Anime Hajime Review: Ichigo Mashimaro

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Ichigo Mashimaro. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

This is the story of a young junior college student and four girls.

Nobue Ito (voiced by Hitomi Nabatame) is twenty years old and the big sister of the group. Though immature, lazy, and apathetic, she embraces her roles and cares for each of them.

Chika (voiced by Saeko Chiba) is Nobue’s little sister. Her most remarkable feature, according to Nobue, is that she's so unremarkable. Among her friends, and often her sister, Chika's the most mature and level headed.

Miu (voiced by Fumiko Orikasa) is Nobue and Chika's neighbor. Whereas Chika's calm and collected, Miu's sporadic and impulsive. She also gets jealous whenever Nobue gives attention to anyone else.

Matsuri (voiced by Ayako Kawasumi) has a timid personality and is often the butt of Miu's pranks. Due to her gullibility, Masturi falls for even the most obvious of tricks.

Ana Coppola (voiced by Mamiko Noto) moved to Japan from England five years ago. And, as a result, has completely forgotten how to speak English. A fact she wants to keep hidden from the rest of her class. Matsuri discovers this secret and helps Ana try to re-learn the language. This has lead Ana and Matsuri to form a strong relationship.

Anime Hajime Review: Attack on Titan

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Attack on Titan. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

A hundred years ago, the Titans appeared and brought mankind to near extinction. The few remaining humans now live in a country surrounded by three gigantic walls. For the past century, these walls have kept the monsters at bay. Allowing humanity to live.

Eren Yeager (voiced by Yuki Kaji) lives with his family. Feeling trapped, Eren's greatest wish is to explore the outside world. He believes his only chance joining the legendary Survey Corps. Eren tells of his desires to his foster sister Mikasa Ackerman (voiced by Yui Ishikawa) and childhood Armin Arlet (voiced by Marina Inoue).

Then one day, the three are reminded why humanity has lived in fear.

A titan of unprecedented size peaks its head over the wall. With a powerful kick, the giant blasts a hole through the gate. The town is overrun.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin manage to escape the city and find refuge behind the inner walls. Unfortunately, the land of the outermost wall falls.

Five years later, the friends rise to become three of the most skilled soldiers of the 104th Corps. On the day of their graduation, the three are assigned to garrison duty at the top of the wall in the city Trost. To their horror, the colossus titan reappears and once again blasts an opening into the city.

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai - Japanese Ghost Stories

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

A mysterious masked man sets up his stage. A crowd begins to gather in anticipation.

“Step right up and have a look. It’s time Yamishibai”

The Stories

The Talisman Woman: A man moves into a new apartment and discovers a charm hanging from the ceiling.

Zanbai: Waking up in a hospital bed with no memory, a man tries to get some information out of his fellow patients.

The Family Rule: A young boy's parents learn the rules of their new home.

Hair: Staying late, an elementary school teacher is alone in the office.

The Next Floor: On a trip to the mall, a man gets a call from work asking him to come in.

The Overhead Rack: A man grows annoyed as he observes the other passengers on the subway.

Contradiction: In the middle of the night, a young woman's awoken by a phone call from her friend.

Anime Hajime Review: Durarara

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Durarara. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

In the bustling city of Ikebukuro, Mikado Ryugamine (voiced by Toshiyuki Toyonaga) hopes to add excitement to his life.

Mikado meets up with his longtime friend Masaomi Kida (voiced by Mamoru Miyano). The two have not seen each other for years and they are happy to finally have the chance to catch up.

Masaomi takes Mikado on a tour of the town. Along the way, the pair run into several of Masamoi's acquaintances. Everyone is quick to make the newbie feel welcomed. But Masaomi warns of three things that must be avoided.

The first is the mysterious organization known as The Dollars. No one is sure what this group is. But there have been several incidents, some illegal and destructive, associated with The Dollars. Whether any of those rumors are true is anyone’s guess.

The second is Shizuo Heiwajima (voiced by Daisuke Ono). Shizuo is usually calm and collected. That is until you set him off. Quick to anger, Shizuo is able to tap into an endless supply of strength. Considered Ikebukuro strongest, his main weapons are road signs and vending machines. And he's durable. Shizuo can withstand stab wounds, gunshots, and high-speed collisions with cargo trucks.

Anime Hajime Review: Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

At Kawakami Academy, the pursuit of knowledge is only part of the curriculum. The institution is famous for its dedication to the samurai spirit. Thus combat skill is an essential element for success at the school.

A dispute between Class 2-F and Class 2-S has erupted into a full-blown academic war. Hostilities have culminated into one final deceive battle. With a larger force and better resources, Class 2-S expects nothing less than victory. To their surprise, they're pushed back by Class 2-F.

The upset is thanks to master tactician, Yamato Naoe (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya). Although placed in the low-level F Class, Yamato's brilliant when it comes to strategy and tactics. He needs to be too since he doesn’t practice martial arts. Though his plan is winning the day, its success would not be possible if it were not for his team.

Miyako Shiina (voiced by Hyosei) is a top-ranked archer. Her accuracy with a bow is 100%. She's known Yamato for years and has been in love with him ever since.

Kazuko Kawakami (voiced by Akane Tomonaga) is the second daughter of the Kawakami family. A master with the naginata, her speed is lightning fast. Cheerful and determined, few things are able to slow her down. Like Miyako, she also has strong feelings towards Yamato.

Anime Hajime Review: Inu x Boku Secret Service

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Inu x Boku Secret Service. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Welcome to the Maison de Ayakashi. The Ayakashikan is a top of the line, high-security apartment complex. Its residents are members of some of Japan’s most influential and powerful families. To ensure their safety, each tenant's assigned to a skilled Secret Service bodyguard.

As far as the public's concerned, that's the truth. It’s just not the whole truth.

Those living in the Ayakashikan have the blood of demons flowing through their veins. They are, in fact, reincarnations of their supernatural ancestors.

The newest occupant is Ririchiyo Shirakiin (voiced by Rina Hidaka). Due to her upbringing, Ririchiyo finds it hard to build meaningful relationships with others. She came to the Ayakashikan hoping to live an independent life. Away from any and all kinds of social interactions.

This becomes impossible upon meeting her Secret Service bodyguard, Soshi Miketsukami (voiced by Yuichi Nakamura). Soshi is devoted to Ririchiyo, much to her great shock and annoyance. According to Soshi, Ririchiyo helped him some time ago. A claim which Ririchiyo has no knowledge of. Regardless, he is ready to lay his life on the line for her.

Anime Hajime Review: Another

***Warning, the following may, but honestly won’t, contain spoilers for Another. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

The year is 1998. The new academic term has begun in the small country village of Yomiyama.

Koichi Sakakibara (voiced by Atsushi Abe) has transferred into Yomiyama North Middle School Class 3-3. Things seemed normal on the surface. But Koichi can’t help feeling everyone is keeping something from him.

His suspicions heighten upon meeting his classmate Mei Misaki (voiced by Natsumi Takamori). Koichi tries to get to know Mei, but she warns if he gets any closer something bad will happen. Adding to the mystery, everyone in class, teachers and all, ignore Mei as if she doesn’t exist.

With no one willing to tell him what's going on, Koichi begins to investigate the matter on his own. Things then go from weird to terrifying. One by one, members of Class 3-3 start dying gruesome deaths.

Unrest surrounds the students. Then Koichi learns of a strange incident that occurred back in 1972. Ever since then, the rumor is Class 3-3 has been the victim of a deadly curse. Hoping to save their class, Koichi and Mei team up to discover what is going on in their sleepy little town.

Anime Hajime Review: A-Channel

***Warning the following may contain spoilers for A-Channel. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Our story starts in the hallway of your average high school. Run Momoki (voiced by Kaori Fukuhara) is with her friends Yuko Nishi (voiced by Minako Kotobuki) and Nagisa Tennoji (voiced by Yumi Uchiyama) when a group of boys begins chatting with Run.

Out of nowhere, something comes flying up the stairs carrying a metal bat and chases the boys away. It's Toru Ichii (voiced by Aoi Yuki), Run's best friend since kindergarten.

From here, we join these four girls as they live out their daily lives. Taking every chance to spend time together.

Toru is a year younger than her friends. About the size of your average grade schooler, it's difficult for her to find clothes that fit. Thus she is often found wearing oversized long sleeved shirts. Quiet and shy, she is protective of Run and can get quite lonely without her.

Run has blonde hair with a distinct strand sticking up resembling a parakeet. Having known Toru for years, the two are inseparable. Unlike Toru, though, Run is sociable and friendly with everyone she meets. Calling her an airhead would be an understatement. The only thing matching her ditziness is her kindhearted nature.

Anime Hajime Review: Gokusen

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Gokusen. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Kumiko Yamaguchi (voiced by Risa Hayamizu) has achieved her lifelong dream. She's become a teacher and got hired at Shirokin Gakuen High School. Unfortunately, the all-boys school has a reputation for delinquency. As it turns out, Kumiko is to be the homeroom teacher for one of the most problematic classes. For anyone, especially a rookie, this task would be a handful.

Despite the odds, Kumiko makes herself right at home. She is hardly fazed by the rowdy behavior of her students.

With the air of a dim-witted, klutzy instructor there's more to Kumiko then meets the eye. She has a secret that must remain hidden from everyone if she wishes to keep her job.

Kumiko is a member of the infamous yakuza crime family, the Oedo Group. In fact, she is more than a member. She is the granddaughter of the family’s head. Due to the death of her parents, she is also next in line to become the leader of the power crime syndicate.

As Kumiko’s class tries to frazil her, she becomes an influential part of her student’s lives. Worried her identity will get discovered is always on her mind. But Kumiko never stops trying to be the teacher she's dreamed of being.