Ranma's Finest Hour and a Bit
589083
Though I haven't been able to watch much Ranma, what I have has made me extremely happy.  This Anime has it all; action, romance, comedy, and occasional drama.  All the characters are loveable, especially our aqua-transsexual Ranma himself (or is it herself?)
Nihao my concubine stays true to the spirit of the Anime series, while being a work of art in it's own right.  The holiday setting adds a wonderful feel to the movie, and you get into it straight away.
It's basically the story of Big Trouble in Nekonron, China again, with Akane getting kidnapped and Ranma going out to rescue her with the 'help' of his assorted rivals.  However, this time around the plot is tighter, and the relationships between the characters and their feelings towards one another are more deeply explored.
There are quite a few touching scenes in this movie, my personal favourite is when Mousse...well, I can't give that away!  Let's just say that if you ever thought Mousse and Shampoo should be together, you'll like this part!
All in all, this is a wonderful addition to the Ranma 1/2 universe; the only complaint I have against it was that it was too short!  If you like Ranma at all, check this out!
2756208
5 Centimeters Per Second is one of the finest animated films I've ever seen. The art is incredibly done even the smallest details are almost perfect, and the soundtrack is beautiful. The story is very touching. There were several moments during the movie that made my heart pinch. By the time the credits began my face ached and I wanted to cry.
It is a compilation of 3 short stories totaling about an hour. The story is about Takaki and his love for his childhood friend Akari. As their lives move forward the distance between them grows until all they have is fond memories and old love letters. The second episode is about a classmate of Takaki's that also loves him. It is a very bitter sweet love story. The whole story is fantastic. You shouldn't hesitate to buy this movie.
3905195
This is a lot like a summer popcorn movie, for the most part. The movie has a very heavy focus on it's visuals and action sequences, which are very excellently done. Of course, with people on staff like Katsuhiro Otomo and Hirotsugu Kawasaki you'll always have to expect this. In Akira, Otomo said that he liked to keep everything in motion. He never wanted to use any sort of still frames for any reason. For Spriggan, you get the same thing. The animation is almost constantly fluid and rarely, if never, gets stiff or jittery like most anime. There's some really nice scenes of CG, espacially with the scenes that take place inside the ark. It's steller and seamless at the same time (like the excellent CG in Princess Mononoke). The fight scenes are so wonderfully choreographed and storyboarded out, that Spriggan's action is a class in it's own. Take all of the fight scenes in Ninja Scroll, X, Ghost in the Shell, and Battle Angel and then put them into fast forward and you have Spriggan. Yes, they're all THAT GOOD!
As far as visuals and action sequences are concerned, this movie has it all.
The movie's audio is excellent. Considering this is a fairly recent anime, it's sound design is incredible. I espcially like how the echoes and distorted SFX were handled inside the ark sequences. The video transer is also very nice. Lots early scenes in the film are shown in very dark colors and the transfer handles them wonderfully. The backrounds are beautifully rendered and the character animation comes off very crisp and clear. The only problem with it is that once the scenes mostly take place inside the ark, there is a fair amount of grain on the characters. It isn't too distracting though. It also gives the film more of a cinematic feel.
Spriggan is something that really and truly excels at what it's trying to be, and that's an action flick with western based legends and religious ideas mixed into it. Sure the story runs a little thin at times and character development is kinda nil, but it's slight lack of depth makes it even more fun to watch. It does present some interesting ideas as well (like saying that Noah's Ark was a weather controlling device and a starter of life). It won't exactly put your brain on overdrive like Ghost in the Shell of Serial Experiments Lain, but it will make you think a little bit after the credits roll.
Lots of anime fans I know bash on this film because of it's lack of plot and character development. Why can't they all just sit down and enjoy a film that is just a simple piece of action and fun? Where have all their roots gone?
The film's soundtrack is also excellent with mixes of Turkish chants, atmospheric instrumentals, and electronic drum-beats. The most impressive track, though, is the movie's ending them which is an experimental techno song performed by Saju and sung in Mandarin (a rare find in anime). If you need a reason to buy the soundtrack, listen to this song. I swear it will move you to buy the soundtrack. It did for me.
Whether I watched this film in Japanese, English, or with commentary by the ADR directors, I got a different experience everytime.
Spriggan is a highly enjoyable film that will never gather dust on my shelf, and most likely not on yours.
1916740
Once in a while, I like to kick back and watch an anime that's got nothing but lots of good old dirt-under-the-nails FIGHTIN'.  You can't go wrong with a title like "Grappler Baki: The ULTIMATE FIGHTER", can you?  So I gave it a rent and checked it out.  And you know what?  I was pretty impressed.  There's a lot to enjoy in this flick, most of which is the fighting itself.  The fight scenes were well done; not on par with, say, the choreographed genius of "Street Fighter: the Animated Movie", but they hold their own.  A lot of the moves hurt just to look at (like when a shoulder gets separated and they show you an inside-the-body shot of the bones coming apart) and the animation is pretty decent as well.  There's not much story here; just a guy named Baki who wants to be the best fighter in the land and the people he goes through to get there.  The final battle, though, between Baki and the "Cord Cutter" (speaking of painful techniques, ever have someone pull on your NERVES?) is a sight to behold.  All in all, a decent fight flick that will keep you entertained for almost an hour.  The only real problems I saw were the crowd shots (completely still and noiseless; I guess they were completely mesmerized by the fight) and the dubbing.  It wasn't bad, but I've heard a LOT better.  But hey, if you like the fightin' stuff, you'll enjoy it.  Great action and a minimum of sentiment. It's a good combination.
4002082
Trashcanman sums it up nicely - it is an amazing anime especially for being so short. I rather liked the time jump. We didn't need to see those years and a more mature Thor made a much more believable leader. The list price is rather steep but I got mine new from a third party seller and it was perfect and much cheaper. I think the title and the cover art are somewhat misleading. It's a bit too "Lord of the Flies" for what is really going on; it is, after all, basically a science fiction story.
790582
In this volume, a secret about Ryoga is revealed, the little pig P-chan is introduced, and we are also introduced to Kodachi, the Black Rose.  Kodachi is a rather wicked character, and it turns out she is related to someone that we already know in the cast.  Not only that, she is a member of her school's rhythmic gymnastics team, and she's trying to knock out Furinkan High's team before their next match.  Furinkan's team comes to ask for Akane's help, and she agrees.  Akane must learn how to do rhythmic gymnastic wrestling; can she learn what needs to be done and beat Kodachi at the match?  The final story in this volume begins a story arc that introduces two more characters: Azusa Shiratori and Mikado Sazenin.  Azusa and Mikado are ice skaters who do martial skating; Azusa is a collector of cute things and takes what she likes and names them, while Mikado is a ladies' man.  The volume ends with Azusa and Mikado challenging Akane and Ranma to a martial skating duel.

Unlike the pressing I read of Ranma 1/2 Volume 1, I only found one page where a speech bubble was cut off at the edge of a page.  Unfortunately, there is still an issue with the quality of the reproduction of the images.  Some pages look decent, while others look like they used a second or third generation copy of the artwork when putting this volume together.  I really hope this reproduction issue is resolved in future volumes of the Ranma 1/2 manga.

Takahashi's art style is just as strong as it was in the first volume of the series.  She is even able to use P-chan's eyes and facial expressions to effectively show how the little pig is feeling and reacting to whatever is going on.  When it comes to the martial arts skirmishes, Takahashi utilizes the "busy" look and sound effects in a way to illustrates what's going on without being "over the top."  It should be pointed out that there are occasionally drawings of female nudity included in this volume.

As for the storytelling, I appreciate Takahashi's ability to utilize humor to help tell the story she's trying to convey with her characters.  She also has a wonderful ability to bring out the qualities of each of her characters.  They have very distinct personalities; none of them seem like carbon copies of any of the other characters in the Ranma 1/2 universe.

One thing I found fascinating while reading this volume is that we find the first major deviation between the manga and anime in Ranma 1/2.  In the anime, instead of having the ice skating arc immediately following the Kodachi storyline, the audience is instead introduced to the character of Shampoo.  In the anime, the introduction of Azusa and Mikado takes place after the storyline with Shampoo.  I will be interested to see how much more of a deviation there is between the Ranma 1/2 manga and anime when I get a chance to read more volumes of the manga.

It should be noted that this manga was published as a flipped version, meaning that it reads like an American book instead of a traditional manga.  Ranma 1/2 is rated "T+," which means that it is being aimed at older teens.

I wrote this review after reading a copy of this manga volume that my older daughter checked out through the King County Library System.
1999551
Being an eccentric fan of Paranorman, I had to get the book (And on pure luck, got a signed copy by all the artists!)
The introductions as well as a look into the lives of the people who contributed to Paranorman is refreshing, especially from the main animator
Looking at all the different concepts and variations that could have been put into the film also is interesting, and sometimes makes you wish they kept more or less
The most is the effort as well as the technology put into this film. Some of it looks so flawless you'd think it'd have to be CGI, but surprise, it's not thanks to the help of stop-motion's newest helping hand: the 3D printer

Overall, if you're a fan, even a casual one, this will provide much inlook into the miniature world of Paranorman

There are only two complaints about this book:
- There is too-dark of an overlay. I understand that there is supposed to be a "dark" art style to Paranorman, but it makes pictures hard to make out! Plus, scans from other sources show that it was not intended to be printed out so harshly.
- This is more of a personal opinion, but it irritates me the "special snowflake" complex Laika produces, and it's shown in the introduction and paragraphs. I understand that different is great, and that you should embrace it, but there is a superiority ego that Laika seems to encourage and fuels the irritating "special snowflake" complex.
2292584
This short film is astounding, it touches you deeply and makes you really care about the characters' struggles and feelings. A must see for any anime fan, and even for those who don't like anime, this may just be the title to capture your interest.
4663905
Always excellent, I love Rumiko Takahashi-sama's works! :D And this reminds me so much of Bleach so I love it even more.  I'd say definitely pick it up if you're a fan of Ranma or Inuyasha! :)
2864486
Ranma is a hilarious series. In volume 2 I had tears in my eyes while I  read! When you read, you can't help yourself from an occasional giggle. So  if your in the mood for a funny book, I highly suggest Ranma 1/2 vollume 2.  ^_^
92594
Anime wunderkind Makoto Shinkai has made quite a name for himself both in his native Japan and abroad. After erupting on the anime scene with his entirely self made Voices of a Distant Star, Shinkai was hailed as the next Miyazaki, and was given a massive budget to produce a full length feature. The result was The Place Promised in our Early Days, a film that despite great animation and art, squandered its awesome premise. Two years later Shinkai is back with 5 Centimeters Per Second. Told in three short films, 5 tells a personal tale about time, distance and speed. Takaki starts the first film as a junior high student who is involved in a long distance relationship with a girl named Akari. Of the three films, this one especially will tear you apart like no anime since Voices has. When it reaches its heartbreaking, soul shattering conclusion, your face will be red with tears.

The second film starts in Takaki's senior year of high school. There he is courted by the shy Kanae, who has fallen deeply in love with him. Of the three shorts, the animation in this one is simply unmatched. The scenes are so beautiful that you will find yourself pausing the film just to get a longer look at each of these gorgeous frames. I won't hesitate to call 5 the single most beautiful animated work I have ever experienced. The second film ends in a similarly crushing manner as the first. Be sure not to miss the line where Takaki explains who he is texting throughout the short. If nothing else in this film brings you to tears that moment will.

The final film is the weakest of the bunch. This short sees Takaki in his late twenties, completely empty and forlorn. We see Akari moving on with her life, getting married, but maybe still thinking of her first love. The short doesn't really have an ending as concrete as the others. You are left to wonder if Takaki will ever find happiness or if he will forever be lost in his past. The movie ends with a montage over a strange Japanese pop tune that works well enough. Some viewers will feel unsatisfied with the conclusion, but I agree with other critics who hail this ending as Shinkai's most mature yet. Still, fans may miss the expected final line of wisdom that has ended every Shinkai work since She and Her Cat.

They won't be able to miss any other Shinkai staples though, as they are all present here. The color palette here is still the best in anime. The lighting is mind boggling, the characters are a little awkward, and the actual animation even surpasses the work put into Place. Tenmon returns to score all three shorts, a train separates lovers at least three times, beautiful sunsets background heartfelt moments, cell phones and letters connect distant lovers, most of the film is told through monologues, and the themes of distance, time, and speed are all present. I can only hope Shinkai shows some variation in his films before these themes begin to turn stale. As it is, they are still fully effective here, although the train sequence is starting to get old.

Overall, fans of Shinkai will adore his latest work, while moviegoers of any sort will appreciate 5 as a masterwork of animation and a heartfelt story from one of Japan's greatest writer/directors.
1030506
This is one of the Top Ten anime of all time.  If you like a good storyline and "engaging" characters you'll love this.  It's right up there with Ranma 1/2 and Chobits.  However if you only like fighting or giant robots this one won't be your cup of tea.  But if romantic comedy is your thing you should make getting this series your Top Priority!
1185851
This is a new(er) manga series from Rumiko Takahashi, who was also the author of Ranma 1/2, Inuyahsa, and several earlier ones. This is overall an improvement on how she treats her male characters, with less gag violence against them, yet keeps the same kind of humor like Rin always remaining poor. While I didn't read much of Inuyasha the designated annoying character, such as Kodachi in Ranma 1/2, her version in this has redeemable qualities and is at least likable this time around. The overall story is also interesting enough. Finally if you're looking for a manga with an overarching long term storyline, this is probably not for you, as so far I haven't seen one. Most of the stories are retained within a few chapters with new characters added from time to time. If you enjoy a lighthearted manga with some action thrown in, this might be worth checking out.
4399225
As a fan of anime I've watched many anime movies but none have affected me as much as this film. I liked it so much I bought Shinkai's previous films to see more of his work.

5 Centimeters per Second: A Chain of Short Stories About Their Distance tells the inevitable tale of seperation, a story of how the people we meet, friends and lovers, whom we believe we'll know forever gradually drift apart.

The story is nothing short of magnificent. It involves two main characters Takaki and Akari who are both school children drawn together by the fact that they are both used to transfering, after Akari transfers to the school that Takaki attends. As they both enjoy being inside the school spending time in the library, they grow closer until they are essential in a relationship.

There friendship is brought to a sudden end when Akari is again forced to transfer and move all the way to Iwafune, leaving Takaki behind. The story continues from Takaki's perspective, picturing how the distance from his love affects him mentally and emotionally. His focus and attention is constantly looking towards some far distance place, thinking about Akari. Due to this his life deteriorates as he is unable to concentrate on anything close to him.

The animation is breathtaking thanks to the lighting and the backgrounds which are simply beautiful. The score also increases the effect that the movie has upon the viewer. The story is fresh and never cliche. Although plot progression seems slow, the story is just taking its time to truly demonstrate how a young boy is affected by the seperation from his best friend and first love. The viewer can empathise with his feelings as it is a sad inevitability in life.

As I could not gain this movie in the UK I downloaded the English dub off the internet, as I was so impressed with the film, I bought the original subtitled version from America (as it has not been released in the UK and the English dubbed costs to much to have posted overseas). I am pleased that I was able to support the official release so that Shinkai may be able to go and develop equally, and hopefully even better, touching animated stories about space, time and relationships.

If you enjoyed this product checkout his earlier works Voices of a Distant Star and The Place Promised in Our Early Days.
3447111
Fist I want to say that I bought the two disc DvD set, and I had no extras, which made me mad at first, but I am a forgiving person! Anyway all the episodes were good except the third episode, even though I saw Ranma's mom for the first time (I've seen seasons 1-6) It was very... boring at times. My favorite episode would have to be the first one. It was so nice to finally see Shampoo get her revenge on Ranma for treating her like dirt.

  Anyway, the opening for the first six episodes was boring, but the opening for the other half, was cool. I liked the song in both english and Japanese, (Though it is louder in Japanese) The ending for both is... ok. Also in the second episode where they do Karaoke, The english is... TERRIBLE! I cannot stand it in english, it's just bad.

  I recommend watching the tv serie before this though, because it expects you to know who EVERYONE is. Also, almost EVERYONE is in this. Everyone meaning, the gambling king, Ling-Ling, and Lung-Lung, and all them other people(Even the people from the darn tea ceramony episodes.)

  Now, this series does raise some questions. First WHY does Ranma want Shampoo to love him if he "Doesn't" like her? Second (Also last) Why wasn't Hinako in the tv series? She would have been a great character! Now, there are many episodes for fans of Ranma & Akane, and also a little Ranma & Shampoo.(Yay!)

  Overall, if you want a great Ranma series, this is a great direction to look!
4489276
Last year, I took "CTCS403: East Asian Cinema" at USC with Professor David James. Before showing us a film that might be considered unpalatable to our Western tastes, he'd preface by saying "you're either going to like this film and have good taste, or you're not going to like it and have bad taste."

Since taking that course, I struggle valiantly to appreciate (or even just comprehend) critically-acclaimed films that are not immediately accessible. Since this film trumped both Otomo's Steamboy and Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle for the honor of Best Animated Film at the prestigious Mainichi Film Awards, I was determined to glean the deeper meaning no matter what.

Other matters aside, you have to give The Place Promised in Our Early Days points for an interesting setting:

In an alternate history of the aftermath of World War II, Japan has been cleaved in half, with the south-Honshu and the other islands-allied with the United States and the northern island Hokkaido annexed by the enigmatic Union. It was on Hokkaido that a mysterious tower had been built, a strand of metal reaching up out of the atmosphere, visible from the northern tip of Honshu. In 1996, three teenagers, Hiroki, Takuya and Sayuri, make a pact-they will build an experimental aircraft, almost invisible to surveillance, cross over to Hokkaido and unlock the secrets of the tower. Their dream was never realized, because Sayuri was sent to Tokyo for treatment after she fell into a coma. It is now three years later. The rosy illusions of youth have fallen away, but not the unbreakable strength of the trio's promise. The truth of the tower will be uncovered, and with it, the link between it and Sayuri's mysterious, carefully tended condition.

Sadly, things fall apart in terms of cohesion almost immediately. For one thing, all of the characters are basically blanks in the personality department, making them all blend together. I can see how Shinkai is trying to make his tale seem more universal, but the technique just ends up distancing the viewer from onscreen events. That's not to say that these events are remotely approaching understandable, by the way. In regards to of any form of a plot, I can remember some half-baked metaphysical musings on parallel universes juxtaposed with some junior-high recollections. That's really about it.

BOTTOM LINE: There wasn't a single moment that my attention was engaged while watching, and to me that isn't a sign of quality. Accuse me of "bad" taste if you must.
3384383
And I thought Ranma 1/2 was the funniest. Nope, this is it! My sister and I about died when we first started watching. This story is about a really weird family, but you get to love them the way Tohru does and never want them to change. The only fault I have is that they didn't continue to complete the manga. The ending just leaves you wanting more.