Street Corner Of Lies

This show really gets me confused lol, not sure if it’s supposed to be like that, if it’s the subbers fault or my own lol. Anyway, Suou and July end up being found by none other than Misaki, too much of a forced coincidence? Yes, still, it allows for some interesting moments and, anyway, Hei quickly gets her back. About Suou and her being some clone, it seems not even her memories are true (I mean, taken from the real Suou). Shion was the one who created them and probably created the current Suou too, not sure how his powers work. He probably also cloned his father, explaining his death at BK201’s hands.

Mao, who’s ignored and left with Suou’s "mom", remembers having met her before, 3 days before the incident. He was still human, then the incident happened, he become a contractor like everybody else. Later, is assigned to spy on Dr. Pavlichenko, who turns out to be working for the Syndicate but, he’s betrayed (I think) and killed on location. They didn’t know he had transfered to a cat, so he lives. Meanwhile, Asako who was there by coincidence is caught on the explosion and Suou dies. Pavlichenko tries to use her in his secret experiment, maybe extracting her memories so Shion could make an exact copy.. Asako runs away with her daughter’s corpse. Shion, being a contractor, decides to stay.

Meanwhile, Hei tortures Youko and finds Izanami’s location, along the info about her and Izanagi. He also meets Madame Oreille and learns about Suou not killing Tanya and being with Misaki. He gets Suou back. Later, Suou breaks down with all that happened, herself being a copy and her mixed feelings, Mao mentions her being in love with Hei and they both look at the sky.. the moon is visible! And inside Hell’s gate, a being appears..

Awesome episode, it’s just a pity that I’m not sure I get half of what’s going on lol. Mao’s past was a really nice touch. Youko mentions Izanami killing all contractors.. Hazuki swears revenge on Hei, although I don’t believe Hei was responsible for her death, (probably Section 3’s doing). All nice pointers to this season’s finale. Suou’s emotional "breakdown" in the end was really well done. I’m also curious about this new guy.. it seems like he’s the being that won’t allow strife to end but, he could also be Izanagi, since he supposedly hasn’t met Izanami yet. Although, Shion has already been hinted as Izanagi, and it makes sense, since his power is to create, in a certain way. Lots of exciting stuff happening.

So, trying to put sense into things.. The Syndicate is probably responsible for all this mess, being the ones causing the incident that created the gates and the contractors. I have no idea about who Madame Oreille works for and how powerful her two twin dolls are. No idea why the being is already awakening when Shion and Yin haven’t met. The next episode means the start of the final arc, with just two episodes remaining. Can’t wait. Also, in this episode’s ending, there was some really cool Dararara!! preview, first I’ve seen with actual scenes from the episodes, with sound I mean lol, looks awesome.

• Next Episode: The Water Bottom Dries, the Moon is Full…

New season, new anime & some stupid rumblings

Click the image for full-size

There’s still a lot of “past” shows that I want to watch and blog but, I will blog those in single post reviews and I also need to find the time. For now, I’ll focus on the new shows.

So, the new year is approaching, with it some new shows. By the way, I’ll try to start writing this kind of posts more often lol. There’s not a lot of new anime being made right now, at least not as much as before. But, contrary to what some are writing on the “internets”, I think it’s completely unlikely, and even funny, that this crisis would ever become so bad as to have anime stop being produced.

Now, I’m only going to mention the shows I’m actually interested in and have any chance of blogging. This list also seems to be turning quite bigger than I expected, (yeah, I know there’s only four yet..) since the five shows here are the first five I’ve checked, which means this will get big, so, expect another post with the rest of the shows in the near future.

Durarara!!

Type: TV Show
Episodes: 12
Starts Airing: January 7
Producers: Brains Base, Aniplex
Genres: Action, Romance, Shounen

Synopsis: In Ikebukuro, teenage punks gang up and fight against each other, there’s a female radio host, an underworld doctor, a young informant vendor, and a headless fairy. Within all this, a love story unfolds. Ryuugamine Mikado transfers to a school in Ikebukuro, at the invitation of Masaomi. Nervous from Masaomi’s stories, Mikado witnesses an urban legend on his first day in the city, the Headless Rider astride a black motorcycle. From then on, the existence of supernatural cases and a gang called the Yellow Turbans will rise to the surface, and Ikebukuro will be pushed to the breaking point.

First Impressions: What can I say, just seeing the double “!” makes me oddly excited, I only remember why a few seconds later, I then check the studio, yes it’s from the guys who made Baccano! I look at the poster, awesome modern styled art; I read the synopsis, kind of insane plot with some interesting characters and ACTION!; I watch the trailer, everything is confirmed, plus nice colors, ambient, good animation, freaky characters, weirdness and freaking awesome indian like music played by jazz instruments or something. What more can I say/ask? I doubt I won’t completely love this show.

Prognostic: Definitively gonna blog and love :D

Dance In The Vampire Bund

Type: TV Show
Episodes: 12
Starts Airing: January
Producers: SHAFT
Genres: Action, Vampire

Synopsis: After a millennium in hiding, Mina Tepes, the Princess of the ancient covenant and ruler of all vampires, wants change. Using the vast wealth of the Tepes line, she has paid off the entire gross national debt of Japan and in so doing, gained the authority to create a “special district” off the coast of Japan that is to become the future haven to vampires the world over!
Terrorists and rival factions are plotting to assassinate Mina Tepes before she has a chance to make her world-changing announcement.

First Impressions: Hum, got impressed by the initial artwork, not so much by the name. Then reading the sypnosis, I didn’t get much excited. Still, the trailer made me.. hum.. curious. First, it felt childish, then it felt serious and adult. Mina Tepes also becomes quite interesting. I can’t help but compare this to True Blood (awesome series by the way, my second favorite after Dexter), Mina seems good, wanting vampires to become exposed and live separately but then, she seems evil like a vampire should at the same time. The action scenes seemed cool. I’m also curious at the whole world in which this series will take place, all it’s different factions, lots of potential for a nice story-line.

Prognostic: No idea, I’ll have to see, I’m guessing I’ll either love it or hate.

So・Ra・No・Wo・To

Type: TV Show
Episodes: 13
Starts Airing: January
Producers: Aniplex, A-1 Pictures Inc.
Genres: Music, Military

Synopsis: In a future land scarred by war, a quiet decline has begun. Kumika realizes her dream to enlist in the army and joins a unit of 5 protecting a fortress. Together they create music that fills the land.

First Impressions: Not really my kind of anime, I didn’t even took much notice of it first, I just disregarded it as some childish, boring anime but, I decided to check the trailer and it seemed rather mature with the awesome art and animation. Also, seeing how many people were excited about this and comparing it to K-ON, (one of those series I didn’t watch because it “isn’t my thing” but, I suspect I’ll enjoy if I do), I may actually see it.

Prognostic: I don’t know what to expect from this kind of anime, so, I’ll only know after the first episode.

Hanamaru Youchien

Type: TV Show
Episodes: 12
Starts Airing: January 10
Producers: Gainax
Genres: Comedy, Slice of Life

Synopsis: Anzu goes to a preschool with her friends, the shy Koume and the eccentric Hiiragi. Together they try to attract attention from their caretaker Tsuchida. However, he is clearly more interested in the pretty Yamamoto who supervises the class next door.

First Impressions: Lol, this one, I didn’t even look at the artwork but, still decided to check the trailer. So, I’m then treated to some hyper hyped preview about this show being made by awesome people from awesome animes, like it’s some super epic (in the word’s most common sense) anime, the new big thing, and then some completly stupid heavily chibi anime appears. Still, the little ones talking in the background, actually had a really funny conversation full of anime culture. If the anime does this in any way or if it was just for the preview, no idea. But, if it does, there’s a chance I may like it.

Prognostic: At first glance, no chance in hell, then again, if the comedy is anyway related to what the trailer showed, maybe. Still, probably not lol.

Katanagatari

Type: TV Show
Episodes: 12
Starts Airing: January
Producers: White Fox
Genres: Action

Synopsis: Shichika Yasuri lives on an isolated island with his sister Nagami. With the order from a female samurai general Togame, he sets out for a trip to collect the twelve treasured swords created by a legendary swordsmith Shikizaki Kiki.

First Impressions: The artwork got my atention, although I didn’t like the character designs as much when I saw them in the trailer, still, I found the backgrounds beautiful. The story doesn’t seem like much out of the ordinary for samurai stories and the action seemed really good and well animated. Not sure if it’s going to be more shounen or seinen style. Either way, if this show manages to have decent fights (and they seem awesome) and have decent character development and relationships, I’ll definatly watch. Every episode is one hour long by the way, and they play one per month.

Prognostic: I would say 98%, love this shows. I would probably watch it just for the action and quirky art but, I’m expecting it to be more than that, probably a new classic.

A True Man,
A Battlefield
& My World

Too bad, Enlike can only use his lightning power and regeneration ability, he doesn’t have Zatoh’s ability of eating books and gaining it’s person’s powers. Feekiee, who I don’t remember seeing before, has just came back and believes Enlike to be a traitor, as so does Mattalast. Anyway, Armed Librarians have official ranks separating them. Ruweek is 2nd rank, he fights Enlike and loses. They consider his physical ability to be 1st rank.

Now, the Librarians main objective is to find Ganbanzel, who is trying to get Enlike back to him, shortening his own life in doing so. Enlike probably thinks Ganbanzel’s magic is going to haunt him forever and ends up deciding to meet, although I think he’s going to try and kill him. Another supposed True Man is shown, he’s like becoming invisible or disappearing. Anyway, back to Enlike, Hamyuts confesses to him that her true wish is to fight to the death someone strong enough and hellbent on killing her, lol, I’m really liking her character, as well as Enlike, loved their confrontation.

And he goes to kill him, although I was afraid he wouldn’t when he remembered Noloty saying she would protect the world without killing and Ganbanzel comparing him to Hamyuts who he hates so much but, he didn’t disappoint me. Ganbanzel is dead, he was promising to turn quite annoying, I’m glad we are past that. Hamyuts witnesses everything and lets the other bad guys escape, as always.. And so, she then goes talking to the disappearing-old-man who steals people’s books for the church. No idea if she’s connected to the church of if she’s just helping her self in getting new strong enemies or something.

Awesome episode, nice fighting scenes, nice character and plot development, more Noloty goodness :p. I would like Enlike to stay and maybe see his "romance" with Noloty go somewhere now that they have time to develop it. I’m also really interested in Hamyuts and what she truly is doing.

Not sure what the next episode is about but, it seems to feature some childish man, not sure what the rest of the titles refer to.

• Next Episode: An Eccentric, a Mother & the Black Ants’ Nest

A Sudden Meeting
One Day…

Suou, July and Mao end up in the pink detective’s house. They then proceed to get Matsukichi’s help in finding Suou’s mom. Things end up them to Haneda, as everyone else.

Meanwhile, Yayoi goes deeper into everything that has happened and the first series starts to matter a lot more. She reads the Mikata Documents who say that if Izanami meets Izanagi, the Hell gate will bring some unknown being into our world and strife will never end. Not sure who Izanagi is supposed to be, knowing he’s Izanami’s husband in mythology and they gave birth to all the gods. Her organization also finds out someone else was involved in taking out Tanya.

Hei prepares. He goes to Haneda to kidnap Youko. He fights both Shizume Genma and Hazuki and easily wins. Hazuki too starts to understand she still has feelings.

Suou gets back with her mother but, something happens. Suou wasn’t supposed to be alive, she supposedly died, 8 years ago. This explains somehow why her mother left them. Big twist, can’t wait to hear what this really means. We are suddenly told about some big prophecy about Izanagi and Izanami meeting, then there’s Hei doing all he can to get Izanami and now this. The ending sure is getting bigger.

Really cool episode, had a little of everything, action, drama, comedy. The story took a big leap, I’m looking forward to the next episodes.

• Next Episode: Your Smile in the Street of Lies…

To The Research Laboratory

Ageha, Matsuri and Amamiya arrange with Iba so they can enter the facility he worked on and steal the code that will deactivate Miroku’s PACS.

Iba has a friend inside that will get them the security access they need, although Matsuri just breaks the floor and goes directly where she needs to lol. It was supposed to be a sneaky mission, dressing black and all.. anyway, I guess it was just a chance for Matsuri to wear some hot leather cleavage.

Matsuri shows her prowess. I guess they won’t have much trouble getting the stuff out lol. Nice short chapter, nothing much really happening, we’ll have to wait for the next.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

That Man,
For the Sake of the Kuchiki

Just a happy side note, the fillers are ending in episode 255 yay!! just more 5 episodes to go.. I hope this is true. Anyway, on to the episode. Byakuya’s reasons start to appear. Kouga is from the Kuchiki clan, he’s son-in-law of Byakuya’s grand father, Ginrei. Could this mean he could be his father? Although I would guess Byakuya to be a direct "pure-blood" descendant.

The flashback shows all this and also Kouga fighting some rebels, because of a Civil War, (they could just obliterate them immediately but, they just send grunts to fight grunts.. sigh.. fillers..). Anyway, he shows his shikai which makes zanpakutou’s, in their normal state, control their owners and attack them or his friends. This basically reminds me of a scene of Basilisk, although this one wasn’t as brutal and awesome, still not too badly done.

Kouga is "preached" to about being overconfident, although I’m not clear on the sermon’s true reasons. Maybe Genrei and the Captain-Commander are just concerned about his growth because he has the potential to become the strongest shinigami ever. Anyway, during the last part of the civil war, some guys, trying to make a name for themselves, decide to take Kouga out of the picture and make him a trap. Soul Society easily charges him guilty. They try to get rid of Muramasa, afraid of it’s abilities. We also learn, that Kouga already had the power to materialize Muramasa and other zanpakutou’s.

This arc is basically about Soul Society screwing up once again. They are totally unfair to Kouga and Muramasa decides to take lead and help him escape, even though I think Ginrei was going to change things and help Kouga out legally. Probably only hoping this would make as a small lesson for Kouga to control his powers. Not sure what happens after that, since it seems Kouga is going to turn on Muramasa. Anyway, back to the present, Kouga is really powerful, Muramasa approaches him but, he stabs him.

Hum, really surprised with this episode. I liked it a lot. It’s nice to see they really made Kouga into one unusual "villain". Also, he’s just not the good guy turned bad by injustice, it still seems like he’s good, attacking Muramasa. Still, how would this end? He kills Muramasa and tells Ichigo "oh, sorry, just seal me again"? lol Can’t wait for the rest. I hope the quality raises and that there’s at least one really good last fight before this arc ends.

• Next Episode: Dark History!

Fate

I’ll keep this one breef since I’ve already talked about all this in the manga posts. So, Madara tells most stuff to Sasuke. How Konoha was founded, Madara betrayed, the Uchiha discriminated, the Uchiha planning rebellion, Itachi chosen to spy them. There’s still some stuff to be told, about how it all proceed but, the basic is here, it’s not hard to imagine what happened next.

The anime did a nice job of bringing the manga to screen. The whole symbol enhancements and everything were cool. I was thinking they would maybe try to create parts of the fights, specially the last one between Hashirama and Madara. I was thinking this afraid they would completely ruin it (like they normally do) and excitement at the possibility that they would make something awesome, since the recent quality has been so high.

Awesome episode, even though the art wasn’t that great, nothing was overplayed or delayed. The next episode should have the story end and Sasuke’s decision about all this made known. Can’t wait for the next arcs.

• Next Episode: Truth

Family Portrait

So, as expected, it’s time for Hohenheim’s past. We finally get to see his relation ship with Trisha and his kids. Also why he left, related to trying and revers his situation back into being a normal human so he could live normally and die with his family.

Back to Briggs’, another Homunculus appears and kills the men investigating the hole. Raven manages to get Olivia’s "alliance". They put Sloth back into digging and cover the hole.

Armstrong ends up killing Raven. She’s planning to continue deceiving the military and become one of the "chosen" ones but, without Raven’s help. Now, Kimblee can act independently. He brings Winry to Briggs in order to get Ed’s automail working, so he can help him, and also to keep the brothers under control. Meanwhile, Armstrong is already arranging things with Mustang.

Nice episode, nice to see Armstrong not just following every order and still managing to be badass while pretending to follow Central’s command.

Next episode will probably have more action. And we are going to find out about this new homunculus, who’s supposedly the first one Father made.

• Next Episode: The First Homunculus