News: Sword Art Online II in 2014

The reveal of Sword Art Online II was shown during the premiere of Sword Art Online: Extra Edition special, and the series website was promptly updated.  It will launch in 2014, but an exact date is not listed.  More details will most likely be provided after we move into the New Year.  The words "Phantom Bullet" is all that is given alongside the picture on the website.  If you're curious about seeing the video, check it out below:

New Years: 5 Resolutions for Nerds

New goals come along with every New Year.  If we were successful with our previous ones, the new are welcomed with open arms.  You ready to tackle anything life and all its circumstances might throw at you.  If you failed them, though…well, let’s get that handy dust pan and do a bit of sweeping.  You can usher those long lost goals right outside to begin fresh, or you can meticulously pick through them like when you’re cleaning your closet to see which ones you want to save.  No matter how we deal with success or failure, tomorrow is the day when people look to the future and its opportunities.  We all have most likely made a resolution at some point in our lives.  It doesn’t necessarily have to be done on New Year’s, but it’s become somewhat of a cliché or tradition.  Resolutions can come in many forms—a lot of the time they pertain to something in self-improvement.  Then again, what about those sillier resolves?  You know, ones concerning entertainment and bookworm topics?  They seem to be lost in the crowds of serious, meaningful resolutions, but we can’t be grave 24-hours, 7 days a week.  At least, I hope not.  Anyhow, I’m here to bring to light the nerdy, geeky side of New Year goals.  Check them out, and be sure to comment about your own resolutions if you’d like!

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #6

Christmas may be over already, but that doesn't mean we can't buy gifts for our friends and loved ones for New Years.  A lot of the holiday sales are continuing into the new year, so you'll be able to add last minute items to you collection.  In other words, they're trying to make our resolutions of watching more anime, reading more manga, and playing more video games possible!  Aren't they the greatest?  I've covered anime, manga, and few merchandise items worth getting for your nerdy entourage.  This time I'll be exploring the gaming world Steam style!  Most gamers eagerly anticipate Steam's seasonal sales, ranging from 30-90% off for select titles.  Well, this year is no different.  Their undergoing winter sale lasts until January 3rd, so be sure to pick up your gaming needs before it ends.  I'll be suggesting some video games worth investing your hard-earned cash in below.  Set those goals for the fresh year to come, and work hard.  Have a wonderful New Years, everybody!

Video Game Holiday Wishlist

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #5

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Can a book fit into a stocking?  You may have to experiment and answer that important question.  As you unwrap those presents around the Christmas tree, small and large piles of gifts are forming stacks about you.  One of my favorite things to receive is a book.  I can never get enough of them!  Some will argue that manga aren’t exactly books—not in the formal sense.  I’d have to admit that I agree with them, and that fact doesn’t diminish their entertainment value.  (I swear, I read more than manga.)  Quite a few series can tell compelling stories with rich characters just as much as novels.  While novels rely only on written words, manga are able to convey emotion and meaning through dialogue and visuals.

Are you wondering what a good manga series is to pick up for your friends, hubbies, or siblings?  What’s really good for the person just starting out in the varying world of manga?  I’m here to provide you with a few titles to watch for this season—they’d be great New Year’s treats as well.  They are serious, they are action-packed, and they are filled with mystery.  They’re bound to keep you hooked throughout.  As Christmas passes us by, I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families.  Have those kiddies rip open their presents, and enjoy that massive feast waiting for you in the evening.  Merry Christmas, everybody!

Manga Holiday Wishlist #2

Review: Hyouka

Watching high schoolers solve insignificant mysteries is oddly addicting.  Besides seeing the list of themes on its description, I didn’t know what this anime was truly about.  I’m happy to say that its refreshing nature and light-hearted atmosphere was a pleasant surprise.  Simplicity can come in many forms and evoke different emotions in all of us.  We either hate it or love it—hit or miss.  Some may find it boring, while others soak it up as if their licking their dinner plates clean.  Nonetheless, it’s great when an anime can capture a sense of realism to such a degree.  Where characters remain believable and situations never spiral into craziness, this show offers a peaceful story with enough heart to put a smile on your face.  From Kyoto Animation studio, Hyouka is a 22-episode series that revolves around a group of students entering high school.

Review: Attack on Titan Vol. 1-4

Okay, so my wallet swallowed puppies as I ordered this.  Curiosity about the manga differences got the better of me, and now I have volume 1-9 sitting on my bookshelf.  Please check out my review of the anime if you haven’t already.  I eagerly cracked open the first entry, quickly polishing it and three more off in one day.  Set in a fantasy and steam punk world, Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama focuses on humanity’s plight against giants called titans.  Since the appearance of the man-eating titans, humans have built cities and now live behind massive walls for safety.  A hundred years of peace have passed without a single titan threat within the walls.  A boy named Eren, his adopted sister Mikasa, and his close friend Armin witness a terrible event one day.  A colossal titan bigger than 50 meters appears without warning, immediately kicking a hole in the wall.  Smaller titans begin pouring into the city, and countless lives are lost.  As humanity’s hope for survival collapses before his eyes, Eren vows to become stronger and obliterate every titan in the world.

 

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #4

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Can a book fit into a stocking?  I doubt you’d want to fray the pages and bend the covers in such a way.  Wrapped packages are always great to see piling up under the tree.  Whether classic literature or comic, books are a wonderful gift to receive.  Some people desire to neatly fill their shelves, and others yearn to become the ultimate collector, letting their assortment overflow into stacks throughout their entire house.  Otakus stake out sales across the internet and bookstores, trying to locate deals on their favorite titles.  And, of course, the manga cows are grazing around this time of the year, congesting store aisles and soaking up all they can find.  Need help in discovering a new manga series that your bookworm friends, hubbies, or siblings will enjoy?  Is one of them just beginning their journey into the vast world of manga?

Don’t worry, because there is a ton to choose from!  I'm here to provide you with a couple lists of titles you should keep an eye out for this Christmas.  They’re good items to read by those fake or real fireplaces in your homes.  Also, be sure to check out this and future Holiday Wishlist feature(s) to get an idea for what to purchase this festive season.  Merry Christmas and happy shopping, everybody!

Manga Holiday Wishlist #1

Review: Vagabond [VIZBig Edition] 1

I have a weakness for things related to feudal Japan, especially anything set in the Sengoku period leading up to the Edo period.  All things samurai kind of fascinate me, so I’m not afraid to admit that Takehito Inoue’s manga Vagabond was a perfect fit for me.  The VIZ Big Editions were sitting on my shelf for a while, and I decided I couldn’t wait to read them any longer.  I believe every big edition has about 3 to 4 volumes in one.  They are a great value for people who like reading manga in succession, and their compression definitely help when you have limited shelf space.  Their size is a little unwieldy to hold and can tire out your wrists if you don’t lean them against a table or put them in your lap.  Viz Media’s design for these versions is put together well.  The bindings are strong, the covers are thicker than usual, and they look awesome lined up on a bookshelf.  The artwork on the spines combines into one long picture of important characters from the story.  Also, a glossary is located in the back, providing background information about the time period and certain family names.  You can find some author comments and character sketches there as well.  The translation seems quite accurate, too.

Review: Tiger & Bunny

I didn’t exactly know what to expect when I jumped into the first episode of Tiger & Bunny.  This anime presents its goofy essence in all of its glory in a couple seconds into its opening.  It doesn’t hide its true nature, never trying to shrewdly ruse the viewer into believing it’s something it’s not.  Characters are straightforward, villains are one-dimensional and over the top, and the story is something that anyone could write.  Nonetheless, it’s a fun experience for the right audience, especially for the ones who can appreciate its homage to old superhero films and television series.  It has a futuristic touch and a different take on how superpowers emerged into the world.  A lot of heart was put into one of the main characters, making him an endearing part of the overall story and its presentation.  It is fully aware of its craziness and doesn’t endeavor to take itself seriously.  In other words, there’s no identity crisis to be seen here!

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #3

Getting a complete set, a book, or a video game is great and all, but what would the holidays be without those smaller items?  Those trinkets and baubles can be some of the most entertaining.  They can be geeky; they can be fun.  Clothes and swag aren't too shabby either, keeping us warm when needed and fashionable when hip.  We're able take such items and wear them in public to openly brag about our hobbies.  The next best thing is bringing them to anime or video game conventions to feel at home with your fellow nerds.  Anyhow, if you're wondering where to buy merchandise or gag gifts, I'll be here to provide some answers!  Some of the best spots around the internet are ThinkGeek, J!NX, Tee Turtle, and Rightstuf.  These sites offer a wide variety of goods—key chains, flashlights, t-shirts, and much more.  I'm mainly going to point out a few choice items that I'd buy for myself and my friends.

Merchandise Holiday Wishlist

Review: Attack on Titan

Is it all hype?

It seems that every year there’s at least one new anime that emerges victorious over all the other seasonal releases.  People flock to it in droves as if it’s announcing meal time; cosplayers rally at conventions in the same costumes—clones everywhere!  And everyone talks about the different elements of the series for months, forum posts reaching 100s of pages for one thread.  Attack on Titan is one of those shows that stand proudly in a room while individuals crowd around it, asking endless probing questions.  Onlookers can only mingle in the foreground, getting curious as to why this new guy is so popular that they inevitably join in with the masses.  I blindly dived into this anime’s dystopian world to find a story filled with emotion and massive conflict.

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #2

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Are you struggling to locate the perfect gifts for your nerdy hubby, boy/girlfriend, sibling, or friend?  Are they closet otakus or are they loud and proud about it?  In either case, they need something to fuel their time-consuming addictions!  In addition, you probably need a couple of suggestions for those people just starting in their anime fandom, right?  I'm here to provide you with a few lists of titles you should can keep an eye out for this Christmas.  Shove these complete sets in those big stockings!

Also, be sure to check out this and future Holiday Wishlist feature(s) to get an idea for what to purchase this festive season.  I'll be featuring more than anime wishlists in the coming days.  Merry Christmas and happy shopping, everybody!

Anime Holiday Wishlist #2

News: Telltale Games Extravaganza!

With The Walking Dead game being crowned as 2012 game of the year, Telltale Games has quickly become a studio of interest, stealing glances whenever they hint at future projects.  Rumors have been circulating for months about the prospects of a Game of Thrones video game, causing people to drool over the possibilities of a story-driven experience within the folds of the its rich world.  Well, those rumors were finally confirmed tonight at the VGX Awards.  They unveiled the announcement with a short teaser, saying that they have commenced with the game's development.  Telltale stated that it will be based on the TV series rather than the books.

Also, it was revealed at the VGX Awards that Telltale Games with be teaming up with Gearbox, the developer of Borderlands and Borderlands 2.  It will be called "Tales from the Borderlands," and the player will be controlling a "vault hunter wannabe" rather than a full-fledged vault hunter.  It's a story-driven game grounded in Gearbox's established world.


*sources Gameinformer, IGN, & Nerdist

Feature: Holiday Wishlist #1

Holiday sales are upon us, ravaging our wallets and stealing our little pennies!  Whether we cry in our loneliness as we buy ourselves gifts, or we grin as we shower our friends and family with packages, we all tend to go over the edges of our budgets during the holiday season, especially for the many Christmas presents we simply must purchase.  If you don't, then consider yourselves one of the lucky ones!  Our main goal is to fulfill those seemingly never-ending wishlists for our kids, siblings, or friends.  We go done the list one item at a time, triumphantly checking them off and moving on to the next store aisle.

However, what if there was no list provided for you?  What if your kid or friend merely replied to your coaxing for an answer with, "Whatever is fine..."?  That doesn't help much, and you're kinda scratching your head, browsing catalogs and websites for what possibly fits.  You have an otaku hubby or boyfriend who you want to please?  Have a friend that's on the verge of diving into anime fandom?  Well, I'm here to help you in that department!  Check out the titles in this and future Holiday Wishlist feature(s) to get an idea for what titles to keep an eye out for.

Anime Holiday Wishlist #1

Review: Wolf Children

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda and licensed by FUNimation Entertainment, Wolf Children tells the story of a woman named Hana, spanning nearly a 13-year timeline.  While working part time and attending university classes, Hana meets a quiet, lonely man and begins befriending him.  Their love for each other grows as months pass by, and the man eventually reveals a surprising secret to Hana one night, showing that he’s a wolf man, part human and part wolf.  She remains by his side, however, and over the course of time, Hana gives birth to two children—a girl named Yuki and a boy named Ame.  A twist of cruel fate ultimately takes the wolf man from her life, leaving her to fend for herself and her children alone.

Although lacking deeper characters that I could emotionally invest in compared to The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars, this movie touches on some serious themes that many face throughout the world.  With dazzling visuals and an enchanting musical score, being a single parent, coping with the loss of a loved one, and letting your children spread their wings are all explored.  Its simplicity and straightforwardness have an air of charm that encourages the viewer to stick through till the end.

Introduction - Debut!

Hello, everybody!  Welcome to the grand opening of my blog “Anime, Manga, & More.”  This blog is where you’ll find anime and manga as well as game reviews.  You may stumble across the occasional analysis of live action movies, but those will be posted infrequently.  Since I like all of the above in entertainment, I thought that it would be fun and rewarding to delve deeper into what I’m passionate about, examining the different aspects such as story, animation quality, voice acting, and so on with my favorite shows/games.  New releases, preorders, and other awesomesauce things you should keep an eye out for will be covered, too!

Because Christmas is speeding in our direction, the first batch of features will be holiday wish lists, recommending certain titles to stuff in those family stockings.  (Can a complete collection fit in a stocking?  I’ll have to try that… O_o)

Ratings and How They Work

My rating system differs from others by not assigning a letter or number grade.  I don’t prefer letter grades for particular aspects of series/movies/games because things can get muddled in the process.  I like to consider things encased in a neat package that should be weighed as a whole.  A score out of five or ten is somewhat vague, and numbers can hold drastically different meanings from person to person.

Anime, movie, and manga ratings will be the following:

• Watch/Read it
• Try it
• Dump it

Game ratings:

• Buy it
• Rent it
• Dump it

“Watch/Read it” signifies that I’d suggest the title to just about anyone; it’s addicting and entertainment at its finest.  “Try/Rent it” means that people should give it a whirl before committing to a full price purchase; it may work for some but not for others.  “Dump it” is pretty self-explanatory; it’s either abysmal in nearly every way possible or it’s not something I’m into.

These ratings will be tweaked when needed, but I won’t go out of my way to buck my established method.  I feel like changing it too much would be cheap and unprofessional.  And I doubt the “dump it” pile will be that large—or maybe I’m crossing my fingers and hoping.

Evaluation

Most anime will be evaluated as a complete series.  In other words, I will typically watch a series in its entirety before formally posting about it.  That may change over the course of time, primarily if there are ever any significant lapses in my updates.  Sometimes my schedule (life responsibilities!!!) don’t permit me to indulge in my hobbies as often as I’d like, which is probably kinda sorta healthier for me in the long run.

On the other hand, manga will be reviewed a few volumes at a time, usually by twos or threes.  I buy at least two volumes of every manga series I attempt to start; it’s easier to get a feel of characters and of where the stories may be headed that way.  Assessment of games will be given after spending a large portion of time with its core game mechanics—controls, complexity, graphics, et cetera.  Posts reviewing live action movies won’t be the norm.  I don’t go to the movie theater pretty much at all (maybe 2-3 times a year…>_>).

Goals

My main goal is to provide you with solid and effective reviews (racking up blogging experience is a plus, too).  Even if a show, movie, or game doesn’t turn out to be something that I particularly enjoy, I will still try to give it a fair and honest rating.  I’ll say upfront that I will not be reviewing any yuri or yaoi (shoujo-ai or shounen-ai) anime/manga series; do not ask me to rate them because you will definitely receive no reply.  The very, very irregular ecchi may slip through if it manages to hook me in the first episode, which has never happened thus far.  Even with those exceptions, you’ll find a wide variety of genres and themes that I watch.  Things with science fiction and fantasy settings are what I most enjoy, especially in the gaming category.

I’ll endeavor to make my writing interesting, and I hope to make this a successful blog.  The latter can only be accomplished with your guys’ help.  Comment on this introductory post or any of my future posts with feedback and suggestions!  Always feel free to request specific series or games that you want reviewed, excluding the types I mentioned above.  It may take some time before I get to yours, however, because I have a huge backlog of my own anime and games that I need to finish.

Let the blogging adventure begin!

                                                                             *image from Google images