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Polar Bear's Cafe
Anime Review by Karen Gellender
We all know that bears can be scary, but have you ever taken the time to wonder, what if bears were awesome? What if bears could be your best friends, who offered lifestyle advice over a delicious parfait? That's the world that Polar Bear Cafe offers us, a world where the titular polar bear isn't a dangerous predator in the wild, but a friendly, responsible small business proprietor who serves you your cafe mocha with a smile.
The premise of the show is definitely a little bizarre: a polar bear (simply called Polar Bear) operates a homey little cafe in the suburbs, frequented by fellow animals Penguin, Panda, and a bunch of other friendly mammals and reptiles from the nearby petting zoo. While you might assume that PBC is just a show that has replaced all of its characters with human-like animals, like certain children's books, you would be wrong: humans still exist in this world, and in fact, they frequent Polar Bear's cafe without a care in the world. It's the friendly, nonchalant interaction between humans and the wide variety of animals that populate their world that gives the series its unique charm.
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Tsuritama
Anime Review by Ben Huber
Moving constantly, never making good friends, and missing out on traditional social interaction: it sounds rough, doesn't it? Yuki has those problems. Living with his grandmother who needs to relocate frequently doesn't allow him the same ordinary school life his peers have. However, when they settle down in a seaside town, things start to get a little crazy for our orange-haired protagonist.
Haru, an excitable young boy claiming to be an alien, quickly makes his way into Yuki's life. He pulls along the local fishing champion, Natsuki, and the three boys soon find themselves fishing, boating, and experiencing all the beautiful environs of the ocean. The absurdity ramps up as they encounter an Indian boy named Akira and his pet duck, Tapioca, who watch the group carefully from afar, keeping tabs on their every movement. Read More...
Puss in Boots
Anime Review by Linda Yau
Longtime viewers of Toei Animation should have been seeing this mascot logo of a cat popping out from the scene every time their logo shows up. I know I have, and I finally learn the origins of who this mascot is. It is Pero from the companyís 1969 animated adaption of Puss in Boots. This particular title finally hits the shores of the United States being distributed by Discotek Media.
Watching this film, people shouldnít expect Antonio Banderes' voice to leap out of the screen, but by no means is this puss or Pero not as charismatic and is just as much a sweet talker. Toei's Puss in Boots has a plot that is based off of the original French fairy tale. Pero is friends with Pierre, a lowly third son, who happens to fall for the fair and lovely Princess Rose. Read More...
Saint Seiya Omega
Anime Review by Ben Huber
Screaming and hurtling punches at each other, a fury of energy and armor clashing - are you interested in more? Saint Seiya has returned to the the land of anime again and it brings with it a pile of talented people and a clatter of fun battles. This brightly colored sequel series may be what fans (and newcomers who want to see what all the fuss is about) have been waiting for!
Set 25 years after the original's Holy Wars, Omega sets off from the first series to become its own entity. Masami Kurumada, the creator of Saint Seiya, is not involved, and this results in Omega being more of a spin-off than a proper sequel. Pegasus Seiya is regarded as a legend - a mighty warrior from long ago - and now the next generation of Saints must hope to fill his shoes. Read More...
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Kimonos
Japanese Culture Book Review by Linda Yau
Kokeshi is typically known as a traditional Japanese doll. They are recognizable by their rounded heads, trunks of a body with no arms and legs and their face drawn with thin lines. Now consider Annelore Parot's "Kokeshi" series of books, and knowing about this set guarantees to send a fan of kokeshi dolls and the Japanese kawaii aspect into titillations. Read More...
Spirited Away:
British Film Institute Classics Series
Anime Book Review by Linda Yau
As the eighth full-length feature film of Hayao Miyazaki, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi or Spirited Away shouldn't be an unfamiliar work to those who appreciate Studio Ghiblis works. Andrew Osmond writes a factual analysis of the film Spirited Away rather than critical. This book is meant for those who want to appreciate, understand and study the film beyond watching the 125 minutes of screen time.
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The Bad Book
Japanese Art Book Review by Linda Yau
Mascots are pretty well known, and if anyone were to know anything about Japanese cultures or products, then Hello Kitty is a very recognizable character to people. Sanrio has expanded their mascot into the realms of living and growing with Japanese children. Now for the western counterpart there is Mickey Mouse, and for companies like Disney there is an unspoken message of having a wholesome image. In The Bad Book, Aranzi Aronzo creates a mascot character that people can relate in learning the bad or things to avoid. Read More...
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