Haibane Renmei

     Angels are suppose to be mythological saints, that guide the living to making good moral decisions. Western religions would have us believing that angels live inside glorious pearly gates and have a lifestyle to be desired by anyone. In haibane Renmei our understanding for the angelic is mangled and stomped out. Instead, here we have angels who don't know what their purpose is. Also they're cuddled up in what looks like a rundown orphanage home, properly named, "Old Home". They work for the humans that live amongst them in the town of Glie. They receive hand-me-downs for the work rather than money.
     It's all apart of the Charcoal Feather Federation's rules that prohibits haibane (angels) from getting any money or any material that is new. And because of these mysterious people, dressed up in cloaks, you begin to feel the haibane are more like prisoners than citizens of the town. The fortified wall dressed along the outskirts of Glie, which they're not allowed to go outside of, does well in representing that. On the day they're free, known as their Day of Flight, is when they leave without anyone knowing. It's a realization of who they were in their past life, that enables them to go beyond the wall.
     The storyline follows a new haibane, named "Rakka". The meaning of "Rakka" is falling, which was apart of her cocoon dream. From their cocoon's haibane born the same age they died. Rakka can't piece all of her dream together, but she does remember falling and a crow trying to pull her back up. Haibane that cannot remember their cocoon dream are sin-bound. It's explained that sin-bound haibane are not able to achieve their Day of Flight, until after they are forgiven.
     The haibane are caught in this circle of sin, which goes "One who recognizes their own sin, has no sin. Then are you a sinner?". No matter how you answer this question, yes or no, neither are going to break you from the vicious circle. Answering no, would mean that you do not recognize your own sin, while answering yes, would mean that you are a sinner. An interesting question to chew on yourself until the conclusion of this series.
     My first impression of this series, despite all the appeal it has going for it, was that it's too bland. There's a hiatus in the middle for the series that lasts around four episodes. The sub-plots destroys the momentum you have for the main plot. Rakka and Reki are the two characters of importance, yet this being a 13 episode series and all, we have to get to know the lives of the other haibane. Perhaps, if the series was shortened I would put this on my goodie list, just because reminiscing about it was quite enjoyable.

Durarara!!

“In the same way a town exists, so long as there are people, the Dollars will continue to exist.”

Durarara!! is truly one of those hidden gem shows that has had quite a following and has not disappointed me in the slightest. A urban fantasy that evolves around a internet chat room is where most of the story unfolds itself. Based off a light novel series, the animation style and the wide range of characters is very much like Baccano! Seeing as the directors are the same, it's not surprising, but Durarara!! does not deliver as much as Baccano! does in a fast paced storyline.

The show gets off to a slow footing, but only due to the large cast of characters. There seems to be no set protagonist though it seems to center around Mikado Ryugamine. You are introduced to Ryugamine right away, who is constantly reminded on how his name is so reminisce of an anime character's. Ryugamine is the new boy in town, moving from a quiet suburban to Tokyo's Ikebukuro district to attend a new school. He is met by his childhood friend, Kida Masaomi who quickly guides him through the big city where we see glimpses of the other cast members. As Masaomi gives him a tour, he warns him of people not to get tangle with, including a violent debt collector dressed like a bartender, an information merchant and a mysterious gang called “Dollars.” They even catch a glimpse of the mysterious black rider. Later on, we are introduced to each of those character's back story till we see the bigger picture unfold. 

The lines between rational and fantasy are insanely thin. Besides the fact that there is a Irish Dullahan named Celty riding around on a black motorcycle that occasionally neighs, it seems fairly normal. The show offers a lot of wonderful twists, though the second half was not nearly exciting as the first 12 episodes. A break happens in the series where months go by in the storyline, and doesn't have the same quality as the first season. The humor and the fun just seems to go away. The soundtrack though was quite unusual, it ranged from jazz to classical piano, but none the less it worked like a charm.

It's Horo-san from Spice and Wolf! Only a cardboard cutout though.

One thing that always caught my eye in the show was the many references to other anime, such as a Hell girl poster, or this little gem that shows up within the first episode (See pic on left). Plus you will hear the frequent debating of two otaku characters over manga.

The show has recently been released and dubbed by Aniplex USA featuring the voice talent of Johnny Yong Bosch, but compared to the original Japanese dub, the lines are not as informative and descriptive to the storyline as the original. Plus Kamiya Hiroshi was a badass voice actor for Izaya (you just need to watch that cellphone scene in the original dub), though I have faith in Johnny for perfecting that. Though if you are unable to purchase the dvd, you're in luck. The dubbed version is set to premiere on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim this summer.

Score: 8/10

Izaya (on the right) is a troublemaker and F'ing crazy.

Favorite Character: It's a hard tie between Shizuo, the bartender with a violent temper and Celty, the black rider. But if there is a person to hate on, it's definitely Izaya. You would just seriously love to hate this guy. And the ongoing fights between Shizuo and Izaya are very entertaining. Just watch out when you see a vending machine get thrown at you.  

Xam'd: Lost Memories

     Not an anime you want to re-pickup half-way through after a two week intermission. I am lost and memory of this series is scattered, so read this review with those mitigating factors in mind. The show takes place on Sentan Island, which is an agreed war-free zone by the Southern Continent and Northern Government. The story begins with three close friends: Akiyuki, Haru, and Furuchi, on the verge of another common school day until Akiyuki decides to let a suspicious albino girl onto the bus. Little beknownst to Akiyuki this will be the wick that ignites the storyline.
     Because when she goes on that bus, she does not intend to go to school, she doesn't intend to get off the bus, she doesn't even intend to survive - instead she's there to commit martyrdom. By blowing up herself and killing many of the students it surprises the masses putting the land into an uproar, and that's only the beginning.
     The main moral message this anime tries to convey is the importance of the sanctity of life. Regardless of appearance, a human is a human. Whether their a different race, from another country, or if their soul has merged with an Xam'd creating a powerful weapon. This is an Xam'd:

Despite being labeled as weapons, it's not their purpose. What they seek will be a question brought up multiple times throughout.
     Onto the characters in Xam'd: Lost Memories, which I thought were very cliche. Way too many characters too. You'll see how they develop, but for me it was difficult to care for any of them with the exception of one young boy picked up later in the series. It seems as if they've all had their filling of serious pie, and it shows in an off putting manner.
     Another part of the series I disliked was that the wars weren't well explained. Possibly by design or more likely I didn't pick it up on it, but nothing in depth about why the sides hated one another. I do vaguely remember indications, but nothing stood out. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they were trying to show how wars can wage and how people do seem to not give the justification of the war any thought. Could have been done better. The potential of this anime didn't feel like it was met. Especially near the conclusion. Many ideas were left underdeveloped.

Serial Experiments Lain

     Serial Experiments Lain is perhaps one of the most curious series (anime or not) that you'll ever see. Lain is your typical awkward girl, who lives a conventional life. The show starts off with a class getting an email from a former student of theirs who recently committed suicide. A 14 year old, junior high student, named Lain is completely oblivious of it all. She doesn't recall the girl from the other class nor did she open the email - It's implied she struggles with electronics.
     As curious as anyone is to know the truth, after school she goes home and heads on her Navi computer to check her email. Of course when she opens it, it is no surprise how strange the entry is from this supposedly dead girl. When bringing the incident up to her mother, she doesn't seem to bothered at the slightest. Other than the sister, Lain's family is very much introverted. Barely any emotion is shown by group. Three friends, or maybe it's better to call them, "acquaintances", at Lain's school try to get her to open up from her shell. To resolve Lain's lack of social skills they invite her out to a teenage night club, then things start to really get weird.
     At times there are scenes where you think you're watching a different person; as her attitude can range from withdrawn to pompous. Early on there's speculation on if it's possible there are two Lains. One being from the real world and the other coming from the wired. The wired refers to the electronic technology that has keeps us connected, such as phones, computers, and television. Both worlds are perceived by electric impulses; with that similarity in mind there could theoretically be a way to configure the impulses, so information goes both ways hence allowing the wired world to interact with the real world.
     If this isn't your first rodeo with All Your Anime are Belong to Us, then you'll notice here's another anime using the idea that you can bring something unconscious to the conscious level. There are going to be all sorts of philosophical questions thrown your way. What's very different though about the philosophical elements in Serial Experiments Lain is that they contain a technological theme. Personally, I enjoy the detail and history for the apparatuses that are used to make the comparisons.

     The pace of the series is purposefully slow. Rather than having many action scenes, they allow camera angles, puzzling imagery, and strange sounds to keep the viewer's attention. Much of the show takes you back to familiar scenery, which is very unique when you compare this series to any of the others. Though the anime seems methodical, in retrospect it throws a lot at you at once. If you find yourself lulled for even a couple of minutes you're going to be re-watching episodes at the conclusion of the 13 episode series.

Trigun

     A sharpshooting, freelancer, with a 60,000,000,000 (sixty-billion) double dollar reward on his head. He's known by the name, "Vash the Stampede", for the trail of disaster he leaves everywhere he goes. For being a humanoid typhoon, Vash's character is opposite of the belligerent type. You can make the case that Vash has a heart of gold and is a clueless romantic.
     An ongoing moral dilemma in the series is Vash's inability to shoot to seriously hurt and/or kill a life. Even in the most dire of moments he hesitates to pull the trigger. And though he's a bit of an airhead, he tends to find an alternative way out of trouble. It certainly helps having a beyond humanly fast reaction time, enabling him to dodge bullets.

     During his wandering he meets up with two ladies from an insurance agency. They're assigned on the mission of pinpointing disasters specifically made by The Humanoid Typhoon. Initially, they're skeptical to believe Vash is the man they're looking for, despite all evidence. Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson are partners, who are complete opposites of each other. Milly is a big women, with a big heart, and big gun, while with Meryl, you can insert the word small for every big adjective just mentioned.
     Vash does end up developing a strong relationship with Meryl. The anime wants you to believe in the complexity of their bond, but simply it isn't well done. In fact, much of this series isn't done in a manner deserving of praise. Majority of the episodes don't add anything to the storyline for instance. He also switches between having a light-comical personality, to being a stoic at a drop of a hat. And how is Vash's appearance not a dead blatant give away that he's the man with a bounty on his head? The guy has quirky sunglasses, spikey blonde hair, fairly tall, and always wears an eye catching RED trench coat.
     As you would expect, Vash has a troubling history, but I must say, I was blindsided by his past. Really no leads or anything to make you expect the discovery you'll eventually find out. Out of the 26 episode series, maybe the final seven (20-26) were worth watching. Otherwise, you're getting a bunch of waste that doesn't tie into the conclusion.

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