Monthly Archives: July 2008

Mamotte Shugogetten – Anime Review

By | July 28, 2008 at 10:00 am | No Comments

The Essentials

Name: Mamotte Shugogetten
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Episodes: 22
Released: October 17, 1998 – April 3, 1999
Based On: Mamotte Shugogetten manga by Minene Sakurano
Director: Yukio Kaizawa
Produced By: Toei Animation and Dentsu
US Distribution By: N/A

Major Japanese Cast

Tasuke: Daisuke Sakaguchi
Shaorin: Mariko Kouda
Ruuan: Yumi Takada
Rishu: Ayako Kawasumi
Izumo: Toshiyuki Morikawa
Koichirou: Omi Minami
Kaori: Eriko Hara
Shouko: Nami Miyahara

Major English Cast

N/A

Scores

Animation: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Story: 6/10 (x 4 = 24 pts)
Music: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)
Coherence/Story Arc: 7/10 (x 2 = 14 pts)
English Dubs: N/A
Gut Score: 7/10 (x 5 = 35 pts)

Total: 137/190 (72.1%)

Review

Mamotte Shugogetten is about a boy, Tasuke, who largely lives by himself while his father is off doing archeological work in China. One day, his father sends Tasuke a ring from which pops out a spirit named Shaorin (Shao for short) whom vows to protect Tasuke from any and all danger. Unfortunately for Tasuke, Shaorin is a bit behind on the times and ends up sending out her legions of helper spirits to “protect” Tasuke from things that he doesn’t need protecting from, such as the TV and school, which Shao mistakes for a prison camp.

Not too much later, Tasuke’s father sends him another artifact, this time with a spirit named Ruuan coming forth. Ruuan announces her job as making Tasuke happy, and attempts to do so by giving life to inanimate objects.

While the show does offer some pretty good laughs now and then, you can already see where it’s heading based on the description of the main characters, and that’s episode after episode of pretty predictable chaos caused by the same misunderstandings of Tasuke’s two spirits (as well as their rivalry). A few other characters also get thrown in to mix things up, but the moment they show up, you also can pretty well predict what’s going to happen from then on.

All of this puts this show in that gray area between being a good show worthy of being watched and bad show which can be skipped. I’d probably leave it up to each person whether they think this show is worthy enough or not for them.

As for technical aspects, animation is pretty good for the time period, and the music is pretty good as well.

In the end, If you tend to like “Goddess or spirit shows up and wrecks havoc” show, then you’ll probably like this. If you’re looking for something with more originality, you can probably pass.

First Watched: September 2007
Do I Own: No
Do I Recommend: Indifferent

Josh’s Anime Blog Podcast Episode 82

By | July 27, 2008 at 5:02 pm | No Comments

Josh’s Anime Blog Podcast Episode #82 is now online! In this podcast, I review the anime series Umisho.

This week’s Podcast Stats:
Time: 14:22
Download Size: 9.9 MB

Opening theme:
“Ready Steady Go” by L’Arc-en-Ciel
Second opening theme to Fullmetal Alchemist

Ending theme:
“Splash BLUE ~ Taiyō to Lemonade” by Ayumi Murata
Ending theme to Umisho

You can listen to my podcasts in the following ways:

Flash Player:

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Directly: http://www.joshsanimeblog.com/podcast/JABPEpisode82.mp3

You can also download or add my podcast-only RSS feed to your favorite reader or add my podcast using iTunes.

ADV will apparently be at Otakon after all

By | July 27, 2008 at 1:42 pm | No Comments

I just noticed that the Otakon panel list has been updated and now includes an ADV industry panel.

Originally ADV was not listed, making me wonder what the heck is going on (especially since they essentially promised some big announcements at Otakon).

Of course, being listed and actually having the panel are two different things, but ADV is now at least listed as having an industry panel at Otakon now.

Cat Returns, The – Anime Review

By | July 27, 2008 at 10:00 am | No Comments

The Essentials

Name: The Cat Returns
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Episodes: N/A
Released: July 20, 2002
Based On: The Cat Returns manga by Aoi Hiiragi
Director: Hiroyuki Morita
Produced By: Studio Ghibli
US Distribution By: Walt Disney

Major Japanese Cast

Haru: Chizuru Ikewaki
Baron: Yoshihiko Hakamada
Muta: Tetsu Watanabe
Natoru: Mari Hamada
Cat King: Tetsurou Tanba
Natori: Kenta Satoi
Toto: Yousuke Saitou
Yuki: Aki Maeda
Prince Lune: Takayuki Yamada

Major English Cast

Haru: Anne Hathaway
Baron: Cary Elwes
Muta: Peter Boyle
Natoru: Andy Richter
Cat King: Tim Curry
Natori: Rene Auberjonois
Toto: Elliott Gould
Yuki: Judy Greer
Prince Lune: Andrew Bevis

Scores

Animation: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Story: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Music: 9/10 (x 4 = 36 pts)
Coherence/Story Arc: N/A
English Dubs: 10/10 (x 1 = 10 pts)
Gut Score: 9/10 (x 5 = 45 pts)

Total: 163/180 (90.6%)

Review

The Cat Returns is about a girl, Haru, who unwittingly saves the crown prince of the Cat Kingdom, Prince Lune, from an incoming truck as he’s traveling in the human world. The Cat Kingdom attempts to reward Haru for her good deed by giving her various gifts. However, the gifts, which include filling her yard with cattails and filling her locker with lacrosse sticks, ends up just being a lot of trouble for Haru.

To make up for this further disruption to Haru, the Cat King decides that Haru is to marry Prince Lune himself. Not wanting to marry a cat, Haru tries to find a way to get out of the engagement when a mysterious voice tells her to seek out the Cat Bureau. Once there, the The Baron and Muta, two cats not connected to the Cat Kingdom, attempt to save Haru from being married off to the Cat Prince and from ultimately becoming a cat herself.

The plot of The Cat Returns is pretty simple and straight forward, yet it is still quite entertaining. When one gets down to it, it is supposed to be a quasi-coming of age story about Haru, as she transforms from a shy and insecure high school girl uncertain of what she wants into a girl more confident and certain of what she wants. The thing that makes this movie stand out, of course, is the addition of the Cat Kingdom, which adds a fantastical element to the movie.

Probably the thing that makes this movie stand out the most is it’s writing, which helps drive a compelling story while at the same time doing a good job of giving most of the main characters a good deal of depth. The animation is very good, as is to be expected of Ghibli films, even if the style of the character designs and the animation style is a tad more traditional. The english dub, as has become the norm for Disney releases of Ghibli films, is excellent. In a sense, this is the most Disney-like of Ghibli’s films due to it’s story and animation style.

If you’re looking for a good entertaining movie which anyone of any age can enjoy, then try checking out The Cat Returns.

First Watched: October 2007
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes

Manga Review – Ai Yori Aoshi: 86%

By | July 26, 2008 at 10:00 am | No Comments

The Essentials

Name: Ai Yori Aoshi
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Tankoubon: 17
Serialized In: Young Animal
Released: 1998 – 2005
Story & Art: Kou Fumizuki
Published By (Japan): Hakusensha
Published By (US): TokyoPop

Scores

Story: 9/10 (x 3 = 27 pts)
Art: 9/10 (x 3 = 27 pts)
Gut Score: 8/10 (x 4 = 32 pts)

Total: 86/100 (86%)

Review

Ai Yori Aoshi is about Aoi Sakuraba, the daughter of the head of a rich conglomerate, and her secret fiance-to-be Karou Hanabishi. When the two were little, their marriage had been arranged as Karou was himself the heir to another major conglomerate. However, Karou was only adopted, and after witnessing the treatment of his mother, especially after she died, Karou ran away from the Hanabishi clan to live on his own.

As a result, the marriage was canceled. Aoi remained determined to marry Karou despite this and goes to Tokyo to see him. After not realizing who each other were at first, they each realize that they are in fact the couple who were put together when they were young, and Aoi decides to start living with Karou. However, Aoi’s caretaker, Miyabi, shows up to take Aoi back home. Aoi refuses and Miyabi, reluctantly at first, arranges things so that Karou and Aoi can live together at one of the family’s estates.

Soon, Karou runs into his old college friend Tina, who went away for a year or so to travel the world. Soon another girl, Taeko, joins the photography club that Karou is part of, and both Taeko and Tina end up living along with Aoi and Karou due to certain circumstances.

Ai Yori Aoshi is, centrally, about the growing love that Aoi and Karou have for each other, but is also largely a comedy as the other girls who live with or otherwise know Karou often end up getting in his way or even want Karou for himself. There is also some added drama as well as Aoi’s parents are against her staying with Karou while the Hanibishi clan attempts to come up with a way to still have Aoi marry into their family.

At 17 volumes, Ai Yori Aoshi is a pretty long read, but the story still seems to keep itself relatively fresh through, exploring all of the characters feelings and motivations along the way. I should also note that this manga is quite ecchi, and is rated for Older Teens (except the final volume which is rated 17+).

If you’re looking for a good romance/comedy with some dramatic plot arcs thrown in, then you may enjoy this series.

First Read: December 2005 – October 2007
Do I Own: Yes
Do I Recommend: Yes

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