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Mawaru Penguindrum

2011-12-30T00:31:00.000-08:00

u Mawaru-Penguindrum is a 2011 Japanese anime series produced by Brain's Base. The series is directed and co-written by Kunihiko Ikuhara

A terminally ill girl named Himari Takakura is miraculously saved from death by a strange spirit who resides in a penguin-shaped hat. However, in exchange for extending her life, the spirit tasks Himari's brothers, Kanba and Shouma, to seek out an item known as the Penguin Drum with assistance from a trio of strange penguins.

Source: Wikipedia.org

REVIEW:
Before I started watching Mawaru Penguindrum, I was (desperately) searching for those heartwarming tearjerker Anime as since I have watched Angel Beats and Ano Hana, I became attracted to Anime of this genre. Reading the plot of Mawaru Penguindrum from Wiki and some other websites, I though that it was like every other tearjerker Anime that I have watched but it was a lot more than that.
Music:
Actually I was attracted to music that sounds like Nornir and Boys, Come Back to me which are the 2 OP songs of Mawaru Penguindrum and Etsuko Yakushimaru (although I haven't heard her other songs except these two) was able to pull it quite well. It's that kind of songs that makes you think that there are more things to the Anime than just a simple linear story telling type of Anime like most Shounen Anime around. For the Ending songs, well, I didn't really pay much attention to it since I skip it everytime because I want to see that preview of the next episode already. Other things about the songs, I actually love the revival of Rock over Japan by Triple H although it sounded like songs from Pretty Cure.

Art Style:
Mawaru Penguindrum's art style is actually noticebly different from most Anime that I have seen so far and it actually suits the plot as the art is somehow dark at times when the situation calls for it and the art is bright when the characters are having a fun time. The art is vary important as it sets the mood for the audience. However, there are episodes wherein the art style changed and it was quite messy like there were time where the characters' faces were unaligned. Good thing that there best art style were back for the last episode.

Plot:
As I said, I was looking for tearjerker Anime and I read the plot of Mawaru Penguindrum and I thought which part of terminally ill sister does not shout out Tearjerker. So I gave it a shot. The first episode, I can still follow although there were dialogues that I find quite confusing but then it was the first episode so more things will be more or less explained in the next episodes. However, I was wrong as you watch more episodes, a lot of things are drawn into the picture making the Anime more confusing as ever and at some point, I was seriously lost and I even thought of stopping watching it because I thought it was going nowhere. Good thing I didn't. Actually, even though it was too confusing to follow the whole plot, it actually makes you think, A LOT which makes it a lot more fun. And, even after the last episode, there are still a lot of things that you may find confusing or unsolved but then as I think about it more, I think Brain's base and Ikuhara are actually done with the Anime, meaning there are no more things to be shown or told because I think adding more details might spoil the masterpiece that is the Mawaru Penguindrum. Also, every important character in the Anme where focused on unlike some other Anime, wherein some important characters are left behind the scenes. Every characters were given enough spotlight so that you'll see their pasts and their developments.

I love this Anime not only because that it is actually a tearjerker Anime, but also because it is an Anime you can't explain (Literally). Despite its bad points, I must say that this is an Anime that Anime enthusiasts must watch as it will make your head spin and your heart bounce. As a warning, when watching this Anime, don't expect to get everything in an episode or two. Let your imagination flow and try to interpret it given the details you have. Mawaru Penguindrum really is a masterpice.
FINAL BYAKU RATING: B+

Apologies

2010-02-02T02:48:00.000-08:00

well, I'm new to this review business so please don't expect much from me but I'm trying my best to become better at this.

Thanks everyone!

Bakuman

2010-02-02T01:39:00.000-08:00

Bakuman written by Tsugumi Ohba and drawn by Takeshi Obata

Bakuman follows the story of high school student Moritaka Mashiro, a talented artist who does not know what he wants to do with his future. One day he draws a picture of Miho Azuki , a girl he is secretly fond of, during class he forgets the notebook at school. He comes back to find that his classmate Akito Takagi is waiting for him with his notebook. Takagi tries to convince Mashiro to become a mangaka, a manga artist, with him, only leading to Mashiro's disagreement. Mashiro goes home and thinks about his mangaka uncle, who had only one successful series before he died in obscurity. Mashiro is interrupted by a phone call from Takagi, who says that he is going to tell Azuki that Mashiro likes her. Mashiro runs down to Azuki's house to find Takagi waiting for him. Once Azuki comes out to meet them, Takagi tells her that he and Mashiro are aiming to be mangaka. Mashiro then learns that she wants to be a seiyū, a voice actor, and has shown promise in the field. Mashiro, once again thinking about his uncle, accidentally proposes to Azuki who accepts. However, she will only marry him after they achieve their dreams. Mashiro and Takagi after sending in several manga, begin a manga series titled Detective Trap. Shortly after the series is canceled, Mashiro and Takagi begin their work for their next manga series, Run, Daihatsu Tanto!

Source: Wikipedia.org

REVIEW:
Bakuman is one of those manga that once you've read a couple of chapters, it'll be really hard to stop reading. It started out with two boys trying to fulfill their dream of becoming a mangaka. Although it may sound too cliched as there are a lot of slice-of-life mangas where the characters are trying to fulfill their dreams but this one is different for behind Mashiro's dream of becoming a mangaka is his promise to Azuki, his fiance, that once their dreams are fulfilled, they will marry.

Unlike other mangas, there are less school scenes, is fast-paced and the focus is more on their life as a mangaka which is a good thing because it prevents the story from being too out of the original story and will make the whole story draggy. Also, the twists are unexpected where unpredictable team-ups of characters are formed, new rivals unveils themselves and interesting plots are made by the characters.

The characters and their realationships with each other is pretty interesting. They are all rivals but at the same time, they are friends who help each other out to improve each of their own mangas. As you read more chapters, you'll see how each character develop and change through their experiences. An example would be Mashiro who at first, is a boy who had 'no directions' in life. He just accepted what life gives him until he meets Shujin who made him want to become a mangaka again like he did when his uncle was still alive. Another would be Azuki Miho who at first would be seen as a quiet, shy girl but as the story progresses, you'll see her expressing herself more. Also, the characters just speak out their minds at their will which makes it funny and very entertaining so you'll never get tired of them.

But, a not so good thing about this manga is that at a certain point, you'll think that the story just repeated itself. Ashirogi writing a story then having some quarrel with their editor and then, Ashirogi joining Akamaru and getting serialized. After a while, they get cancelled. So they wrote a new story, fought with their editor, joined Akamaru and again got serialized. Despite of this, the story is very catchy and every time a chapter is finished, a cliffhanger is left which makes you want to read another chapter.

I'm really looking forward to the Anime version of Bakuman later this 2010. In the meantime, let's hope that this manga written and drawn by the same duo who made Death Note, will keep us entertain and inspire us to fulfill our own dreams.

FINAL BYAKU RATING: B

Grading System

2009-12-22T04:52:00.000-08:00

A - A MUST-WATCH!!!
B+ - Highly Recommended by Byaku-kun
B - A good one.
C+ - A so-so anime.
C - Not really recommended but may be worth something.
D - Not Byaku-kun's type of Anime.
F - Byaku-kun did not appreciate the anime.

The ratings are rated by Byaku-kun and it may vary among other viewers.

Hajimemashite Minna!

2009-12-22T03:59:00.001-08:00

Well, I'm quite new to this Review business but I hope as I post and make reviews of various RPG or Anime, I hope to learn and become better in this review Business.