Plot: Sakura Sakurakoji stumbles upon a dark secret when she sees gang members incinerated in a strange blue fire one night. The person responsible is Rei Ogami, a nonexistent code: breaker -- an agent used by the government organization, Eden, to kill those the law does not punish. When Ogami transfers into Sakura's class, she uses the opportunity to try to convince him to stop killing. But it seems Ogami has his own convictions as to why he punishes evil with death. In a strange turn of events, Ogami winds up being Sakura's protector, and Sakura soon comes into contact with other code: breakers... (B)
Characters: Could be stronger, but perhaps I'm jumping the gun on this judgment. (B)
Art & Animation: A
Voice Acting: A
Music: Often distracts the viewer from what's going on. (C-)
Objectionable Content: Blood, some strong language, suggestive themes
Other: Like "Code Geass", this is another antihero series where notions of justice and dark reality clash. Sakura's more balanced approach is rather refreshing, keeping the series from getting too dark and gritty.
The manga is a bit darker than the anime. The story seems to stay pretty much the same between the two, but the anime chops out parts to quicken the pace and brings the other code: breakers into the picture much earlier.
Overall Score: B
Plot: Ban Midou and Ginji Amano make up the Get-Backers -- a recovery team that prides itself in its 100% success rate, thanks to its members' special abilities. The problem is, they're dirt-poor because they often wind up giving their services for free. (Different -- A-)
Characters: A colorful cast with colorful backgrounds (A-)
Art & Animation: B+
Voice Acting: Dub -- (Some of the minor characters' actors sound like they're reading!) C+
Music: B
Objectionable Content: Blood, profanity, suggestive themes
Other: A different kind of premise makes for some interesting shenanigans. Some episodes are great, and others... not so much. Plays with shonen-ai/yaoi.
I have never read the manga.
Overall Score: B
Plot: Humanity spread into space, and soon, the colonies wanted autonomy. During the war for independence, pirating was legalized with a document called the Letter of Marque.
Marika Kato has just discovered that her recently-deceased father was a legal pirate. She is next in line to inherit his ship, the Bentenmaru, and a few of its crew members -- as well as potential enemies -- have their eyes on her. As a member of her school's space yacht club, Marika shows promise with her piloting skills. But does she have what it takes to be the captain of a pirate ship? (B+)
Characters: B
Art & Animation: A
Voice Acting: A-
Music: A-
Objectionable Content: Mild
Other: An interesting girls' sci-fi flick. It has potential to be good. Don't let its english title, "Bodacious Space Pirates" scare you. There isn't much "bodacious" to speak of.
Overall Score: A-
Plot: It's the start of the world wars, and the Axis Powers unite -- for a historical comedy 4-koma adaptation?! (B for innovation)
Characters: Each one personifies a country. All very quirky. (B+)
Art & Animation: B
Voice Acting: B+
Music: B
Objectionable Content: Suggestive themes, profanity
Other: No one's exempt from jabs in this historical comedy -- and that's what makes it fun. Try to keep up with the quick history lessons, or some of the jokes may leave you scratching your head -- well, some of the gags do that anyway.
Overall Score: B
Plot: Orphaned Riki Naoe and his four childhood friends make up the Little Busters. With talk of going their separate ways to college and work after high school, the Little Busters want to spruce up their remaining time together with as much fun as they can cram in -- so they start looking for members to form a baseball team... (Not a whole lot happens at the start, but it gets better. B)
Characters: (Just starting to develop thus far) B+
Art & Animation: A
Voice Acting: A-
Music: A
Objectionable Content: Mild; some fan service, mild profanity
Other: Key's newest addition to their quality lineup is also a slice-of-life school drama that starts off light with some unusual characters and off-base gags. But as it develops, it gets more emotional and starts to go into heavier material. Be patient with this one.
Overall Score: A-
