A Quick Look at Big Windup!

Ah, baseball. A sport I doubt I’d ever get a chance to play (mainly ‘cause the university I’m in doesn’t really offer it) or watch live. Nevertheless, the technicality of it all just gets me going  - whether it’s the pitching, the run-hitting, the strategy, or everything else that goes on in between. That’s why for this Quick Look, I’ll be talking about… you guessed it, a baseball-themed anime.

One of my absolute favorite titles, and is, in my opinion, one of the more under-“watched” ones as well – Big Windup!

A Quick Look at Canaan

It’s been a long while since my last Quick Look (two months I think). So, to remedy that, I chose to introduce to you guys a show with some pretty interesting “relatives”. Ever notice how TYPE-MOON works have a sort-of penchant for bladed weapons? Ever thought what it’d be like for them to try their hand at pistols and fast-paced action? Well, some would say that we recently had an answer to that in Fate/Zero’s Kiritsugu Emiya – but before he even arrived in the anime scene, we already did have the answer – that being Tsukihime’s, Kara no Kyoukai’s and the Fate series’ lesser known cousin, CANAAN.

A Quick Look at Remembrances for a Certain Pilot

If I could live in that endless sky, with no class hierarchy, no poverty, no contempt, no scorn, I wouldn’t need anything else in the world.
-
“You’re still not satisfied?”
“No.”
“Even if no one else knows about me, if Lady remembers me, that’s enough for me,”
Charles said, carelessly.
But Fana, looking serious, said, “Okay. Then I’ll remember pilot Charles, forever.”
“I don’t deserve such an honor.”
“I’m not joking.”

- excerpts from Inumura Koroku’s To Aru Hikuushi e no Tsuioku (fan-translated by the good people at Mazui subs)

Oh, and I highly suggest reading the novel first before watching the movie.

A Quick Look at HanTsuki

“Love conquers all”. It’s a wonderful thing to believe in, and has proven its effectiveness most of the time. Countless movies, novels, television shows, up to anime and manga have had its fair share of the miracles of love. That is to say, most of the time what love needed to overcome was something fantastical altogether. What happens then, if the obstacle is too tangible, too real. Would love be enough?

Kicking it with some old school romance, here’s a Quick Look at HanTsuki.

A Quick Look at Night on the Galactic Railroad

Whenever an anime deals with themes of life, death, the value of living, fate, or any other thought provoking theme, more often than not, Miyazawa Kenji’s Night on the Galactic Railroad will be referenced in one way or another. It’s pretty much a classic novel among the Japanese. Being the curious Filipino that I am, I naturally wanted to know more about it after hearing it being mentioned numerous times. Sadly, I can’t read Japanese, and I haven’t seen the translated version of the novel at our local bookstores. So I went ahead to the next best thing.

A Quick Look at Loups=Garous

Let me veer you guys away from the Fall season for a moment, and introduce to you a show that, might be as fresh to your eyes as the rest of this season’s lineup.

Fresh, because I doubt that this title has garnered much popularity since its premier. Its short lived hype (how apparent it may be) was a sign that it would easily be forgotten. Not me though. So as to give it a fair trial, here’s a quick look at Loups=Garous.

A Quick Look at Colorful

The concept of death and the afterlife has been utilized in Anime countless times already. Usually it’s for drama-themed titles, like AnoHana, and, to some extent, Angel Beats!. It’s a really interesting theme, and it is almost, always presented in a different manner than another. The title that I’m going to talk about is truly something different from any that I’ve seen.

The sheer cruelty of life, and a ray of hope stuffed in two hours. Here’s a quick look at Colorful.

A Quick Look at Bokurano

I admit, I haven’t been much of a mecha fan nowadays. Back when I was younger though, a lot of mecha shows were dubbed by our local television. The likes of Voltes V, Daimos, and later on, a few Gundam shows, like Wing and Seed. I was a fan of the genre for some time. But that was then, and the only mecha that I have on my list besides those is Code Geass (yep, haven’t watched TTGL)

Which brings us to this Quick Look. After looking for some anime with a ‘psychological’ theme, I stumbled across this show, at first thinking it was just another mecha show. Apparently, it’s a mighty bit more psychological than it appears to be, to my surprise. Here’s Bokurano.

A Quick Look at Kurokami

Through the course of the relatively many titles that I have watched, there have been a lot of themes used in them. The likes of boy-meets-girl, the chosen one, teenage boy gaining uber powers, etc. These themes are what appeal to me on whether or not I should watch a series.

However, there is one such theme that is, well not exactly new, but is so intriguing, that you can’t help but be curious. The theme I’m talking about is, defying fate. A little deep, but rather simple.

So let’s see how this series tries to take that theme for a spin. Here’s a Quick Look at Kurokami.

A Quick Look at Bartender

After giving my insights on what I am watching currently, I felt that it’s that time again to share a series that I have watched since way back. Yep, it’s time for another Quick Look.

This series that I will be talking about is rather “unique” in the sense, and I doubt that this kind of theme has been done in the past (well, it’s either that, or I am still wet behind the ears when it comes to anime) A rather hidden gem beneath the sand, it was only by chance that I discovered this anime.

So take a peek, and see for yourself what I am talking about. Here is, Bartender.