PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA

* Published August 31, 2012: http://www.goboiano.com/test/newDB/read-more-news.php?id=561

'Magical girl' is a genre I haven't indulged in very much, so practically speaking Puella Magi Madoka Magica was a first look into an unfamiliar tradition. Lack of familiarity, however, engenders a neutral viewing experience, where the job of an anime critic becomes almost pure analysis through virgin eyes. Of course, comparing Madoka to something is inevitable, but without a thorough understanding of shows in a similar vein, any comparisons I draw risk being poor ones. Here's what I know for certain: Madoka Magica became an instant classic, receiving universal acclaim for its innovations as both an original anime work and an unparalleled contribution to the magical girl genre. Calling it a 'magical girl' anime, in fact, calls into question what it means to be a part of the genre.

Source: Crunchyroll. Copyright Shaft, Aniplex.

Musings of the Editor in Chief

ELFEN LIED

3 stars out of 5

Elfen Lied is not a required viewing. In fact, I wouldn’t even recommend it to people who are anime fans. I just happened to have enjoyed the anime. I am not surprised at all that there aren’t a lot of people who would include this in a top 100 anime list. The violence and nudity have been flourished with controversy and it’s no surprise. The opening shot of the anime is a bloodied, severed arm on the floor. You then see Lucy, the guilty party responsible for that arm being on the floor, naked and ready to attack even more.

Source: Netflix. Elfen Lied. Copyright Lynn Okamoto, Arms.

COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE

Our very first video review, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, courtesy of Fallettus. This is a hilarious and very well done work, and we are proud to feature this for your enjoyment.

MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN: EP 2

5 out of 5 Stars

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn is a seven part OVA that currently has five episodes out. Last time I reviewed episode one, so now I will be reviewing episode two: The Second Coming of Char.

SHIKI

* Published August 11th, 2012: http://goboiano.com/read-more-news.php?id=407

One genre that never goes out of style is the vampires/werewolves/zombies story. From time immemorial, pop culture and mythical creatures have walked hand in hand. Zombies that used to rise from the ground due to voodoo traditions and nuclear waste are now byproducts of bio weapons. Vampires and werewolves are engaged in a war to see who can twinkle the strongest in the sunlight (yes, I'm talking to those Twilight fans out there). I don't care much for any of them, and I generally think these occult pop icons should be laid to rest. Once in a while, however, I'm reminded of the fact that all it takes to rekindle a genre is bold originality. Shiki did this for me.

MUSINGS OF THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

Wow, does time fly! We've been online for a good eight months now. I think that's cause to celebrate, don't you?

THE WOMAN CALLED FUJIKO MINE

* Published August 2nd, 2012: http://www.goboiano.com/read-more-news.php?id=309

4.5 stars out of 5

The Winter 2011 - Spring 2012 season featured some very diverse anime, including the kinky high-school romance, Mysterious Girlfriend X, and the Shinichiro Watanabe/Yoko Kanno jazz hit, Kids on the Slope. Another show that caught my eye was Lupin III: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine. My first encounter with the franchise began years ago, when I would stay up way past my bedtime, keeping one eye open to watch Adult Swim. I certainly don't remember seeing too much of Fujiko Mine back then, but after this latest Lupin III installment, she (and her breasts) have become unforgettable parts of my anime experience.

ARMITAGE: DUAL MATRIX

* Published July 31st, 2012: http://www.goboiano.com/read-more-news.php?id=284

I'm not a big fan of sequels, because good sequels are notoriously hard to pull off. Artistic integrity (and dignity) are cast aside in the pursuit of maintaining a franchise with some perceived vestige of commercial viability. Characters who deserve to be left alone are reanimated to act out some half-baked plot. Such is the case with Armitage: Dual Matrix. While it's nice to see that Naomi Armitage and Ross Sylibus are living happy lives with their newborn child, bringing Armitage out of retirement to beat up some more baddies seems... wrong.