Neon Alley and Toonami

Quick review on Neon Alley. I am all for it. The more anime becomes available to audiences, the more popular it can become. I really hope that people will use it so that hopefully someday there can be a true anime channel on Television. I hate how Funimation Channel is the only anime channel on television here in the United States and the only way to get it is by buying that channel on demand. Neon Alley also seems great because you'll be able to watch anime without having to look all over the internet for free episodes all because the government and licensors are stopping videos from appearing because of copyright. But yeah, I actually think people will take the opportunity to use Neon Alley. I like how Neon Alley is giving the fans a fun, new way to enjoy anime through new means. But it does bring up a certain question: now that companies are using video game consoles to stream videos, will there come a time when video game consoles become our new mode of television?

But anyway...I am glad that Toonami is back. Yes, I know it's been almost two months now, but it's just amazing how people can bring back a channel on the air. If they can do that, they can basically bring back any old TV show from way back when. However, I am a little hesitant to say that I am glad that it is back mainly because the ratings aren't all that great. I feel, hopefully I am wrong, that it might end up getting cancelled if the ratings don't go up. Also, with low ratings, it is almost impossible to get better animes on. Right now, their lineup is decent, not good nor bad. Hopefully they'll be able to buy better shows. Another thing I want to point out is that Toonami can set the precedent to having a real true anime channel as I said above of how I want one. If Toonami were to gain great popularity, it could totally have it's own channel especially since Toonami is not just about anime, but reviews on games, upcoming realeases on games and anime, and pretty much is a great place to just sit back and watch. However, that requires a lot of money. But having a Toonami Channel will probably never happen, so just don't forget what I said. However, the anime industry is all about business. So please have your friends and anyone to watch Toonami every Saturday night or just Tivo it or autotune or whatever. But yeah, that's it. I guess they're not really reviews but hopes and opinions. Haha.

Eden of the East Pictures

Upcoming Reviews

I just want to put a heads up of what I am planning to review next. I would do them right now, but unfortunately I don't have the time right now. I'm mostly trying to review animes that aren't as popular or known I guess. Also if it doesn't have a review...I don't even know what I am saying... So, I might post them either later tonight or one by one on a different day. Not sure yet. If you have a favorite series that isn't as mainstream (or any anime really) that you want me to review or just know what my opinion is on it, just put a comment below. So without further ado, here they are: 

1. Eden of the East
2. High School of the Dead
3. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan
4. Big Windup!
5. Casshern Sins
6. Asura Cryin'
7. The Knight in the Area
8. MAYBE Blue Exorcist

So yeah, those are pretty much it. They might not be done/posted in that order, so we'll see. But yeah, these are the ones I plan on doing and I promise not to include any spoilers that could ruin them for you.



**Quick note/Update, I really like Eden of the East so it's going to be LONG. So expect that one first.**

Puella Magi Madoka Magica

This time I am reviewing the popular Puella Magi Madoka Magica or just Madoka Magica. It's a short anime series consisting of just 12 episodes. The story at first can get a bit overwhelming and confusing while they try to give you as much information in the first episode. So here's a quick summary: a young 14 year old girl named Madoka Kaname lives a typical school life with her friends. However, she has had dreams involving a mysterious girl and herself battling a giant monster, later to be known as a witch. One day at school, a transfer student by the name of Homura Akemi appears in her class and Madoka quickly notices that she is the one from her dreams. From there, the story takes off explaining Madoka's dreams to who and what Homura is. She is a magical girl which are girls who have their souls taken out by the Kyubey, which is a creature from another alien race, to battle evil witches. However, the meaning as to how witches come into being is a startling one which makes Madoka's decision to become a magical girl even more difficult. Throughout the series Homura tries to stop Madoka from becoming a magical girl, but the Kyubey wants her to become one, for she can become the most powerful magical girl ever due to reasons later to be explained.

The animations and design of the whole anime is pretty interesting. Normally, characters aren't drawn with big, bulgy heads but this actually gave it a unique distinction among other animes I've seen. It added to the whole innocent factor of the girls who are trying to learn more about the  purpose of Magical Girls. What also set it apart from other animes was the art given to emphasize the withes' evil and strength such as drawing some cartoonish and fun while other witches were a somewhat realistic and dark. I sometimes had trouble getting used to this since sometimes the witch animations were sometimes 2D while the girls were meant to be 3D. In other words, it just seemed as if the girls were fighting flat images. The scenery was nice and simple. To me it didn't seem as if the scenery and landscape of the city was important to the story at all. 

The story itself was alright. It wasn't great. It did have some flaws while some characters had no real purpose in being in the actual main plot. At times it felt awkward or just not making any sense. Even the Japanese voice actors sounded as though they got tired of working on the anime because their reactions felt off or not as emotional as it should have been. It really could have been better. It was decent. Just that. Decent. Would I watch it again? Probably not. My favorite character was Kyubey though. His whole purpose/mission and persona was amazing. The story did seem as though it was being rushed in the final few episodes as they were just blowing by all this information that seems like it would be crucial to the ending, but not all of it was. The ending had you asking questions instead of letting you feel it ended nicely.

Overall, I thought it was OK. I would give it a 6.5 or 7 out of 10. It really could have been better. I did feel somewhat emotional after what happened after Mami's situation, but after that, you're just waiting for Madoka to become a magical girl since you already know by the first episode she's going to be one. Some characters did get annoying, but some really aren't lasting characters. In other words, most of these characters will be forgotten by the time you finish watching this anime. I wouldn't recommend it as a "must see" but more as a "watch when you have the time". If you feel the urge to quit after a few episodes, then just read the episode summary. No big deal. I've seen better. Not saying that it's bad, but I've seen better.