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.