SYNOPSIS Yu and Haruka are childhood friends who have been there for each other no matter what. But both now live in broken homes and Yu suffers from the pressures of cram study due his controlling mother. Yu fears his losing his mind and wishes to run away with Haruka. But forces from a different time and space have entered into there world, and they want Haruka.
STORY
I grew up watching re-runs of Star Trek TOS and TNG, I couldn't get enough of it. One of the most over used plot points in Star Trek lore is alternate universes or dimensions. Noien's whole storyline is built around quantum physics, specifically the multi-worlds theory first conceived by Hugh Everett in 1957. This is possibly one of the coolest and most well constructed story lines I've seen in an anime serise. It's a Star Trek episode, expanded into a much larger scale. Elements of The multi-worlds theory are anialyzed in much greater detail the 24 episodes of noien than in a 45 minute episode of Star Trek. Character development is also amazingly will detailed, with twists and turns that few anime can or even try to pull off. Noien is a magnificent accomplishment in Japanese story telling.
PRODUCTION
Starlight studio is not a widely well known animation studio (heck I didn't know who they were till I wiki'ed them!) They were the animators for Heat Guy J, Hellsing Ultimate, and Baldr Force EXE. These were all amazingly well animated shows, Noien is no exception. Noien is unique, its animation style is so different from your typical "narutard" anime. Its characters move, talk, fight, and breathe like no other anime does, And man do they fight different! The fight scenes are so fluid and unique in there animation that it had me on the edge of my seat every time (no joke). From music to art this series has few if any production flaws.
DUB
The Dub has a wonderful cast spear headed by the wonderful talents of Crispin Freeman and Yuri Lowenthal. Certain performances begin at a painfully silly tone, such as Lara Cody's Miho and Bryce Papenbrook's Isami, but surprisingly this grows onto you in a odd sort of way. Melissa Fahn shines yet again vocally giving life to are heroine Haruka. another note worthy performance is Mona Marshall and Ellyn Stern as the mothers of our two heroes, and lest we forget Eddie Frierson who brings life to the wicked Atori!
CONTENT
Except for violence and language, this show is altogether a pretty clean 13 Up series. Now I would leave it at that but the DVDs do contain Easter eggs with very harsh language (everything up to F) but these are only on the hidden blooper reels ( of course I found them quite easily).
EXTRAS
some great behind the scenes features, an on location with the actors and director, and any anime with a blooper reel on its dvd is all right with me! and some wimpy image galleries were shoved in on each DVD. Noein also has some cool alternate opening/ending videos and of course the trailer gallery!
OVERALL
4 1/2 out of 5
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Negima!
SYNOPSIS
Negi Springfield is a 10 year old wizard with a bright future ahead of him. Theres just one little thing he has to do before setting off as a full fledged wizard, teach at Mahora academy. Negi soon finds this teaching job maybe more than he can chew when its an all girls school and the students of 2-A may just be the most diverse (and deadly) group Negi has come across, Magic may not be enough to save little Negi!
STORY
This is a very simple plot, one boy a bunch of girls, one roof, mayhem (kinda sounds like a Ken Akamatsu story, oh wait, IT IS!) but the simplicity of Negima is ultimately its charm. Though yes, all most all of the episodes are on the verge of predictable, the charming and unique cast of girls, ghosts, robots, ninjas, mad scientists, vampires, and other unique characters rescue the show from the pits of dull and boring. The shocking twist and sweet ending are what really set this apart from most harem anime. While most comedic harem anime stay on the constant beat of joke after joke and gag after gag, negima has a shocking sadness and happy resolution that makes it more than just "another harem anime". Negima is a wonderful treat!
Production
Negima's animation is simple, thats it in a nut shell. It's nothing flashy, fancy, or fantastic, just simple. Now I'm not saying its bad animation, It's just not great, its okay, but I think the simplistic animation really sets the tone for the story. So its sort of fitting in a way. As for music the bouncy opening songs and BGM's are wonderfuly fitting for Negima.
DUB
Greg Ayres shines as Negi Springfield giving him a very convincing welsh accent. As for the class, outstanding voice talent as Luci Christian, Monica Rial, Brina Palencia, Catlin Glass, Jamie Marchi, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Trina Nishimura, Carrie Savage, Laura Bailey, Clarine Harp, and Leah Clark bring the Class 2-A to life ( note: thats not even all the actresses!). Other note worthy preformances are Chris Cason as the allways funny Camo, Mark Stoddard as the cool Takamichi, and the always awsome Christopher Sabat as the devil (vegeta = satan?)
CONTENT
except for some minor fanservice (swimsuits, some bathing sences, and Negi sneezing Asuna's clothes off) this show is all togther really clean except for a rather dark plot twist that involves the devil and a twisted deal (can't.....spoil......details!!). Also some parents may find the constant use of magic and spell casting not sutible for there younger children.
EXTRAS
This has some awsome extras! A funny blooper reel, 3 commentaries, editor notes, and of course a clean opening/ending and a collection of trailers.
OVERALL
3 3/4 out of 5
Negi Springfield is a 10 year old wizard with a bright future ahead of him. Theres just one little thing he has to do before setting off as a full fledged wizard, teach at Mahora academy. Negi soon finds this teaching job maybe more than he can chew when its an all girls school and the students of 2-A may just be the most diverse (and deadly) group Negi has come across, Magic may not be enough to save little Negi!
STORY
This is a very simple plot, one boy a bunch of girls, one roof, mayhem (kinda sounds like a Ken Akamatsu story, oh wait, IT IS!) but the simplicity of Negima is ultimately its charm. Though yes, all most all of the episodes are on the verge of predictable, the charming and unique cast of girls, ghosts, robots, ninjas, mad scientists, vampires, and other unique characters rescue the show from the pits of dull and boring. The shocking twist and sweet ending are what really set this apart from most harem anime. While most comedic harem anime stay on the constant beat of joke after joke and gag after gag, negima has a shocking sadness and happy resolution that makes it more than just "another harem anime". Negima is a wonderful treat!
Production
Negima's animation is simple, thats it in a nut shell. It's nothing flashy, fancy, or fantastic, just simple. Now I'm not saying its bad animation, It's just not great, its okay, but I think the simplistic animation really sets the tone for the story. So its sort of fitting in a way. As for music the bouncy opening songs and BGM's are wonderfuly fitting for Negima.
DUB
Greg Ayres shines as Negi Springfield giving him a very convincing welsh accent. As for the class, outstanding voice talent as Luci Christian, Monica Rial, Brina Palencia, Catlin Glass, Jamie Marchi, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Trina Nishimura, Carrie Savage, Laura Bailey, Clarine Harp, and Leah Clark bring the Class 2-A to life ( note: thats not even all the actresses!). Other note worthy preformances are Chris Cason as the allways funny Camo, Mark Stoddard as the cool Takamichi, and the always awsome Christopher Sabat as the devil (vegeta = satan?)
CONTENT
except for some minor fanservice (swimsuits, some bathing sences, and Negi sneezing Asuna's clothes off) this show is all togther really clean except for a rather dark plot twist that involves the devil and a twisted deal (can't.....spoil......details!!). Also some parents may find the constant use of magic and spell casting not sutible for there younger children.
EXTRAS
This has some awsome extras! A funny blooper reel, 3 commentaries, editor notes, and of course a clean opening/ending and a collection of trailers.
OVERALL
3 3/4 out of 5
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