Death Note (TV)

*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Author (Manga): Tsugumi Ohba
Director: Tetsurō Araki
Writer: Toshiki Inoue
Studio: Madhouse
No. of episodes: 37

(9.5/10)Death Note is the intense story of Light Yagami, a genius who comes across a supernatural notebook, the Death Note, during his high school years. Light quickly dismisses the thought that the Death Note is real and he simply believes that it is a prank. The Death Note has many rules, and on the first page it says that if you write down someone's name and have that person's face in your mind, that person will die.
The Death Note has many rules, so Light was thought that the person that made it went too far for a simple prank. So, he brought the book home and tested it out on a criminal shown on TV. Just as the notebook claims, the criminal died. It was that moment that Light had an idea, to change the world forever.
Light's goal was simple: End crime by killing every criminal and striking fear into people's hearts so that crime would never be committed again. He was to become the ruler of a new world.
After five days of judgment (killing the major criminals), the previous owner of the Death Note appeared. Ryuk, a death god, had dropped his notebook into the human world simply because he was bored. The human that picked up his notebook, Light, had become the new owner until death unless he gave it up. Ryuk became his partner, but only people who touch the Death Note can see and hear Ryuk, so no one would know about him unless they touched the notebook.
Light soon became known as Kira (derived from the word killer) throughout the world. However, he was up against the police at first and the world's best detective: L. L proved to be the most difficult challenge to Kira at first and Light was beginning to be figured out.
If I say any more I will be giving away too much of the story. It's a wonderful show and I hope you watch it soon. I watched it English subbed, but it's also out in English (dubbed). Light has a wonderful voice actor in Japanese and from what I've heard so far, the Japanese version (subbed version) is better. Anyways, This show definitely deserves at least a 9.5 out of 10 for it's excellence. However, not all of the characters are that pleasing. I think it's a very well thought out show and it should definitely be watched. Thanks for reading and I hope you like it!(9.5/10)

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Code Geass + Code Geass R2

Directed By: Gorō Taniguchi
Written By: Ichirō Ōkouchi
Producer Studio: Sunrise

Season 1: 25 episodes
Season 2 (R2): 25 episodes

Summary: Several years ago, Japan was invaded by Britannia, an imperialist nation based in America. Using the Knightmare combat frame (similar to Gundams) Britannia quickly overwhelmed the Japanese, who fought to their last. But when Prime Minister Kururugi was killed mysteriously, the Japanese were forced to surrender. As a result, the Japanese lost their culture, rights, and their name. The proud nation of Japan was now known merely as Area 11.

Lelouch Lamerouge is a Britannian high school student living in Area 11. Originally a prince of Britannia, he gave up his claim to the throne when his mother was murdered and his sister crippled, only to be cast aside as a weakling. The two came to Area 11 while it was still known as Japan, living with the Prime Minister and his son Suzaku. After the war, the two friends were separated. One day, after an unexpected chain of events, Lelouch becomes caught up in a terrorist attack on the Tokyo settlement where he lives. Completely surrounded by Britannian armed forces with no hope of survival, Lelouch is granted Geass, "The power of the Kings" by a mysterious girl who appears to be immortal. Using this power of absolute submission of the mind, Lelouch uses it to control his enemies' movements combined with his amazing intelligence, capturing victory for the rebels. Taking on the persona of Zero, a masked hero of the Japanese and a symbol of hope for the future, Lelouch vows to use his new found power to gain revenge on his father the emperor, and create a new world where his sister Nunally can find peace and joy.

Review:
Positives: CG is a beautifully animated, emotionally powerful story. If you're a sucker for the sadness, a lover of laughter, or an action junkie, this anime has a fantastic balance of everything. The American cast did a fantastic job throughout. Few (if any) actors left be disappointed. The humor is well-spread throughout, but the show is serious whenever it needs to be. The action sequences with the knightmares are something to behold. Sunrise achieves a perfect balance of cgi and cel art to get epic battles (no exaggeration) that make you nostalgic of the days of Transformers (lol) and Gundum. CG also goes out strong with a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. And did I mention that there isn't a SINGLE FILLER EPISODE? Not one. I bet you don't even believe me, do you?
Negatives: Not too much I can say here. Though there are a couple plot holes involving character death in some parts. (I won't reveal which ones.) And, if you're a girl like I am, you might not appreciate the amount of fan service throughout. For example, half the cast is in bunny suits at the beginning of R2. What's that all about? I guess you fanboys need something... But the amount of it's a little over the top.
Overall: Definitely worth your while. 9/10

Want more? check out the wikipedia page.

*BUT THIS PAGE MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_Geass

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Fullmetal Alchemist- 2003

(9.7/10)Fullmetal Alchemist was originally a shonen manga written and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa. It ran in Shonen Gangan magazine from August 2001 to April 2010 and has become one of the most popular manga titles in the business. The plot of the first anime (There has been a second since- Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood) differs greatly from the manga's plot during the second season of the series, so I'll be covering it separately. :)

Shorthand: FMA

Japanese: Hagaren no Renkinjutsushi

Length: 51 episodes

Summary: Brothers Edward (Ed) and Alphonse (Al) Elric live in the military-controlled country of Amestris in an Eastern farming village called Resembool. Following the death of their beloved mother, Ed and Al attempt to revive her by use of Alchemy, the science of understand the structure of matter, breaking it down, and rebuilding it as something else. The most basic concept of alchemy is the principle of Equivalent Exchange: In order to create, something of equal value must be lost. Because nothing could possibly equal the value of a human soul, their attempt fails, creating a monster that couldn't even pass for a human being. The price of the transmutation (To transmute is to use alchemy on something) was so heavy that Edward's left leg was taken, as well as Alphonse's entire body. Thinking quickly, Ed attached the soul of his younger brother to a suit of armor, paying with his right arm.

Outfitted with Automail, metal prosthetic limbs that function like normal arms and legs, Ed sets of on a quest with his brother to find a way to return themselves to their original bodies. In order to gain access to higher level research materials on alchemy, Edward becomes a State Alchemist bearing the code name Fullmetal. The brothers focus their search on the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical artifact giving the user the ability to bypass the law of Equivalent Exchange. Along the way, the brothers encounter horrors caused by alchemy, corrupt operations within the military, and the frightening truth about the Philosopher's Stone and Human Transmutation.

Review: Fullmetal Alchemist has gained one of the biggest reputations in anime. But can it live up to the hype? Its storyline is powerful yet not so complex that watchers need to view the series several times to fully understand. The plot successfully combines action, adventure, science fiction, and drama with scattered humor, giving viewers a good combination of serious and silly. Some of the 1st season contains filler, however in some cases the fillers are important parts to a character's development or even a turning point in a character's life. I wouldn't go as far as saying that there aren't any episodes that could have been done without, however it isn't like trudging through Naruto trying to find an episode that actually has some sort of point to the overall story.

The main characters are likable, but slightly generic. However the dynamic supporting cast is what makes it what it is. This anime is somewhat limited on the actual number of "bad guys." Characters who you would think to be pure evil turn out to have understandable motives. Some characters appear to have taken a complete 180 by the series' end. Some people that you initially hate you end up loving in the end.

The English Dub of Fullmetal boasts an all-star cast to say the least. Big names in anime such as Vic Mignogna (Edward Elric), Travis Willingham (Roy Mustang), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Riza Hawkeye), Laura Bailey (Lust), Sonny Straight (Maed Hughes), Caitlin Glass (Winry Rockbell) and Dameon Clarke (Scar). The Fullmetal Dub truly shows how far acting in anime has come in past years. We all remember the lovely days of old Yu-Gi-Oh! right? O_O I kinda wish I didn't...

Though the art style of the Fullmetal Alchemist Anime differs greatly from the style used in the manga, the series is well-drawn pretty much all the way through, though I can think of a couple scenes that look somewhat sloppy. (This may just be because I'm something of an art Nazi) With this slight exception, the series is beautifully drawn, written, and acted. All in all, I'd give this anime a 9.7 out of 10. I fell in love with the characters, powerful story, and message. This makes a perfect starting anime for anyone trying to get into the culture.(9.7/10)

Hope this was helpful to you guys! Until next time,
The Silver Strike Alchemist
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