What You Will See

I forgot to mention this previously during the original introduction, but there are four categories of entries that may show up for any given anime:  Mini-Reviews, Reviews, Summaries, and Essays. 

Mini-Reviews are designed to be Spoiler-Free.  If you're interested in seeing a series, but just want to get my take on it, this is what you'll want to read.  I give my rating, a brief spoiler-free description of the premise, and my recommendation of whether it's a good watch or crap.

Then there are the full Reviews.  This is where I do a break down of the scoring, including discussing each section in detail.  There are spoilers in these.  The fact that one of the categories is 'Ending' should be self-explanatory on that point.  These full reviews are either for people who don't mind spoilers, those who don't intend to watch the anime, or those who have seen it already.

Summaries are nothing but spoilers.  I give a walkthrough of the plot, including pointing out various parts that are good, bad, or just making random comments.  This section is for the same population as the full Reviews, and also those who just like my writing style.

Finally, we have essays.  Most essays will be spoiler-ridden, but on a specific topic.  Some essays I plan on writing are things such as the symbolism and allusions in Code Geass, the treatment of nudity in Elfen Lied, and what makes the use of Shinji in Evangelion refreshing (though your mileage may vary).

Essay - Shinji (Evangelion)

One of the main complaints with Neon Genesis Evangelion that I've heard is that Shinji is a whiny, pathetic waste of air.  I'm not going to disagree.  Though one thing that I was thinking about recently, is how refreshingly unformulaic that is.

I mean, most action-oriented anime take on a similar formula.  Person with a crazy amount of tenacity or is otherwise completely awesome meets up with random situation which allows that awesome to show through, which kicks off their entire world view changing, usually in association with being thrust into constant combat.  I mean, let's look at some examples.  And warning:  there are spoilers for MULTIPLE anime coming.


Code Geass:  Of everyone in Tokyo, the one person who happened to be in the right place at the right time to be given the power of Geass from C.C. was (a) the only exiled prince of Britannia, (b) one of a small population who went to the same academy as one of the *2* people driving the truck C.C. was in, (c) the biggest tactical genius in all of Japan (err, Area 11), and (d) a close personal friend of the soldier who happened to be first on the scene.  VERY convenient, though necessary to get the plot moving.  Right person full of awesome (tactics and genius), just happens to be given power (Geass), kicked off Lelouch entering into an entire arena of combat (albeit voluntarily, which is generally not the case).

Elfen Lied:  Of all people to find Lucy is her amnesiac state, it was basically her exclusive childhood friend who just happened to have returned to the same city after several years on that same day.  He also just happened to be exactly the person who would be needed for Lucy to not just arbitrarily kill whoever took her in, most likely, and then let her start to re-embrace her humanity.  Right person full of awesome compassion (childhood friend), just happens to be given power someone with power (Lucy), kicked off the whole diclonius repossession efforts (albeit he didn't get too far involved until the end of the anime/midway in the manga).

Bleach:  Of all the people for a soul reaper to need direct help from in a random attack, it just happened to be some kind of super-dude who could already talk to ghosts and had crazy spiritual strength.  Albeit Bleach was a little less contrived as the fact that he saw the Shinigami/Hollow is what put him in the line of fire to begin with, it still happened to be getting visited on his house.  Right person full of awesome (tremendous spirit energy and other things), just happens to be given power (zanpakuto and shinigami powers), kicked off the whole involvement with shinigami and hollows.

Guyver:  Of all the people to find/activate a Guyver unit, it just happened to be someone with insane tenacity and stubbornness.  Right person full of awesome (raw tenacity), just happens to be given power (Guyver suit), kicked off the whole involved-with-Cronos thing.


But then you have Shinji.  He isn't full of awesome.  In fact, the only thing that he's brimming with is unresolved issues.  With a lot of anime, it comes to mind:  What would happen if some random Joe found it instead?

I mean, what if some Japanese bystander was offered the Geass power instead of Lelouch getting involved?  Lelouch would have remained being a bored student, and the new person would either get themselves a little bit of power, get themselves shot, or go hide in a corner where they would be safe.

Or what if someone less stubborn had found the guyver I?  Monster:  "Come back to our HQ, and you'll be just fine."  Joe Shmo:  "Alright, just get this thing off me, k?"

Or what if the very exact person who is the only one who can possibly use your super-awesome Evangelion unit was just some whimpy kid instead of a natural born mech pilot?  Oh, wait, that IS the case with Evangelion.  He's not the ideal candidate, not even a passable candidate.  He's a pathetic waste of air, and the exact wrong person to put into a situation where they need to be at all responsible for the mass wellfare of others.  That said, it has to be him, because *only* he can pilot it.


I was never as critical of Shinji as most people I've talked to, but could never put my finger on it.  I think this explains it, though.  He's not a superior specimen as Lelouch or Ichigo.  He's not the right person for the job like Kouta.  He's not even just a strong human being, like Sho.  He's just the only person who can physically do the job.  Even if that makes him a bit less awesome, and even if he's a pathetic human being, I've always found it a little refreshing that he *is* pathetic, and so breaks the typical anime mold.














(All pictures found on Google)

Tengen Toppa Guren Lagann Mini-Review

Tengen Toppa Guren Lagann, or Guren Lagann for short, is an enjoyable parody of many mecha anime.  I enjoyed this anime greatly, though it has its flaws, to be sure, not the least of them being a sudden jack-knife in mood halfway through.

The series follows Simon and Kamina, two residents of an amiable underground post-apocalyptic community who find a small mech that they name Guren buried deep underground.  With it, they end up journeying to the surface to begin a camp adventure to free the world from its oppressors, lead by the Spiral King.  Halfway through the show, the lighthearted mood suddenly is replaced by a dark drama, which can be somewhat awkward to adapt to.

Overall, I give Guren Lagann 4 stars, a 69.5 out of 100.  It has several weak points, but I would definitely recommend watching it.  There is no actual nudity, though there is the occasional Austin Powers style 'nudity hiding'.  Also, the show isn't at all bloody.  90% of all combat occurs in mecha, and the combat that takes place without mecha never results in fatalities.

Code Geass Mini-Review

Code Geass is my favorite anime.  Favoritism doesn't apply, however, for the simple reason that the high score this anime receives reflects the reasons *why* I like it so much.  I originally watched Code Geass towards the end of 2009, and I've rewatched it at least twice since then.  ...for reference, it is incredibly rare for me to reread or rewatch anything within several years of originally doing so.

Code Geass is arguably a mecha* anime.  I say arguably because although the focus of the combat is on the mecha, the combat isn't the focus of the anime itself.  The mecha could be replaced with some other form of vehicle with little loss to the anime as a whole.  Not saying mecha are poorly used in it.  To the contrary, the mecha make perfect sense.  The anime needs a fast, maneuverable, omnidirectional ground unit.  Cars aren't maneuverable enough, and are too unwieldly in dense terrain.  Tanks are slow, and are hard to aim quickly.  Something of human frame, though, is natural to figure out how to aim, can turn on a dime, and is much more adaptable to tight quarters.

Japan has been conquered by the Holy Britannian Empire, stripped of their national identity, and renamed simply Area 11.  Treated as barely people, the Japanese, or 'Elevens' as they are now known, desperately fight against the dictatorial empire oppressing them through terrorism and hidden rebellions.  With an element of the supernatural introduced, one boy, Lelouch, a Britannian schoolboy of no small gifts, manages to change the fate of the world.  Code Geass is a combination political machinations, tactical conflicts, intrigue, and slice-of-life as Lelouch struggles to accomplish his grandiose goals while still maintaining his cover as a mere high school student.

I overall rate Code Geass as 5+ stars, with a score of 101/100.  For poignancy and character development, especially, it is the standard by which I judge other anime.  It does have violence and bloodshed, and is fairly dark, but neither is particularly extreme for a show rated 'Mature'.  Nudity does not abound in it, but it is for mature audiences.  I definitely recommend it for anyone who enjoys action, intrigue, or political/military machinations.  All three are common enough to keep it interesting, and unlike many action series, the combat does not tend to get at all repetitive.

Glossary

Mecha:  Giant robots.  Most accurately, mecha are generally piloted machines of war in a generally humanoid shape.  They are a common staple in anime.