Anime Hajime Review: Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Jinta “Jintan” Yaomi (voiced by Miyu Irino) has become a bit of a recluse. He's lost all interest in socializing and would rather lock himself up in his room. Things didn’t have a hope of changing. That was until she came back.

Out of nowhere, an old friend of Jintan returns. Her name, Meiko “Menma” Honma (voiced by Ai Kayano). The last time Jintan saw Menma was back when they were kids. In fact, things were quite different when they were kids.

Jintan and Menma would spend every day playing with their four other close friends. There was Naruko “Anaru” Anjo (voiced by Haruka Tomatsu), Atsumu “Yukiatsu” Matsuyuki (voiced by Takahiro Sakurai), Chiriko “Tsuruko” Tsurumi (voiced by Saori Hayami), and Tetsudo “Poppo” Hisakawa (voiced by Takayuki Kondo). These six were once inseparable. Today, they almost never speak. When they do, it’s never with kind words. And they have all tried to make Menma a distant memory.

For you see, Menma died many years ago.

Yet here she is again and Jintan is the only one who can see her. Menma tells Jintan she thinks she’s unable to crossover. That there’s some wish she hopes to fulfill before she can. Though Jintan agrees to help, he soon learns he can’t do it alone.

Anime Hajime Review: Gantz

***Warning, the following WILL contain spoilers for Gantz. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Kei Kurono (voiced by Daisuke Namikawa) believes the world is garbage. That the people around him are nothing but vile, useless beings. Their mere existence nauseates him. That’s why he looks on when a homeless man falls unconscious onto the subway tracks.

Kei would've continued to do nothing too, had it not been for a chance encounter. Today of all days, Kei runs into his old childhood friend, Masaru Kato (voiced by Masashi Oosato). Unlike everyone else, Masaru jumps down to save the man. And he asks for Kei’s help.

This proved to be their doom. Though they saved the man’s life, Kei and Masaru could not get out of the way of the passing train. In an instant, they were dead.

In the next instant, they reappear in an ordinary looking apartment filled with strangers. No one has any idea where they are. And they’re all wonding what the strange black orb in the center is all about.

Known as Gantz, the black ball says everyone must hunt aliens wandering the streets of Tokyo. Although given access to advanced weaponry and armor, chances of survival are low. Kei and Masaru wonder how long they can last.

Anime Hajime Review: Nichijou

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

Series Synopsis

How in the hell am I going to do this? How does one synopsis Nichijou?

Most people live an ordinary life. They go to school. They meet with friends. They worry about their creator modifying them in their sleep. They’re ready to blow up their crush with heavy artillery at a moment’s notice.

You know, ordinary.

Every single day, we go from moment to moment. What those moments entail, well that’s part of the fun. Sometimes they make sense. Other times they don’t. And it’s the ones that don’t that are maybe the most special.

This is the story of such ordinary lives. Well, not so such a story. More like a series of strange, unbelievable happenings. The unexpected and the outlandish are normal here.

Hope you’re ready. If so, strap yourself in. You never know what’ll come flying through the air.

If anyone can do a better job than that, please let me know.

Anime Hajime Review: Elfen Lied

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

Series Synopsis

Escaping from a top-secret island facility, something dangerous is now at large. Possessing unparalleled telekinetic powers, even the most well equipped armies stands little chance. Her name is Lucy (voiced by Sanae Kobayashi).

Lucy is injured during her escape and washes ashore with neither the ability to speak nor her memories. She's discovered by cousins Kouta and Yuka (voiced by Chihiro Suzuki and Mamiko Noto). Unsure of what to do, Kouta and Yuka take the mysterious girl back to their place. They decide to refer to their guest as Nue who couldn't be any more of a sweetheart.

Though it wasn’t what they were expecting, the sudden family of three hope to live a peaceful existence. Little do Kouta and Yuka realize, they brought home a ticking time bomb. Though Nue may be kind and friendly, Lucy is not.

No matter how brief it may be, whenever Lucy resurfaces, many people end up dead.

As the days continue, nightmares of the past threaten to repeat themselves. These peaceful times will instead be plagued with tragedy.

Anime Hajime Review: Death Note

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

Series Synopsis

In the realm of the Death Gods, things have gotten rather stale. Hoping to relieve his boredom, the Death God Ryuk (voiced by Nakamura Shido) heads to the human world. There, he drops a mysterious object known as a Death Note. When a person’s name is written inside, that person will die. By complete chance, the Death Note gets picked up by a young man named Light Yagami (voiced by Mamoru Miyano).

Possessing a genius level intellect, Light sees the Death Note as an opportunity to rid the world of evil. In his mind, this is a task that only he can carry out. So with his new ability, Light decides to become the God of his new utopia.

Light’s actions quickly become the talk of the world. Dubbed Kira, Light is well on his way to achieving his God-like status. For there is no one capable of stopping him. Or so he thought.

Regardless of motivations, Kira is still a murder. The most dangerous one in history. Such a being must be stopped at all cost. A job that’s given to the world’s greatest detective. Known only as L (voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi).

Light and L, two brilliant minds, prepare for a battle that will determine the fate of the future. Should either of them make a mistake, the price will be their lives.

Anime Hajime Review: Nagasarete Airantou

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

Series Synopsis

Rebelling against his father, Ikuto Tohoin (voiced by Hiro Shimono) has run away from home. While out at sea, though, the ship he’s on gets caught in a massive storm and Ikuto’s thrown overboard. Everything seemed hopeless when something miraculous happened.

Ikuto washes ashore onto an uncharted island. There he’s saved by a girl named Suzu (voiced by Yui Horie). Suzu takes Ikuto back to her village where he is an instant celebrity. To his great shock, Ikuto learns he is the only male on the island.

Quickly becoming the target of everyone’s affection, Ikuto tries to return home. Unfortunately, the entire island is surrounded by inescapable whirlpools. And with no modern technology to contact the outside world, there doesn’t seem any way off. Thus, Ikuto concedes defeat and starts to make a life as the newest resident.

Yet, as the days turn weeks and weeks into months, it’s not that bad of a fate. Life on this small island does have its fair share of challenges. But it’s a peaceful life nonetheless. And with Suzu and the other inhabitant's help, nothing is impossible for this castaway.

Anime Hajime Review: Umineko no Naku Koro ni

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Umineko no Naku Koro ni. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

The year is 1986. On the island of Rokkenjima, the wealthy Ushiromiya family gather for their yearly conference. However, the family’s head, Kinzo Ushiromiya (voiced by Mugihito), is on the verge of death. With his end imminent, Kinzo decides the time is right to begin a horrific ceremony.

Among those joining the conference is Battler Ushiromiya (voiced by Daisuke Ono). Happy to see his beloved cousins again, he doesn't care for the family politics. Little did he or anyone know, this would be the last night they would see each other alive.

Within the Ushiromiya mansion is a large portrait of a beautiful woman. To the family, she's known as the Golden Witch. Legend has it, this witch gave Kinzo the funds to build his wealth. Below her painting is a strange epitaph containing a riddle. A riddle said to show the location of that wealth. Should anyone solve it, they would gain the rights to the great Ushiromiya inheritance.

And tonight is the last chance to solve the riddle.

Kinzo’s true motives for bringing his family to the island is so he can resurrect the Golden Witch. To do so, though, requires sacrifices. The members of the Ushiromiya family have walked into their doom.

Anime Hajime Review: Mirai Nikki

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

Series Synopsis

Yukiteru “Yuki” Amano (voiced by Misuzu Togashi) is an observer. Keeping to himself, he spends most of the time writing what he sees in his diary. Because of this, Yuki hasn’t bothered making friends. Except for one.

In his mind, Yuki created the all-powerful Deus (voiced by Norio Wakamoto). God of Space and Time, Deus is responsible for all the random events that happen in the world. Deus tells Yuki that a special kind of game is in the works. Brushing this off, Yuki made his first horrific mistake.

Deus is not a figment of his imagination. And the planned game will turn deadly.

Yuki discovers his beloved diary has been filled with strange entries. To his shock, these entries perfectly predict the future. Even more unnerving, he’s not the only person who possesses such a diary. To find a successor, Deus has given twelve people the ability to see into different aspects of the future. The sole survivor of this game will take the throne. The other eleven will die.

Overwhelmed and at a lost, Yuki is sure he won’t live through this twisted game. Or at least, not alone. One of his fellow contestants has made a vow to protect him at all costs. Her name, Yuno Gasai (voiced by Tomosa Murata). She claims nothing is more important to her than Yuki.

Anime Hajime Review: Mahoraba

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

Series Synopsis

Shiratori Ryushi (voiced by Ryoko Shiraishi) has come to Tokyo to become a children’s book artist. Being new to the city, Shiratori was lucky to find residence in a small apartment complex. There he meets its landlord, Kozue Aoba (voiced by Satomi Arai). Taken in by Kozue’s kindness, Shiratori is glad to have found such a wonderful place.

At least, that’s what he thought.

The other residents are a unique bunch. Plus, they have a bad habit of keeping Shiratori away from his artwork. Though Kozue insists they mean well, it's difficult nonetheless. Always exhausted, Shiratori does his best to maintain his sanity. Luckily, he has Kozue to give him support.

But it’s Kozue who holds the biggest surprise.

Whenever Kozue gets startled, frightened, angry, or sad she loses consciousness. Upon recovery, Kozue won’t be the person waking up. For you see, the kind-hearted landlord has several different personalities living inside her. Each one worlds different than the more level-headed Kozue.

The peaceful apartment Shiratori thought he moved into is anything but. His time in Tokyo is sure to be rough and tiring. Yet, this is the kind of place that has the tendency to grow on you. And soon, you can't imagine living anywhere else.