Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai! Ren Lite - Episode 1

中二病でも恋がしたい！戀 Lite: こたつむり
Chuunibyou demo koi ga Shitai! Ren Lite - Kotatsu Muri
Translation Special

View here: http://strawberryshortcake-extras.blogspot.com/2014/03/chuunibyou-demo-koi-ga-shitai-ren-lite.html

Kyoukai no Kanata Special - Episode 1

境界の彼方

Kyoukai no Kanata Screen Shot Special - Episode 1

View here: http://strawberryshortcake-extras.blogspot.com/2014/03/kyoukai-no-kanata-special-episode-1.html

Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku

Image from: http://luckystar.wikia.com/wiki/Miyakawa-ke_no_Kufuku

Name: Miyakawa-ke no Kuufuku 宮河家の空腹

Spin off: Lucky Star
Status: Completed
Episode: 10
Release date (for eng subs): -


Summary:
This anime talks about the Miyakawa family (characters was shown in Lucky Star before). Their family only consist of an older sister, and a younger sister. Since the older sister always spends her money on her hobbies, they are usually poor. The short anime talks about their daily life.

Summary by: AngelaAgness


Personal Ratings: 3.5
Honestly, I think that this anime has a lot of flaws. Partly because it's not really a complete anime. But I think some of this flaws made the anime more appealing. 
Like the fact that the anime does not really have a main point. It's talking about random stuff, and also the newbie sounding seiyuu (voice actor). I think the newbie sounding seiyuu really makes the anime more innocent and balanced. Since the other seiyuus all sound very perfect.

I think this anime is just nice for those people without much patient, as each episodes are really short, and it only has 10 episode. Though, i really wished they make it into a longer series anime. 


Art Ratings: 5
Same as Lucky Star


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

Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo

Image from: http://teguhcacoeluz.blogspot.sg/

Name: The Pet Girl of Sakurasou さくら荘のペットな彼女 Sakura-sou no Pet na Kanojo

Status: Completed
Episodes: 24
Release Date (for eng subs): -


Summary:
The school romantic comedy revolves around a second-year high school student named Sorata Kanda who lives in Sakurasou, the dormitory for problem children at Sorata's school. One day, Mashiro Shiina—a cute girl who happens to be also a cosmopolitan, brilliant artist—moves into Sakurasou.
Sorata thinks to himself that he should protect Mashiro from the weirdos at Sakurasou, but Mashiro has a surprising secret: she has no idea how to take care of herself. She gets lost if she goes out, and her room is a complete mess. Sorata's dorm mates designate him as the "master" of Mashiro, and thus, an ordinary boy and a brilliant girl must live like "a master and his pet." 

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/13759/Sakurasou_no_Pet_na_Kanojo
Summary source: ANN



Personal Ratings: 3.5
I think that this show has the proper balance between serious and comedy. 
Though the transactions between the two may be a little too fast some times. I also think that the 2nd half of the anime has more serious and sad parts to it, as compared to the first half of the anime where is there is more comedy. 

I've seen many anime of the same type of genre (leaving in dorms with weird people). And I think that what really made this anime stand out more within the same types of anime is the proper balance of serious and comedy. It does not only focus on comedy, but also more logical comedy. This really helps the views to relate to the anime, especially when they are talking about the different points of views of people with talents and people without.
The difference between the talented ones and the hard working ones. I think this part of the anime, which is probably the main message that the anime wants to convey to the viewers. 
Each and every character in the anime really plays a part in conveying the message. Which I really liked. Because the anime shows different point of views and the different situations. 
The last episode was so touching! Honestly thought that it would be a total happy ending. So I was really surprised when the ending was half sad and half happy. 

I find that the anime is kind of incomplete, because even though it's clear that the main character likes Shiina and Shiina likes the main character, it was never really liked finalized. 
Also find that there are some parts of the show that wasn't really needed. (especially the excessive undergarments).
I also thought that the change in Ryuunosuke was too sudden. Because the whole of the first part of the anime, he was never out of his room. But in the 2nd half of the anime, he was rarely not seen.

I'm hoping that there is a 2nd season for this show!!



Art Ratings: 3.5
I liked the art. Even though when you see it from far, it doesn't seem very nice (especially since the eyes are very edgy). But in the animation, it was really nice.



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

Ano Natsu de Matteru

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/11433/Ano_Natsu_de_Matteru

Name: Waiting in the Summer あの夏で待ってる Ano Natsu de Matteru

Status: Completed
Episode: 12
Release Date (for eng subs): -


Summary:
When a group of friends decide to make a movie over a long summer holiday, they end up learning a little about filmmaking and a lot more about each other and themselves. What begins as a simple way to avoid the summer doldrums quickly turns into something much more complex, intimate and revealing, as the maturing relationships between the members of the young cast take on new, and sometimes very unexpected, turns. 

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/11433/Ano_Natsu_de_Matteru
Summary Source: Sentai Filmworks 


Personal Ratings: 3.5
Since this anime has the word "ano", I keep thinking that it was the same producers that made this made Anohana. Though there is a little resemblance in the art and animation, there was almost no connection. Even so, throughout the whole anime, I kept comparing it with anohana. Even though, they are both really different genre. 
In the middle, I actually preferred Anohana more, because it more realistic and less confusing. But in the end, this anime really shocked me with the ending scene. I think anime is more fun and colourful as compared to the more mature and sad anohana. But strangely, I kind of like sad shows. So I really liked the ending for this anime. 
I think the relationship issues between the character is really similar to Anohana. Really sad and complicated kind.  

I think this anime is really filled with a lot of colours. (not the literal meaning). There is a lot of emotions, and pretty much most of the time, the anime was filled with joy. 
I thought the start of the anime really really unique. I think it really helped pull the whole anime together, because they really captured the viewers from their starting few episode. Loved the ending part, where they really made the Man In Black (MIB) thing happen when fighting with the alien machines. I think that idea was really unique and cute. Especially loved the fact that they had actually gave us the whole idea about the MIB thing, but still made us think that that wasn't going to happen. So when MIB really did appear, it really made the whole scene exciting. 
I also liked the way the relationships had gone, especially nearing the end, where even though the characters couldn't really be with the one they truly liked, they still found happiness. I also really liked the part where they showed all the relationship issues. (all the crying and all their feelings being hurt.) I think it was really well portrayed. 

Although I felt that most of the parts in this anime was good, I felt that some ideas were a little too abstract, as compared to the more normal stuff which was the main issue on hand. I also felt that some things were too "colourful". It kind of made the whole anime a little overwhelming at some point, but was luckily toned down by the beginning and ending. It was also a sad thing that they didn't really show much about their high school life, but more of the filming and the summer holidays.
I also had my doubts when the main character was so plain, as compared to the other characters in the show. But I guess that was what had made him stand out the most within the group. (of course, together with the main girl). 


Art Ratings: 3
Really cute art. Love the animation. But I find that they draw the characters really rounded (especially the hair). And I didn't really like some of the hair colour they used.


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

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Image from: http://teaser-trailer.com/movie/hobbit-2/

Name: The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug

Sequel: The Hobbit: The Battle of the 5 Armies

Prequel: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Release Date (in Singapore): 12 December 2013

Watched on: 14 December 2013

Summary:

The dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continue their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is in possession of a mysterious and magical ring.

Summary from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1170358/

Personal Ratings: 3

I find that for this part, there was almost no emphasis on the main characters. The show was really flat. I'm not sure why, but I feel that the climax for this show was not really showed properly. So when you look back at the show as a whole, you would feel like there was no climax.

For me, the thing that I really liked about this movie was the elfs. I love the way they fought. Really swift and composed. Loved the way they fought using the bows and arrows. Also kind of liked the humor they put into the show. I think it's funny how the dwarves keeps getting captured.

There were some really dry parts, and some that really got me really tensed. But I think the reason why this movie still feels kind of boring is because of the length. It was really loooong. Like it almost hit 3 hrs.

Recommended for:

Gender: Male & Female

Age: 13 and above

Ratings: PG-13

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Image from: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/hunger-games-catching-fire-poster-393446

Name: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Prequel: Hunger Games
Release Date (in Singapore): 21 November 2013
Watched on: 13 December 2013


Summary:

The continuation of the first movie, Hunger Games. Where they show the new life of Katniss and Peeta, who had won the hunger games. However, they were forced to fight again, among the previous winners.

Summary by: AngelaAgness


Personal Ratings: 3

I really liked Jennifer's acting here alot. I thought that the way they spread the movie over was really weird, and there seem to be not much of a climax. Instead of seeing this movie as one movie on it's own, it seems to be relying a lot on the next few parts to come, unlike the first movie (Hunger Games), where it can be watched as a movie on it's own. 

I feel that, similar to the first movie, the part where the games start there are always a few unknown people who were in the game and died without us knowing about how they actually died. I don't really like that. I feel that each and every character participating in the game is important, especially since they actually bothered to show they 'talents' before the game started. It seems to me like they places way too much time in the front few parts (about all the random events and what not), other than the main point of this movie. 

I still love the random dress's effects. Even though it's mainly the same concept as the first movie, I still think it's really pretty :3. I actually liked how they linked this games with what happened in the first game, like about Katniess shooting the arrow into the view room during the talent showcase time.   

Cannot wait for the next parts to come.

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

Ender's Game

Image from: http://www.impawards.com/2013/enders_game_ver20.html

Name: Ender's Game

Release Date (in Singapore): 7 November 2013
Date Watched: 24 November 2013


Summary:
The Earth was ravaged by the Formics, an alien race seemingly determined to destroy humanity. Seventy years later, the people of Earth remain banded together to prevent their own annihilation from this technologically superior alien species. Ender Wiggin, a quiet but brilliant boy, may become the savior of the human race. He is separated from his beloved sister and his terrifying brother and brought to battle school in orbit around earth. He will be tested and honed into an empathetic killer who begins to despise what he does as he learns to fight in hopes of saving Earth and his family.

Summary by: CrystalSinger45, Jesse Daniels, strouda56
Summary from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1731141/plotsummary


Personal Ratings: 3
I find this show a lot better than Hunger Games 1. But I prefer the way Hunger Games planned out their time allocations for each part of the movie. I find that this movie does not seem to have a proper climax. 

I kinda liked the movie, it was unique in the normal way. in the sense that their judgments from the higher ups are kind of different from what I'm used to be facing. Honestly, there are times in the movie where I could have never thought that the main character would be able to get out of the bad situation. I liked how the main character was worried over hurting people. Instead of other people being all judgmental about him, they took his side, which was something different from most books.  

I liked how they slowly showed the progress he had while trying to win people over to his side. But I feel that there was not enough time and emphasis on the actual strategic scenes. They also should have showed more obvious signs of the aliens trying to communicate with Ender throughout the movie. I just felt that the end of the movie came really soon, where else some parts of the movie just seem to be a little to draggy. I think for the last part, after Ender was told that he actually won the war and that was not a test, should have been a little longer, especially when portraying his emotions (before he decided to talk to the aliens).


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

Captain Philips

Image from: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/64581

Name: Captain Philips

Date Released (in Singapore): 14 November 2013
Date Watched: 16 November 2013


Summary:
This movie is about captain Philips and the pirates. He got captured by the Somali pirates while trying to save the rest of his crew. It shows how he was treated by the Somali's pirates, and how he got rescued.

Summary by: AngelaAgness


Personal Ratings: 2.5
Honestly, there was nothing much about this movie that struck, very much, to me as unique or entertaining. It was mostly as I expected, maybe a little lower. 
Though, the most interesting part for me would be how the ships operates, and how the navy take cares of situations like this. Since I have no idea, and have never seem much (in movies or animation), about proper operations in big ships. I honestly thought that there would be more men on board such a huge ship. I liked the part about how they try to lose the pirates that were just about to board the cargo ship.

I thought that Philips in the show would be a lot more.... (efficient..?) Like I thought there is always meaning behind his actions, but from the show, there were quite a lot of actions in which he had done that didn't seem to be helping him escape (were quite redundant if I must say). I thought that he would slowly gain a little of their trust, and talk them out a little. The last part was also a bit of a question mark. Was he actually sad for the three people that were killed? or was he so happy that he got out of the situation? I also didn't like how the camera shakes a lot. I don't really get why they have to shake the camera so much. Even though I know it's to show how intense the scene is, but honestly, with that much shaking, I cannot actually tell what was going on in those scenes.


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

Ookiku Furikabutte 2

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/7720/Ookiku_Furikabutte:_Natsu_no_Taikai_Hen

Name: Ookiku Furikabutte Natsu no Taikaihen おおきく振りかぶって　〜夏の大会編〜
Prequel: Ookiku Furikabutte

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


Summary:
Picking up where the original series left off, Ren Mihashi, the ace pitcher of the newly-formed Nishiura High School baseball team, and his teammates face the Sakitama High School team in the next round of the High School Baseball Invitational Tournament as they aim to play in the finals at legendary Hanshin Koushien Stadium.

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/7720/Ookiku_Furikabutte:_Natsu_no_Taikai_Hen
Summary Source: ANN


Personal Ratings: 3

I found this season a whole lot better than the previous season. There is more progress in each episodes, and unlike the previous season, they emphasis more on the parts that are relevant. It really made the whole show go a lot faster, and seem less draggy. 

Still a unique anime. I'm hoping there would be a 3rd season for this anime because it seemed like it ended without a proper ending. 

I think I really liked this season because it properly shows the problems of each player. Seems more in depth than the first season, whereby they just choose to show specific strategies on each team. Still love all the characters in this show. If they have a 3rd season, I'm hoping that they would show more of the individual training, especially for the main three people.

Art Ratings: 3

I really like the colours they used for this anime. Drawing is not that fantastic, but really works with the colours and the personality. 

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

Hanasaku Iroha

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

Name: Hanasaku Iroha 花咲くいろは

Status: Completed
Episodes: 26
Release Date (for eng subs): -


Summary:
After her single mother decides to run off with a boyfriend to dodge debt collectors, the young and energetic Ohana is sent to live with her grandmother. However, her grandmother is the strict owner of a hot springs inn and requires her to work at the inn to pay for her living expenses. Although Ohana is unhappy about this situation at first, she decides to make the best of her situation and work hard. Ohana's life is suddenly filled with fun, mischief, and drama!

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/9289/Hanasaku_Iroha
Summary by: MAL Rewrite


Personal Ratings: 3
Unique anime. Honestly I won't think there would be much to show for this kind of plot. I was quite surprised at the first episode; when they showed the main girl's personality. 
I liked the main girl's personality. Honestly I was shocked in the first few episodes when she just started working in the inn. I didn't understand why she would get scolded by some one she helped. 
I also liked the 2nd problem about the "author" in the room, who turned into becoming a worker in the inn. 
I would have thought that they would make the main character one of the cooks since she showed them how she can cook. I loved the unique problem with her and her mum. I also always felt that her mum was wrong and a weirdo. But afterwards in the show, I finally realized how she was not actually a good-for-nothing. Honestly  I would have not expected that to happen. 
I really loved the episode when Ohana got fever. I think that episode, even though at first may seem a little confusing, really helps the viewers to understand her relationships with the other characters. It help us to understand more about the character's personality and what they think about Ohana.

What I didn't really like was the relationship throughout the show. Honestly, I think there was only progress in the first part and the last part of the anime. The middle showed almost nothing about the both of them. I wished they had spread it out more. 
I also didn't really understand the last part about the inn closing down. It didn't really reached the point of it being touching. I think that they should have added more emotional scenes to the last part, like showing more of each characters emotions (not just them being against it and working hard). 
I also didn't really like the part about Minko. It was sort of all over the place. Just when I thought it got better in the middle, she kinda got more weird and irritating in the ending. I think they should have shown a better side of her in the beginning, it would help the viewers to understand that even though she may seem like she is doing something wrong, there is always a reason.


Art Ratings: 3
Very similar to Tari Tari, only this art is more edgy and don't have the random blush.


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

From Manga to Words 3

From Mangas into Words: Tonari no Kaibutsukun #3
Chapter: 35

Read here: http://strawberryshortcake-extras.blogspot.com/2014/03/from-mangas-into-words-tonari-no.html


See the review on this manga: Click Here
From Manga to Words 2
From Manga to Words 1

Thor: The God of Thunder

Image from: http://www.iamfatterthanyou.com/2011/03/thor-character-movie-poster-set-1/thor-character-movie-poster-set-1-chris-hemsworth-as-thor-the-god-of-thunder/

Name: Thor: The God of Thunder

Sequel: Thor: The Dark World 
Release Date (in Singapore): -
Watched on: 2 November 2013

Summary:
Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior, is sent to Earth as punishment for reigniting a reckless war. But after a dangerous villain from his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth, the hammer-wielding Thor must learn what it takes to be a true hero in order to save mankind.
Summary from: http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Thor/Summary/

Personal Ratings: 3
Since I watched the 2nd season (Thor: The Dark World) first, I really was comparing that season to this season the whole time I was watching. So I can't say I'm unbiased. I didn't really expect the first season to be as funny. Because I've always had the impression that Thor is more of a serious action like batman or superman. So I was quite surprise at the amount of jokes and comedy scenes in the show. I was also surprised that they seriously did a lot more thinking as compared to the other actions shows from marvel. Because this was really not your mainstream typical action show. I was really surprise by the way Thor acted. Because usually the main character is always the good one that is always close to the perfect type of person. However it was not true for this show. Loved the way they showed the contrast between the people from earth and the people from the other worlds. Really funny, especially since we all know how life goes on on earth. Without the proper contrasting acts shown in the show, I don't think we would have actually thought that there was much difference between their actions in their own world and our actions, since we were only given information from one point of view. 
I thought that they could have added more scenes showcasing Thor's power. I also think that they should have stressed more on  Loki, especially that point of time where he really started to have doubts about himself and decided to betray Thor. I think that part should have been expressed in a much better way in order to truly gasp what his true motive is. Right now I'm conflicted between him wanting to take over the throne to prove to his dad that he is, or wanting to save their world by not letting Thor (than he was still inexperience and reckless), take over the throne and ruin their time in peace. Because I really believe that Loki is a much better thinker and have a higher IQ as compared to Thor.

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

Escape Plan

Image from: http://www.impawards.com/2013/escape_plan_ver4.html

Name: Escape Plan

Release Date: 24 October 2013
Watched on: 3 November 2013

Summary:
Ray Breslin is the world's foremost authority on structural security. After analyzing every high security prison and learning a vast array of survival skills so he can design escape-proof prisons, his skills are put to the test. He's framed and incarcerated in a master prison he designed himself. He needs to escape and find the person who put him behind bars.
Summary from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1211956/plotsummary
Written by: Anonymous

Personal Ratings: 3
Honestly, I would not think that this show would be NC-16. 
I thought that they should have a proper balance of the other scenes and the main prison breakout. I think they used too much time for the main prison breakout. But I think that this movie is quite unique, because of the different ways they used for the prison breakout. Liked the unique ideas and information about the tools, metals and the layout of the prison itself. Would have never expected that the prison was a ship.
What I didn't really like about this show is that the prison break part (the first one) was a lot more simple and less technical than i thought it would be. But I think that the only reason it appeared that way was because of the way they showed the escape part. I think they should have properly showed all the hints and actions he took in a chronological order. Because they showed different scenes at different timing, not in the chronological order, the proper hints of why is he doing that, was not there. They also used a super brief summary of what happened. I also think that the scenes for the main prison break was not specific enough. For things that he had observed the first time he came and onward, they should have shoot the camera view from his perspective. Instead of just telling us what he had observed. 

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 16 and above
Ratings: NC-16

Thor: The Dark World

Image from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981115/

Name: Thor: The Dark World

Prequel: Thor
Release Date (in Singapore): 31 October 2013
Watched on: 2 November 2013

Summary:
Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
Summary from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1981115/

Personal Ratings: 3.5
I really liked this show. A great balance between fighting and humor. I also like the different types of humor they used in the movie. Love how they showed the difference between the lifestyle in the other planets and earth. I really loved the story line for this movie. Even though I didn't watch the first show of Thor, and didn't really get what was the relationships between the characters in the show, I still really enjoyed it. I'm especially curious about Lokki and what he did. I liked some of the fighting scenes and the twist in the show. I would not have expected Lokki to use illusion for the last part of the movie and also the middle part (where he "cut:" Thor's hand off, which really shocked me). I totally loved the other side pairing; was so cute and hilarious. 
What I didn't like about this movie was that there was not enough stress on the main girl and the Aether, It seems like the significance was not there, and the show was quite short, thought they could have stressed more on some points and lengthen the movie a little. Either way, I cannot wait for the third movie of Thor. Hoping they would show more of Lokki.


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

Ookiku Furikabutte

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/2159/Ookiku_Furikabutte

Name: Ookiku Furikabutte おおきく振りかぶって
Sequel: Ookiku Furikabutte: Natsu no Taikai Hen

Status: Completed
Episode: 25
Release date (for eng subs): -


Summary: 

After a falling out with his middle school team, Mihashi enters Nishiura high school with no social skill, a warped opinion of himself, and every intention to quit baseball. The newly formed Nishiura baseball team, however, needs a pitcher, and they welcome him. Most enthusiastic is Abe, a domineering catcher with his own game issues.

And so a battery every bit as complementary as it is dysfunctional is formed. If they can figure out how to work together, they might be the answers to each other's problems-and the team might be able to win. 

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime.php?id=2159

Personal Ratings: 2.5

I don't really like baseball, and I don't know a single thing about baseball. But after debating for a while, I decided I should just give this anime a shot. 

Honestly, I was lost half the time in the anime since I don't know the rules for baseball. But I really liked the first few episodes. Though when I first heard and saw the main character, I had second thoughts about watching this anime. But I was glad that I stayed and watch till the end. 

I really think that this anime is really unique. It really has this calming effect. I really liked the characters. I think that they are all very unique (the choice of voice actor really made the the main few characters stand out a lot). I think that I learnt a lot about baseball from this anime. But it took be a while to grasp what was really happening. I still don't know the different throwing and batting styles. But I like how this is more of the strategy game. Even though (to me) baseball is a boring sport, the anime really made it a whole lot more interesting. Especially the types of players they put into the anime.

I think that this anime is really realistic, unlike normal animes where the main characters always win, they properly show how they win, given the circumstances and their mess up (in season two they lost).

What I didn't like was that they spend at least 13 or more episode on one match. Sure I know they are up against a past winner team, and they want to stress how that game was really hard, but I still think that it was a real waste of time. And because of that ti kind of got boring after awhile. So I really think that they should have showed more of the training, daily life, and other matches. 

Art Ratings: 3
I really like the colours they used for this anime. Drawing is not that fantastic, but really works with the colours and the personality. 


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

Love Lab

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

Name: Love Lab

Status: Completed
Episode: 13 
Release Date (for eng scan): - 

Summary:
Love Lab is set in Fujisaki Girls Academy, which is known for their school body being composed of very proper students. The most prominent one of them is Natsuo Maki, the student president who is admired by her classmates for her calm and polite demeanor. On the other hand, Riko Kurahashi is also admired but for having a very forward and boyish personality. Riko accidentally walks into Maki when she is kissing a body pillow with a picture of a guy for practice, and learns that she is not as collected as everyone thinks she is. Riko is forced into keeping Maki's secret and joins her in practicing romance activities such as holding hands and more.
Summary from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Lab

Personal Ratings: 2.5
A kind of pointless, unique yet entertaining anime. There is no real plot behind this anime, just a simple plot about how to start a relationship.
I feel that this anime is a mixture of comedy and slice of life. Some how has a calming effect (at least to me it has). I could really relate to this anime more since I was also from a girl's school (for 10 years at that). It was really interesting to see how the girls in Japan attract boys to them. Though it's an anime (and I know I should not believe it to much), but I think that it has given me a brief idea on the different lifestyle of a Japanese high school-er (Riko and Maki's lifestyle) who are from an all girl's school, since so far, most of the animes takes place in an co-ed high school. I like how they actually added a mini thinking / solving scene (where Riko has to find a way to transmit the message to the student without the teacher's knowing). I think that whole scene was really unexpected. (Since I watch detective conan, I could sort of grasp the different kind of scenarios and solutions that goes with it.) But since this is not a mystery show, I was really surprised by the solution she came up with.
Honestly, I think that they could have expanded on Riko's storyline for this anime. I feel that if they had added it in, it would have been a lot more interesting. Towards the end, I really thought that they would finally show more about Riko and her plot (the thing about the past confession and what really happened), but to my disappointment., it ended without saying much about it. I feel that they should have a 2nd season since they have not tell us about what happened when they were younger (about the guy confessing to her and she rejecting him). I think that was what most people were looking forward too. 

Art Ratings: 3.5
I like the art. I think the different way they drew the eye lashes and eyes really brought out the character in them (along with the voice actors). I like the light and pastel colours they used in this show to make the whole show a lot more brighter, full of life and at the same time has this weird calming effect. I love how they used the rosy cheeks here as compared to in Tari Tari.

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

Valvrave the Liberator 2

Image from: http://www.animehere.com/anime/valvrave-the-liberator.html

Name: Valvrave the Liberator 2

Prequel: Valvrave the Liberator
Status: Completed
Episodes: 13
Release Date (for eng subs): Every Friday


Summary:
Continuation of season one.


Personal Ratings: 2.5
Loved season one. So i was really expecting a lot for this season. 

Didn't really like that L-elf and the bad dudes didn't have many scenes. I find that since this season, it's a lot about Maguis and what not, i felt that there should actually have more screen time on the bad guys side, since everything that is important is on that side. So about the rebel against the bad dudes, was really short and lacked impact.
I also felt that the "touching" scenes lacked impact. The scenes where the two people piloting the valvrave died, should have been a lot more touching. Even I didn't feel the urge to cry when they died. (it was more like 'oh, he died'). So I really felt like they spend excessive time on the people in school and everything, even though it didn't really help in the emotion part of the anime. 
Battle scenes with the valvrave were kind of messy, and some times I couldn't really tell what was going on. Basically, this season lacked a lot of depth.

What I liked was that they didn't really depend to heavily on the valvrave. Loved the normal fighting scenes. (especially with L-elf). Unexpected plot line I didn't think that they would kill off the people piloting the valvrave. Liked the last two episodes, though I thought that they could have placed more emphasis.


Arts Ratings: 4
Valvrave the Liberator for more information


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

Valvrave the Liberator

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16668/Kakumeiki_Valvrave

Name: Valvrave the Liberator 革命機ヴァルヴレイヴ

Sequel: Valvrave the Liberator 2
Status: Completed
Episode: 12
Release date (for eng subs): -


Summary:
True Calendar (T.C.) 71—a new age where 70% of the human population lives in space thanks to the development of "Dyson Sphere", a city in space.
The world is divided into two main powers: The Dorssia Military Pact Federation, a power which grew out of a military alliance, and the Atlantic Rim United States (ARUS), which grew in power as it expanded its trade agreements. The minor nation of JIOR has declared neutrality between these two forces and maintains its peace through economic prosperity.
Within the JIOR's Sphere, Haruto Tokishima lived an ordinary life as a high school student in the division known as "Module 77"—until the Dorssian military begins their sudden invasion!
But the whole world will be shaken when Haruto meets the mysterious humanoid weapon, Valvrave!

Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/16668/Kakumeiki_Valvrave
Summary Source: Aniplex USA


Personal Ratings: 3.5
I really liked this show, though mostly because of L. Elf. I really liked the fighting scenes, especially those between humans. I really liked the creativity that they used on L. Elf, in a situation in which it seemed impossible to escape, they really used unexpected things around him to make him escape. I really liked the first part where Elf actually gave hints to Haruto. It really makes the suspense and makes the viewers think about what he meant. A unique anime, especially about the part about the high school being a country on their own. From there, there was a lot of creative ideas. It was really fun to watch.

I am confused about L. Elf's actions. I would think that he would be going back to his friends there. But than he didn't after escaping JIOR, even though before that he was all ready to go back to them. I also didn't like the fact that they didn't show much of Elf's comrade after the first few episodes, and even if they did show, it was just for a few seconds in useless and forgettable scenes. I'm hoping that they would have a awesome fighting scene between him and his comrade. I'm also thinking that they could have done without those random ecchi scenes >_> 


Art Ratings: 4
I loved the art!, though I think some character designs could be changed a little. I like the way they draw the hair and eyes.


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