Anime Hajime Review: Junketsu no Maria

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Junketsu no Maria. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It is the Hundred Years War. The French rally to rid their country of the English invaders. Both sides look to shift the fight into their favor and the fervor of battle has grown strong.

Yet each confrontation gets interrupted. Interrupted by the powerful witch, Maria (voiced by Hisako Kanemoto). Unlike her fellow witches, Maria has a strong disdain for violence and wishes for peace.

As a witch, people have trouble accepting Maria. But her actions have started to see a following. Prompting the Church to label her a heretic. One they must eliminate.

Caring little for the consequences, Maria continues to disrupt the fighting. Unfortunately, this has not gone unnoticed by Heaven. They deem Maria's actions to be a disruption in the natural order.

The Archangel Michael (voiced by Kikuko Inoue) confronts Maria. Declaring that should Maria lose her virginity, she would also lose her magic. Maria is also forbidden to use her powers in public.

Despite the warning, Maria has no intention of following the will of Heaven. She decides to continue doing what she feels is right.

Anime Hajime Review: Nazo no Kanojo X

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Nazo no Kanojo X. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Mikoto Urabe (voiced by Ayako Yoshitani) is what you’d call a mysterious. A transfer student, she’s quiet, unsocial, is always napping during lunch. It’s hard to have even the simplest of conversation with her.

Like everyone else, Akira Tsubaki (voiced by Miyu Irino) doesn’t know what to make of Mikoto. One day Akira finds Mikoto alone and fast asleep. After accidentally waking her up, Akira at lasts gets a good look at what Mikoto looks like. For the first time, Akira notices how beautiful Mikoto is.

Before the two could dwell on the encounter, Mikoto runs off. Once she leaves, Akira notices a small pool of drool where Mikoto was sleeping. On a strange impulse…and f@#$ me I can’t believe I’m about to write this…he tastes it. To his surprise he finds it to be sweet.

The next day, Akira comes down with a high fever. Forcing a lengthy absence. During that time, he receives an unexpected visit from Mikoto.

Somehow, Mikoto knows Akira had a taste of her saliva. She tells him he isn’t suffering from an average sickness. But rather love sickness. Since he found her saliva to be sweet, that was a sign of the bond between the two of them. Plus, Akira must now have some of Mikoto’s saliva to prevent another fever.

Anime Hajime Review: Glasslip

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

Series Synopsis

Our story begins at the start of the summer in the small town of Hinodehama.

Toko Fukami (voiced by Seria Fukagawa) and her friends, Yanagi Takayama (voiced by Saori Hayami), Yukinari Imi (voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki), Sachi Nagamiya (voiced by Risa Taneda), and Hiro Shirosaki (voiced by Daiki Yamashita), are in their third year of high school. The group has managed to maintain a tight bond.

Yet that bond begins to crack after the arrival of Kakeru Okikura (voiced by Ryota Osaka).

Kakeru tells Toko something interesting. Like him, she has the ability to see images of the future. This creates a special connection between the two. Thus, it is the catalyst for everyone to come to terms with their feelings.

The rest of the summer becomes filled with doubt, uneasiness, and jealousy. All which threaten to break this friendship apart forever.

Anime Hajime Review: Occult Academy

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

Series Synopsis

The year is 1999 and the founder of the Waldstein Academy is dead. Maya Kumashiro (voiced by Yoko Hikasa) returns to succeed her father as headmaster.

The Academy is well known for its study of the occult. Though an expert on the subject, Maya has a strong disdain for the paranormal. So much so, she wishes to destroy the school her father created.

Then without warning, the sky opens up. From a bright shining light, a man descends to ground. The person is Fumiaki Uchida (voiced by Takahiro Mizushima). He claims to be from the year 2012 where aliens have taken over the Earth. And the invasion will occur on July 21, 1999.

To complete his mission, Fumiaki must destroy the Key of Nostradamus. Maya agrees to help Fumiaki once she learns that it is somehow connected with her father’s death.

Together, these two learn the Waldstein Academy’s supernatural reputation is well founded.

Anime Hajime Review: Monogatari Series Second Season

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Monogatari Series Second Season and all previous installments to the Monogatari series. Reader discretion is advised. ***

Series Synopsis

Koyomi Araragi (voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya) remains on the lookout for the entities known as Oddities.

Every action is but another step into the unknown. Hard-won victories were only preludes to greater hardships. Koyomi must now face the fallout from the events of Bakemonogatari, Nisemonogatari, and Nekomonogatari.

In a dire situation, Koyomi faces some of the most dangerous Oddities yet encountered. Though the odds are stacked against him, Koyomi's not alone in this fight. Always at the ready are his trusted friends and loyal allies.

The first is Koyomi’s headstrong and intimidating girlfriend, Hitagi Senjogahara (voiced by Chiwa Saito). With an unbreakable bond, these two find strength in their feelings for each other.

The second is Koyomi’s close friend, Tsubasa Hanekawa (voiced by Yui Horie). Though not yet free of the spirit within her, Tsubasa is a much-needed voice of reason.

The third is Koyomi’s bonded partner, Shinobu Oshino (voiced by Maaya Sakamoto). With hundreds of years of experience, Shinobu is an important source insight.

Anime Hajime Review: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Tokyo Magnitude 8.0. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Mirai Onozawa’s (voiced by Satomi Hanamura) life is average. If not a tad strained. While her friends talk about their summer plans, Mirai's parents will be busy. It'll be yet another summer in Tokyo.

During her vacation, Mirai, not by choice, accompanies her little brother, Yuki (voiced by Yumiko Kobayashi), to Odaiba. There, she wonders what to do with her life. Whatever it happens to be, she believes it has to be better than now.  Unfortunately, "now" was about to change.

A massive earthquake rocks Tokyo. Registering at a horrifying magnitude 8.0.  For thirty seconds, the ground shacks and heaves. Ravishing everything. Once over, the world’s largest city smolders in ruins.

Miles from family and home, Mirai and Yuki are at a loss of what to do. Fortunately, they befriend Mari Kusakabe (voiced by Yuko Kaida). Together these three travel across the devastation. Minute by minute the reality of what has occurred painfully beings to manifest.

Anime Hajime Review: Princess Jellyfish

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

Series Synopsis

Tsukimi Kurashita (voiced by Kana Hanazawa) has always had a deep love for jellyfish. Having moved to Tokyo, Tsukimi is the newest tenant of the Amamizukan apartments.

And the other residents, Tsukimi is socially awkward. The entire household is so awful with any type of human interaction. Particularly with fashionable people and even worse with men.

One night, Tsukimi meets a beautiful woman named Kuranosuke Koibuchi (voiced by Mitsuki Saiga). Because of circumstance, Tsukimi is forced into letting Kuranosuke stay the night.

The next morning, Tsukimi discovers that Kuranosuke’s long luxurious hair is, in fact, a wig. A discovery rendered insignificant upon Kuranosuke’s other big revelation. Kuranosuke is actually a man. Needless to say, Tsukimi is beside herself.

Since men are not allowed in the Amamizukan, Tsukimi tries to keep Kuranosuke’s gender a secret. However, this proves difficult since Kuranosuke takes a strong liking to the place.

Anime Hajime Review: Assassination Classroom

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

Series Synopsis

A creature has destroyed most of the Moon. The being now threatens the Earth with a similar fate. It does, however, offer humanity a chance. The planet will be spared if the creature can be assassinated in one years’ time.

The creature (voiced by Jun Fukuyama) also asks to serve as the homeroom teacher of Kunugigaoka Junior High School’s Class 3-E.

Class 3-E consists of the lowest performing students at the prestigious academy. Due to the school's educational philosophy, members of the class are looked down upon. All who end up here resign themselves to being the laughing stock of the entire school. This all beings to change once the creature’s lessons start.

Alongside conventional subjects, Class 3-E is also trained in the art of assassination. With their ultimate target being their own teacher.

Due to his superhuman capabilities, the students give their teacher the name Koro-sensei. A play on the words korosenai, meaning unkillable. And the word sensei meaning teacher.

Koro-sensei is brilliant as an instructor and cares for the well-being of his students. The class shows improvement in every facet of their lives. They move closer to the day when they will be able to pull off the perfect assassination.

Anime Hajime Review: Kill la Kill

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

Series Synopsis

Honnouji Academy seeks to conquer all other schools across Japan.

To do so, students have been issued the Goku Uniform. All of which have been sewn with Life Fibers. Gives the wearer superhuman abilities.

This powerful institution of academia is under the rule of the fearsome Student Council. Led by the mighty Student Council President, Satsuki Kiryuin (voiced by Ryoka Yuzuki).

No one dares step out of line or challenge the iron will of the President. Except for one. A single transfer student, Ryuko Matoi (voiced by Ami Koshimizu).

On a quest to find her father’s killer, Ryuko wields one-half of the mysterious Rending Scissors. A weapon which cut Life Fibers. Upon arrival, Ryuko challenges Satsuki and is quickly beaten by the power of the Goku Uniform.

Humiliated in defeat, Ryuko retreats to her old home. There she happens upon her father’s greatest creation. A black sailor uniform.

To her great shock and bewilderment, the uniform speaks (voiced by Toshihiko Sei). It promises to bestow the power to not only rival but even surpass the Goku Uniform. Ryuko gives the outfit the name Senketsu.