Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail (Fairy Tail Month Part 9 of 9)

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

Series Synopsis

Do fairies have tails? More than that, do fairies even exist? Nobody knows for sure. So, this guild is like them. An eternal mystery. An eternal adventure.

-Mavis Vermillion, First Master of Fairy Tail

Our story takes place in the world of Earth-land. Here magic is the norm. The people who practice the art tend to join the various wizarding guilds across the continent. To make a living, wizards seek out odd jobs that require their abilities.

One of the more rambunctious guilds is the lively Fairy Tail. Its members are some of the most well-known magic users around. Among their most reliable is the team considered Fairy Tail’s strongest.

Natsu Dragneel (voiced by Tesuya Kakihara), the Dragon Slayer, and his partner Happy (voiced by Rie Kugimiya). Lucy Heartfilia (voiced by Aya Hirano), the Celestial Wizard. Gray Fullbuster (voiced by Yuichi Nakamura), the Ice Mage. And Erza Scarlet (voiced by Sayaka Ohara), the legendary sword master.

With these five, no task is too great. Come hell or high water, they will see the job done.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Zero (Fairy Tail Month Part 8 of 9)

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

Season Positives

Last time was ninety. This was twelve. Which do you think was easier to get through?

Given how every season this month had a minimum of twenty-five episodes, this was nothing. And before we get into this installment, why don’t we recap where we have been

Since our last retrospective, there have been five more story arcs and 135 more episodes. Among that run, this series’ biggest turning point came to pass. 

At the conclusion of the Tenrojima Arc, Fairy Tail’s core members were sealed away for seven years. Upon reviving, the once prosperous guild had become the laughing stock of the land. Our team then sought to build back their reputation. A goal achieved when they won the prestigious Grand Magic Games.

That victory was short-lived when the mystical Eclipse gateway opened. Planned as a super weapon to wipe out an assumed dragon assault, the unthinkable occurred. The dragon invasion did come to pass and through Eclipse it came.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Seven (Fairy Tail Month Part 7 of 9)

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

Season Positives

First thing, ninety episodes. Even if good, a watch like that takes a lot out of you. It also takes up a ton of your time. About thirty-six hours’ worth in case you were wondering. When getting into these types of runs, you can only hope they will be decent. Given this was Fairy Tail, the odds of that being the case were in our favor. It wasn't one hundred percent, but it was still pretty high.

This season was coming off a year’s hiatus and it could not have been more obvious.

The animation and general design of this series underwent some changes. Changes for the better.

In addition, the first few episodes were hilarious because you could see what this season was trying to do. It was attempting to get the audience back up to speed. This involved simple, and sometimes awkward rundowns of who was who. In Fairy Tail’s defense, this would have been necessary back when this first aired. I won’t dwell on how silly this got. Besides, it didn’t last that long.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Six (Fairy Tail Month Part 6 of 9)

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

Season Positives

If you’ve been following along this month, first thank you for sticking around. Second, you’re aware of my thoughts concerning the previous Starry Sky Arc. In case you’re jumping in here, the nicest way to describe the thing, “I didn’t like it.” That storyline has been the lowest point of this series so far. Let’s hope it stays that way.

One question has refused to leave my head. How do you follow up such a huge waste of time? One would like to assume, regardless of that answer, it would be better. Right? Things couldn’t get worse, could they? Of course, they can. That's a notion I don’t want to consider with this series.

Fairy Tail’s response to the travesty that was the Starry Sky Arc was the Grand Magic Games Arc. And boy was this a welcomed return to form and then some. Not only was this a massive improvement, this was the best this show has been. This was phenomenal.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Five (Fairy Tail Month Part 5 of 9)

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

Season Positives

This last batch of episodes made up the Key of the Starry Sky Arc. For the series up to this point, my favorite storylines have been the Moon Drip, Tower of Heaven, and Nirvana Arcs. Adding to that, some of my favorite moments occurred during the Edolas Arc ending and to the lead into the Tenrojima Arc. Along the way, there have been plenty of lows. There have been many highs. There have been more highs than lows.

That was where my mind was when beginning the Starry Sky Arc. Looking back, this one was indeed special. Starting at episode 126 and finishing at episode 150, this marks the halfway point of this series and month. And this span of twenty-five episodes is one-hundred percent skippable.

The Starry Sky Arc was utter garbage. This was so bad. By its own merits, this was a complete mess. When compared to Fairy Tail that came before, this was painful to sit through.

It’s hard to only say there was a dip in quality. It was like watching a different show. The unfortunate part is, this wasn’t unprecedented. Although not on this scale, there was a moment that was similar to this gigantic fumble. The Daphne Arc.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Four (Fairy Tail Month Part 4 of 9)

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

Season Positives

Time for a recap. We’re four entries deep into Fairy Tail Month. It can’t hurt to look at where we’ve been.

From season one, there were five major arcs.

The Lullaby Arc saw our team fight their first big threat. We also got the introduction of the powerful dark wizard, Zeref. Be sure to remember that name.

The Moon Drip Arc, which was fantastic, solidified Fairy Tail’s strongest team. Bigger and more dangerous villains came to be. The beginnings of future storylines took root.

The Phantom Lord Arc has actually been growing on me the more I think about it. Plus, this series saw great additions in the forms of Juvia and Gajeel.

The Tower of Heaven Arc’s significance, much like Phantom Lord’s, I respect much more in retrospect. This was when Erza rose became my favorite character in this series thus far.

The Battle of Fairy Tail Arc was a super cool, super drawn out free for all. Yet it did serve to establish two potential developments in the future. Though entertaining, its place in the show doesn’t appear pivotal yet.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Three (Fairy Tail Month Part 3 of 9)

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

Season Positives

Season three was an interesting beast. The majority of the story contained the Edolas Arc. The last few episodes were the beginning of the Tenrojima Arc. What I can say for the latter is that they were a pretty good start. I look forward to seeing how this storyline continues. However, since there was so little, I will cover it in more detail in the next review.

As for the rest of the season, it contained some of the finest moments of the series thus far. It was as fun as the rest of Fairy Tail has been. Nevertheless, this was the most frustrating collection of episodes up to this point.

Here was a perfect chance for Fairy Tail to elevate itself. The story could’ve taken a solid step forward. Instead, this opportunity was more squandered than anything. Although the foundation for something fantastic remains. This season should’ve been a huge improvement.

The greatest thing going for the Edolas arc was its core idea. Bringing the Fairy Tail characters into a parallel universe offered many possibilities. And this season focused on two good ones.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season Two (Fairy Tail Month Part 2 of 9)

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

Season Positives

This season made sense. Fairy Tail is progressing along as I imagined it would be. It got bigger. More characters got introduced. The challenges are becoming more and more difficult to overcome.

In turn, the action is getting more intense. The powers of characters are growing. Their backstories are now more detailed. If this continues, that would be fantastic.

This season didn’t go backward. Although season one was better. Believe it or not, that had much to do with the difference in length. Yes, twenty-four episodes are easier to sit through than forty-eight. Except what happened during those episodes is more important.

Season two’s biggest strength and weakness was its episode count. This season didn’t have some of the problems of the first. That doesn’t mean it fixed those problems. Fairy Tail season two played out different than its predecessor. This was both good and bad. But it was never better.

That said, season two had plenty of moments that were outstanding. As well as many more moments that helped give weight to everything that has occurred so far. I’m still enjoying this series. That has not diminished.

Anime Hajime Review: Fairy Tail Season One (Fairy Tail Month Part 1 of 9)

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

Series Introduction

Fairy Tail takes place in the world of Earth-land. Here magic is the norm. The people who practice the art tend to join the various wizarding guilds across the land. To make a living, wizards seek out odd jobs that require their abilities.

One of the more rambunctious guilds is the lively Fairy Tail. Its members are some of the most well-known magic users around. Among their most destructive is the team considered Fairy Tail’s strongest.

Natsu Dragneel (voiced by Tesuya Kakihara) the Dragon Slayer and his partner Happy (voiced by Rie Kugimiya). Lucy Heartfilia (voiced by Aya Hirano) the Celestial Wizard. Gray Fullbuster (voiced by Yuichi Nakamura) the Ice Mage. And Erza Scarlet (voiced by Sayaka Ohara) the legendary sword master.

With these five, no task is too great. Come hell or high water, they will see the job done.

Anime Hajime Review: My Wife is the Student Council President Plus

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for My Wife is the Student Council President Plus. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It has been several months since Hayato Izumi’s (voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu) life changed forever. Out of the blue, his school’s beautiful and admired Student Council President, Ui Wakana (voiced by Ayane Taketatsu) appeared at his door. With her came the news that the two of them were engaged. Since then they have been living under the same roof.

Hayato is still questioning how things have become the way they have. Ui, on the other hand, couldn’t be more for the arrangement. As such, she has done everything she can think of to become a better partner.

Despite Hayato’s constant vigilance, Ui's persistence knows no bounds. And the occasional accident makes it hard for even the most pious to keep their urges under control. As well as in their pants.

Regardless, it appears everything has been going strong for the emerging couple. Hayato may be resistant, but if there was anyone he would be willing to put up with, it would be Ui. This whole situation can be quite the headache, except that doesn’t necessarily mean it's a bad thing.

Anime Hajime Review: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai) Next

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai) Next. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Welcome back to the Neighbors Club, the place for people to learn how to make friends. What that actually means is hard to say.

As always, Kodaka Hasegawa (voiced by Ryohei Kimura) has been struggling with interacting with his peers. His delinquent-like appearance is enough to send anyone running. Despite that, he has done quite well for himself in his circle. The time he has spent in the clubroom has been precious to him. Even if the atmosphere can get a little heated.

Continuing their bitter war of insults are Yozora Mikazuki (voiced by Marina Inoue) and Sena Kashiwazaki (voiced by Kanae Ito). Their unshakable and often intimidating personalities keep them at odds with each other. Yet in their hands, the Neighbors Club is well taken care of.

In their quest to discover the secrets of friendship, Kodaka, Yozora, Sena, and their clubmates are never short on things to do. In fact, there is almost never a moment when this group is not together. Though they are all socially awkward, that is what keeps them close.

So much so, anything that could destroy their unity is too scary to even think about.

Anime Hajime Review: Kamisama Hajimemashita Season Two

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Kamisama Hajimemashita Seasons One and Two. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It has been several months since Nanami Momozono (voiced by Suzuko Mimori) became the new Land God. Though getting more comfortable in her role, she still has many things to learn. Not only that, she must deal with the intense feelings dwelling in her heart.

Nanami has fallen for her familiar, the fox demon, Tomoe (voiced by Shinnosuke Tachibana). While he has a tendency to be a jerk, Tomoe is always there for Nanami when she needs him the most. Unfortunately, it seems that Tomoe does not see her in the same way.

Yet as it turns out, Tomoe has also grown attached to Nanami. His new master is unlike anyone he has ever met. As much as he tries to deny it, Tomoe knows he loves Nanami as much as she loves him.

Be that as it may, these two are often busy with other matters. Being human is no excuse for neglecting one’s divine duties. As more time goes on, Nanami’s spiritual power increases. As does the relationship between the mortal God and the demon.

Anime Hajime Review: Fruits Basket

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

Series Synopsis

Tohru Honda (voiced by Yui Horie) just lost her mother. The two were very close and it has not been easy for the high schooler. Yet there is one lesson she holds close to her heart. She always tries to keep smiling.

The last thing Tohru wants is to be a burden on others. Even at the cost of her own health, she refuses to cause trouble for anyone. Even with this unshakable mindset, fate seems to have its own plan.

In her search for a place to stay, Tohru finds her way to the secondary residence of an influential family. To her surprise, this happens to be the home of her school’s top heart throb, Yuki Sohma (voiced by Aya Hisakawa). Learning of Tohru’s plight, Yuki offers her a place to sleep.

Before anyone can settle on the details, Yuki is ambushed. The attacker is a relative of his, Kyo Sohma (voiced by Tomokazu Seki). During this scuffle, Tohru learns of the Sohma clan’s greatest secret.

Yuki and Kyo transform into a rat and a cat respectively. They and other members of their family have been cursed. Whenever embraced by the opposite sex, they will transform into an animal from the Zodiac.

Anime Hajime Review: True Tears

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

Series Synopsis

There are some things that can darken once happy hearts.

Shinichiro Nakagami (voiced by Makoto Ishii) has known Hiromi Yuasa (voiced by Kaori Nazuka) for years. Since the death of her father, Hiromi has been living with the Nakagami's. Though happy to have her so close, Shinichiro knows something is weighing on his friend’s heart.

It is no secret how much Shinichiro likes Hiromi. Anyone who knows either of them can see it. This includes Shinichiro’s other childhood friend, Aiko Ando (voiced by Yuka Iguchi). Despite keeping quiet about it, Aiko hopes Shinichiro will start to notice her too.

One day, Shinichiro meets a girl named Noe Isurugi (voiced by Ayahi Takagaki). Noe claims she is no longer able to cry. Thus, she is looking for the right person to give her back her tears. Though unsure of what this means, according to Noe, Shinichiro is a prime candidate to do this.

Strong emotions are reaching their breaking point. It is only a matter of time before something gives way. When this happens, it’s hard to say if anyone will get through unhurt.

Anime Hajime Review: Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (300th Review Special Part 2 of 2)

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Alchemy has the power to transform anything. Depending on the skill of the alchemist, nothing is impossible. Yet there are things humans should leave in the hands of Gods. For to see the Truth, there’s no telling what one must sacrifice.

Believing they could achieve the unthinkable, two brothers attempt to resurrect their mother. Though gifted in alchemy, Edward and Alphonse Elric (voiced by Romi Park and Rie Kugimiya) underestimated the gravity of what they were trying to do.

Their transmutation goes wrong. In the process, Edward loses his left leg. While Alphonse loses his entire body. To rescue his brother at the cost of his right arm, Edward transfers Alphonse’s soul into an empty suit of armor. From that fateful day, the weight of their sin has haunted the boys. Despite that, they are determined to restore their bodies.

They learn of an artifact that can ignore the fundamental principles of alchemy; the elusive Philosopher’s Stone. Yet to obtain such an item, the brothers need access to a limitless supply of knowledge and resources. A privilege that is only given to the controversial State Alchemists.

Anime Hajime Review: Fullmetal Alchemist (300th Review Special Part 1 of 2)

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

Series Synopsis

To obtain something, one must be willing to give up something of equal worth. This equivalent exchange is the fundamental principle of alchemy. A skilled alchemist can perform feats of miraculous proportions. Yet there are some things where the costs are unimaginable. A reality that becomes all too apparent for brothers, Edward “Ed” (voiced by Romi Park) and Alphonse “Al” (voiced by Rie Kugimiya) Elric.

After losing their mother, the boys decide to perform alchemy’s most forbidden technique. They try to bring their mom back from the dead. However, this act is forbidden for a reason.

The brothers fail in their attempt. In the process, Ed loses his left leg and his right arm. Al loses his entire body. Ed manages to tether his brother’s soul to an empty suit of armor, thus saving his life. Burdened with sin, the two dedicate themselves to restoring their bodies.

Their task appears insurmountable. That is until they learn of an object with the power to circumvent equivalent exchange; the Philosopher’s Stone. Yet, the stone’s mere existence is debatable. Information regarding it is scarce. Few even have access to what clues there are. That is with the exception of a select group; the State Alchemist.

Anime Hajime Impressions: Otaku no Video

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Otaku no Video. Reader discretion is advised.***

The Set Up

Given the nature of this site, the term “otaku” has come up before. It feels appropriate to get an idea of what the word means.

An otaku is anyone with a fandom. Though that seems simple, there are some generalities. There are sports otakus or book otakus. But in general, an otaku is a fan of anime and manga. In addition, anyone who is a fan of anything meets the definition. The magnitude is irrelevant. That said, otaku, again in general, denotes a deep obsession.

With these generalizations, there is a negative connotation associated with otaku. The image is a reclusive, anti-social loner who spends more time looking at a screen than going outside. As such, this is a label some don't want to associate with. Such is the case in the term’s homeland, Japan.

How much truth there is to this varies case by case. Yet it’s not hard to see why this is a common character trait in anime. This brings us to our series today.

Anime Hajime Review: Ghost Hound

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

Series Synopsis

Eleven years ago, Tarou Komori (voiced by Kenshou Ono) was the last victim in a string of kidnappings. The trauma from the ordeal has left him with deep mental scars. Though Tarou was fortunate to survive, his older sister was not. Since then, those haunting memories have fueled countless nightmares.

Tarou has been trying to cope with what happened to him. As well as make sense of one particular side effect. On occasion, he will have a vivid out-of-body experience.

Unsure if anyone will believe him, Tarou tends to keep his ability to himself. Then during one instance, he runs into a young girl named Miyako Komagusu (voiced by Akiko Yajima). To Tarou’s surprise, Miyako appears capable of seeing his spirit form.

Coinciding with this encounter, Tarou’s hometown has been experiencing many strange occurrences. Adding to that, he meets two other people who also have out-of-body experiences. Like Tarou, Makoto Ogami (voiced by Soichiro Hoshi) and Masayuki Nakajima (voiced by Jun Fukuyama) have their own traumatic pasts.

Anime Hajime Review: Hourou Musuko

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

Series Synopsis

The transition from child to adulthood can be scary. Our bodies begin to change in drastic ways. It is a natural process we all go through. Except natural doesn’t mean easy. Now imagine going through this period in a body that doesn’t feel right.

Shuichi Nitori (voiced by Kousuke Hatakeyama) was registered as a male at birth. But Shuichi has never been able to identify as such, wishing instead to be a girl. To assume the female gender, Shuichi has taken an interest in cross-dressing. Though this is more comfortable, Shuichi knows there are people who won’t understand.

Yoshino Takatsuki (voiced by Asami Seto) was registered as a female at birth but wishes to be a boy. Yoshino avoids wearing feminine clothes and has a more masculine personality. Yoshino's biggest hope is to stop being seen as a girl.

Shuichi and Yoshino have formed a close relationship with each other. In elementary school, they felt freer to express themselves. Upon entering middle school and the onset of puberty, this no longer feels possible.

Anime Hajime Review: My Wife is the Student Council President

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for My Wife is the Student Council President. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Ui Wakana (voiced by Ayana Taketatsu) wins Student Council President in a landslide. Her campaign promised to allow students to express love with no limitations. Though annoyed with the President’s unconventional approach, Hayato Izumi (voiced by Kazuyuki Okitsu) knows Ui will do a great job. He might be her Vice-President, but Hayato accepts that is as far as their relationship will go.

That is until Ui shows up at Hayato’s door with some unexcepted news.

When they were kids, Ui and Hayato’s parents set them up to be married. To secure the arrangement, the two begin living together.

While Ui is all for the idea, Hayato can't help feel this will lead to massive problems down the road. As such, he does his best to keep the situation a secret. A task easier said than done.

Having a sudden fiancée can be tiring. Ui’s insistence on growing closer as a couple doesn’t help the matter. Except things could be much worse. Over time, Hayato beings to think this whole thing isn’t that bad.

Anime Hajime Review: Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai (Haganai)

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai, a.k.a. Haganai. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

For some, making friends is the easiest thing in the world. For others, it might as well be like trying to fly to the Moon. Sometimes, a person has no luck when it comes to saying hello.

For Kodaka Hasegawa (voiced by Ryohei Kimura), this could not be truer. Due to his natural blond hair and stern appearance, everyone is afraid of him. No is willing to give him the chance to show who he is. This becomes a big problem when he transfers schools.

Try as he may, Kodaka cannot make any new friends. As it turns out, he isn’t alone. There is another person in his class that is even more socially awkward than he is. The quiet and standoffish, Yozora Mikazuki (voiced by Marina Inoue).

By chance, Kodaka and Yozora end up having a small, uncomfortable chat. Except this give Yozora an idea. Since the two of them have trouble with people, why not study how people become popular?

This long shot idea actually catches the attention of others. Their first member is Sena Kashiwazaki (voiced by Kanae Ito). Though an idol to the boys, Sena’s arrogance makes it impossible for her to make female friends.

Anime Hajime Review: Kamisama Hajimemashita

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

Series Synopsis

Due to the irresponsible adults in her life, Nanami Momozono (voiced by Suzuko Mimori) has found herself homeless. The young high schooler is at a total loss of what to do and has nowhere to go. Though in a bind, this doesn’t stop her from coming to the aid of a rather odd man.

The man thanks Nanami for her kindness. As a reward, he gives her ownership of his home, a local shrine. Before departing, he catches Nanami by surprise with a simple kiss to her forehead. Unbeknownst to her, this one act opens an unimaginable door.

With no other choice, Nanami decides to head to the shrine. Upon arriving, she learns of an unexpected reality. Gods and demons do actually exist. And the ones at the shrine tell Nanami that she has become the new God of the area.

The news is too massive to believe and Nanami is beside herself. It doesn’t help that one of the shrine’s servants isn’t the least bit happy about the situation. Annoyed to have a human as his new master, the fox demon Tomoe (voiced by Shinnosuke Tachibana) refuses to accept Nanami.

Anime Hajime Review: Black Lagoon Roberta's Blood Trail

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Black Lagoon Roberta’s Blood Trail. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

A life of war and violence will leave deep scars on even the most hardened of soldiers. Once the fighting stops, the most difficult thing to do is find peace. Yet peace was something the infamous Bloodhound of Florencia had achieved. At last, the assassin turn housemaid, Roberta (voiced by Michie Tomizawa), could store away her guns.

Then in an instant, that life was taken from her.

An American operation in Colombia results in the death of Roberta’s beloved new master. The unstoppable killer now had a new target. By any means necessary, Roberta would see to it that the people responsible would die. Even if that meant declaring war on the full might of the US military.

Roberta’s hunt is nothing if not destructive. Her revenge soon takes her back to a small, corrupt cesspool in Southeast Asia. The crime-ridden city of Roanapur. Within the town is the headquarters of the notorious mercenaries of the Lagoon Company. Among its members is former Japanese salaryman, Rokuro “Rock” Okajima (voiced by Daisuke Namikawa). As well as one of the world’s most dangerous gunslingers, Revy (voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi).

Anime Hajime Review: Yamishibai Season 5

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Yamishibai Season 5. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It’s time to begin our fifth journey into the dark and the macabre. The strange and the creepy. Listen to the stories of the things that go bump in the night.

It’s once again time for Yamishibai.

Wrong Number – A housewife deals with someone who keeps dialing the wrong number.

Give it to Me – An office worker runs into the same little girl every day. With each time, the child asks for something.

The Crow Children – A woman and her daughter are visiting the countryside. While heading to their destination they pass an old lady in black.

Copy Cat – Two lifelong friends enter college. Although one has the habit of copying everything the other does.

Shadows of Women – A woman can’t help but feel that her husband isn’t telling the truth. She suspects he is cheating on her.

Okaishi-sama – A girl is distraught after her boyfriend dumps her. She is willing to try anything to get him back.

Anime Hajime Review: Princess Principal

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

Series Synopsis

Our story takes place in an alternate version of early 20th century London. Set within the former Kingdom of Albion, some years ago, a violent revolt tore the country in two. Now a massive wall splits the city. On one side, sits the old rule of the Kingdom. On the other is the new nation known as the Commonwealth.

The two powers’ relationship is one of distrust. Tensions run so deep, the slightest spark could set off a devastating world war. Though trying to avoid such a conflict, neither party wishes for the other to gain an advantage. So, to fight a war without soldiers, the countries rely on spies.

Ange (voiced by Ayaka Imamura) is one of the Commonwealth’s best operatives. There has never been a mission she could not complete. What's more, Ange bears a striking resemblance to one of the Kingdom’s top figures. The beloved and respected Princess Charlotte (voiced by Akira Sekine).

The Commonwealth devises a plan to replace the Princess with Ange. Then things take a most unexpected turn. The Princess discovers the plan and rather than stopping it, she offers a deal. In exchange for making her Queen, the Princess agrees to become a spy for her nation’s enemy.

Anime Hajime Review: Gamers

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

Series Synopsis

Any gamer will tell you the same. No matter how bad you’re playing, you can always restart. Unfortunately, life does not work that way.

Keita Amano (voiced by Megumi Han) is always glued to some kind of screen. He’s grown accustomed to solitude. That’s why he’s surprised when the most beautiful girl in school starts talking to him.

Out of nowhere, Karen Tendo (voiced by Hisako Kanemoto) invites Keita to her club. To his shock, Karen is actually a devout gamer and offers a stunned Keita a spot in the Game Club. Here, they can spend their time improving their skills and making friends.

The offer is more than anything Keita could’ve ever hoped for. Except that’s not the kind of gamer he is. So, to Karen’s bewilderment, he turns her down.

Yet Keita got to thinking it would be nice to spend time with like-minded people. As it so happens, there is another gamer closer to his style of play, Chiaki Hoshinomori (voiced by Manaka Iwami). The two hit it off quick. Too bad their personal player philosophies conflict. Thus turning the most obvious couple ever into bitter enemies.

Anime Hajime Review: New Game Season 2

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for New Game season two. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

A year has passed since Aoba Suzukaze (voiced by Yuki Takada) joined the game developer, Eagle Jump. There have been plenty of difficult moments during that time. The stresses of adulthood and working life are not something to make light of. Yet if given the chance to do it again, Aoba would not change a thing.

Despite being its newest member, Aoba is now a fully-fledged employee of the company. People recognize her talents and respect her never-give-up nature. No one more so than Aoba’s own idol Ko Yagami (voiced by Yoko Hikasa).

Though the work may be hard, Aoba is having the time of her life. With each passing day, she becomes even more confident she chose the right path. Along with meeting a never-ending stream of new people, things couldn’t be better.

Yet the world of game creating is demanding. There never seems to be a lull in the workload. If anything, things will become even busier in the days ahead. For Aoba, that’s just fine.

Anime Hajime Review: Centaur's Worries

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Centaur's Worries. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

It’s best to tackle life one day at a time. That’s true for both humans and centaurs alike. Although, centaurs do have their own set of problems to worry about.

Himeno Kimihara (voiced by Seria Fukagawa), young centaur, has built a reputation of kindness and is well liked amongst her classmates. While enjoying herself, she must deal with the kind of things any teenager would go through. School, tests, relationships, things we’ve all have to face.

Along the way, Himeno meets and befriends many different kinds of people. Each trying to make the most out of their world. To help make sense of everything, Himeno relies on the support of her two dearest friends. Nozomi Gokuraku (voiced by Yuki Kuwahara), a demon girl, and Kyouko Naraku (voiced by Haruka Shiraishi), a half Satyr.

Together these three do the best anyone can. Things get tough. Things get difficult. But nothing’s ever too much. If you can go to bed with a smile on your face, it means you doing fine.

Anime Hajime Review: Aho-Girl

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Aho-Girl. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

The word “idiot” is subjective. Those things or people we deem as daft, dense, and asinine is our opinion. To use those terms, as a matter of fact, is childish. Stupid, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Or at least that’s true 99.9% of the time.

For Yoshiko Hanabatake (voiced by Aoi Yuki) idiot is the only correct way to describe her. There is no one alive outside who can comprehend what's going on in her mind. To make matters worse, what Yoshiko lacks in brain powers she more than makes up for in energy. Once she starts, there's nothing that can stop her. Aside from occasional shiny object.

For most people, five minutes with Yoshiko would be an endurance test. Akuru Akutsu (voiced by Tomakazu Sugita) has been putting up with her for years. As her childhood friend, Akuru's patience died long ago. 

Now in high school, Yoshiko’s classmates do not know the whirlwind coming their way. There are some who will try to stand their ground. Yet there is no one who can face the embodiment of idiocy.

Anime Hajime Review: Hajimete no Gal

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Hajimete no Gal. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Junichi Hashiba (voiced by Shintaro Asanuma) is what you might call, a loser. All around him, his classmates are pairing up and forming couples. While he’s left stuck with his group of perverted friends.

Fed up with their situation, Junichi’s pals devise a bold plan. They want nothing more than to lose their virginity, so they decide to go for their best shot. In their class is a beautiful “gal” girl named Yukana Yame (voiced by Yuki Nagaku).

Gal girls, to them, have a reputation of being quite loose. Though confident in their assumption, none of them have the balls to go through with it. Thus, Junichi’s group tricks Junichi into meeting with Yukana.

Dumbfounded to be in this predicament, Junichi is at a loss when Yukana does show up for the meeting. Throwing caution to the wind, Junichi goes for it. However, Yukana sees right through him. After a thorough bout of teasing, Junichi believes his school life to be over.

Then Yukana does something no one would’ve expected. She agrees to be Junichi’s girlfriend.

Anime Hajime Review: Akiba's Trip - The Animation

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Akiba’s Trip – The Animation. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

For fans of anime, video games, and everything nerdy, there’s one place where a person can find it all. The otaku capital of the world, Akihabara.

Tamotsu Denkigai (voiced by Haruki Ishiya) is an Akihabara regular. He knows this town like the back of his hand. Then one day, he stumbles across a secret war that has been waging for years. A war that will determine the fate of the city.

Looking to control humanity are dangerous beings known as Bugged Ones. With the ability to turn people into mindless servants, there is almost nothing that can stop them. Except for one person. Matome Mayonaka (voiced by Rie Takahashi) is herself a Bugged One who seeks to protect Akihabara.

During one fight, Matome gets overwhelmed. Without thinking, Tamotsu saves her life at the cost of his own. To spare him, Matome turns Tamotsu into a Bugged One. Though this gives him superhuman strength, it comes at a cost.

One, Tamotsu can no longer leave the city limits. Two, he must face a never-ending wave of enemies. Enemies whose only weakness is stripping them of their clothes. Since they are Bugged Ones themselves, should Tamotsu or Matome ever get naked, they will die.

Anime Hajime Review: Hinako Note

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

Series Synopsis

Hinako Sakuragi (voiced by Mao Ichimichi) has struggled with speaking to people for as long as she can remember. She's quick to panic whenever someone tries talking to her. This results in her stiffening up much like a scarecrow. Despite her shy nature, she has always love one thing. The theater.

Upon entering high school, Hinako leaves her countryside home for Tokyo. There she hopes to get into acting and learn how not to be afraid of others. She manages to find an apartment at the small Hitotose Manor. Her journey to find her confidence beings as soon as she steps through the front door.

Hinako grows accustomed to her new life thanks to her new housemates and friends.

Kuina Natsukawa (voiced by Miyu Tomita) has a huge appetite and an affinity for the taste of books. You didn’t misread that.

Mayuki Hiiragi (voiced by Yui Ogura) is often mistaken for a grade schooler due to her small stature. Never mind the fact she is a year older than Hinako.

Anime Hajime Review: Boku Dake ga Inai Machi

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Boku Dake ga Inai Machi. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

The year is 2006. Satoru Fujinuma (voiced by Shinnosuke Mitsushima) has a unique ability. Whenever a life-threatening event is about to occur, he can go back in time to prevent it. Although, he’s only ever been given five minutes at the most. He calls the phenomenon "Revival".

Although using his abilities as best he can, Satoru carries a lot of guilt. He wonders who he could’ve saved if only he had acted. One such instance occurred during his childhood. Three of his former classmates were murdered. Particularly the death of Kayo Hinazuki (voiced by Aoi Yuki) has sat the worst with him.

Despite a conviction, Satoru believes the true killer is still out there. In fact, that person may be much closer than he realizes.

Satoru’s mother, a former journalist, notices an odd event. An event similar to what happened two decades ago. Unfortunately, she is killed before she can talk. The perpetrator then tries pinning the crime on Satoru.

Unsure how Satoru can clear his name, an unprecedented Revival occurs. Instead of going back a few moments, he returns to the year 1988. Right before the murders took place. Now ten-year-old Satoru (voiced by Tao Tsuchiya) has a chance to save his friends. And in the process, stop the elusive killer.