Recommended Anime: Winter 2013

Winter 2013

Shoujo:
*Tamako Market
Yamao no Susume
Hakkenden

Shounen:
Zettai Karen Children: Unlimited

Autumn 2012 (Now still on-going)

Shoujo:
-

Shounen:
Bakuman Season 3
*Magi
*Psycho Pass
Robotics;Notes
**Zetsuen no Tempest


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

* Highly Recommended for this season (Sequels not included)

Tamako Market

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

Name: Tamako Market たまこまーけっと

*Movie coming

Status: Completed

Episode: 12

Release date (for eng subs): Every Thursday

Summary:

Tamako Kitashirakawa is the eldest daughter of a family which runs a mochi shop named "Tama-ya" in Usagi-yama shopping district. One day, Tamako encounters a strange talking bird named Dela Mochimazzi who takes up residence in her home. The series follows the everyday life of Tamako, her friends, family and neighbors, and this peculiar bird.

Summary from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamako_Market

Personal Ratings: 4

Finally out! the long awaited anime of the season! I actually really love this anime. I really like the unique idea of showing both high school life and the one in the market. I find that it is a super unique idea. And to make the names more memorable, they actually name them after food related to them. A really light and balanced anime.

I thing i really like most about this anime, so far, is the unique personality of all the characters in the show. Really liked all the characters in the show. They are just so not detestable  (at least not to me). I think that even though it may seem like a pointless anime, at the end you would kind of see how it's linked together. Totally loved the voice actors in this anime, really thought that they really brought out the personalities of the characters.

Honestly, I really could not tell who was the main character. Was is Dera or was it Tamako? One huge thing that really bugged me was certain character's action. Some actions, I really thought that there was no meaning behind it and was a total extra. There were also some really questionable parts about the anime, and I really want a second season of this because I feel that it has not end yet. 

*Movie coming

Art Ratings: 4.5

The same art as  K-ON!, Chuunibyo demo Koi ga Shitai! and Kokoro Connect. Some improvements made. Really love it the way it is right now. Fingers maybe drawn weirdly at some times.

Recommended for:

Gender: Female & Male

Age: 10 and above

My Ratings: PG

Robotics;Notes

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/13599/Robotics;Notes

Name: Robotics;Notes ロボティクス・ノーツ

Status: Completed
Episode: 22
Release date (for eng subs): Every Friday

Summary:
2019, Divergence Ratio 1.048596. The near future, where a device popularly called the PokeCom, packaged with PhoneDroid OS, spreads, bringing the Augmented Reality world close to existence. 
Chuuoutanegashima High School's Robot Research Club is in danger of losing its club status. Kaito Yashio, one of only two members, is only obsessed with robot fighting games, showing no interest in the Robo Club even in this situation. The reckless, useless club head, Akiho Senomiya, aims to complete a giant robot, struggling hard to avoid losing the club's status. 
Then, one day, Kaito discovers the A.R. annotation that becomes the Kimishima Report. Written in that report is the indictment of someone named Kou Kimishima's conspiracy involving the world.
Summary from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/13599/Robotics;Notes
Summary source: VNdb

Personal Ratings: 3.5
Really nice anime. At first when i saw the picture i thought it would not be as nice, and also because i was already watching a lot of on-going animes at that point, i thought this anime could not have compared to the other animes i chose to watch. But after seeing the manga cover in Kinokuniya, i just had this gut feeling that i just had to watch the anime. After i watched the anime, i really regretted not having watching it from the time it first came out, but one thing that was good was that it already had 13 episodes so i did not have to wait. I really find that this anime is better when u watch it one shot,
I really love how the anime really made each character have a unique personality, and they really stand out from each other, making it easier to remember and identify each character, even at the beginning. However, in the beginning, it seemed like they had not really figure out the teacher's character yet, but it all worked out in the end. 
At first i really thought that, based on the pictures, Akiho (the girl in the picture) would be the main character, but it turned at that Kaito was the main character.
I really loved how each episode is packed with suspense and unexpected events. I find that there are a lot of twist and turns in the anime. Though, i must say that they way they start each episode is really dissapointing. Since they usually end with a cliff-hanger, most people would be super interested in the next episode, how ever when the next episode is out and it turns out to be below their expectations, because they always start of randomly. It really destroys the whole mood. Also the one thing that i could not overlook was the fact that Nae could defeat Yoshio in Kill-bad so easily. They should at least make him distracted for a second or something. I really liked the pace of the whole anime in the front part. But when it comes to the part where everything links together, I think that they should have paced the anime more equally, and I really thought that they should have put more emphasize and time into the last few part, because I think that that is the main point of the whole anime. I really think that they should have properly showed the whole past about Kimijima Kou and Senomiya. They should at least have a whole episode on it. Really thought that they should have ended in 24 episodes instead of 22. 
I think what i loved most about this anime was the purpose and the plot club members building the huge robot, Kimijima Kou, and about Frau's mother going missing. Even if all of these started at different timings and does not seem to link (in the beginning), they all start to link together and will eventually form a single event. I really love these type of plots, because it really requires a lot of planning before hand, and that is what i feel that makes an anime or manga more interesting and attractive.

Art Ratings: 3
Not very nice (I did not like the way they draw their eyes), however, it's unique and characters does not seem stiff at all, although in the beginning the teacher's face was a little stiff. Really loved how they designed the robots, really unique and original.

Recommended for:
Gender: Male & Female
Age: 13, 15 (for better understanding) and above
My Ratings: PG-13

1/2 Prince

Image from: http://booksbytheircover.blogspot.sg/2010/08/manga-monday-12-prince.html

Name: 1/2 Prince ½ 王子

Status: On-going
Chapters: 67
Release date (for eng scan): -


Summary:
It is the year 2100 A.D., and humans have developed a virtual reality game with a realism level of 99%. Feng Lan, due to a bet with her twin brother, vows to succeed in playing the game without using her "female benefits." Due to this, she becomes the first and only female to play as a male character in "Second Life." As her infamy rises as a bloodthirsty warrior, can she keep her identity a secret from her real life acquaintances whom she has beaten up?

Summary from: http://mangafox.me/manga/1_2_prince/


Personal Ratings: 3
This is actually quite nice and entertaining.
I really love how the main girl is not like all the other typical main girls. Really liked how she depends on herself in the game and also help and care for others in the game. Although the starting was a little to exaggerating and comedy-like, as the story progresses, it showed more of the action and series side. 
Really loved the atmosphere in the middle of the series so far. But as they were going towards the part where by prince's comrades and friends started dying, i feel that she was crying way to much, and that, in real life, will cause many people to start suspecting if "he" was really a girl. 
I think what i really like most about this manga was relation between the virtual and the real world. In other animes like swords art online, they only focus on the virtual world (in the first arc, and later in the 2nd arc, way to much on the real world). Loved how they really balanced between showing the real and virtual world (it's really hard to grasp the timing and the amount).
Really love the suspense the author is keeping about finding out Feng Lan's true identity. I also liked how it's more realistic then the other animes or manga of the same genre. 

One thing that i found lacking in this manga is probably the depth. This manga lacks depth, in other words, maturity. Sure many teenagers and kids would like to read this kind of manga, but it would be easily pushed aside (from my point of view.). I think adding a little depth would make the manga more interesting. 
Also, from what i see, i feel that even though they author did plan things out from the beginning, it does not really show in the manga. I think that the author could use this to make the story more interesting and intense.


Art Ratings: 3
Slightly unique and simple art. Love how they draw the side view of the characters (the face shape). Other then that, i think that the art is a little to edgy. And i also think that Prince should have blond hair not white.


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

Nurarihyon no Mago

Image from: http://myanimelist.net/anime/7592/Nurarihyon_no_Mago

Name: Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan, The Grandson of Nurarihyon, Grandchild of Nurarihyon
           Nurarihyon no Mago  ぬらりひょんの孫

Status: Completed
Episode: 24
Release date (for eng sub): -

Summary:
Nura Rikou who is one quarter demon, is the grand son of a powerful demon leading many strong demons. Most people would think that he would succeed his grand father and take over the clan, however, Riko decided to lead a normal human life. Due to this, many stronger demons in the clan refuses that he takes over the clan. As Rikou slowly discovers his demon side and his strength, he finds that is impossible to lead a normal life. As more demons come to kill him in order to take down the Nura clan, Rikou is force to fight in his demon form.
Summary by: AngelaAgness

Personal Ratings: 2.5
Maybe slightly higher then 2.5, but also not reaching 3 yet. I find that this season is super draggy, and i feel that it could have finished in 13 episodes. Not much action in this season, more in season two. Totally love the first arc about Gyuuki. But the arc on the demon sword was really draggy and lack action. Again, this is one of those animes where there is not much to complain, not much to compliment. I guess i just love the part where his demon side start showing.

Art Ratings: 3.5
Love the way they draw the Nurarihyon demon. The eyes show such beauty. Though i thought they should have given Rikou's human side a more cool image.

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

Talking About Popular Mangas: Art

Progress:
1.   1/2 Prince
2.   Bleach
3.   D. Grey Man
4.   Fairy Tail
5.   Gakuen Babysitters
6.   Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
7.   Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
8.   Kuroshitsuji
9.   Love So Life
10. Naruto
11. One Piece
12. Vampire Knight



1/2 Prince
Not a very unique art. I have seen this kind of similar art else where. The way they draw the characters, in terms of hair, eyes and face shape need a bit more improvement because it's a little rough around the edges, just like how Bleach was when it first started. But I really thought that the way the author draws the characters matches the atmosphere in the manga which is bright and cheerful. (it's a comedy manga). Also, other characters in the manga provides the manga with a more serious atmosphere to fit the action part. Overall i feel that the way the author draws the character really balances each side of the manga.

Bleach
For bleach, when it was starting, the characters where kind of out of shape, in terms of the proportion of the body parts. Also super rough around the edges in terms of hair and face shape. The eyes was just... terrible. And really, it only kind of fits the funny and cheerful side of the manga. But over the years, the improvement is just super shocking. From that 2D drawing, the became 3D, a super high level 3D even though there was little strokes in the drawing. The face shape, the hair, the eyes, all just perfect. The new way in which they draw was more towards the realistic side. Even though its more towards the realistic side, there is just the way the author draws that make it so unique. The way the draw the eyes and face shape also is suitable for the funny side of Bleach. I guess this is probably the art that I like most out of the 12. I just can't help but notice how good the art is.

D. Grey man
At first, the way they draw the hair was really stiff. Did not really liked how it had to many pointy edges for Allen. But the drawing sort of improved, until the author injure his hand. Half the time now i cannot really make out what is he trying to draw for the fighting scenes, just to many things happening and all in the same shade. It was hard for me to try and figure out what was what and who was who. But other then the fighting scenes, i actually kind of like the new style, even thought its a little messy and the way they draw the eyes is weird some times. But i really like how in the manga, you could tell that the hair is not so stiff. However, i must say that the art now does not really suites the action and darker side of the manga, but really mix well with the comedy side.

Fairy Tail
As you all might already know, when you first read the manga, the first thing i actually thought of was that "Did one piece's author make a new manga?" Well, since one piece is super famous for drawing their female characters with super huge curves, when one sees fairy tail, they would probably question that. But, of course, there are that similarity, but the rest of the drawing style is different. To me, fairy tail's drawing gives off the clean look. Like there are not extra lines on the characters that might actually help make definition. Even though there isn't those lines, they add in shadows for that effect, so the drawing looks much more cleaner and less overwhelming for the readers, that makes it easier to take in as compared to one piece's one. I did not really know what they were thinking when they make such a big similarity to one piece's art. Because if this manga did not turn out to be as good as it is now, i'm thinking that many people would not accept it and would criticize it because of it's great similarity. But since it received great responds from the manga people, i think that they were sort of given more chance and time to figure out their own style of drawing. As compared to the first chapter, the author really did developed his own style of drawing. The way they draw the hair, the eyes and the face shape really makes things different from one piece. You can also see the difference if which they draw the body shape. It's more focus on the top area then the waist. I really think that the art really helped with the fun side of the manga. Where else, for the action part, they usually rely on the type of clothes the character wear (for females) and the eyes (for males). 

Gakuen Babysitters
Unique yet very cute art. I think that the art really goes well with the storyline. Very pure and innocent. Yet, for the older people, they added a bit of rough spots to balance the whole art out. A very clean art. If you compare the beginning of the manga to the recent chapter, you can tell that there is a major difference for the people in the Kamitani family, both the hair style and the way they draw the eyes improve alot. For the younger brother, his hair makes him more cute and fluffy, and his eyes makes him look less scary. Also, the face face has changed to something more rounder, yet still maintaining the perfect face shape. Really loved how they drew Kotarou's eyes, it really made him stand out among the rest of the kids, which i feel was something absolutely necessary. Due to his shy character, Kotarou does not stand out, if there was nothing unique about him, most readers would just put him in the same class as all the other kids.

Katekyo Hitman Reborn!
When the manga first started out, the proportion of the character's face to the hair is totally off (for the guys), there was also not much sharpness to it for it to fit the action part of the action part of this story, and was leaning way to much of the comedy side. But i just the author did cover that part up by making Tsuna change his look when he uses his power. Love how the hair and eyes was drawn. It was very balanced, really love that look. In some of the fighting scenes, it was kind of hard to tell what was happening because it was all in a single tone. I really liked how the manga had some soft parts to it (like not so stiff), and also how the eyes n hair looks really glossy.

Kaichou wa Maid-sama!
The 2nd Most improved art from the first chapter to the recent chapters. In the beginning, the art was more for a shounen manga. A lot of edgy and straight lines, especially the face, eyes and hair. Of course, now, the art looks really shoujo like. (more to the realistic side) The features of the neck area is drawn really detailed and distinct. Love how they make use of the shading effects to bring out the eyes area. (really makes it looks shinny) Love the way they draw the girls hair now. But i feel that they need to work more on the light coloured hair people. There is much to many strokes drawn for the short and light coloured hair people. Really makes the character look a little silly and way to edgy. (of course for some characters, having those hair styles matches their personality). I find that the way they draw the neckline is a little to square. Instead of a smooth gentle gradient that most authors draw, they drew the whole line with a few straight lines. I like the way they drew the reflection on the hair, a little edgy, really makes it look more realistic.

Kuroshitsuji
A good balance of edgy and soft lines. A really elegant and classy looking art. At the beginning, the way the drew the side view was a little to pointed at the high points (the nose, and lips.) In the recent chapters, i feel that there is the lack of inking. I don't know if they wanted to bring out the characters more or what. but the pages look really white and blank at some spots. They don't seem to be drawing in the back grounds like they used to last time. I actually really like how they make all the panels look really neat and straight, really brings out the classy look out. I love how detailed the drawing is, especially for all those classic items. I really love the way they draw the eyes (especially the eye lashes) to help bring out the personality of the person. 

Love So Life
Not a very unique art, but does contribute greatly to the manga, especially since the drawing have really soft and light lines, which corresponds to the light and fluffy feel of the manga. The manga only uses square or rectangle panels, which totally gives it a neater and clean cut feel. Love how the panels actually brought out the creativity of the artist, can tell that they use interesting overlaps and spaces to enable the reader to understand the slow or fast pace at which the scene is going at. Really love how they use a lot of effects to bring out the character's feelings and help the reader understand the feelings of the situation at a particular scene. The manga maintains a good balance in each page, for most pages, to make sure that each page is not overwhelmed with too many drawings or effects, especially the parts where they show the kids.

Naruto

Shaman King

Image from: http://www.watchanimeon.com/anime/shaman-king/

Name: Shaman King シャーマンキング

Status: Completed
Episode: 64
Release date (for eng sub): -


Summary: 

Shamans are humans that are able to see spirits and are able to use them to fight. Once every 500 years, a Shaman fight is held in order to determine the strongest, known as the Shaman king. The shaman king would then be granted strong power from the great spirits, the one who controls the whole shaman fight. 

However, Asakura Hao, a priests from 500 years ago who had everything, is reborn in order to become the shaman king. At the same time, his twin, Asakura Yoh, is also aiming to become the shaman king to lead an easy and carefree lifestyle. 

When Yoh came to know of Hao's existence, it was his job to defeat Hao and stop him from destroying man-kind. On his journey during the shaman fight, he meets and found good friends who also decides to help Yoh in defeating Hao.

Summary by: AngelaAgness



Personal Ratings: 3.5

The first part of shaman king maybe a bit dry and lack in action, but as the story progresses, and the fight begin, it really has a lot of action. Super interesting. Really liked how each character played a part at the end of the anime. There are not much skills in which the character uses, which makes the viewers more concentrated on the way they fight, instead of the type of skills they use. Personally, i don't really like it when they give to many skills to each person, that way, its hard to remember. Instead, the anime really concentrates on displaying their strategies and fighting style, and each main character has one or two skills which is easy to remember due to the unique form.

However, the reason why I did not give it a higher rating is because of the ending. I really hate endings that does not give you a conclusion. It just stopped at the Orcale Bell ringing. Which really made me want to know more about what happens next, but unfortunately, there does not seem to be a second season.

Also another thing was that I really thought they should show a bit about Hao form the beginning because the main purpose of the whole story is about defeating Hao, but there was totally no mention about him in the beginning and then he just suddenly pops out of no where.

Art Rating: 2.5
Well no very nice, but because its a old anime, the drawing and animation may not be as refine as the animes now. However, i still like the unique drawing.


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

Kamen Rider W (Live Action)

Image from: http://thenerdsphere.blogspot.com/2010/09/podcast-many-different-things-kamen.html

Name: Mask Rider W, Mask Rider Double, Kamen Rider W, 仮面ライダーＷ（ダブル）

Status: Completed
Episode: 49
Release date (for eng subs): -

Summary:
In the ecologically-minded city of Futo, there are many windmills and the people live in harmony. However, the Sonozaki Family sell mysterious devices resembling USB flash drives called Gaia Memories to criminals and other interested parties who use them to become monsters called Dopants, committing crimes with the police force powerless to stop them. To make matters worse, the Gaia Memories carry a dangerous toxin that cause their users to go insane to the point where they could die from the life-threatening devices. After the death of his boss, the self-proclaimed hardboiled (actually half-boiled) detective Shotaro Hidari works with the mysterious Philip, who possesses the true Gaia Memory, to investigate crimes which involve Dopants. Using their own Gaia Memories, Shotaro and Philip use the Double Driver belts to transform and combine into Kamen Rider Double to fight the Dopant menace and keep Futo safe. While joined in their fight by investigator Ryu Terui, who transforms into Kamen Rider Accel, the mystery of Philip's past, his relation to the Sonozaki Family, and their Museum organization are revealed.
Summary from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamen_Rider_W

Personal Ratings: 4
High ratings partly because of the people's looks and cute personalities. Really love the idea as to how they mixed in detective work into the mask rider, and not just pure fighting. The whole purpose of the show is to defeat the Sonozaki family. Really unexpected turns of events. Probably the best mask rider I have ever seen. It's funny, cute and yet so interesting. Totally loved the ideas about Gaia memories, something we see everyday, thumb drive.
Another thing that remained as a mystery throughout the whole series for me was about the master. Who is he really, and how did he started out to become a detective and a mask rider. I am kind of hopping they would come out a movie for this, but to me, it seems like its never going to happen.
Though one thing that has not been fixed since the first mask rider is the fighting scenes and the power levels. The fighting scenes were kind of lame for some parts. For this series there was not alot of difference in power levels which made me totally like it more. The use of CF effects where to much in the middle. Which kind of made it seem alot more unreal. Because the main purpose and focus of the whole series kind of link back to Philip, the main character, Shoutaro does not really serve alot of purpose for the main plot. 
Totally sad and awesome ending that makes almost everyone cry. :3 I really just can't get enough of this. Really wish they could continue and make a second season.

Recommended for:
Gender: Male
Age: 11 and above
My ratings: PG