Steins;Gate began life as a visual novel in Japan. It’s one of those games where the ‘player’ gets to read through like a book, with pictures of the characters, and occasionally has a choice to make that effects what happens next. It’s useful to know that those “make a choice now” moments are represented in […]
A review of Aura: Koga Maryuin’s Last War
Aura, by Seiji Kishi, is an anime that takes a look at school culture in Japan. In particular it looks at the “cool” kids at the top of the popularity pile in contrast to the less popular geeks.
A review of of Evangelion 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo
I enjoyed the series Neon Genesis Evangelion. I enjoyed it despite the “hero” Shinji being something of a milksop. I enjoyed it despite the weird ending. The ending was weird, I’m told, because they ran out of budget. Solution – lots of surreal stuff happens. Over. You’re left asking “What?” As sometimes happens with series […]
Sakasama no Patema: Patema Inverted review
This is the first time that I’ve enjoyed an anime while being barely able to watch it. Patema Inverted is about the brave and curious girl who goes exploring in her underground world of tunnels and ruins and discovers a horrible truth. The film is sci-fi to the extent that it is set after a […]
Little Witches Yoyo & Nene review
Intended for children, despite being directed by Takayuki Hirao responsible for Tokyo Fish Attack, Little Witches will entertain anime loving adults. I enjoyed it even if there was a tendency to throw in rainbows and hearts. Nene and Yoyo are are pair of curse breaking sisters. They’re Witches for Hire in a fantasy world. Yoyo, […]
A review of Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl
Fuse Teppo Musume no Torimonocho seems to be called either Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl or Fuse: A Gun Girl’s Detective Story in English. I think Hunter Girl fits better. Fuse by Masayuki Miyaji is a blend of fantasy and Japan history. There’s plenty of action here; samurai warriors and werewolves, with rooftop chases […]
Gusukobudori no Denki: The Life of Guskou Budori review
Surreal and Buddhist, I’m told. The Life of Guskou Budori is based on Kenji Miyazawa’s novel. A significant change in the anime is that the characters are anthropomorphic cats with the exception of spirit like entities from dream sequences which look like grotesque people. Cats are cute and all that but The Life of Guskou […]
10 trillion years later: A Drifting review
Drifting is a sci-fi from the novelist Matthew Drury and journalist and comic strip creator Dave Cook. Ryan Valle, the Star Wars card game artist who works with Fantasy Flight Games, is involved in the project too. That’s an interesting creative team. Can they put together an interesting science fiction adventure? Drifting has an incredibly […]
Super Mecha Awesome Go!: A Review of Apotheosis Drive X
Pacific Rim made a big splash this year with Giant Robots battling Mutant Monsters from Another Dimension. We have more monsters and robots to come, I’m certain. Hollywood has found their cool thing of the moment. Manga and anime series love this stuff – and I have enjoyed years of Giant Robots throughout childhood and […]
A look at Guillermo del Toro: Cabinet of Curiosities
This is a big and impressive book. Guillermo del Toro is a hugely popular director among native geeks with a string of hits. He was director on Mimic, Blade II, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth and Pacific Rim. He even has producer credits on the likes of Kung Fu Panda, Megamind and Rise of the Guardians. He […]
