Karneval

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16035/Karneval_(TV)

Name: Karneval カーニヴァル

Status: Completed
Episode: 13
Release date (for eng subs): Every Friday

Summary:
Nai searches for someone important to him, with only an abandoned bracelet as a clue. Gareki steals and pick-pockets to get by from day to day. The two meet in a strange mansion where they are set-up, and soon become wanted criminals by military security operatives. When Nai and Gareki find themselves desperate in a hopeless predicament, they encounter none other than the country's most powerful defense organization—"Circus"!! 

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16035/Karneval_(TV)
Summary Source: OneManga

Personal Ratings: 3
A weird and unique anime. I find this anime a little confusing and lost in the beginning. 
I like the unique idea of the anime about using the term "Karneval", and then everything coming under that, such as the organization's name, Circus. I love the way they ended each and every episode. It really gives the viewers the urge to watch the next episode.
I don't really like the way they organize the episodes. I feel that they shift their focus to many times, between Gareki and Nai, that it gets a little confusing. I think that they used a lot of the screen time on Nai, who doesn't really get the point across half the time, after talking so long (in a weird way). I don't get the part about Karoku, it always get confusing when he comes into the picutre. I thought that they could show more of the bad people in between the animes. I also didn't like how they didn't really show the people of the first ship, and then in the second half of the anime, they keep showing them. The shift in the tempo is not smooth at all. I also feel that some of the issues lack explanation (like where do they get the powers from, etc)
I liked how they actually kept the suspense going about Karoku and Gareki and the captains of the two ships. I loved how they portrayed the characters and relationships between each of the characters. Overall the story line is quite interesting. If they don't have a 2nd season coming up, I'm going to really think that I wasted my time on this anime, because it is one of the most incompleted anime I have ever seen.

Art Ratings: 2
Don't like the way they draw and colour the eyes, especially the fact that they keep using gradient of weird colours that don't mix well, and i hate the way they draw the eye lashes for girls. For animation, the characters do look stiff. They make the characters wear weird stuff. Other then that, really unique and nice design or the characters. 

Recommended for:
Gender: Female & Male
Age: 13 and above
My Ratings: PG-13

Kamen Rider Wizard

Image from: http://kamensentai.blogspot.sg/2013/01/my-thoughts-on-kamen-rider-wizard-so-far.html

Name: Masked Rider Wizard, Kamen Rider Wizard 仮面ライダーウィザード

Status: On-going
Episode: 37
Release date (for eng subs): -

Summary: 
Six months prior to the start of the series, a mysterious ritual held on the day of the solar eclipse took place. Its purpose was to give birth to a group of magical creatures called Phantoms through humans with magical potential called "Gates", by forcibly subjecting them to immense despair. Haruto Soma and Koyomi, the survivors of the ritual, are tasked by the mysterious Shiroi Mahoutsukai to fight the Phantoms. Haruto is also given the Wizardriver to become Kamen Rider Wizard in order to prevent the Phantoms from transforming other Gates into Phantoms themselves. Later on, a man named Kosuke Nito appears as the ancient wizard Kamen Rider Beast to feed on the Phantom's magical power to survive and becomes both a rival and ally to Haruto.
Summary from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider_Wizard

Personal Ratings: 3
Honestly, this kamen rider series is better then most of the Kamen rider series (except w of course.)
Honestly, I did not really like the part where the main character transforms. It looks kind of lame. I also did not really liked how they sticked to the classics and always make them wear a belt. The belt seriously looks quite dumb, especially for the best wizard. I thought that they should have make use of the name Wizard, and change the belt to something less showy, like a bracelet or something. What I hated most about this show was the fact that they did not show us the more powerful phantoms in the show from the starting. They should have told us which phantoms where the powerful ones, like what they did for phoenix and medusa, they had the arm bracelet (which looked totally a lot cooler then the Kamen rider belt.) I also do not like how they need to use the final move to destroy the orges. The Kamen Riders should be able to defeat the orges without the use of much energy or mana. But somehow throughout the show, they always have a random scene in which they are fighting the orges, and it takes up quite a bit of time. In the later episode, I totally did not liked how when the Kamen Rider gets a new power, he always seem to be needing to use the new power on normal phantoms, even though he defeated a super strong phantom with that power and should not be needing to use the new power every single time. I don't like how when some monsters or powers are suppose to be strong, appear weak. Really contradicts the first few parts of the show and really make the show seemed under planned.
The nice thing about this show is probably the story line, and the unique point about this show is probably the fact that each and every case has a story behind it, and I really liked how they did not neglect the enemy side, and have a proper story for the phantoms. The Kamen Riders in the past all seem to not be bothered with the enemy side and just keep them going.
I really cannot wait until the point where they show more about Haruto and Koyomi and her past.

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 10 and above
My Ratings: PG

Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai season 2

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/13659

Name: Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai season 2 俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない。
Prequel: Ore no Imouto Go Konna ni Kawaii Wage ga Nai 

Status: Completed
Episode: 16
Release date (for eng subs): Every Sunday


Summary:
2nd season of Ore no Imouto Go Konna ni Kawaii Wage ga Nai .


Personal Ratings: 3

The 2nd season of ore no imouto. I really liked the first season, and kind of knew there would be a 2nd season for this because some things where not completed. In between the wait, they released extra episodes about kuroneko and the brother. A must watch, as there would be no flashback or any of that sort in the second season.

A little less of the otaku part and more of personal problems and worries (so far in the show), just as it had been in the last few episodes of the first season. So far the anime has been the most addictive and anticipated anime for this season (at least for me it is). A must watch of this season.

The only concern I'm having here is that they will focus less on the main character's sister, and more of the other characters in the show. If that happens, I really think that the whole anime's story line will seem very broken apart and not linked.

Comments on recent episode:

Did not predict that this whole episode would totally be on the younger side of them. I think this really gave the viewer the whole picture of how come his sister (Kirino) is always so bad towards Kyousuke.

-Update coming soon-


Art Ratings: 3
Go to Ore no Imouto Go Konna ni Kawaii Wage ga Nai for the art review.


Recommended for:
Gender: Female & Male
Age: 16 and above
My Ratings: PG-13

One Piece Flim Z

Image from: http://www.deculture.es/2013/01/10/one-piece-film-z-supera-los-45-millones-euros-en-taquilla/

Name: One Piece Flim Z  ワンピースフィルム ゼット

Released date (in Japan): 15 December 2012
Watched on: 4 April 2013

Summary:
A once former Navy Admiral, Z is back to take revenge on both the Navy and Pirates, who took away everything from him. He wants to destroy all the hope and dreams of the Pirates, and thus eliminating them. His goal is to destroy all three end points in the new world. Once all the three end points are destroyed, the whole of the new world would be destroyed along. 
Luffy and his crew first met Z after he was being washed away after his battle against Kizaru. The crew decided to heal him, however, once he heard that they were pirates, he decides to destroy them. Luffy and his crew members barely escapes death and stops to repair their ship and collect information on Z.
After knowing about Z's objectives, he goes to defeat Z to take back his straw hat and save the world.
Summary by: AngelaAgness

Personal Ratings: 3
When I first saw the poster of this anime up everywhere, I was really really eager to watch this movie. the vibe the poster itself gave out was one filled with intense emotions and excitement. 
I thought that the front few part was really nice. The only thing that I was not satisfied with was the way they ended the movie. The last fighting scene was not up to the normal One Piece standard, it felt really short and there was not much real fighting involved. Luffy did not even have to use his full power to defeat Z. I really wanted to see a proper fighting scene, especially for Zoro. I did not like the way how the show seemed like Z was the main character, and not the straw hat crew. They seemed to place most of the screen time to Z and his past, where else the Luffy and his members seem to have very brief screen times. 
The only thing that I probably like is that is not long winded, and i really liked the way they progress. I like how they stick to the character's personality in the show, and I could really see the link of this movie tot he anime. Like in the new Naruto movie, I really felt that the personality of some characters like, Minato and Naruto's mother, does not seem to be the same as what was portrayed in the anime.
I'm not sure, but the movie seemed a little too linked with the anime. I was sure that there is also a new navy crew that opposed both the navys and the pirates, and one of the girl in the movie was inside too. There is also the thing about Aokiji. IN the movie, it says that Aokiji left the navy to bring Z back, but i don't really think this is true for the anime. 

Art ratings: 3.5
Same as One Piece. I really think that the animation for the movie was a lot better then the anime. There were not parts in the fighting scene where the character looks distorted. 

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 16 and above
My Ratings: PG-13

Recommended Anime: Spring 2013

Spring 2013

Shoujo:
Aiura
Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku
Ore no Imouto go Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai 2

Shounen:
**Attack on Titans (Shingeki no Kyojin)
Devil Survivor 2 The Animation
Karneval
To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S
*Valvrave the Liberator


View List of Recommended animes here: http://strawberryshortcake-reviews.blogspot.com/p/recommened-animes.html

*Highly recommended for this season (Sequels not included)

Horimiya

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/manga/42451/Horimiya

Name: Horimiya ホリミヤ
Author: HERO

Status: On-going 
Chapters: 40 (for eng scans)
Release Date (for eng scan): Once a month


Summary:

Hori may seem like a normal teenage girl, but she's a completely different person after school. In her workaholic parents' absence, Hori has been like a parent for her little brother since she was young herself. Between taking care of her brother, feeding them both, and housework, she doesn't have much time for a usual teenage social life. One day, she meets someone else who does not present his true self at school: a quiet, glasses-wearing boy called Miyamura. She'd assumed he was bookish, and possibly an otaku, but Hori couldn't have been more wrong. Outside of school, Miyamura is a friendly guy with many piercings, and he's not very good at academics. Now the two of them have someone with whom they can share both halves of their lives!

Summary Source: MangaHelpers
Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/manga/42451/Horimiya


Personal Ratings: 4.5

When I saw a random page of this manga from tumblr, I just had this gut feelings that it would be awesome. So I went to mangareader to find this manga.

Totally fell in love with the manga after the first few pages. Really cute manga. 

I totally love how each characters are so carefree and so flexible, yet so adorable all at the same time. 

I totally love the story. A really unique Shoujo (girls) manga. If you read a lot of Shoujo mangas, you would realise that there is always a certain pattern to it. But for this manga, I think it's a very unique and fresh idea. Really like the idea about them knowing each other's halves that they won't not want others to know. Really makes them closer then they seem. 

The main thing why I really like this manga is probably because of the fact that it's not very girly. (Psh, hate those type of mangas.). 

I also love the way they put their jokes. It does not seem forced, but seem very very natural. (not like those comedy mangas, most of them seem very forced.) It seems like this manga has the power to make most of the irritating character not irritating. 

Most anime or manga, when the girl or the guy is really dense, it's always irritating to watch or read. But for this manga, even though both of them are kind of dense, it does not take it to the extreme level of what you would call a total idiot. In fact, it really seem to fit naturally into their character, which kind of makes things easier to accept, and less irritable. 

Though one thing that kind of bothered me, was the fact that even though the main character was suppose to be the girl, it seems like as the manga progresses, she gets lesser scenes and the manga seem to shift its focus mostly on the main guy. 

Comments on recent chapter:

Their picking it up, but I can tell that there isn't much that they can write anymore at this point of itme, except for more irrelevant things. I'm hoping they develop the side stories more. Chapters were really quite funny. Loved them.


Art Ratings: 4

Not a unique art.

At first, I really thought the art kind of sucks, but as I read the manga, I thought it really suite the theme. Rather then the art, I thought that the colouring kind of sucks, it seems kind of messy.

Really cute art with balance, though it lacks dimension. 

Recommended for:
Gender: Female & Male
Age: 13 and above
My Ratings: PG-13

Oz The Great and Powerful

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oz_the_Great_and_Powerful

Name: Oz: The Great and Powerful

Release date (in Singapore): 7 March 2013
Watched on: 10 March 2013

Summary:
Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz. At first he thinks he's hit the jackpot-fame and fortune are his for the taking. That all changes, however, when he meets three witches, Theodora, Evanora, and Glinda, who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone's been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity-and even a bit of wizardry-Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
Summary Written by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Summary from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623205/plotsummary

Personal Ratings: 2.5
Honestly, I watched this show, half expecting it to be some sort of twist from the movie the wizard of Oz. SO i was kinda of disappointed that this movie has almost no connection to that movie, except for the emerald castle.
I did not like the part of the show where Glinda revealed that she was not the bad witch. Did not liked how Oz just took her word for it, neglecting the fact that Glinda might be lying. So for that part of the movie, there was little suspense. I also hated the ending. Really terrible ending where there is no conclusion as to the fact that the evil witches may come back to take over Oz. I was also hoping that since Oz was the one who turned Theadora into the wicked witch, I was half expecting Oz to be able to turn her back. Plus he showed no sign of apology.
Even though this movie seem to be most appropriate for younger kids (Half the theater was filled with kids), It is not. Oz kisses like every single girl he finds, and there were many scenes in the show that was sort of scary (almost got a heart attack a couple of times.).
What I liked about the movie was probably the starting of the show. Really liked how they emphasis that Oz always gave the musical box to every girl he tries to woo. But I did not really understand that part about the person he loves is going to marry another guy. Its seems like there was no connection to the main plot of the movie at all.

Recommended for:
Gender: Female & Male
Age: 12 and above
Ratings: PG

Hunter X Hunter

Image from: http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/hunter-x-hunter-2011-online

Name: Hunter X Hunter (2011) ハンター×ハンター

Status: On-going
Episode: 103
Release date (for eng subs): Every Wednesday 

Summary:
Remake of the 1999 TV series of Hunter x Hunter based on the manga by Togashi Yoshihiro. A Hunter is one who travels the world doing all sorts of dangerous tasks. From capturing criminals to searching deep within uncharted lands for any lost treasures. Gon is a young boy whose father disappeared long ago, being a Hunter. He believes if he could also follow his father\'s path, he could one day reunite with him.
Summary from: http://www.animecrazy.net/hunter-x-hunter-2011-anime/  

Personal Ratings: 3.5

I actually half expected this anime to be the typical main stream battle anime. But it turned out I was wrong. The characters and the logic is all there. One thing that I thing that make this anime (to me) better then Katekyo Hitman Reborn is probably the fact that they did not dispose the value of the title 'hunter' as much as how Katekyo Hitman Reborn dispose their value of 'Vongola'. 

I liked how they slowly showed the progress of the main characters.

The things that I did not really liked about this anime is probably the fact that when it came to explaining techniques or things, like when they explained the game for green island or the time where they explain all the 'Haku' stuff, they just throw a huge chunk of information at us, really makes things hard to take in. To be frank I totally skipped those parts when I was totally lost.

I also found that when they started on the 2nd arc, it really seems as though they forgot the fact that Gon was suppose to be the main character, not Kurapika. But the thing that I liked about that arc was the fact that the spider troupe is still alive. 

If this manga was made in the 90's I would say that a lot of the manga and anime now get their ideas from here. The ideas are really unique. I actually liked how they slowly reviled the character's past or personality. (except for the first arc.)

After watching the 1999 ver. I would really recommend that you watch this version first before going on to watch the whole of the first arc in the 1999 version. In the 1999 version, there were some things that were shown there that is not shown in the 2011 version. I would recommend going there to watch that part if you want to know more about Leorio's past. 

There was also this test in the hunter test that was totally left out in the 2011 version, which I actually find that was necessary to show how Gon and Killua's relationship gets closer. I also actually liked the part about going to Killua's house in the 1999 version better then the 2011 version. Because it's more realistic as compared to the 2011 version which was too exaggerated. 

The 2011 version was better in terms of animation, the point of emphasis and (no offence) voice actors. In the 2011 version, I think that the one voicing Hisoka was a lot better then the 1999 version. The 2011 version really showed how Hisoka is someone who is very dangerous and filled with mystery, while the 1999 one just sounded like Hisoka was a circus member, to make things worst, his hair colour was green (not that pink made a difference). I also preferred the current voice actor that is voicing Killua in the 2011 version then the 1999 version. Killua's voice really sounded much more clear which showed his confidence and strong character. Did not have much problems accepting the other voice actors. 

*Update coming soon

Art Ratings: 3.5

Really love the unique art, especially love the character designs. I read a little of the manga (due to the fact that I could not wait for the next episode to come out, so I cheated). The manga's art was a total mess (no offence). It really seemed like they just used marker and randomly drew the characters. There was totally no back ground for most of the panels. But the art in the anime really really nice. Totally love the animation. Thought they really knew how to colour in the aura and characters to bring out more of the character's personality.

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 13 and above
My Ratings: PG-13

Magic Tree House

Image from: http://www.vhivelivetv.info/search/label/ANIME%20MOVIES

Name: Magic Tree House マジック・ツリーハウス

Release date (in Japan): 7 January 2012
Watched on: -

Summary:
Jack likes to read books and is a shy but confident person. His sister, Annie, on the other hand, makes friends quickly with both humans and animals. One day, while they were playing together in a forest, they unexpectedly stumble upon a wooden tree house located in this forest. This magical tree house allows people to travel across time and space whenever they liked. Jack then finds this round coin in the first venue they went. They then quickly learn that by finding three other coins in three other difference venues, described in the book, they would be able to fulfill one wish they had.
Summary from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Tree_House_(film)
Added on by: AngelaAgness

Personal Ratings: 3
A really fun adventurous type of movie. I really liked how everything started out, but as the story progressed, I find that the proportion of each arc is unbalanced. The first two arc is a lot longer as compared to the last two arcs. There seemed to be not enough emphasis on the last arc, which was the most important arc.
I really liked the amount of suspense they give in each arc. Makes people anticipate what will happen next. I also liked how there was a balanced between the time they are in another time and space, and the time where they are at home or in school.
This movie also actually helps you learn a little bit of history. 

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 10 and above
Ratings: PG

Inu X Boku SS

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/11013/Inu_x_Boku_SS

Name: Inu X Boku Secret Service, Inu X Boku SS 妖狐×僕SS

Status: Completed
Episode: 13
Release date (for eng subs): -

Summary:
The Shirakiin house's daughter, Shirakiin Ririchiyo, who has a complex about being unable to live independently and unprotected, feels the need to move out and live on her own under the condition of residing in the mansion named "Ayakashi Kan." In this mansion, only those who have cleared a very strict examination could reside in it, and for each resident, they are accompanied with one agent of the Secret Service (S.S.). Although Riricho has rejected the company of the S.S., while residing in the mansion she finds out that the agent dedicated to protecting her is actually the Fox Spirit.
Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/11013/Inu_x_Boku_SS

Personal Ratings: 3
Honestly, I only started watching this show after I saw a bunch of cosplay pictures and thought that it might be nice. 
At first I really did not see how this anime was actually kind of popular. But as the show progressed, I found it really interesting, especially the part about the relationship between Ririchiyo and Miketsukami. That only came in the later part (about episode 10 onward). Really thought that they could work more on the starting. I also don't see why they actually put the part about Ayakashi in the show. It really feels like there is no link to the main story, and can be put aside. I also did not really like the fact that there were so little people staying in the condo. Really makes it feel like a condo way to huge for that little people. Plus, as the show went on, I really did not see what the secret service people was suppose to be doing, because for most of them, they just seemed like other regular people staying in the condo. Another thing that really bothered me throughout the whole anime was the fact that they actually did put in weird and kind of ecchi stuff into the anime. I'm sure it would be much better without those.
I actually really like their jokes, really cute. I also really liked the balanced between normal high school life and the life in the condo. What I found was the most unique thing about this anime was probably the fact that the personalities of each characters are very unique, yet they all help and support the other characters's personalities and help bring out the best of each character. 

Art Ratings: 4
I really love the art. The chibi is really really really really cute. Really like how their appearance tells me so much about their personality. Though sometimes i find that the way they draw Ririchyo's hair is a little weird. Like it looks to little.

Recommended for:
Gender: Female 
Age: 15 and above
My Ratings: PG-13