R to S

Meet Ranma Saotome, a brilliant martial artist cursed with a water-induced sex change and an idiot father, who arranged that his son would marry the daughter of a friend. Now meet Akane, Ranma's unwilling and tomboy fiancee, who thinks he's a pervert because she walked in on him while he was taking a bath, and never hesitates to clobber him. Despite these problems, love slowly begins to develop between the two of them, but the arrival of numerous suitors for both just complicates the situation further.

I guess I've managed to cover about a tenth of what Ranma is all about. Another insane comedy by Rumiko Takahashi, the mastermind behind Maison Ikkoku, Ranma is a show whose popularity is practically unrivalled among Western fans. It is a whirlwhind of comedy, martial arts and romance, with characters that I can only describe as...interesting. Aside from a very long TV series, there are numerous OAVs and movies, which don't do much for the plot but boast good animation. That's enough talking. Just go watch Ranma.

Plot: 5 out of 5 and an Ami award! I know this may surprise some people, but think about it! How many of you would have come up with Jusenkyou curses and mind-altering Shampoos and a 300 year old man who only survives thanks to an underwear fetish?

Animation: 2 out of 5. The OAVs and the movies get a 4 out of 5.

Music: 3 out of 5.

Cute factor: 3 out of 5, mostly for Shampoo.

Fun factor: 5 out of 5 and a Ranma rating! You don't stop laughing one minute.

Cool factor: 3 out of 5. One point for Ranma, for when he's acting up to his part as the kick-ass martial artist, and two points for Nabiki, a very cool character.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5! Ranma 1/2 is one of my favorite anime.

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs

Four young people become part of the Star Sheriffs to battle the evil Outriders who come from another dimension. Their best weapon is a transformable robot.

Before it was broadcast, the Americans completely changed this series, whose original name is Seijushi Bismarck. Normally this isn't such a good thing, but not so in this case. Except for the plot, that is, where the bad guys are just evil 'cos they are, and there must be a moral for every story, yadda yadda yadda. However, the story isn't the main point here. This series is great in that it has a science-fiction and mecha type of story in a western setting, with cowboys and indians and everything. The characters are cool as well.

Plot: 3 out of 5.

Animation: 2 out of 5

Music: 4 out of 5. Some great music which suits the western atmosphere well.

Fun factor: 3 out of 5, for Colt's antics.

Cool factor: 5 out of 5. One for each of the Star Sheriffs, and one for the great setting. This series gets a Rukawa rating.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 and a Nakago rating!

Sailor Moon

The story of Usagi and her friends, reincarnations of the ancient lunar court, who transform into sailor-suited pretty soldiers to fight evil.

This one probably needs no introduction. Even though it was aimed at young girls, the likable heroines and good storylines quickly captivated audiences worldwide. The first season has one of the best and most daring endings (in the Japanese version) I have ever seen in anime. However, the best season overall is probably the third season, which plays up the cool factor and constructs a good storyline. The only faults I can find with this series are the quality of the animation, mediocre, and the large amount of filler episodes that don't do anything for plot, but it is a very likeable show as for the rest. No wait. I haven't mentioned the fourth series (I haven't seen the fifth). After a good first season, an OK second season and a great third season comes the disastrous fourth season, with no plot, and the hated Chibi-Usa! Save me! Why oh why did they have to ruin it all?

Plot: 3 out of 5, and it would get 4 if it wasn't for the afore-mentioned filler episodes. I choose to ignore the fourth season.

Animation: 2 out of 5

Music: 3 out of 5. Good use of music to set the mood for particular scenes.

Cute factor: 3 out of 5. The fourth season would get a Pikachu, but I'm choosing to ignore it. Now that is the nasty kind of cuteness.

Fun factor: 3 out of 5. Some nice comedic bits.

Cool factor: 3 out of 5 for the first, when Tuxedo Kamen hadn't become a cliche yet, and we had a sensible Venus, as opposed to the ditz she becomes later; 4 out of 5 for the third season, for the Outer Senshi.

Overall rating: 4 out of 5. This show used to be my favorite before I knew other anime, and it still has a special place in my heart.

Saint Seiya

Five young men, along with numerous allies, affront other young men with numerous allies. They all possess magical armor.

Well I think that's the story. This one bore me so much I fell asleep. Badly done, and totally incomprehensible if you haven't watched it from beginning to end. I know people will flame me for sexism, but I have yet to see a girl interested in this show, while guys adore it. My opinion is set, but I guess you should see for yourself since this is actually a very popular series.

Plot: Plot? What plot?

Animation: 2, even 1 out of 5. Their budget must have been like 100 yen while they were doing this.

Fun factor: 0. Other people think otherwise.

Overall rating: 1 out of 5. Possibly my least favorite anime, out of all that I have watched.

Serial Experiments Lain

In the not-so-distant future where the Internet, called the Wired, has entered all aspects of life, Lain Iwakura's life changes completely the day she receives an e-mail from a friend who committed suicide some days ago, proclaiming the existence of God on the Wired.

I got bored on the first episode. And hooked on the next. A masterpiece of atmosphere, Lain reveals its story slowly, but it's riveting in its portrayal of the role technology is going to take in our society, all the more so since it shows said role to be very plausible. I don't much like the character design, or Lain's personality, but I have to say that they suit the show. This is a complex watch, which demands patience, but is very rewarding at the end.

Plot: 5 out of 5. An Ami award for a very intelligent and captivating story.

Animation: 4 out of 5. Superior quality for a TV series.

Music: 4 out of 5. Good music that suits the atmosphere, and I love the opening number.

Cute factor: 2 out of 5. Lain is very strange... She is 14, but dresses like a 2 year old and seems to have a teddy bear fetish. Go figure.

Cool factor: 4 out of 5. Just something about this series...

Overall rating: 5 out of 5. Serial Experiments Lain is a memorable watch.

Slam Dunk

Baka webmaster! You chucked me out of my hosting job!

Slam Dunk is the story of the Shohoku High School Basketball Team, and it's self-proclaimed star (ahem...) Hanamichi Sakuragi, who managed to get dumped by fifty girls before high school.

Star. A genius. Or so he thinks. You see, Hanamichi, even though he has great potential, is merely a beginner, and a complete idiot. The guy only joins the team to attract a girl's attention. But anyway, even though he is an idiot the boy is loveable, and so are practically all the other characters. (Rukawa! Rukawa! Rukawa! Sorry, getting carried away.) The author, Takehiko Inoue (who appears as Dr. T in the anime!) has taken great care to give absolutely all the characters a different personality and a past, which is one reason why I like this series so much. Anyway, how could any heterosexual girl not like Slam Dunk? Finally something us girls can drool over! This show is also hilarious, in large part due to Hanamichi. (Guess why the illustrious basketball star Rukawa chose to attend Shohoku High School? Because it's the closest to his house!) People might shy away from this if they aren't into basketball, but there is plenty of other stuff that goes on as well, including gang fights, and besides, Dr. T is there to explain you the rules of the game!

Plot: 3 out of 5, maybe even 4.

Animation: 3 out of 5. OK quality for a TV series.

Music: 3 out of 5. Some good, fast-paced pieces, though I'm so incredibly sick of the opening song.

Cute factor: 2 out of 5, because there is lots of SD humor.

Fun factor: 5 out of 5 and a Ranma rating! This show is hilarious, not to mention very exciting when it comes to the basketball.

Cool factor: Umph! 5 out of 5! Just Rukawa would be enough for the rating, but the other characters are superb as well. I especially like Sendoh, Yohei, Miyagi and Mitsui. Slam Dunk gets a Rukawa rating for coolness. Duh!

Overall rating: 5 out of 5 and a Nakago rating! I love Slam Dunk!

Slayers - Film 1

While on vacation at a mysterious hot springs resort, our heroines Lina and Naga come across a malicious demon.

Slayers is a series which gets a lot of hype on the internet, which is one of the reasons I was disappointed by this film. It was funny, very funny, but the story was a bit lacking and not very well developed. Still, it had some good music and nice animation, which somewhat makes up for it.

Plot: 2 out of 5. Sorry, folks, but it didn't have it all.

Animation: 4 out of 5.

Music: 3 out of 5. I just love the ending song.

Cute factor: 2 out of 5, for Linna.

Fun factor: 5 out of 5, with a Ranma award. This is the one place where I was really satisfied. Very funny.

Cool factor: 2 out of 5, for the general setting.

Overall rating: 3 out of 5. A good watch, but unfortunately it doesn't live up to the hype.

Space Adventure Cobra

Cobra is a seductive, easy going space adventurer whose left arm is a powerful weapon. He wanders the galaxy in search of adventure and beautiful women.

James Bond in space? You betcha! Cobra is a show with many qualities. First of all, even though it is a relatively old TV series, the animation is top notch, with a gorgeous color scheme and superb character designs. The hero himself, a mixture of James Bond and French idol Jean Paul Belmondo, is irresistible, while the female characters are all very sexy. These people have got style. The setting just oozes cool. A wonderful watch, and it is a shame it is not so well known.

Plot: 4 out of 5.

Animation: 4 out of 5. Way above standard, and like I said before, superb colors.

Music: 3 out of 5. OK stuff.

Cute factor: Where do you see cute in a James Bond type flick? 0 out of 5, and that's a very good thing.

Fun factor: 4 out of 5. Some great fight sequences, and Cobra himself is a fun character.

Cool factor: 5 out of 5, and a Rukawa rating. One of the most stylish shows around.

Overall rating: 5 out of 5. Excellent watch which gets a Nakago rating.

Space Cruiser Yamato

In the future, the earth is menaced with destruction because of radiation. A far-away planet offers help, and the space cruiser Yamato undertakes a long voyage.

This is a very old sci-fi show, but it has since become somewhat of a classic. Another Leiji Matsumoto work.

Plot: 3 out of 5

Animation: 2 out of 5

Cool factor: 3 out of 5, for Matsumoto's strangely graceful females.

Overall rating: 3 out of 5. You have to like this kind of story to get into it, I guess.