Animeted - The Anime Fanblog

Ocean Waves Review

gefra — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:01:52 +0000

I was unsure of what to write for this website. I tried out a couple of different themes and styles for an article, but having said I’d write something about four weeks ago I hurried up and settled on a standard review. Being in the middle or near the end of three or four current shows I thought I’d wait to write a round up of them in a few weeks and instead critique a film I saw recently.

‘Ocean Waves [Umi ga Kikoeru/I Can Hear the Sea]’ is a lesser known Studio Ghibli production and as such was only released on DVD in the UK this January despite originally airing in 1993. The film was made for television and direction was passed over to non Ghibli director, Tomomi Mochizuki. The production was designed as an experiment for the younger staff to produce high quality animation quickly and cheaply, but the project over-ran and exceeded budget. Tomomi himself was already committed to directing the ‘Here is Greenwood’ OAV series with another studio, but because of his passion for the Ocean Waves novel he worked on both titles at the same time and was hospitalized during production suffering from stress after overworking.

Based on the novel by Saeko Himuro, Ocean Waves is a coming of age drama concerning the story of two friends and a new transfer student at their school. The protagonist, Taku, narrates most of the story on a flight home from university. He attends high school in a small seaside town with his best friend Yutaka. When beautiful female classmate, Rikako, transfers to their school Yutaka is asked to show her around school and the local area and soon he falls for her. Later, on their school trip to Hawaii, Rikako borrows a large sum of money from Taku under false pretences. She uses the money to travel to Tokyo to see her estranged father, whilst Taku ends up accompanying her. During the trip Rikako realises new things about herself and her current attitudes. Before they leave high school to attend different colleges and universities the friends fall out over various disagreements. Their differences are only resolved when they return to town a year later for a class reunion.

Ocean Waves is animated in a fairly straightforward manner, suited to the simple, realistic story. The familiar visual style is likely a product of the “faster and cheaper” approach as well, but much of the artwork is both detailed and painstakingly complex, better reflecting Ghibli’s high quality feature output. Aimed at a more specific audience then Miyazaki’s family friendly fantasy epics, the story itself flows neatly and despite feeling a little predictable, both the characters and their situation feel interesting and true. The film has a slightly unusual structure. The story is told mostly in flashback as Taku recalls his relationships with his high school friends, whilst travelling to his class reunion. It’s also book ended by two similar scenes, opening on Taku spotting a familiar figure at a train station and ending as he chases the figure to another platform.

The real quality of the film is in the sense of realism and intimacy it creates, the impression that this kind of story can and often does play out in real life is ever present and it feels refreshingly personal. At roughly 72 minutes I was worried it would seem short and rushed like the later, lacklustre Ghibli feature ‘The Cat Returns’, but the short duration seems to suit the work. The ending resolves the plot but leaves the future of the main characters open to contemplation, neither feeling perfunctory or open ended. In the end Ocean Waves is an interesting and entertaining feature that’s occasionally funny and touching. I’m not really inclined to agree that the film deserves the classic reputation it’s garnered from some, but it’s still enjoyable and I’d certainly recommend it to fans of slice of life dramas and/or Studio Ghibli.

Ocean Waves is available on DVD from most retailers that stock Studio Ghibli films and more information about it is available on ANN and the English Ghibli fan-site.

Mio Akiyama 1/8 Figure by Alter – Review

ProperBritish — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:10:17 +0000

Hi there!

I’m new around these parts, so I’m under pressure to perform well in this review ;P

I recently received a very special item in the post from Japan. The worries i went through waiting for it to arrive were immense. As some people who know me already know, I am a die-hard K-ON! fan.

/me hides from barrage of moe-haters

I love the show, and specifically Mio Akiyama (i myself, am also a left-handed bass guitarist) enough to put down the cash to pre-order this figure. The Alter 1/8 figure is amazing, and totally worth it for the collector. And of course, I’ll tell you all in depth why.

And here she is in all her glory…

A quick rundown

Retailing at ¥6,800/£47.40/€54.53/$74.85 she is quite costly, but it’s up to you to decide whether it is worth it in the end. I will explain my opinion on how I think it is however ;P Don’t forget to factor in Postage, which can push the price up by about ¥2,900/£20/€23/$32 if not more, unless you actually fly out to Japan on holiday and pick one up ;P

She stands at about 200mm atop a clear plastic stand which holds her up by one foot (excuse the blu-tack). Emblazoned with HO-KAGO TEA TIME and Mio Akiyama – Bass along with a white silhouette of her bass guitar, the stand is good but not incredible (some could interpret it as looking like a CD). Some may worry that her one-footed hold is quite precarious and may fall victim to bending because of heat. I just leave her in the shade, also to prevent sunbleaching xD

Make a note also, her clothing using a slightly shinier finish than her skin. She sports a nice perky pose, full of energy and vigour. This in itself for me is enough to capture me, as you can with this really feel the movement, bringing her to life. Her eyes beaming, nice and awake with that big smile. Holding her signature Fender Left-Handed Jazz Bass in a sunburst finish. She is definitely ready to rock ;D

Mio – Clothing

The clothes she is wearing are a tiny bit darker than seen here, due to the flash on the camera. Skin tones look perfect. Most of all her face (i believe) is the most true to the show itself of all figures. The bow on her chest looks just right and finishes her school uniform off nicely. You can really tell they’ve put attention to detail in here, with the golden buttons on her blazer.

As you can see, her pleated skirt also flows nicely, adding to the motion of the figure, which i believe is what it’s all about here. Below you see her knee-high socks, with sculpted contours where the sock meets her leg.

When a figure has something like a weapon or guitar in it, the focus can be shifted slightly towards that, but in this case Alter have most definitely maintained the quality on what she’s wearing also.

(For those interested in panty shots, you’re not getting any of my figure, that’s all for me ;P Though this is one of the only problems with the figure, they are plain white panties not blue-white striped shimapan. If you’re that picky about your panties, then this may sway you.)

Mio – Hair and Proportion

Proportion

Proportion you say? Well i think some figures can get girls to look skinnier than they actually are (I think the Wave Mio Akiyama may be a culprit of this). This may be possibly to accent the breasts. Which i do know us men are quite fond of ;D

I can firmly assure you, that everything is in check size wise, the blazer she is wearing conceals her, yet hugs her figure too. Judge for yourself above , however i think she is spot on

Hair

Oh my. Mio’s hime cut is a key feature of identifying who she is, and Alter have done well. How people sculpt these to begin with in planning is beyond me. The craftsmanship is incredible. So many layers and strands in such a small area. The flowing direction once again adds to this implied movement. You get the impression she is in the middle of a gig (Budokan?!) rather than a mere practice, playing her heart out. (Or maybe I’m talking crap? Give me a comment ;P)

Again, I operate a ‘Judge for yourself too’ policy, so feel free to disagree with me in the comments ;P

That’s actually my favourite picture I took of her ;P ^ (It’s my BIOS boot logo and Wallpaper xD)

Bass Guitar

I could not do a review of this figure without talking about the bass she is wielding. Alter made sure it looks stellar, and by jove was i surprised. I kept finding more and more tidbits that en-liken this to a real guitar as i surveyed it.

Finished in sunburst and tortoiseshell, the dials also are marked with what must’ve been a crazy thin brush or a very precise applicator. In her left hand Mio has her pick held high, ready to play.

As you have probably already noticed, it is strung, with 4 strings running from the bridge (the place where the strings are fastened on the body) up to the tuning at the end of the neck, actually tied round the tuning gear and locked in place like a real guitar. It remains to be seen if i could actually twist the tuning pegs, but I’m not going to try xD If you look carefully, the strings run in between the ‘metal’ pads on the pickups of the bass, just like in real life too.

Dials and stratchplate are finished well, with a good but the tortoiseshell could’ve been a bit better. Not to say it’s bad though, just could’ve been that little bit better. The neck of the guitar is fretted correctly, with makings put in place to mark frets 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 17 and 19, true to the real guitar.

Mio has a strap round her, holding the guitar up, along with her right hand supporting the neck. As far as i can tell, this is all that is supporting it, but I’m not going to try taking it off to check in case she breaks (Then there would be tears).

The back of the guitar is finished in the same way the front is, not forgetting the place where the neck bolts on to the body. Which is important if you own a guitar yourself and would get annoyed if they weren’t there xD

Another thing you may’ve noticed is the wood pattern down the neck. I didn’t actually notice until i started to take these pictures, but i thought ‘wow’. This is the kind of detail that makes me ecstatic I have this figure and how it was worth it. Many small details make one big one, they say.

Anyone would think that was real if they saw the guitar by itself in a picture this big xD

I have to admit, i was expecting the guitar to be the part that let the figure down. But it has done the exact opposite. This guitar for me, along with the pure spirit and energy, set this figure apart from others in its price range (even the official Kyoto Animation one) because it is what the band were there for. To play music (even if they were distracted a lot of the time ;D)

Overall

Overall, I believe the Alter Mio Akiyama to be the best of the bunch of the larger figures, and definitely worth the premium you pay. The combination of energy in Mio herself and that amazing guitar she wields (all other PVC figures lack this combination) make an excellent figure.

Besides from the minor discrepancies of the stand, tortoiseshell finish and the colour of her panties, this figure is astounding in every way. These are minor details, and looking at the big picture, Alter have done themselves proud on this figure.

If you want one, Play-Asia currently have them in sotck, and seem to be the only place who do ;D

Play-Asia

So much so, I have pre-ordered the Yui Hirasawa and Azusa Nakano figures as well. So in due course, you’ll see reviews for those too ;D

Yes, I want to make the whole band

God help me if Ritsu’s figures comes with a drum kit when it gets announced O_O costly!

Well, I hope you enjoyed my first piece for Animeted, leave your comments below =D

Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic – Review

epdemon — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:37:15 +0000

Ain’t no sunshine where she’s gone.

This p/review will spoil the viewing experience. (Spoils contains plot information)

These are the words that open up the video game trailer of Dante’s Inferno. Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic is an animation theatrical adaption done by EA Studios and Visceral. Dante’s Inferno tells the epic poem (real life terms used here), written by Divine Comedy. Dante, the main character of the epic is a warrior in the ongoing Crusades during the medieval time period in Europe. His life takes a turn when a random attack is coordinated against his village.

[Spoil - Highlight To View] Upon checking the bodies of the deceased, he discovers his beloved Beatrice dying on the floor. As she dies, Beatrice’s soul is kidnapped by Lucifer and she is taken into hell.[End Spoil]

Dante is then lured into chasing his enemy into Hell. As he goes into the unforgettable depths, he meets his match which changes his life forever.

Dante’s Inferno is made after the epic that was written. Of course, anyone can Google it to see how everything tells out. This review is not to tell of the accuracy of the movie, (and soon game) but to review the aspects that are bought up throughout. As Dante travels through Hell in search of Beatrice, he must travel through the nine rings of Hell. Each level represents a form of suffering due to a sin that is committed on Earth. Each ring represents its own particular sin and depicts its throughout. For example, the 2nd ring of Lust shows a plethora of women who have used their “looks” to get with a man while the 5th level of greed depicts what it says.

The order of the rings indicate the severity of the sin with the 9th level being the most extreme. With each ring being open to complete interpretation, each of the directors as well as animators were able to fully inject their full imaginations into the movie. Throughout each ring, the animations and the storyline represents and follows the sin associated with it.

What was striking throughout was how the visualizations and images that are created during the movie can be closely related to an issue that we have in society today. Even if the viewer does not get a picture of it right away, the viewer will gradually develop a connection with everything that can be seen in each scene. Ultimately, putting it all together can leave a message that can possibly benefit us all. Of course, you cannot simply realize that by reading this review.

The story of Dante’s Inferno does not end where it ends. Since this animation was done as an adaption of the video game which is set to launch this Tuesday, viewers can get another perspective of the storyline with Dante at the palm of their hands. With the video game set to be released on the PS3, Xbox 360 and PSP system, the storyline can open up further than what is conveyed by the movie. When put side by side, both the movie and the game can collectively produce a vivid image that can clearly make both products worth it.

As I’m straying off the page here, I’ll be honest with you – I haven’t bothered to purchase the Blu-ray or the DVD. Now after watching the epic through PC input on my TV (with audio via the laptop), I must admit that I definitely missed out on the true experience that this has to offer. With the game being released in two days time, I for one, and anyone else considering to watch this must pick up both the game and the Blu-ray if possible. For me, that works out great as I already own a PS3.

All in all, if you aren’t into animations, this is definitely something worth poking at. For those who have a religion and for those who do not, the animated epic of Dante’s Inferno is one of the few presentations that relates to real world issues that we all face on a day to day basis. Not only with that in mind, the game can and will definitely back up the movie. With the game being released in two versions – Divine and Death, the storyline will be expanded in both directions as players take on the role of Dante in the underworld.

End All Spoils

The DVD and Blu-ray version of Dante’s Inferno is already released and is available at widespread retailers. The game which is set for release on Tuesday will also make making its retail debut in several gaming and electronic retailers, not only in the stores, but online as well.

Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic [ Blu-Ray] (Amazon)
Video Game: [PS3 | Xbox 360 | PSP ] (Play-Asia)

Sensei’s Winter Anime 09/10 Pilot Quickfire Thoughts

Senseito — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:16:09 +0000

Heres a quick roundup of my thoughts of some of the Winter 2009/2010 animes that are starting.

I tried to keep things short so you get a basic idea.. nothing more. Theres a good chance I’ll cover So・Ra・No・Wo・To and Durarara!! in more detail after a few episodes.

Chuu-Bra – Okay. I might seem like the kind of guy (or at least to some of you) who might want to find out everything about female underwere, lingerie and the such but no. Certainly not (in this way). Childish characters with “features” allowing (what will be and has been) plenty of boob touchy-feely and lots of pantsu. So much that even I find it rather distasteful. Pointlessness and crude humor cause me to run for the fire exit – knowing I could be spending my time either watching something else or hershey kisses when theres the need. – 5/10 – Dropped

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu – Fun. Enjoyed it. Basically classes A-F based on exam results. A class is awesome. F is chocolate. Classes can go to war with each other to get the other classes places. Battle works by Test results = Stats for battle.. yeah sound a bit stupid but its undeniably fun. You wish school really was like that.. grades would shoot up. Seems to be a bit more childish than the rest but its high-spirited.. and nowadays you need something to smile about. [my sister dropped it for pointlessness, though] – 6.5/10

Dance in the Vampire Bund – This was undoubtedly a pilot/teaser to get things started. Was amusing at parts but the latter half seemed a bit pointless. I’d rather be guessing about what was going on later. Unfair to judge though. DON’T LET ME DOWN SHAFT! – N/A (;p)

Ookami Kakushi – I’ve found new reason to rage at anime. It comes in the form of Isuzu Tsumuhana. She. Is. So. fudgeing Annoying. In fact, she was so loud and over the top that it makes Hiroshi Kuzumi seem like an idiot for not telling her to SHUT THE fudge UP if she wants to be so close. As for the actual anime, everything is vague and nothing really interested me except for the Grim-Reaper-Girl and the few mentions of odd chocolate happening in the town. Heres to hoping it’ll turn out more like Higurashi… bring on the blood. Cut Isuzus head off while you’re at it. 5/10

So・Ra・No・Wo・To – Some people are calling it Military K-on. Which is funny if anything. Character designs are obviously similar but that doesn’t matter because the interesting mix of characters, promise for engaging character relationships and a fresh setting in Europe means that this is my 2nd favorite for this season. 8/10

Keeping the best till last!

Durarara!! – Some people will be very happy that there is an anime with a point this season when it seemed like all hope was gone. They kept things teaser-like for the first episode, introductions still – it was engaging, the animation was great, the characters seem interesting and the whole thing seems fudgeing cool. Good OP/ED tracks top off my now greatest hope for this season. If you’re going to watch anything – watch this. 9/10

If you want more plots/synopsis, go to AniDB.

Quaser, Omamori Himari will be posted soon.

Thanks for reading!

So・Ra・No・Wo・To

No related posts.

So-Ra-No-Wo-To Preview

epdemon — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:45:15 +0000

Finally we can have the first “real” post of 2010. With the first day of the New Year, and only with five debuts, we take a look at an upcoming anime which appears to be popular by various fansub groups. Sora no Woto is an anime in which 15 year old Kanata Kumika enlists in the army to protect the fortress that overlooks the small village that is the setting in the story. Kumika is put into an unit with five other girls who share a similar interest in music, among other things. The 13 episode series is set to debut on January 4, 2010 on TV Tokyo.

What makes this such a popular anime is that Sora no Woto is a confirmed project by 6 groups, two in which are jointly doing the project. The question that remains is who will help to steal away the viewers of the whole show. Trailers have already appeared from groups Phantom-subs and pwq. The other 4 groups have not released anything as of yet. Taking a look at the trailer, it teases several clips from the series, as well as several images and quotes that help to relate to the story at hand, without revealing too much.

From the look of the trailer, So-Ra-No-Wo-To would appear as a boring anime. However, girls in the army, forts, and adventures have definitely generated hype surrounding the series. Let’s hope that this one does not disappoint. I will check in again when the first few episodes are released. If you already are playing favoritism on the 6 groups involved, you can go to their respective pages.

pwq | Phantom-Subs | Yuurisan & m.3.3.w | Chihiro | Hatsuyuki

Happy New Year From Animeted!

epdemon — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:31:58 +0000

Hi there guys,

It may appear that the site is lacking content. However, we still are attracting visitors each and every day. With the start of 2010, we would like to come back and make Animeted better than ever. In the meanwhile, we want to extend our best wishes to all of our readers for a happy, great and prosperous year in 2010!