Anime Review Presents – SAMURAI CHAMPLOO

Konnichiwa minna!

Has everyone been indulging liberally in anime while I was gone? Your oujo sama spends a lot of time watching anime and reading manga, and tends to get lost in those worlds – all for you! All so that I have recommendations that people will enjoy. Ready for what I have this week?
Samurai Champloo is an old anime, originally aired in 2004, and ever since it’s debut continues to remain one of the classics in the field. Set in the 'Edo' period, the story is centered around Fuu, a 15-year-old girl who works in her uncle’s teahouse. A random series of encounters bring her together with two ronin – Jin and Mugen – whose lives she saves, only to insist they help her find ‘the samurai who smells of sunflowers’. Though vague initially, the antics of the characters keep you sufficiently entertained, until just enough of the central plot is revealed to make you wonder what’s going on.

REVIEW: Come meet the Beast Legion!!

I’m very much like your average fantasy loving fan.

No, scratch that.

I’m an ultra-rabid specimen of a sub-set of the same species. The kind that hoards multiple copies of a particularly good book and tries to bite anyone who wants to borrow one. Try and understand where I’m coming from, I take my fantasy seriously. Anyone getting in the way of that goes down.

Now that I’ve made that point clear, I’ll come to the object of my study today:

(Click to enlarge!)

(Click to enlarge!)

Looking for a dose of traditional action-fantasy right here on Indian shores?  Then look no further! The Beast Legion by Jazyl H. is our very own, home-grown fantasy comic! Complete with a prince at the crux of a prophecy, his faithful sidekicks/team, a dastardly villain named ‘Dragos’ who transforms into a… any guesses? (You got it, a dragon)... and his cronies who threaten to take over the world with…er…well, darkness. 

 

Review: Yotsubato! - The Manga

(Note: All manga panels must be read from right to left)

Good morn/eve/twilight folks, have you all been well?

Chewed your nails to the quick in anticipation of the lovely tidbits I drop you all?

Well your wait is over! Rejoice! Particularly because I have something utterly delicious for you today.

Ready? Yes/No?

This week I’d like to present my all time favourite manga to all of you: Yotsubato! (referred to as some by 4chan’s mascot, to my extreme horror) is one of those slice-of-life type of manga’s that never fails to cheer you up. Sort of like your Calvin and Hobbes or Garfield, this manga will make you crack up with it’s insane, yet completely normal situations – all the while reminding you in little bits about your own childhood antics.

(Click to enlarge)

La Mangafique presents: "Anime Species 2"

Hello darlings, remember me? I wouldn’t blame you for having forgotten, but even drama queens like me need a vacation now and then. Though I don’t know if checking up on one’s minions really counts as a vacation. Have you all been well? Entertained by everything on offer during my absence? Ready for fresh doses of my insanity?

Then let’s start with part two of our feature on major anime categories. While the earlier edition dealt with, for lack of a better word, tamer genres within the animeverse, this time we delve into the darker, edgier sides of anime!

Shoujo: Easily one of the more popular categories, Shoujo is a heavyweight in the animeverse and tends to dominate both manga and anime alike. Heavily characterized by multiple bishounen heroes and villains (all of whom fall for the heroine); ugly ducklings turned into maidens fair (usually but not unhappily in distress); romantic settings; obstacles to the lead pair in the form of disapproving parents/grandparents/uncles/aunts; and the couple's best friends who just about lay down their lives to help in the name of true love. The term Shoujo itself translates to ‘young woman/girl’ and denotes the 10 to 18 year age-group this genre caters to. Popular examples include Kaichou Wa Maid Sama, Vampire Knight and Skip Beat. One of the latest to join the genre, Uta no Prince-sama ~Maji Love 1000% is still airing, and has all the girls swooning. Did I mention rabid fan-girls are a special, free part of the package? Be prepared to fight for your favourite guy. Sometimes I wonder what it would take to buy my way into one of these series.

With so many cute guys to choose from, of course there’s going to be a 1000% love!