This would have gotten an A+ if it were directed by Makoto Shinkai. So many wasted opportunities for cloud porn. Still, I enjoyed it immensely. Continue reading The Princess and the Pilot Review — B+ →

Claus and Lavi are vanship pilots, flying through the skies for fun and profit. But one day, they encounter another vanship which has been shot down with a child on board. Their lives will never be the same.

Watching Fam, the Silver Wing inspired me to give this a second watch, since I’d forgotten pretty much everything and was missing all the references. And Last Exile was as good as I (vaguely) remembered! Continue reading Last Exile Review — B+ →

A roman architect travels through the drains of bath into the future to Japan, where he learns advanced bathing techniques from the “flat-faced slaves.” Continue reading Thermae Romae Review — B →

The world has been conquered by aliens. But Harlock, with his proud heritage as a pirate-knight of Arcadia, isn’t giving up the fight yet.

This is the second work of Matsumoto Leiji I’ve seen, after Space Battleship Yamato, so indulge me while I compare the two. They both have the same bittersweet feel— the certainty of loss coupled with a twinkle of hope. Arcadia is the stronger of the two, emotionally. It left me feeling fairly depressed. Continue reading Arcadia of my Youth Review — A- →

Nura Rikuo continues his adventure as leader of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, this time going to Kyoto to take on the Nue.

This is a continuation of the first series, and to be honest, I liked the first season better. This season falls into the traps that most shounen fighting shows seem to: endless training arcs and fights. The majority of the season was a big training arc until they reached Kyoto, at which point it became an endless battle. Continue reading Nurarihyon no Mago Sennen Makyou Review — C- →