★ Toy Gun Gun! ★ Aoharu x Kikanjuu 1st Episode Reaction / Review

Wow! I am very excited to see my favorite manga finally being turned in to an anime, and to see how well the producers turn this in to an action, comedy, and shounen packed anime of the year! With that, ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce to you Aoharu x Kikanjuu! This anime and manga's story line is quite unique as a whole, and I do recommend the manga wholeheartedly. As for the anime, I would like to do a first episode reaction type of article for today! 

I am hesitant to give a summary out because I would be basing the summary off of the manga, which is much further ahead of the anime, and even the slightest things can come out as spoilers. So for those of you who still want the summary, please click the hidden text link below.


VISIBLE CONTENT HERE

Matsuoka Masamune and Yukimura Tooru were best friends who dreamed of becoming professional soccer players. As they grow up through elementary and middle school, their dreams and goals are quickly erased due to Yukimura changing schools and moving away. Matsuoka quickly loses conviction without his best friend, and slowly starts to realize that he had no super talent in the game at all. Years go by and the two best friends cross paths again, Matsuoka as a host, and Yukimura as a hentai manga artist who is consistently on the run from his editor. Yuki quickly introduces a role playing outdoor game called "Survival Game", which involves the use of guns and fake pellets, to mimic a "Survival Game". As Hotaru, a high school girl commonly mistaken as a girl, gets involved in the game, the three make the team Toy Gun Gun! and vow to be the best Survival Game team in all of Japan and the world!

I actually enjoyed the first episode very much. Emphasis on the "very much". The opening was an amazing start, from the voice actor to the graphics, and I would continue watching to the second episode. What I am expecting to see is the border line seriousness and reality versus comedic side of the manga being featured in the anime. If Brain Studios manages to hit that side of the anime and manga, I think this will definitely make it to the end of my top 10 summer anime list. The story is light hearted while delivering the classic shounen theme, and overall the first episode was a big hit. 

 

Quite the transformation  

                                                                 


This is honestly a highly unique anime and manga, and overall very hard to compare it to other animes that have the same tone. It has the border line serious but comedic nature like Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki kun, but you would have to replace every character and add in a few gun and survival game outfits. 

For a more solid calculation, I did a basic number judging below: 

Opening: 8/10
Graphics: 8.5/10 
Voice Acting: 9/10
Expectations for further episodes: 8/10

An overall 33.5/40, which makes it a sold anime to recommend and watch. 

With that note, I will end the 1st Episode Review, and I hope to see the next episode soon! 

Top 4...Top 7... Top 50..AH I CAN'T CHOOSE!!!

As promised mina san, LalakoKyubey reporting back to the recommendation stage~! There were so many animes that I loved 2014, and a lot of my favorite directors that were inactive before came back with a huge boom this year, but I do have to choose the top four animes that are the winners of my heart of the 2014 anime year!  Before I continue, especially for this post, please do not flame or hate on my opinions or those who comment below. Not everyone has the same four opinions as you! Other then that, let's get started!

In 4th place...

Ping Pong The Animation

    Wow. That is one word I have for this anime. Before I start, I would like to give some applause to the three sports animes that I was thinking of putting in 4th place which were Haikyuu and Baby Steps. I will explain why I did not choose Haikyuu in one of my many upcoming posts. Other then that short break, back on to track.

   Ping Pong The Animation is a sports anime about ping pong, hence the name, and focuses on two main characters nicknamed Peco and Smile. They are known as the two most talented ping pong players of the Katase team, always seen together no matter what the situation. Peco is highly gifted and is very cocky, while Smile is very talented but does not have the drive to win games. Under the guiding hand of Koizumi sensei and real life experiences, all characters grow as a player and a person, finding the meaning of why ping pong important in their lives and how winning after hard work could ever feel so good.

  Sadly this is a spoiler free recommendation, or else I would have done in depth character analysis... That’s how good each character is developed. The art is absolutely unique, the music is top tier, but the reason why Ping Pong placed fourth is not because it was not lacking in anything but simply outshined by the other three animes that come before it.

In 3rd place...

Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki Kun

  Sweet, light, funny, I really couldn't ask for anything more. Although, I usually tend to dislike animes that don't really have a conclusion and just ramble for comedy, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki Kun really made me laugh in each episode. This anime was very clean and percise, never coming off the plot line, and unlike a lot of the animes that were made this year, that tended to stretch the plot line to fit in philosophical meanings, deep messages, and tragedies. Overall, Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki Kun acted as somewhat of a breather for me. It's an anime were I could just laugh without trying to think about deep character and plot analogies.

  

  Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, also known as Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun, revolves around the various situations of the high school students. Student, Chiyo Sakura, confesses to her all time crush Umetaro Nozaki, but for some reason, Nozaki kun signs an autograph board and hands it to Chiyo! Chiyo obviously being confused about this reaction tells Nozaki kun that she wants to be "with him". With this Nozaki kun invites Chiyo to his house, and has her help inking his manga art. Going home, Chiyo takes a look at the autograph board, and finds out that Nozaki kun is actually a renown shoujo manga artist, with his pen name Sakikio Yumeno, and the whole time Nozaki kun had mistaken her as a fan. Later agreeing to be his assistant to get closer to him, she meets other students that help assist Nozaki kun, and also whom Nozaki kun takes and uses as inspirations.

 This anime has done well with clean cut comedy, and I think the only thing that I could complain about is that it wasn't up to par with the voice acting and music with the two animes that stood before it.

 For more information on this anime, please take a look at my post before:

http://theanimereviewers.blogspot.com/2014/08/gekkan-shoujo-nozaki-kun-midterm.html

In 2nd place...

Barakamon

  At first I was really afraid of this anime, that it would be a sterotypical shoujo situation were the main character suddenly falls in love with a little girl, and wants to take care of her forever. When they grow up, they marry. I was cleared of my suspicions as fast as they came, and this heartwarming slice of life does deserve it's place as a second place winner.

 After punching an monumental and historical calligrapher, young and award winning calligrapher Handa Seishu finds himself put on a small country side island in Japan to cool his head. A modern and urban man, Handa slowly learns to live in the country side and deal with the unknown family atmosphere of his neighbors! From barging in the door without permission and the village girl, Naru, who continuously pesters him everyday, will Handa truly find the meaning of "peace of the mind and soul"?

 Finally! A kid voice acting a kid! If I had to describe this anime in one word, it would be natural. All the voice actors fit perfectly in to their role because it's a character they have done before. Handa is violent, so they choice a voice actor that usually does violent voice acting, Ono Daisuke. (He voiced Shizuo from Durarara). Naru is a kid, so they chose a 9 year old kid to voice act. There is a calm flow, and a healing substance to each episode, telling us that life is more than just winning and putting on facades. Congrats to the 2nd place winner, and I really wish that I will see another slice of life that is up to par.

Now, for the first place winner...

Zankyou no Terror

  VON. VON. VON. Do I really need to say more? This was an absolutely stunning project that I have seen in 2014 and ranks in my top ten animes of my life. From characters, to plot, to music and acting, this anime has hit all of the criteria with a dashing 10. Although there was a slightly weak ending, I knew that it had to end that way, for there was no other ending optional after episode 9 and 10. (Those of you who watched the anime get this statement than those who didn't.)

 Taking place in modern day Tokyo, Japan is hit with a terrorist attack. As police are baffled by the mysterious works, they are left with a video from a group called "Sphinx", which is uploaded on to a mass streaming site. Always leaving riddles and clues, the police remain shocked and is racing to stop the terrorists. As the police and Japan commence on their searches, we are introduced to two mysterious masterminds named Nine and Twelve, who come together to make the group Sphinx. What is their real motive? And what should Mishima Lisa do when she is pulled in to this terrorist world?

 With a strong clear motive and political message, this anime reflects on modern day Japan and Korea, but not only is it political, it's fun to watch. The action scenes are unforgettable, while the riddles are an "ah" moment when the solution comes out. You feel the frustrations of the police, and the victories of Nine and Twelve. Emotions are clearly shown, and characters are developed to the fullest. Congratulations Zankyou no Terror. This anime fully deserves its place.

Did you like the review? Please follow and press the 1+ button to promote this writing. Other then that, see you later! LalakoKyubey was reporting today~

Hamatora, Detectives or Super Power Group?

Hi mina san, LalakoKyubey finally reporting to scene! Wow, I did not expect that hiatus, and this time, I will truly go back to posting at humane speed. For today's anime recommendation...it will be the Hamatora series! (Both seasons, so also including Re: Hamatora.) Again, this has minor spoilers, but not that are hugely impacting to the plot, and only for the sake of introducing characters and plot. Please don't flame, it's my opinion, if you hate it, I'm sorry for being the worst person in your life. So, let us start  the review of Hamatora!

Hamatora takes place in modern Yokohama, and a small population of the city has a power called "Minimum", which basically is like a super power. This "Minimum" can vary from mind control to enhancing looks on camera. Nice, our main character, lives is Yokohama as a Minimum holder, and operates a Minimum detective agency in a cafe named Cafe Nowhere. There, we are introduced to Birthday, Ratio, Hajime, Murasaki, Honey, and Three, along with a close friend of Nice named Art who is an investigator. All have graduated from a school named, Facultas Academy, made specifically for Minimum Holders, but has it changed their future? And what are the secrets of Facultas and Yokohama?

Nice!

This anime has huge potential, to the point where it's overwhelmingly saddening to see this series end in an unsatisfying fashion, but this is a good anime, that should on your "to watch list" if not already watched. But most people ask, "Who do you recommend it to LalakoKyubey?" 

Hamatora is interesting in that, Yuuki Kodama has a comic gag scenes but 12 minutes later, you're bawling your eyes out because of this huge tragic moment. Kodama sensei is known for his crazy shifts in moods and tones, going peak happy to valley depressing, but also for his great talents in hiding underlying meanings. For a more common anime of his, refer to Blood Lad. This anime is aimed towards people who wants a balance between a human and antagonist. There is no romance, and this is not shoujo at all, and actually leaning more towards seinen, not for perverted scenes <there is none, so if looking for that, it's not in Hamatora>, but for the deep meanings that are better understood as a 17 year old and older. But, if you think you can understand it, I suggest to fully go out for it! 

With this we will move on to character development, the highlight of Hamatora. Hamatora has real life, down to earth human characters. These characters resemble human psychology, and don't have personalities like no one is bound to have on earth. Like, the hero, Nice, is at times, pretty antagonistic, like a normal human should be. All characters feel things, jealously,despair, happiness, and you can really connect to the characters because they are heartfelt and real. Each character has full development, not missing out on any back story, but there are no fillers, and moves the plot along at the same speed as the character development. As for characters, Hamatora did a good job defining personality and observing human feelings and putting it in to their characters. 

The downside of this anime may be the gag scenes. Some of you may know from watching Blood Lad, but Yuuki Kodama sometimes kills the mood and the whole depth to the conversation by adding a gag scene! The most frustrating part was at the end of the story, so be prepared. (Comments below, try not to spoil!) Now on to the scores...

Plot: 8/10 

Great story idea, but please, no gag scenes in the middle of no where! I wish that the ending could be a little more thought out, and sometimes, Nice was really overpowered. For example, (does not come out in the anime), if someone shot him, he would randomly manage to recover, and throw full on punches. Other then the terrible gag scene placements and Nice's overpower, the plot was detailed and thought out.

Voice Cast: 7/10

It was OK, but sometimes, the voice actor's voices would not match the character's emotions. Especially for Birthday kun, who would remain happy no matter what situation.

Art: 9/10 

The art was very interesting, and a new take anime art. It's hard to describe, but it is very natural, pretty, and clean.

Music: 8/10 

Again, not the best, but both opening songs were amazing. 

So, do I recommend this? Yes. Will you like it? I'm not sure. Hamatora is an anime that you either hate or love. Overall, it was a good anime, and it is something you should watch when you have time, or don't have anything else to watch. 

I hope you liked my review, and I will now go off from the stagnant periods I had on posting! So, until then! 

-LalakoKyubey 

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