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Funny hah-hah▲▼
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| Colorful (TV) |
Very good |
This is a civic-minded contribution by TBS to parents concerned about the virtue of their teenage daughters: show the girls this series, and they’ll be put off boys for the next decade. In essence, this show is a study on the existential dilemmas of modern masculinity -or at least those involving panty peeps and downblouse peeks. It has shockingly high production values for such throwaway subject matter: great artwork, exemplary sound design, and splendid voice acting –especially the unsurpassable pervert foley. Winner of the Romani Ite Domum Award for Best Language Class. |
| Cromartie High School (TV) |
Very good |
The show must go on! Exquisitely well-timed gags and perfectly cast voice acting make this parody show a great joy to behold, even when they miss their intended targets. The short format people, short format will save the world. |
| Cutie Honey (live-action movie) |
Decent |
This cheesathon is at its best when it is in pure retro pastiche mode: the old-sentai-series fight scenes are a delight. Whenever CGI makes an appearance, it's a letdown. The biggest problem is the main lead: Eriko Satoh was, naturally, not chosen for her acting skills, but even by those low standards, she is torture to watch. |
| Di Gi Charat (TV) |
Good |
Broccoli girls and toilet humor. Reasons for living, or for forsaking all hope? It’s up to you. |
| Di Gi Charat Nyo (TV) |
Decent |
We want more, we want more!! Or not. Why is it this was better when it was just an in-shop promo? Is the by-geeks for-geeks magic gone? |
| Dr. Slump & Arale-chan (TV) |
Decent |
An ode to coprophilia? Only in anime. Arale-chan scares me, for some reason. |
| Excel Saga (TV) |
Decent |
Funny as hell. Pity it's about 12 episodes too long. Kotono Mitsuishi is the greatest Seiyuu alive, though. |
| FLCL (OAV) |
Masterpiece |
The truly amazing part: in the midst of the hyperactive mayhem they managed to fit in quite a lot of character development and a plot that *makes sense* It takes some remarkably steady pulse to pull that one off, people. |
| Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu (TV) |
Excellent |
This pared-down, all-comedy iteration of the Full Metal Panic franchise is chockfull of inspired choices. Paced to perfection, the series skillfully presents outrageous set-up after outrageous set-up, and delivers well-timed gag after well-timed gag, not to mention some well thought-out romance. There is nary a bum note within earshot: even the fanservice is funny. The artwork and animation are simply brilliant, especially some of the most… poetic tsukkomi hits you’ll ever see. |
| Galaxy Angel (TV) |
Very good |
Easily the funniest Broccoli of them all, with the most *solidly* cute cast anywhere. Why on earth isn’t the 13min format more popular? There are countless series that could have benefited from the downsizing. |
| Galaxy Angel A (TV) |
Decent |
While this franchise is visible weakening, the formula still works on the whole, in a hit-or-miss sort of way. Much honor for recognizing that annoying extra characters must be used sparingly. |
| Galaxy Angel Z (TV) |
Good |
The girls spoof the usual wide array of popular-culture targets The tone becomes puzzlingly serious at points.. Surprisingly, the dramatic turns are actually rather good –shocking, given that this is one of the silliest franchises around. |
| Here Is Greenwood (OAV) |
Very good |
A series well deserving of its cult following. The first episode is unsurpassed in its felicitous quirkiness, and it includes what may well be the perfect anime joke. While the latest episodes do not reach those rambunctious heights again, there is still plenty of fun in the sun to be had, and a fairly well thought-out romantic story to boot. |
| Ichigeki Sacchu!! HoiHoi-san (special) |
Good |
Silent Spring! Fun little conceit this is, but most of all, we are in the presence of an inevitable product concept. The Honda Robotics Division should get cracking. |
| Kappa no Kaikata (TV) |
Decent |
Yet another extended toy commercial, but oi, is it a cute toy or what? |
| Koe de Oshigoto! (OAV) |
So-so |
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| Labyrinth of Flames (OAV) |
Good |
Rather silly etchi humor, rather nice action scenes, a spectacularly baaaaka hero. And lots, and lots, and lots of pantyshots. Shiawase. This rather fun piece of fluff sports ridiculously high-quality animation for such a lowbrow concept. |
| Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi (TV) |
Masterpiece |
Delightful bit of 1000 RPM parody, the gloriously hybrid child of Gainax's narrative creativity and Madhouse's visual flair. Sasshi and Arumi are not just one of the most moving osananajimi pairs ever, but the best Manzai duo in anime as well. Moreover, Arumi's harisen is the mightiest weapon you'll ever see! |
| Oruchuban Ebichu (TV) |
Good |
Oi. GAINAX firing all cylinders for this totally unrestrained sex comedy. Ok, so P.G. Wodehouse it ain't, but I guffawed all the way -not least when thinking about the misery of the censors who had to take the red pen to this genteel jewel. Winner of the Groaner of the Year Award for Most Cringe-Inducing Puns in ANY Language. |
| Pom Poko (movie) |
Very good |
aka An Introduction to Japanese Folklore and Supernatural Creatures. It'd have helped if Takahata had resisted the temptation of making it thirty minutes too long. |
| Puni Puni Poemy (OAV) |
Decent |
A parody of a parody show. Mercy. Kotono Mitsuishi is the greatest seiyuu alive, I tell you. |
| Ranma ½ (TV 1/1989) |
Good |
Takahashi's formula at its apex of relentlessness, if not necessarily quality (me likes Urusei Yatsura more). Double entendres and plain entendres galore, enthusiastic pratfall comedy and a steady proliferation of characters to the point of needing name charts. Most excellent. |
| Re: Cutie Honey (OAV) |
Good |
Another required course in GAINAX's Master in Otakulogy. More knowing than the Delphi oracle and more arch than de triomphe. Loved the cheapo retro animation. And those chibichibi policemen! |
| Roujin Z (movie) |
Good |
Just about the only movie of any kind whose hero is an incontinent senior citizen. Otomo's critique of contemporary Japan is overshadowed by the excited farce (Algol algorithms rule!). And let it be a lesson, kids: Hell hath no fury like a mecha obaasan! |
| Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei (TV) |
Excellent |
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| School Rumble (TV) |
Excellent |
The rabukome’s rabukome. Grounded on an exceedingly attractive stable of characters and greatly realized love polygons, it manages to chase its McGuffin (a remarkably extended kokuhaku crisis) without being tiresome. Utterly steeped in its comedic culture, it deploys the largest number of shattered-expectations gags ever –it helps if you’re familiar with the conventions of the genre. Boys, lesson here: work on your storyboards: This is how it looks when you use every visual trick in the anime book, and do it well. Winner of the Summer Institute of Linguistics Award for Best Use of Pronoun-Drop Rules as a Plot Device. |
| School Rumble: Extra Class (OAV) |
Excellent |
A couple of good jokes, and a beautifully executed romantic episode that is not only rather pretty, but helps character development along. Not bad for a bridge OVA. |
| (The) Slayers (TV) |
Good |
Hard to believe enough time has passed to make this bit of fond silliness into a “Classic.” Fluffy, crispy, essentially happy nonsense, much too light-hearted to be the parody it purports to be. Hayashibara Megumi’s shtick is at its maximum effectiveness, |
| Thermae Romae (TV) |
Not really good |
Rather lazy animation of a good idea. Pretty repetitive and the central conceit is more intriguing than funny. |
| Those Who Hunt Elves (TV) |
Not really good |
If you have a premise quite this silly, you'd expect some heavy-duty mayhem & nonsense. Instead you get some rather tepid romping. Loved the cattank, though (if catbus married... nah, forget it). Kotono Mitsuishi is the greatest... ok, so you know. |
| Those Who Hunt Elves 2 (TV) |
Weak |
Jeez, why make a 2nd? why? whyyyy? |
| Tokyo Godfathers (movie) |
Excellent |
Satoshi, who'd've thunk that deep at heart you're such an optimist? |
| Urusei Yatsura (TV 1981) |
Good |
Lum, you’re still the prettiest of them all. Ataru, you’re still the best loser horndog. Rumiko, you’re still the Queen of Silliness. |
| Zan Sayonara Zetsubō Sensei Bangai-chi (OAV) |
Very good |
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| Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou-sensei (TV) |
Excellent |
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