Kyoto Animation’s CLANNAD was in my eyes the show that made Fall season. I don’t think I could sing the praises of this show higher, possibly with the exception of wanting the second series right now! Most people have already heard of CLANNAD by now, the supernatural, high school, comical drama that needs no introduction. After all having been made by Kyoto Animation I never doubted this show’s greatness, the initial worry was more would it live up to it’s predecessors which to me it did. Possibly not quite as moving as Kanon or Air and for once with a happy ending, for now anyway.

What shone in CLANNAD was the humour, some of the scenarios put together were on par with the best comedy shows. Whilst watching the same episode you could be falling of your chair with laughter one moment and then sobbing your heart out the next. This show represented what makes both Key and KyoAni the current masters of story telling they know just how to tweak human emotions. The animation is beautiful to behold, one thing that always amazes with KyoAni’s work is I can never spot filler drawings, everything is drawn with the same attention to detail, it is often truly astounding that they manage to keep this standard of work up with every series they produce.

The story arcs of each of the girls are each thought provoking and emotion filled. No girl is unlovable but each has a special charm and individual personality that makes you root for each one in turn to win over Tomoya, but also hope they find what they are each are searching for due to their tragic past’s. KyoAni did a great job linking KEY’s stories together, making each story arc transition flawlessly, every week I found you would welcome the girls and boys from CLANNAD into your life eagerly anticipating just what will happen next, as if you have previously seen KEY adaptations you will know anything can happen. My only disappointment was the short arcs of my favourite girls Tomoyo and Kyou, that said I am well aware that due to this being Nagisa’s show their arcs from the game would have caused confusion and contradicted the eventual route of the show.

The KyoAni heroine’s and stereotypes were out in force in this show, with each girl in CLANNAD representing the personality of a much loved girl from a previous show. Anyway this was my interpretation, I’m not sure who would agree - Nagisa (Misuzu), Fuko (Ayu), Kotomi (Sayuri), Tomoyo (Mai), Kyou (Haruhi/Kagami), Ryou (Shiori/Tsukasa), the twins also bore an amazing resemblace to the Lucky Star twins themselves. For the KyoAni fannatics amongst us there was a lot of symbolizum (almost like the hidden Mickey in Disney) to honour previous shows throughout. I recommend a second viewing to see if you can spot them all.

The only problem with CLANNAD is it is still unfinished and the ending felt very much like there was so much story left to be told thus this feels more like a mid season review. Thankfully with CLANNAD - After Story on the horizon the tale is not yet finished. Watch CLANNAD you won’t regret it, this is yet another jewel to add to KyoAni’s crown, lets just hope After Story finally completes CLANNAD successfully and makes it an even better series than Kanon, which currently is still slightly better due to feeling closer to completion. As a series CLANNAD definately delivers on almost every emotional level, humour, sadness and angst, this show is a pure joy to watch and all wrapped up with KyoAni’s beautiful animation could you honestly ask for much more besides another season?

Rosario+Vampire or the series of Vampires, Monsters and Pantsu! When it comes to fan service this series had it by the blood bank full. Now personally I’m not opposed to fan service after all every season needs some light relief and Rosario+Vampire just about managed to keep it within the very thin line of going overboard. I think the only reason I actually managed to watch the whole of this series is due to liking the manga so much, which for those who haven’t read it isn’t as much a pantsu fest as the series. The character designs are likable and the bright colours contrasted well with the more muted colour pallet of other series. The animation though not as pleasing as some was eye candy enough, or possibly that was just due to myself liking the design of Vampire Moka, who did liven up the series every time she appeared.

If you’re looking for a series where you don’t exactly need to concentrate hard, the plot line being incredibly repetitive ‘Ahhh look scary monster, pull off Moka’s rosary, Vampire kicks this weeks offending monster into next week in a shorter time period than the previous week’, this could be worth a look. The harem element was funny with the minor characters being very likable in their own way except by the end of the series the little witch was getting on my nerves. Tsukune was a nice enough lead male, not as drippy as he could have been which was a relief especially considering he was saved by a girl on a weekly basis. I did especially enjoy the chibi bats that keep appearing with strange commentary which often brought about a giggle from myself. Tsukune pretty much ended up with the girl you knew he would but I was disappointed that the series stopped at the point where the manga actually became interesting and less of a rehash of monster B movies. I’m guessing the season was left open ended just in case they do make a second series, but I do believe much more of this formula would become very boring. A series to watch if you want something light hearted, plot less and full of fan service with a girl kicking a monster with exceeding proficiency every week but in an entertaining way, a silly, fun but repetitive watch.

Koharu Biyori (OVA) is a series of 3 OVA’s about Takaya Murase an otaku who purchases the maid robot Yui. Unlike the usual cooking and cleaning duties carried by a maid robot Takaya has purchased Yui with the soul purpose of making her dress up in various outfits and to live out his fantasies.

What follows is a moe, fan service fest which puts other shows to shame. At least with this being OVA’s I can handle the overload. The animation is adorable and the predicaments poor Yui is put in by Takaya are hilarious. There is even one sequence where I swear one of the characters is doing the Caramelldansen dance. This show is what would happen if Chobits had it’s fan service dial cranked to 100. Though short on plot the episodes are big on comical scenarios and make a refreshing break from any intense series. I do think anymore than 3 episodes of this would be overdoing it, this series just about manages to stay short and sweet. Only watch this if you like fan service as that is pretty much all this series consists of but 30 minutes of maid outfits, cosplay, bouncing objects, loli’s, power rangers and a kawaii robot tied up in ribbons is never going to be dull.

Candy Boy is a 10 minute long ONA by AIC, This short anime follows the daily life of sisters Yukino and Kanade Sakurai. One day another girl Sakuya Kamiyama confess her love for Kanade to Yukino, which sets about a realisation of Yukino’s true feelings towards her sister.

For a 10 minute long yuri anime it is surprisingly good if you don’t mind the incestuous plot line. The animation is very cute and at only 10 minutes long it is worth watching, with the characters of Yukino and Kanade both being extremely likeable. In light of Candy Boys success a 7 episode series is in the works, the first of which will be released on May 2nd 2008 via the online video sharing website Nico Nico Douga. The first episode was intriguing enough for me to pursue the series and see what happens next to the incestuous sisters.

Continuing my round up of the shorter shows that aired fall 2007, Blue Drop the sci-fi yuri show was to an extent better than I expected.

The show itself was definitely different from everything else last season, the use of colour was very subtle, there was no fan service, and the show was a mix between slice-of life school and sci-fi alien invasion. I do think that Blue Drop was one of the shows that could have benefited from a longer season, there was to an extent to much plot to fit into 13 episodes. I am aware that Blue Drop the anime series was only meant to be an introduction/prologue to a story that is largely expanded upon throughout the manga. Considering the function of this short interesting anime was to show how the war came about it did a relatively good job. Sadly due to it only being a prologue the viewer is left with little sense of satisfaction, after all now the story is in fact just beginning.

The show was in my eyes very watch-able, but at times the pace did seem very hampered and slow. After all it did seem one moment I was watching a “normal” school based show and the next we were on alien battle ships, which can be confusing at best. The Yuri element which largely is why I watched the show in the first place ( after all in such a limited genre you take what you can get) and to an extent it did disappoint. Mari and Hagino do make a very cute couple, when they are acting like a couple which was pretty much the last 2 episodes of the anime. I hate how they ended the relationship, I don’t want to add too many spoilers but just because Hagino was an alien doesn’t mean she had to act so cold when she was around Mari. I gather she was attempting to be the strong one in light of what she was about to do but at least they could have said “I love you” more than once in the series.

If you feel like a yuri/sci-fi fix and you’ve seen everything else on offer give Blue Drop a whirl. It’s a nice little series which in my eyes could have been so much more, they had a lot of material to work with and to me they fell at the first hurdle. There is a lot of blushing, not much action and eventually a lot of hand holding but I guess at least they progressed further than certain Marimite girls who have had 3 seasons to have any form of kiss, at least their blurry underwater bubble fest was something.

In finalising my review Blue Drop is a show that does take a lot of time to get into, sadly I wasn’t as moved as I felt I should have been by the final episode. The use of different shades of blue is beautiful and the overal look of the show I like a lot, not a overly bright colour in sight but it is another show with a very typical yuri ending (if you know the genre). So if you are approached by an alien girl with glowing blue eyes give her a chance, but don’t expect much on the emotional front.

I thought I’d start my series wrap up reviews with Myself; Yourself. As you will see from my earlier reviews I am quite fond of this little series. After an interesting beginning with the mysterious Nanaka and annoying Aoi often taking centre stage, the series did delve into very different territory touching on incest, insanity, suppressed memories, lesbianism, murder, arson and of course suicide. Pretty hard hitting material for such a short series, but people will be happy to hear that “Myself” didn’t go down the School Days route like earlier predictions.

Overall I will have to say it was an interesting little gem possibly not as hard hitting as they could have made it. I did find the final few episodes slightly rushed, It seems the studio was attempting to cover far too much ground in too short an amount of time. Definitely give it a watch if you want something that covers slightly more serious topics and is short and sweet, but don‘t expect the extraordinary. The only problem is you may be left with a slight feeling of confusion at how everything progressed so fast in the closing stages.

My lesson learnt from this series, beware elderly people who believe you look like their long dead granddaughter and it involves a disappearing cat *shudder*. I don’t think I’ll be doing any voluntary work with the elderly for a while after seeing that.

It’s a new year so of course that means new anime and I’m sure we are all chomping at the bit. Besides the return of some old favourites Gunslinger Girl 2 and Minami-ke season 2, We’re treated to some new and exciting series.

Rosario + Vampire

A brand new series by GONZO based on the manga by Akihisa Ikeda and I have to say I personally am liking it a lot. The plot seems pretty much to follow the usual harem vein, puts on old worn record shy guy “Tsukune” moves to new school with lots of pretty girls, whom I am already guessing all take a shine to him in some way. Boy is insecure and in reality he would have no chance of hooking up with one of the said girls let alone all of them… But scratch that there’s a new twist it’s a school for Monsters (yes all things ghoulish that go bump in the night) and he is the only human. So if any of them find out it’s sayonara Tsukune.

We’re introduce to the female main character in a blaze of pantsu showing glory, Pink haired very Moe ditzy girl who has an interesting secret she is in fact a vampire who goes decidedly Emo when her rosary is removed. I personally like the animation it’s easy to watch and the series from what I can tell is eye candy likable, Moka is incredibly kawaii and she is giving off a decidedly Lucy/Nyuu Elfen Lied vibe and I swear it isn’t just the pink hair giving me this nostalgia.

I have to say though the little bats do steal the show, I crack up laughing whenever I see one. So everyone sing it with me “One, two, three, count! Batty, batty bat; batty bat; batty bat; batty bat! dance with me doing the batty bat” *sigh* I am showing my age.

H20 ~Footsteps in the sand~

The new series from ZEXCS is yet another ecchi harem show based on a video game with the same title. Didn’t have enough harem last season? but you never know maybe this one will be surprisingly interesting.

The story revolves around Takuma who is actually blind, This disability seems to give the studio every chance to make as much use of his white stick ecchi style as possible. He moves to a new school and meets several new girls including a rather nice Tsunderekko Hayami Kohinata who it seems is often beaten up for some unknown reason. It appears the more he interacts with these girls the better his vision becomes.

The first episode was interesting nothing terribly amazing to write home about as of yet but entertaining none the less. I have sensed though 2008 is the year for pantsu!!!

True Tears

The new series from P.A. Works with a slightly more romantic less comical edge. I have to admit the first episode did stand out for me and possibly will be one I do follow through this season.

Shinichiro is lucky enough to share his house with one of the most popular girls at school Hiromi. She appears to have moved in with them a year prior but something is wrong, around the house she is so quiet and withdrawn. She doesn’t seem to cry even though her reasons for being there are quite traumatic. Shinichiro wants to comfort Hiromi but he can’t ever get up the nerve to even speak to her, so he is left with just watching her from afar. Due to a chance encounter with a particularly odd girl named Noe, he is cursed with bad luck. How will all of this affect him throughout the series, will he have to perform Muhiga dancing and will he even find the courage to confront Hiromi.

I found the animation throughout the first episode particularly beautiful, I definitely think this could be one to follow and no ecchi so far in sight, wow what a change.

They are my noble masters

Can anyone say ECCHI!! I swear this year has been stamped with it and we’re only 2 weeks in. The new series from A.C.G.T appears to be full of it. The animation is nice enough but not sure if it will hold my interest or not.

Ren and his sister move to the city due to lack of money. They eventually end up being employed as servants to the Kuonji family which comprises of three sisters Shinra, Miyu and Yume what takes place are the surreal and often comical incidences of day to day life within the mansion

Not sure what to think of this series to be honest, it is comical in parts but I think it could just be another unimpressive anime to add to the pile. Shinra does have a certain appeal though but that’s about it.

Spice and Wolf

The new series from IMAGIN is definitely different to everything else this season. I am hoping for an interesting series after watching the first episode.

Set In Europe during the middle ages Craft Lawrence is a peddler who travels from town to town selling various items. One evening he stops in the town of Pasroe and upon awakening finds in his cart a 250 year old wolf deity called Holo. She appears in the form of a 15 year old girl only with the addition of wolf ears and a tail. Holo makes a deal with Lawrence to travel with him as she wishes to return to her homeland called Yetis. Even though she is the god of the harvest she now believes the towns people are forsaking her and their pagan ways, so she wishes to return home, but it appears not is all that it seems.

I do like the animation in this and the Pagan/Christian edge is definitely appealing to me. I do love a good “fairy tale” type adventure story. I will be waiting with baited breath for the next instalment of this.

These new series should hopefully help fill the void that was left by what finished last month. Also there is the welcome return of CLANNAD and Shakugan No Shana Second.

Welcome to the year of PANTSU!!

Ok as I fell behind with my episode reviews I’ve decided to do them by story arc instead. The first story arc in CLANNAD was Fuuko Ibuki the little girl with an obsession with starfish, *sobs* I want to be in the starfish alliance too.

When we first meet Fuuko it’s rumored she’s a ghost, the viewer is always left guessing about this throughout the beginning of her arc, later it is revealed she was actually involved in an accident 2 years prior. I don’t want to reveal too many spoilers as it will be unfair to everyone watching. After a strange start to their friendship, I think everyone remembers the “SHOOT!” incident. Tomoya and Nagisa decide to help Fuuko with her wish to make everyone come to her sisters wedding. You just know due to her wishing so much for everyone to come that in fact Fuuko probably won’t make it to the wedding herself ( I am not revealing anything as to if she’s there or not). After all this is a Key work so anything is possible.

This arc was very fulfilling at least in my eyes it has it’s fair share of funny moments, mainly involving Tomoya bullying Fuuko when she zones out and sees starfish. I just love how this show manages to have me in hysterical giggles one second and sobbing my eyes out the next. The animation is always beautiful and if you’re like me and adore the big eyes, CLANNAD is a real treat.

Watching CLANNAD reminds me why I love Key and Kyoani’s work so much, they never fail to make me bawl my eyes out. CLANNAD it seems is no exception to that rule. Fuuko’s arc reminded me of a mix between Ayu’s and Makoto’s arc’s in Kanon. Fuuko is just so kawaii you can’t help but love her awww it’s like Ayu has come back all over again all she needed to do was walk into a tree. I just love how CLANNAD explores the idea of family as after all that is what the word clannad translates as. Nagisa and Tomoya really became a surrogate family to little Fuuko and even though she was the same age as Tomoya she always seemed like their little sister. Her strength and determination to get her wishes across even in “spirit” are inspirational to everyone, this another reason why I adore anything Key dreams up as you always feel like you have accomplished something after watching their work.

I feel very satisfied at the end of this arc and very much cried out, well until next week. If you haven’t already jumped on the CLANNAD bandwagon where have you been? I do warn you make sure you have a box of tissues handy for the last few episodes as you will be crying by the end of each story.

We won’t forget you Fuuko!!

Following the success of the mini series Afro Samurai (aired in Adult Swim, Bravo earlier this year in the UK) creator Takashi Okazaki has confirmed a new series is in the works which is scheduled to air on Spike TV in America during early 2008. If you haven’t seen the first series I highly recommend you do. It reminicses of the the classic Ninja Scroll anime with a similar canvas for the setting in Japan with fast fluid action with plenty of violence. The setting is during Fuedal Japan yet parts of the setting expresses a futuristic outlook. The style of the animation accompanies its theme through rap/hip hop influences which is also incorporated in its music by RZA.

The 5 episode series follows a samurai Afro( voiced by Samuel L Jackson) seeking the current number one ‘Justice’ who killed Afro’s father in order to become the number one. Whoever is number one has the rank of utmost respect and the headband which exemplifies power across the land of Japan. Only the number two rank can challenge the number one for the title. As the series starts after a flashback Afro is the current number two. Throughout the story a series of flashbacks occurs when Afro was a child and how his character grew to who he is in present day. It is through the flashbacks that bring the twists and emotion in the story which builds to the climax of the final episode.

If you missed the series when it was aired, the 2 disc DVD was recently released, you should definitely check it out!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JdzlRY48w8[/youtube]

Further news is that a video game adaptation of Afro Samurai is currently in the works which is to be released for Xbox360. A live action film of the series has also been announced with Samuel. L. Jackson to be the main character Afro.

After a week of waiting impatiently I finally watched Clannad Episode 3 and what can I say this show really doesn’t disappoint. Clannad is fast becoming the highlight of my anime week and I don’t mind saying I love this show. Kyoto animation seem to have managed to put everything that was right about their previous slows into this one, also I must add it’s nice to have a show that I know I am guaranteed to laugh out loud at least once within the 25 minute duration.

This week we begin with the girl in the alternative realm, with narration from the boy who has a body made of scrap. I am still currently trying to work out how they are planning to tie this in with the rest of the plot line. That said the animation in this sequence is beautiful and I know people have said this prior but the girl really does look like a young Mikuru from Haruhi.

Back in the present day, the story picks up where it left off last episode after Nagisa collapsed from standing in the rain all day waiting for Tomoya. We are treated to more of the Furukawa family at their bakery. Nagisa’s dad stealing the limelight whenever he comes on screen, there is a also a repeat of Nagisa’s mum running out crying after her baking has been insulted again. Nagisa has been ill since the incident and has been off school resting, Tomoya has obviously come to see her to apologise and check how she is, but as she is asleep he decides to leave it. While walking back contemplating how silly Nagisa’s actions were, Tomoya is pulled into the middle of an argument between a guy with a dent in his car who is accusing an electrician of causing it. Tomoya discovers the real culprit of the crime and as a thank you the electrician gives Tomoya his card. Sunohara informs Tomoya when he is back at their dormitory that the card actually belong to a famous MC Yoshino Yuusuke. Sunohara then goes on to explain to Tomoya that he has a new conspiracy theory as to why Tomoyo can beat him up, she is in fact a guy! He plans to trick her the next day at school into revealing her secret, buy strangely asking her if he can borrow a razor from her. As everyone can guess this just ends in another of Tomoyo’s famous in air kick combo’s 743 this time, she is getting better hopefully we‘ll be on 9999 by the end of the series.

Tomoya see’s Nagisa sitting alone for lunch and she shyly waves to him, thinking now he won’t want to speak to her anymore. They apologise for their actions the previous day and both admit they are idiots. Their emotional scene is interrupted by Fuko looking for her knife. Tomoya say’s she can have it back if her hand has healed from before so after a repeat of “dribble and shoot!” which is unsuccessful, Tomoya opts for plan B, which is if she lets him punch her hands in a ‘boxer, trainer’ style he‘ll give her the knife. He then slips the knife into her hand while she is preoccupied with shaking and saying “one!, two!” in anticipation of the pain. In gratitude she shoves the star she’s been carving into Tomoya’s hands and runs off. While watching Fuko I can’t help but this she’s Ayu from Kanon come back, even when she gets angry it’s the same .“Uguu“.

Tomoya returns to class to class and decides to play a trick on the sleeping Sunohara who is still recovering from the beating Tomoyo gave him earlier. Then they notice something through the window, a small creature is snuffling in the bushes. The boys go to investigate and find a little kawaii urinko saying “puhi - puhi”, looks like we have Potato’s replacement for the series. As Sunohara goes to pick him up he’s hit by a flying book followed by a aerial kick that sends him half way across the grounds. Who else can it be by Kyou, she seems to enjoy making an entrance followed by a flying book. Sunohara receives a second kick after he comments about seeing Kyou’s underwear. With the little Urinko (wild boar) safe in her arms we are introduced to her as her baby Botan.

The rest of the episode involves Tomoya coaching Nagisa in preparation for starting her Drama club, we are also introduced to Miyazawa Yukine who makes them tea in the ‘second’ library. Just before the credits roll, Nagisa is called into the student council room, it appears she’s in trouble for putting up flyers to advertise her new club without getting permission.

This weeks episode didn’t really deepen the storyline, we haven’t learnt much more about the characters but it did make for an enjoyable and hilarious 25 minutes. It seems as KyoAni have 20+ episodes to play with this season they can afford to move at a slightly slower pace. Even though the storyline hasn’t progressed much further I feel there is more depth of character, the humour is also adding to the charm of the series.

Hopefully next week’s episode will come sooner than the torturous wait for this one, The preview shows Sunohara is going to attempt to turn over a new leaf with Tomoyo but from the looks of the bandages he isn’t very successful. My only complaint this time around was there wasn’t enough Tomoyo but it seems next week may make up for that.