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From Up On Poppy Hill
Anime Review by Ben Huber
 A new Studio Ghibli film is always a welcome sight. We return to Miyazaki again for another film, but not Hayao. Instead, his son Goro Miyazaki has taken on another film, after poor reception of Tales of Earthsea, which is widely considered the "only bad Ghibli film." That's a bit of a dramatic take, but even so, many had tempered expectations leading into Goro's subsequent film called From Up on Poppy Hill - and we can happily report, your doubts are unfounded.
From Up on Poppy Hill is set in 1963, a tumultuous time in Japan's history. Still recovering from the effects of war and aiming towards the future as the 1964 Summer Olympics peered over the horizon, we find our two lead characters living in seaside Japan at Yokohama harbor. Read More...
Fractale
Anime Review by Neil Sveri
 If someone were to ask for a quick summary of Fractale, my answer would be "What is your definition of quick, and do you have a century or two?" And the fact that my abridged summary of this show would be so long is astounding, because the entirety of the series only consists of 11 half hour episodes. Yet in these few glimpses into the surprisingly deep world Fractale presents to us, we encounter an array of themes and concepts that would make an English teacher's head spin. The series makes one think deeply about the future of our world. The ideas of creating a true utopia, our increasing dependency of technology, the ideals of family, the loss of innocence, the loss of free thought, the extremism of religions, brainwashing, loneliness, family ties, murder, war, deception, greed, false loyalty, and murder. Read More...
Space Brothers
Anime Review by Karen Gellender
 Maybe it's just us, but we didn't realize just how badly we needed a solid dose of optimism for the future before we started watching Space Brothers. There are a lot of valid criticisms of the show, based on the manga by Chuuya Koyama: it's slow-paced, often repetitive in its message, and the production values are average overall. However, the optimism expressed in the show for the future of space travel, and humanity in general, is downright infectious.
A near future where the best and brightest are pooling their resources to once again put men on the moon, or even Mars, with an almost childlike glee at what wonders may await in the vast beauty of unexplored space? Sign us up, please. Read More...
ShiKi
Anime Review by Brian Cirulnick
 Ok, ladies, you've been overdosed with vampires that sparkle, are romantic, are handsome, charming, clever, and are basically 'Prince Charming' in a black cape. They've been the good guys, they've been the bad guys, but, just maybe, what if nobody on either side of the story was entirely good or evil?
So.... get ready for some real vampires. I don't even mean the Noferatu types where it's obvious it's a monster. No, Shi Ki presents us with a whole new dimension to what would otherwise be a tired, done-to-death genre -- instead, here's a vampire series that plays it straight, and turns the whole thing on it's ear, making the entire series come off as a simple fight for survival against an unknown, supernatural force that there seems to be no hope against. Read More...
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Chi's Sweet Home
Manga Review
by Linda Yau
 Cats may not be said as manís best friend, but they are fantastic in their own way. Our hearts certainly have been utterly stolen by Chi from Chi's Sweet Home. Cats are curious creatures by nature, and Chi being the way she is, makes for a wonderful feline protagonist. Early in the story, she becomes separated from her mom, and subsequently adopted by the Yamadas. Read More...
Shugo Chara
Manga Review
by Linda Yau
 As a person grows up, there are going to countless questions, issues and feelings that need to be face with and possibly accepted. The message in Shugo Chara is that change is possible with a lot of heart and courage. Amu Hinamori is a girl that is admired for appearing to be a cool badass. Internally she certainly doesn't feel that way. Read More...
The Cuter Book
Japanese Craft Book Review by Linda Yau
 In Japan, kawaii or chiisai (small) items sell, it definitely is not an unfamiliar phrase to hear girls exclaiming to their friends, "Kawaii deshou?" asking their friends for approval in looking at a cute item they have acquired. "How to do" crafts books assist with helping hobbyists, creative people, or just people who want to create crafts that inspire a similar feeling of love as accessories to own, objects to play with, or gifts to be given/exchanged.
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