Next Meeting Details

Our next meeting will be February 3rd from 5-6pm. We’ll be watching episodes 17 and 18 of xxxHolic.

About episodes 17 and 18:

Self-Mutilation
On a mission to find a pair of fashion glasses for Yuuko, Watanuki sees a woman throw herself out into traffic. Fortunately escaping with only minor injuries, Watanuki finds out that the woman is incapable of ignoring her urges to make irrational and sometimes dangerous decisions.

Lantern
Yuuko receives a special lantern from an old friend, which is an invitation for a special event for the spirit world. Rather than go herself, Yuuko sends Watanuki and Doumeki in her place. But being an uncommonly tasty snack to spirit types this little festival just might be the end of Watanuki.

Review – Star Ocean EX Volume 1

What they say:
Claude and his father are on their mission to investigate the unexplored planet, Mirokinia. When they arrive at the planet, Claude mysteriously gets transported to another planet called Expel.

Wandering around in the woods trying to find a way back home, he saves a girl named Rena from a monster with his phase gun. Rena tells him that he is the Legendary Warrior of Light whom she’s been looking for. The two set off in search of Sorcery Globe, which is believed to be the source of evils. Their journey that will determine the world’s fate…

What this Librarian says:
Based on the second game of the Star Ocean series, Star Ocean EX follows the story of Claude C. Kenni, Ensign aboard the Calnus and son of Commodore Ronnix J. Kenni, one of the heroes of the first Star Ocean game.

Claude, tired of being stuck in his father’s shadow and not being judged on his own merits, disobeys orders and investigates a device on the planet Mirokinia. Just as Claude nears the seemingly inactive device, it turns on and Claude finds himself transported light years away to the uncharted world of Expel where he meets a young girl named Rena. There Claude will finally have an opportunity, whether he wants it or not, to prove his worth when Rena mistakes him for the Legendary Warrior who supposed to save Expel from the danger presented by the Sorcery Globe that is wrecking havoc around the planet.

Although Claude insists he’s not the Warrior from the legends, he offers to investigate the Sorcery Globe, hoping to find a way home while he’s at it. Along the way he and Rena gather other traveling companions, starting with the devious heraldic magic user and treasure hunter extraordinaire Celine. But Claude will so find out when they run into an old friend of Rena’s, just how much he still has to learn about Expel and how much he needs to grow before he can become the Legendary Warrior.

A fun and funny series, it fares considerably better than most video game adaptation by playing up a little on the slightly ridiculous elements of the story.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 13+
Year: 2001 (Japan), 2005 (USA)

Digital Review – Rebuild of Evangelion – 1.0 You Are [Not] Alone

What they say:
After the second impact, all that remains of Japan is Tokyo-3, a city that’s being attacked by giant creatures that seek to eradicate the human kind, called Angels. After not seeing his father for more than eight years, Shinji Ikari receives a phone call, in which he is told to urgently come to the NERV Headquarters, an organization that deals with the destruction of the Angels through the use of giant mechs called Evas.Shinji’s objective is to pilot the Eva Unit 01, while teaming up with the Eva Unit 00 pilot, Ayanami Rei.

What this Librarian says:
If you were expecting something completely new from this film in comparison to the original TV series, you might be a little disappointed. Rebuild 1 is basically a retelling of the first 6 or so episodes from Neon Genesis Evangelion, just with shinier CG animation, rather than the hand drawn work of the show. The major drawback for fans of Eva is that the show is far more transparent about the covert government things happening behind the scenes.

What did make for an interesting change is the introduction of Kaworu Nagisa far sooner than in the original material. In the show, Kaworu wasn’t brought into the series until the final episodes.

There are still two more of these Rebuild movies to come, and the changes that might be made now that the basics are out of the way might be greater and far more interesting.

See also Neon Genesis Evangelion (TV Series) Review

Information:
Runtime: 110 minutes
Rating: 15+
Year: 2007 (Japan)

Review – Saint Seiya Part 1

What they say:
The cosmos is bound together by an incomprehensible web of strength, power and, some would even say, magic. And only to a select few may these forces be harnessed or ultimately controlled.

Seiya is mortal from Japan. He has been trained, he has excelled, and the time has now come to test his skills in battle to claim the sacred armor – the sacred armor that will change the order of the universe, the sacred armor that will earn his place in the cosmos, and that will establish his rank among the Saints.

Through a series of tournaments and trials, Seiya must not only defeat some of the most powerful fighters ever to step foot in the ring, but he must also defeat the demons within himself as well. Long live the Saints! Long live Saint Seiya!

What this Librarian says:
A Japanese business tycoon had sent a group of young men out into the world, out to train and earn ancient and sacred armor, armor powerful enough to change the very course of history. When these young men return years later and successful to Japan, the businessman who sent them on their quests has passed away and his young grand-daughter Saori is now in charge. And she’s arranged for a tournament, to show off the power of the armors each teen has returned with and to eventually award a Gold level armor, Sagittarius, to the winner.

Each armor is referred to as a Cloth and each bearer known as a Saint, most of the Cloths are constellation and then precious metal based, but a number of smaller subsets are also around. Such as the Black Saints and the Ghost Saints. The four main characters of the series have returned with Bronze levels armors, fairly low in the constellation based hierarchy of the Saints. Seiya as the Pegasus, Hyouga is Cygnus or Swan, Shun has the Andromeda cloth, and Seiyru is the Dragon. The four must learn to work together as a team to protect the Gold cloth and the newest incarnation of the Goddess Athena, ruler over all the clothes. But their task is shaping up to be a difficult one when betray comes from Shun’s brother the Phoenix Saint and the Sanctuary in Athens is corrupted from within.

Saint Seiya is one of those classic older series that has been an influence on all series that follow after. As an older series it can be hard to get into, the dialog and animation is far more uneven and choppy than you would see in a newer series. But the show, for all its faults, does have a certain charm to it.

Information:
Episodes: 114
Rated: 13+
Year: 1986 (Japan), 2003 (USA)

Review – Code Geass Volume 3

What they say:
Embarking on the path of carnage, Zero and his Order of Black Knights have begun operations in the mountainous region of Narita. Using the power of Kallen’s Knightmare, the Guren MK-2, a land slide is triggered and a trap is set for the Imperial Princess Cornelia. Just as victory is within arms reach a white flash moves across the battlefield and Lelouch once again finds himself face to face with Suzaku. With Zero unable to escape the Lancelot, C.C. steps forward and unleashes a torrent of mental anguish upon the young Eleven pilot, but will this be enough to ensure escape?

As the dust clears from the battle of Narita a number of casualties are revealed, amongst them the name of Shirley’s father is revealed. A loathing soon blossoms within her as she sets out for vengeance against the Order of the Black Knights, but once Zero’s identity is discovered will she be able to pull the trigger?

What this Librarian says:
Using the Japan Liberation Front as pawns, Zero sets a devilish trap at Narita for the new Viceroy, Princess Cornelia. With the help his Knights and their new Knightmare Frames, including Kallen’s impressive Guren MK-2, Zero has the new Viceroy within his sights. But with the interference of Sub-Viceroy Euphemia, Suzaku joins the battle in his Lancelot. Unable to escape, Zero must rely on C.C. for assistance.

After the Zero and the Black Knights escape the battlefield, the extent of the damage is revealed. And the loss of life, civilian and military is staggering. Lelouch’s drive is tested when he and the others find that Shirley’s father was among the civilians killed in the landslide that was the key component of the Black Knight’s trap. Now Lelouch must decide whether or not to accept the financial assistance of one of the better established resistance groups. But an even bigger problem arises with Zero is accidentally unmasked in the middle of a battle!

In this volume Lelouch must come to accept the horrors of his role. By all Britannia’s standards Zero is a terrorist, and with the events at Narita Lelouch knows that most Britannian’s will only see him as one. Will Lelouch’s determination carry him through both this and what has happened to Shirley’s father?

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

Review – Toward the Terra Part 1

What they say:
Earth, no longer able to sustain life due to the rapid development of human civilization, was abandoned. Leaving Terra behind, mankind set out in search of new planetary systems to inhabit. With this cause in mind a new unified government was formed and dubbed the Superior Domination. Now spread across the cosmos, humanity lives in peace, their lives dictated by Superior Domination’s computers.

Jomy, a young man fast approaching his fourteenth birthday, stands at the brink of his adult life. On the day of his adulthood exam, his mind races with the remnants of dreams that haunt him in the dead of sleep. Mu, a word unheard amongst the denizens of the human systems, plays upon his lips. Abilities previously unknown soon manifest within, and Jomy’s race towards adulthood becomes a frenzied fleeing from the powers that be and toward the Terra.

What this Librarian says:
With the Earth no longer able to support life, mankind has moved to new worlds and put themselves under the control of a system of super computers called Superior Domination, or SD. Under the orders of SD children are genetically engineered and paired with surrogate parents until they reach 14 years of age and they much take the adulthood exam. Jomy Marcus Shin is now 14 and it’s his turn to take the exam and become an adult. But during his exam, the Mother Computer begins erasing Jomy’s memories, and without the interference of a man known as Soldier Blue he would have lost all of his important memories.

Soldier Blue is a member of a people known as the Mu. Mu are physically human, but through either computer error or simply evolution they have developed a variety of psychic abilities. Normal humans and the SD computers have come to view the Mu as a threat and have begun developing methods to detect their brainwaves. Now Jomy is given a choice, join the Mu and help them in their search for Terra or take his chances back home.

While Jomy and the Mu search for a way home, Jomy’s friends from school pass their Exams and are moved to an orbital Educational Station to learn how to care for the SD and Mother computers that govern their lives. Will Jomy be forced to fight his friends or will he be able to make them understand that the Mu just want to live in peace with everyone else.

Information:
Episodes: 24
Rated: 13+
Year: 2007 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

Review – Shonen Onmyouji Volume 5

What they say:
Masahiro has a foreboding dream of Mokkun running off despite desperately calling for him. However, that is quickly overshadowed when they discover that a hex is placed in the Mikado and his families and that Kazane has kidnapped the Princess. While searching for the Princess, Masahiro is swallowed by a miasma and gets separated from Mokkun and the other shikigami. When Masahiro finds the Princess, he is attacked by Guren, who is now under the Soul Binding spell!

What this Librarian says:
Dreams are a powerful tool, even more so when they’re had by an onmyouji like Masahiro. Unfortunately even the most powerful of onmyouji won’t know if their dream is prophetic until it actually happens, and Mokkun leaving is the last thing Masahiro wants. But there’s no time for either to discuss the dream, Kazane has made her next move. And this time she’s moved directed against the Mikado and his household, opening up a doorway to the Underworld and secreted the Mikado’s daughter deep within. It’s up to Masahiro and the other shikigami to save the Princess, but Kazane gets to Guren first!

Now only a few episodes away from the end of the series, more of Guren’s dark past as the betrayer and why he’s so distrusted by the other shikigami under Seimei’s control have become clearer. Guren is the only one among the Twelve Shikigami that has broken their cardinal rule, he has harmed a human. Now Masahiro must hurry to heal and find a way to save his best friend.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rated: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2007 (USA)

Next Meeting

Our next meeting will be January 20th from 5-6pm. We’ll be watching episodes 15 and 16 of xxxHolic.

About episodes 15 and 16:

Release
Their words grow more dangerous as one of the twin sisters begins bleeding from a mysterious  head wound. Watanuki must find a way to help the sisters without endangering himself from their careless words.

Reunion
It’s one thing that the Pipe Fox adores Watanuki, it’s another thing to deal with an overly affectionate Pipe Fox in it’s full Kitsune, or spirit fox, form tackling you right and left. Yuuko sends Watanuki to a mystical mountain, where the energy is still pure enough to help the Pipe Fox. There he meets the Zashiki-warashi from and her Karasu tengu bodyguards again.

Review – Code Geass Volume 2

What they say:
Using the power of the Geass, Lelouch has taken his first steps towards vengeance against the Holy Empire of Britannia. He has crafted for himself the alter ego Zero, to destroy the perceptions of his enemies and protect those close to him. Yet still he finds his efforts lacking. One young prince does not a revolution make. Carrying with him this hard learned lesson Lelouch takes the next step in his rebellion. Gathering a small group of willing Elevens about him, Zero founds the Order of the Black Knights, a faction dedicated to the fight for justice.

On the battlefield Lelouch encounters a man he once called friend seven years before standing on the opposing side: Suzaku Kururugi, the Eleven pilot of the white Knightmare known as Lancelot. With Zero unable to convince Suzaku to fight along side him and unwilling to use the power of Geass, are the two destined to destroy one another?

What this Librarian says:
Lelouch has taken his first steps towards his goal of destroying the Empire, but will the actions he’s taken again the Viceroy, Prince Clovis be the correct move or was it simply for the satisfaction of being able to confront his half-brother. However, Lelouch is smart enough to know he can’t fight his war alone. So he begins by crafting a dark alter ego named Zero and gathering a small group of bitter Elevens terrorists, shaping them into an elite team called the Order of the Black Knights.

But just as Zero and the Black Knights are making progress at chipping away at the stability of the occupying Britannia forces, Lelouch will run into an old friend on the battlefield, the last person he thought would ever willingly join the Britannia Army. Suzaku Kururugi, son of the former Prime Minister and now pilot of the experimental Knightmare Frame named Lancelot.

In this second volume of Code Geass, we are just starting to get past the back story and into the true depth of the story. There’s still considerable back story to cover, but at this point the major history that drives the brilliant Lelouch to take such incredible actions both against his family and his closest friend. While the story is still very much politically motivated and tends to get a bit bogged down in conversation and Lelouch scheming, the conversion from manga to anime has added considerably more action.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2008 (USA)

Review – Code Geass Volume 1

What they say:
On August 10th of the year 2010 the Holy Empire of Britannia began a campaign of conquest, its sights set on Japan. Operations were completed in one month thanks to Britannia’s deployment of new mobile humanoid armor vehicles dubbed Knightmare Frames. Japan’s rights and identity were stripped away, the once proud nation now referred to as Area 11. Its citizens, Elevens, are forced to scratch out a living while the Britannian aristocracy lives comfortably within their settlements. Pockets of resistance appear throughout Area 11, working towards independence for Japan.

Lelouch, an exiled Imperial Prince of Britannia posing as a student, finds himself in the heart of the ongoing conflict for the island nation. Through a chance meeting with a mysterious girl named C.C., Lelouch gains his Geass, the power of the king. Now endowed with absolute dominance over any person, Lelouch may finally realize his goal of bringing down Britannia from within!

What this Librarian says:
The year is 2010 and the Empire of Britannia has conquered approximately one third of the world, adding Japan to its list of subjugated territories. Japan is renamed Area 11, its people stripped of their national identity and the land stripped of precious sakuradite, a mineral used to power the Empire and their imposing war-machines known as Knightmare Frames.

Hiding among the other Britannian transplants at Ashford Academy in Area 11 is Lelouch Lamperouge a seemingly normal teen; he is in truth Lelouch vi Britannia, the eleventh son of the Emperor of Britannia. Lelouch and his younger sister were given to the Japanese government by the Empire prior to the invasion as hostages against attack by the Empire. Feeling betrayed by the Empire both for the brutal assassination of his mother and for using both his and his sisters as pawns, Lelouch wants nothing more than the complete destruction of the Empire and the corrupt family at its head. Through his chance meeting with a girl known only as C.C. Lelouch gains the power known as Geass, an ability which allows him to give people orders they have no choice but to follow. Now Lelouch may finally be able to destroy the Empire and his father.

Information:
Episodes: 26
Rating: 13+
Year: 2006 (Japan), 2008 (USA)