The Anime Quick Review Guide brought to you by Cinema Anime November 2005 revision This guide includes a little information about anime, commercially available anime titles. For just DVDs, places to find out more, and a quick summary of DVD Planet (http://dvdplanet.com) has nice over one hundred anime programs. discounts and a large selection. Anime is just the name for animation in Japan, Another good resource is The Anime Encyclopedia where it isn't just a medium for children. The by Jonathan Clements & Helen McCarthy (ISBN 1- animation quality, voice acting, and story lines can 880656-64-7). It's got just about everything, all be much better than anything found on American the way back to 1917, from A.L.I.CE to Zorro the television. Of course, it still can be downright silly. Magnificent. This list grew out of the shows that were being shown at the local conventions, and to answer Of course, coming to a Cinema Anime showing or parents and other folks who were wondering visiting http://cinemaanime.org is a good way to "what the heck is that show?" It isn't find out more about anime, too. (shameless plug) comprehensive, although it does include some of We've got links to other review and summary sites. the shows we like. The anime programs in this guide include dramas, About Cinema Anime comedies, and action series that vary from "perfect for all ages" to "suggested for teens and We're a part of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy older". Check the descriptions for more Society (LASFS) that meets every second Saturday information, your mileage may vary. of the month from 1pm - 8pm to watch anime. The screenings are free and open to anyone interested Enjoy. Feel free to get in touch if you have any in anime. questions or suggestions for the next revision. http://cinemaanime.org Brett --- [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Getting and Choosing Anime Where's LASFS? Most video stores and rental places carry anime 11513 Burbank Blvd. (back building) these days. The problem is, most have no rhyme North Hollywood, CA 91601 or reason to what titles they have. Some are (818) 760-9234 (for directions) good, while others are, well, an interesting take http://lasfs.org on inter species dating. Ick. Read the back label carefully, and check for a suggested age rating. Better yet, check guides like this for handy advice! A good place to buy anime and anime-related stuff is The Right Stuf (http://rightstuf.com). They carry pretty much everything, and they're nice people. Their catalog is a mini-encyclopedia of all the 1 Program Descriptions Listed ages are what the distributor (or sometimes we) suggest. You know your kids (or your own tastes) best, though. Adventures of the Mini-Goddess ages All Armitage III Dual Matrix ages 16+ The Oh! My Goddess characters (mainly the The Armitage Poly Matrix story continues. Armitage goddesses Urd and Skuld) return, but in the "handy and Ross have returned to Earth, but they face a petite size" in this series about having fun on a very deadlier threat -- duplicates of Armitage herself. small scale. Bite-sized and fun, each episode is about five minutes long. Armitage III Poly Matrix ages 13+ When Ross transferred to the Mars police force, he Ah! My Goddess the Movie ages 13+ wasn't expecting someone like Armitage as his Belldandy has amnesia and her former mentor is partner. Beautiful, strong, and reckless, she holds attempting to corrupt the entire Goddess System. the key to a string of android assassinations. Can Keiichi restore her memory before it's too late? Assemble Insert ages 13+ Animation Runner Kuromi ages 13+ The villainous Demon Seed group are on a crime Kuromi has dreamed of getting a job in animation. spree and the police are helpless. So of course, But the reality is a whole lot different than she they look for the perfect poster girl to improve their imagined when the production manager keels over PR. The only problem is, she might actually be able with an ulcer and puts her in charge of the whole to stop Demon Seed. A funny parody of the crime- show! fighting heroine genre. APCCG Nuku Nuku ages 12+ Big O ages 13+ That's All Purpose Cultural Cat Girl Nuku Nuku. Yes, Part James Bond, part Batman, Roger Smith is a a female android with the brain of a cat. What negotiator in a city that has no memory. When could go wrong? Oh, and the inventor's ex-wife has things get too hot, he can always call on his giant a big grudge and wants the company's research robot, Big O. subject back. Birdy the Mighty ages 13+ Appleseed (2004) rated R (violence) Birdy didn't mean to electrocute that boy -- she was After the world nearly ends, a utopian city arises, after an intergalactic criminal. Now they have to made possible by the synthetic humans who don't share one body and cooperate if they're to survive have the extremes of human emotion. But someone both high school and intergalactic law enforcement. is targeting them, and only a female soldier brought in from the wastelands has a chance to save them Blood: the Last Vampire ages 15+ and the city. A CGI action-adventure with some big A moody, action-filled horror film about a dark, fight scenes. mysterious girl hunting vampire-like creatures. But her handlers refer to her as the "last original". Arjuna ages 13+ Beautiful use of light and dark. Very intense. One fateful day, Arjuna died. And then she saw the world's terrible future as it's ecology collapsed. Blue Submarine no. 6 ages 13+ Given the chance to live again if she works to save The oceans have risen, marine creatures battle the planet, Arjuna returns as the Avatar of Time to humans for control of the seas, and the last hope for battle the demon Raaja that threaten to destroy humanity is Blue Submarine no. 6. An action-packed mankind. But the Raaja may be a monster of man's sci-fi adventure. own making.... 2 Card Captor Sakura ages All Cowboy Bebop the Movie rated R Sakura accidentally releases a deck of magical Mars, an exploding tanker, and a deadly germ that cards, each with its own wild power. With the help leaves no traces. The crew of the Bebop is on the of the guardian beast Kero-chan (now in cute doll tail of their most deadly bounty ever, and it's going form), she has to recover them all before they work to take everything they've got to stop a Halloween their mischief. Magical girl genre, but several cuts disaster. above in quality and story. Suitable for all ages, but subtitled. Crest of the Stars ages 13+ When Jinto Lin's father surrenders his home planet to the Humankind Abh Empire in return for a noble title, Card Captor Sakura the Movie ages 8+ Jinto's life is changed forever. Now, he is about to Sakura has won a trip to Hong Kong with her meet his first Abh, Lafiel, not knowing what destiny friends, but a mysterious vision leads her to an old has in store for them or the fate of all their worlds. rival of Clow Reed who is out for revenge. Dai-Guard ages 12+ Carried By the Wind ages 13+ What if they built a giant robot but the alien invasion Tsukikage Ran is an easygoing samurai who only never came? Three salarymen (and woman) are cares for naps, lazy afternoons, and good sake, and stuck as glorified tour guides to the inactive giant her sidekick, Meow, is an easygoing martial artist. paperweight, Dai-Guard, when, years later, the Both a parody and homage to the wandering aliens finally show up. Now it's time to rush into samurai genre, this show mixes excellent action with action -- once all the proper paperwork is done. An comedy and engaging characters. action/comedy about what would really happen if a corporation had a giant robot on a tight budget. Ceres, Celestial Legend ages 16+ Aya thought she was a normal girl, but on her Daphne in the Brilliant Blue ages 16+ sixteenth birthday, she discovers that she's the When Maia misses her big chance, she's out of a job descendent of a captured angel, Ceres. The spirit and a home. Fortunately, the Nereides Detective seeks revenge on her family, who in turn are willing Agency has an opening, if she can survive her co- to do anything to protect themselves. workers (let alone the jobs). A light action show set in a futuristic, oceanic city (lots of swimsuits). Chinese Ghost Story ages 8+ A wandering boy stumbles across ghost-banishing Dirty Pair (Original) ages 15+ monks, powerful wizards, and a fantastic realm filled In the distant future, the Lovely Angels are one of the with dangerous and hungry spirits in a charming story top Trouble Contractor teams -- at least, for of love lost and found again. collateral damage and casualties. Just don't make them mad and call them Dirty Pair.... Chobits ages 16+ Hideki is a broke student, Chi is the female Persocom Dirty Pair Flash ages 12+ he finds in the trash. But her OS isn't standard, and A newer telling of the saga of the Lovely Angels, with she's learning to become more human each day, but different character designs and different stories. Hideki can barely keep up with his own education, let alone hers! Dragon Half ages 15+ Mink is half dragon/half human, but that doesn't stop Cowboy Bebop ages 13+ her from falling for the heroic idol Dick Saucer, Bounty hunters Spike and Jet roam the solar system dragonslayer.