Plot: In the late 21st century, Earth came under attack by an alien race known as the Crogs. When all hopes for winning against the aggressive Crogs seemed lost, the fighting suddenly ceased -- because a truce, allowing for the preparations for the Great Race of Oban, had been declared. Now, the truce is almost over, and the Great Race is near at hand.
In the meantime, Eva Wei escapes from her boarding school in order to see her father, Don Wei, the manager of a famous racing team. But when she arrives at her father's company, her father doesn't even recognize her. Determined not to be left behind again, Eva assumes the name "Molly" and joins her father's team as a mechanic. Her father's team is called to represent Earth in the Great Race of Oban -- and Molly is coming along for the ride, whether her father likes it or not. (A-)
Characters: Believable and interesting (A)
Art & Animation: B
Music: A
Voice Acting: A
Objectionable Content: Mild
Other: This series is a French/Japanese collaboration. Though it takes a while to get used to the artwork (no NOSES), the characters and story will pull you right in. Definitely recommended!
Overall Score: A
Plot: After the schools she applied to turn her down, Neko Fukuta is thrilled to get into Morimori Academy. To her surprise, it turns out to be a school for animals that can transform into humans -- and Neko is only allowed in on the condition that she has to keep the fact that she's human a secret from her magical animal classmates. (A-)
Characters: A
Art: A-
Objectionable Content: Very little. Some occasional profanity. I'd recommend this to readers of any age.
Other: The series is short at seven volumes, and once it gets rolling, it's a good, fun read.
Overall Score: A-
Plot: In this post-apocalyptic world, wolves were long thought to be extinct. But they disguise themselves as humans and live among people in the scattered cities that are left over. A wolf named Kiba comes to one such city searching for the lunar flower, which, according to legend, is the key to opening paradise. There, he meets several disguised wolves -- Hige, Tsume and Toboe. When the young maiden supposedly created from lunar flowers is stolen by a noble, Kiba and his new "pack" leave the city to follow the flower maiden, in hopes that she will lead them to paradise. (Strange but different - A)
Characters: By the end, you get very attached to them. (A)
Art & Animation: A
Music: Yoko Kanno. 'Nuff said. (A+)
Voice Acting: Original Japanese - A- / Dub - An all-star cast in my book: Johnny Yong Bosch, Crispin Freeman, Mona Marshall and Joshua Seth voice the main characters and do an excellent job. (A)
Objectionable Content: Blood (the worst of it is in the first episode and the two endings; while they're traveling together, there's not as much), profanity.
Other: The story progresses slowly and is a bit difficult to follow because of its strangeness. But overall, it's well done. I will forewarn you -- in a way, this anime has two endings; the second one requires kleenex.
There is also a book. It's super-condensed, and the art isn't as good. But it has a lighter ending.
Overall Score: A-
Plot: "The World" is a Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game -- the first to be released after the disastrous Pluto Kiss virus wreaked havoc on both the cyber world and the real world -- and a player named Tsukasa is trapped inside it. His only hope of returning to the real world seems to be a legendary item called the Key of the Twilight, but no one knows where to find it -- or if it even really exists. (B+)
Characters: B
Art & Animation: A
Voice Acting: The dub is very well-acted (A)
Music: A
Objectionable Content: Some suggestive material
Other: The series is very slow-paced and doesn't have much action, so it's not for everyone.
Overall Score: A-
Plot: Train "Black Cat" Heartnet was once an infamous assassin for a mysterious organization called Chronos. Now he uses his skills to capture criminals as a bounty hunter (also known as a "sweeper") with the help of his partner, Sven Volfied. But it isn't long before Train's past catches up with him... (B)
Characters: Fun and dynamic (A)
Art & Animation: Manga -- A / Anime -- B-
Voice Acting: Train and Sven's voices in the dub are very good, but some of the supporting characters are a little less impressive (A-)
Music: B
Objectionable Content: Blood, profanity, some suggestive material
Other: Overall, the anime is a good adaptation with a few differences in minor aspects of the plot. The anime includes an additional ending.
Overall Score: A-
