~PRIDE of GLORY~

Kuroshitsuji II

ShirayukiYUMIKO — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:38:27 +0000

In late-nineteenth century England, one year and three months after the dramatic conclusion of the original series, Kuroshitsuji II introduces a new butler and young master. The sadistic yet cheerful Alois Trancy has faced some harsh times. He was kidnapped as a baby, and was forced to work in a village as a slave. Gradually, he lost his parents, his best friend, and everyone he knew. Alois eventually returned home and became the head of his mansion, but seemed to exhibit some strange behavior ever since. Even more curiously, he returned with Claude Faustus, an enigmatic, emotionless butler with unfathomable talent…

Tagged: Anime, kuroshitsuji

Merlin (TV series)

ShirayukiYUMIKO — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 09:33:30 +0000

Merlin is a magician who arrives at the city of Camelot, after his mother arranges for him to become an apprentice of Gaius. He discovers that the king, Uther Pendragon, has outlawed magic and has imprisoned the last dragon deep under the city. The dragon informs Merlin that he has an important destiny to protect Uther’s son, Arthur, who will bring forth a great Kingdom. When he meets Arthur for the first time he discovers that he is arrogant and a bully, but after he saves Arthur’s life, he is rewarded with a job in the Royal Household as Arthur’s manservant, and they become close friends. Arthur is unaware of Merlin’s magical ability, as Merlin has to keep it a secret or face execution at the hands of Uther.

Morgana is Uther’s ward with the power of prophetic foresight, which frightens her and which she keeps secret. Gwen is her maid servant and close friend. The first series focused on the development of Merlin and his friendship with Arthur. The second series focuses more on development of the other cast members. Some of the central themes of the series are the budding romance between Arthur and Gwen and Morgana’s struggle to control her powers.

Other characters from Arthurian legend have also appeared. Lancelot longed to become a knight, but unable to do so because of his birth as a commoner. Mordred has appeared as a Druid boy who formed a bond with Morgana (in some legends he is Morgause’s son) and it has been predicted by the dragon that Mordred will be the cause of death of Arthur (in the legend this occurred at the Battle of Camlann). Mordred and occasionally the Great Dragon refer to Merlin by his Druidic name, Emrys (the Welsh form of Ambrosius); Ambrosius Aurelianus was a historical figure that Geoffrey of Monmouth partially merged with Merlin. Excalibur is an ordinary sword that becomes enchanted by the Great Dragon.

Tagged: merlin, movie, tv series

xxxHOLIC ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:35:47 +0000

Yuuko is a witch who grants people’s wishes, but in return the person has to give up something precious. Watanuki Kimihiro, a man who has visions, encounters Yuuko and she promises to get rid of the spirits that torment him. In return Watanuki must work in Yuuko’s shop and help her grant other people’s wishes.

Tagged: Manga, seinen, shounen

Kobato ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:32:28 +0000

Kobato Hanato is on a mission: she has a wish she wants granted. To do this, she has to mend the wounded hearts of the people she meets on her journey and fill up a magical bottle with the suffering she has relieved. The only catch is, she can’t fall in love with any of the people she helps. It seems like that’s the least of her problems, though; Kobato has no clue how to mend hearts…especially since each person’s heart is different. So what’s Kobato to do? Well, she has Ioryogi-san, a cute plush dog with a seriously bad attitude, to help her…yikes! Looks like the road to getting her wish is going to be a long and hard one. Will Kobato get her wish in the end? And just what is it that Kobato wants?

Tagged: Manga, shounen

Shugo Chara ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:29:06 +0000

Everybody at Seiyo Elementary thinks that stylish and super cool Amu has it all: But nobody knows the real Amu, a shy girl who wishes she had the courage to truly be herself. Changing Amu’s life is going to take more than wishes and dreams–it’s going to take a little magic! One morning, Amu finds a surprise in her bed: three strange little eggs. Each egg contains a Guardian Character, an angel-like being who can give her the power to be someone new. With the help of her Guardian Characters, Amu is about to discover that her true self is even more amazing than she ever dreamed.

Tagged: Manga, shoujo

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:25:30 +0000

“The world is a very small place, but for those who know it…it is very, very large. And the world, when it is viewed by those who ‘know’— is far larger than just one world can hold!”

The famous CLAMP brings back the characters from all their creations for an ultimate showdown in this multi-dimensional tale.

This is the story of four travelers, bound by fate and by prophesied future. Sakura is the princess of Clow Country, and possessor of a strange power that promises to change the world. Syaoran is an aspiring archaeologist and her childhood friend. When Sakura is endangered by the plan a certain man has for the future, the princess’ memories are scattered across dimensions in the form of feathers, and Syaoran is forced to go on a desperate journey to retrieve them. They are accompanied by Fay D. Flourite, a magician running from the horrible truth of his past, and Kurogane, a rough-mannered ninja trying to get back to his world. However, the ability to cross worlds demands a great price, and each of them must pay the Dimensional Witch with what he or she values most. In order to save his princess, Syaoran must give up his relationship with her. Even if he gathers all of Sakura’s memories, she will never remember their past together…

But the world is not so simple. The very moment these four made this decision, their destinies were sealed into a tragic course…as everyone in the group has their own secrets. Indeed, this is an alternate reality, where whatever you least expect can happen—and does.

Tagged: Manga, shounen

Nabari no Ou ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:21:52 +0000

All Miharu Rokujou wishes for is a simple life. Unfortunately, he soon learns that he is in possession of a sacred and secret ninja art, the “Shinra Banshou”. With this ability, Miharu is more likely to become the king of the hidden world, Nabari, than remain a normal high school student! He must also deal with daily attempts against his life and, ironically, his sensei’s efforts to convince him to join the nindo club.

Having this “omnipotent” ability will test Miharu’s chances of survival, and the world of Nabari is his only hope. Will he ever acquire the simplistic life he wishes for?

Tagged: Manga, shounen

Pandora Hearts ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:18:23 +0000

Oz Bezarius, heir to one of the duke houses, has just turned fifteen. His life is rich and carefree, darkened only by the constant absence of his father. At his coming-of-age ceremony, however, everything changes. For no reason that he can discern, he’s cast into the prison known as the “Abyss”, only to be saved by a “chain” known as Alice, the bloodstained black rabbit. Why was he cast into Abyss, how does Alice factor into it all, and what does the organization known as “Pandora” want with him…?

Tagged: Manga, shounen

Mahou Sensei Negima ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:16:47 +0000

After graduated from a magic academy, 10-year-old genius boy Negi Springfield was assigned to a huge Japanese school as an English teacher for practical training. To his surprise, the 8th grade class assigned for him is all-girl. In addition to teaching (and being teased by) those 31 pretty girls while trying to keep his magic capability in secret, he’s also looking for clues about his father, who was once known as “Thousand Master” but mysteriously disappeared years ago.

Tagged: Manga, shounen

D.GRAY man ~Manga~

Tsukihana YUE — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:12:56 +0000

Towards the end of the 19th century, Allen Walker officially joins the organization of Exorcists that destroy the beings known as Akuma; mechanic weapons made by the Millennium Earl with the suffering souls of the dead. Allen has both a cursed eye and an anti-Akuma weapon as an arm, bearing the power of “Innocence”, a gift given to him as an apostle of God. Allen, along with his fellow Exorcists must put a stop to the Millennium Earl’s ultimate plot that could lead to the destruction of the world and all who live on it.

Tagged: Manga, shounen