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What OtakuAnthony bought this week July 22nd
Ga-Rei-Zero Complete Series:
Plot Synopsis: “The Japanese Ministry of Defense has an anti-paranormal special forces group called the Paranormal Disaster Countermeasure Headquarters. They’re the ones responsible to protect Japanese soil and its people from supernatural and paranormal events. However, things didn’t go so well in one of their missions, which leads to intervention by the Ministry of Enviroment’s Supernatural Disaster Countermeasures Division after the PDCH has sustained large numbers of casualties battling demons.”
I watched the first episode of this series earlier this month and I was interested in this series, and Amazon.com had it on sale for probably what is the lowest new price that you can get this version for.
Ga-Rai-Zero Complete Series LM is available from RightStuf
A regular edition of this series is also available from RightStuf
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Magic Knight Rayearth GN Omnibus 1:
Plot Synopsis: “Umi, Hikaru, and Fuu are three schoolgirls out on a field trip to Tokyo Tower, whisked suddenly away by a strange voice and light to Cephiro, a world full of spirits and sorcery. They were summoned here through the last remaining strength of the Princess Emeraude, who hopes that they are the trio destined to become the magic knights legend says can save her realm! But how are a bunch of junior-high-school kids supposed to defeat the dark might of the sinister Lord Zagato… with only an exceedingly strange bunny creature named Mokona as their guide…?”
Have been interested in the manga since it was been released by Dark Horse so I ordered it a few months ago and it just shipped out.
Magic Knight Rayearth GN Omnibus 1 is available from RightStuf
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High School of the Dead GN 3:
Plot Synopsis: “The high school escapees are joined by elementary-schooler Alice and a brave little dog as they make their way to the next safe house, not a soul (or corpse) in sight. The Alice’s presence eases the tension, but as Marikawa-sensei drives farther into the neighborhood, “they” seem to be out in greater numbers. The car struggles to shake the relentless zombies while Takashi and Rei cling perilously to the roof. The group has been lucky so far, but will their determination and makeshift arsenal be enough to make it to safety alive?”
Order the manga some time ago and it just shipped out yesterday.
Anime Review: Ga-Rei-Zero Limited Edition
I’m going to spend the introduction drawing parallels between Berserk and Ga-Rei-Zero because that’s just the kind of guy I am. After all, I am always saying that I want more things like Berserk to get made. Well Ga-Rei-Zero is kind of the thing I’m looking for, though not in the manner I intended. Berserk is a medieval dark fantasy story filled with swords demons, while Ga-Rei-Zero is a modern supernatural story filled with swords and ghosts. The similarity is actually in the story structure and certain plot elements. Both series tell their story in a circular manner; starting in the present, then jumping to the past and working their way back to the present. Both spend the parts that deal with the past exploring the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist, and how they ultimately became enemies. Both also have an evil little red crystal serving as the catalyst for everything going straight to hell. It’s like someone somewhere heard that I wanted more things like Berserk, but misinterpreted what I meant by that. Now that that’s out of the way…
Ga-Rei-Zero is a prequel to the manga series, Ga-Rei, and focuses on the past of the characters Kagura and Yomi. The two of them are members of the Supernatural Disasters Countermeasures Division known as Vanquishers, tasked with destroying evil spirits. When a squad sent out to deal with a large group of spirits is mysteriously wiped out, Kagura and her allies are shocked to find that Yomi was the one who killed them. The ensuing battle pits the two former sisters against one another, as Kagura is left with no other option than to kill Yomi.
Stuff I Bought This Week – April 29th
K-ON Volume 1 (DVD)
Plot Synopsis: “When Yui Hirasawa enters high school, she wants to join a club but can’t decide which one is right for her. Fortunately, the Light Music Club is desperate to find another member or they’ll be disbanded! So, with the enticement of delicious snacks and assurance that no musical experience is necessary, Yui joins the Light Music Club. She becomes the guitarist in this all-girl high school rock band with Mio Akiyama on bass, Ritsu Tainaka on drums, and Tsumugi Kotobuki on keyboard. Together they’re going to rock the school and someday make it to the Budokan! Now, if only they can put down the snacks just long enough to practice…”
I pre-ordered way back in the disant past when Bandai’s store was still shipping to Canada. Not sure why I got the DVD since the BD was like $3 more. So yeah. K-ON.
Purchase K-ON Volume 1 at RightStuf
Ga-Rei-Zero Limited Edition (DVD/BD Combo)
Plot Synopsis: “Kagura and Yomi may look like ordinary school girls as they walk the streets of Tokyo clad in short skirts and knee-high socks, but they’re the heroes you scream for when monsters creep out of the darkness. These sword-toting sisters are part of an elite counterattack unit that specializes in suppressing outbreaks of supernatural activity. They train together, live together, eat together, and spend their nights disemboweling demons with sacred blades together.
Tragedy strikes when Yomi is possessed by a dark spirit and Kagura must choose between raising her weapon against the eerily familiar face of ultimate evil or watching her flesh and blood slaughter innocent citizens. In a life-or-death battle that pits sister against sister, survival may be the greatest agony of all.”
A review of this one will be going up soon. Like, immediately after I post this. So yeah.
Otaku in Review Podcast – I Finally Out-Weeaboo'd Janai
This is Scott 10 years from now
We start off this episode talking about my recent trip to Disney, along with me starting to watch Ah! My Goddess. I have FINALLY finished Kira Kira (see my review of the game), and so I now actually have time to start watching anime again! We also talk about Evangelion 2.22 quite a bit (spoiler warning – blame Scott) and then move on to the huge chock of news from the past few weeks. Oh, and Scott loves body pillows – a guilty pleasure that I actually have no interest in (hence the title of this episode).
We also make a heartfelt farewell to Satoshi Kon, who recently passed away, in this episode – his genius will surely be missed.
