Category: Manga of the Month

Anime and Manga of the Month: August

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Anime of the Month
Irresponsible Captain Tylor by Tatsunoko Production

The United Planets Space Force and the Raalgon Empire have been at war for years. Justy Ueki Tylor is a slacker determined to make an easy life for himself by joining the UPSF. In his estimation, being a part of the military is easy because they give you free room, board, and clothing. Through a bizarre chain of events Tylor becomes the captain of his own ship despite the fact that he has no real experience. Since the top brass wish to have nothing to do with Tylor they assign him to the Soyokaze, the worst ship in the fleet with every problem case in the space forces. Tylor quickly learns that the crew have forced out every other captain. Tylor seems to survive battle after battle and assassination attempt after assassination attempt of the enemy (and his own crew) through sheer luck. But is Tylor the luckiest man in space or is their some method to his madness?

Irresponsible Captain Tylor can be comedic, dramatic, suspenseful, and action-packed all in one episode. No matter what is going on, the show always exudes an upbeat feeling. The changing between tone never feels abrupt because it has a consistent theme of positivity. Most of the crew is textbook eccentric but they are all fun variations on the stock characters. From the crazy marines to the ships doctor who can only work when drunk they are all guaranteed to bring big ole smile to your face. I would be remiss not to mention that I love Yuriko Star. She is a great, strong female character. She acts as a good foil to Tylor while still being a pleasant, feminine part of the crew.

Tylor himself sells this show. He is easily one of the most entertaining characters in anime. Tylor is an amusing character and every scene with him is infused with a sense of whimsy and energy. He is instantly likable and disarmingly charming.

Manga of the Month
Sugar Sugar Rune by Moyoco Anno

Chocolat and Vanilla are two young witches competing to become queen of their realm. A contest is the way to settle things and the girls are whisked off to the human world. Their mission is to capture people’s hearts but really they are capturing emotions given off by the heart. Chocolat is a hyper, over the top, tomboy while Vanilla is a shy, sweet, feminine girl. Their friendship is built on understanding and knowing they compliment each other. A constant struggle occurs for Chocolat to be herself or to win more hearts (as she quickly learns most guys love Vanilla’s personality). There is also nice dialogue about what it means to take someone’s emotions because once you capture them they forget them (or how they felt about you). Enter Pierre, a boy with a cold demeanor, who Chocolat is determined to win over, but he has his own agenda. This manga’s art certainly sets it apart from a lot of young girls series. The manga-ka is better known for her josei work but actually Sugar Sugar Rune is a perfectly done (and award-winning) children’s manga. It exudes fun and friendship and gives an interesting spin to the magical girl concept.

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Anime and Manga of the Month: July

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Manga of the Month
Living Game by Mochiru Hoshisato

Raizo Fuwa has his life turned upside down when the company he works for is going to change their offices. The building his office was going to move into collapses because of shoddy construction before they can move in. Raizo’s boss decides to temporarily move the whole office into Raizo’s apartment until they can find a new building to move into. To add to his problems his boss agrees to hire the 15 years old Izumi Hiyama as a favor to a friend. Since Izumi is a high school drop out she cannot get anyone to rent to her. This eventually leads to Izumi having to move into Raizo’s office/apartment with him. Raizo slowly finds himself falling in love with Izumi who has an enormous crush on him but his office workers and friends keep interfering with every aspect of his life. Living Game is the story of Raizo and Izumi trying to find somewhere to call home.

Living game takes the housing crisis of the time and uses it as a repeated plot device, as a tool for social commentary, and an allegory of the major theme of the manga as a whole. Everyone in the series is looking for somewhere to live but it is always a metaphor for their struggle to find their place in life and in society. I really like that three tiered approach.

Living game is not the greatest manga but it’s much different than a majority of the manga that you can read in the U.S. today. It is a sweet seinen romance with a good mixture of comedy and drama. I like that the pace is brisk but never feels rushed. Raizo and Izumi’s lives are always moving forward. They are constantly changing and growing. All too often romantic comedies will spin their wheels going nowhere to draw out the plot. Raizo and Izumi lives are always organic. They grow into themselves and grow together at a natural pace. I really recommend it to people who liked Maison Ikkoku and any other more adult romantic comedy.

Anime of the Month
Princess Tutu by Hal Film Maker Studio

This is one of those rare shows that was not adapted from a preexisting manga. A duck is transformed into a girl and hopes to fulfill her desire to protect the shattered pieces of a prince’s heart. Ahiru is awkward (as can be imagined) but full of energy, determination, and love. For once it is the prince who needs saving and that is the task set before her. Princess Tutu takes on the role that is traditionally male, but she is absolutely female. She accepts her fate willingly and has a sense of duty despite her personal feelings and the realization that once her role is played she will no longer exist. While love is one of the central themes to this series, what starts out seemingly simple becomes a complex and dark look into the hearts and minds of many characters. Princess Tutu is a perfect fairytale full of magic, love, and mystery. And true to form it is has the darkness that inhabited original fairytales.

Anime and Manga of the Month: June

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Manga of the Month
Dragon Eye by Kairi Fujiyama

Leila is a brand new recruit to VIUS, a large organization of people combating the mysterious D-Virus. Both the organization and the virus itself, which turns the infected into blood thirsty, destructive “Dracules,” we know little about. Through a series of events, some quite amusing, she ends up in the hands of Issa, Captain of Squad Zero. Issa is seemingly lackadaisical, which is probably why the squad only includes himself and now Leila. But he is probably brilliant and you soon learn that his past is filled with holes. The glimpses of his former life bring a lot of much needed tension to the story. This becomes of serious importance as the Dracules begin to move as an organized group rather than a bunch of unthinking monsters. His relationships with some characters are strained while others truly believe in him, as it becomes more clear that some know a bit more about him than others. The cast changes somewhat from story to story as Squad Zero is always borrowing help, this peppers the story with some fun team-ups. The art is well done and the weaponry and equipment is cool which adds to the well done fights. Dragon Eye is a shonen adventure series, but it uses its formula well and creates characters you wish to see through to the end.

Anime of the Month
Black Lagoon by Madhouse Studios

Normally we showcase less known series in the Anime and Manga of the Month but I decided to throw up a better know. title that is in an odd predicament. Geneon went under and so far no one has saved the license. The dub for both seasons is done because they played them both on Canadian Tech TV. I really want someone to pick up the second season there in the states. I think it’s a guaranteed seller with legs.

Black Lagoon is about being awesome and having Revy, the duel pistol wielding awesome goddess incarnate. Black Lagoon is essentially an animated action movie. The story revolves around Rokuro Okajima who gets kidnapped by the pirates of the Lagoon Company but ends up as part of the crew. The Lagoon Company crew is as follows. Rock whose role is to be the fish out of water who has some invaluable negation skill from his days as a salary man. Revy is the muscle. Dutch being the muscular African-American seems like he would be the tough of the group but he is the companies leader and tactician. Benny rounds out the group as the hacker.

The intensity of the series is always turned up to 11. Even in the quieter moments the show have an underlying ferocity. There is also a tendency to throw out realism in favor of style. Revy duel wields pistols not because it’s practical but because it looks awesome. PT boats take on helicopters with mini-guns. People fight with chainsaws, flamethrowers, or throwing knives on chains because it looks freaking awesome. Also the characters are almost always a mixture of fascinating and frightening. Roanapur is an amoral city in which only the crafty and strong make it through the day. Black Lagoon is a fun, gritty, action anime. Viz is going to start publishing the manga soon and I really hope someone will step up to the plate and re-license this series.