Anime

Yusaku Godai is about to move out from Ikkoku, the apartment building filled with most peculiar characters, when the new manager, Kyoko Otanashi enters the building and Yusaku falls in love instantaneously.

I have read the whole manga series, but only seen the first four episodes of the anime. The manga is my all-time favorite, and the anime seems to follow it quite closely. The animation is not great, makes it look cheap, but the characters and the stories make it up. There's no fighting, magic or other fantasy in this series. With the total of 96 episodes there is a danger that this falls in the same trap of repetitiveness as Ranma 1/2.

More information

The public side of Yukino is all good: she is a model student, smart and popular. Maintaining that image is a hard work, and only at home she can let her guard down. But then some competition arrives in the form of a new student, Arima. He has his own reasons to be perfect, and Yukino hates him for that. Or is it love?

It's been a while since I saw this, so I don't quite remember how I liked it. I guess it was ok, but nothing spectacular.

Genma Saotome, Ranma's father, has decided with his friend Soun Tendo that Ranma will marry Tendo's daughter Akane, to eventually take over Tendo's Anything Goes Martial Arts dojo. But Ranma is not quite a normal boy: Because of an unfortunate training accident in China, every time Ranma touches cold water, he becomes a girl! His father didn't do well either, cold water turns him into a panda. Hot water turns them back into their normal form. Sounds difficult enough? Oh no, that's not all. Ranma and Akane don't get along too well, and in their past Ranma and Soun have made a lot of enemies who want revenge. Not to forget the grand master of Anything Goes Martial Arts, Happosai, who specializes in collecting girls' panties. There is no dull day at the Tendo dojo.

In small dozes this series is crazy and hilarious. There are lots of funny characters and wacky martial arts sports, and you hardly notice the bulky animation quality. However, after seeing three or four seasons, the series just goes on and on, bringing in new double characters and new martial arts sports and repeating the same theme over and over. I wish the series had been wrapped up after three seasons, because now most seasons just feel like recycled rip-off.

A team of two female assassins, carrying the legendary name of Noir. Both women want to know more about their past, and a mysterious organization seems to be the key.

So far I've seen the first eight episodes. Nicely drawn and animated, interesting music. Stories are ok, with occasional overuse of flashbacks. The characters don't have enough character, they are somehow underdeveloped. But who could resist beautiful girls with guns?

More information

As a child, Keitaro gave a girl a promise to marry her and he wants to keep his promise. Too bad he doesn't remember her name or what she looked like any more. While trying to get in the Tokyo University he becomes the manager of an apartment building - for girls. Maybe one of them is the love of his life?

Based on about eight episodes, looks ok. Nice characters, animation is fine, stories are ok.

Official site

After her mother's death, Toru Honda lived in a tent, but now the nearby Sohma family invites her to live with them. Sohmas have a secret: They are all possessed by the animals of the zodiac, and if they embrace a person of the opposite sex they turn into an animal.

A sweet story, with nice characters. Maybe too sweet to me.

The official site

The bounty hunters on the space ship "Bebop" all have a past. Some of them try to forget it, while some try to remember. They have one thing in common: They are all broke and thus always ready to go after bounties.

The best anime series I have seen. The animation and direction are of great quality, providing a unique atmosphere where the light and shadows beautifully combine. At least half of the credit goes to Yoko Kanno's jazzy soundtrack. It would be too little to say that it fits the mood of the series perfectly. It makes the mood.

More information