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