Girls Bravo Anime Review

Girls Bravo
Funimation
Complete - 24 episodes

560 mins - 4 discs

$49.98 (2010)

ISBN 704400045806

English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles

Director - Ei Aoki

Studio - AIC

Synopsis: Yukinari has been bullied by girls his whole life, especially his next door neighbor Kirie.  It's gotten so bad he's actually allergic to them and breaks out in a rash anytime he comes in contact with a girl.  When he accidentally gets transported through his bathtub to the planet Seiren, with a population made up of 90% women - it's his worst nightmare come true! 

Fortunately he meets Miharu, a beautiful girl with uncanny abilities and the first female who doesn't make him break out in a rash.  She gets transported back to Earth with Yukinari and must deal with the culture shock of a new world.

 Yukinari has his hands full with all of these crazies:

• Miharu - from Seiren, has strange abilities and an unquenchable appetite, loves Yukinari
• Kirie - Yukinari's next door neighbor, well-endowed, tough, has a crush on Yukinari despite his wimpy demeanor
• Kazuharu - is Yukinari's classmate and the most popular boy at school, incredibly rich, a total lecher with the exact opposite allergy as Yukinari - he is allergic to guys and can only be around women
• Lisa - Kazuharu's sister, a witch, believes Yukinari is her soulmate after reading a horoscope
• Koyomi - from Seiren, sent to retrieve Miharu, afraid of guys, searching for her father on Earth
• Tomoka - from Seiren, sent to help Koyomi retrieve Miharu, is a pre-teen, knows some magic
• Maharu - Miharu's big sister with even bigger boobs, obsessed with finding a husband
• Hayate - Lisa's attendant, has ninja stealth skills
• Kosame - another of Lisa's attendants, strong fighter, in love with Kirie

Pros: Fan-service with actual nudity, lighthearted comedy with lots of sexual innuendo and endearing characters, Kosame's lesbian crush on Kirie is hot!, each episode usually starts with a naked girl in the bathtub

Cons: Typical harem show, story is brainless and silly

Mike Tells It Straight: Harem shows should drop the pretense and follow Girls Bravo's lead by giving us what we really want - fan-service with nudity!  It's pure comedy mixed with sexual innuendo, but never takes itself too seriously or goes too far (unless you're easily offended by inappropriate sexual behavior, and then it goes too far).  Released in two "seasons" of 12 episodes each for a total count of 24 episodes.  They noticeably up the fan-service factor after season one!  Even the opening credits have nudity - so if you're looking for something silly with fan-service (and you're old enough to watch it) then this show is perfect!

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Afro Samurai Director's Cut Anime Review

Afro Samurai Director's Cut
Afuro Samurai
Funimation
Complete - 5 episodes
125 mins. - 2 discs
$29.98 (2008) Director's Cut Blu-Ray
$24.98 (2007) Director's Cut
$12.98 (2007)
ISBN 704400079801
English Audio
Directors - Fuminori Kizaki & Jamie Simone
Studio - Gonzo

Synopsis: The Number 1 headband is worn by the greatest fighter in the world and can only be challenged by the fighter with the Number 2 headband.  Number 2 can be challenged by anyone and is under constant attack.  In a battle on a snowy mountaintop the Number 2 decapitates the Number 1 and claims his headband.  The former Number 1's son is witness and vows revenge.  His name is Afro.

Afro is one bad mofo

Fast forward many years and Afro is under constant attack as Number 2.  He's on a collision course with Number 1 and cuts down all opponents in his path.  We learn the details of his heart-breaking journey.  Can he defeat the unkillable Number 1 to claim revenge for his father and the friends he sacrificed on his unrelenting journey?

Ninja Ninja is always hanging around Afro, but no one else can see him

Pros: Great packaging and lots of extras - including 15 minutes of additional footage, hip hop/samurai theme is slick, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of Afro, some nudity, great visuals and tons of hardcore action

Afro is final battle with Justice, the man who killed his father!

Cons: Storyline is flimsy, one trick pony filled with one-liners and scenes with two macho guys staring each other down, Afro's sidekick Ninja Ninja is really annoying, Afro has no personality

Let it not be said a path to revenge does not include a sexy detour

Mike Tells It Straight: Revenge! Pure and simple. This show (movie if you want to call the episodes chapters) is an unflinching revenge tale with gruesome deaths and betrayals galore. Not very deep and singularly focused, but the visuals are pretty good. Mindless entertainment if you're in the mood.

Afro's former childhood friend - a samurai who wears a bear head

Based on a manga (doujinshi) by Takashi Okazaki it's basically a Japanese blaxploitation film.  Samuel L. Jackson adds a little street cred, but he was in the Shaft remake.  RZA of Wu-Tang Clan produced the soundtrack which is pretty good.  The melding of hip-hop, feudal Japanese culture, and futuristic technology is unique to the series.  The fact many high level stars (Jackson, RZA, Lucy Liu) attached themselves to the property is a testament to the author's concept.

This guy...is super annoying

Gonzo does great animation and visuals, the character designs are cool, and the soundtrack works really well.  It's a slick show, but the plot is really simple and Afro's imaginary friend Ninja Ninja is incredibly annoying.  I guess he's supposed to be comedy relief, but he quite possibly ruins the entire show (along with Afro's complete lack of personality).  I tried to like this show, but it was more flash than substance.  Not much replay value for me and I recommend it if you're looking for something cool to play in the background.

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Puni Puni Poemy Anime Review

Puni Puni Poemy
Puni Puni Poemii

ADV Films

Complete Collection - 1 disc

60 mins. - 2 episodes

$29.98 (2004)
$19.98 (2007) w/Dragon Half
ISBN 702727072925

English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles

Director - Shinichi Watanabe

Studio - J.C. Staff

Synopsis: Poemi Watanabe is a hyperactive 10-year-old with dreams to become a voice actress and a crush on the most popular boy in her grade.  Pretty normal, right?  You are @#$%-ing wrong!  She is thrust into a massive alien plot when her parents are killed by Alien #1, an extraterrestrial assassin. 

Poemi is just your average and rambunctious 10-year-old

Moving in with her best friend, Futaba Aasu, and her six sisters, Poemi discovers they are secretly a squad of magical superheroes with inane powers.  Can Peomi manage to become a magical girl to stop the alien invasion and avenge her parents!?

The Aasu sister (from left) - Shii, Itsue, Nanase (top), Hitomi (bottom),
Mitsuki, Mutsumi, and Futaba 

Pros: Wacky comedy, lots of fan-service - especially Shii, shounen-ai (look it up)

The sisters are captured by the same alien (with the freaky gonad) who
killed Poemy's parents!

Cons: The main characters are too young for fan-service (Poemi and Futaba), plot is too weird, some questionably poor taste at times, hard to follow

The sisters aren't doing too well against the aliens

Mike Tells It Straight: This is a magical girl show on crack!  It's got some mature themes - best friend Futaba is a hardcore 10-year-old lesbian trying to put the moves on Poemi and the alien assassin doesn't wear pants to cover his giant, hanging gonad.  WTF to the Nth degree and banned in New Zealand.  Spawned from Excel Saga (maybe even an unofficial sequel) with the exact same director, but far too manic for my taste.  Only watch it if you really need to go there and can handle the trip.

Poemi must become this kick-ass magical girl to save the sisters and
stop the alien invasion.  Oh yeah, revenge too!

TO BUY and Recommendations:
   

Garzey's Wing Anime Review

Garzey's Wing
U.S. Manga Corps
Complete - 3 episodes
90 mins. - 1 disc
$9.99 (2003) $29.99 (2000)
ISBN 719987228429
English/Japanese Audio - English Subtitles
Director - Yoshiyuki Tomino
Studio - J.C. Staff/BMG Japan

Synopsis: Chris is a regular high school student (who just happens to fail his college entrance exams for the second time = loser) when he is suddenly pulled into the world of Byston Well and thrust into the middle of a slave rebellion.  He possesses the mystical power of Garzey's Wing and is the prophesied savior of the slave tribes.  The power manifests as giant wings of light which spring from his ankles allowing him to fly.

Meanwhile Chris still exists in our world and the two halves of his soul communicate through a necklace they both wear.  When Byston Well Chris gets cut fighting soldiers then real-world Chris also is cut.  Can Chris save Byston Well and his real-world self?

Pros: The main character steps up to the challenge of risking his life to save people

Cons: Story is obfuscating, dub is lame, no biomecha like in Aura Battler Dunbine, soundtrack is weak

Mike Tells It Straight: Yoshiyuki Tomino is a legendary writer/director and the original creator of Mobile Suit Gundam and Aura Battler Dunbine (the original Byston Well show from the 80s).  This show is his worst ever.  Seriously, I checked and really don't recommend it.

TO BUY and Recommendations: