Tomoka MITSUI

Hey, Answerman!
Zounds! Hey Answerman bursts forth from out of your dreams and into your car, this time toppling questions about anime being "mainstream," novelist Haruki Murakami, and distinguishing between "good" and "bad" CGI! All that and a whole new flake and a buncha Hey, Answerfans! 2010-01-22

Anime News Nina! - 2010-01-20
Nina gives in to Satan's influence. 2010-01-20

The X Button - Fly With the High
This week: the manic-depressive wonder of The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, plus Mega Man 10's bosses, Shadow of Destiny's second chance, a surprise release of Deathsmiles, and, of all things, an Ushio and Tora game. 2010-01-20

Nana DVD Box Set 2
Reminds us that anime can be much more than mere diversion. It can evoke truth. It can be art.

Case Closed: Captured in Her Eyes
It's not the mystery alone that makes the movie worth watching, but the action, the characters, and for some, a little added Jimmy x Rachel content. It stands up well to repeated viewings for fans based on those merits alone.

Rin: ~Daughters of Mnemosyne~ DVD
If you're looking for fun, weird, entertaining sleaze without a hint of irony or cutesiness, this is it. Just keep the volume down so your neighbors can't hear all the moaning and stabbing.

Spice and Wolf vol. 1 (novel)
A lonely wolf goddess who no longer feels needed or respected hooks up with, and travels with, a peddler in this source material for the first story arc of the anime version. While it will provide only a little more insight for fans of the TV series, it is well-written and well-produced.

Dogs: Bullets & Carnage GN 2
When the whole point of the series is about people trying to kill each other in the most stylish way possible, having an actual story is a nice little bonus.

El Cazador de la Bruja DVD Part 2
A little more serious and a little more continuous, a smidge more satisfying and an equal smidge less fun, it remains a good time for less demanding fans.

Nabari no Ou DVD
There is a great story hiding here. Still, what plays out is far less than what Nabari had started with. It just isn't fulfilling on any level save for Miharu and Yoite's relationship. This was once the series' greatest point of intrigue, but at the cost of every other plot development, it's hard to make us care about it anymore.

Witchblade Takeru GN Collection
The only unique trait of this short series, it seems, is its basis on an American comic franchise—as opposed to other Japanese manga where the authors have to come up with their uninspired dreck all by themselves.

Monkey High! GN 8
It really should have ended something like four volumes ago, but even so Monkey High! remains an enjoyable entry in its chosen genre. A flawed and fun little conclusion to a flawed and fun little series.

Tokyo Majin DVD
Tokyo Majin does not know how to tell a comprehensible story. What it thankfully does know how to do is put on a wild, bloody show. Emotionally, the series hits some very effective highs, but it's necessary to keep your brain switched off to get any enjoyment out of the overall result.

Elfen Lied DVD 2
Though this volume lacks the “WHAM-BANG” opening punch of the first volume, it acquits itself quite well in its examination of core characters, its handling of situations both dark and romantic, and its maintenance of top-rate artistic and production values. It reaffirms Elfen Lied's position as one of the year's top series releases.