Do you remember Roberta from Black Lagoon? The poor skilled maid of the Lovelace house, which proved to be a real killing machine? I know you liked her. She is going to get her own OVA, a five-episode series called ‘’Roberta’s Blood Trail’’. The OVA will appear in Japan on Blu-ray and DVD, on July 17th. I hope we wont get a MOE Roberta. And to keep a kick-ass mood, here is a video clip with Revy and Roberta. I loved this episode. It was the fight I never wanted ... Related posts:Black Lagoon OVA to arrive in 2010 Darker Than Black: Gemini of the Meteor episode 1 Darker Than Black: Ryusei no Gemini 90 seconds trailer My favorite anime themes – TV series
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True to my word, I went ahead and watched the first episode of Baccano off of metalsnakezero’s suggestion. Keep these recommendations coming! The episode has the amusing title “The Vice President Doesn’t Say Anything About the Possibility of Him Being the Main Character” which is about long enough to be the name of a Fall-Out Boy song. As with most of these shows, so far, I found my expectations continually confounded every time I thought I’d pegged the tone of the show. The jazzy opening theme starts with a caper by Bonnie and Clyde-style couple pulling off a heist dressed as a pumpkinhead and pirate (or was it a witch? It went be so fast). I figure I’m in store for a modern version of LUPINE III, which was certainly welcome as I thoroughly enjoyed CASTLE OF CAGLIOSTRO when I first saw it as a teenager. Then, of course, and I suppose I really shouldn’t be surprised, things get really meta. By “meta”, I mean meta-fictional, which is a narrative sub-genre that either has characters jumping into what they see as fictional story or conceitedly pointing out that they, themselves, are in a fictional story. There are plenty of examples of this in Western popculture. PLEASANTVILLE, LAST ACTION HERO, THE NEVERENDING STORY… even Deadpool and Bugs Bunny’s tendency to talk to the audience are examples of metafiction. In this case, the metafiction manifests in framing sequences of a dialogue between the titular Vice President and a precocious junior reporter. They're discussing who the main character in this story could be. I’ve found it’s always been impossible to judge whether an actor speaking in another language is any good at his performance but, in this case, there seemed to be a higher level of… expressiveness in the voice acting. The Vice President, in particular, was FEELING his role. There’s fantasy upon fantasy in this series, and it was a bit of a trip to see Japanese immortals with dyed hair running around my hometown of Chicago (or was it actually New York? It wasn’t entirely clear.) To me, it felt like some bizarre fever dream I might experience after history class followed by a watching of, I don’t know, Darker Than Black. If the imagination of the English is perpetually stuck in the era of the Tudor Dynasty and Chinese’s forever caught in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era, than Chicagoans’ minds are always in the 30s Prohibition period this series is set in. Sadly, Al Capone is probably the closest equivalent we have to Ben Franklin in Philly. Anyway, I’m intrigued to see where this geographically, chronically and metafictionally-twisted opus will go. I might check out episode two once I get through some more pilots online, so keep those recommendations coming because I WILL watch them! I CHALLENGE you to! -- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Comics.   Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com .
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 She hasn't shown up, yet. I made a challenge to you, oh taste-making Anime Vice community, in my last column to name the next show I should watch. Metalsnakezero gets the No-Prize, the swell of pride, because he was the first user to rise to that challenge and recommend I check out DARKER THAN BLACK.  I said I’d watch whatever anybody suggested and, true to my word, I viewed the first episode on Hulu.My first comment is that it was a welcome surprise to hear some metal in the show’s opening theme. Among other things, I’m a metal head (why, this very night, I’m going to go see Sevendust and Drowning Pool in concert) and I’ve always heard stories about bands like Mudvayne being “big in Japan.” That is, having even bigger followings there than here. Yet, this was the first time I’d actually seen that potential popularity reflected in anime. I should comment, as well, that I’m always amused by the bi-polar nature of anime show theme songs. I know that there’s a more concentrated effort to appeal to men and women but, sheesh… when you have an aggressive intro - - with lyrics like “He’s a gang bang son of a gun” - - and then a reflective, romantic J-pop outro, it’s kind of like swallowing a hot coal and cold icecube at the same time.  I WANT to fear him, but I don't. Anyway, on to the plot. Truth be told, I was a little concerned about the story for the first third. There was amazing fights and animation (by Studio Bones, I believe, whom I know of now because they did that crazy Heroman for Stan Lee) - - but I was bracing myself for the same kind of “lost in translation” I encountered with Blassreiter. I’m sure suspension of disbelief is a two-way street when it comes to cultural idioms, but I was having a hard time taking a doll-faced “medium” with a painted-on curl of blue emo hair that seriously as a threatening assassin. Plus, the expository, pseudo-hard-boiled narration of the chick in the bureau handling the Contractors was in danger of running too long and obvious. That being said, once the electronic store employee (and electricity-powered Contractor, I presume) was introduced and his fate started entwining with the call girl, I was really starting to dig it. Maybe it was just the choice of angles or general storytelling, but I was able to get into this a lot better than Blassreiter. Normally, I question any cartoon that spends a lot of time trying to duplicate brick-and-mortar reality too closely, but it worked here. I really forgot I was watching animation and just followed it like a good thriller. I almost got the feel that this was like a movie adaption of a more-wild source material, like the first couple X-MEN movies. I can see this being a low-key, more down-to-Earth of a more fantastical manga about the super-powered contractors and the killer-doll-faced mediums.   I’m curious to see more of this, but keep the suggestions coming, everybody! I CHALLENGE you! -- Tom Pinchuk is the writer of UNIMAGINABLE for Arcana Comics and HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Comics.   Watch out for the HYBRID BASTARDS! hardcover collection this March - - available for pre-order now on Amazon.com.
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I honestly didn’t think I’d ever recover enough to write a review about this series. I mean. That ending. T-That ending. After a while, though, I’ve come to terms with the depressing mindscrew end, and have decided to enjoy the show (and its fandom) for what it is: a quasi-psychological sci-fi exploration of characters and “what [...]
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finally!! i’ve been waiting for this release for a while! haha this is the opening single for a new show called Durarara. to sum it up it’s like ghost in the shell mixed with darker than black mixed with some other anime that makes no sense. haha it’s really hilarious tho. i’ll post some screenshot [...]
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Here is a provisional tabulation of sales of the first DVD/BD releases of 2009 anime.Heading the list -- no surprise -- are Bakemonogatari and K-On. Next comes the new Suzumiya Haruhi, showing that Kadokawa's marketing sense reigns supreme. Then comes a big surprise, at least for me: the next title is Hetalia Axis Powers 1. Fujoshi power?Posted on 2channel 26 February 2010. Provisional listing of sales of first releases of anime which began broadcast in 2009 -- 32 titles in all:- rank/sales/broadcast season/title/media/release date - 1. 79,789　summer　 Bakemonogatari BD/DVD released 2009/9/30 2. 51,192　spring　 K-On! BD/DVD 2009/07/29 3. 31,851　summer　 Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu 2 DVD 2009/08/28 4. 28,027　winter　Hetalia Axis Powers 1 DVD 2009/04/24 5. 24,653　autumn　To Aru Kagaku no Railgun BD/DVD 2010/01/29 6. 23,434　spr　Fullmetal Alchemist 2 BD/DVD 2009/08/26 7. 20,945　sum　Hetalia Axis Powers 2 DVD 2009/10/23 8. 15,643　spr　Gintama 4 DVD 2009/10/28 9. 15,541　spr　Suzumiya Haruhi-chan no Yuuutsu DVD 2009/05/29 10. 13,983　spr　Queen's Blade 1 BD/DVD 2009/06/25 11. 13,904　aut　Darker than Black 2 BD/DVD 2009/12/23 12. 12,340　win　Natsume Yuujinchou 2 DVD 2009/04/22 13. 12,014　spr　Sengoku Basara DVD 2009/07/01 14. 10,497　aut　Kimi ni Todoke DVD 2009/12/23 15. 9,760　spr　Higashi no Eden BD/DVD 2009/07/29 16. 8,671　aut　Sora no Otoshimono DVD 2009/12/25 17. 7,917　spr　Hayate no Gotoku 2 BD/DVD 2009/08/21 18. 7,632　aut Seitokai no Ichizon DVD 2009/12/11 19. 7,593　spr Pandora Hearts DVD 2009/07/24 20. 7,250　aut Queen's Blade 2 BD/DVD 2009/12/22 21. 6,996　spr　Saki DVD 2009/07/15 22. 5,482　win　Chrome-Shelled Regios DVD 2009/03/27 23. 5,287　sum　Spice & Wolf 2 BD/DVD 2009/10/7 24. 5,281　sum　GA Geijutsu-ka Art Design Class DVD 2009/11/6 25. 4,799　sum　CANAAN BD/DVD 2009/10/21 26. 4,591　aut　Kaempfer BD/DVD 2009/12/23 27. 4,548　win　Maria†Holic DVD 2009/03/25 28. 4,523　sum　Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 3 DVD 2009/9/30 29. 4,459　aut　Nogizaka Haruka 2 BD/DVD 2009/12/23 30. 4,387　win　Minami-ke 3 DVD 2009/04/08 31. 4,283　sum　Princess Lover DVD 2009/10/23 32. 4,028　aut　Tegami Bachi DVD 2010/01/27For those who can read Japanese, here is the original list, which gives full titles and a bit more detail about the disc editions:2009年テレビアニメDVD/BD 1巻累計売り上げ(暫定版) *1. 79,789　夏　化物語 第一巻 ひたぎクラブ (完全生産限定版) [BD+DVD]: 2009/9/30 *2. 51,192　春　けいおん! 1 (初回限定生産) [BD+DVD]: 2009/07/29 *3. 31,851　春　涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱4 笹の葉ラプソディ(第1巻)限定版 [DVD]: 2009/08/28 *4. 28,027　冬　ヘタリア Axis Powers vol.1【初回限定版】 [DVD]: 2009/04/24 *5. 24,653　秋　とある科学の超電磁砲 第1巻 <初回限定版> [BD+DVD]: 2010/01/29 *6. 23,434　春　鋼の錬金術師 FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST 1 [BD+DVD]: 2009/08/26 *7. 20,945　夏　ヘタリア Axis Powers 第5巻(第2期)【初回限定版】���DVD���10/23 *8. 15,643　春　銀魂 シーズン其ノ四 1 (完全生産限定版) [DVD]: 2009/10/28 *9. 15,541　春　涼宮ハルヒちゃんの憂鬱とにょろ���ん☆ちゅるやさん 最初(第1巻) (DVD) 2009/05/29 10. 13,983　春　クイーンズブレイド 流浪の戦士 第1巻 [BD+DVD]: 2009/06/25 11. 13,904　秋　DARKER THAN BLACK-流星の双子- (1) [BD+DVD]: 2009/12/23 12. 12,340　冬　続・夏目友人帳 1 【完全生産限定版】 [DVD]: 2009/04/22 13. 12,014　春　戦国BASARA 其の壱 [DVD]: 2009/07/01 14. 10,497　秋　君に届け Vol.1 [DVD]: 2009/12/23 15. *9,760　春　東のエデン 第1巻 (初回限定生産版) [BD+DVD]: 2009/07/29 16. *8,671　秋　そらのおとしもの 限定版 第1巻 [DVD]: 2009/12/25 17. *7,917　春　ハヤテのごとく!! 2nd season 01 (初回限定生産) [BD+DVD]: 2009/08/21 18. *7,632　秋　生徒会の一存 第1巻 限定版 [DVD]: 2009/12/11 19. *7,593　春　PANDORAHEARTS DVD RETRACE:1 [DVD]: 2009/07/24 20. *7,250　秋　クイーンズブレイド 玉座を継ぐ者 第1巻 [BD+DVD]: 2009/12/22 21. *6,996　春　咲-Saki- 1 [DVD]: 2009/07/15 22. *5,482　冬　鋼殻のレギオス第1巻 (限定版) [DVD]: 2009/03/27 23. *5,287　夏　狼と香辛料II【1】 [BD+DVD]: 2009/10/7 24. *5,281　夏　GA 芸術科アートデザインクラス vol.1(初回限定版) [DVD]: 2009/11/6 25. *4,799　夏　CANAAN【1】 [BD+DVD]: 2009/10/21 26. *4,591　秋　けんぷファーVOL1(初回限定生産) [BD+DVD]: 2009/12/23 27. *4,548　冬　まりあ†ほりっく 第1巻 [DVD]: 2009/03/25 28. *4,523　夏　懺・さよなら絶望先生 第一集【特装版】 [DVD]: 2009/9/30 29. *4,459　秋　乃木坂春香の秘密 ぴゅあれっつぁ♪ 第1巻 <初回限定版> [BD+DVD]: 2009/12/23 30. *4,387　冬　みなみけ おかえり 1〔初回限定版〕 [DVD]: 2009/04/08 31. *4,283　夏　プリンセスラバー! Vol.1 [DVD ������������������������������������]: 2009/10/23 32. *4,028　秋　テガミバチ 1 [DVD]: 2010/01/27
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Introduction: Skull Man is an anime adaptation of Kamen Rider creator Shotarou Ishinomori's 1970 manga of the same name, widely credited as one of manga's earliest anti-heroes (Tezuka's Black Jack didn't begin its serialization until 1973). For fans of tokusatsu, it's also thought of as Ishinomori's personal version of Kamen Rider; a different take on a similar concept.  <object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S9LmODeAdCc&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S9LmODeAdCc&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;rel=0&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505" wmode="transparent"></embed></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param></object>  Note that the above OP is the one used for the Japanese version of the show. I might not have known specifically that the OP theme music, by TOKIO, and its animation were essentially forbidden for Sentai Filmworks to use if it weren't for this blog-- but I definitely would have noticed how lame the replacement OP is. It's as though they took the trailer and threw in some completely unrelated music to it, and given Sentai's barebones release style, that seems likely. As of this review, I have watched about half of the series (7 of 13 episodes).Skull Man, Complete Collection Release Date: 02/02/10 Studio: Sentai Filmworks Discs: 2 Runtime: 13 episodes (325 minutes) MSRP: $39.98 Plot: From the publisher: "Otomo City: where freedom and justice have atrophied to the bone; where conspiracy rules the day and Death stalks the night - Death in the ofrm of the Skull Man, a literal Grim Reaper whose skeletal grin presages grisly mayhem and murder, even to the monstrous mutants that haunt the city's underworlds! Now, to investigate a bizarre slaying, journalist Minagami Hayato and photographer Kiriko Mamiya must stalk this ultimate predator, through a festering cadaver of a city where the corruption flows in rivers as deep and foul as the sins of the reigning elite, and unearth a secret so shocking that an entire city has been turned into a tomb to contain it! In a nightmarish necropolis where nothing is as it seems, vengeance comes in the form of a living Death's-Head in Skull Man - The Complete Collection!" That is some of the craziest run-on sentencing I've seen.  Our hero, Hayaot (right)  Anyway: the story is a lot more of a noir-ish detective tale than the more grisly description here, I think-- and I don't mean that in the sense that everything's always grey and rainy and a narrator talks over everything like the term "noir" usually evokes, but in the sense that it's a complex, layered, and very dark mystery. I mentioned that the series has a "noir" feel to it, but with the exception of scenes that actually contain the Skull Man himself, which are fewer than you might expect, the palette is decidedly more chipper. That's in part because in Otomo City, a city that apparently seceded from Japan in the alternate history of the series, has a curfew-- you have to have a permit to go out at night. Since most of the story is detective work rather than the Skull Man's jaunts, the story primarily takes place during the day. The mystery here is impressively complicated, and it's not until episode three that you even start to get a hint at how big a mystery it is. But the best part is the series never talks down or tries to make it easy on you. It's not an episode in Law and Order, where you can guess early on who's the red herring and who's really a bad guy and all that stuff. Seven episodes in, I'm still not sure about some of the characters-- but it's that strong, intriguing, calculated "not sure," not the result of a confusing narrative.   Said mystery is also quite layered: you've got the city government, a pharmaceutical company, a religious organization, and the mysterious Skull Man all tangled up in some kind of conspiracy, but who's in league with who and why?  Tone and Soundtrack:  Yeah, it even has one of THOSE scenes. It's probably due to the fact that this series is based on a manga from the late '70s, but by modern standards it's not completely bleak in every way shape and form as one might expect from something like this, as I mentioned before. But in addition, there is an unexpected amount of comedy, generally in the form of the over-the-top lead characters of Hayato and Kiriko...although the domestic mutually-tsundere interactions in the first couple of episodes grate, they thankfully diminish as the story moves on. But they're still very silly people in their normal interactions-- in a particular scene in episode six, they remind me more of the goofy detective and assistant in Darker than Black than like protagonists themselves. Come to think of it, it's impressive that they've got enough comedy to distract from the mild goofiness of the Skull Man's outfit. On music, the soundtrack of Skull Man is fantastic, tragically dull opening sequence aside. It's not the kind of soundtrack I want to buy and play in the car (I have a terrible habit of singing anything that comes on, including music sans lyrics) but definitely the kind that improves the experience of the entire series.Screenshots (Episodes 1-2): Pros and  Cons:Positives:Superb animationStrong soundtrackInteresting, layered mystery Negatives:Crappy opening sequenceProtagonists' relationship doesn't become cool until episode 4 or 5. If, Then, But: If you like these, then you might like Skull Man. But...Darker than BLACK (But with an older-school feel)Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne (But less torture porn and lesbian subtext)Kamen Rider (But darker and more adult...and animated)  The End! Now, what do YOU think?
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2010 Spring anime Part 4: OVA Mobile Suit Gundam UC (OVA) (March 12, 2010) One Piece (Recap)(OVA) (March 17, 2010) Haiyoru! Nyaru Ani (ONA) (March 19, 2010) Darker than BLACK Kuro no Keiyakusha Gaiden (OVA) (March 24, 2010) Tales of Symphonia the Animation: Tethe’alla hen (OVA) (March 25 & May... **This is a content summary only. Please visit Nekomagic for full content!**
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Everyone basically 99% of the time has this kind of face. Pretty annoying. Also, I think the only appeal of this show is seeing what kind of outlandish and over the top violence is going to happen in each episode. Not to mention, what kind of crazy powers each new enemy is going to have. [...]
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Album Title: Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini Original Soundtrack Anime Title: Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini Artist: Yasushi Ishii; Stereopony; Abingdon Boys School Catalog Number: SVWC-7670 Release Type: Soundtrack Release Date: December 23, 2009 Track List: Show » Track Title Artist Time 1. Dive into the 9 Yasushi Ishii 3:56 2. Savage Dog Cerberus Yasushi Ishii 3:45 3. Galaxy Train Yasushi Ishii 4:39 4. No. 23 Yasushi Ishii 3:48 5. Soul Fusion Yasushi Ishii 4:03 6. Jesus Cloud Yasushi Ishii 3:36 7. Karura’s Flame ~karuraen~ Yasushi Ishii 3:17 8. Suizen Reika [...]
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