Do Re Mi

I went into this movie pretty much blind since all I knew about it was that it was about airplanes.  Eventually I discovered that the movie takes place during the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923) and around WWII when engineers were creating the kamikaze fighter plane (Mitsubishi A6M Zero). I noticed similarities this film shared with Howl's Moving Castle in the way the planes and their sound effects were used.  The planes sounded alive; I was wondering if an actual person made the sound effects of the planes.  The earthquake also seemed like a living creature. Any scenes of war's destruction were hauntingly metaphorical which I appreciated because instead of distracting, it complimented the movie's focus: creativity and passion of flight. I usually like the move to make as much sense in context as possible and since "The Wind Rises" takes place in Japan, I would watch in in Japanese.  Alas, subtitles weren't really working too well for me so I watched it...

WataMote - Watashi ga Motenai no wa dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! English title: No Matter How I Look at It, It's You Guys' Fault I'm Not Popular! Release date: July, 2013 Creator: Tanigawa, Nico (Manga, 2011) Genre: Slice-of-life, Comedy, Tragedy Story: Otome game obsessed Kuroki Tomoko has extensive experience in relationships and dated hundreds of boys... in otome games.  In reality, Tomoko has never dated a guy and has lost contact with many of her friends from middle school.  Now she's starting her first year of high school.  What will become of (extremely) socially awkward Tomoko? Review: This is the first time I've ever watched a tragic comedy genre anime.  Combining the two themes creates an entirely new flavor which is something along the lines of bittersweet and sarcastic. Tomoko is a character that touches the lonely soul in all of us.  I can only cheer her on as she stumbles through the social obstacles of life.  Th...

BTOOOM! Release date: October, 2012 Creator: Inoue, Jun'ya (Manga, 2009) Genre: Psychological, Action, Romance, Sci-fi Story: Sakamoto Ryouta is an average 22-year-old guy who can be classified as a NEET.  He has no job and spends most of his time playing the popular online game "BTOOOM!".  Seemingly a nobody in real life, in the game, Ryouta is an elite, 4-star player admired by everyone. One day, Ryouta wakes up and finds himself on a tropical island with no memory of how he got there.  Eventually, he realizes that he's been placed in a real-life version of "BTOOOM." Review: At first glance, this may seem like a ripoff of Battle Royale but after getting into the plot, it really is a work of its own.  I feel like the story is more developed and character motives are better emphasized. I see Ryouta as an Anti-Light Yagami because of his similar appearance and strategical talent; although instead of being a popular and 'perfect...

Shingeki no Kyojin   English title: Attack on Titan; lit. "Advancing Giants" Release date: April, 2013 Creator: Isayama, Hajime (Manga, 2009) Genre: Action, Drama, Horror, Dystopia, Fantasy Story: In a world where giant beings called titans dominate the lands, Humans are forced to barricade themselves within giant walls for protection against the titans' wrath.  A hundred years later, the walls are breached by an enormous titan thus sealing the fate of a young boy named Eren Yeager who vows to kill all titans and wipe them out of existence. Review: This is one of those anime where I didn't think I would like it at all and then it won me over.  The story draws you in slowly and then takes a firm grip with all its excitement and brutal glory.  There's this raw feeling of vulnerability that's brought to life when one takes a giant, man-eating titan and puts it up against a tiny Human. I really appreciate the scenarios that bring up gre...