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Kino's Journey
Anime DVD Review by Brian Cirulnick
 Having been bitten by the motorcycle bug a few years back, I naturally hunger for any news or information that involves two-wheeled transport. One of the nice things about being a part of the motorcycle subculture is reading about, and partaking in roadtrips, often with no clear destination, just a trip just to enjoy the ride and take in the scenery.
One such anime seems to know the pleasure we riders feel and has catered to it. Kino's Journey is a roadtrip to nowhere, with great scenery, a sense of adventure and a ride that understands why riders ride. For those of you wanting bikini-clad babes piloting megaton mecha against gargantuan space armadas, you'll have to look elsewhere. Read More...
Shuffle!
Anime DVD Review by Brian Cirulnick
 The anime series Shuffle! is based upon a PC game by the same name that allowed players to make decisions that would affect the protagonist's ultimate choice. Young, naive, clueless Rin is put in the position of choosing between a number of women, all vying for his love and willing to do just about anything to get it. (Basically an anime game version of Flavor of Love, but without Flavor Flav)...
This harem-fantasy has all the makings of a fun, comedic watch because of its quirky cast, but be forewarned: Shuffle! is is definitely not for the younger fans due to lots of innuendo and a few racy shots so this one is for mature audiences only.
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Whisper of the Heart
Anime DVD Review by Brian Cirulnick
 Any anime fan can unconsciously identify a Miyazaki film via the formulaic elements that are used again and again within each film. Like a favorite musical artist's "signature sound", a Miyazaki film will contain a young heroine on the brink of becoming a young woman, vaguely European architecture, and flying sequences animated with breathtaking dynamism and a sense of wonder.
His films are simple and heartwarming, with a child's view of the world, where everything is a new adventure, and no problem can't be overcome with love. They are chock full of what we humans define as "soul". Read More...
Robot Chicken: Star Wars
Animation DVD Review by Brian Cirulnick
 Robot Chicken consistently ranks as one of the highest rated programs in the adult Swim programming block and in 2007 was nominated for an Outstanding Animated Programming Emmy, which also helped push the series to the top of the entire network's 2007 ratings.
Although chances are high you have already recorded this off the air, getting the DVD is worth it for the extras, and there are literally hours of extras for this barely half-hour episode, the most ambitious of Seth Green's and Matthew Senreich's stop-motion animated show from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup. Read More...
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Bender Action Figure
American Animation Toy Review
by Brian Cirulnick
Good news everyone! You can bite my shiny metal ass!
If ever there was a hero for our times, it's Bender. He takes orders from no one, and he's about as trustworthy as he is cultured. A robot among robots.
BENDER BENDING RODRIGUEZ is a Unit 22 Bending Unit made in Mexico, child number 1729 of a robotic arm mother and a father killed by a can opener. He is a heavy drinker and smoker for mechanical reasons but he pathologically steals, cheats, and lies for fun. His electricity dependency is under control. He is 40% zinc, 40% titanium, and 40% dolomite, but he was briefly made of wood and once converted into an Olympic medalist fembot. He is a devotee of All My Circuits, having appeared on the show after serving as a water heater for its star Calculon (whom he stalked and nearly married). He toured with Beck, escaped from Robot Hell, and suffered the curse of the werecar.
You know, the usual stuff.
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Dark Metro
Manga Review
by Carolyn Whu
 My imagination is my worst enemy. I remember watching an old episode of The Twilight Zone where William Shatner is on a plane and he sees this monster out on the plane's wing outside his window. The scene I remember the most vividly is when he turns around to look out the window again, the monster has his face pressed up against the window staring menacingly back at him. The only thing that separated him from that thing was that tiny thin window. Read More...
Gosick
Light Novel Review
by Carolyn Whu
 This is not Harry Potter and his stones, goblets, or phoenix or his 500+ pages of "Oh my God, are those words?!?!?" Also, this is not Sherlock Holmes and his fun loving pal, Watson, either with their "Oh, Lord! Is that English?!?!?" You don't have to faint yet; I would never subject non-bibliophiles (a.k.a. book geeks, Scrabble players, word fiends, nerds) to those books at the get go. Gosick is technically not a manga though you'll probably find it in that section. It's got a lot more words and a lot less artwork but don't count it out just yet simply because you have a short attention span and you want your eye candy. Read More...
Anime Figures:
Tokyo's Hottest
50 Anime Figurines
Anime Book Review by Brian Cirulnick
 Collecting those PVC figurines can become a mighty expensive hobby. Fanboys often seem to spend their lunch money (for the next 3 years) to obtain some lump of plastic curiously shaped like a half-naked anime girl to adorn their bookshelves.
Oozing sex-appeal and often looking like they are ready to make your wildest fantasies come true, these tiny figures are in short supply and are growing more valuable than a barrel of oil (which is ironic since plastic is made from oil). Read More...
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