Servant x Service Episodes 8-13 review

Servant x Service Episodes 8-13 directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto, produced by A-1 Pictures Review

See the review of the first half for the plot summary.

The second half of servant x Service continues in a similar manner to the first half. There are a few notable changes, these episodes feel more plot driven than earlier episodes which seemed more aimless though it was clear they were building up to something. It should be noted that these episodes see a sitcom level of plot so comedy is still the series’ main focus.

               

The comedy also feels more effective towards the series end. In the final few episodes is where the series really hits its stride. The characters have always been a high point of the show for me and they continue to be generally likeable. The animation is decent though nothing ground-breaking is being done here save for the colorful imaginative opening sequence. In conclusion Servant x service is a pleasant little series. It may be a tad banal but it has a real funny bone.

Rating: 7/10

Servant x Service is streaming on Crunchyroll. 

Miss Monochrome the Animation Episodes 1-4 review

Miss Monochrome the Animation Episodes 1-4 directed by Yoshiaki Iwasaki, produced by Sanzigen Animation Studios and Liden Films Review

After she loses her mansion, Miss Monochrome pursues her dream of becoming an idol. She soon meets her manager and sets out on her journey. Thus begins the misadventures of Miss Monochrome and her friends.

Based on the vocaloid Miss Monohcrome, this series of shorts is charming in a way. That being said there’s very little compelling the viewer to continue should the viewer not have an interest in vocaloids. The show is pleasant enough if a tad forgettable.

At a length of 4 minutes the episodes rarely drag. At other times, however, the series is dull and the viewer finds themselves simply waiting for the ending credits with their baffling, doll-like CG sequence. In conclusion Miss Monochrome thus far is a pleasant if at times dull series. There’s certainly worse out there but there is certainly much better.

Rating: 6/10

Miss Monochrome the Animation is streaming on Crunchyroll.

Carn review

Carn directed by Jeff le Bars Review

A boy finds himself lost in a snowstorm but meets a wolf. The wolf makes the boy an offer: he may take the wolf’s life and use their fur if he takes care of the wolf’s pups. Will the boy agree too or not and what will be the consequences of his actions?

This gorgeously animated short has a very distinct style to it and at the same time it has a weight to it. Carn manages to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche. In general, it is a well-crafted short film animated in France.

Despite a 5 minute run time the film manages to reach a satisfying (though admittedly dark) conclusion. The pacing is next to perfect and the characters are simultaneously sympathetic and alien to the viewer. All-in-all Carn is a very nicely done short film well worth the viewer’s time.

Rating: 9/10

Carn is streaming on Vimeo. 

Paperman review

Paperman directed by John Kahrs, produced by Walt Disney animation Studios Review

A man and woman fall in love at first sight but soon find themselves separated. One day, the man sees  the woman again in a different building. He attempts to catch her attention with a paper airplane. Will his plan succeed?

Paperman is a pleasant short film.  At only six minutes, the short is a nice, simple story about romance. It attempts no grand feats nor does it need too. The film relies on very little sound outside of music and is largely black and white.

The music is whimsical and the lack of colour most of the time is a neat touch. The animation is very well done: nice and fluid. The character designs are appeasing as well. In conclusion the film is a nice, fluffy little piece sure to capture hearts.

Rating: 9/10

Paperman is available on iTunes.

Gurren Lagann the Movie- Childhood’s End review

Gurren Lagann the Movie- Childhood’s End directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, produced by GAINAX Review

Born and raised in an underground city, Simon finds himself on the surface with his best pal Kamina. The duo sets out into a brave new world with a new friend— Yoko. The path they follow may be treacherous and just how will they survive in this foreign landscape?

Childhood’s End is both a compilation film and what the series could have easily been— an incoherent mess. While the film starts off on the right foot, it soon begins to flounder. This is not helped by squishing what was in the series a decent introduction to the supporting cast into a montage. Much of the series’ charm was in its supporting cast and for the film to cast that aside with a quick brush  is frustrating to say the least.

The second problem arises in the last 30 minutes: the film’s climax. It can easily be summed up in a few words: a bright, colourful bunch of gibberish. It is pretty to look at but makes next to zero sense. The film spends far too much time on the early episodes of the show and rushes through far too much of the series’ first arc. In conclusion, Childhood’s End fails as both an compilation with how unfaithful it is to the original and makes too little sense to stand on its own.

Rating: 4/10

Gurren Lagann the Movie- Childhood’s End is available on iTunes. 

Attack on Titan Episodes 1-25 review

Attack on Titan Episodes 1-25 directed by Testuro Araki, produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. (Collaboration) Review

When titans destroy the wall that humanity had been living behind for the past 100 years in relative peace, Eren finds himself without his parents. With only Mikasa, a girl who had been living with his family, left beside him along with his friend Armin: Eren sets out on a quest to destroy the titans. The road he will travel will be fraught with peril. Will Eren survive? 

Based on a shonen (boys’) Japanese comic, Attack on Titan is filled with blood and gore from the word go. With that in mind, the show is really well done. The action is thrilling and there are twists around every corner. Attack on Titan in general is very well written. That being said it is not without flaw.

The series relies heavily on stills, particularly in its first half, and has an abrupt change in pace part way through. However, the series when it chooses to do so is well animated and the show more than compensates for its flaws artistically with its excellent writing. In conclusion the show is a seriously addictive dark fantasy series that is easy to become invested in.

Rating: 8/10

Attack on Titan is streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation.com.  

Eden of the East Episodes 1-6 Review

Eden of the East Episodes 1-6 directed by Kenji Kamiyama, produced by Production I.G. Review

Akira finds himself in front of the White House without any memory of who he is or how he got there. He soon meets a woman named Saki. When the two of them return to Japan, Akira must unravel the mystery of just who he is. Will he succeed or is what happened in the past better left forgotten?

Spawning a trilogy of films as well as some novels, the first 6 episodes of Eden of the East are filled with twists and turns as Akira slowly pieces together his past. The show moves at a slow pace akin to live action dramas. The show boasts distinct character designs courtesy of Chika Umino.

The one downside to this series thus far is that the slow pacing can occasionally work against it and the series can feel a tad dull. That being said the show thus far has plenty of things going on both visually and plot wise to keep the viewer invested. The animation is also solid as come to be expected of works animated by I.G.     

Rating: 8/10

Eden of the East is streaming on Netflix Canada and Funimation’s website and is available on home video from Funimation. 

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES DIGITAL MANGA UPDATES FOR OCTOBER

VIZ MEDIA ANNOUNCES DIGITAL MANGA UPDATES FOR OCTOBER

Eight New Manga Series Launch This Month Along With Updates To More Than 35 Additional Ongoing Series

VIZ Media welcomes Fall with a brand new digital manga update that features more than a dozen new titles on VIZManga.com and available for digital download through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad^®, iPhone^® and iPod^® touch, Android-powered smart phones, and also for NOOK tablets and devices.

New manga series debuting this month from VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump and Shonen Jump Advanced imprints include COWA! (one-shot), MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATUAL INVESTIGATION, NORA: THE LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM, and YU-GI-OH! MILLENIUM WORLD. From the Shojo Beat comes AISHITERUZE BABY, BOYS OVER FLOWERS, and VOICE OVER: SEIYU ACADEMY. The first volume of the venerable X also debuts in a 3-in-1 edition.

More than 35 additional acclaimed manga series also have new volume debuts. Don’t miss notable multi-volume weekly updates for acclaimed fan favorites such as CASE CLOSED, THE LAW OF UEKI, SKIP BEAT!, TAIL OF THE MOON, WHISTLE!, YU-GI-OH! DUELIST, and YUYU HAKUSHO.

New Titles Available Now Include:

AISHITERUZE BABY, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens

Kippei Katakura is a 17-year-old playboy who spends his time chasing girls, careless of their feelings. But when his 5-year-old cousin Yuzuyu comes to live with his family after her mother's sudden disappearance, Kippei is put in charge of taking care of her. As Kippei gets to know Yuzuyu and starts to understand how she feels, he also begins to realize that all girls were like Yuzuyu once...

COWA! (One-Shot) · Rated ‘A’ for All Ages

Paifu, a half-vampire half-werekoala, is always getting into trouble with his best buddy, José the Ghost. But when the Monster Flu sweeps through town, the fun and games are over. If the monsters don't get the medicine soon, everyone will die! With all the adults sick, it's up to the kids to save the day!

MUHYO & ROJI’S BUREAU OF SUPERNATUAL INVESTIGATION, Vols. 1-2 ·

Rated ‘T’ for Teens

Are you a victim of unwanted spirit possession? Is there a ghost you need sent up and away...or down to burn for all eternity? If the answer is yes, then you need Muhyo and Roji, experts in magic law. Serving justice to evil spirits is their specialty.

VOICE OVER: SEIYU ACADEMY Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens

Hime Kino’s dream is to one day do voice acting like her hero Sakura Aoyama from the Lovely ♥ Blazers anime, and getting accepted to the prestigious Holly Academy’s voice actor department is the first step in the right direction! But Hime’s gruff voice has earned her the scorn of teachers and students alike. Hime will not let that stand unchallenged. She’ll show everyone that she is too a voice acting princess, whether they like it or not!!

X 3-In-1, Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens · $13.99

Their Destiny Was Foreordained… The fate of the world is at stake in this gorgeously illustrated masterwork from the four-woman artistic team CLAMP! Kamui Shiro is a young man who was born with the power to decide the fate of the Earth itself – a destiny he can barely bring himself to believe. But as other players involved in the prophecy begin to gather around him – the "Seven Seals," with the power to protect the Earth, and the ""Seven Harbingers," who are fated to destroy it – he has no choice but to come to terms with his fate.

New Series Launching October 29^th:

BOYS OVER FLOWERS, Vols. 1-2 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens

Although Tsukushi Makino is from a poor family, she attends an elite school for the super rich, where her life has become intertwined with the "F4," the ruling boys of the school, in a whirlwind of love and confusion!

NORA: THE LAST CHRONICLE OF DEVILDOM, Vols. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens

Nora, an unruly demon, has defied his superiors one too many times. For the sake of his "education," Nora is sent to live among mortals and enters a bond of servitude with cool-as-ice star student Kazuma Magari. Kazuma is about to learn the ways of the underworld... and Nora will learn more from the "real world" than he ever thought possible!

YU-GI-OH! MILLENNIUM WORLD, Vols. 1-2 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens

The final saga of the YU GI OH! epic! After many deadly duels, Yugi has collected the three Egyptian God Cards, the key to remembering his own past life as an Egyptian pharaoh. When the cards take Yugi's soul back in time, can he defeat the villains of the past and achieve his ultimate destiny?

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top application for reading digital manga and features a massive library of the most popular series in the world. Through the innovative VIZ Manga digital platform, registered users are able to use one account to view their purchased manga across more devices than ever.

The platform features a massive library of the most popular manga series in the world, with over 1,500 volumes across more than 160 different series, and new series and volumes added every Tuesday.

All manga volumes are generally available for purchase and download in the U.S. and Canada within the application starting from $6.99 (U.S. / CAN) each and readers can also explore all titles with free Chapter 1 previews of every series. For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Download the free VIZ Manga App for your Android and iOS devices at www.VIZ.com/apps.

To learn more about VIZ Manga, please visit www.vizmanga.com.

Reflections review

Reflections Directed by Alon Ziv and Bosmat Agayoff, Produced by Bezalel academy of art and design Review

A man follows his reflection much to the irritation of those around him. Soon he finds he is forced to conform to a brutal, unforgiving world. Will he regain his imagination or will the conformation be permanent?

Animated in Israel, Reflections is rather poignant film. The viewer quickly becomes attached to the protagonist. The film does an excellent job portraying the brutality of the world. The animation is distinct and the short film is paced perfectly.

The film does it all entirely without speaking opting for silence aside from the music which makes the film much more impactful. If there is one complaint I have it’s that the character designs are rather simple and the film itself felt it could have gone for longer. That aside though Reflections is a pleasant 5 minute short well worth watching.

Rating: 8/10

Reflections is streaming on Vimeo. 

VIZ MEDIA’s PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT DELIVERS NEW BEN 10 OMNIVERSE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES IN OCTOBER

VIZ MEDIA’s PERFECT SQUARE IMPRINT DELIVERS NEW BEN 10 OMNIVERSE ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL SERIES IN OCTOBER

Ben Tennyson And Partner Rook Investigate A Distress Call Aboard A Stranded Spacecraft In A Full-Color Original Adventure Series Based On The Emmy-Winning Animated Kids Program

San Francisco, CA, October 22, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest publisher, distributor and licensor of manga, graphic novels and anime in North America, takes readers on an action-packed adventure in its new full-color original graphic novel series – BEN 10 OMNIVERSE.

BEN 10 OMNIVERSE, Vol. 1: GHOST SHIP features artwork by Alan Brown with story by Cory Levine and is now available under the company’s Perfect Square imprint. The title is rated ‘A’ for All Ages, and carries an MSRP of $7.99 U.S. / $9.99 CAN. A digital version is also currently available for $4.99 U.S. / CAN from the Perfect Square App, which has titles available for the Apple iPad^® and iPad^® Mini. The Perfect Square App is available from the iTunes store.

The BEN 10 OMNIVERSE graphic novels are inspired by Cartoon Network’s hit original animated series Ben 10 Omniverse, which is currently airing new episodes on Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Ben 10 Omniverse is the latest installment of the hit Ben 10 franchise and was developed by Men of Action, a Development/Production House dedicated to writing, conceptualizing, and developing work of exceptional quality, commercial viability, and explosive creativity.

For more than five years, Ben Tennyson has been saving the universe with his Omnitrix, which allows him to use the DNA of aliens to take on heroic new forms. But he’s never encountered a challenge quite like this! Teamed up with a new partner, Rook, who seriously needs to relax, Ben investigates the mysteries of a hidden underground alien city and has to battle a new enemy, Khyber, who has only one thing on his mind: hunting down Ben 10!

In the opening volume of the graphic novel series, Ben and Rook investigate a distress call that lands them on a stranded space ship with a secret... and puts them right where Khyber wants them, trapped with no way out while he and his shape-shifting dog hunt them down. Now Ben’s got to get off an abandoned vehicle that’s falling out of space, save himself and his partner from Khyber’s alien pet (who can turn into the natural enemy of any of Ben’s alien forms!), and figure out the mystery of the “Ghost Ship!”

“It’s truly an honor to welcome these new original BEN 10 OMNIVERSE graphic novels into the Perfect Square print and digital catalog,” says Editor Joel Enos. “The Ben 10 animated series has received international critical acclaim and won three Emmy Awards, and the OMNIVERSE stories build on and expand the mythology of the series in new ways while staying true to the series’ visual art style and tone. Our comics feature original adventures with some surprising cameos from past Ben 10 comics and cartoons, as well as some all-new characters created exclusively for the new Perfect Square corner of the Omniverse!”.

BEN 10 OMNIVERSE, Vol. 1: GHOST SHIP artist Alan Brown has a love of comic art and cartoons that led him to a career as a storyboard and concept artist for a busy London agency, working for clients such as Lego and Ford. As a freelance artist and designer he has also created a variety of licensed artwork for Disney, Warner Bros. and the BBC, while continuing to provide comic art for small press and independent comics publishers. 

BEN 10 OMNIVERSE, Vol. 1: GHOST SHIP writer Cory Levine is a former editorial staffer for Marvel Comics where he edited hundreds of collected editions of comic books, encyclopedic handbooks, special edition magazines and foreign-licensed comics including the company's well-received line of Soleil graphic album adaptations. In 2010 he founded First Edition Publishing, Inc., an end-to-end publishing solutions firm offering editorial packaging, graphic design and pre-press production services.

VIZ Media’s Perfect Square imprint focuses on delivering original comics, manga (graphic novels) and other children’s books with an emphasis on strong storytelling, eye-popping graphics, empowering themes, and a dash of irreverence, that captures the imagination of a whole new generation.

Additional information on titles published by Perfect Square is available at www.PerfectSquare.com.

For more information on other manga titles from VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Spirited Away review

Spirited Away Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Produced by Studio Ghibli Review

Moving to a new town, Chihiro soon finds herself in the spirit world. With her parents turned into pigs, Chihiro must work in a bathhouse for the spirits in order to survive. With the assistance of a mysterious boy named Haku, will Chihiro escape this bizarre world or is she destined to become a pig as her parents were?

Spirited away is a wonderful experience. The animation is spectacular and the world itself fascinating. Truly the crowning achievement of Ghibli, Spirited Away is a wonder to behold. The characters are fun yet sympathetic; Chihiro’s growth as a person is truly heart-warming.  The English dub is especially well done with Yubaba’s voice actor being a particular stand-out.

The film is filled with incredible imagery yet still feels grounded in reality. Spirited Away is something anyone can enjoy at least on some level. My enjoyment of this film can not understated. It is easily my favorite film animated or no of all time. In conclusion, Spirited Away is a wonderful film well worth the viewer’s time.

Rating 10/10

Spirited Away is available on home video in from Disney. 

Servant x Service Episodes 1-7 Review

Servant x Service Episodes 1-7 Directed by Yasutaka Yamamoto, Produced by A-1 Pictures Review

Uncomfortable with her very long name, Lucy becomes a civil servant in order to vent her frustration on the person who approved her name at birth. Lucy finds she is not alone at work and soon meets a variety of characters. Thus begins Lucy’s quirky daily life with an odd assortment of people.

Based on a seinen (men’s) Japanese comic series published by Square Enix, Servant x Service is not the most intriguing of titles. For the most part, it is largely forgettable entertainment that could easily be at home as a live action comedy in America if certain segments were altered.  That being said it does well at what it does and is pleasant enough.

Servant x Service boasts decent animation courtesy of A-1 Pictures and the characters are likeable. The series functions as a pleasant diversion and is easy to become at least attached to the characters.  As a result of this connection to the characters, the comedy by and large works. In conclusion, the first 7 episodes of Servant x Service is in no way innovative but it is fun little series thus far nonetheless. 

Rating: 7/10

Gurren Lagann Episodes 1-27 review

Gurren Lagann Episodes 1-27 Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, Produced by GAINAX Review

                Raised in an underground village, Simon soon finds himself on the surface. As his group of pals continues to grow, challenges await our young hero on his quest to reclaim the surface. Will Simon and his friends succeed or fail and what mysteries lie in wait?

                Gurren Lagann is a very distinctive series both visually and in tone. The show itself is absolutely bonkers yet the easily likeable characters are what make this series simple to invest in. The show has a very youthful spirit too it and is loads of fun to watch.

               

The animation is enjoyable; Imaishi seems to have a very particular style. The music in the show is gloriously over the top as is the animation. Kamina, Simon’s best friend and a pivotal character in the series, is always a delight to watch. The only complaint I have is the rather offensive gay stereotype in the show tonally it fits tone wise but it does detract a tad from enjoyment of the series. In conclusion, Gurren Lagann is a largely enjoyable series that is sure to be remembered well after it ends.

Rating: 9/10

Gurren Lagann is streaming on Crunchyroll and is available on home video from Aniplex of America

Wild Life review

Wild Life Directed by Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby, Produced by the National Film Board of Canada Review

Our nameless protagonist arrives in Alberta, Canada from the United Kingdom in the early twentieth century. The path ahead of him is long and the environment difficult at the best of times. Will the protagonist be able to flourish in this new land?

Wild Life is a pleasant yet flawed work. It has very little time to allow us to familiarize ourselves with its protagonist.  From what we see of him he is a difficult to sympathize with character. That being said the short film has a distinct animation style and is lovingly animated.  It also does an excellent job of capturing the Canadian prairie landscape and the isolation associated with it.

The lead is an intriguing character despite the viewer’s general apathy towards him. He is fleshed out for what the run time allows. Wild life as a whole is a pleasant viewing experience though it is certainly is not required viewing.

Rating: 8/10

Wild Life is streaming at the NFB’s website. 

The Clockmakers Review

The Clockmakers Directed Renau Helee, Produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) Review

There’s really no plot to summarize to this short film. It really is a simple little experimental work. That having been said there is nothing wrong with The Clockmakers. It is a visually eye-catching, surreal experience.  And clocking in at only 4 minutes it is not a huge time investment.

This is the perfect film for if one has a spare moment to fill. It has plenty to keep the viewer entertained boasting fantastic imagery. This animated short mainly consists of people falling and really has no singular protagonist so to speak. If one is searching for something with plot I recommend searching elsewhere.

Rating: 7/10

The Clockmakers is streaming at nfb.ca

VIZ MEDIA RELEASES A DELUXE, HARDCOVER OMNIBUS EDITION OF JUNJI ITO’S CELEBRATED HORROR MANGA UZUMAKI

VIZ MEDIA RELEASES A DELUXE, HARDCOVER OMNIBUS EDITION OF JUNJI ITO’S CELEBRATED

HORROR MANGA UZUMAKI

An Isolated Seaside Town Spirals Into Madness As A Mysterious Infestation Grows

San Francisco, CA, October 17, 2013 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, has announced the release of the UZUMAKI Deluxe Edition. The new 3-in-1 hardcover version of creator Junji Ito’s inventive horror manga (graphic novel) about the gradual decent into madness of a seaside town overrun with spirals features a new cover design as well as 12 pages of new full-color interior artwork.

The UZUMAKI Deluxe Edition, now available is published under the VIZ Signature imprint, is rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens, and carries an MSRP of $27.99 U.S. / $32.00 CAN.

Kurouzu-cho, a small fogbound town on the coast of Japan, is cursed. According to Shuichi Saito, the withdrawn boyfriend of teenager Kirie Goshima, their town is haunted not by a person or being but by a pattern: uzumaki, the spiral, the hypnotic secret shape of the world. It manifests itself in everything from seashells and whirlpools in water to the spiral marks on people's bodies, the insane obsessions of Shuichi's father and the voice from the cochlea in our inner ear. As the madness spreads, the inhabitants of Kurozu-cho are pulled ever deeper into a whirlpool from which there is no return!

“Junji Ito takes one of the most ubiquitous designs found in nature, the spiral, and uses it as the foundation for a truly terrifying story,” says Masumi Washington, Senior Editorial Director. “This beautiful new hardcover UZUMAKI Deluxe Edition is a wonderful showcase for Ito’s unique, eye-catching art style and also makes a fun and frightening addition to this year’s Halloween season. Readers will never look at the world around them in the same way ever again after reading this masterpiece from one of the most acclaimed creators of horror manga!”

Junji Ito debuted as a horror manga artist in 1987 with the first story in his successful Tomie series. UZUMAKI, drawn from 1998 to 1999, was adapted into a live-action movie, which was also released in America by VIZ Films and Tidepoint Pictures. Junji Ito’s influences include the classic manga artists Kazuo Umezu and Hideshi Hino, as well as authors Yasutaka Tsutsui and H.P. Lovecraft. Ito is also the creator of the celebrated horror manga story, GYO, which is published in North America by VIZ Media.

For more information on UZUMAKI, or other manga titles available from VIZ Media, please visit: www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and INUYASHA, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.

Golden Time episodes 1 & 2 Review

Golden Time episodes 1 & 2 Review Directed by Chiaki Kon, Produced by J.C. Staff

Having just arrived in Tokyo, Banri finds himself lost finding the law campus. Along his way he meets a variety of quirky characters including a stocker named Koko who he falls head over heels for. However, she has eyes for someone else.

Based on a novel from the creator of Toradora! Golden Time fails mainly because of its female lead Koko who we soon find we are meant to find endearing as opposed to the deeply disturbed person she clearly is. Beyond her, there is very little of note in this show.

The animation is subpar at, best featuring generic character designs. The lead is a fairly typical character in the harem genre and Koko aside there’s really little to hold the viewer’s attention in this show. On all accounts this series should fail and that is exactly what it does.

Rating: 3/10

Golden Time is currently streaming on Crunchyroll with a home video release from Sentai Filmworks to appear later. 

Space Brothers Episode 1-75

Space Brothers Episode 1-75 Directed by Ayumu Watanabe, Produced by A-1 Pictures

As a child, Mutta had a dream of becoming an astronaut; as time passed, however, his dream faded.  Not for this brother Hibito though who is training to go to space. Now much older, and fired from his job for head-butting his boss, Mutta bets everything on his childhood dream.

               

Based on a comic currently being serialized in Morning magazine (a men’s comic anthology in Japan), Space Brothers follows the haplessly endearing Mutta. It is rare enough at present seeing a series featuring grown-ups this series also delivers a more mature air about it. The writing is spectacular and the series goes to great pains to make each character not only sympathetic but believable.

               

That having been said, the series has an incredibly slow pace which may not be  to everyone’s liking. However, it more than compensates for this with its ability to make such endearing characters. As time progresses one learns and grows as the protagonist does. This is easily one of the most widely accessible anime in recent memory.  

Rating: 9/10

Space Brothers is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

GLOBAL YAOI MANGA PUBLISHER SuBLime RELEASES EST EM’S PASSIONATE ART ROMANCE

TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20

A Mysterious Drawing Ignites A Provocative Love Affair In This Collection Of Manga Short Stories From One Of The Most Critically Esteemed Creators Of The Yaoi Genre.

San Francisco, CA, October 8, 2013 – SuBLime, the global yaoi manga (graphic novel) publishing initiative between VIZ Media and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate), unites passion and art for its latest North American release – TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20. The new single-volume edition from creator est em is available today, is rated ‘M’ for Mature Readers, and carries a print MSRP of $12.99 U.S. / $14.99 CAN. A digital version is also available at an MSRP of USD $5.99 and offers fans two methods of digital access to the volume on www.SuBLimeManga.com – a DRM-free downloadable PDF that is viewable on any enabled eReader device and computer, and via the online manga viewer found on the web site.

Ten years ago, while still a student, Maurice stumbled across an illustration in an artist's sketchbook that instantly captivated him – a drawing of a beautiful youth with sad, gentle eyes, an expression that spoke of love and forgiveness. Now settled into a successful career as an art restoration expert, Maurice is shocked by the sudden appearance of a young man who looks exactly like the one in the drawing. Who, in fact, insists that he is the one in the drawing... A collection of short stories by the incomparable est em.

“est em is a luminary in the world of yaoi manga, and her work is lauded internationally for its distinctive art, intriguing storytelling, and use of exotic foreign locales,” says Jennifer LeBlanc, Editor, SuBLime. “TABLEAU NUMÉRO 20 is a wonderful introduction to the work of est em, and readers will savor her classically trained art style and multi-textured characters that often display tremendous maturity and depth. We look forward to North American yaoi fans discovering this provocative new release from SuBLime!”

est em is the creator of over a dozen manga, several of which have been published internationally. Her previous English-language releases include Age Called Blue, Red Blinds the Foolish, and Seduce Me After the Show. Born in Tokyo on April 2nd, she is an Aries with an A blood type. Readers can find out more about est em at her website, http://est-em.blogspot.com/, or follow her on Twitter, @est_em. 

For up-to-date news and release information, please visit the SuBLime website at www.SuBLimeManga.com, or follow SuBLime on Twitter at @SuBLimeManga and Facebook at facebook.com/SuBLimeManga.

About SuBLime

SuBLime is a global yaoi/boys’ love manga publisher, and is a partnership between VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, and Japan’s Animate, Ltd. (Animate). This bold, global publishing initiative will present English-speaking fans everywhere with a broad selection of high quality titles. SuBLime will offer titles digitally worldwide available at www.SuBLimeManga.com, with many available in Download-to-Own format, and selections in print also available in English-language editions worldwide.