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I rented the first couple of Cromartie High School DVDs. I’d seen a couple of episodes before, so I knew it was really strange. I’m cool with strange.

Story

Takashi Kamiyama just started at Cromartie High, a school filled with delenquints and morons. Kamiyama isn’t a delinquent, but he does his best to fit in. That can be hard at Cromartie. How do you fit in when the school has students like Mechazawa (a robot, but nobody knows it), Freddy Mercury and a gorilla?

My Opinion

Cromartie High is a parody anime and I love parodies. It takes on the tough guy stories. It’s got some great, but often strange, humor. Like the stories it’s poking fun at, it plays things straight. Even when things get bizarre or downright silly, the anime portrays it as if it’s serious. That just makes things even funnier because these guys really believe this stuff is important.

The Cromartie High DVD

The first DVD has 8 episodes, but don’t get too excited. The episodes are each around 12 minutes long, that’s about half a normal episode. Using my superior math skills I figure that means there’s about as much anime on the disc as a normal 4 episode DVD. That’s not a bad thing though. Cromartie High works very well with that setup. Much like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, longer episodes would just be too long.

DVD Features

There are the usual DVD extras. Clean opining/closing themes and trailers for other anime available from ADV. My favorite extra feature was the Cultural Notes. They give you some explanation about some of the weird stuff you see in the anime.

Is it worth it?

Cromartie High School is worth checking out. It’s a little weird, so I’d recommend renting it before you start dropping money on the DVDs.

I think fans of parody anime, or fans of the tough guy anime that Cromartie High makes fun of will enjoy it the most. For other people, it might be too strange.

Anime, Reviews, Comedy, Parody, DVD, ADV, ADV Films, Cromartie High, Cromartie High School, Volume 1

Since I enjoy Blood + on Cartoon network, I thought I’d check out Blood: The Last Vampire. I knew it was a bit different going in. I just didn’t know how different it was. It couldn’t have changed that much right?

Story

In the 1960s a strange girl comes to the school on an army base in Japan. She’s not there to attend classes, she’s there to kill horrifying monsters hiding among, and feeding on, the students.

This will be one Halloween party the school nurse will never forget. No matter how hard she tries.

My Opinion

I had to watch this twice. The first time I saw it my knowledge of Blood + kept getting in the way. The names and monster designs are the same, but almost everything else is different.

If you’re a fan of Blood + before watching this I have a suggestion that might help you to enjoy Blood: The Last Vampire a little better. Try to forget everything you know about Blood + before you watch it. It’s best to think of Blood: The Last Vampire as an alternate universe. If you can do that, you’ll enjoy this story a lot more.

Aside from the differences, I really liked this anime. It has some great action. The story is pretty darn good too. It gets you to ask a lot of questions about what’s going on, though it doesn’t really answer very many of those questions.

Is it worth it?

I’d say that Blood: The Last Vampire is a rental. It’s good, but it leaves you with unanswered questions.

Anime, Reviews, Horror, Action, Monsters, Vampires, Blood +, Blood: The Last Vampire

I had no idea this story was going to be so short. Ultra Maniac Volume 5 seems to be the last book. Bummer.

I understand that Wataru Yoshizumi probably wanted to move on to something else, and may have even intended this to be short, but I’m going to miss it. I was hoping for a few more of these manga.

Story

What’s up with Yuta and Sayaka? Do Hiroki and Nina finally get together? Can Nina ever be a real witch? All these questions and more are answered in Volume 5 of Ultra Maniac.

My Opinion

I really don’t want to give too much away. This is a great story and things are wrapped up beautifully. I just wish things weren’t being wrapped up so fast.

I know it’s better to finish a series before it starts going downhill. That can really ruin a great manga. Things can get drawn out for far too long and the story can become dull and predictable. I’m glad that didn’t happen to Ultra Maniac, but I’m sorry to see it go.

I am glad that every volume had humor and heart. That’s what I loved about this manga. I’ll miss Ayu, Nina and even Yuta. It seem like I’ve just gotten to know them. I hope to see them again someday.

Is it worth it?

Yep. Ultra Maniac Volume 5 has everything that makes this series so great.

Ultra Maniac is a very sweet, very funny manga. It may be short, but it’s a wonderful story.

I would highly recommend picking up the Ultra Maniac series.

Manga, Reviews, Comedy, Romance, Ultra Maniac, Volume 5, Ultra Maniac Volume 5, Wataru Yoshizumi, Shojo Beat, Shojo Beat Manga

Time for the third, and last, Sgt Frog manga review from the multi-volume book I bought. I’d like to say once again that those are a great deal. I’ll be looking for more of those.

Story

Things are getting even more interesting in the Hinata home. Three of Sgt Keroro’s subordinates have been found. The latest being First Sergeant Kululu, a technology and intelligence specialist.

With Kululu’s help the invasion should be a snap.

My Opinion

Ah, the wacky inventor, a classic anime character. Kululu’s inventions help to make things even more crazy, as unbelievable as that sounds. He’s a little short on the wacky-ness, at least so far. Not a problem though, his inventions produce enough chaos.

I did notice an increase in fan service in this volume. There was a tiny amount in the first 2 volumes, but it really kicks up a notch in a couple of these stories. Fuyuki and Natsumi’s mom is supposed to be a real hottie, the guys she works with are always drooling over her. Her assets seem to be more prominently featured this time around.

I noticed some harsh language in this volume too. Nothing major, just an occasional “Hell” or “Damn”. It might have been in the first couple of books too and I just didn’t notice it.

I think Sgt Frog volume 3 lives up to what you’d expect if you’ve read the first 2 books. Tons of craziness packed into every page. I really don’t know how Mine Yoshizaki can manage to get so much insanity into these books.

Is it worth it?

Yep. Sgt Frog volume 3 is just as good as the first 2 books. If you enjoyed those then you’ll enjoy this one.

If you haven’t checked out Sgt Frog yet, I’d highly recommend it. I’d also recommend picking up the 3 in 1 multi-volume collection. It’ll save you some cash and you’ll get a lot of manga for your money.

Manga, Reviews, Comedy, TokyoPop, Tokyo Pop, Sgt Frog, Volume 3, Sgt Keroro, First Sergeant Kululu, Keroro Gunso, Mine Yoshizaki

Story

Things are changing in the Hinata household. Fuyuki is in middle school now, the same school as Natsumi. He’s joined the manga club, where his “imaginative” comics are pretty popular. If only the other club members knew that the aliens he’s writing about are real.

Sgt Keroro is still stranded on Earth. The good news is that he’s finding more of his crew. The bad news is that they’re no closer to conquering Earth.

That could change when Corporal Giroro arrives. He’s not as easily distracted as the Sergeant. Giroro is tough, focused and determined to accomplish his mission.

My Opinion

The second volume of Sgt Frog is just as fun as the first. It still delivers a lot of story for your money. With more characters being introduced things get even crazier.

The character introductions really add something to the story. It’s not just more characters, and the same old story. Each new character changes things, sometimes just a little bit and sometimes a lot. One of the strong points of Sgt Frog is the dynamics between the characters. So for every character introduced, there is a subtle shift in the story.

I have to say that the character design, and the art in general, is growing on me too. It’s simple for the most part, but there are some scenes with a lot of detail. The alien frogs can be surprisingly expressive.

Is it worth it?

Yep. Sgt Frog Volume 2 is just as good as the first one. I recommend picking them up. You get a lot of story for your money. It’s a good story too. Interesting characters in some genuinely entertaining situations.

Manga, Reviews, TokyoPop, Tokyo Pop, Sgt Frog, Volume 2, Sgt Keroro, Corporal Giroro, Keroro Gunso, Mine Yoshizaki

I wanted to read the Sgt Frog manga after I watched the anime. Lucky for me I found the first 3 volumes in a single book before I picked up volume 1. That saved me some money.

Story

Sgt Keroro was on a scouting mission to gather data on Earth before the invasion force attacked. Unfortunately he was discovered by Fuyuki Hinata and his sister Natsumi before his mission was complete. Because of that, the attack was postponed and the invasion force had no choice but to leave him and his team behind.

Now Sgt Keroro is a captive of the Hinata family, but things aren’t so bad. He has his own room from which he can plan to conquer the Earth, his Gundam models and plenty of housework to keep him busy.

My Opinion

I enjoyed Sgt Frog. There is a lot of story packed into the manga volumes. There are at least 5 anime episodes worth squeezed into the first volume alone. Sgt Frog is non-stop from cover to cover. The only slow parts are the ones that are meant to be slow.

The manga should appeal to the fans of the anime too. The story is told a bit differently. The chronology of events was changed for the anime too. I’d say that it’s similar enough to be enjoyable and familiar, but different enough to hold the interest of someone who has seen the anime.

Is it worth it?

Yep, Sgt Frog is worth buying. It’s very entertaining, has lots of humor and each volume is packed with fun. I’d recommend getting the book that has the first three volumes, you’ll save a lot of money.

Manga, Reviews, TokyoPop, Tokyo Pop, Sgt Frog, Volume 1, Sgt Keroro, Keroro Gunso, Mine Yoshizaki

The last time I went shopping for manga I decided to check out one of TokyoPop’s multi-volume books. The manga I chose for the test was Sgt Frog by Mine Yoshizaki. I’d liked the anime and wanted to check out the manga, but it wasn’t one I loved enough that I wanted to build a collection of the different volumes. It seemed like a good choice.

Why bother?

I wanted to try out the multi-volume manga because I thought it would be a good way to try a new manga series. With anime I need to see a few episodes to make up my mind. That’s not as important with manga, but it does play a part.

I also wanted to find out if the size of the books had any effect on the reading experience. That was a major point for me. One of the reasons I enjoy manga is the reading experience. Reading a manga volume has elements similar to reading comics as well as reading a book. I wanted to find out if the larger size of the multi-volume manga upset that balance.

The last reason is price. At $9 to $12 per volume, manga can get expensive very quickly. At $9.99 each, the first three volumes of Sgt Frog would cost around $30 purchased separately. The list price of the multi-volume version is $12.99. That saved me $16.98. (All prices calculated without tax.)

My Opinion

When it comes to collecting manga I love, I’d probably still buy the individual volumes. That’s just a personal preference though. As for manga I just want to read or review, I’d have no problems buying the multi-volume version. It’s the same story in the same format, it’s just in a thicker book.

For me the reading experience was effected somewhat because of the thickness. I’m very careful when I read a book. I don’t like to open it too far and crack the spine. It’s tough not to do that with a manga that’s almost 2 inches thick. If you’re not as picky as I am, then that shouldn’t be a problem. Once I got used to that I enjoyed it as much as I would enjoy the three volumes separately.

The price is great. It’s almost like a 3 for 1 sale. I paid $3 more and got 2 more volumes. That’s a great deal. I’d like to see more multi-volume versions become available. I will definitely be buying more of these.

Are multi-volume manga worth it?

I think they’re great. The issues of reading experience and manga collecting are subjective. You might want to try one out with a series you’re not completely in love with first. The price is great. I’d recommend multi-volume manga to any otaku on a budget.

Manga, Opinion, Muti-Volume, Sgt Frog, Mine Yoshizaki, TokyoPop, Price, Cheap, Save Money

I missed a couple of posts this week. I’m going to try to get back on schedule as soon as I can. I hope it will be soon. I hate being sick.

I have a few manga to write up and some anime rentals waiting for me. As soon as I’m able to concentrate on what I’m doing for more than a couple of minutes at a time I’ll get to work on those.

Poptan is a weird little anime. I kinda stumbled across it while browsing around. I don’t think I’d have given it a chance if someone told me what it was about before I saw it.

It’s an ecchi anime, kind of. There’s a lot of nudity, but there isn’t anything really sexual about it. They just take a lot of baths and for some reason bath time always seems to be important to the story. That’s one way to get guys to watch I guess.

Story

Ai, Mai, and Mii are looking for someone very hard to find. Who they’re looking for and why they need to find ‘em is kind of a mystery. They live and travel together along with their maid Mea and their ferret( /ermine/weasel/thing ??) Unagi.

The three aren’t ordinary sisters. They each have some special abilities. Ai can talk to flowers like the “popotan”, which is what they call dandelions. the popotan is where they get most of the information about the person they’re looking for.

The house they live in is also special. It appears and disappears, traveling through time and space, apparently at random. They’re never in the same place very long. Because of this almost every episode is a self contained story.

My Opinion

I told you it was weird, right? It’s also a pretty entertaining anime. The characters all have distinct personalities. All are likeable, even if they’re a tad stereotypical. I don’t think Popotan is going to be the next great anime, but it does have it’s charms.

I just want to repeat what I said about nudity. Every episode that I’ve seen has at least a little nudity, sometimes a lot of nudity.

Is it worth it?

Popotan is a rental. As long as you’re not offended by nudity, then it might be worth checking out. If you like nudity, especially of the booble variety, then you should deffinetly rent it.

Anime, Reviews, Popotan, Comedy, Drama, Supernatural, Ecchi, Nudity, Boobs, Lots of Boobs, Boobs Everywhere

Story

New York was a tough city in 1928. What with all the devils and undead roaming around. Good thing they had the Magdalene Order to fight the supernatural horrors.

Rosette Christopher is a member of the Magdalene Order, but for her the fight is personal. Her brother was taken by the devils. She fights the forces of evil in order to find him again. Rosette has some help though. She’s assisted by a devil named Chrono. The head of the Order doesn’t trust him, but Rosette believes he is different.

My Opinion

I can see why Chrono Crusade has quite a few fans. It’s got some decent action, a bit of humor and some likeable characters. That’s why I decided to give it another chance after being disappointed by it before.

I just don’t think it lives up to the praises it receives. I’ve watched several episodes and there are some inconsistencies that bug me.

The anime is set in 1928, and it tries to reinforce that with language and references. However, in 1928 the guns and other technology used wouldn’t have been available. I know that the Magdalene Order is doing important work and would likely have access to the most advanced weapons and gadgets, but the tech in the show is nowhere near believable for that time period. Not by a long shot. That combined with the anime trying too hard to remind you that it’s 1928 is just too much.

Is it worth it?

Nope, not really. It tries too hard to convince you of the time period while it ignores the realities of that time. Catholics might also be put off by the way the church is represented.

If you don’t care about inconsistencies, or religious references, then you might want to rent it. I can’t recommend purchasing this anime though.

Anime, Reviews, Supernatural, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Historical, Horror, Romance, Chrono Crusade, 1928, 1920s, 20s, Rosette Christopher, Magdalene Order

Story

Ichigo Kurosaki is very different than he once was. What happend to the little boy that was always smiling? In the third volume of the Bleach manga we find out.

June 17th is the day that life changed for the Kurosaki family six years ago. Now it’s a day to remember. A day that the family spends together. This day is different because Ichigo is a Soul Reaper now, and a Soul Reaper can’t take a day off.

My Opinion

This is it. Volume 3 of the Bleach manga is where I’ve made up my mind. The manga is better than the anime. The Bleach manga wins hands down.

I still like the anime version of Bleach. It’s a great show. I just think that the characters in the manga are given a better chance for their personalities to shine through. That makes a huge difference because the characters are the biggest strength Bleach has.

If you watch the anime you might remember the episodes this volume covers. It’s a very emotional story in the anime. I think the manga did a better job of getting across just how deeply Ichigo was affected by these events. It’s a very touching story and Tite Kubo handles it very well. This proves to me that he can do much, much more than action and comedy. I can’t wait to see what comes next.

Is it worth it?

Yes. Not only is this volume worth buying, it’s almost a necessity for Bleach fans. If you like the anime you’ll love the manga. Bleach Volume 3 makes it worth it to pick up the first 2 volumes too. Seriously, read this manga.

Manga, Reviews, Action, Bleach, Fantasy, Shonen, Shonen Jump, Tite Kubo, Volume 3, Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, Orihime Cover

After reading more Bleach manga, I’m beginning to like it better than the anime. I don’t know why though. So far I haven’t seen anything in the story line that’s significantly different. The anime seems to have been fairly true to the story. Much more so than some of the anime I’ve seen that’s been adapted from manga.

Story

The story in volume 2 of Bleach picks up after Chad disappears from the clinic run by Ichigo’s family. The first half deals with the Hollow that has been following Chad’s bird. Chad has his first fight with a Hollow, even though he can’t even see it. If that wasn’t bad enough, Ichigo is late showing up to lay down the Soul Reaping because his sister is sick.

In the second half of the manga Rukia visits a very interesting store, Urahara Shoten. She needs to pick up some specialty items, one of which is Soul Candy. The Soul Candy is for Ichigo. It will let him leave his body to fight Hollows even if Rukia isn’t around to knock him out of it. Due to a mix up at the shop, things go very, very wrong when Ichigo uses the Soul Candy for the first time.

My Opinion

If you watch the Bleach anime, and you should, then you’ll be familiar with the stories. They’re pretty much the same as a couple of early episodes. I just hope I haven’t given away too much for the folks who haven’t seen those episodes.

Reading the second volume has only strengthened my opinion that the manga art is even better then the anime. Most of the time they look pretty much the same, but the subtle differences definitely favor the manga version.

Is it worth it?

Yep, it’s worth it. The manga is worth reading, even if you’ve seen the anime. While volume 2 doesn’t cover as much ground as volume 1, I still think it’s worth picking up.

Manga, Reviews, Bleach, Volume 2, Tite Kubo, Shonen, Action, Fantasy, Shonen Jump

Anime News Network posted a piece of news the other day that sounds awfully familiar. This really give me some hope. Part of the strategy I recommend for dealing with illegal fansubs is being proposed to the anime industry by Masakazu Kubo.

One Small Step…

This could be the first step towards the anime industry and the anime fans working together to benefit everyone. I still believe that a system like the one I proposed would work. The anime companies that build that system would be the forerunners of a media revolution that could change everything, not just anime.

What if you could sit down and watch your favorite anime not months after it was originally broadcast, but days. Sure you can do that now by watching fansubs, but when you do it you’re killing the industry that makes the shows you love. What if there was an official, and legal, way to do that? What if it contains commercials? Would you watch it, or would you turn to a P2P network for a fansub?

Given the choice, I’d support the anime creators by watching the official one. I believe the majority of anime fans would do the same.

Getting Ahead Of Myself

I know, that’s wishful thinking right now. I don’t even know how that proposal went over. Masakazu Kubo could have pissed off a lot of people by suggesting that the anime industry approach fansubbers. I can’t imagine how it wouldn’t shock people who have worked so hard to shut down fansubs. A lot of great ideas inspire anger in the beginning. I’m sure this one will be no different.

There is another thing that great ideas inspire… hope.

Anime, Online, News, Masakazu Kubo, Opinion, Fan Sub, Fansubs, Fansubbers, Streaming Anime, Piracy, Anime Piracy, Stop Piracy, Free Anime, TV, Online TV

I rented the first volume of Burst Angel. Yeah, I know I’m a little behind. I need to move some new releases to the top of my rental list.

Story

Kyohei Tachibana is a culinary student in a future Tokyo. He wants to study abroad, but that costs money that he doesn’t have. The only thing he can do is find a part time job.

The job he finds might not be what he was hoping for. He’s hired to be the cook for a small group of women who are too busy to cook for themselves. He finds out why they’re too busy very quickly. On his first day at work he gets abducted and held as a bargaining chip against his new employers.

It turns out that the ladies he works for are mercenaries. They take on the most dangerous jobs in a city that had to hire a private military to act as police. Who knew being a cook could be so exciting?

DVD Features

The features on the DVD from FUNimation are pretty much what you’d expect. You have textless opening and closing themes from the anime and some promotional trailers for other FUNimation shows. That’s pretty standard on an anime DVD.

There are a couple of Extras that are pretty cool. The “Radio Drama” has a couple of the Japanese VAs doing a radio show, with a couple of bonus tracks, that were apparently included on a bonus CD in the Japanese release. The “Outtakes” is the other cool extra. It’s a blooper reel from the English Dub VAs. Some of it is pretty funny.

My Opinion

It’s your basic girls with guns anime. Skimpy outfits and big, ummm… explosions. Despite the stripper outfits, it’s actually pretty good. The action is well done and the stories are entertaining. It’s way better than some other shows with a similar description.

Is it worth it?

It’s worth a rental. The fan service might not appeal to some. Coupled with the lack of really good special features on the DVD, I’d have to say check it out before buying it.

Anime, Reviews, DVD, Burst Angel, Volume 1, FUNimation, Action, Comedy, Mecha, Science Fiction, Shonen, Fan Service

I love the Bleach anime, so when my girlfriend got the first few volumes of the Bleach manga I had to read ‘em. I was undecided about reading the Bleach manga in Shonen Jump because the story line there is a little bit farther along than what I’ve seen of the anime. I’ve got no problems going backwards though.

Story

Ichigo Kurosaki is a 15 year old high school student. He leads a fairly normal life, except for the ghosts. Ichigo can see spirits and he soon finds out that he can see more than that.

When a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki walks into his life things change for Ichigo. He learns the difference between normal spirits and evil spirits called Hollows. His lesson about Hollows happens first hand when one attacks his family. The only thing that can save them is for Ichigo to become a Soul Reaper himself.

My Opinion

The manga packs a lot of story into one volume. It goes right up to the beginning of the 4th anime episode. It also ends like the anime, with a cliffhanger. That’s one of the greatest, and worst, things about Bleach. The way it ends when things are happening. I need to hurry and finish this so I can read the second one. Which is the whole point of ending things that way I guess.

The only difference that I noticed between the anime and the manga is the art. Tite Kubo’s art in the manga is just a little bit different from the anime. I think I like the manga art better than the anime. Probably because there were a few things about the early anime episodes that bugged me. There were times where the proportions seemed wrong, especially with Ichigo. The manga doesn’t have that problem, or I haven’t noticed it yet.

For a second work Bleach is even more amazing. Tite Kubo’s first manga Zombie Powder was ok, but it had a few problems. (I thought I reviewed Zombie Powder, but I can’t find it.) Even the small problems aren’t present in Bleach. This manga is very well done.

Is it worth it?

Of course it’s worth it, it’s Bleach. This is a freakin’ awesome manga. You need to read this if you like the anime.

Manga, Bleach, Volume 1, Bleach Volume 1, Anime, Ghosts, Hollows, Ichigo Kurosaki, Reviews, Rukia Kuchiki, Shonen Jump, Soul Reapers, Spirits, Tite Kubo, Zombie Powder