Azure Flame

Living away from home, a young girl is all but ready to throw away the mementoes of growing up…until a mysterious yet familiar young boy appears to show her that one doesn’t always need to put away childish things. The daughter of a yakuza family is set to marry the head of an opposing clan, but she knows she isn’t yet ready to say goodbye to the boy she likes. A half-witch named Shalala dreams of becoming as powerful as her peers by gaining the teardrops of a human boy, but will her chosen man ever cry. And in a future where advanced robots can pass as humans, a mysterious old woman chooses to spend what may be her final days with two of her creations. In each of these four one-shot stories, a unique relationship is showcased, but will the protagonists realise just what is important to them? Continue reading Natsukashi Machi no Rozione…

As a newbie anime fan, one of the earliest series I ever watched was Ceres, Celestial Legend. Fuelled by a desire to expand my experience with Yuu Watase beyond Fushigi Yuugi, I watched all 24 episodes of the anime in the course of about three evenings, and at the time, it seemed a worthy endeavour. Thus it was that in more recent times, I decided to revisit the series by way of the original manga and a rewatching of the anime- and it was only then that I could see how bad the animated version actually is.

Continue reading Ceres, Celestial Legend: Anime vs. Manga…

Most sixteen year olds would choose to hang out with people their own age, but Nobue Itou is a little different. She would much rather spend time with fifth and sixth graders from elementary school- to be precise, her sister Chika, next door neighbour Miu, and friends Matsuri and Ana. Join this unlikely group as they while away the days amusing themselves with games, banter and all the other minor diversions that crop up in day-to-day life. Continue reading Ichigo Mashimaro volumes 1-4…

Italy’s Social Welfare Agency- on the surface, it is an organisation dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and giving them a new lease of life. Whilst this not strictly inaccurate, however, what few people know is that the girls taken in by the Agency are actually turned into cyborgs and given training and conditioning designed to turn them into deadly assassins. The girls seem happy enough with their new lives, but can anyone justify robbing them of their childhood and turning them into mere tools to be used and discarded? Or is this the only way the Italian government can hope to fight back against the terrorists who would go to any length to ensure their message is heard? Continue reading Gunslinger Girl volumes 1-5…

Victorian England may technically be a single country, but within it dwells two worlds- that of the commoners, and that of the nobles. In an era where status and the opinion of society counts for everything, a romance that breaks class boundaries seems almost impossible to countenance- at least until it actually happens. The feelings between Emma, the maid of a retired governess, and William Jones, son and heir of a wealthy businessman, cannot be denied, but can the couple ever really hope to have a proper relationship?

Continue reading Emma…

Jun may have thought that sharing his life with living doll Shinku was an unwelcome upset, but as he soon discovers, it’s a walk in the park compared with what’s to come. First, there’s Hinaichigo to deal with- a spoiled and childish doll who almost costs his friend Tomoe her life when she insists that they play together forever. And no sooner is that little situation resolved than another doll, Suiseiseki, appears to ask Shinku and the others to help rescue her ‘twin sister’ from the clutches of her evil master. Can Jun handle this influx of doll related troubles, and perhaps learn something about himself in the process?

Continue reading Rozen Maiden volumes 2-3…

Cranry Bennett is that most unusual of specimens- a twenty-eight year old woman living in Victorian England who is not only unmarried, but even runs her own café! Even as those around her urge to find a husband, Cranry remains steadfastly single, but even she cannot deny that her house is in sore need of attention. And so it is that she ends up hiring Shirley, a thirteen year old maid whose expertise far outweighs her years…

Continue reading Liked Emma? Try Shirley…

Chapters 1-23

Midori Saejima is one of the first ever students to attend her newly-opened high school, and thanks to her outgoing and straightforward personality, her classmates nominate her to run for the student council. After an energetic speech, Midori gets voted in as vice president, with the boy she has a crush on, Akira Sudou, being named president. Now, Midori and Sudou must work together to establish some traditions for their brand new school, but will such a daunting task be as much hard work as maintaining their fledgling relationship?

  Continue reading Tenshi Nanka Janai: Mid-way Impressions…

As an assistant to one of the greatest mages of the ages, a lot is expected of Hibiki- but unfortunately, she just doesn’t seem to have the hang of magic at all. Her attempts at drawing magic circles all seem to end in failure, and as she would be the first to admit, her only real skill seems to lie in being able to brew a delicious cup of tea. Even so, maybe Hibiki’s kind heart and pure intentions can weave a magic all their own…

  Continue reading Hibiki’s Magic 1…

Nami Matsuo is a magic user, but it’s never been something that she’s been any good at. Her failed attempts at spells have caused her a few problems with both classmates and family over the years, and the last thing she wants is to have to train as a licensed magic user. Even as Nami tries to figure out just what she wants to do with her life after high school, she encounters Ryutaro Tominaga, the new boy in class. Ryutaro’s rough personality and violent temper soon ensure that his classmates want nothing to do with him, but Nami can’t help wondering if there is more to him than meets the eye…

Continue reading Someday’s Dreamers: Spellbound 1…