Cartoonopia

Genre: Drama | Mystery | Psychological Thriller
Year: 2005
Format: TV Series
Runtime: 25 minutes x 74 episodes + 1 special

To define in a simple and concise manner, "Monster" is a deep psychological rollercoaster that will let your mind hang at some point and slaps you with an amazing twists of plots. It's a riveting piece of anime that it actually attracted a lot of people to see it. "Monster" originally created as a manga series by Naoki Urusawa in Big Comic Original and was published by Shogakukan around 1994 until 2001. This has become his greatest piece of novel and one of the most successful manga of all time in Japan, so it was naturally and not surprisingly to be adapted to the anime genre.

The story unfolds with the main protagonist named Dr. Kenzou Tenma, a japanese neurosurgeon genius in Eisler Memorial Hospital, Germany. He was just living his daily routine until one selfless act of saving another life caught him on a web of mysterious murder. It also comprises of several stories among several characters which interconnects to each other and leads to one end. It's practically a very serious anime that caters sensitive matters and there are also some mild adult contents, so these is not intended for children. I dont want to practically spoil anything but if you'll read articles or summaries over the internet, you'll be surprised who are doing these murders... and the question as well is why are these murders being done? what are the reason behind these? As far as i could suggest you if you're unaware completely about this series, dont read any articles, just start reading the manga or the anime!

The series started in April 2004 and was completed in September 2005. Aired in NTV in Japan, it played on national television with 74 episodes (aint that a headache to count for one season?). The novel is now scheduled to be released on the big screen, acquiring the rights by New Line Cinema last 2005 and is set up for a premiere in 2007.

Posted by Bibingkimiming at Monday, September 11, 2006 | Permalink | Comments

Genre: Action|Drama|Mystery
Year: 2003
Format: TV Series
Runtime: 25 minutes x 26 episodes

In the previous articles i made back then on the historic Cartoonopia site, i had the opportunity to review an anime called "Read or Die". It's an OVA (Original Video Animation) with 3 episodes fortelling the adventures of Yomiko Readman, a young lady with an ability to manipulate paper. With her sparring partners Nancy Makuhari or simply codenamed "Ms. Deep" and Mr. Drake Anderson, they tried to save the world from the evil plans of the I-jins.

In relation to that OVA, a TV series was spawned from this concept and was named "Read or Dream", also known as R.O.D. the TV. The story revolves around 3 sisters namely Michelle, the eldest sister, a blonde girl that seems like a very happy-go-lucky type of person... always smiling and always jolly. Maggie, a shy type person, strong and freakishly tall... second eldest among the three who likes to spend time on very small spaces. And Anita, the youngest sister who unlike her two sisters, hates books... but there's a reason why she despise books a lot.

In connection to the OVA series, the sisters gets involved to an author named Nenene Sumiregawa (talk about weird names) which is a very close friend and mentor to Yomiko Readman, whom at that time, Yomiko is missing and Nenene is in deep search for this person. The series' storyline timeframe exists 6 years after the OVA, so there's a lot of thing to know about on what happens after the events in the OVA. That would somehow tell that in order to appreciate the essence of the TV series, you have to see the OVA first... but the TV series can be independent by itself, it's just the character relationship would be much obvious and clear if you've seen the 3 part OVA. This is a more dramatic approach rather than action packed series, but you'll have both pleasures like in the 3-part series, so it's likely you'll enjoy it.

Created under the production of Aniplex, J.C. Staff, and Studio Orfe, with the astonishing music of Taku Iwasaki that ressembles of a 007's type of orchestration with the modern beat, delivered a 26 part masterpiece to the small screen in 2003.

Posted by Bibingkimiming at Wednesday, September 06, 2006 | Permalink | Comments

Yes, I saw it yesterday.... you'll have my comments soon!! *muehehehehe*

Posted by Gisele at Tuesday, September 05, 2006 | Permalink | Comments