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Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki
Anime Review by Karen Gellender
 Poyo Poyo wouldn't work as a full-length series. The main gag of the series, which is repeated many different ways, is that Poyo is a cat who looks more like a stuffed, round pillow than a feline creature. As cute as Poyo is, there is just no way to mine that premise for much drama. However, as a charming distraction with two-and-half minute long episodes, presented in a unique watercolor style, Poyo Poyo has no need for any drama: it's just fun.
Based on the four-panel manga Poyopoyo Kansatsu Nikki by Ruu Tatsuki, at first the series seems to have a lot in common with that other cute-kitty series, Chi's Sweet Home. However, Poyo Poyo is a different ball of fur. Read More...
Mawaru Penguindrum
Anime Review by Ben Huber
 If you could alter your fate, would you? Who is really your family? Your brother? Your sister? Mawaru Penguindrum, the latest anime series from director Kunihiko Ikuhara (of Revolutionary Girl Utena fame), tackles those questions in the strangest of ways: with penguins.
The Takakura siblings are living fine on their own. The precious Himari and her two older brothers Kanba and Shouma are making ends meet without their parents. However, despite their outwardly happy appearance, Himari's terminal illness casts an inevitable shadow over the family. Knowing her time is short, Kanba and Shouma take her to the aquarium for the day to see the penguins. Shockingly, Himari dies there, but a penguin hat takes control of her body and grants her life again. Yes, that's correct. Read More...
Chi's Sweet Home
Anime Review by Karen Gellender
 Sometimes good things come in small packages, and sometimes great anime comes in little three-minute bursts. Chronicling the fairly realistic adventures of an adorable little kitten and the family that adopts her, Chi's Sweet Home accomplishes what most series consisting of short episodes don't: it maintains an engaging narrative while still taking advantage of the lightness of the format.
The story focuses on Chi's development from a naive, helpless lost kitten to a beloved member of the Yamada family. As you might expect, Chi herself is adorable, but the creators wisely resisted the urge to make her too cute; instead of looking like Hello Kitty, she often resembles a real cat, especially when she's angry and baring her tiny teeth.
Read More...
War in Space
Japanese Cinema Review by Brian Cirulnick
 If you like your cheeeze with an extra helping of CHEEEZE, then "War in Space" is just for you. While this 1977 Japanese Sci-Fi adventure was obviously funded in response to Star Wars (although "Message from Space" is more clearly in that realm), it actually takes it's plotline more from the anime classic Space Battleship Yamato (Starblazers), except this time the space battleship is armed with the drill missile and not the wave motion gun (shhh! You're giving away the secret plot twist!)
This movie has it all; a romantic triangle, heroic sacrifices, monsters, aliens, things that explode, plastic models on strings, blue space backdrops, a wise and honorable captain, a rash upstart combat leader, and spaceplanes that launch from a giant revolver (we are not kidding)... You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss 5 bucks goodbye! This is party-movie-night fodder with popcorn and coke. Read More...
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Princess Knight
Manga Review
by Linda Yau
 During the 1950's, Princess Knight was first serialized in magazine. Subsequently in the following decades had a couple of re-writes, reprints, sequel, and even an anime series/movie in the 1960's. The definitive for this story became cemented with a later edition that Vertical's current English edition translates. Why such a treatment for a title as this?
For one Princess Knight was written by Osama Tezuka, the godfather of manga, and another the time it was written. Back in the 1950's, there weren't much titles available for female reader to enjoy. However, with the release of this title, it became a seed that would inspire a generation of the early shoujo creators. Read More...
K-On!
Manga Review
by Linda Yau
 A feature of high school education is the availability of a variety of clubs that students can take part in. This fills the social and activity schedule of students aside from their studies. Ritsu and Mio decided to prevent the pop music club from being disbanded, and turn it into a band. Along the way Tsumugi and Yui joins, or as Mio yells at Ritsu to not push people into joining. Ritsu as the club president plays the drums, Mio on the bass, Tsumugi on the keyboard and Yui, the guitarist. Read More...
Mardock Scramble
Manga Review
by Linda Yau
 Possibly a scenario that any normal person wouldn't want to be stuck is being left for dead. Then to have to choose between to live or to die, what is a normal response? After being caught in a near fatal murder attempt, Rune Balot in Mardock Scramble survived, with a completely new "cyborg" body. This body has a power of controlling anything electronic with stimulation or "snark," Balot is tasked to go against Shell Septinos, the man who tried to murder her, with the aid of a talking lab mouse known as OEufcoque. Read More...
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