KAMICHU! Watched via DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Kamichu! is yet another one of those school girl goddess series. The title translates to “A Deity as a Middle School Student”, which I’d argue is backwards considering she was first and foremost a student and secondly a “god.” Kamichu! came out in 2005, and it is easy … Continue reading
Vandread VS. s-CRY-ed Watched via DVD and Adult Swim/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Vandread opens with what could possibly be the best hook of any harem anime series. Just prior to launching a war ship into outer space, a whole army of men are shown a propaganda film granting the viewer insight into this highly unusual … Continue reading
PARANOIA AGENT Watched via Adult Swim/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Paranoia Agent is a television series written and directed by Satoshi Kon. Many of his works explore themes of social media, psychoanalysis, and deviance. Satoshi Kon used this series as an opportunity to explore these themes in experimental ways he was unable to before in his … Continue reading
GOKUSEN Watched via DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: You have probably never heard of Gokusen unless you happen to also be a J-drama fan. This series is based off of a serialized manga, that also happened to be turned into a popular J-drama featuring of course, a lot of J-idols. I love all three versions of … Continue reading
TRIGUN Watched via DVD/Adult Swim WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: While Trigun initially did poorly in Japan, it has today come to be known as a most-loved fan favorite in the United States. Well, that is at least with older fans. Despite its now old age, it has actually managed to continuously trickle down to new fans … Continue reading
PRINCESS MONONOKE Watched via VHS/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Princess Mononoke is a historical fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. While the title would suggest the story follows the “spirit princess” (San), we instead find ourselves exploring an alternate ancient Japan through the eyes of a young Emishi warrior, Ashitaka. Prior to the storyline, … Continue reading
SHAMANIC PRINCESS Watched via DVD/Crunchyroll WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Tiara is a hot headed wielder of magic, recently come to “our world” to regain the stolen magical item, the Throne of Yord. Shamanic Princess came out in the ‘90s and therefore harkens back to a day and age of teenaged magical girls and thieves. This series … Continue reading
FULL METAL PANIC! THE SECOND RAID Watched via fansubs/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: After deviating into Fumoffu the Full Metal Panic! franchise comes back strong with a second season, Second Raid. This addition to the original plot line revs things up a notch by going further in depth than ever before. The first season was a … Continue reading
GUNDAM WING: ENDLESS WALTZ Watched via fansubs/DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz originated as a three part OVA sequel to the Gundam Wing series. With the addition of some footage and an update to the soundtrack, it became the movie it is known as today. Or I should say was known as, since … Continue reading
KANNAGI: CRAZY SHRINE MAIDENS Watched via DVD WHITNEY CRYSTAL PLOT: Jin, in an attempt to hone his artistic skills for an exhibition, carves a young woman out of a fallen ancestral tree. He unknowingly grants the goddess within the wood the ability to be set free by giving her a vessel to take form in. … Continue reading
Stereo Otaku 