Rurouni Kenshin

Rating: * * * *
Be sure to check out the Honorary AMV for this series, located in the right-hand sidebar in 'Equinox Videos'!

Episode # - 95
Movie # - 1
Game # - 3 (Kenshin also appears as a battle character in the Nintendo DS game Jump Ultimate Stars)
Recommendation - sub/dub

Eleven years ago in Japan, the country and economy suffered devastatingly from the bloody Batumatsu war. Where brother had been pitted against brother and hired assassins had been among the common, one of the most infamous had been the feared swordsman named Hitokiri Battosai. Heartless and brutal, Battosai had killed without hesitation when ordered, and through the years became a legend. But after the war, when many soldiers returned to what was left of homes and former assassins searched for other places of work, the crimson-streaked name Battosai disappeared into mere stories, and was eventually lost.
Now, in the early Meiji era, Japan is still a place of conflict and restoration. Traveling peacefully among the country roads is a man who calls himself a rurouni, or wanderer, with a highly unusual sword. In a string of heroic events, Kenshin befriends a young woman, Kaoru Kamiya, who is the proud owner of a dojo. Before long, he is making lifelong relationships with others, such as the mischievous orphan Yahiko Myojin, the fighter-for-hire Sanosuke Sagara, and the clever doctor Megumi Takani.
As he settles into a new life, though, his past soon catches up with him, bringing enemies old and new. Trying to protect his rag-tag family and his morals as a rurouni, Kenshin must balance himself between the brightness of his current life and the darkness of his past.

Critically: Animation of this story is very simple and well done. Nothing particularly special, but pleasing, nonetheless. One gets more wrapped up in the storyline and problems of the main character than the art, which is fine. Battle sequences in many ways are exciting, but it rests into somewhat of a pattern; certain battles are given more attention and variation, while others seem to get left out when they could have been worked with. The humor in the anime is especially great because of the expressions given to the cast or their surrounds. And who can easily dismiss Kenshin's clueless face?

Personally: This is an anime from childhood, so perhaps my view isn't quite fair for this one. Aside from that, I would have to say that, though not especially eye-catching, this show is definitely one to see. The story is sweet and drawing, almost hypnotically. You are pulled into Kenshin's past and who he used to be, all the while seeing him thrive in the new way of life he had vowed himself to, and it's nice to see the struggle. You can't help but love both sides of him.

Avatar: the Last Airbender

Rating: * * * * *
Be sure to check out the Honorary AMV for this series, located on the right-hand sidebar in 'Equinox Videos'!

Episode # - 57 (the last 4 episodes were coupled for a two-hour movie)
Movie # - 2 (including the 2010 Live Action movie)
Game # - 3

It's been one hundred years since the Fire Nation first made a deadly first strike on the Earth Kingdom, Water Tribes, and Air Nomads in an effort for complete domination, and the world has suffered greatly. Around the same time, the Avatar, a powerful spiritual being who controls all four elements and brings peace, vanished without a trace.
Now, in the current day, the Avatar has returned...in the form of a goofy twelve-year-old kid.
Aang was found by Katara and Sokka, siblings of the Southern Water Tribe, in an enormous iceberg. Having been frozen for one hundred years, he has no idea of the war or the condition of the world...or whereabouts of his people, the Air Nomads. Together, the trio, accompanied by Appa and Momo (the flying bison and lemur), must help Aang learn the elements and defeat the Fire Lord, restoring tranquility to everyone. Unfortunately, they must also avoid the banished Prince Zuko, who is bent on capturing the Avatar for the Fire Nation...and he'll do anything to do it.

Critically: For a children's cartoon, it's somewhat surprising how much detail was put into the creation of this show. Nowadays, you mostly get some neat lines or glossy shadings, and that's all fine and well if the storyline holds up, but this series really goes the extra mile for authenticity! Pictures are high quality, and the blends of colors can only be described as amazing! I'm also pleased with how cultural it is. The 'bending' uses actual styles of Kung Fu (each is explained in the Special Features of the DVD's), and props such as katanas, fans, staffs, etc. also help to make the action scenes more thrilling. As for characters, what impressed me the most was how smooth the personality developments were. Just in the first season, we see the main protagonist take on a more mature level (though thankfully keeping his lovable, easy-going side), as well as a more humorous nature toward the supporting characters (also, while continuing the initial moods that defined them). We see them learning, both physically and mentally, and can easily sympathize with their mistakes because the story gives us enough understanding of their reasoning.

Personally: I didn't catch this show from the beginning; at first, it was just a program that was on TV after school...something to waste time on before having to start on homework. It only took a couple of episodes before I was sucked in completely. To me, this series blows my mind! It uses the importance of responsibility and accepting yourself for who you are to the fullest, which is very inspirational. I found it refreshing that the characters were people of a younger age than normal, which leaves plenty of room for growth while still keeping to the teenage level. I also like how the series doesn't hold back on feeling: the character gets emotional, you're right along with him/her! The influence between the character and the viewer is very powerful! Needless to say, I now own the Box Set for each season.

Ouran High School Host Club

Rating: * * * *

Be sure to check out the Honorary AMV for this series, located on the right-hand sidebar in 'Equinox Videos'!

Episode # - 26
Movie # - 0
Recommendation - sub/dub

Haruhi Fujioka is a normal student whom, through a merit scholarship, obtained admission into the extremely prestigious and stately school of Ouran Academy. While searching for a quiet place to study, Haruhi stumbles upon the Host Club, an organization meant to entertain the female 'clients' of the school and run by six male Ouran students. Through an unfortunate event involving an antique vase, Haruhi is forcefully initiated into the Club and is instructed to act as a Host, ultimately completing the Club's various 'individual styles' (Prince, Cool, Devil, Silent, Loli-Shota, and Natural).
The major plot twist?
Haruhi = female

Critically: Generally, the animation and design for this anime was artistic and skilled. Though the TV series itself doesn't seem to have much of an overall theme or moral, each episode was targeted well in it's point and was received the same! (The manga has an ongoing story, while the TV anime only finished one season)
Scripting is a little more than decent; there were only a few episodes where the topics of conversation were a bit far-fetched, though it was easily overlooked by the next zany line or amusing picture!
I would also like to praise the clever usage of 'breaking the fourth wall', a tactic used mostly is plays or stage productions in which the actors interact with the audience directly. In the anime, the characters (namely the members of the Host Club, excluding Haruhi) often reference events having happened in previous episodes, as well as referring to their own personalities and status' in the show. There are also frequent implications of 'cosplaying', where a person dresses like a character from an anime series or game and attends conventions.

Personally: I honestly found this anime to exceed my initial expectations! While keeping a lighthearted and playful mood, it also dips tastefully into the deeper personalities of the characters without being overbearing. It blends the teenage angst of school with the pressures of growing up and finding your niche in society, and gives you added insight to the challenges of the higher class.
Mostly, though, I adored this anime just for the comic simplicity of it! While slipping in a laid-back romantic subplot, the hilarious character animations, heartwarming moments, and witty antics of the Club members were what hooked me from the beginning!

*WARNING*
If you are NOT comfortable with clear indications of yaoi (boyXboy love), then I advise you to watch with caution. While there are no incidents of actual yaoi, there are strong suggestions to it in...well...basically, every episode. Though I would hate for anyone to miss out on such a great anime due to such a small factor, if you are rigidly against the idea of it, then please, don't watch. No one wants hate comments left on their uploads.