecting good things from this show. I’ve also read it really improves after the first episode, so lets see..

• Next Episode: Bombs, a Princess & a Gray Town