Guest Review: Etotama

Another guest review by our friend Waldo, this time here is a look at...

Etotama

First, the plot hook: The animals of the Chinese Zodiac have entered the 12^th festival, where any of the animal clans that didn’t make it to the Zodiac can choose to fight all 12 members to earn a spot on the Zodiac, kicking a member off. To fight, they need to gather Sol/Lull, which is generated by human appreciation/worship. Nyaa-tan, the cat, comes through a “fuzzy space” in the house that Takeru Amato is renting. Upon discovery that his Sol/Lull is unusually pure, takes up residence at this house and attempts to finagle enough Sol/Lull to fight the members of the Zodiac.

I had no idea what to expect from this when I watched it and I’m still not sure why I continue to watch it. That being said, it is by no means a bad anime, simply way out of my preferred genre of anime. The characters are quirky enough to continue coming back to watch and the motivations of each character go beyond background character tropes. Yes, there is a cow on the zodiac and yes, she fits the stereotype. The cow (Moo-tan) also has a crush on Nyaa-tan. Despite this, there isn’t that much in the way of fanservice and the show does have a more serious side later in. Because this is out of my typical show, I don’t have a comparison.

TBT Review: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

As a throwback Thursday,  I'll be reviewing an older series.
Today I'm heading back to 2009 to Tokyo Magnitude 8.0.

This story is more about maturing than anything else in my opinion.  Young Mirai and her little brother Yuuki  go to Tokyo’s artificial Odaiba Island during the start of summer vacation all  by themselves.  Next thing you know, as Yuuki goes inside a building to use the restroom, Mirai is outside and a huge earthquake is felt that shakes the whole city.
Mirai searches for her brother in the unstable building, and she ends up teaming up with a lady that they had seen earlier, her name is Mari.
After they find Yuuki, Mirai, and Mari basically end up going on a journey together to get back to t heir families after the quake.  Transportation is limited and there are dozens of aftershock tremors being felt throughout the city. Mairai and Yuuki must get back to their parents, and Mari needs to get home to her daughter and mother.
This is a very exciting story about the maturing of a young pair of siblings, and be ready for some major tear jerking moments towards the end of the series.

The series consists of about 11 episodes.  I recommend If you enjoy watching tales of overcoming struggle and young people maturing.  Other similar anime would  be Grave of the Fireflies or Barefoot Gen.

Mirai, Mari, and Yuuki get on a boat  leave Odaiba and head towards their home

Mirai, Yuuki, and Mari arrive at Mari's hometown, where a huge fire broke out. Now Mari must search for her daughter.

Guest Review: DanMachi (Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)

Today we have a Guest Contributor review of DanMach also known as Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
Thanks to our friend Waldo for contributing!
 ***

DanMachi – 

(Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)

( Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darō ka)

  

First, the plot hook: The main character, Bell Cranel, is an adventurer in a world that runs on magic stones. The stones are found by killing the monsters that inhabit the many levels of the dungeon found in the city of Orario. Adventurers serve a patron god that tracks their skills, abilities, and, most importantly, levels up the adventurer. Bell has been dungeoneering for a little while when he gets attacked by a minotaur that is far beyond his capacity to kill. Before he is struck down, Aiz Wallenstein slays the minotaur, saving his life and falling for her. Due to her skill and renown, Bell can’t bring himself to confess, leading him on his journey to stand as her equal.

When I first heard the name, I hoped that this would work out and not bomb spectacularly as most other similarly titled anime. Lucky for me, the story, world, and characters are very deep. There are many recurring characters that all have their own motivations and personalities as well as a world that both supports such a diverse environment and allows for many different situations without feeling overly cliché. I’d peg this world’s world building somewhere between Accel World and Log Horizon.

Gaby's Review: Ore Monogatari/My Story

A tale of unlikely love, Ore Monogatari translated as My Story just started airing in Japan about a month ago. So far its super sweet about a guy named Takeo, he is very large and very strong towers above everyone else in his class. Always has crushes on the cutest girls but the girls always fall for his good looking friend yet unsensitive friend Sunakawa.
One day he saves a girl named Yamato on the train for a pervert, and she is so grateful she beings to make him cakes, and asks for his email, and makes friends with him right away.  Takeo thinking that she likes Sunakawa decides to cheer her on because she is so sweet.   Little does he know that Yamato might not have a crush on Sunakawa afterall...

This is a cute story of unlikely love so far its been very sweet, I just watched the latest episode on simulcast and it looks like there may be a little more to the story.  I will surely be keeping an eye on this story.I recommend it if you like adorable shoujo romcom.

Sunakawa and Takeo are childhood friends, they walk home together every day.

Yamato says thank you to Takeo after thwarting the pervert on the train.

Sunakawa and Takeo enjoy Yamato's sweets that she baked as a thank you.