Fragglepuss Anime Review 276: Double Decker! Doug & Kirill

Posted on September 5, 2019 by

Double Decker! Doug & Kirill

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy, Police, Buddy Cop

First Aired: Fall 2018, 13 episodes

Summary: The city of Lisvaletta has been overrun with a devastating new drug, Anthem, which can cause the severe side effect of turning the user into a superpowered beast with intense abilities. Once the user goes into this state of “Overdrive” they are irrational and uncontrollable. The “Seven-O” special crime investigation unit is tasked with stopping the spread of the dangerous and unpredictable drug. Among the investigators are Doug Billingham, the seasoned veteran that keeps to himself, and Kirill Vrubel, the voracious rookie never lacking a question or concern.

Double Decker is a fun buddy cop series with an anime twist. Doug is the classic veteran that has seen everything so many times that nothing surprises him. He has an answer to anything thrown at him. Kirill is the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed rookie with countless things to learn about the real world, especially when it comes to Anthem. While the series is mainly focused on the two investigators, the other members of Seven-O are a major part of the series. Pink, Rookie, Boxer, Robot, and Boss all play an integral part in Seven-O’s success or failure as an organization. They all bring unique knowledge and experience to each problem thrown their way. You quickly learn it is up to the whole organization to stop the city’s drug problem.

You might enjoy this if: You want a buddy cop show that includes magic bullets and grotesque monsters.

You might not like it if: You prefer more of a Lethal Weapon vibe.

Similar Series: Psycho-Pass, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Cowboy Bebop, Death Note, Dimension W, Gangsta, Baccano, Hakata Tonkatsu Ramens, Paranoia Agent

Note to the Viewer: Be careful which episode you start on. The first episode I watched did a deep dive on the characters that was confusing. The next episode felt like I was missing information. The third episode was a hot springs episode. That’s right, three episodes in and they’re already busting out the hot springs. Don’t they know that’s an episode seven thing? So, the fourth episode starts and the title states, “Episode One”. Come to find out, VRV had put all the OVAs first, BEFORE the actual series. Make sure you’re not a fool like me and you watch starting at the first episode.

Double Decker Opening

 

AMV –Numb by Yns

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 275: Why the Hell are You Here Teacher!? / Nande Koko ni Sensei ga!?

Posted on August 29, 2019 by

Why the Hell are You Here Teacher!? / Nande Koko ni Sensei ga!?

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Comedy, Ecchi, School, The Name Says it All

First Aired: Spring 2019, 12 episodes

Summary: Ichiro is a completely average teenager who always finds himself in inappropriate situations with his teacher, Kana Kojima. Adding to the awkward nature of their encounters is how Kana has a reputation of being overly cruel and mean to her students. If there is any teacher you want to avoid upsetting, it’s the demon Kana. Unfortunately for Ichiro, he is always in the wrong place at the wrong time, constantly crossing paths with the evil teacher. He isn’t even safe outside of school, such as when they run into each other in the laundromat under unfortunate circumstances.

“Why the Hell are You Here Teacher?” is as inappropriate as it comes when referring to anime. This is one of those shows that could not be made into a live-action series due to the content. The situations between Ichiro and Kana are completely over-the-top and ridiculous. If that’s the kind of anime comedy you’re into, this might be the show for you. The fan service is through the roof and totally unbelievable, but that’s Ecchi anime for you.

You might enjoy this if: Absurd, unbelievable Ecchi anime is what you’re looking for.

You might not like it if: You do not want to see the inappropriate mishaps between student and teacher.

Similar Series: Food Wars, Garden of Words, Monster Musume, Seitokai Yakuindomo, Shimoneta

Note to the Viewer: An interesting side note is how the manga differs from the anime. The anime features one student and one teacher, Ichiro and Kana. The manga on the other hand features a different pair of student and teacher in each volume.

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 274: Hinomaru Sumo

Posted on August 9, 2019 by

Hinomaru Sumo

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Sports, Action, School, Sumo

First Aired: Fall 2018, 24 episodes

Summary: Ushio Hinomaru has never been the biggest kid in school, but that has never stopped him from reaching for his goal of becoming a Yokozuna, the highest rank in professional sumo wrestling. As a young child he was a great sumo wrestler, but mysterious circumstances caused him to retreat from competition and focus on his training. Now, as a high schooler, he has reemerged to rebuild the Dachi High School sumo program and compete once again. It won’t be easy with the school lacking interest in sumo, but Hinomaru is passionate and dedicated as they come!

I was in love with Sumo before watching this series, and it deepened my love. Hinomaru is a lovable character with unbridled determination to become a top-rank sumo. He makes up for his small stature with hard work and determination, focusing on skill instead of raw power. This series comes at a perfect time, because in real-life Japanese sumo right now there is a Hinomaru-esque wrestler climbing the ranks. His name is Enho and he recently joined the top sumo division (Makuuchi), despite his small stature. Enho uses a lot of techniques not normally seen in the Makuuchi division, and he is able to do so due to his fast moves and how low he can get. Enho is usually outweighed by his opponent by at least 50kg and sometimes over 100kg!

You might enjoy this if: You want to learn about sumo in an entertaining way. If you want a brief introduction to sumo as a whole, check out my Fragglepuss Introduction to Sumo post.

You might not like it if: You are tired of high school sports anime.

Similar Series: All Out, Baby Steps, Free!, Haikyuu!, Ping Pong the Animation

Note to the Viewer: If you want a quick introduction to Sumo, you can check out my Sumo post here. It includes

AMV – Hail to the King by KeiSuki9 AMV

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 273: Okoshiyasu, Chitose-chan

Posted on August 1, 2019 by

Okoshiyasu, Chitose-chan

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Kyoto, Penguin

First Aired: Fall 2018, 24 short-form episodes

Summary: Chitose-chan is an adorable penguin who lives in Kyoto. She is a local celebrity that wanders the streets, being fed delicious food as she goes. Chitose is not worried about much in her life besides wandering around and making people happy.

Chitose is one of the cutest anime I have ever seen. The penguin is as sweet as it comes and leaves you with a happy feeling in your heart after every episode. It is interesting because the concept is simple, and the episodes are short, but they introduce various aspects of Kyoto as they go. One episode has Chitose visiting Kiyomizu Temple, while another has her at Ginkaku Temple, both in Kyoto. Standard Kyoto food is also introduced throughout the series.

You might enjoy this if: You are troubled with the terrible state of the world and need a pick-me-up to make you feel better. You will also enjoy it if you are familiar with Kyoto or looking to become more familiar with the city.

You might not like it if: You hate penguins.

Similar Series: Bananya, Donyatsu, Bonobono, Lovely Muco, Mitchiri Neko, Nyanbo, Neko Ramen, Nyanko Days

Note to the Viewer: The Okoshiyasu, Chitose-chan manga has been published in the Be Love Magazine since 2016. It has been collected in three volumes so far.

Okoshiyasu, Chitose-chan Trailer

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 272: Mr. Tonegawa Middle Management Blues / Chuukan Kanriroku Tonegawa

Posted on July 24, 2019 by

Mr. Tonegawa Middle Management Blues / Chuukan Kanriroku Tonegawa

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Parody, Psychological, Office Life

First Aired: Summer 2018, 24 episodes

Summary: Mr. Tonegawa is the right-hand man to the president of the Teiai group. The president becomes bored and begins asking Tonegawa to organize various games between the employees to keep him entertained. One week it may be a game of revolutionary Rock, Paper, Scissors, while another week might be a game of human Mahjong. No matter the game, it’s up to Tonegawa and the rest of the subordinates to the keep the president entertained.

Mr. Tonegawa is a spin-off of the Kaiji series and features many of the same characters. Besides Tonegawa, most of them are seen as simple black suits and part of the project team. There are some exceptions, such as the female black suit and the assistant black suit. One of the key elements of the series is the various games they come up with and their ridiculous nature. The Rock, Paper, Scissors (with a twist) is completely over-the-top. Mr. Tonegawa is a nice series in that you don’t have to be familiar with the original Kaiji series to enjoy it. The characters are fun and the stories are enjoyable.

You might enjoy this if: You understand how office life can be tedious and needs a shake-up every once in a while.

You might not like it if: You are not a fan of the “black suit” sub-genre, i.e. Men in Black, The Matrix, Reservoir Dogs, etc.

Similar Series: Aggretsuko, Assassination Classroom, Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto, The Master of Killing Time, Nichijou

Note to the Viewer: The Mr. Tonegawa manga has only been in publication since 2015.

Mr. Tonegawa Middle Management Blues Opening

 

AMV – Fight Back by Brandon Anime

(Warning, there’s a decent amount of cursing)

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 271: Calamity of a Zombie Girl / Aru Zombie Shoujo no Sainan

Posted on July 11, 2019 by

Calamity of a Zombie Girl / Aru Zombie Shoujo no Sainan

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Action, Horror, Supernatural, Zombies

First Released: July 4, 2018, 79-minute Original Net Animation (ONA)

Summary: A few University students sneak into the library late at night in search of treasure. Instead of treasure they find two mummies from Italy. One of the students, Sayaka, takes the “stone of life” out of one of the mummies before leaving the library. This results in the mummies waking up after a 100-year slumber and becoming zombies in search of the missing stone of life. They will do whatever it takes to hunt it down.

Zombie Girl is full of brutal kills and wicked fights. The two zombies want their stone back and are willing to kill anyone who gets in the way. The story is told well. The animation is well done. It feels like you’re watching a B-list horror movie, from the over-the-top violence to the creative kills. I’m a sucker for the genre, so watching Zombie Girl was familiar and a lot of fun. There were flaws in the anime, but I forgive it because it was so enjoyable.

You might enjoy this if: You are a fan of horror movies like Evil Dead and Nightmare on Elm Street, with the comical amounts of blood and violence.

You might not like it if: You are a stickler for pacing in your story.

Similar Anime: Devilman Crybaby, Corpse Party: Tortured Souls, Death Parade, Boogiepop Phantom, Castlevania, Hellsing, Parasyte

Note to the Viewer: Calamity of a Zombie Girl has been a long time coming. Kadokawa originally announced the anime in 2012, accompanied by a short trailer. It wasn’t until early 2018 that studio Gonzo announced they would be releasing the anime as an ONA.

AMV – Crazy by ReYu AMV

(Warning, the AMV contains minor spoilers and whatnot. It’s also pretty violent)

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 270: Pastel Memories

Posted on June 13, 2019 by

Pastel Memories

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure, Akihabara, Otaku

First Aired: Winter 2019, 12 episodes

Summary: Otaku culture has declined over the years. The Rabbit Shed Shop used to be an eclectic store to find anything and everything anime. Due to the declined culture, the shop focuses on selling coffee. The cause of the decline is somewhat mysterious but can be linked malicious virus. It’s up to the heroine employees to help people remember various anime and bring Otaku culture back to Akihabara!

Pastel Memories is full of a colorful cast of characters that work at the Rabbit Shed Shop. It’s difficult to memorize them all because of the overwhelming number. Each episode begins with an unusual circumstance taking place in Akihabara that the gals must investigate. The gals are transported into another dimension with the intent of destroying the virus that’s infecting the other world. At the end of each episode they find Maya, the antagonistic villain that travels world to world, spreading the virus. Each episode is formulaic, so if you like one, you’ll like them all!

You might enjoy this if: You like the “Monster of the Week” episode format, where is episode features a monster that the heroes will inevitably destroy by the end.

You might not like it if: You are averse to fan service. The most blatant example is the ending credits of each episode. It is a slap in the face with fan service.

Similar Series: Akiba’s Trip: The Animation, Punch Line, Dog & Scissors, D-Frag, Gabriel DropOut, Konosuba

Note to the Viewer: Pastel Memories began as a video game for Android and iOS. It is a role-playing game developed by FuRyu in 2017.

Pastel Memories Opening – Believe in Sky

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 269: How Clumsy You Are, Miss Ueno / Ueno-san wa Bukiyou

Posted on May 2, 2019 by

How Clumsy You Are, Miss Ueno / Ueno-san wa Bukiyou

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Comedy, Romance, School, Technology?

First Aired: Winter 2019, 12 episodes

Summary: Miss Ueno is a high school genius. She is capable of making anything and everything. However, she spends most her time inventing creations to show off to her classmate Tanaka. Ueno is obsessed with getting Tanaka to like her, but Tanaka is oblivious to the situation. Yamashita is an innocent bystander that often get caught in the crossfire.

Miss Ueno is an absurd anime to say the least. Ueno-san is borderline obsessed with getting Tanaka to notice her, but he has no idea. The show focuses on gag comedy and character interaction, as opposed to animation quality and story. Each episode runs about 10 minutes in length, which is split into two stories. The episode length is fitting for the content. There’s not much else to say about this series. It’s a quick watch with a lot of dirty jokes.

You might enjoy this if: You are a degenerate with a few minutes to spare.

You might not like it if: You are offended by crude conversation.

Similar Series: Seitokai Yakuindomo, Asobi Asobase, Survival Game Club, My Mental Choices Are Completely Interfering With My School Romantic Comedy (NOUCOME), D-Frag, Azumanga Daioh, Comical Psychosomatic Medicine, Himegoto, Nichijou, Plastic Nee San,

Note to the Viewer: The Miss Ueno manga has been published since 2015 in Young Animal magazine

How Clumsy You Are Miss Ueno Trailer

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The Latest and Greatest in Anime Panel. Presented at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention Spring 2019

Posted on April 30, 2019 by

The Latest and Greatest in Anime Panel. Presented at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention Spring 2019

Panelists: John Fragglepuss Evans, Breanne Evans, Brittany Evans, Lindsay Starke

Here is the list of anime covered during our panel at the Spring FanX convention as well as a short description. Thanks to everyone that attended the panel and thanks to FanX for having us for yet another convention. We always enjoy presenting at FanX, it is such a fun con to be a part of.

 

The Promised Neverland

Set in the year 2045, The happy orphanage surrounded by giant walls and mysterious adoptions

 

Domestic Girlfriend

When you find out your crush, and the girl you slept with randomly become your step sisters

 

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Young Japanese man reincarnated into a “powerful” slime in a new universe

 

Baki

The strongest fighters in the world gather in Japan for the ultimate showdown. Where does young Baki fit into all this

 

Hinomaru Sumo

The story of Hinomaru Ushio and how he works to defeat all his opponents in SUMO Wrestling, despite diminutive size

 

My Roommate is a Cat

Story told from both perspectives as cat and owner learn from each other

 

Grand Blue Dreaming

The fun antics of the buff and wild local Diving club

 

Iroduku: The World in Colors

A color-blind witch is transported 60 years in the past to meet her grandmothers 16-year-old self

 

Goblin Slayer

A young priestess teams up with the Goblin Slayer, an adventurer dedicated to the eradication of goblins by any means necessary

 

Skull-Face Bookseller Honda-san

Join the skeleton Honda-san at the manga shop as he encounters unusual customers and circumstances on a daily basis

 

Zombieland Saga

Seven girls are brought back to life as zombies to form a metal idol group

 

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

Mystery surrounds a bunny girl and the reason why only one person notices her

 

Late Night! Genius Bakabon

Bakabon and his trouble-making family are back after almost two decades!

 

Calamity of a Zombie Girl

A few University students sneak into the library late at night in search of treasure but find more than they bargained for

 

Banana Fish

Runaway Ash Lynx is adopted and abused by “Papa” Dino. He forsakes his father and leaves at seventeen only to have his brothers’ secrets held over him.

 

Muhyo and Roji’s Bureau of Supernatural Investigations

Young genius Magical Law Executor, Toru Muhyo and his assistant track and find ghosts to send them to heaven or hell

 

Karakuri Circus

Narumi joins the battle against automatons and save the world. Éléonore and Masaru join the Circus and attempt to live a normal life.

 

ReRideD

When engineer Derrida discovers a flaw in his invention but is put in cryogenic sleep for a decade. He awakens to find the world ravaged by a war fought by his inventions.

 

Dororo

An ambitious man makes a deal with demons for power and his son is born deformed. The child is discarded but survives to fight the demons with a plucky sidekick.

 

Midnight Occult Civil Servants

Miyako is assigned to a job dealing with paranormal events. His special skill is understanding non-human speech.

 

100 Sleeping Princes and the Kingdom of Dreams

A normal girl wakes up in the world of dreams to find she is actually a princess who must save the princes who have had their dreams stolen

 

Sirius the Jaegar

Its 1930 and vampires have infested Tokyo. The vampire hunting Jaegers are hired to battle these pesky vampires who’s aim is to bring destruction to all.

 

Ms. Vampire who Lives in my Neighborhood

The modern-day vampire comedy centers on high school girl Amano, who was saved from a strange incident by an anime loving vampire girl named Sophie Twilight.

 

Bakumatsu

In the midst of a struggle for control of Japan, a mysterious pocket watch with the ability to control the flow of time is discovered

 

Meiji Tokyo Renka

An ordinary high school girl is transported to the Meiji Period by Charlie, a self-proclaimed magician. As she gets to know the handsome men in a new era she just can’t get used to, a love begins to grow within her.

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Fragglepuss Anime Review 268: Late Night! Genius Bakubon / Shinya! Tensai Bakabon

Posted on April 24, 2019 by

Late Night! Genius Bakubon / Shinya! Tensai Bakabon

Review by: John Fragglepuss Evans

Genre: Slice of Life, Comedy, Parody

First Aired: Summer 2018, 12 episodes

Summary: It has been 18 years since the last Bakabon anime series was released. It is back and more outragious than ever! Bakabon and his family are constantly getting themselves into trouble. The Bakabon family and friends include:

  • Bakabon’s Papa – An airheaded troublemaker that steals the show, both figuratively and literally
  • Bakabon – A mischeivious boy that works as a shoeshiner attends Elementary school
  • Bakabon’s Mama – A University graduate that is a good wife and mother, despite the troublesome behavior of her family
  • Mister Rerere – The confused neighbor constantly saying “rerere”
  • Mr. Policeman – A series regular that has been around since the beginning
  • Eel-Dog – An unusual neighborhood animal. As you can imagine, it is a mix of an eel and a dog

Late Night Bakabon continues with the series legacy of being off-the-wall and bizarre. They are constantly breaking the fourth wall in terms of speaking with the audience or speaking about the audience. From the first scene they discuss how they are aware they’re in an anime and how they need to differentiate themselves from previous Bakabon iterations. The amount of parody in this anime is up there with the best of them. There are constant references to other anime as well as Japanese culture in general. The animation stays true to the original Bakabon series, which is kind of jarring if I’m honest, but once you get used to it, it’s fine. After all, the series is all about comedy and satire.

You might enjoy this if: You are a self-proclaimed Otaku with a vast knowledge of anime in all its forms.

You might not like it if: You are a casual anime observer. Trust me, if you don’t watch a lot of anime, you won’t get most of the references and the show will seem boring.

Similar Series: Osomatsu-san, Pop Team Epic, Space Patrol Luluco, Nichijou – My Ordinary Life, Himouto Umaru-chan, Plastic Nee-san

Note to the Viewer: The original English translation for the Bakabon property was: “Meet the Boneheads”. A more recent translation changed it to “Genius Bakabon”.

Late Night Genius Bakabon Trailer

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