Anime Hajime Review: Yuyushiki

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

Series Synopsis

How many random thoughts cross our minds throughout the day? Too many to count that’s for sure. Yet if you share them with your best friends, there’ll never be a dull moment.

High school has started. But this did little to change the daily lives of three closer than close friends.

Yuzuko Nonohara (voiced by Rumi Okubo) is energetic and can never sit still. Running at a million miles a minute, Yuzuko can make the most childish of kids look like adults in comparison. And despite her academic prowess, the next thing out of her mouth may be the dumbest thing you’ve heard in some time.

Yui Ichii (voiced by Minami Tsuda) tends to stay reserved. Because of this, she exudes an air of maturity. Though a tad cold, Yui is easy to talk to. Yet she's also quick to irritation. A trait which makes it hard for others to resist the urge to mess with her.

Yukari Hinata (voiced by Risa Taneda) doesn’t let much faze her. And she's always on the lookout for something amusing. Too bad her natural air-headedness has a tendency to backfire on her.

Anime Hajime Review: Maken-ki Two

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Maken-ki Two. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

If you can believe it, we’ve returned to Tenbi Academy. Here battles and combat are expected.

Many students have the ability to control Elements. As well as wield weapons known as Maken. The destructive nature of this energy makes them dangerous in the wrong hands. That's why it is up to Tenbi’s elite Maken-ki to keep the peace.

The Maken-ki have a lot on their hands. The next crisis could come from anywhere. There's not any shortage of people who wish to abuse their power. Or raid the girl’s locker room. Whichever.

Amongst this exclusive group is Takeru Oyama (voiced by Tomoaki Maneno). Due to circumstances, he lives with three of his fellow, female, Maken-ki members. His childhood friend Haruko Amaya (voiced by Noriko Shitaya). His supposed fiancée, Inaho Kushiya (voiced by Iori Nomizu). And the short-tempered, Kodama Himegami (voiced by Sayuri Yahagi).

Though these four get the job done, it’s never easy. Not so much due to the danger involved. It has more to do with this group’s eccentric nature. This often means one, if not everyone, is going to get naked at some point.

What’s the worst that can happen? Again?

Anime Hajime Review: Hidamari Sketch - Sae and Hiro's Graduation Arc

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Hidamari Sketch: Sae & Hiro’s Graduation Arc. Reader discretion is advised.***

OVA Synopsis

Sooner or later, everything must come to an end.

When she first arrived at the Hidamari Apartments, Yuno (voiced by Kana Asumi) wasn’t sure what make to of it all. High school seemed like the ultimate challenge. Fortunately, it wasn’t one she would have to do alone.

Over the course of her high school career, Yuno meet many new people. Including her best friend and fellow Hidamari resident Miyako (voiced by Kaori Mizuhashi). Before they knew it, they managed to put a year under their belts. Then Yuno and Miyako had their own underclassmen. Newcomers Nori (voiced by Hitomi Harada) and Nazuna (voiced by Chiaki Omigawa).

Though things were difficult, they were always fun. But that wouldn’t have been possible if not for the support of Yuno’s two upperclassmen. Hidamari's senior residents Sae (voiced by Ryoko Shintani) and Hiro (voiced by Yuko Goto). Yuno cannot express what these two have meant to her. And it makes having to say goodbye all the hard.

It's Sae and Hiro’s turn to move in their lives. To meet their goals and fulfill their dreams. The legacy they leave behind will surely light the path for those who follow them.

With that, let's return to the Hidamari Apartments. One last time.

Anime Hajime Review: Tari Tari

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

Series Synopsis

There are things in our lives which cling to our hearts. They fill us with sadness. They fill us with regret. They stifle us. They hold us back because of the pain. That’s why they are often the very things which can push us forward.

Such is the case for five high school students.

Wakana Saki (voiced by Ayahi Takagaki) has given up singing since the death of her mother. The thought of music is nothing but a painful reminder of un-kept promises.

Konatsu Miyamoto (voiced by Asami Seto) would give anything for one last chance to sing on stage. An opportunity which is becoming less and less likely every passing day.

Sawa Okita (voiced by Saori Hayami) is a girl of many talents. But only has a passion for horse riding. Too bad her dreams may be out of reach.

Taichi Tanaka (voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki) is the sole member of the badminton club. Despite this, he never stops trying to achieve his goals. Yet that doesn't make things easy.

Atsuhiro “Wien” Maeda (voiced by Natsuki Hanae) has spent the last twelve years in Austria. While exctited to return to his home country, he can never forget the time he spent abroad.

Anime Hajime Review: Sakamoto Desu Ga?

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Sakamoto Desu Ga. Reader discretion is advised.***

Series Synopsis

Think of the coolest person you have ever known. Now raise their coolness level up by a factor of a thousand. Even with that, this person of yours is only a fraction as cool as Sakamoto (voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa).

Sakamoto is the guy everyone wishes they could be. He does everything with effortless grace and dignity. He is so perfect, he makes perfection jealous.

For someone of this caliber, daily life is nothing short of fantastical.

No matter how daunting the challenge. No matter how stacked the odds are. No matter how implausible the situation may be, Sakamoto makes it all look easy. Without a sweat or a moment’s hesitation, Sakamoto can solve any problem.

And not only will he solve the problem, he’ll do it in a very Sakamoto way. So, to us onlookers, we may not be able to comprehend what's going on in his head. We may question. We may doubt. But the results speak for themselves.

How is it possible for the impossible not to exist? Well, haven’t you heard? He’s Sakamoto.

Anime Hajime Review: Black Rock Shooter (OVA)

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Black Rock Shooter the OVA. Reader discretion is advised.***

OVA Synopsis

Our story takes place in two worlds.

In one Mato Kuroi (voiced by Kana Hanazawa) is beginning her new middle school life. There she meets Yomi Takanashi (voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro). The two click right away. It doesn’t take long before they become inseparable.

In the other, battles are the only way of life. Here, one combatant is searching for someone. This twined pigtailed, cannon wielding fighter goes by the name Black Rock Shooter. And she is looking for the one known as Dead Master.

Back in the real world, Mato and Yomi spend as much time together as possible. But the realities of life have a habit of getting in the way. Yomi grows concerned that she's losing her dearest friend. Then one day, Yomi goes missing. At a loss, Mato does everything in her power to find her.

In Otherworld, Black Rock Shooter manages to locate Dead Master. Upon doing so, she gives Dead Master the chance to come peacefully. To no avail. The two begin an all-out duel.

The intensity of this faceoff comes from the emotions of the real world. And the lengths a person is willing to go to save the one most precious to them will be put to the test.

Anime Hajime Review: Kowabon

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

Series Synopsis

In our modern world, we are never far from the eye of a camera. Weather in our day to day life or connecting with friends, the record light is on. At best, someone is probably watching. At worst, something.

When focused on our screens, that’s when we’re the most vulnerable. From behind, from the side, or from the darkness, there are things waiting.

There’s no rhyme. No reason. It’s not something we did. It’s not something we called. But it’s there nonetheless.

What it wants. What it’s after. What it plans to do, no one can say. Yet it’s in our best interest for it not catch us. Except, when its eyes are set, it’s all but over.

Here are thirteen tales of such instances. Thirteen stories of the unexplained. Thirteen times when the shadow in the corner of your eye doesn’t stay there.

It’s coming. It’s creeping. It’s breathing down your neck.

This is Kowabon.

Anime Eiga Review: Cowboy Bebop - Knockin' on Heaven's Door

***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door. Reader discretion is advised.***

Film Synopsis

The bounty hunter ship Bebop is on the trail of its latest job. As always, the unlikely crew of Spike Spiegel (voiced by Koichi Yamadera), Jet Black (Unsho Ishizuka), Faye Valentine (voiced by Megumi Hayashibara), Ed Wong (voiced by Aoi Tada), and Ein will get the job done. One way or another.

Their next bounty appears simple enough. A quick cash in and everyone can eat a decent meal for once. Right as they planned to make contact, someone they didn’t expect showed up.

Rather than some two-bit criminal, a man in black appears. Before the crew has a chance to figure out what’s going on, a massive explosion erupts. Many people lose their lives and the mysterious man disappears.

Following the incident, the government issues an unprecedented bounty for the perpetrator. With their interest peaked, the Bebop jumps into action.

Little do they realize they have entered a crisis unlike any they have ever been in. The person at large isn't looking for money or power. Should they achieve their goal, it could result in the death of every single person on the planet.

Anime Ichiban: Top Ten Openings 3rd Edition

Criteria

This is now the third time I’ve explained this. It’s becoming a yearly tradition it seems. One that I’m more than happy to continue with.

That’s right, we have another year under our belts. So, it’s time to do a little reflection. What has come? What has gone? And what has remained a staple of the medium? It’s once again time to look at the top opening songs in anime.

I can tell you, the contender list is getting quite big now. And that's fantastic. Though it does make my job all the harder.

Yet with each new update, I like to think we are getting closer to the ultimate list. A goal I know we’re never going to reach. And a goal I never plan to reach.

As always, what are we looking for?

To start and to reiterate, this list has nothing to do with the quality of a series. A show can be garbage and still find a home here. All that matters is that opening number.

We’re looking at more than if a theme is catchy. Is it memorable? When you hear it, there’s no mistaking where it’s from. At the drop of a hat, you can play it in your head and not miss a note.