Taganime to catch up on

Posted August 19, 20192 Comments Anime suggestions

Dr. Stone S1, E7 | Where Two Million Years Have Gone (recap)

In this episode, Senku and Kohaku find a hot spring so that Kohaku can take the water to her sick sister, Ruri. Senku is thrown off at first because he believes that she confessed her undying love for him. She denies that she loves him, but confirms she likes his way of life. However, I do think she will fall for him eventually, but she is more concerned about her sister’s health right now.

The jug with the hot spring water in it is too heavy and Senku offers to carry it. He eventually falls over and decides to create a vehicle to help them transport the supplies. Kohaku believes the hot spring has healing properties. Senku knows it will not heal her sister, adding to the primitive origin. They arrive at Kohaku’s village where two guards will not let Senku in because he is an outsider.

Where Two Million Years Have Gone

Senku is excited about finding the village and wonders where all of these people came from. He deduces that they were born post petrification due to their primitive nature and assumes he will be able to take over the village.

He encounters two guards that will not let him pass. So he tests their intelligence by creating bubbles. They don’t know what the bubbles are an immediately take a defensive stance and scream for Chrome, their village sorcerer.

Science vs. Sorcery

Chrome arrives on the scene and explains away the bubbles while popping them. This surprises Senku and he is excited that another person interested in how the world works is alive.

Chrome tries to amaze Senku by using crystals to create various colors of fire, but Senku can deduce how he achieved the fire. Seeing Chrome’s passion for sorcery makes Senku think of Shishio.

He tells Chrome that Shishio would eventually try to kill him because he too is interested in how the world works and even though he doesn’t understand everything, his existence and abilities would challenge Shishio’s purified world.

Arithmetic

Chrome challenges Senku to a battle of numbers and puts up his entire lab as collateral. Whoever wins takes it all. Senku crushes Chrome easily and takes his lab for his own, but invites Chrome and the two guards to join him and Kohaku in the Kingdom of Science.

Kinro, one of the guards is settled in his ways and tells Senku that he can not come into the villages because “rules are rules”. Kinro does ease up after Senku puts a gold coating over his spear.

While looking through the resources he gained from Chromes inventory, Senku gives shouts out to Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter.

Kohaku heads into town to see her sister, Ruri. Ruri turns out to be the priestess of the town and she is sick. Kohaku and Chrome are trying hard to figure out what can save her.

Senku decides to tell Chrome what happened to the world with petrification over 3700 years. Chrome is overcome with grief and hope and vows to help Senku rebuild.

Senku says he can save Ruri with an antibiotic.

Dr. Stone S1, E6 | Two Nations of the Stone World (recap)

Posted August 15, 20197 Comments Anime suggestions

Dororo (2019) is a re-imagining done right (review)

When I found Dororo I was instantly hooked into the story. I didn’t realize it was a re-imagining of the 1969 version until I googled, but this is a remake done right. This new iteration is honestly tragic. As uncomfortable as the first few episodes made me, I wanted to find out how the story ended. Season one of Dororo is 24 episodes and it has one of the best opening themes I’ve ever heard. And contrary to other named anime, the title of the show has nothing to do with the main character. This anime evoke a lot of emotions with the story telling and really makes you invest in Hyakkimaru as a protagonist.

What is the story about?

In a world where war has ravaged every village in the area and famine, sickness and natural disaster have become the norm, a domain lord named Daigo makes a deal with demons to gain prosperity and rule over his land.

His deal was sealed at the expense of his firstborn son. As his wife was giving birth, demons fed on each body part leaving him without skin, ears, nose, eyes, or limbs. However, the child still lived because the God of Mercy saved his head.

16 yrs passed and that child, now named Hyakkimaru, is a skilled samurai even without his limbs and senses. He can sense auras and when he meets Dororo, a witty little girl with a gigantic heart and will, she begins to travel from village to village ridding them of monsters. Soon Dororo, Hyakkimaru, and a traveling monk realize that every time he kills a demon he gains a part of his body back.

By the end of episode 12, Hyakkimaru meets his family that sacrificed him for their “greater good”. This encounter alters his motivations. He no longer just wants to survive. He vows to kill every demon and regain all of his body parts, break the deal between his dastardly father, and the demons.

The second half of the season surrounds Hyakkimaru fighting for his body no matter the cost. He risks his humanity in the process and almost loses it. However, Dororo, Biwamaru (the traveling monk), the guardian who raised him, and his mother assure that he gains his salvation.

He even resolves his issues with his brother before becoming whole and going off on a journey without Dororo. He leaves Dororo to make sure he appreciates humanity since he came so close to losing it trying to get his body back.

Why should you watch Dororo?

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Dororo is unlike anything that I usually find enjoyment in. It has a very deep and involved story and watching Hyakkimaru’s transformation from mute assassin to a man fighting for a life that was stolen from his is very cool.

If a season 2 is planned, it’ll be interesting to see his rekindled relationship with Dororo especially since she is of age now. Hyakkimaru’s journey surrounded him getting his body back. Now that arc is complete, what will the next adventure bring them?

Posted July 27, 2019 Anime suggestions

My Hero Academia Season 4 (trailer)

Posted July 27, 20191 Comment Anime suggestions

Why should you watch BEM (2019)?

Have you ever had a moment where you stumble upon something and you have a moment of total satisfaction?

That’s what happened to me when I happened to find BEM on Hulu a few days ago. Right away I thought it reminded me of Juni Taisen: Zodiac War.

The artistic decisions, the dark scenery, and the misdirection are all there. Plus, the soundtrack is amazing! It’s smooth jazz during most times. Then when the action picks up, the jazz is energetic and fast-paced. It’s so attractive.

Of course, I decided to google BEM to find out more about it. By doing so I realized there have been a few iterations of BEM and this 2019 version is just the latest with the original work being titled ‘Humanoid Monster Bem”.

Please forgive me for not knowing in advance.

“You thought you could trust her?” – Bela

Beginning of the story:

You are introduced to a female police officer (Sonia Summers) that arrives in a new town just in time to witness a purse snatching. She begins to chase the thief down and in the process almost gets run over by a car. Luckily a mysterious man in the night, we find out his name is Bem, saves her life.

They both catch up with the thief, but he is dead by way of drowning. With no water to be found in the area, the police begin an actual investigation.

What’s scarier than being haunted by something that you can’t see coming?

Within moments of meeting her new co-workers, it’s clear that Sonia has a code and her partners are a bit more lackadaisical.

The water monster used to be a human, but after drowning he decided to become a “serial drowner of humans”.

In her efforts to find out how the purse snatcher was drowned, she runs into Bem again as he fights the monster in water form.

When back-up arrives, the water monster massacres most of them causing Bem to take action and transform into a monster as well.

After defeating the water monster, Bem runs from Sonia who is chasing him down. He ends up phasing into the wall to escape.

She sits stunned in terror and disbelief.

Why should you watch Bem?

Sonia gives me Akane Tsunemori (Psycho-Pass) vibes. She’s a rookie cop with a clear code, respect for the law, and she’s getting caught up in a situation where the lines are being blurred.

Bem and his two comrades Belo and Bela just want to be humans and think that by doing good deeds and believing in their humanity, they can become humans.

I’ve never watched any of the older renditions, so I enjoyed going through this anime with brand new eyes. I’m expecting this story to be a struggle for Bem, Belo, and Bela to completely turn away from their nature. Plus, Sonia will probably form an alliance with them at some point.

But it looks good in this modern format, so I’m very interested.

Posted July 7, 2019 Anime suggestions

One Punch Man S02, E12 | The Wiping of the Disciple’s Butt (review)

I appreciate that this episode, The Wiping of the Disciple’s Butt, allowed Saitama to come full circle with appreciating his strength again. For an episode of two, he was feeling unmotivated and unchallenged. Granted he has no rival, but it’s nice to see him snap out of it. King also stepped into the role of hero in this episode as well. Good to see him heed Saitama’s advice.

Spoilers ahead

Master Bang and Master Boom resume beating up Garou and he starts to black out. Bang attempts to strike the knock out blow, but Garou manages to escape his grasp using an unknown technique. Boom is able to cut Garou off to prevent him from getting away. However, that doesn’t stop Garou from plotting a way to take down Boom and Bang.

Genos is standing by as the fight takes place. Phoenix Man is also around. He’s watching the fight from the sky. The Monster Association sent him to recover Garou, but he is pinned down and there is no way to intervene because Genos, Master Bang and Master Boom are currently engaged.

As the fight continues, Garou begins to have flashbacks of his life. We see the very moment that he felt betrayed. As a child, he was bullied by his classmates and betrayed by his authority figures.

“I want to strike a blow for the little guy!” – Garou

A classmate of Garou’s named Tatchan managed to bully him so badly during a game of Heroes vs. Monsters. He had classmates hold Garou down so that he could kick him in the face. After the encounter, Tatchan convinced his teachers that Garou was the aggressor. When Garou finally did stick up for himself, he was reprimanded.

Another motive for Garou to hate hero figures.

Back in the fight, Garou manages to create enough space between himself and Bang that Phoenix Man is able to swoop down and scoop him up. At first, Garou fights for his freedom, but he settles down once Phoneix Man tells him that Centichoro (centipede monster) is going to help.

Garou is upset during this rescue because he wants to win on his own and become the symbol of fear to all heroes, but that day is not today.

Just then, Genos shoots a huge power blast at Phoenix Man and Garou. Phoenix Man screams just in time for Centichoro to burst from the ground to the sky and block Genos’ blast.

Now the fight focuses on Genos, Bang, and Boom verses Centichoro.

Bang and Boom complete a combo attack, but Centichoro shrugs it off. Genos goes in alone and manages to punch though Centichoros mouth to use the acid as lighter fluid for his self destruct attack. However, this only gives Centichoro a minor case of acid reflux.

Centichoro spits Genos out shattered, broken and unable to be of any use. Phoenix Man mentions as he and Garou fly away that Genos will never win because he is only as good as the sum of his parts.

Great observation because as awesome as Genos is, he fails to even hurt Centichoro.

Centichoro seems to be chasing Bang, Boom and the others toward the city. But, in an act of heroism, King yells to attract Centichoro’s attention. King exclaims that he’s brought the hero Blast to the fight. Blast is a past foe of Centichoro.

Do you recall when King and Saitama met for the first time the season? Saitama defeated a monster for him and gave an inspiring speech about King needing to embrace his courage and become the hero people think he is. Unless he doesn’t want to be a hero.

Well, good news! That talk worked!

“Blast the hero is here” – King

Actually, Saitama came to the rescue. Blasts’ name was just used as a diversion. Saitama jumps in front of King as Centichoro moves full speed towards him.

ONE PUNCH!

Centichoro is instantly obliterated by Saitama’s punch.

I’m assuming Master Boom and Bang saw Saitama step in because Genos was in the same area as them and he saw what happened. So, technically the Hero Association should recognize Saitama is super strong right?

This is the final episode of season 2 for One Punch Man. I’m really hoping we don’t have to wait 3 years to get the next season of One Punch Man. Some people were thrilled about this season, but it was still fun to watch.

Last episode: One Punch Man S02, E11 | The Varieties of Pride (review)

Catch up on the entire season 2 of One Punch Man here.

Posted June 27, 20191 Comment Anime suggestions

One Punch Man S02, E11 | The Varieties of Pride (review)

This episode of One Punch Man surrounds Garou the whole time. The last time we saw so much of him, he debuted his ultimate technique Fist of Flowing Water Crushing Rocks and was took down an entire gang. Unfortunately, Saitama is still playing video games, so he had no weight in this episode. But it was still an exciting entry!

Spoilers ahead

We pick back up with Garou surrounded by Class A Rank heroes. He’s tired and seemly overwhelmed. But, Garou still puffs up his chest long enough to call all of the Class A Rank heroes trash and tell Death Gatling that they should call some Class S Heroes because they suck and won’t be him.

Death Gatling states that all the Class A Heroes have faced death and are “tough as hell”. Gatling feels they can beat the infamous Hero Hunter because he hand-picked everyone involved.

The group has a good run at Garou, but even while he’s poisoned and flashing back to his childhood, Garou still manages to dismantle half of the group. He uses his Fist of Flowing Water to take everyone out.

Glasses tries his hardest to make a difference in this fight, but Garou ends up being too much to handle. Glasses ends up having a mini flashback to a time when Saitama saved him and some co-workers from danger.

Apparently, Saitama gave him some encouraging words that prompted him to become a hero. However, the most heroic thing he could do before passing out was hit the distress button on his pager.

Death Gatling challenges Garou as well. Garou tries to explain there is a child nearby and his Death Shower could kill him, but Gatling has a one track mind and lets off his ultimate.

The entire area is shot to pieces except for the door that Garou protected while deflecting the Death Shower.

As a result, Gatling gets punched out easily after that.

Unfortunately, the little boy Garou protected ran away after he saw the carnage that Garou left while fighting for the monsters.

There’s just no sympathy for people with sympathy for monsters.

Genos shows up just in time to spar with Garou. Genos arrived answering the distress signal from Glasses. They have a great encounter. At one point, Garou takes on some of Watchdog Man’s technique and rips off Genos’ arm.

Garou also evolves. his hair turns red and it looks like he popped a blood vessel in his eye while trying to power up.

But, Genos has undergone some upgrades since last time he fought and traps Garou against a tree. Eventually, Genos has Garou pinned down and plans to blast him away.

Master Bang shows up and kicks Garou out of the way before the blast. Genos respects the wishes of Master Bang and Boom and lets them begin to hand the situation.

Saitama is still losing at video games to King and he’s losing miserably. They finally hear the distress call about the Hero Hunter and Saitama decides to go because he has a faint worry about Genos.

I guess he’ll show up during Master Band and Booms fight with Garou next week.

Review: One Punch Man S02, E10 | Justice Siege