Genres: Adventure, Comedy

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A war in a vaguely European setting has left Kanata Sorami, a young girl, orphaned. She is found alone and crying in a gutted building by a female bugler. Years later she has grown up somewhat, although still quite young, and has enlisted in the military to become a bugler like the woman who saved her. Her assignment is a town called Seize, known to the military as the Time Telling Fortress. It is here that the first two episodes, and presumably the majority of the series, will take place.

On her way through the town, Kanata is distracted by a local tradition in which people are dousing each other with an orange colored water. She is met by a woman named Rio Kazumiya, who turns out to be her superior, and scolded for her lax ways. While cleaning up, Rio shows her a bell charm her father left her. In a humorously prompt manner, an owl swoops in and steals the necklace from Kanata’s hand. Rio sucks up her disappointment and instructs Kanata get to their base.

While Rio goes off the participate in her special role in the town’s ceremony, Kanata is drawn to the bell’s sound and down into the ravine near the town. While she manager to secure the bell, she falls into the water below. Under the water is a huge golden skeleton of some headless bird, possibly relating to the town’s history, but never divulged in the first two episodes. Rio hears Kanata bugling for assistance and eventually rescues her.

Now united, Kanata is introduced to the other members of their platoon. Filicia Heideman is the group’s leader followed by Rio as the sergeant major. Noel Kannagi is the platoon’s pilot and mechanic, yet has not been able to make the needed repairs to their defunct mecha-tank. Kureha Suminoya is a stubborn private and the platoons tank gunner. Kureha seems to be out to hate Kanata, but warms to her during a “mission” to seek out a ghost in episode two.

This series suffers greatly from the glaring comparison to K-ON in the makeup of the group and even in the character design themselves. Pushing this aside, the story is floating on a rich world yet has taking very little active interest in pursuing the greater story thus far. On the plus side, the scenery is beautiful.

Overall Hook Rating: C

Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Magical

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Fiore is a country where a sizable portion of the population has some manner of magical abilities. Due to this, magic is a common and traded commodity amongst the people. those who use magic are referred to as wizards. While their sources of magic may be varied, they all join together in guilds to further their pursuits. One such guild is called Fairy Tail. Fairy Tail’s members are a rather rough and disparate group of wizards, but they are quite powerful.

The story follows Lucy Heartfilia, a fledgling Stellar Spirit wizard who wishes to join the Fairy Tail guild. The meets with a popular, charming, yet vain wizard calling himself “Salamander of Fairy Tail.” She nearly falls under his charm magic but a young man named Natsu Dragneel, who is looking for someone named Igneel, blunders in and breaks the spell. He assumed that the man going as “Salamander” may in fact be Igneel… he wasn’t. Lucy buys Natsu and his cat Happy lunch as thanks. Knowing that she needs to get in Salamander’s good graces, she eventually agrees to join him at a party on his boat.

This party turns out to be a trap to lure women into a slave ship headed to another country. While Lucy attempts to ward off Salamander’s advances, as well as his minions’, Natsu makes a sea-sick entrance to defeat them. Lucy is pulled off the boat by Happy’s wing transformation, but end up in the water when the spell wears off. She then uses her magic to summon Aquarius to beach the fleeing ship. Aquarius, after making a few threats to Lucy, does as she is told and beaches the ship with a tidal wave.

Back on dry land, Natsu recovers and reveals himself the be the true “Salamander of Fairy Tail,” then promptly defeats the impostor. This does, however, destroy large portions of the town and they are forced to flee back to the guild hall. Natsu extends an invitation to join the guild while he, Lucy and Happy run for it. The guild turns out to be a bit more unprofessional and wild than Lucy would have anticipated. She takes a job with Natsu to get away from it all and the remainder of the second episode involves us seeing a bit more of her power, Natsu’s compassion and a little bit of history all around.

This series is pretty funny and the only negative I can see with it would be that if it does not buckle down the main story line early in the season, it will lose out big time. That aside, I’m looking forward to watching this series.

Overall Hook Rating: A

Genres: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

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In the Independent Trade City of Housman a young knight named Cecily Cambell patrols the streets. In her hands she hold her family’s sword, handed down through three generations of Knight Guards. Her first true fight nearly turns out to be her last when she meets an old knight in town. Madness has taken his mind and he strikes out at anyone in his path. In one swift slice he destroys the Cambell family sword and nearly kills Cecily.

It is at point Luke Ainsworth, a blacksmith and swordsman, steps in to save her. He chides her for being ineffective and leaves her behind. After a bit of research, Cecily finds her way to his shop far outside of town. Inside she meets with Lisa, the assistant of the shop, and begins to plead for Luke to craft her a katana like his so she will never be defeated again. He denies her request, as he will only make sword for his own use now.

Soon after the two get embroiled with city guardsmen trying to protect a supply shipment from werewolf-like creatures in the forest. The beasts kill nearly every guard until Luke and Cecily step in. The raiders leader is turned into a giant ice beast by a man in black, who ducks out without being caught. Cecily is again, twice over, saved by Luke in combat. Luke’s sword pays the price for his heroics and breaks. Asking Cecily to hold the battle-line for him, Luke begins to craft a new sword using a combined magical ability shared with Lisa. With this magical fire blade he defeats the beast.

As the second episode comes to a close, Cecily is entrusted with the care of a demon sword. This sword has the form of a young woman when not in use by its wielder. This addition to the end of episode two is probably one of the few things this series has going for it. Aside from the contract between Cecily and Luke for her new sword and the man in black, there is little stringing the series along. However, the trip is not exactly boring, so it may turn out to be more than a flash-in-the-pan.

Overall Hook Rating: C

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural

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AmberGround exists in eternal twilight, lit only by its artificial sun and its inhabitants scattered cities. In this darkness roam countless mechanical insects, named Gaichuu, keeping the population imprisoned and isolated within the safe confines of the cities. There are a few brave souls that will venture into these wastelands; chief among them, the Letter Bees. A Letter Bee is a mixture of adventurer, cartographer and postman. their duty is to deliver letters between cities in AmberGround, as well as map out new routes in attempts to reconnect cities.

Gauche Suede is our first introduction to a Letter Bee in this series. His first “letter” to be delivered is actually a young boy named Lag Seeing. Lag is quite hesitant to be shipped off to his aunt’s home in the far off city of Cambel Litus. His mother was taken from him and sent into Akatsuki, the capital city of AmberGround, which is off limits to anyone not invited to enter. Gauche’s sidekick, called a Dingo in this world, is named Roda. Roda is some doglike creature and serves and a decoy and early warning system for Gauche versus the Gaichuu.

Gauche explains his weapon of choice against the Gaichuu, a Shindanjuu or “heart gun.” This gun amplifies the users will into a powerful bullet that will destroy the mechanical beasts. While holding the gun Lag accidently activates it, due to his special gemstone eye (hidden under his hair 99% of the time) and nearly dies from the effort. This in turn draws more Gaichuu to them, leaving Gauche and Roda to battle for hours on end. At one point soon after, Lag steals Gauche’s Shindanjuu and strikes off to find his lost mother, nearly getting Gauche killed in the process of saving him from a rather crafty Gaichuu.

Lag drags the nearly dead Gauche through the gates of Cambel Litus and after getting to know him as a friend, decides that he too will become a Letter Bee. He does this in hopes of gaining access to Akatsuki and finding his mother again. At this point the series fast-forwards 5 years to Lag at 12 years old, ready to start his journey.

This series has a bit of a slow start, but due to seeing a few clips ahead in the series, I can say that there is a LOT of great stuff coming! They took two episodes to complete the back-story and I feel they did it more than sufficient justice. This would have easily earned an A if they would have gotten to the point faster. The concept is solid and there are enough mysteries to keep me coming back.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Watch episode one via Crunchyroll after the break!

Continue reading…

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Ecchi … no, Hentai … no wait Ecchi

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It is to be noted that this series is part two of the Queen’s Blade saga. The Queen’s Blade is a tournament for control over the continent in which the story takes place. Every four years warriors chosen from all over the world will converge on Gainos to battle each other (and the current queen) for the title. at the close of season one, the combatants have finally reached Gainos and Queen Aldra has admitted them to the tournament.

This season starts with the angel Nanael recapping the warrior women who will be taking part in the Queen’s Blade tournament. She is also assigned a special task to make up for her slight failure in the previous story; she will be taking part in the tournament as well. As the clouds of heaven part, Nanael is cast down to the world by The Seraphim. She lands in the church tended by Melpha, a priestess who uses sexually explicit poses to cast her abilities.

A second force, brought together by the “Swamp Witch,” threaten to destroy the Queen’s Blade process, and in turn cause total chaos to ensue. Her minions: Melona (a shape shifter), Airi (a ghost), and Menace (a resurrected Amaran princess, much like Egypt) enter the tournament. Melona, dissatisfied with taking the long route to their goal, decides to attack Queen Aldra directly. Queen Aldra uses her powers to freeze Melona in an amber crystal, ending her threat… for now.

The first two battles of the tournament are called: Tomoe versus Melpha, Nix versus Elina Vance. Tomoe, a major character from the previous story arc, is a Shinto priestess from Hinomoto (much like Japan). Nix and Elina knew each other since childhood when Nix served the Vance family as a servant. Nix has a unique fire magic ability granted to her from a tentacle beast-like staff. Tomoe wins the first battle and the second has yet to be concluded by the end of episode two.

The characters spend nearly equal time during the series clothed and unclothed. A good number wield larger than life weaponry that obviously used up the majority of the metal in their countries of origin, as their armor is scant-to-none. There is more than a fair share of T&A and some additional breast molestation, tentacle beast and acid breast squirting scenes. There is a solid underlying plot, but the over the top fan service muddies it.

Overall Hook Rating: C

Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural, Romance

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The many Ages: Gold, Silver, Bronze, Titan, Elf and Fairy have all come to an end. The Iron Age, the age of mankind, has finally begun… and is where our scene is set. Each Age has ended in destruction; we will begin to see the Holy Empire helping this Age match toward its end as well. Focus in on the island if Erin, home of the Gael Tribe. This tribe follows the old ways, takes pride in their hunting prowess, and is home to an Oracle: Rhiannon.

Rhiannon, daughter of the previous chieftain, foresees the invaders approaching their shore. The men of the village are out on the hunt, and she sends out the remaining villagers to gather food. The invaders, led by High Priest Drwc of the Holy Empire, wish to sacrifice Rhiannon to resurrect the Demon King Arawn. Once he learns of this plot, Arthur (Rhiannon’s brother) leads his forces to the rescue. Drwc’s control over Rhiannon turns her into a slave, bound to his will.

Arawn, upon rising, slays Drwc. No good deed goes unpunished. He restores Rhiannon to her rightful self; she then quickly announces that she will marry him. Arthur, knowing full well who and what Arawn represents, is VERY much against this. Unfortunately for everyone, the ceremony awakened the thousands of dead in the catacombs beneath. Out hero’s and their new Demon King flee from the underground… into the main story line… I hope!

This series, in the scope of two episodes, did not make it very far. Yes, the plot was laid, but beyond a surface level understanding of the situation, we are left with one too many questions to be answered.

Overall Hook Rating: D

Genres: Action, Adventure, Science Fiction, Supernatural

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Sometime in the not too distant future global warming has reached critical mass. The ocean levels have risen, reeking havoc on coastal areas. The world’s leaders have created a committee to ensure that all nations are in compliance with CO2 reduction measures. Those nations who continue to produce more carbon than they absorb are forced to pay a higher percentage tariff on global goods. Standing over the ruin of Tokyo is Atlas, which is attempting to bring about a rebirth of the nation. The old city, which is now being allowed to become overgrown with natural vegetation, has become a carbon-scrubbing sponge.

Our story opens with Kuniko Hojo, the prodigal leader-to-be of the Metal-Age, being released from prison. Metal-Age is a guerilla organization that stands to oppose the tyrannical order that has engulfed the world. The current leader of Metal-Age, Nagiko Hojo, is Kuniko’s grandmother. She is very much focused on education, and appears to be trying to keep the Metal-Age hidden amongst the citizens of Duomo. The shanty city of Duomo is centered on an electrical plant that has brightly painted smoke stacks. The jungle surrounding it is rather toxic, so it is well insulated from the outside world.

Hidden in the shadows, Karin Ishida toys with the world’s carbon markets. She may be a young girl, but is quite the prodigy when it comes to financial matters. When one of her abusive, yet legal, transactions catches the eye of those in Atlas’ Security Corps, they attack Metal-Age. The citizens of Duomo are caught in the cross fire. As the fighting climbs toward its climax, Kuniko standing defiant in front of Major Kunihito Kusanagi, a dagger he carries resonates when she strikes it. Then a third party attacks. Strange black projectiles reduce parts of the city to rubble, the military flees.

Curious as to who was behind this attack, both Metal-Age and the military seek out the cause. High above in the Moon Palace, another young girl named Mikuni notices that the battle below has caused her dagger to resonate. These matching daggers, noted to be seals, resonating begins the overarching prophesy of the story line.

This series has just barely begun to lay out the story, and much much more is yet to come in the planned 24 episodes. I will look forward to continuing this one.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical, Science Fiction

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Teito Klein is an up and coming student at the Barsburg Military Academy. His friend, Mikage is nearly always by his side. During the final exam for the academy (which happens to be a life or death fight with a HUGH convict), Teito and Mikage come out on top. Teito decides to spare the convict’s life, breaking the rules of the test. Ayanami, a high ranking member of the military, kills the convict with a powerful Zaiphon blast. Zaiphon is the term for the powers the military wields in combat; visually it appears to be runic characters in the air around the attacks. The tension is growing…

However, Teito’s story began long before the onset of the series. A slave in a neighboring empire; he was adopted into the military academy due to his natural abilities. He has broken memories of a kind, young to middle-aged man. The man in his dreams is taking care of him, and wears a very unique necklace. He feels that this man may actually be his father.

When Teito is passing a room where Ayanami is talking to his subordinates, he hears a familiar and haunting noise. It is a unique chime, given off by his (likely) father’s necklace. His memories flash back to Ayanami standing over the body of the man he believes to be his father. With unspeakable rage Teito flings himself at Ayanami, falling short when a subordinate easily stops his attack. Teito is arrested.

Mikage learns of this and goes to spring him from jail. Finding Teito standing over a pile of bodies, he grabs him and runs… leaving himself to hold off the guards. Ayanami nearly kills Teito with a Zaiphon attack, but Teito manages to defend himself. He flies off, nearly unconscious, and is rescued from plunging to his death by three bishops from the nearby 7th District Church. They take him in and help him recover, with a little comedy to lighten the mood. Teito begins to research the history of the area, and the kingdom of his heritage, Raggs. In the final scenes, we see Ayanami questioning Mikage.

This series has a LOT hidden under the surface, and speaks of big things to come! The world is large and fleshed out quite well. Another on my growing list of need-to-see series.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy

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The touda, fighting serpents, are the backbone of the Grand Duke’s army.  With this army he defends the Queen and her lands from outside invaders.  When the Duke’s banner flies on the battlefront, swift and unyielding death comes to the opposition.  Far removed from the carnage, a small town goes about its daily routine.  In this town lives Erin.

Erin, and her mother Soyon, are referred to as belonging to the “mist people”.  One of the traits of this race of people is their green hair and eyes.  While being looked down upon by some of the townsfolk, it is obvious that Soyon holds a great deal of ability in breeding and taking care of touda.

The town’s primary purpose is to be the breeding facility for the touda used by the Grand Duke’s army.  Erin wishes to learn her mother’s trade, and to be a doctor for the touda.  She sees them as tame, lovable creatures; she does not wish to treat them like tools of war as other people do.  Her mother fears this manner of thinking; knowing full well how powerful and unpredictable the touda can be.  Soyon does see the latent ability her daughter holds.  Through a few troubling cases presented to her, Erin deduces the source of the problems and aides her mother in solving them.

The looming war, troubles in the town, and the draconian laws surrounding the raising of touda foreshadow some upcoming turmoil.  This series has a very interesting visual style.  The backgrounds feel like they have been water colored and add to the fantastic atmosphere.  The story lays itself out slowly, introducing elements in an organized manner befitting a series scheduled for 50 episodes.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical, Supernatural

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Yumemi has always been a bit different from her childhood friends.  When she gazes into the sky; she sees floating islands that no one else does.  In the first episode, Yumemi comments about liking rainy days, as it allows her to see the same sky as everyone else… to feel normal.  The rest of the time she keeps her umbrella close by to block her view of the sky.  Her best friends, Ichiko and Suzume, know of her “problem” and accept that the islands must be there because she believes they are.

Early into the first episode, Yumemi witnesses a large pillar falling to earth from the heavens.  This brings us into the events taking place in the Magical Kingdom, part of the kingdoms in the sky, which Yumemi can see from Earth.  A battle rages to cut off the Magical Kingdom from the rest of the neighboring kingdoms by way of destroying the pillars surrounding it.  The “Elders of the Heavens” have determined that if the Magical Kingdom is destroyed, the others may have a chance for survival due to the lack of Akuto (the magical power source of the heavens).

Munto, the King of the Magical Kingdom has plunged to the border with Earth, known as the Lower World to his kind, in an attempt to contact Yumemi.  He has seen a vision of her and knows that in her is the power to save his world.  Yumemi, on the other hand, is suspicious of this “Red Man” appearing in chaotic explosions of energy, demanding her assistance.  Only into the second episode does she begin to turn toward helping him.

This series suffers from a bit of overly-rapid pacing in the first episode. There is a lot of information to soak up and it is very rushed. The second episode does work toward repairing this and unifying the scattered story lines for the main characters. A lot is left unsaid at the close of the second episode, and just enough of a lead to make some viewers pick up on the third. I was on the fence with this one; having tentatively given it a D rating at the end of the first episode. Fortunately for the series, I stick around through the first two episodes before making a final judgment. I may pick this series up again after I complete the others ahead of it, but it won’t be a high priority.

Overall Hook Rating: C