Sailor Moon Crystal: Episodes 11-12 (Review)

Well, this month, audience saw a complete twist to the story which resulted in emotional moments that the Sailor Guardians faced.

WARNING! THIS REVIEW DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS!

We last left off seeing that Mamoru is now under the control of Queen Beryl, and now, he's going by his original incarnation's name, Endymion. Plus, with Queen Beryl controlling the strings, he is after the Legendary Silver Crystal, and he has even brain-washed Motoki, who works at the arcade. Soon, the Sailor Guardians are up against him, and Usagi being reluctant to fight him. Then, Queen Beryl comes in and reveals the true villain to the Guardians: Queen Metalia. However, before she can escape with Mamoru, Queen Beryl is finally killed off, and Usagi follows Mamoru into the Dark Kingdom. The four other guardians follow suit, but they are greeted by the Four Kings. However, the guardians are able to purify them before Queen Metalia finishes them off for good for disobeying her orders. Afterwards, Usagi makes the most difficult decision to help bring Mamoru back to his senses, which may cost her life to do.

Besides changing the manga's story by having the Four Kings remain as long as they did in this reboot, there were some alterations and cuts made to have the story give the story a bit more flow in the show's case. However, this leaves the question, what will happen now? Well, with the New Year coming in a couple of days, we won't have that long to wait.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episodes 9-10 (Review)

After a pretty dramatic cliffhanger at the end of episode 8, the Sailor Guardians face some big revealing information within both episodes nine and ten, and if you are a hardcore Sailor Moon fan, then you already know what the big reveal is.

WARNING! THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS!

As we begin episode nine, we start off by recapping the end of episode eight where Tuxedo Mask is hit by a energy blast. Believing that he's dead, Usagi begins to cry out, until...

Yep. Her powers turns her into Princess Serenity, and one of her tears turns into the "Legendary Silver Crystal." Also, Sailor V's crescent symbol on her forehead turns into the Venus symbol. The Princess's memories re-awakens in Usagi as she sees the flashbacks of her and Prince Endymion of Earth (aka Tuxedo Mask). Soon, the powers of the Crystal goes into Tuxedo Mask, and the Dark Kingdom runs off taking him with them. After several days, Usagi and the other Sailor Guardians finally decide to go to the Moon.

Meanwhile, the Four Kings of Heaven's memories start to re-awaken in episode ten as they look upon the unconscious Tuxedo Mask, and it is revealed that they were once Endymion's loyal soldiers. However, Queen Beryl puts them under her control again, and send them to fight the Sailor Guardians once again. During this time, the Sailor Guardians arrive on the moon where they meet up with a memory message from Queen Serenity, who reveals the entire story of what happened many years ago to them. They then swear that they will defeat the Dark Kingdom, and Usagi swears that she will rescue Tuxedo Mask. When they get back, they are attacked by the Four Kings, but before they can re-store their memories, the Four Kings retreat. And, we end off with Queen Beryl brainwashing Tuxedo Mask, leaving us with a new plot twist.

So far, the episode have been close to the manga, except for some changes to the story as usual. However, whatever happens next depends on what is seen in both episodes eleven and twelve next month.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 6-8 (Review)

Since I last left off on Episode 5 and made a difficult decision to delay reviews of Episode 6 and 7 until Episode 8 was released, there was beginning tension towards Tuxedo Mask by Luna, and Sailor Moon was then chosen to lead the Sailor Senshi. So, instead of separating each episode into short paragraphs, I will combine the aspects of all three episodes into one.

WARNING! THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!

We begin when Luna and the Sailor Senshi start to suspect Tuxedo Mask of being an enemy instead of an ally. However, Usagi still has feeling towards Tuxedo Mask, even though she still doesn't know who he is yet. Meanwhile, Mamoru is still trying to find out the secret of the Legendary Silver Crystal. It isn't until the Dark Kingdom attacks the city through the process of mind-control like they did in several of the previous episodes. Soon, a battle between the Dark Kingdom and the Sailor Senshi commences, and at the right moment, Tuxedo Mask comes in to help Sailor Moon. After Usagi faints from exhaustion, Mamoru takes her to his apartment where she wakes up in his bed with him looking at her from the doorway. It's at this moment that Usagi finds out that the man who always picked on her since the first episode is none other than her ally. Mamoru reveals to Usagi that he has been alone most of his life after his parents died in a car accident. He survived the crash but lost his memory, and he has recently been getting dreams about getting the Legendary Silver Crystal. He believes that it would help him regain his memories of who he once was. Afterwards, Usagi leaves but realises that she accidentally took a pocket watch that belonged to Mamoru. She soon meets up with the other Sailor Senshi, who find out that there is a DVD store that are renting out DVDs commanding people to capture Sailor Moon. Of course, the Dark Kingdom end up having another battle with the Sailor Senshi after they cure the citizens from the effects of the DVDs. However, another surprise comes when Sailor V comes in to assist them with their battle. Sailor V reveals that she is none other than the missing princess that the Sailor Senshi has been looking for, and they all meet up after she reveals that her other identity is Minako Aino and reveals that she also has Artemis, a white talking cat, to aid her. After a while, Usagi runs into Mamoru again and informs him about the pocket watch, but he tells her to keep it since she's keeping his Tuxedo Mask identity a secret. Luna also ends up running into Artemis, and he reveals that Mamoru is actually very important for their mission. Soon, the Dark Kingdom return again, and another battle commences that ends up leading another turn of events.

As much as I continue watching the series, the more I enjoy it, but these several episodes has their own changes along with them. Several things were cut from the manga, and another huge change comes around when it comes to Minako being a character that wants to do stuff by herself (which is never seen in Chapter 8 of the manga). From this point on, it looks like that there will be some major stuff to be revealed.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Holding Off of Sailor Moon Crystal Reviews...For Now

Hello everyone.

Ever since I wrote the review for the first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal, I've been excited to write more reviews for the blog, and watching the series as well. However, for the past couple of reviews I did for each episode of the series, I could only write so much to very little without giving any type of detailed spoilers.

So, am I ceasing to write more episode reviews? The answer, sadly, is yes. If I can't write much about a single episode (which I normally write about a paragraph or two), then I feel that I can't give it a fair review. So, I came up with a solution. I will write a review for the recently aired episode 6 and several of the upcoming episodes on a later date, so I could have more to write about for a more interesting review. I will be working on a three-episode review which will be based around episodes 6 to 8, and I will then do two-episode reviews from then on (pretty much, I'm reviewing the two episodes they air a month).

Hopefully, this will work out a bit better for any upcoming reviews on this blog.

- Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 5 (Review)

That time has come again, and a brand new episode of Sailor Moon Crystal was posted yesterday on Hulu. Of course, we were introduced to Makoto Kino, who is also known as Sailor Jupiter in the series.

In the manga, she was indeed introduced in the 5th chapter, but her first appearance in the original anime adaptation wasn't until episode 25. However, since the new anime is closely based on the manga, introducing her as soon as possible was indeed the best choice.

For the details of the episode itself, much of the chapter is adapted pretty well, but it did go through several changes and additions like episode 2 did. However, I did like some of the explanations that where in the additional flashback scenes which helped describe Makoto's character a little bit more than it did in the manga (which was described by her briefly at the end of the chapter). But, many of the characteristics of Makoto felt like they were very good in a lot of ways as well as her moments as Sailor Jupiter. Along with the brief glimpses of Tuxedo Mask, still making him a mysterious character as usual in this part of the series is very fitting.

Of course, the episode's ending brings along a new type of responsibility for the Sailor Guardians, which we will probably see in the next episode.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Road To Ninja: Naruto The Movie (Review)

Well, it's been a while since I reviewed another movie or series, and yesterday, I had the chance to see Road To Ninja: Naruto The Movie at a local Alamo Drafthouse near my hometown. Road To Ninja is the ninth film in the Naruto series (the sixth Naruto: Shippuden film), and it was originally released on July 28, 2012. However, Viz Media (who owns the North American distribution rights to both the Naruto anime and manga) got the rights to the film, and with the collaboration of Eleven Arts (an American film distribution company), the film was able to get a limited North American theatrical release this past weekend.

As an anime/manga fan, I know of the Naruto series really well, and getting the chance to see Naruto on the big screen is something new for an American fan, since the United States hardly ever gets anime films shown in theaters (with the exception of the Studio Ghibli films). 

The film itself is actually based around Naruto and Sakura getting put into an alternate reality by Madara (who is previously called Tobi in the series) where Naruto's parents are still alive and Sakura's parents sacrificed their lives to protect the village from the Nine-Tail Fox. Also, everyone that Naruto and Sakura know have different personalities, Sasuke is back in the village, and everyone calls Naruto Menma. Plus, Madara is aiding a new enemy within this alternate universe that he had created. So, both Naruto and Sakura must find a way to get back to their own universe.

Much can be said about the film, but there are many moments that, if explained in full detail, I would spoil the movie for those who are now currently waiting for Viz's announcement for the Blu-ray and DVD release. What I can say however is that the film is fun, entertaining, and probably answers a question that any Naruto fan would ask: What if Naruto's parents didn't die during the Nine-Tails attack? The animation is stunning and beautiful, and it goes along well with the unique story (written by Naruto creator, Masashi Kishimoto). I would have to say that the film can be easily enjoyed by any hardcore Naruto fan. Believe it!

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 4 (Review)

Last time, on the Team AnimeManga blog, the third episode of the Sailor Moon Crystal was reviewed, and now...the fourth episode.

For the first three episodes, we were introduced to much of the main characters, but for this episode, which is based on the fourth chapter of the original manga, we ended up taking a break to go to a fancy ball. I'm not kidding. Act 4: Masquerade Dance Party (aka Episode Four) is one of those moments in the original manga where it slowed the story down a bit, and how Toei Animation adapted this chapter in the reboot is a bit amazing.

For starters, there was little omitted content, but there was a good amount of additions which actually explained some of the story that wasn't well explained in the original chapter. Of course, the ball scenes were, in my opinion, beautifully animated. In the end, the episode ended with a mysterious side note, and a sneak peak for the next episode.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 3 (Review)

So, today, the third episode of the Sailor Moon reboot was released, and just like last episode, it introduced a new character.

"Act 3: Rei, Sailor Mars" introduces us to Rei Hino, a maiden at Hikawa Shrine, who senses demonic powers, and recently, a rumored bus has been kidnapping individuals late in the evening. Now, in the original anime, Rei wasn't introduced until Episode 10 (just two episodes after Ami was introduced). Also, Rei isn't the only new character to the show, we also have the introduction of both Nephrite and Zoisite (who were both introduced in Episode 14), and they are both members of the Four Kings of the Dark Kingdom just like Jadeite.

And now, to see how faithful the episode was to the third chapter of the original manga. As I looked back and forth from watching the episode to reading the manga, there were only some to little major changes, and there were skipped panels as well. As I've been watching these episodes, it only seems like the changes come whenever the battles tend to happen, but I guess that the people behind the anime want to have a result that is only slightly different than that of the manga.

Until the next episode...

Written by Nolan Schmidt

A San Japan 7 Adventure

Well, it's finally here! Here is a video consisting of our trip to San Japan!

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 2 (Review)

After coming back from my weekend trip to the 7th annual San Japan anime convention, I immediately watched the second episode of the new Sailor Moon anime reboot. Even though there is not so much to say since much of the details I said in the review of the first episode are the same: more close to the manga with some aspects from the original Sailor Moon anime.

"Act 2: Ami, Sailor Mercury" (or Episode 2 for short) is an adaptation of the second chapter from the original manga, and we are introduced to the second Sailor Guardian, Sailor Mercury. In the original anime, Sailor Mercury isn't introduced until Episode 8, and even though it did contain aspects from the manga, the story in the episode was a bit different from the one in the original chapter. However, even in the reboot episode, there are only some slight differences from the original manga, but it remains faithful.

Until the third episode premieres next month, we will be awaiting the next episode of Sailor Moon Crystal.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon Crystal: Episode 1 (Review)

On July 5, the first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal premiered worldwide, and I was one of the many individuals who watched it. From what I seen in the trailers thrilled me more and more each time until the episode was finally released. What did I think of it? Let's find out. Beware that this review contains spoilers.

From the opening moments of the episode, I began like the first episode of the original series did where Usagi wakes up and realizes that she is late for school. Of course, unlike the original anime series, this first episode is very close to Naoko Takeuchi's original manga where much of the story gets to the point. We see Usagi trip over Luna, and we also see Mamoru in a tuxedo outside the jewelry store from which becomes an important aspect for the climax of the episode. As much I can say, even though there are a few changes from the original first manga chapter, it remained pretty faithful to the source material.

Of course, there is the animation, which is quite fluent and artistic, and the designs that are close to Takeuchi's illustrations in her manga. Plus, there is the transformation scene which combines both CGI and traditional animation. Finally, with the return of Kotono Mitsuishi as Usagi/Sailor Moon, brings a somewhat nostalgic feel to this reboot, and both the opening and closing songs are enjoyable.

The episode itself was really good, and I have high hopes with this particular series. Now, I just have to wait for the next episode for the full introduction of Sailor Mercury.

- Nolan Schmidt

Anime Talk: Episode 2

For the second episode of Anime Talk, John Paul (my fellow collaborator) and I review the first episode of Sailor Moon Crystal in this audio-only episode. We also briefly talk about the recently announced Viz Media English dub for the original anime and home video release, and our upcoming trip to the San Japan Anime Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

- Nolan Schmidt

Azumanga Daioh (Manga Review)

So, for the first time, I am reviewing a manga! And for my first manga review for this blog, I am reviewing Azumanga Daioh.

Azumanga Daioh is a school-life comedy manga by Kiyohiko Azuma (Yotsuba&!), and it is based on a group of girls' three years of high school. A majority of the manga itself is presented in four-panel strips, which are called yonkoma, but a few of the "chapters" are sometimes presented in the traditional way. In an interesting fact, the title itself, which translates to "Great King Azumanga," is actually based on several aspects. Azumanga comes from both the author's name and the word "manga," and the series was serialized in a shonen manga magazine known as Dengeki Daioh.

As mentioned before, the manga is based on a group of high school girls during their three years of high school. The series itself focuses on six main characters and four supporting characters. Out of the group of girls is Chiyo (a gifted 10-year-old who was able to attend high school), Sakaki (an animal lover), Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga (a transfer student from Osaka, Japan), Yomi (who mostly gets aggravated by the next mentioned character), Tomo (who is very obnoxious), and Kagura (who tries to rival Sakaki at athletics). From the supporting cast, there is Yukari Tanizaki (the girls' homeroom teacher), Minamo "Nyamo" Kurosawa (the physical education teacher), Kimura (a male teacher who is obsessed with high school girls...creepy), and Kaorin (a female classmate who has a crush on Sakaki). Much of the manga is based around the events at the school and after-school hours involving either the girls or the teachers. Each yonkoma is very comical in its own way, and entertaining at the same time.

Even though the manga has been released as four volumes, it is currently available as an omnibus (which contains all four volumes) from Yen Press. And yes, there is an anime adaptation, which I will eventually get to one day. I highly recommend Azumanga Daioh if you are a fan of light-hearted comedy based around school life.

- Nolan Schmidt

Fist of the North Star: A Review

For many years, Toei Animation tend to create some amazing anime based off of popular manga series like Sailor Moon, Dragon Ball, and One Piece. Along with these, there is one that I really like due to its story and characters, and the anime I am talking about is Fist of the North Star.

Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken) was adapted from the manga series of the same name written by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, and it is famous for its ultra-violent story based around Kenshiro, who is the successor of the Hokuto Shinken technique. The manga itself was presented in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1983 to 1988, and the series was given its own anime in 1984. This particular anime would include both Hokuto no Ken and its anime sequel, Hokuto no Ken 2, spanning the anime into a total of 152 episodes. The both parts of the anime series and the 1986 anime film was directed by Toyoo Ashida, who directed the anime film adaptation of Hideyuki Kikuchi's Vampire Hunter D.

Hokuto no Ken is separated in four arcs that are based off of the first 136 chapters of the manga. In the first arc, we are instantly introduced to Kenshiro, who is on a quest to rescue his fiancee, Yuria, from his former friend, Shin. We are also introduced to the two young companions that follow him throughout his journey: Bat (who is a troublemaker) and Rin (who loves and cares for Ken ever since he saved her life in the first episode). During the series, we meet other characters such as Rei (who uses a technique known as Nanto Suichoken), Mamiya, Toki (one of Kenshiro's adopted brothers), and Raoh (who will become the main antagonist for the series).

The sequel anime, Hokuto no Ken 2, is based of chapters 137 to 210 of the manga, and starts off after a time skip from the events of the final fight in the previous series. Together, Kenshiro, Bat, and Rin must fight against a corrupted ruler, and Kenshiro then returns to the land that he was born in to save Rin once again. This part of the series was much shorter since it was only based on two arcs from the manga, and the rest of the manga was never adapted into any other anime series.

I really enjoyed the first part of the anime series, but I did get bored while watching the sequel as it felt like (without giving away too many spoilers) it was repeating the formula of the first series. However, I highly recommend this particular anime series, and I am planning on reviewing the 1986 animated film when the time comes.

The Fist of the North Star anime series is currently available on DVD from Discotek Media.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Sailor Moon in the USA!

Earlier this year, I discussed in an article the North American fan base and history of the anime adaptation of Sailor Moon, and how, with the announcement of Sailor Moon Crystal, that an anime company here in the United States would have a great chance of getting the rights.

As of yesterday, the prayers of Sailor Moon fans in the United States have been answered when a certain anime distribution company announced that they got the rights. Who is this certain anime distribution company? The company that was lucky enough to get the rights is none other than VIZ Media!

That is correct. VIZ Media announced that they acquired the rights to the original Sailor Moon anime, and they have also acquired the rights to Sailor Moon Crystal as well. However, that isn't all, folks! VIZ Media also announced that they will be streaming subtitled episodes of the series on both Neon Valley and Hulu on May 19th, and that Limited Edition Blu-ray sets of the original series will be released as well.

Now, that the Sailor Moon anime will be coming back to the States, fans of the series will be prepared for what shall be THE YEAR OF SAILOR MOON!

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Nolan's Top Ten Anime Films

Hello, everyone. I know that I haven't posted anything in over a month, but I recently have been busy with work-related material. However, this doesn't mean the end for Team AnimeManga. There's more to review, and there is sure a lot of content that I wish to review. But, until the next review, I feel like this little countdown is necessary.

As many of you know, I love anime, but I do get excited over anime movies. Many of you are probably wondering what my favorite anime movies are, and I will finally reveal that information. Please note that I may have or not reviewed any of the picks, so I will not go into much detail. I'll be explaining why I like them, and discuss more of the details in future reviews.

10. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

I think many of you have probably already reacted to this particular choice when you read the title. Yes, Isao Takahata's 1988 animated film adaptation of Akiyuki Nosaka's book of the same name is indeed one of my top ten favorite films.

Grave of the Fireflies is the story of two siblings growing up during World War II, and this film is notorious for being an overall tearjerker. Even when I watched the film, I couldn't help but feel depressed as I watched it. However, it's one of those films that is so emotionally powerful, and beautifully animated, that I consider it in my list of favorite anime films.

9. Metropolis (2001)

Metropolis is adapted from the legendary Osamu Tezuka's manga of the same name, and it was also written by Katsuhiro Otomo and directed by Rintaro. As much I can say about this certain film is that it is based around a city in the future which is both inhabited by humans and robots, and how the robots are heavy discriminated and even get destroyed on the spot if they step out of their assigned area. With the collaboration of both Rintaro and Otomo, this film became a hit with its eye-popping visuals, and a story that has the audience remain in their seats to know what happens next.

8. Ghost in the Shell (1995)

Ghost in the Shell is one of those films that any anime otaku would know about since it was one of the few biggest anime hits to help bring more anime films into theaters in the United States. Besides its popularity, the film is also known for its heavy use of imagery and philosophical messages on life itself. Plus, the characters in the film are easy to get used to, and the science fiction elements are very enjoyable.

7. My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

For those that have seen my review of this film in the first part of my review of the films of Hayao Miyazaki, there is not much I can explain, but it is one that I can mention once again.

My Neighbor Totoro is a film based around two young girls who have moved into the country with their father, so they could be close to their sick mother. They soon meet magical creatures, called Totoro, that live in the forest near their new home. This film was released as part of a double bill along with Grave of the Fireflies, and it eventually became Miyazaki's cult classic due to the sales of the Totoro dolls that was made after the film was given a television premiere. It is one of Miyazaki's lighthearted movies that can easily be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.

6. Ninja Scroll (1993)

Just like Ghost in the Shell, Ninja Scroll has its own take of anime history in the United States as it was one of the first anime films to help bring anime to the States during the 1990s. The film was directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri, and it is the story of a ninja who is looking for the cure of a disease that he gets during the first act of the film and currently fights a group of evil ninjas. The film is notorious for its portrayal of graphic violence and sex, but in its own way, that is fitting to the story itself. The film's story is very entertaining for those who love action-packed/ultra-violent films featuring ninjas fighting each other to the death.

5. Lupin the 3rd: Mystery of Mamo (1978)

Lupin the 3rd: Mystery of Mamo (originally released as Lupin the 3rd and alternatively titled Secret of Mamo) was the first animated feature film based around Monkey Punch's mischievous thief of the same name. It was released when the second Lupin anime series was being produced for television, and it is one of the darkest Lupin films I have seen so far. It is based around Lupin trying to find out the identity of the person who has been stealing some of the world's most sacred items to only find out that it is only part of a huge plan by a mastermind with a dark secret. The film is truly a Lupin film with its dark sense of humor and amount of nudity that appears in the film. Plus, the villain himself is very disturbing along with his secrets that he reveals to both Lupin and Fujiko throughout the film.

4. Princess Mononoke (1997)

Princess Mononoke is considered as one of Miyazaki's greatest films due to its heavy use of pacifistic and environmental messages, and its unique love story between the main character (who was cursed to die) and a female warrior who lived with wolves for the majority of her life. Along with those, there are the amazing visuals that are mostly presented in Miyazaki's films. Just like with My Neighbor Totoro, since I already reviewed this film, there's not much I could say about this film. However, I highly recommend this film to anyone, even though its war-like violence may be a bit disturbing.

3. Galaxy Express 999 (1979)

Galaxy Express 999 is based on the famous Leiji Matsumoto's story of Tetsuro's journey on the space railway train of the same name. Throughout the film, we see different locations within the universe as Tetsuro is off to get revenge for the death of his mother. Along with him is a mysterious woman by the name of Maetel, and he eventually meets other Matsumoto characters such as Captain Harlock and Emeraldas on this particular journey. The visuals in the film are absolutely for the time that it was made, and under Rintaro's direction, it is a film to enjoy.

2. End of Evangelion (1997)

Indeed, Hideaki Anno's alternate ending to his Neon Genesis Evangelion television series is high on my Top Ten List. As much as I explained in my review of the film, there is so much that goes on in the film that trying to explain one bit of detail might spoil certain parts of the movie. However, it separates itself in two parts as if it were two episodes put together. The first part being like an actual episode, and the second being something completely different. To the point, the visuals are breathtaking (especially in the second part) and the direction that Anno takes the film is both terrifying yet satisfying.

1. Akira (1988)

That is correct. My number one favorite anime film is none other than Katsuhiro Otomo's film adaptation of his manga of the same name. Akira isn't just a well-known anime film. It is a landmark of Japanese animation. It is the first to actually have the actors record their lines for the film before the animation process, and it was the film that gave birth to the modern day anime industry (which was later expanded by the previously mentioned films like Ghost in the Shell and Ninja Scroll, and television series such as Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball Z). The story (even though it is somewhat different to the one in the manga) and the visuals are beautifully animated for the screen with the addition of the characters. For any person who loves anime, the film itself is highly recommended to both the casual fan and the otakus.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Kite: A Review

From the famous anime I've mentioned on this blog so far, one of the titles that I'm reviewing for this blog is one of the few that is considered as a "cult classic," and it had one of the most interesting histories that I have ever read about for an anime. What anime am I speaking of? That anime is known other than Kite.

Kite (also known by its original title, A Kite, in Japan) is a two episode OVA made in 1998 by director, Yasuomi Umetsu. Umetsu made Kite three years after completing an episode for the hentai OVA series, Cool Devices. He originally wanted to make an anime that would be fit for a general audience, but the production company wanted him to create another anime meant for adult audiences only. This eventually lead to the production of Kite, and the final result became the two OVA episodes that anime otakus know about today. However, Umetsu then edited the OVA into a film that was meant for general audiences as he originally intended before working on his next OVA, Mezzo Forte. For this edited version, many of the scenes of graphic violence remained in the new cut, and the scenes that contained explicit sexual content are completely gone (except for several shots of a nude Sawa). As of today, audiences have seen either the 18+ or the 16+ version, or have seen both to make a fair opinion about which version is better to watch. I am one of those individuals in the latter, and the version I will be discussing about in this version is the original released version that contains both the extreme amount of violence and the graphic sex scenes (otherwise known as the 18+ version).

Kite focuses on Sawa, a young female assassin, who is ordered by her dirty cop guardian, Akai, to kill several famous celebrities and targets chosen by Kanie, who gets the information of the targets given by the clients. Sawa was orphaned at a young age when she found her parents brutally murdered, and is eventually taken under Akai's wing as his personal sex slave. The only thing that Sawa treasures in the world are her earrings, which were created from the blood of her parents, given to her by her lustful guardian. She soon meets Oburi, a male assassin around her age, and they are given assignments to kill off child molesters and gangsters. However, everything changes when both Akai and Kanie want Oburi dead, and Sawa finds out who was the person behind her parents murder.

When it was released, Kite was very controversial due to the amount of violence and sexual content (especially in a scene where Sawa is raped by Akai), and how graphically detailed most of the sex scenes were. However, Kite became well known when it was released in the United States. The band, No Doubt, created an homage to the two-episode OVA in their "Ex-Girlfriend" music video, and film director, Quentin Tarantino, had Chiaki Kuriyama watch the OVA to prepare her for her role as Gogo in his two-part revenge drama, Kill Bill. There is also a live-action adaptation, starring Samuel L. Jackson, that is set to be released later this year.

I highly recommend this anime, but it depends on what version that you would want to watch. If you do not want to see any of the explicit sex scenes, the 16+ version is the one you may enjoy the most (the 2008 Kite: Remasted DVD, which is the current 16+ version, is also the mostly available as of now). If you want to see the OVA as it was originally released, the 18+ version is for you, but the most "current" version of it from 2004 is only available on anime retail sites like RightStuf. The general released version is also currently available for instant streaming on Netflix.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Anime Talk: Episode 1

At last, the first episode to Team AnimeManga's vlog series, Anime Talk, is now available to watch here on the blog and on YouTube.

The Wind Rises: A Review

On February 21st, Touchstone Pictures released Hayao Miyazaki's latest masterpiece, The Wind Rises, in a limited theatrical release before giving it an expanded release the following weekend. I was excited for this release since I am a huge fan of Miyazaki's work, so I was destined to go see it even if I had to go to a theater in another town (which actually happened since the one in my hometown didn't have it).

The Wind Rises (known as Kaze Tachinu in Japan) is an animated historical fiction film based loosely on the short story, "The Wind Has Risen," by Tatsuo Hori, and the life of Jiro Horikoshi, who designed both the Mitsubishi A5M and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

The film is based around Jiro, who dreams to be an airplane designer after being inspired by the works of Giovanni Battista Caproni, an Italian airplane designer that he read about in an English aviation magazine. After a brief time skip, Jiro is now grown and aiming to live his dream, but he soon meets Naoko, a young girl who would eventually meet him again later in the film, right before the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake hits the shores of Tokyo. Afterwards, we see him working on a design team for an airplane production company, and having multiple dreams that has Caproni giving him more advice for his dreams. 

The film itself is very dramatic, especially with the scenes with both Jiro and Naoko, but contains the same amount of enjoyment that is seen in any of the other films by Miyazaki. However, unlike projects like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, this particular film is a bit more realistic in its storytelling. I enjoyed the film, and I even said the words, "Congrats, Miyazaki-san," as the credits began to roll. I highly recommend anyone to see this film since it is now playing in theaters across the United States.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

The End of Evangelion: A Review

In July 1997, audiences in Japan witnessed the film that is known as The End of Evangelion, and it would eventually be known as one of the most thought-provoking feature-length anime films to be released.

Before I pressed play, I had a feeling that what I was going to watch was going to be something completely different, and my mind was completely blown afterwards. Just like Death and Rebirth, the film presents itself in two different segments, but since it is considered as an alternate ending to Neon Genesis Evangelion, the segments are considered as episodes (technically as "Episodes 25 and 26").

In Episode 25, NERV is under attack by the forces of SEELE, and the lives of the pilots are threatened. As Misato takes Shinji to his Eva, Asuka is on the battlefield fighting SEELE's personal Eva army, and Rei is with Gendo to help start the events of the final episode. Throughout the action scenes, we see multiple deaths as NERV's staff is brutally shot or incinerated, and a couple of the supporting cast members die on screen. The scenes are action-packed, but it all changes in Episode 26.

Episode 26 is where the film takes a sharp turn, and it becomes disturbing and confusing like a visual roller coaster of terror. Without spoiling any of the important parts, the film goes straight into Shinji's mind as the planet begins a straight course into destruction, and Hideaki Anno goes into the territory that is somewhat familiar in several of the works of Mobile Suit Gundam creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino. Technically, everything becomes an eventual Hell for the remaining cast, and Shinji is eventually tormented with both memories and nightmares that goes into his head. This occurs in the film until the very end when we see one finally short segment that finally concludes the film.

After I was done watching the film, I asked myself one final question: Is this really what the fans of Evangelion wanted from Anno after they were disappointed by the final two episodes of the TV series? If it was, I would want to ask them if they were satisfied with the final result that Anno came up with. Before I end this review and give my final opinion about it, I want to bring up how many people who watched this either liked it or hated it, and how it's complicated to understand what type of movie The End of Evangelion really is. Those who liked this movie believe that it is a film that concludes a great series like Evangelion, but the people who didn't like it say that it's a confusing film that is hard to understand.  Now, that I watched the film, I don't really think it should be called one at all. It's a complete look into the mind, and it's also an experience that must be seen to be believed.

In short, I recommend this film, but to view it in a way that I believe Anno wants it to be seen, anyone who watches The End of Evangelion must watch it with an open mind. They should also be prepared for it before they even press play. Like Death and Rebirth, the DVD is out of print, but it can easily be found on online shopping sites. I have to admit that this was the toughest review I had to write, and there will probably be a tougher one down the road. However, I will eventually return to Evangelion, since there is the existence of the Rebuild of Evangelion film series, and there may be some topics I may want to cover more closely in some sort of analysis. Until then, I shall go back to review several series, movies, and OVAs that are very familiar with the anime/manga fan base.

Written by Nolan Schmidt

Evangelion - Death and Rebirth: A Review

Last Saturday, I posted my review of Neon Genesis Evangelion, and I mentioned near the end that I would "eventually review both Death and Rebirth and The End of Evangelion when the time comes." Well, the time finally came, but I feel that reviewing both films in two separate posts would be a bit better for me to do than to do them as one full review.

The concept of these films came after many fans of Evangelion were disappointed by the last two episodes of the television series. They sent angry letters to the creator, Hideaki Anno, and vandalized Gainax, the company that produced the series. This would eventually lead to the announcement of two final Evangelion films, and one of these films was Death and Rebirth.

In my post about Evangelion, I commented that this particular film was actually "a 'recap episode' that also contain a 27 minute sneak-peak for the following film," and technically, that's what the film is. The film was released almost a year after the series ended in 1996, so the producers decided that they should re-inform their fans and tell their audience of what happened in the show. However, how it's done in the film is completely different as it focused more on the characters than the actual story. The characters are separately described through certain chosen clips of those certain individuals from the show. This is all done through the first three-fourths of the film, which is called "Death," before the audience eventually gets a five minute intermission.

Really? An intermission?

Then, we have "Rebirth," which is literally the first half-hour of End of Evangelion, and this is where I personally started enjoying the film. There is action with a hit of drama, but this eventually ends with a "cliffhanger" that involves one of the main character who is about to start a battle with the enemy's backup forces.

I would like to recommend this film. However, I feel that it would be better for people to watch the show instead of this film before diving head first into the alternate ending that is also known as End of Evangelion. There is indeed some new footage in the "Death" segment, but it's mostly just introductions of the main character about to play some classical music. But, if you would like to watch this film, you may have to buy a copy online since the original DVDs provided by Manga Entertainment has been long out of print.

Make sure to stay tuned for my upcoming review of End of Evangelion.

Written by Nolan Schmidt