Review:  Hei comes back for a second season with a different goal, working for a different agency, striped of his powers, looking his worst and looking after a girl on the run from the FSB and the MIAC Bureau’s as well. Yin is not really seen until later episodes, the Japanese government and section 3 captured her and they call her Izanami, she is kept sedated in a containment box.

    This season’s story mainly revolves around Suō Pavlichenko, a thirteen year old girl who is separated from her father, Dr. Mikhail and brother, Shion, after one of the bureaus raided their house in search for her brother.  Suō later meets Hei and July, all three head to Tokyo together, while she is in search of her mother and Hei is following leads on to where Yin might be kept. Suō  starts to like Hei and July starts to like Suō. ( for some reason I find that funny and odd). When Suō becomes aware of her contractor ability she starts training with Hei and July.

The story itself is entertaining, you see some characters from the first season again and some new ones with cool powers.  Although contractors are known for not having human emotions, Suō’s character seem to show some emotions at times which made some episodes drag a little. I would have liked to see more of her using her ability to the fullest and taking over for Hei since he could not use his ability, instead she would either hesitate before shooting or miss. Hei would still save the day without his powers, of course, but I still don’t see why they couldn’t make Suō’s character a bit more heroic. I did like how both July and Suō get to live normal human lives at the end and how they make you believe Hei  is still alive at the end.

     The second season is good but not as good as the first one, hopefully if they do a third season they can explain more of the new world Shion created and of the kid that wakes up with the same ability that Yin had.

 Genres: drama, psychological, science fiction, supernatural

Episodes: 12

Screen Shots:

  *This is not a complete list of upcoming anime for Fall and for 2010,

      but rather those I think are worth spending my time watching.

Fall 09’

1) Darker than Black: Gemini of the Meteor -Oct.8

drama, psychological, science fiction, supernatural

Plot Summary: Two years have passed since Hei and Yin escaped the Syndicate after the events of the first season. Making their way to Russia, Hei encounters a young girl named Suou Pavlichenko, whose family is gradually pulled into the war between contractors and various intelligence factions. Meanwhile, Misaki Kirihara has quit her position in Foreign Affairs to begin her own investigations into Hei, the Contractors and the Syndicate.

2) Fairy Tail -Oct.12

adventure, comedy, fantasy

Plot Summary:
Lucy is a teenage girl who wants to become a full-fledged mage. One day when visiting Harujion Town, she meets Natsu, a young man who gets sick easily by any type of transportation. But Natsu isn’t just any ordinary kid, he’s a member of one of the world’s most infamous mage guilds: Fairy Tail.

Sometime in 2010

1) Omamori Himari

action, comedy, romance

Plot Summary: The slapstick romantic comedy centers around an ordinary 16-year-old high school boy named Yūto Amakawa who is protected by a spirit – specifically, a beautiful, sword-wielding cat girl spirit named Himari. Yūto is descended from a family that has subjugated demons since time immemorial. The charm that once protected him is now impotent, but fortunately, at that same moment, Himari appears before him as his new guardian.

2) Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 3 Owari Naki Unmei

drama, fantasy, romance

3) Sengoku Basara’s – Season II

action

Plot Summary: In the bloody Warring States period of feudal Japan, many generals fought in an endless struggle for power, but one man proved to be too big a threat – The dark lord Oda Nobunaga. Sanada Yukimura and Date Masamune, two young warriors from different regions who become heated rivals, begin to form an unlikely alliance with the rest of the generals to take down the Devil King.

4) Kaichō wa Maid-sama

comedy, romance

Plot Summary: In a high school recently turned from all-boy to coed, Misaki Ayuzawa, chairwoman of student council, battles "stinky and dirty" male students every day to protect the few (20%) females in school. Off campus, she works hard at a maid café to supplement the income of her household (as well as leftover foods) after her father had deserted the family — whose action contributed to her hatred toward males. However, Takumi Usui, a handsome guy (and a heartbreaker of many girls) accidentally found out her double identities. She thought the entire school would know by the next morning, yet he kept her secret away from others, making her even more suspicious of his motives.

Sources: ANN

    Review: The story is mainly told to illustrate what could happen if there was an actual earth quake of a magnitude of 8.0 in Tokyo. Although the story centers around two siblings and a woman trying to get home, we also see major landmarks being destroyed like the Tokyo Tower and the Rainbow Bridge.

     The first two episodes were a bit slow and introduces the characters of the sister and brother, Marai & Yuki, that go to a robot exhibition in Odaiba. Then you see Marai going through her own emotional troubles of not liking to be treated like a child and feeling mad all the time.

     The Third and Fourth episode gets better and we see some damages of the earth quake, Yuki gets stuck inside the robot exhibition building, they meet a woman named Mari that helps them and the amount of people stranded in Odaiba Island including the two siblings.

        The chaotic events and how people react to them is what makes this anime interesting and watchable, but so far Marai can be a bit frustrating when her childish attitude gets in the way of Mari trying to help them. Overall I would continue watching it to see the outcome.

Screen Shots:

     The First episode was cute with both of them flirting as always, Horo always hungry and Lawrence always has something new to sell. Their next stop was at a town called: Kumerson. They are there for the Radora festival. In town they meet a kid that is also another merchant called: Femi Amati, who helps them find a room at an Inn since all of them were booked because of the festival. Also, Amati seems to like Horo by the way he looks at her. This might have been caused by the sweet girly face she put on but that might have been to their advantage since the kid found them a room.

     The last five minutes of the episode was my favorite since they seem to find it hard for each to end their journey together so soon and it’s cute how they find excuses as to why they should continue traveling together. The first episode was what I expected; I loved the first season and hope to love the second season as well.

 Cute Screen Shots:

Synopsis:

     Bakemonogatari centers on Koyomi Araragi, a third year high school student who is almost human again after briefly becoming a vampire. One day, a classmate named Hitagi Senjōgahara, who infamously never talks to anyone, falls down the stairs into Koyomi’s arms. He discovers that Hitagi weighs next to nothing, in defiance of physics. After being threatened by her, Koyomi offers her help, and introduces her to Meme Oshino, a middle-aged homeless man who helped him stop being a vampire.

-Source: Animenewsnetwork

 Review:

     The first episode was not entertaining, it dragged half the time, and the characters role seemed unconvincing. But the opening credits and song is good, which perceives the story to be intriguing. Also the characters look cute and well drawn.

     Koyomi Araragi must be interested in Hitagi Senjōgahara if he was willing to help her by taking her to Meme Oshino to see if he can cure her weightless body, specially after being attacked by her and also her constant threats and arrogance she would throw at him on their way to see Meme Oshino.

     Regardless of how I disliked the first episode, I will still give it another try and watch two more episodes to see if it picks up.

Review:

     The first episode left a good impression. It had some action and introduced a few characters, some that looked like they have a special ability they call Synesthesia. Canaan seemed to have it as well judging by how she was able to draw out the people she was looking for in a light blue color aura form from within a crowd of people. She also seemed to have good combat skills and is a serious person.

     There was a character in the episode that wore a bear shaped mask who went crazy jumping around and vomiting blood when his mask fell off, making it seem like he needs to wear the mask for some reason. In later episodes they will probably explain it, but my theory is that maybe he also has Synesthesia and it overloads when looking at too many colors that his body cant handle or he was just experimented on and something went wrong. I guess I have to wait and see.

     The opening theme song;  "mind as Judgment" by Faylan, matches well with the anime. and the ending theme; "My heaven" by Annabel is mellow and sounds nice.

     I am looking forward to watching all thirteen episodes and hope it will be as entertaining as the story line and feel of the first episode perceives it to be.

Screen Shots:

Synopsis: Set in a gothic fantasy world, this is the story of Teito Klein, an orphaned slave who became the top military academy student. However, an unexpected turn of events left him pursued by the forces of the Barsburg Empire. Now an escaping convict, Teito’s sheltered by the church and it’s law of sanctuary. Here, he discovered many mysteries surrounding himself, the church, and the Empire itself. The fact that he might be connected to a dethroned king and the mystical stone of god, ‘The Eye of Mikhael’ made him the target of the empire more than ever. Fortunately the church is under the mythical 7 Ghost protection. But who are the Ghosts really. Will Teito be free from the military’s clutch, And what of his said mission to uncover the history. And who is the military’s Chief-of-Staff Ayanami exactly. Teito’s future seems to have spiraled into an unexpectedly perilous path. –Source: Animenewsnetwork

Review:

     O7-Ghost feel of the story is very deep on an emotional level, has a lot of action scenes

and the main character always seems conflicted. Nonetheless, there is some comical and sweet scenes between Tieto and the other Bishops that does not crowd the story with only action scenes. Each episode slowly develops Tieto’s character, among some of the other characters, but not to the point where it becomes a bore but rather where it leaves you wanting more. This also makes it easy for one to have more than one favorite character.

     Tieto Klein seems good at heart and lonely at times when wondering about his lost memories and the significance of the recovered ones. He is quiet and not too social but gets along well with the nuns and Bishops at the church. When Bishop Frau had first taken Tieto to the church It was hard for him to believe that everyone in the church treated him well and cared for him without expecting anything in return. His search for truth & revenge and fulfilling his role & promise as a best friend is what makes Tieto’s character intriguing.

     Frau is a Bishop in the church of the 7th district. One of my favorite characters. Tieto and Frau seem to always bump heads, on occasions it could be comical then other times its serious. But Frau deeply cares for Tieto, for example when he occasionally saves him from Kors or gives him pep-talks. When Frau fights off Kors and has a mean intimidating look, in some scenes almost looking evil, and determination to help others (especially Tieto) is when his character looks most captivating.

     The Story itself is good. So far up to the 13th episode they have explained a little of Tieto’s past, who the three Bishops(that watch over Tieto) really are and the significance of  ‘The Eye of Mikhael. Although there is more left to be explained, the entertainment in the story for me comes in when Tieto each time discovers new supernatural powers and when Frau’s powers and battling skills exceeds everyone else’s.

     Labeling 07-Ghost as recommendable is not saying enough. If a story that has action, fantasy, and a protagonist that has an occult life with passion for revenge and an antagonist that will stop at nothing to find the eye of Mikhael, I would say this a must see!      

Screen Shots:

   Umineko no Naku Koro ni- (When Seagulls Cry) The Ushiromiya Family meet once a year at Kinzo’s home (head of the Ushiromiya family) in an island he owns named  Rokkenjima. Kinzo only has three months to live and his eight family members are there to discuss how to divide his inheritance when he dies. A typhoon stops the eight family members from leaving the island and they then start to see weird things and people start dying.

Genre: Drama, Mystery

Review:

   The first episode showed the eight family members (adults only) greedy side and some

hatred between some of them. The main character, Battler Ushiromiya, is cute and comical at times. He seems to be narrating the story in the beginning of the episode. The head of the family, Kinzo, seems to be obsessed with a witch named Beatrice he once met years ago with whom he made a deal to give him fortune in exchange for his soul. He wants to see her smile again before he dies. There is a large portrait of her in his house by the entrance, she doesn’t seem to be that intimidating nor pretty but i guess we wont know until she appears in later episodes. Here is a picture of the portrait:

The first episode did not show any thrill-suspense yet they mainly focused on presenting all family members and servants of the house and a little girl named Maria who believes the witch exist and starts to see her image. (By the way the little girl, Maria, starts to whine and cry a lot towards the end of the episode, it becomes irritating and annoying lol.lol.)

I will give it a couple of more episodes to see if the mystery and psychological thrill picks up to my taste but regardless the first episode seemed watchable. Although it seems the story revolves around Beatrice and her epitaph, Battler’s character seems to be solely depended on when solving the mysterious and tragic events.

Check out FUNimation’ s survey and vote on your favorite anime they have listed. Their selection is great and some are this seasons new anime. Maybe with enough input they can bring some of the selections to DVD, so VOTE!

Hanasakeru Seishounen was not on the list (weep) =(

      Kugami Kajika agrees to enter a “Marriage Game” her father, Harry Burnsworth, arranges in which she has to choose one of the three candidates he selected. The trick is the candidates don’t know they have been chosen and Kajika doesn’t know who they are either. And of course, the candidate she chooses must fall for her as well. Once she succeeds, her father will then reveal her true destiny…

Episodes: 13

Genre: Romance

In episode 1-5: 

     Kajika was raised in an island on the Caribbean, Givoly Isle, since she was two years old. Her mom died protecting her from being kidnapped and that’s what led her father to send her to an island. Kajika often talks about Maria who took care of her at the island and Mustafa, white leopard, whom she deeply loved and cared for but had died. She is sweet, stubborn, and adventurous.

     Li Ren is the leader of prominent overseas Chinese conglomerate in Asia “The Fang Group”. He is Kajika’s childhood friend and was ordered by her father to stay by Kajika’s side and console her on any question she may have while she chooses her life long partner.  He is serious, workaholic, skillful, and handsome, but often acts sweet to Kajika. 

     After things went sour in Tokyo for Kajika, she moved to New York where her father lives and was told to enter the Marriage Game if she wanted to find out what her destiny was. Although they don’t specify on what her destiny is, I presume she and her future husband will take over her fathers company, Burnsworth Financial Group.  Kajika meets her first candidate Eugene Aleixandre de Volcan, whom she thinks is the reincarnation of Mustafa.

    She stalks him at his apartment and is convinced that Mustafa’s soul is in Eugene but then realizes that he is troubled by his own emotions and has a deep desire to end his own life. Meanwhile Li Ren receives news that every woman that has been affiliated with Eugene ends up committing suicide and decides to go see if things with Kajika and Eugene are ok. A woman, Reese, appears at Eugene’s apartment threatening to kill herself and him if he does not tell her “He Loves Her”. Kajika gets in the way protecting her “Mustafa” and as she points the gun to herself Kajika jumps at her making the gun fall. Li Ren arrives and the guards take the woman away to calm her down.

    Eugene and Li Ren share a moment of hatred for one another, (making them look attractive) then Li Ren and Kajika decide to leave. To spite Li Ren, Eugene decides to sneak out Kajika from her house and they end up going to his family’s Mansion. Li Ren looks furious and knows he did it on purpose to get to him (Again, Li Ren looks attractive when he’s upset). Li Ren then calls the police on him charging him of kidnapping, but not just one or two cops show up at the mansion, over 10 police cars and helicopters are parked outside the mansion.( funny to see him over react on finding Kajika). 

     After receiving Li Ren’s blessing on following Eugene to London, Kajika learns about the origin of Eugene’s troubles and tries to help him. His mother killed herself at a young age and his real father is his uncle. His father now cannot produce children so he made his wife have his brother’s baby and left her feeling unhappy that led to her suicide. Eugene grabs a gun to commit suicide but kajika intercepts him and he shoots at the window where he was having a visual of his mother. She was able to calm him down and spoke to him about starting over. The next day Kajika tells Li Ren that she and Eugene had slept together like she used to do with Mustafa (Innocent sleep) and Li Ren looked shocked but seemed understanding, then Eugene passed by him and taps him like how Mustafa used to do which makes him believe that he does resemble Mustafa. (The reincarnation belief seems odd in the story but bearable).

      In the fifth episode: Kajika meets her second candidate, Lumati Ihvan, at Li Ren’s uncles party, Qing-Chang. He is the prince of Kingdom of Laginay and is very cold and rude to others. He almost hits Kajika when one of his servants stops him. She calls him Orient Blue, (it resembles the color of his eyes), after he refused to tell her his name. In this episode we also learn that Li Ren has once slept with his uncles wife, Bridgett, when he was 13 years old.  (its weird to see that side of him). Some quest stayed over Qing-Chang’s mansion including the prince Lumati, but he decides to sneak out of the mansion when suddenly Kajika sees him climbing down a rope by the window. She then accompanies him for a walk and they start to get to know each other. The episode ends with Kajika about to get hit by a truck if she does not move out of the way.

   The story seems nice though I would hope by the end of the 13^th episode that Kajika realizes her childhood friend Li Ren should be the one she chooses. Until now they have not really spoken or shown anything about it only that Li Ren might like her by the way he spoke about her when he said: he has to watch her marry another man. Her candidates so far seem to be of strong character that are wealthy and have some type of problem that she’s willing to help. Every episode I look forward for Li Ren to experience jealousy and for kajika to notice him as more than just a friend.