Lifetime Achievements Part 1: A Wind Named Amnesia

As I increased my collection, I eventually noticed that several covers featured the phrase, "From the creator of Vampire Hunter D."  I searched for everything this man, Hideyuki Kikuchi had done.  This month you'll get a look at his filmography with the exception of the two Vampire Hunter movies.  We'll start with an intriguing post-apocalypse title called:

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Holding Out For A Hero Part 4: Prefectural Earth Defense Force

Sometimes a good idea from a popular movie or TV series turns out to have originated from an older, lesser known title.  If you've seen the popular and hilarious comedy Excel Saga, you may be surprised to learn that ACROSS's conquest plans were originally used by a more rural secret society in:

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Holding Out For A Hero Part 3: Shinesman

The idea of corporate superheroes has been around for a while. There was Captain Amazing in Mystery Men and the more contemporary Tiger & Bunny. In both of those the heroes are full-time defenders of justice sponsored by large companies.  In this title the company heroes have to hold down regular 9-5 jobs with their heroics earning them tax-exempt overtime pay.  Watch a team of corporate heroes punch the clock in:

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Holding Out For A Hero Part 2: Wild Cardz

Now that we've covered single heroes, let's move onto superhero teams.  Oftentimes it seems that the cooperative forces are more an excuse to sell more toys for a TV series than any real need for the heroes to join forces.  Our first team will be a bunch of card-themed heroines in:

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Holding Out For A Hero Part 1: Moldiver

If there is one thing I love, besides animation of course, it is superheroes.  I love the serious heroes like Batman, the parody heroes such as The Tick or the Mystery Men, and the occasional "realistic" heroes including Defendor.  All of them.  So doing a month of superhero anime is the best of both worlds for me.  While the defenders of Japanese justice are often quite a bit different from our own, the title character in this week's offering shares a lot with America's caped crusaders.  Prepare to be wowed by the manly power of:

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September Delay

I was on vacation for the last week of August, so the first september post will be next week.  I'll still get in 4 for the month though!

A Man's Job Part 4: Grrl Power

One of the most used professions in anime apart from "guy who beats things up" is the job of a general contractor.  The type of person who will take on any job for a fee.  There are an ever increasing number including Sket Dance, Getbackers, Fairy Tail, Cowboy Bebop, and Desert Punk to name just a few.  Some specialize in certain professional areas, others cross some of the popular genres such as school, super hero, fantasy, space opera and post-apocalyptic.  We'll look at an adorable example of the jack-of-all-trades anime trope with:

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A Man's Job Part 3: Phantom the Animation

Assassins come from both genders, usually with distinct styles for men and women.  The ladies are more often the seductress, subterfuge style assassins while men typically use more brute force.  This week we'll see how two young kids handle the same job as one of the biggest, baddest men of anime in:

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A Man's Job Part 2: Madonna

Teaching is often seen as a female dominated profession.  When teaching tough, violent, Japanese delinquents though it can be useful to have the power to beat them to a pulp when necessary.  At the very least it helps if the students aren't actively trying to violate you.  We'll see how a woman handles these troubles in the Rugby themed:

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A Man's Job Part 1: Apocalypse Zero

I'm a big fan of the manliest men of anime.  The tough guys who know how to get the job done, oftentimes with their fists and/or guns.  They say not to send a boy to do a man's job and we'll be exploring that idea this month.  Some jobs are difficult and meant for the burly musclebound men.  We'll be examining titles where a female, child or combination thereof take on the jobs of my favorite macho males.  We'll start with the job of post-apocalyptic martial arts expert in:

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What Is It Good For? Part 4: Big Wars

This is the final title I added to my collection of "Wars" anime.  More intergalactic warring, but this time we're headed to Mars.  You're in store for some allusions to religious radicalization in our last installment for the month:

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What Is It Good For? Part 3: Psychic Wars

Demons and a buff, shirtless, surgical oncologist duke it out for the fate of mankind in this unusual little title.  This blog post is dedicated to a coworker who left recently and is preparing for her imminent wedding.  This goes out to you Chivon!  I'm also adding a new searchable category for your enjoyment: Memorable Moment.  A category for those titles that have scenes I can never forget.

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What Is It Good For? Part 2: Vampire Wars

Vampires are everywhere these days.  The popularity of these blood-sucking creatures of the night never seems to wane and that is as true in Japan as it is here in the States. By the law of averages, if you produce a whole lot of anything a few will be great, a lot will be mediocre, and a few will be delightfully terrible.  This week we'll look at a title that falls squarely into the last category. 

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What Is It Good For? Part 1: Venus Wars

War is a popular theme for stories in all mediums.  When I began collecting used anime, I was surprised at the horrendous movies that were titled like a mad lib reading "_____ Wars"  I made it my personal mission to collect every anime movie or OVA with this titular scheme. This wasn't too hard, there were only 4, all of which you'll see this month.  I didn't care as much about TV series such as Sakura Wars.  The true junk and gems are usually produced in more limited time run.  We'll start off with a tale of interplanetary strife:

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Sneak Peak of July

As this is the 5th Thursday of the month, I'll be taking a break.  I'll be back with a new theme for July next week.  Here is a not so subtle hint as to the theme.

Pet Project Part 4: Puss 'n Boots

Countries and cultures are always borrowing stories from each other.  Disney took Mulan from China and Toei took this delightful title from the West.  Enjoy the rambunctious feline action in:

Puss 'n Boots

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Pet Project Part 3: Mr. Stain On Junk Alley

I usually review titles at least ten years old.  I'm breaking that rule this week for the sake of a title from 2003 I don't think has gotten nearly enough attention.  This week we'll be looking at a bum and his cat in:

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Pet Project Part 2: Panda! Go Panda!

Another story of a girl abandoned by her legal guardians this week, but with a much happier take on the whole ordeal.  We'll be looking at a forgotten Miyazaki title as we explore:

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Pet Project Part 1: Junkers Come Here!

This month we'll be focusing on people and their beloved animal companions.  First up will be a story about a young girl and her talking dog who grants wishes.  Sounds like a happy, child-pleasing tale right?  Oh you poor naive fool.  Brace yourself for the tragedy of:

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For Your Private Eyes Only Part 4: Sukeban Deka

A high school girl is forced to take on the over-privileged and corrupt armed with nothing but a yo-yo and mother issues.  Enjoy the surprisingly popular detective action in:

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For Your Private Eyes Only Part 3: Domain of Murder

A deadbeat dad tries to make things right in the worst way possible.  A private detective has to figure out his motivations and stop a crazy man in our next thrilling installment for May.  Enjoy the good old fashioned gumshoe detectiving in:

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For Your Private Eyes Only Part 2: Debutante Detective Corps

A quintet of over-privileged and surprisingly independent rich girls are the crime fighters in this short OVA.  That about covers the premise of:

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For Your Private Eyes Only Part 1: Art of Fighting

May is all about detective anime.  Mysteries, Private Eyes and sweet, sweet cash.  To make the transition a bit easier we'll start with a detective anime that has a lot of fighting elements too.  Enjoy the cat wrangling action of:

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Smackdown Toons Part 4: Battle Royal High School

This title doesn't fit in with the rest as well as I remembered.  Oh well.  There is some bare-knuckle fighting but it is a lot more supernatural than the others.  It is still amusing in its own way so I don't think you'll be disappointed with:

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Smackdown Toons Part 3: Ayane's High Kick

 This is the most realistic of the titles reviewed this month.  It is also the title you can win with this month's contest:

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Smackdown Toons Part 2: Grapppler Baki The Ultimate Fighter

Let's give the women a rest this week and let the manly men fight for dominance.  A young boy seeks to learn all the world's martial arts through book learnin' and good ol' fashioned brawlin' in:

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Smackdown Toons Part 1: Variable Geo

The month of April will be dedicated to anime involving characters beating the living daylights out of each other. Nothing too fancy just an excuse for battle.  Our first entry is a title of questionable taste based on a fighting game even more questionable taste:

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FifthThursday Bonus Edition!

For those of you who haven't read the visitor's guide, I'm only posting for the first 4 Thursdays of any given month.  For this fifth Thursday in March, instead of giving you nothing, I'm giving you the chance to win one of the titles I'll be reviewing in April.  April's theme will be "Smackdown Toons".  To be eligible, you must live in the continental USA, answer the following questions and e-mail your answers to andycondablog@gmail.com

1. Which anime in January had a character who sold edible rocks?
2. What was the occupation of the male lead in Outlanders?
3. Which Japanese historical figure was used as a villain in two of the March anime titles?
4.  Which review from the site has been your favorite?
5. Had you seen any of the titles on this site prior to reading about them here?
6. Have you rented/purchased/pirated any of the titles reviewed because of this blog?
7. Do you have any suggestions for themes you'd like to see on the blog in the future?

Entries must be submitted by April 30th.  One entry per person.  The winner will be randomly selected from eligible entries.  If you win I'll contact you for a mailing address.  The prize in question is a former Blockbuster rental DVD purchased during a going-out-of-business sale.  Any questions about this drawing can also be sent to andycondablog@gmail.com.

Out Like a Ninja Part 4: Wrath of the Ninja - The Yotoden Movie

Couldn't decide on the final ninja anime for the month.  I narrowed it down to two that I could not remember well.  After watching the first few minutes of each, I chose the one that made me feel less like turning off the DVD player.  That is how we wound up with:

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Out Like a Ninja Part 3: Ninku The Movie

History can be a lot of fun, whether it be in the subject of world events or popular culture.  By watching older anime you can see how they influenced the current generation of animators and manga artists.  If you've seen much of the current and popular ninja series "Naruto" some bits of this older title may seem very familiar.  

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Out Like a Ninja Part 2: The Puppet Princess

I know several people who are scared of dolls and puppets.  Never understood this fear myself, I assume the idea is that tiny, little, people-shaped objects would be easier for ghosts to possess.  Or that their little, soulless eyes are watching you.  On that note I present to you deadly ninja puppets.

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Out Like a Ninja Part 1: Black Lion

As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.  This year March will come in like a lion and go out like a ninja.  A month of ninja anime for your enjoyment.  And to keep the saying semi-accurate, we'll start this month off with the perfectly named:

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Odder Couples Part 4: Riding Bean

When I started this blog, I got some feedback from a friend who writes "The Weekly Beer Geek" on The Black Sheep Online.  He told me one of the best features of my writing style was that I clearly enjoyed what I was blogging about but didn't come off as a raving fanboy.  I'll need to restrain myself as I tell you about one of my all time favorites:

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Odder Couple Part 3: Tattoon Master

My feelings about this title are complicated.  A true love/hate relationship.  Mystical powers and a teenage badass with a heart of gold come together to form:

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Odder Couples Part 2: Gestalt

Another week, another strange anime pairing.  This time we'll visit a fantasy land or swords and sorcery.  An outcast priest and a mysterious magician make up our pair in:

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Odder Couples Part 1: Outlanders

In honor of Valentines Day or, if you prefer, Singles Awareness Day, February will be spent celebrating some of the bizarre couples in anime.  We'll start off with a fun, older title:

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Bad Idea Train Part 4: Landlock

In the final installment of Bad Idea Train we visit a land full of oddly named places, wind power, mistaken paternity, and a villain with an ocular fetish.  Your last look at a character making a bad decision comes from the oddly named:

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Bad Idea Train Part 3: Kimera

Do you love vampires?  Big Twilight fan maybe?  Hold the traditional vampire mythology sacred?  If so, you're going to hate this weeks entry.  If not you may get a few unintended laughs in when we take a look at:

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Bad Idea Train Part 2: Green Legend Ran

Time for the second installment featuring characters making terrible choices.  This is another title that came to mind when I chose this topic.  Without further ado, I present to you:

Green Legend Ran

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Bad Idea Train Part 1: Birth

Every now and then while watching some random anime the characters make an incredibly stupid decision.  Some of these decisions are used for dramatic effect, such as the clichéd/classic move of walking into a known trap.  This month is dedicated to anime that contain a moment in which one or more characters make an incredibly moronic decision that makes absolutely no sense to the viewer.  I chose this theme because I wanted to share one OVA in particular.

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