Genres: Action, Comedy, Ecchi, Science Fiction

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There exists a technologically advanced city wherein roughly 80% of the populace are developing powers due to the cities highly advanced technology. This facility is named Academy City; its inhabitants are part of the “Brain Development Program” where in psychic powers are developed. To keep order within this city, powerful students are drafted into “Judgment”, as task force who deals with mundane and super-powered crimes.

We meet Kuroko Shirai and her roommate (and crush) Mikoto Misaka dealing with a group of thugs who are pestering a younger student. While Kuroko is an actual member of Judgment, Mikoto is not… yet she is one of the seven most powerful people in the city (we will later find out why her nickname is Railgun). As soon as the punks are dealt with, the girls must return to their middle school to undergo a “System Scan”, which is code for an analysis of their primary abilities, ranked Level 1 through Level 5 (the strongest). Level 0 is reserved for those with no powers.

Kuroko plots to get closer to Mikoto by allowing her cohort at Judgement, Kazari Uiharu, a chance to meet her hero (Mikoto). Kazari’s good friend, Ruiko Saten, also tags along. Ruiko is considered Level 0, having developed no powers as of yet. While the foursome is out they come across a bank robbery in progress. The two Judgment members (Kuroko and Kazari) step into action and begin to control the scene. in the commotion, a boy has wandered into the battle and is taken hostage by one of the robbers. Ruiko grapples him away from the robber and gets a boot in the face for her troubles.

The robber, now empty handed, steals a car and attempts to run down the one girl left standing in the middle of the road… Mikoto. She tells Kuroko that she will handle the situation. As the car bears down on her, she flips a coin into the air. Electricity begins to flow about her body and focuses toward her outstretched hand. As the coin returns in line she flicks it, releasing all the stored power… the Railgun. This pinpoint blast of power upends the car and sends it spiraling through the air. The day is saved!

Into the second episode the mood lightens somewhat to focus on more of the day to day school life, Kuroko’s crush on Mikoto, and other zaniness. The tone of the series took such a sudden shift that it worries me that it might spiral downhill. On the positive side, the concept and the Railgun itself is just epic.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Watch part of episode one after the jump…
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Genres: Comedy, Romance

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Saku Oyagi only ever wanted to sit inside and read peacefully. His neighbor, Mihoshi Akeno, had other plans for his free time. From the time they were in the first grade together, Mihioshi was dragging Saku out to play or to go star gazing. Mihioshi wishes to pass on her love of the stars to her best friend… but he is resistant. She decides to climb a tree to get Saku a star but falls, injuring them both. Saku’s family moves away, and he holds some animosity toward her for his broken arm (and that she never came to say goodbye).

During Saku’s freshman year of high school he is moved back to his home town. While his intentions are to forget the past, he runs right into Mihoshi again. Now a senior member of the Astronomy Club, Mihoshi is desperately recruiting members to meet their 5 person minimum enrollment. Saku is, again, very resistant at first. Once he learns that Mihoshi couldn’t see him off because she was in the hospital from the fall, he finally comes around.

The remainder of the cast if laid out, including: Sayo Yarai, a mostly quiet girl who tries to keep Mihioshi in check; Takeyasu Roma, the Astronomy Club president (whos weak constitution leads to much bleeding from the mouth); Masashi Edogawa, Saku’s new friend from the freshman class; and Hime Makita, who has a crush on Saku since he complimented her on her hair during their entrance exams.

This series is very cute and seems to have enough open ended love interestes to remain interesting for now. While it could have taken the traditional harem route, I find it stays a step above, earning it top marks.

Overall Hook Rating: A

Watch the first part of episode 1 after the jump…
(more…)

Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Harem

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Teppei Kobayashi has a simple, predictable life. His family lives in a modest home near a railway line, he practices with his sword, and is happily unaware of the events spiraling toward him. The news on TV shows stories of affluent families who are dying in mysterious auto “accidents” that are anything but accidental. At dinner his father asks him what he would do if he found himself in that situation. Teppei brushes this off, as it doesn’t apply to a simple person like him, but says he would do what he had to do.

Teppei leaves for school, and notes in the voice-over that it was the last time he saw his parents alive. Saying his last goodbyes, he sets off to live with his grandfather. On the way to his grandfather’s offices he saves Charlotte Hazelrink, a princess, from attackers like those most likely responsible for his parents death. They share a small uncomfortable moment (well, maybe a little too comfortable of a moment) after they are safe, then go their separate ways. Later at his new school, the Shuuhou Gakuen academy, they will meet again in much the same way.

In the interlude, he learns that his mother, Kanae, was heir to the Arima family. His parents “accident” fits the others he had watched on TV; Teppei is filled with a desire for vengeance. His grandfather, Isshin Arima, adopts him as his new heir… warning him to temper his anger and wait for his enemies to make themselves known.

After Teppei (who has now taken the Arima family name) has been announced as the heir and escaped the social scene there-after, he runs into Maria van Hossen, a skilled fencer. He decides that the best thing to do while uncomfortable is to let his mind rest with a little sparring. They briefly match swords until his grandfather and Maria’s father let them know that they are engaged in an arranged marriage.

Teppei’s reactions to the sudden social status upgrade, the new school, personalities and quirks of his status are quite humorous. The underlying seriousness of the situation hides under the tide of perverse humor and general social uneasiness. While not a huge fan of the general harem genre, this one has its own merits.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Watch part of episode one after the jump…
(more…)

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Magical

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Six hours is more than enough time for your life to get turned completely around. For high school student Yumiko Christina Ichinose, a confrontation with bullies is only the start of her new life. Yumiko was born with purple eyes and silver hair, making her a natural target of ridicule. These traits also denote her magical heritage.

Able to take no more, she runs away from home carrying the one artifact left behind for her by her great-grandfather; his magic staff. She hopes that a school could train her to use the magic she is supposed to have, but is unable to comprehend from her great-grandfather’s journals. However, she is not the only person interested in the staff. A mysterious man in a white suit, who glows with a radiant light, confronts her and requests the staff. When refused, he makes it his goal to kill Yumiko.

While fleeing this man, she makes her way to the magic school on an old flyer she has found. Here she runs into Koyomi Morishita, another magician in training… one who apparently knows her already, but “not yet,” hinting at some potential time or perception warping. They are also joined by Soshiro Anehara, brother to the yet to be seen Misa Anehara who runs the school (as far as we are told thus far).

Koyomi uses her powers to turn the man in white’s attack “code” (the term used for the magical energies of the modern digital age) into a metal wash basin to drop on his head. He notes that this is actually an unskilled, yet powerful move… while he examines the situation, the girls run off. Yumiko finds herself lost and alone and is soon attacked by the man’s pet (a two headed dog beast with a whip-tail). Mimicking the man’s earlier attacks, Yumiko managers to repeat the “code” he used and saves herself. Angered by her success, he returns… but he is eventually repelled by Misa, making her first appearance to Yumiko.

The second episode flashes back to Koyomi’s joining the school and her basic training. We learn that Misa is a VERY accomplished magician; probably the best in the world. The attempt at using “code” and technology as a digital incarnation of analog magic was a step in the right direction. This method of doing something different than the majority of magical girl series did not add much to the series as of yet.

Overall Hook Rating: C

Watch episode one after the jump…
(more…)

Genres: Comedy, Romance

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Kana Nakamachi has just lost her grandmother. In the years before, her mother and father have also died. Now alone in the world, afraid the movers will sell her to foreigners, she runs away. She passes the Fuhshin Gazette, advertising a job with an included on-site room. However, the people out front scare her off with their strange personalities. She continues onward, checking with businesses all over town, but has no luck finding an alternative. As she walks down one street she is struck by a delivery bike.

She wakes in the main room of the Fuhshin Gazette, a small newspaper that is apparently run by Saki Amano, a grade school girl. As Deputy Chief she takes care of the day to day workings of the newspaper (it is not explained yet as to why she holds this post); she is mature beyond her years. Seeing Kana’s circumstances, she allows her to work there and provides her room and board.

The other girls working there include: Yume Kitaoka, a pastry chef in training; Yuuki Minami, who is in love with Yume and extremely jealous of her attention to others; Haruka Nishida, who is some sort of biology student, and frequently drunk on her concoctions; and Hinata Azuma, a gambler who has twice-failed at her college entrance exams.

Kana must learn her new trade fast, being that she does not know how to read directions, ride a bike, nor much other than cook (which the other girls REALLY appreciate). Her first assignment nearly ends in disaster when she is caught in a sudden rainstorm. There she meets a competing delivery girl, Mika Kujiin, who has an abrasive attitude, but warms to Kana as she helps her find her way.

This series is rather cute with over the top comedy, yuri overtones, and a general light hearted nature. The addition of a competing business may lead to additional story material, but the main cast have layers left to be revealed as well. Kana’s sadness at being left along gradually lifts, and it is not certain if that sad portion of the storyline will take prevalence again.

Overall Hook Rating: B

Episode one preview after the jump:

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Genres: Comedy, Ecchi, Magical

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In a world parallel to our own a highly advanced society exists; in part, tasked with improving life on our side of the divide. The agents they send into our world are each known as a Charger-Girl (Juuden-Chan). They scan over our populace and find those of us who are depressed (ranked F through A, the most depressed and possibly suicidal). While most in this role see it as a simple job, one Charger-Girl takes a personal interest in her work. Plug, a rather hapless and mostly hopeless girl, tries to find the cause of people’s unhappiness.

One of the first encounters Plug has in our world (during the course of the story) is Sentou, a young many working hard to take care of his little sister. Unlike the rest of humanity, he can see through the Charger-Girls’ stealth field. Plug startles Sentou and he rewards her with a baseball bat to the head. Sentou’s younger sister, Hakone, is actually one of those in need of a “recharge” by Plug.

When she tries to carry out her work, Sentou again bats her to the side for “playing dangerously with electricity”. This is also the first instance that people peeing themselves makes in the series. It will NOT be the last (unfortunately). In the end of the first episode, Plug and Sentou save Hakone from jumping off a building… completing Plug’s assignment.

Come the episode, the barely covered nudity of the previous episode jumps the line and goes full out. It is also at this point that the thin string of the plot tanks and becomes more about perv magnet scenes of urination, latex and bondage. Oh yea, its mildly a magical-girl styled series…

Overall Hook Rating: D

Straight from the horse’s mouth:

Apple® today announced that Dr. Eric Schmidt, chief executive officer of Google, is resigning from Apple’s Board of Directors, a position he has held since August 2006.

“Eric has been an excellent Board member for Apple, investing his valuable time, talent, passion and wisdom to help make Apple successful,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Unfortunately, as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric’s effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest. Therefore, we have mutually decided that now is the right time for Eric to resign his position on Apple’s Board.”

On the board for two years? I can’t imagine how uncomfortable Dr. Schmidt must have been on the board, especially taking into consideration Android and the upcoming Chrome OS. Granted, I have decided come up with a few plausible reasons for his staying on the board, in spite of the (inferred) awkwardness. No supplementary Photoshopped images or anything – I’d just much do this than answer hundreds of e-mails at work. Also, you’ll notice that I was not afraid to dodge Occam’s Razor:

(1) Shareholders. Shareholders. Shareholders.

(2) Dr. Schmidt and Steve Jobs are actually brothers and they must unite for the inevitable rise of the machines. Little did Jobs know that Schmidt – after all of this time – is the creator of the machine. Bill Gates shakes his head in disappointment.

(3) The “Board of Directors” is actually a contraption developed by Nikola Tesla. And though it appeared to be the prestigious Dr. Eric Schmidt on the Board the entire time, it was actually his unknown twin brother, Mr. Derek Schmidt. Everything was going fine until now. Now, it’s simply a magic trick gone wrong.

(4) After the announcement of Chrome OS, Jobs discovered that Dr. Schmidt was also planning to create a new video game. Jobs then miraculously found a way to trap Dr. Schmidt in said game. In an attempt to not shed any light on the matter, Apple tried their best to avoid jumping into any news cycles.

(5) Eric. I am your father. After he had searched his feelings, he knew it to be true.

Any other ideas?

Genres: Comedy

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Weiß Survive, based on the card game Weiß Schwarz (German for white and black), is a series that centers around two school-mates (Takeshi and Michi) who are transported into the Card Battle World. The old man there explains that Takeshi is the chosen warrior and that he must win his battles to return home. The style switches between polished animation and over the top chibi-styled moments.

Just after that… wait, that was both episodes, all 5 minutes total of them… *twitch*

Ok, ok… so they are short, at least the story… umm, its just explaining the game mechanics with very LITTLE over story?… *twiiiitch*

OK, at least the cards will be a whole new set of interesting cha… they are all existing series/game characters??? *TWITCH*

What is this? A two and a half min advertisement for a game… disguised as an anime? Yes… I think it is…

Overall Hook Rating: F

I hate the way people tiptoe around indie games in general.  The industry’s approach to the vast majority of these shittastic independent game developers wreaks of a mother telling her daughter that she has a “nice” singing voice, only to have the daughter try out for American Idol later in life and get publicly destroyed by Simon Cowell.  I tell you this so you can be sure that when I tell you Time Gentlemen, Please is one of the best adventure games I’ve played in a very long time, you’ll know I’m serious. (more…)

Genres: Comedy, Drama

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Saki focuses on the high school life of its namesake, Saki Miyanaga.  She meets up with her friend, Kyotaro Suga, who abuses her friendship to get him a “ladies only” special from the cafeteria.  He also happens to be a member of the school mahjong club/team.  After some light pestering, he convinces her to meet up with them.  Saki has never been a fan of mahjong as her family usually quarreled about her playing to poorly or to well (we later find that her family is divided and that her mother left with “the other” members, leaving her and her father together).

Upon reaching the club Saki comes face to face with a girl she took note of during the opening of the series, Nodoka Haramura.  Nodoka is a naturally talented player who was a champion at her junior high.  Another member of the club is Yuki Kataoka, the youngest and most scatterbrained of the lot.  Her hyperactivity and attention span of a gnat make her an occasional annoyance to the others.  They play three games, and Saki leaves.  The club’s president, Hisa Takei, takes not that Saki’s score for every game was exactly 0.  Not a good score by any means score, doing this three times in a row is nigh unheard of.

This score perplexes the club president, and she convinces Saki to return for two more games.  On the first, Saki again attains a 0 score.  On the second, the club president convinces her that she needs to play to win, so she tells her to play as if she only started with 1000 points, rather than the original 20000.  If Saki can maintain her mindset of scoring 0, under the revised system she would actually win (as the club president said to play AS IF the had 1000, not that she actually had 1000).

Saki and Nodoka develop a rift as Nodoka loves mahjong, but was beaten by Saki, who really hated it.  The final scenes of the second episode touch on Saki’s mother and sister probably not coming back, and that Saki will join the mahjong club to play more with Nodoka (as she actually has fun playing with her).  It’s to be noted that the games played in this series are VERY animated, with mock visual effects added to moves… a bit over the top, but fun.

Overall Hook Rating: B