Tag: Hulu

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Halloween Seasonal Special Features

It’s Spooky Season! – Day 26: Blood-C

Hey look, it’s time for vampires again. Or is it? Over the years there have been a few different entries in the Blood franchise, which began in 2000 with Blood: The Last Vampire. In that animated film, a teenage girl named Saya battles vampire-like creatures on behalf of some mysterious American handlers, while allegedly (as we discover later) being an immortal vampire herself. In 2005’s Blood+, an alternative universe retelling of the general details of the film plays out over 50-something episodes. But we’re not here to talk about either of those versions today. Instead I’d rather share my feelings on the “black sheep” of the family, 2011’s Blood-C.

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Favorites Special Features

A Decade of Favorites – 2010

Halloween 2010. Guest-starring my friend Anthony!

I’ve been through a lot over the past year, and it’s just now occurred to me that we’re about to enter a new decade (well, depending on how you count your years… due to work-related reasons I’m more inclined to start a new set of 10 things on a “1,” but I suppose that’s pedantic and also completely beside the point). This decade has definitely been an interesting one for anime series and movies. At the beginning of the decade the industry was still in the process of shoveling itself out from beneath the the remains of its busted economic bubble and because of it there were a few years where there just weren’t as many series being released. That’s not to say that there weren’t still some very good and memorable ones, but there were few enough that a decently-motivated person could catch all of the year’s stand-out series without investing a lot of extra time.

Nowadays we’re comparatively inundated by anime (at last count this year we were somewhere around 150 anime series, and that number doesn’t include films, ONA series, or OVAs… yowzers!). I’m continually both thrilled and frustrated by the fact that, as much as I would like to watch every better-than-average anime series that comes around, it’s almost impossible for me to do so without sacrificing something else in my life. Still, I’ve seen a lot of anime over the past 10 years, and looking over lists of the various series and films has been a good reminder of how much good the industry has been able to accomplish with its storytelling, even while sometimes struggling financially and in areas related to the treatment of its workers. Like many other bloggers, I think it might be fun to look back on some of my favorites over the years, as we prepare to plunge forward into a new decade.

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Anime Reviews Reviews

Anime Review – Astra: Lost in Space

The source of the ship's name.

In the year 2063, travelling through space has become commonplace. Eight students from Caird High School, along with one child, set out for a school camp on a nearby planet. However, the students are then mysteriously transported 5,000 light years away from home, with no way to call for help. Aboard an abandoned spaceship they call the Astra, these nine students slowly try to make their way back and figure out why they were transported in the first place. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12 (episodes 1 and 12 are double-length episodes)

Source: Manga

Read my first impressions here!

Review: Note – This review may contain minor plot spoilers for the series. Because this show presents major revelations in its second half, I’ve done my best to only speak as generally as possible.

Despite the fact that many fans my age were introduced to anime through the iconic science fiction titles that trickled their way over to the West in the early years, it feels as though it’s been quite a while since the sci-fi genre has really been front-and-center. While the surge in slice-of-life anime in the early 2000’s has certainly provided me with many favorite series, and the current popularity of isekai stories is starting to bear more fruit for fans of my tastes, sometimes I just get nostalgic for stories about space travel and the intrepid spirit of humanity. Astra: Lost in Space, a recently-concluded series from this Summer, does a real bang-up job of scratching that itch.

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First Impressions Reviews

Summer 2019 First Impressions – The Ones Within

Akatsuki Iride and seven other charismatic game streamers wake up in the world of a mysterious free-to-play game called Naka no Hito Genome. Now they are competing in real-life games with life-or-death stakes, but clearing several game tasks could earn them 100 million lives.  – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: One fateful night, several “Let’s Play” video game streamers are offered the opportunity to participate in a special top-secret gaming session. Streamer Akatsuki awakens in a forest soon afterward, and he and a fellow streamer are soon pursued by a giant panda. Akatsuki’s thoughtfulness wins out when he identifies that the panda isn’t hostile. After clearing the obstacle, they’re approached by Mr. Paka, and alpaca-headed individual who fills them in about their special status.

Akatsuki and seven others were chosen to participate in this real-life streaming event, the goal being to grow a viewership of 100,000,000 individuals. They’ll be completing tasks in small groups to obtain genomic objects for some unspecified purpose. The first goal is to complete the 3 requests of “Kokkuri-san” (the Japanese equivalent of using a Ouija board to summon a spirit). While the others in the group are rightfully spooked when the spirit appears, Akatsuki’s kindness and offer of friendship allows them to fulfill the ghost’s desires.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Afterlost

One day a town is annihilated. Yuki is a young woman who is said to be the only person left alive from the town after the annihilation, and Takuya is a loner and a smuggler. Together, with the letter left by Yuki’s father, they go toward the town, now called Lost, but unexpected obstacles stand in their path. The thoughts of those left behind, secret and mysterious organizations, and hidden conspiracies await Yuki and Takuya as they move closer toward the mystery behind Lost. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Smartphone Game

Episode Summary: Some years ago, a disaster obliterated a large part of the city, seemingly killing the entire population. Since then, the area has been cordoned off by the military, and one lone survivor, Yuki, has been held in captivity. Takuya is a courier who always gets the job done. Though it involves danger on his part, he kidnaps Yuki from the holding facility and brings her to his patrons. A coded message was received from inside the Lost, the destroyed city, and there’s reason to believe that Yuki’s father may be alive somewhere within its borders.

Takuya, intending to see his “delivery” job through to the end, calls upon several resources and prepares for the dangerous journey, but doesn’t expect the kind of telekinetic onslaught he and Yuki face while trying to make their way beyond the sealed perimeter. Yuki is, however, more than she seems – she did survive the initial disaster, after all. She calls upon powers of her own so that she and Takuya can make their way forward. There is, however, the Agency, and they catch Takuya off-guard. Will either Takuya or Yuki survive long enough to penetrate the Lost?

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – RobiHachi

In Neo Tokyo in the year G.C.0051, humans have known of aliens for the last 50 years and obtained super light-speed navigation technology and formed a commonwealth of planets. Self-proclaimed freelance reportage writer Robby Yarge fails at work, so his contract is cut. His girlfriend leaves him, he nearly dies in a traffic accident, and debt collectors are after him. One day, a bag snatcher steals Robby’s bag, and a young man helps him. Hatchi Kita, an 18-year-old part-time worker, catches the criminal and returns Robby’s bag. However, Hatchi turns up again in Robby’s life as a debt collector. Hatchi explains that it’s his part-time job working for the loan shark Yang. A cat-and-mouse chase begins, and Yang takes his subordinates Allo and Gras along for the ride. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Original

Episode Summary: Robby Yarge is in a bit of a financial pickle, having cultivated champagne tastes on a soda-pop budget. He’s averse to actually working, and he’s experienced the failure of several get-rich-quick schemes after striking out on his own from his wealthy family. But this latest investment won’t fail, he just knows it – even though it involves a loan from a mob boss and a highly questionable shrimp-farming business. Unfortunately, Robby’s seed funds (which he’s been toting around in a duffel bag) have been stolen right out of his hands. He’s only saved by the chance intervention of a man named Hatchi, who’s no superhero; he’s just a bored, gifted guy looking to inject some interest into his life.

After the two part ways, that seems to be that. Until Robby’s “investment” goes awry and Yang the loan shark comes calling. Hatchi’s taken a job as Yang’s collector, so he and Robby trade blows while Yang and his other cronies approach Robby’s apartment. As it turns out, Robby has one more trick up his sleeve – his abode is actually part of an old space ship. The bucket-of-bolts still works, and Robby pulls into space with Hatchi an unwilling stowaway. When Yang and company give chase, it turns out there’s yet another escape option; two single-pilot space planes (just the right number!) that join to form a giant robot!

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – One Punch Man Season 2

An increase in villain activity has the Hero Organization worried that the “Earthdoom prophecy” will soon come to pass. In an effort to alleviate the overworked heroes, they turn to villains themselves for help. The decision looks ill-advised as at least one villain is more interested in helping the prophecy along than preventing it. – ANN

Streaming: Hulu

Episodes: TBA

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: Following Saitama’s climactic extraterrestrial conflict, things settle down a bit in M City. Saitama still serves in a mentorship role for cyborg hero Genos, though from the looks of it Genos is pretty capable of handling himself. Unfortunately, the appearance rate of lower-level baddies has increased quite a bit, so there’s little time for rest and relaxation. As they soon discover, a new S-Class hero named “King” has been getting quite the reputation lately. When King makes an appearance, his threatening aura intimidates evil-doers and excites his adoring public. Saitama is curious enough about the man that he decides to follow King and watch as he does battle with a giant, rampaging cyborg foe.

As it turns out, King’s reputation is just that – only a reputation. He just happens to be someone whose bad luck attracts bad guys, but no matter how many confrontations he has, it’s always someone else who punches out the antagonists in the end. Saitama uncovers this during a video-gaming session with King. In exchange, Saitama recommends a strength-building regimen to help the poser gain some confidence (this is, of course, as Saitama destroys a winged monster one-handed). In the meantime, the Hero Association is struggling to address the culmination of a prophecy, which seems imminent due to the increased criminal activity in the region. They choose to take an unorthodox route in addressing this by welcoming all of the city’s low-level thugs and inviting them to join forces. Some seem to be on board with this, but there are others whose motivations seem directly opposed to cooperation.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Fairy Gone

Fairies possess and reside within animals, granting them special powers. By surgically removing and transplanting the organs of a possessed animal into a human, humans can partially summon the fairy and use it as a weapon. Eventually, such individuals were used for war, and were called “Fairy Soldiers.” After a long war, these soldiers lost their purpose, and had to reintegrate into society. Nine years after the end of the war, Maria is a fresh recruit of “Dorothea,” an organization dedicated to the investigation and suppression of fairy-related crimes and incidents. Even in peacetime, the government is still unstable after the war. Many criminals still have lingering wounds from the previous conflict, and there are terrorist groups bent on revenge. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 24

Source: Original

Episode Summary: Several years ago, Marlya Noel witnessed the destruction of her home village and was one of only two survivors of the carnage. Nowadays she works as security, hoping to meet back up with Veronica, her fellow escapee. Backstage at an auction house, Marlya marvels at the fairy-related artifacts being bid-upon, though her distracting curiosity draws the ire of Free, the man running the security operation. As bidding commences on a page from a coveted underground tome, the action is interrupted by violence from the hand and heart of a beautiful blond woman. Marlya, as she defends the patrons, is shocked to discover that the woman is, in fact, Veronica.

There is no touching reunion, as Veronica seems uninterested in reminders of her former life. In the struggle, both Veronica and Free reveal their own powerful nature, battling one-another via their terrifying fairy avatars. What Marlya discovers is that, as a survivor of her village, she has this ability as well; she inadvertently joins with a fairy primordial when a fairy bottle breaks. As the violence dies down, Marlya learns that her very existence is illegal under the current government, but Free offers her an out; as an operative of “Dorothea,” he helps hunt down and regulate the use of this forbidden magic. Marlya chooses his outstretched hand – for the time being.

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Fruits Basket

After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, plucky high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out into a tent. Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn’t long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own–when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. – ANN

Streaming: Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, and Yahoo View

Episodes: TBA

Source: Manga, as well as a previous anime adaptation.

Episode Summary: Tohru’s living situation is a bit… complicated. After her mother passed away in an accident, she went to live with her grandfather. Now her grandfather’s home is being renovated, so rather than cause problems for one of her friends by asking to live with them for a few months, Tohru has chosen to take all the burden on by herself – by living in a tent in the woods and supporting herself through her part-time job. By accident, she learns that her tent sits on the property of the Soma family, and Yuki Soma (her class’s “prince”) walks with her to school when Tohru discovers the location of their family home. This gets Tohru in trouble with Yuki’s fan club, but luckily Yuki turns out to be more down-to-earth than his social status may imply.

After completing a day’s work at her after-school cleaning job, Tohru sneaks back to her tent in the dark. Coincidentally, Yuki and his cousin Shigure are also wandering their property, and suddenly Tohru’s secret is out in the open. Conveniently, the Soma boys are slobs, and Tohru has a knack for cleaning – it seems like the perfect match for them both. She’s invited to take the empty room on the Soma home’s second floor. But when the ornery Kyo drops in to pick a fight with Yuki, the family’s odd secret is revealed. If the family members come into contact with someone of the opposite sex, they transform into the various animal members of the Chinese Zodiac!

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First Impressions Reviews

Spring 2019 First Impressions – Mix: Meisei Story

26 years after Meisei High conquered the Kōshien, a promising pitcher-catcher battery was formed in its middle school by the Tachibana step-brothers, Touma and Souichirou. – ANN

Streaming: Funimation and Hulu

Episodes: 12

Source: Manga

Episode Summary: 26 years ago, Meisei High School did the near-impossible – they managed to win the nation-wide high school baseball tournament held at Koshien Stadium. In the ensuing years the school never made another play at the title, and the school’s fame and ambitions cooled. The Tachibana brothers, born 10 minutes apart on the same day (but who aren’t twins), seem to have an obvious synergy with one-another, along with a keen interest in baseball. Even as young kids they had a goal in mind to one day reach Koshien.

As students of Meisei Middle School, they find that baseball team ambitions are somewhat lacking. Still, there are a few talented students chomping at the bit, and Touma and Souichiro Tachibana make an obviously talented pitcher-catcher pair. Could this be the latent beginning of a new era for Meisei?

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