First Impression: Kyousogiga (2012)

After the one episode ONA, they have decided to do 5 episodes ONA for Kyousogiga. Too bad the release dates for the five episodes are too far apart and is scheduled to end in December. Furthermore, each episode is only 10 minutes long. But nonetheless, it's better than nothing, right?

The first episode pretty much introduced us to Koto's childhood, where she lives and trained by her master, mostly known as Fox. The both of them didn't go by the rules, and shared something in common. Both of them have crimson eyes which in my opinion, hot as fuck, especially if he's a guy. But that aside, something that her master said, made her wants to find her mom, even though as she grew up, she knew that she doesn't exist but pretends that she is anyway.

The two kids from the previous ONA are actually her familiars, A and Un. Now that she's in mirror city Kyoto, she lives with Myoe, the priest that take care of them and so the wackiness continue.

Towards the end of the episode, a gate appeared and looks like Koto is about to go through. We just have to wait another month to see where it leads >_>

My thoughts about the production, seiyuu, and everything else regarding Kyousogiga remain the same. It is still manage to grab my attention and fulfill my desire for something different. Thank you Toei Animation.


Type: ONA
Episodes: 5
Aired: Fall 2012
Genres: Action, Supernatural, Fantasy


arts & animation 10/10
story 10/10
characters 10/10
sound 10/10
enjoyment 10/10
overall 10/10

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First Impression: Saint Seiya Omega

I am unsure about this one. I know I am not a fan of this genre of anime in general but I thought I should give it a chance, like I did with any other anime of the season. I have a feeling that I would end up dropping this series once I saw the first episode though.

The art and animation of this series are really oldskool and it should not come as a surprise because the series itself (Saint Seiya) has been around for 25 years. This anime is the first TV series since it was first started so I think that fact makes me more acceptable towards it. At the same time, it also has that Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagaan feeling to it in term of exaggeration etc. Fascinating enough, the fanarts are more visually intriguing and much more entertaining/exciting than the anime.

Since I don't read the manga, I have no idea how close it the anime adaptation is to the source but knowing that this is a spin off, I guess Toei Animation has the liberty to be creative with the story. The episode started with the Gold Seiya saving Kouga from the evil when he was still a baby, in the arms of Athena, his guardian. Ever since then, he has been training to become a Seiya himself and help save his planet from the evil power. Of course he has his comrades to help him out.

I can't relate to any of the characters which is probably why I ended up failing to enjoy this episode. Though they are all the heroic type, they lack something human in my opinion. This make sense since they are Martians and logically aren't exactly human. But still... it's has the negative effect on me personally.

As for the seiyuus and the OP/ED, they aren't anything bad about them but there aren't outstanding either. In other words, they are average at best. I guess it was to be expected of a shounen shows nowadays... sadly so.

Like I said earlier, I did not manage to enjoy this show just like I expected. Consequently, there won't be a second chance for Saint Seiya Omega for me. I'm dropping this.

art & animation 5/10
story 5/10
characters 5/10
sound 5/10
enjoyment 5/10
overall 5/10

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Kyousogiga

Type: ONA
Episodes: 1
Producers: Toei Animation
Genres: Supernatural

I was impressed when I first saw Kyousogiga in the preview. My initial thought was that this might turned out as a twisted version of Alice in Wonderland. It has to do with the whole art on that poster. It promised me something that is unconventional and somewhat gave me hope that the animation would be flawless. So yeah, good luck Toei Animation. Let see if you can meet my expectation...


Well... it is definitely not Alice in Wonderland other than the part that she wants to go home and there's somewhat rabbit involved. Kyousogiga just pretty much thrown you into a wacky world where the characters fight with giant balloon hammer and stopped car with their legs. The enemies were naught but a poorly drawn character that were all white and yet you can tell that they were from the mafia or something. These fights were observed by some higher up and they kept communicating (more like yelling) with the characters through out the fight. All these happened without them bothering to introduce us to any of the characters. It's either you keep up or fuck off.

That's the beauty of this show. It doesn't try to please the audience. It just pretty much do whatever the fuck it wants. Who the hell cares if it makes little sense to anyone else?

I finally get the gist of things towards the end. I am writing this for my own personal purpose so I won't forget the details. Beware spoilers in this paragraph. Read at your own risk; Kyusogiga took place at a mirror Kyoto town. Koto, the female kid protagonist is somewhat connected to the Lady Koto, the rabbit that everyone is looking for. She, her brother, A and Un, live with Myoe. He and his other two siblings created a congregation of the three to bring Lady Koto back. At the end, they wanted to annihilate - or seemingly looks like it - Koto but Myoe disagree and they fought. When all hope seemed lost, Lady Koto appeared and suddenly everyone lives happily ever after. /spoiler.

I fall in love with the characters for a show that only last for 25 minutes but then again, I always like characters that defy anything conventional or of the norm and these characters definitely fit the bill. Koto is loud and for once they actually made a character acted her age. I love it when at the end she was crying her eyes out because her first kiss was stolen by another girl. The twin (I assumed they are), are just so much fun even with the quieter Un. You can see that A looked up to Koto by he way he behave and act. Then there's Myoe, a fucking hot bishie of a monk who doesn't really goes by the rules. I found myself wiping my drools a few time looking at him. The other cast of supporting characters completed the show even though we basically have no clue what are their purpose etc. For example, who is Inari?

I don't usually pay any attention to the OP or ED unless they really are something that match my personal taste so forgive me if I said that they are pretty unmemorable. I'm writing this after 10 minutes of watching the show and I already forget what it sounds like. It didn't leave any impact for my taste bud and thus I leave the review for the OP and ED to the expert. What I want to highlight however is the fact that the cast of seiyuu really did a good job bringing their characters personality to life. I don't think I would have a bOnar for Myoe if it wasn't for the right sound of voice that comes out of his animated mouth. Kenichi Suzumura sounded so smexy in this one *faps*. I am not a fan of Rie Kugimiya mainly because she played too many tsundere characters. I am glad that it wasn't the case for Koto though and thus, I'm going to compliment her for this show as well. Not one character sounds obnoxious, not even the demon Yase who kinda have a bipolar personality.

The animation didn't disappoint me at all. I get what I asked for. It was something that we didn't see often in anime and I appreciate stuff like this. In a glance, it reminds me of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann with it's over the top sequence of everything. Well, I should expect this right? After all, this ONA is produced by the same studios that brought us Mononoke and Lovely Complex. I can't complain about the art either. After all, I was impressed with a simple poster and they delivered what they promised. The character designs got me drooling and the whole background just fits nicely with the random wackiness that this show provides.

If I have to describe Kyousogiga, I will say that it is like a cross between Gintama and Yozakura no Quartet with Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann in the middle. Doesn't make sense, does it now? Exactly. I keep wondering what the hell am I watching and yet I found it so very entertaining.

Digest that!

I wish they made a TV series out of this one. So yeah. Watch this if you need a (good) mind fuck. That's all I have to say.


art & animation 10/10
story 9/10
characters 10/10
sound 9/10
enjoyment 10/10
overall 9.6/10

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Mononoke

I was first acquainted with Kusuriuri when I saw him in Bakeneko arc (eps. 9-11) in Ayakashi ~ Japanese Classic Horror. When I learned that it will get it own series as a sequel, I made sure that I get hold of it.


You cannot talk about Mononoke if you do not talk about the art. Just like its predecessor, the animators, Toei Animation do not afraid to experiment with the art. It has its own distinct style of animation. It was part of the reason that got me hooked right away. It is very different, in a very good bold and imaginative kinda way. Seriously, it was tantalizing and gorgeously unique! They compensate the two dimensional, almost paper-cut appearance with vibrant and captivating colorful backgrounds, textures and designs. In a sense, it makes you feel like you are part of a very beautiful painting. They definitely used the art to its full potential to present and distinguished the stories. It also used a lot of camera movements to add suspense and with a well control pace it has successfully exact the desired tension.

Mononoke is composed of 5 different stories which are only related to Kusuriuri, the medicine seller, our mysterious protagonist. Each story takes 2-3 episodes which features a different supernatural, more often than not, evil spirit or most commonly known as mononoke. It was up to Kusuriuri (who is a total bishie by the way) to vanquish or exorcise the mononoke. In order to do so, he needs to uncover the Katachi (shape/form), Makoto (truth), and Kotowari (reason) of the spirit. However it isn't always about the dead. Each story delved deep to the heart of everything and it is not surprising when everything that occurred is related to the living.

Kusuriuri is the only constant character in the series. His attraction is definitely lies in his demeanour, which is very unique whichever way you look at it, not to mention mysterious. Very mysterious. Some of his deadpan sarcastic comments will certainly makes you laugh at the oddest of time. He is a character that you could not help but like. In my case, fell in love with. He is one of the unforgettable characters out there.

The other characters vary with each stories but still get a decent development due to the nature of the story despite being 2-3 episodes in length. These characters are not the typical type characters (as in do not expect good looking characters). They were designed with the story in mind and the ingenuity of it in my opinion, worked wonders.

The appropriate sound effects (or lack of it) enhance the whole eerie atmosphere. The silence in most scenes does most of the work to creep you out. The voice actors did a job well done too, especially with those screeches and screams of horror. As for the OP and ED, I don't find it interesting but I guess it fits right in with the weird tune of the whole show.

This is one of the anime that I won't get tired of watching again and again. I give it a 10 for enjoyment.

The enticing, attention-grabbing, well written stories and the excellent directing and editing makes Mononoke a masterpiece. A must watch to all anime lovers/appreciators. If that is not good enough reason for you to pick up this series, maybe a threat to shove a foot up your ass can convince you otherwise?

Graphics 10/10
Sound 10/10
Storyline 10/10
Characters 10/10
Overall 10/10

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Lovely Complex

Well, how should I put this...

Lovely Complex quickly become one of my favorite romance comedy anime (Honey & Clover still stays on top of the list though). It was fucking hilarious!

Koizumi Risa is a very tall girl -172cm while Ootani Atshushi is a short boy - 156cm. On first day of school, their teacher dubbed them as the "All Hanshin-Kyojin" (look up what it means yourself - I'm too lazy to explain). They both have strong characters and unique personality, which led to many disagreement and opposition, so they routinely fight and entertain their class with their antics.

At first they both made an alliance to help each other find a mate. Koizumi wants a guy taller than her (which is rare in Japan) and Ootani wants a girl that is nothing like Koizumi. But gradually Koizumi starts to develop special feeling for Ootani and here's where the best part start. Ootani done every possible thing to convey her feelings to Ootani but Ootani is too dense to even sense it although the rest of the school are aware of it.

Eventually Ootani realize what is going on. I just love the way how he conveys his feeling to Koizumi once they start to date. It was so damn romantic. I would love to be treated that way. Hell, Ootani is exactly the type of guy I dream about (except for the height).

Instead of standard Japanese (like in any other anime), most of the characters speak in Kansai-ben. It is also the other reason why I like Ootani so much. The way he speaks, it was so melodic, specially when he calls Koizumi 'aaho'.


This is the kind of anime that is so funny you just want to watch it over and over again. I absolutely love it.

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