Name: Pound Pound no Fukuin
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Year: 2008
Rating: Recommended

One Pound no Fukuin (One Pound Gospel) follows the life of 19 year old Kosaku Hatanaka, a young talented boxer. A key requirement for entering boxing matches is to ones weight within the permitted limits of the weight class they are in. Kosaku who is within the feather weight category must keep his weight within a given limit or else he would be disqualified before the match even begins. For a boxer in the lightest class it is essential that their weight is controlled through rigorous dieting and cardiovascular training. However Kosaku though being talented he often finds himself unable to resist the temptation of a nice meal. With no little to no control over his appetite he would either have to move up a weight class or end his dream of being a boxer. One day during his road work (running exercise) he collapses from hunger but is saved by a passing nun. After regaining consciousness Kosaku is determined to thank Sister Angela and soon finds himself competing for her attention.

One Pound Gospel is a light hearted romance comedy. The fights are not very serious, whether its a good point or a bad it depends on the individuals opinion. I guess if it had more serious fights like Hajime no Ippo it would be a completly different series. One Pound Gospel rather focuses on the relationship between Kosaku and Sister Angela rather than the boxing side of the story. Much of the time we see Kosaku struggle with his dieting problems and other times we see him depressed over the lack of affection he is getting from Sister Angela. Kosaku’s positive and straight forward action is what makes it interesting, I’m sure many viewers will gain a few laughs from Kosaku’s personality.

Name: Simoun
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 2006
Rating: Enjoyable

Simoun is set in a world called Daikuuriku. In this earth like planet the inhabitants are all born female and are given the chance to choose their sex at the age of seventeen. The nation of Simulacrum wields the powerful technology of Helical Motors of which are used to give flight to objects. These mysterious motors are the key force behind their nations military. Amongst those who have not yet visited the spring that determines gender a select few are given the chance to become Sibyllae, respected priestesses that pilot Simouns. Powered by the Helical Motors the Simoun are flying machines capable of destroying large forces. The pilots are able to use the Simoun to create Ri Maajons, patterns in the sky that each to its own has special abilities. Amongst the Sibyllae forces the most famous squadron named Chor Tempest consists of the most talented pilots. Aaeru a new member soon joins this force, unlike many others she accepts that Simouns are tools of war and Ri Maajons are not just prayers offered to the gods. Aaeru is faced with questions of war and religion but whats more concerning is the secrets that lie within the ancient Helical Motor technology.

For those who don’t know Simoun is a Yuri series. Simoun would be my first encounter with a Yuri series, my first impression was that the series was much like a Shounen anime with female protagonists. Although I am a fan of shounen content Simoun left quite a good impression on me. Although I haven’t seen many Yuri themed anime Simoun would probably be one of the best ones. The character designs are stunning graphic wise as well as with regards to the personalities portrayed. Aaeru is the typical protagonist you would find in a shounen series, she is straight to the point, has strong determination, holds potential that exceeds other characters skill wise and of course a little naive. The plot itself is quite interesting, there is quite allot of though given in designing the world of Daikuuriku. Theres allot of emphasis on their religion as a whole as well as focusing on each characters own opinion on the laws of Simulacrum. The series however felt a little bit slow from the beginning. If you have seen the series or intend to watch it I have to say that it does get better and more interesting as the series progresses.

Name: Basilisk
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Year: 2005
Rating: Enjoyable

In the past the two clans Iga Tsubagakure and Kouga Manjidani were engaged in a continous war that lasted centuries. The bloody feud was finally put to an end when Hattori Hanzo succeeded in creating an agreement of peace between the two clans by committing both groups to the service of Tokugawa Ieyasu. However though the two clans agreed to set a temporary stop to their dispute the peace was far from permanent. In the year 1614 internal instability has created turmoil between those who are to inherit ruling power. To solve this issue Ieyasu breaks the peace treaty between Iga and Kouga by ordering them to send their 10 best fighters to compete in a competition to select the next Shogun. Each clan will have their competitors’ names recorded onto a scroll. Once all 10 members of a certain clan is killed the victor is the clan who still has surviving members. As a reward the winners shall receive benefits from the grandson they represent who shall hold the title to the next Shogunate. However not all members are willing to fight in the name of a grudge that has long started to wither. The heirs to the Kouga and Iga clan, Gennosuke and Oboro hope to bring about a lasting peace to their clans. However the conflict that blocks their path may be too great. The two star-crossed lovers are forced into a fight in which they must decide which side to take.

Basilisk is a love tragedy. It can be compared to the most famous western love tragedy Romeo and Juliet, but Basilisk has its own unique plot. On the same note the two does have its similarities, the fight between two clans and the two protagonists who are caught in between the battle. However Basilisk in its Japanese tradition has Ninjas and fight scenes that crosses the border of reality. I’d like to give special mention to the first episode, as you can probably tell from the screen shots Basilisk has some really nice scenes. With blades flying in all directions and flashy fighting techniques Basilisk does bring out the best of Ninja dueling. Though you may not be able to tell from the screen shots provided above Basilisk is quite explicit and would be more suited to an older age. With bone crunching definition the series dishes out more than enough quality in its fight scenes.

Name: Baccano!
Genre: Action, Science Fiction
Year: 2007
Rating: Recommended

In the year 1711 a group of alchemists take a chance in summoning a demon in their quest to obtaining immortality. Surprisingly the demon gives the alchemists not only the elixir of life but also the method to reproduce this liquid that grants eternal life. However what is unknown to the alchemists on this voyage, is that though given the ability to cheat death it doesn’t come completely free. In the future the recipe to create the elixir is concealed amongst two of the surviving immortals. Though the potion grants immunity to disease, physical harm and age, those who have consumed the potion can take the lives of another who has drank it. As the immortals scatter across the world many live in fear that one day they may eventually lose what they have been clutching to for the past years. Baccano is set in a world of the mafia, where gangs fight for territory and others just kill for pleasure.

Baccano was quite confusing from the beginning as expected. The story revolves around one single event that has quite a short time span. However pieces of this event is given throughout the whole series and hence the main plot may seem quite disjointed. The series often shifts back and forth between various time periods as well as displaying the story from different character perspectives. What makes this series quite enjoyable and interesting is how all the events fit together. The main event is quite packed with action, there are so many things going on at once it may be a little hard to comprehend. Along with an appropriate animation which sets out the whole mafia feel, Baccano at times has quite a number of grotesque scenes where body parts are dismembered and blood is just spraying in all directions. In this sense Baccano is more for the mature audience. However amongst all this goodness I found there was a slight drawback. It would have been mainly because of the limited number of episodes but I found many of the characters didn’t have their equal chance in explaining who and what role they take in the story. Though on the other hand the fast paced episodes do add to the effect of chaos and confusion. An anime that I’d recommend but I’m sure for many out there its probably also a Must See.

Name: Wolf’s Rain
Genre: Adventure, Science Fiction
Year: 2003
Rating: Recommended

Wolf’s Rain is set in a dystopian future where cities are left in ruins and humans are stricken with poverty and suffering. In this future it is believed that wolves has been extinct for hundreds of years. However what many of the humans don’t know is that wolves still exist. Though close to being wiped out, the remaining wolves survive by hiding their identity. A typical human isn’t able to see through a wolf’s disguise and hence to their untrained eye its just another human being. Amongst the wolves there is a legend that when the world is going to end a path to paradise will welcome all wolves that seek it. Kiba a lone wolf is a believer of this legend. As he travels from city to city, his pack of traveling partners increase. With multiple obstacles that stand in the way of their journey to paradise, the wolves must struggle in their search for a destination that may not even exist.

Wolf’s Rain brings about enjoyment on multiple levels. What is strikingly obvious at first glance is that the animation quality is quite detailed and of a high quality, especially when it comes to the background. The environment and the depiction of a desolate city ravaged by poverty is done quite well. As you can probably see from the screen shots the series is quite graphic. Though I do have to warn that this isn’t an action based series with constant battles involving animals. What I enjoyed most from this series would be its plot. Wolf’s Rain is one of the few animes that tells the story from the perspective of animals. The character design with respect to the wolves and their human counterparts are done very well. There is no moment where you would think what you are seeing is just out of place. The plot revolves around a pack of wolves going on a journey in search of a paradise where they can live in peace. When first seeing this series it instantly reminded me of an old cartoon I had seen as a child. A series based on the book The Animals of Farthing Wood. It’s quite an old series but for those who were lucky enough to have seen this as a child you would understand why I enjoyed Wolf’s Rain so much. However even if you haven’t seen this timeless classic Wolf’s Rain is still a really great series that should be given credit for its story.

Name: Nobuta wo Produce
Genre: Drama
Year: 2005
Rating: Recommended

Kiritani Shuji is a high school student who is popular amongst everyone. He does whatever he can to please everyone he meets. Everyone can count on Shuji. You can count on him when you need a favor, need some one to liven up the party or simply just want some one to hang out with. However being popular isn’t easy, much of the time Shuji ends up hiding his true feelings and even has to resort to distorting the truth. Kusano Akira on the other hand is a flamboyant student who doesn’t hesitate express his feelings and personality. Though Shuji finds Akira to be annoying much of the time, it is soon clear that its only when he is around him he is able to be himself. One day a new student transfers into their class. Kotani Nobuko is a girl with no self confidence of which always leads to her being the unpopular student that gets picked on. Shuji considers life to be a game and soon decides to work together with Akira in an attempt to transform Nobuko into a popular girl. However its not easy to produce a popular girl, especially when the candidate stutters when talking to others. To make things even harder Shuji and Akira must conceal their involvement with Nobuko. Nobuta wo Produce is a story about change. Though Nobuko lacks social skills, it is apparent that Akira and especially Shuji learn much from the person they are trying to change.

Nobuta wo Produce is a high school drama focused around the theme of bullying. It’s quite interesting watching Akira and Shuji do their best in changing Nobuta, however what I found in the end was she didn’t really change much at all. In fact despite a small change in appearance, and a little more self confidence Nobuta didn’t really change at all. Rather it was the people around her that changed and grew to accept her for who she was. Also for fans of Yamashita Tomohisa who plays Akira you really get to see a different side to him. I guess he does act girlish in allot of his dramas but in this one he is really into it, though thats probably a good thing as I’m sure there are many fans out there who love that side of him. Horikita Maki plays Nobuta quite well, but I found that although she is trying her best to act like the unpopular kid at school it doesn’t look too natural. However you do get used to her hunching after a while. It was probably quite painful to always hunch like that. The drama does deal with the growing relationship between the three. Though there is a love triangle there isn’t really much development. Nobuta wo Produce isn’t a romance drama and I think its good that way. It stays close to its plot and doesn’t diverge from following Akira and Shuji’s task in making Nobuta popular. It’s a nice series that I would recommend to all those school drama fans out there.

Name: Mahoromatic
Genre: Comedy, Science Fiction
Year: 2001
Rating: Must See

To protect earth from alien invaders the secret organization known as Vesper uses highly advanced androids. These extremely powerful combat androids are able to fight and defeat the invaders, however as a consequence the life span of these battle maidens are quite limited. Mahoro is known as Vesper’s strongest warrior android and is well known for her battle capabilities even amongst her own kind. However after countless battles it is inevitable that she too will soon cease to live. As a reward for her services she is granted the choice of spending her remaining time the way she pleases. By leaving the stressful world of combat she is able to prolong her existence for just over a year. Mahoro chooses to enjoy the time she has left as an ordinary human. She soon moves in with Suguru a junior high school student living in Tokyo. Though at first Suguru doesn’t realize any connection between him and his new found maid Mahoro, it is soon revealed that his father was actually a commanding officer in Vesper, the one who had responsibility over Mahoro when she served as a battle android.

Mahoromatic would be one of my favourite and first ecchi, comedy genre animes. When it comes to anime some serials just stand out. Mahoromatic is one of these, it would be considered a classic and one of the best in its own genre. Firstly the character designs are top of the range which is probably why Mahoro has been one of the most well known maid characters in the anime world. The main male character like in many other ecchi animes is a pervert and therefore allows for comedy to flow effortlessly as Mahoro has the total opposite opinion on “dirty thoughts.” Mahoromatic is kind of like Chobits except a lot less serious on the romance side. It’s very light hearted throughout the majority of the series so its good easy viewing. A very enjoyable series that shouldn’t be missed even if your not into this genre.

Name: Kimi wa Petto
Genre: Drama
Year: 2003
Rating: Enjoyable

Iwaya Sumire is an independent, successful and good looking woman working as a writer for a large newspaper corporation. However in life she finds that her superiority intimidates her co workers and other men, so much that it gets in the way of her making friends and lasting relationships. One day things take a turn for the worse, having been stressed due to her workload she gets demoted by her boss for scolding a co worker for making a mistake, and also knocking him out. However whilst returning home she finds a large box lying in front of her apartment. Inside is an injured young boy. Not knowing what to do she takes this boy inside and looks after him until he recovers from his injuries. Soon after she decides to let the boy stay on one condition, that he live as her pet. Being named Momo, this aspiring young male dancer lives with Sumire and it isn’t long before a strong relationship is created between the two. Although it it far from love, the bond that holds the two together is just as strong as both need need each other to fill what is missing in their lives.

Matsumoto Jun sure has a different role this time around. Playing Momo a dog is quite different to his role as the leader of a group of feared and admired students in Hana Yori Dango. Though I guess his other personality when he is Goda Takeshi the gifted dancer is quite similar. The series is mostly based around Sumire’s life at home and at work. Kimi wa Petto has a nice progression plot wise, there is allot of emphasis on the relationship between Sumire and Takeshi. Therefore expect allot of hugging and crying. This drama does try and get into a bit of deep psychological debate but like I always say just watch it and enjoy it like any other drama.

Name: Honey and Clover (live-action)
Genre: Drama, Romance
Year: 2008
Rating: Must See

The three students of an art college in Tokyo, Yuta Takemoto, Takumi Mayama and Shinobu Morita live in the same apartment block. Mayama has his goals in becoming a successful architect, Morita has already started to become a renowned sculptor in the art world, however Yuta on the other hand has no clear goal of what he wants to do or become in the future. However one day Shuji an art professor introduces his cousin’s daughter Hagumi Hanamoto to the three and from there sprouts a strong friendship. Hagumi though gifted in the art of painting is quite lacking when it comes to social skills. Coming from a country town, Hagumi has not had much contact with other people and hence her new life in the busy city of Tokyo brings about many challenges. From first sight, Yuta falls in love with Hagumi however isn’t able to express his feelings, on the other hand Morita with his flamboyant personality has no trouble displaying his feelings but in doing so scares her. Honey and Clover may at first seem like a calm drama but it is soon revealed that there’s allot of chaos within the lives of the characters in their journey towards adulthood.

Have you ever wondered what makes great art? I’m sure you’ve seen painting that look quite meaningless. Paintings that don’t make sense, and others just just look like a great big mess. Though Honey and Clover is centralized around the theme of traditional forms of art, luckily it doesn’t spend much time on the artworks itself. Sure there are moments when a character creates whats made out to be a great piece of artwork, the main plot isn’t about the art but the characters themselves and their struggle in finding belonging, love and meaning. Honey and Clover sure earns its genre in romance and drama. There are enough love triangles and heartache to keep the fans interested. But on the other hand it doesn’t go overboard and keeps it below the line of tragedy. A great series based off a manga, one that should be considered when deciding what drama to watch next.

Name: Ushi ni Negai wo Love & Farm
Genre: Drama
Year: 2007
Rating: Enjoyable

Every year students studying agriculture have to attend a compulsory hands on training program set in the country town of Yubari. This year six students travel from Tokyo to Hokkaido to work on the local farms in Yubari. Though some are clearly more enthusiastic than others, there are always those who travel to Hokkaido just to satisfy their course requirements. As for the towns people, each family are struggling financially and are all close to being forced to sell their farm. Whilst the farmers are not so looking forward to the new batch of students, they can only hope that all things will go smoothly. For if the program were to be changed to be optional, the town would lose their funding from the government. Amongst the six there are those who are looking forward to the new experience, those who are looking forward to returning home and one who is returning to a his dying town of which he had hoped to forget.

Also known as Wish Upon a Cow Love & Farm, this series is a pretty serious drama. It deals with the lives of farmers who are unwilling to adapt to the changing times and hence are trapped in a dying industry. In addition whats shown is quite real, especially the cow birth scene in the first episode. However given that said the series does have typical romance live-action qualities. There are relationships formed, multiple obstacles of which individual characters must overcome as well as issues within the families on the farms. The series is quite informative on the traditional methods these farmers use. It shows the hardships that the townspeople of Yubari must face. Hence this series will bore those who are only able to enjoy dramas with something flashy. Though the plot may not be as interesting as some other dramas, the series does provide enjoyment in its own way.