JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Yashahime – Princess Half-Demon

Yashahime – Princess Half-Demon

Studio: Sunrise

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy

Hello my friends.

Now the time has come for me to review…

But first, I must apologise to all of you, my friends, because I tried to finish the Part II of My Own Impressions entry of Inuyasha; unfortunately I had to work last Friday (I thought I didn’t have to, but then some misunderstanding took place), without mentioning that I overslept due to the Daylight Saving Time. The good news is that the first thing I did was to check out the first episode of Yashamine: Princess Half-Demon. And with that still fresh, I’m ready to write.

But firstm the usual questions:

Are you my friends ok? Feeling healthy?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy.

Having said that, let’s go on the review,

PREMISE

Moroha just doesn’t back off!

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD. BE CAREFUL!

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon takes after the events of Inuyasha: The Final Act. Naraku has been defeated, the Shikon Jewel has been destroyed, Kagome decided to stay in Feudal Japan with Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku got married and have offsprings. Even Sesshomaru himself. Two twin daughters – Towa and Setsuna.

At some point, the sisters are separated, and while Setsuna remains in Feudal Japan, Towa enters the Bone Eater’s Well and transports herself to modern era, where she is adopted by the Higurashi family. Now, ten years later, they get reunited, however… Setsuna doesn’t anything about her childhood.

Now both must embark into a new journey to recover the lost memories of Setsuna, along with Moroha, the daughter of Kagome and Inuyasha.

Takahashi-sensei (Rumiko Takahashi) designed the characters, and the studio behind Yashahime is Sunrise, the same one that produced Inuyasha, Inuyasha: The Final Act, and the four movies, something that I am personally grateful about. So no complains, at least not the ones that came from One Punch Man, season 2, and Nanatsu no Taizai: Wrath of the Gods.

Another detail that I really cherished is the return of Kaoru Wada, who also composed the complete soundtrack of Inuyasha.

Finally, Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon will consists in two cours (23-24 episodes).

STORY

Well. Before I start talking about the first episode of Yashamine, I must quote some «trending topic», and that is…

What did you say?

Ok. Hear me out.

I am quoting Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, because one of the biggest criticisms of the movie was the ridiculous and messy use of fanservice to attract the fans at the expense of the story, something I can’t argue with, especially because it «inherited» all the flaws from both Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, especially the worst of all: introducing the classic characters like Han, Leia and Luke in the lousiest, disrespectful way possible, but when Rise of Skywalker was released, it destroyed any trace of subtlety, if there was any.

Anyway, my point is that Yashahime starts introducing Towa Higurashi in Feudal Japan, as a way of tease, and then, the story goes six months after the end of Inuyasha: The Final Act. It takes its time to visually explain what happened to our classic characters, Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Sesshomaru. After all, none of Yashahime will be possible without them, and the new anime focuses in the daughters of Sesshomaru, Moroha and their relationships, so it makes sense to start from the classics, revealing how Towa, Setsuna and Moroha became who they are in the most organic way possible, and finally, giving Inuyasha, Kagome and the others the respect they earned. Not just deserved… earned, with their stories and individual developments.

If something, giving us a satisfying ending to what Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Shippo, Sango and Sesshomaru started before expanding them as characters. Something that Star Wars sequel trilogy FAILED to do. Instead, all of its movies turned Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie and Lando, into generic filler cast.

I am making it sound like Episode 1 is another adventure from Inuyasha and company, and for the most part… It is. Setsuna and Moroha appear almost at the end, but don’t worry, I’ll get there later. Again, Inuyasha and company (including Kohaku) are in their best shapes; as awesome and badass as in Inuyasha and Inuyasha: The Final Act, there are two changes. 1. That Miroku and Sango have a new son, Hisui. 2. Kagome has become stronger and braver. So rest assured that our beloved characters are still great. And now, they must hunt a Root Demon that Kikyo sealed, even before meeting Inuyasha. They win, but… nothing seems what it is.

And the preview of Episode 2 confirms that it will expand what episode 1 started, and answer how Towa and Setsuna got separated.

So again, the story:

1. Respects the identity of Inuyasha and company as characters.
2. Is making a proper transition between one story and the other.
3. Teases us delightfully with our loveable heroines.
4. Gives us some references about Reiwa Era. (Times goes by)

I must confess that one of my favourite elements of any kind of story is a timeskip properly done (i.e. Naruto, Ben 10, Mortal Kombat X, God of War 2018). And this is why I am excited about Yashamine: Princess Half-Demon. Can’t wait until episode 2.

CHARACTERS

Like I said, it is still too soon to start talking about Towa, Setsuna and Moroha, but, for now, I am pretty satisfied with how this new series is developing the classic characters. So, I will talk about the design of the three of them. I think they look really beautiful. Towa has this vibe of modern-era Japan, combined with that awesome, charming onee-chan, if I am correct about her role in the Higurashi family. Setsuna looks like the cool, stoic character that has a lot of potential for the story, and there is plenty of both Inuyasha and Kagome in Moroha. After all…

«The apple never falls far from the tree.»

Takahashi-sensei, from my perspective, is an expert in creating characters, both physically and mentally, especially in Inuyasha, and despite from having a manga… yet, Yashahime has a lot of potential.

I will be for episode 2.

CONCLUSION

There you go! After finally completing the cycle of Sword Art Online: Alicization, it is good to move on and see different proposals, and I believe that Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon worth the attention.

But I am not done yet. I will come back for My Own Impressions of Inuyasha – Part II very soon. And I need to watch Fire Force – season 2, Re:Zero – season 2; Haikyu!!, and The Misfit of the Demon Academy.

I will be pretty busy writing in my blog. So no more Star Wars sequel trilogy. For the fans… Can you forgive for not loving it that much?

I guess not.

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – INUYASHA – MY OWN REFLECTIONS – PART I

Inuyasha

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance

Studio: Sunrise

Hello guys.

Welcome to another entry of my blog. I want to start by posting this image.

Why am I saying this? Because I want to start by doing something very special. Not just a normal anime reviews, but also a really beautiful gem that I have come to love and care with the path of time, or, in other words, I realise that it is more wonderful than you think. And since we are just days from the release of Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon, I consider appropriate to talk about this.

But first, I have a question for you;

Haven’t you seen a TV series, a movie, a cartoon, a song, that you are simply curious about, but then you see that, with the path of the years, has become something more valuable and loved, like a symbol of one of the greatest times of your life?

Sorry for the long question, but you get the idea.

Well… that is exactly what I feel about Inuyasha.

It all started in 2002. I was about to begin college, and then, when I saw Cartoon Network LA, I found a TV series, about a schoolgirl, called Kagome Higurashi, that travelled to Feudal Japan, and found a yokai, a feisty and hotheaded half-dog demon, by the name of Inuyasha, who was pinned in a tree, due to an attempt to steal a very powerful, yet cursed, gem, called the Pearl of Shikon (or Shikon Jewel). Kagome removes the seal and the arrows that hold Inuyasha, immediately forcing her to travel with Inuyasha; luckily for her, Inuyasha has a magical necklace that halts him every time Kagome says «Sit» or «Sit down».

The point is that I really got hooked by Inuyasha, especially because then I learned this fact:

«Inuyasha was created by Rumiko Takahashi.»

Do you which other cult franchise did Takahashi write?

Ranma 1/2

I really loved Ranma 1/2, but I honestly prefer Inuyasha, because the former can be mean-spirited sometimes, and it mostly mixes comedy and romance. But Inuyasha does more, at least from my perspective.

The point is that I started to watch Inuyasha, every single week, and I started to love it more and more, especially after knowing the rest of its wonderful cast, Miroku, Sango, Kirara, Shippo, Sota, Koga.

All right. I know what I will do.

I will start from the top, reviewing the story, the characters, and the premise for this first part; then on Part II, I will continue talking about my experiences about Inuyasha, and the impact that had in my life, because there is a lot to say about this wonderful gem.

But before I continue, I must ask you the question:

Are you guys ok? Feeling healthy?

If the answer is yes, then I am happy. Now, let’s go on the review.

PREMISE

Based on the manga written by Rumiko Takahashi, Inuyasha tells the story of Kagome Higurashi lives in the shrine of the family, with her mother, her grandfather, and her younger brother Sota. One day, while investigating a strange noise on the well of the shrine, Kagome gets dragged by a centipede demon into the feudal Japan; much to her surprise; and after releasing Inuyasha, he continues his journey to steal Shikon Jewel; but suddenly, Kagome shoots an arm against another demon who stole the jewel, shattering it in many pieces. Now both Kagome and Inuyasha must embark in an amazing journey to find all the pieces of Shikon, a journey that will comprise a season of 167 episodes, a sequel called Inuyasha: The Final Act, released between October 2009 and March 2010, and four movies.

Without mentioning amazing characters, but I will get to that later. As I mentioned earlier, all the franchise of Inuyasha combines action, adventure, romance, horror, and suspense, with a great roster of beasts, mythological beings and enemies, all paying a great tribute to this wonderful imagination of Japanese folklore, and the great talent of Rumiko Takahashi, who, from now on, I will call her Takahashi-sensei (My respects); and combining to give us one of the best anime of the 21st century.

And the music is in charge of Kaoru Wada, famous for composing music from amazing anime, such as Saint Seiya; the Lost Canvas, Samurai 7, and Ace Attorney among others.

Furthermore, how can you forget memorable songs, like «Change the World» or «My Will»? In fact, I think that the music of Inuyasha deeply influenced anime like Demon Slayer. Check this out.

This is the first frame of the first Ending «My Will»

And now…

The first frame from the ending of Demon Slayer

There is more vibes of Inuyasha inside Demon Slayer. I will go there later.

STORY

Now. Where to start here?

Overall, Inuyasha starts introducing Kagome and Inuyasha in a smooth and coherent fashion, who are they? What do they want? Which are the stakes? Where to go? Then, it introduces characters like Shippo, Miroku and Sango, giving them a «prologue» in which everyone has a reason, intimate reason, to go with Inuyasha and Kagome, developing an everlasting friendship, and some of the most poignant moments in anime (We are talking about Takahashi-sensei, she is an expert in romance.). Then, we are introduced to very engaging antagonists, like Sesshomaru and Naraku, who, personally, is one of the most diabolical and most complex villains in anime.

Then, every episode has its arc, and a genre that moves the story, sometimes romance, sometimes action, but overall, the driving force of the story is the relationship between Kagome and Inuyasha; but does not mean that Sango, Miroku and Shippo are less important. All of them has their own arc, and all are developed in such an organic and beautiful narrative, leading us to love the characters.

Of course, this does not mean there is not space for comedy, like in Ranma 1/2.

Shippo and Inuyasha are just Gold!!!

But by the end episode 15, you will see Inuyasha as a great story, perhaps not as a classic. To be honest, with almost 180 episodes and four movies, it is hard to choose some favourite episodes, but you don’t have to. This is another strength of the story. With Inuyasha, you can choose from romantic episodes, to action episodes. While Ranma 1/2, from my viewpoint, mostly divides between comedy and status quo, much like The Simpsons, Inuyasha is a more complex franchise.

And I am sure that, by the time Yashahime is released, the mythos will be expanded.

CHARACTERS

But what will be of Inuyasha without its characters? We got all the types: Inuyasha, the half-demon yokai that wants to become a full demon; Kagome, a normal schoolgirl from modern-day Japan that becomes the partner of Inuyasha; Shippo, the kitsune who seeks to avenge his father and becomes a small brother for Kagome; Miroku, our monk with a terrible curse that will destroy him; Sango, the demon slayer who seeks to avenge her family and saves her brother, Kohaku, and her companion Kirara.

And of course, some great antagonists, including Sesshomaru, Inuyasha half-brother, who then turns into something of anti-hero, and Naraku, a very diabolical being with a twisted backstory.

Speaking of Naraku, I think he influenced the main antagonist of Demon Slayer. I will show you.

• 

• 

You see? Definitely Muzan Kibutsuji had a great influence from Naraku.

There are more characters, but I will talk about them in Part II.

CONCLUSION

Like I said, Inuyasha has a very special place in my heart, and I will be talking about this special jewel in the next days.

Stay tuned for Part II.

Until then, a small tease for the future.

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Lord ElMelloi II Case Files – First impressions

Hey Guys, welcome to another anime review. And this time, thanks to the complex, yet wonderful hand of Crunchyroll (Actually, I should have gotten my subscription a long time ago).

Anyways; this time comes to another great entry of Fate franchise, Lord ElMelloi II Case Files, which I just say recently (Duh!!), and now it is my time to get my proper review. But first… I must say…

Wow!!! What a great month, July; so far I have seen many great anime of this summer, I want to mention two in particular – Dr. Stone and Fire Force, from which I already have done my respective reviews. And I am currently watching Vinland Saga as well, finding it  extremely delightful (I am preparing another review). However, I repent watching Netflix’s Knights of the Zodiac (Please pray for me, I am going to Hell).

As you can see, it has been a roller coaster. I still have a lot to do on my bucket list (Thanks a lot KOTZ), and probably won’t make it, however I am very happy to review this amazing new entry of the masterpiece from that studio, called… Type-Moon.

MYSTERY FICTION: THE TWENTIETH BREATH OF LIFE

You know guys… I love Detective Fiction, from the time I can remember. When I was a kid, I heard of this talented writer with a fancy name, called Agatha Christie, and I was aware that she was a mystery writer, then I heard about this fascinating detective, called Hercule Poirot, and one of his most famous stories – Murder on the Orient Express, which I personally enjoyed to the fullest. (I own myself a 2017 movie though). And for years, I wanted to see more about both, but the lack of Internet on my house made this almost impossible.

And then, lo and behold, in 2000, I discovered the truth that converted me into mystery and detective fiction… Hercule Poirot was created by Agatha Christie!! So I couldn’t stop reading this masterpiece from 1934.

And of course, I got also into Sherlock Holmes and Watson, particularly in The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax, loving it and studying literature straight away.

Sorry, I know I am digressing. But I have to talk about this. My point is that Detective Fiction and Mystery Fiction have been two of my hobbies and created a massive impact on me, to the point that I play being a detective (Remember, I said Playing, Not IMPERSONATING), even in the most mundane situations.

And when this entry of the Fate franchise was finally released, I have to watch it, no matter what. It immediately became one of my 2019 resolutions.

Lord ElMelloi II Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note

Based on the light novels, written by Makoto Sanda, and illustrated by Mineji Sakamoto, this anime focuses on Lord El-Melloi II (Waver Velvet from Gen Urobochi’s Fate/Zero ), and his charming apprentice, Gray, as they uncover mysteries involving magic all over London, while El-Melloi keeps an eye to the legacy of his mentor, Kayneth, as a senior professor of the Clock Tower.

This anime takes place ten years after Fate/Zero and two months before Fate/Stay Night.

Story

As of August 3rd, four episodes have been released through Crunchyroll, and each and every one of them involves different mysteries, including lighting, necromancers, and Babylon. The animation is in charge of Troyca (Aldnoah Zero, Bloom into You), which maintains the great style and effort put by Ufotable and A-1 Pictures. In addition, the soundtrack is in charge of the marvellous Yuki Kajiura (I don’t think I can imagine Fate series without her). And the series will be released apparently in two cours (24 episodes).

Personally, I really love the pacing and balance, and I also appreciated that Type-Moon tried a new genre, departing from the epic and action we have seen on the previous entries of the Fate franchise, excluding of course Emiya-san chi no Gohan, ultimately leaving the comfort zone and giving an amazing fresh air. Nonetheless, I recognise that not all the fans will find it that engaging, especially fans from Fate/Zero. Speaking of which, I really love all the references of both Fate/Zero and Fate/Apocrypha, which also makes me wonder.

SPOILER ALERT

YHW NAC HTOB OREZ AND AHPYRCOPA GNOLEB OT EHT EMAS ENILEMIT?

Anyway, I was hooked up by all the mysteries, they add something to the great mythology of Fate, even if it is in the most subtle ways; and even though many Fate fans may not enjoy this type of storytelling, the visuals and the atmosphere would definitely make them feel that this is canonical inside Fate/Stay Night. My only problem has to do with the spoilers previously mentioned.

But at the end, I was ultimately prepared for this change, even before the official release. And this is just the beginning. I am really looking forward to see what’s next on this anime.

If I have to choose a personal favourite episode, that will definitely be Episode One.

Characters

For those who are familiar with both Fate/Zero and Fate/Aprocrypha, will immediately recognize Lord El-Melloi, he is Waver Velvet, but as a real badass lecture. He makes some cameos in Fate/Apocrypha, and personally, he quickly became one of my favourite characters. When I saw him in Fate/Apocrypha, I immediately thought:

«He has become the real deal. The Boss. A super charming badass.»

So you can imagine my surprise when I saw that he kept the same clumsiness from Fate/Zero. But indeed he is one of the most solid characters of the series. The only downside is that those who haven’t seen either Fate/Zero or Fate/Aprocrypha will not finding him interesting enough.

One other characters that I loved is Gray (Yeah. That is her name). At the beginning, she is just a mysterious young girl with a peculiar past, like a more hardcore version of Sakura Matou. From the beginning, I was encourage to know more about her. Ok. She might not look too complex, but I found it beautiful every time she is with Lord El-Melloi. In fact, is through their interactions she develops better. But if you pay attention enough, you will notice an amazing resemblance with another great characters from Fate. (I will leave that to you).

The supporting cast is also great, from Flat to Svin. Flat is the typical comic relief who, surprisingly, I find funny, and Svin is his ultimate foil. Add, on the other hand, is my least favourite one; is not like he is useless. He is not, and he is not that obnoxious. But, so far, Add has not really stand a lot. Finally Reines has a great design, and I am looking forward to see more about her in the future.

To wrap up, we count to the presence of Caules Forvedge Yggmillenia, one of my favourites from Fate/Apocrypha, and Luviagelita Edelfelt, as well as other characters from Fate/Aprocrypha. 

But, again, you better see that yourself.

CONCLUSION

To sum up, Lord ElMelloi II Case Files: Rail Zeppelin Grace Note is another entry of the Fate series worth checking. The mystery genre is pretty engaging, and the characters are simple, yet endearing. Personally I am happy to see an anime like this, because pretty much like Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Fate series has been experimenting with new genres, making their stories more interesting. And that is why Fate overall is so popular.

It may not be in the same quality level as Fate/Zero or Fate/Apocrypha, but it has its own identity, and that is good enough. I am becoming that this series will acquire its own cult following eventually.

See it by yourselves my friends. I promise you will not be disappointed.

And now… Where did I leave my coat and my lenses? Another mystery for me!!!!

 

JAINITUOS ANIME REVIEWS – Dr. Stone Episode One – First Impressions

Hey Guys. Welcome to another entry of Jainituos Anime Reviews.

This time, I am very, very… VERY EXCITED. Why? Well… I finally was able to see the very first episode of Dr. Stone.

Here are my thoughts.

DR. STONE AND ME

Ok. I am not going to lie. When I saw all the new roster of the upcoming anime for this summer, this production is one of those that really hooked me for its premise. In siple words, the fight of a young high school genius, Senku Ishigami, and his best friend, Taiju Ooki, to survive in a «post-apocalyptic» world in which… EVERY… SINGLE… HUMAN BEING… was turned into stone, is one that I can rewatch for hours.

SURVIVING AGAINST ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE CIRCUNSTANCES, just like The Promised Neverland, just like The Rising of the Shield Hero, in a completely hostile, yet original and carefully-created environment; and with a great deal of character development; the battle against despair and hatred. I think many anime fans will remember 2019 with great love (especially if we pretend Virtual-san wa Miteiru does not exist).

Ah! Lobotomy… never there I need it!!!

Any way. Based on the manga written by Riichiro Inagaki (Eyeshield 21), and illustrated by Boichi (Eques, Raqiya), and produced by TMS Entertainment, Senku and Taiju are going to use the power of science to both free humankind for their stone prison, and allow it to inhabit the world once more, with the helps of the adorable, yet powerful Kohaku, and the infamous Tsukasa Shishio.

IMPRESSIONS OF EPISODE ONE (SPOILER ALERT!!!)

The First episode immediately sets the conflict.

«That day, everyone in the world turned into stone.»

Shortly afterwards, we meet Taiju, who tells Senku that he is going to confess his feelings to the girl he was loved for the past five years; Yuzuriha Ogawa; then Senku gives him a «love potion», which Taiju immediately rejects. Turns out that the «potion» is actually gasoline. At to this point. I want to review something very smart that the episode itself does. It established the identity of our characters – Taiju, emotional, determined, shy, and physically strong, and with a very loud voice indeed. And Senku – calm, rational, very smart, and a very paused voice, like someone who really acts on reason rather than impulse. In the first minute of the episode, the characters are perfectly presented, and of course… What a really wacky hairstyle of Senku!! So badass!!

But, be as it may be, I can’t help but think is like chives that turned into Super Saiyayin (Proves that this is an authentic shonen manga).

Then we see Yuzuriha, a sweet, yet assertive young woman. Her design, despite being so simple, is quite original. And just when Taiju is about to confess his feelings, Earth is engulfed with a bright, powerful green light that provokes everyone to become statues.

Afterwards, there is a montage that is basically the answer of what Earth had to suffered after the end of Avengers: Infinity War (Every bit of the plane crashing due to the pilots being stone is freaky), but I do not know what saddens me the most, the dog barking powerlessly, or her owner asking for help as her body is 100% stone. All the sequence finished with Taiju determined to survive self-petrification as millennia pass in a blink of an eye, and what remains of the civilisation finally crumbles.

But then… suddenly… Taiju awakens.

While he tries to figure out what happened, and how many… centuries have passed, the episode shows a flashback in which Taiju finds a bird that apparently became stone. He rushes to the veterinarian office, but is closed. Immediately, Yuzuriha appears, chastising Taiju for being so dense, for not realising that the bird could not be real. Yet… Turns out that she made the same misinterpretation.

It’s a simple scene, but is beautiful. At least I see it like that, because it shows the great chemistry (NO PUN INTENDED) that both Taiju and Yuzuriha can display should they become a couple. Then, after waking up, Taiju finds her, beneath the same camphor tree he intended to confess to her, but that is not the only surprise for him.

There is a message with a familiar style.

«Follow the river downstream, big oaf.»

When he does… He finds Senku, in all his great glory. It is later revealed that Senku has been awaken for the past six months, and that 3,700 years has passed since the event of the green light.

Now it’s up to Taiju, with his strength, and Senku, with his intelligence, to find a cure for the petrification, and a way to rebuild humanity. And thanks to the amazing genius of Senku, there might be a way to cure the petrification.

MY THOUGHTS

Like I mentioned before, the first episode masterfully shows both the conflict of the whole story and the identities of our protagonists, to the point that you want them to succeed. The issue is that, despite the harsh situation they have to face, the tone of  Dr. Stone is what it makes its first episode so entertaining; the optimism and enthusiasm of Taiju is so infectious you cannot stop watching the whole episode; and the well-balanced pace of the story helps you to learn even the most complex scientific explanations.

The calmness and perseverance of Senku makes him immediately so badass; and that is what a great shonen manga does; they expose all the strengths and the weaknesses of the main protagonists, as well as how they persevere to beat all the obstacles, i.e. Fullmetal Alchemist, Shaman King, My Hero Academia. But Dr. Stone is so different. It does not need big special effects, yet, or insanely powerful beings, it just needs to establish a conflict and well-defined protagonists.

In this first episode, Dr. Stone has proven that, sometimes, being simple is the best way to being amazing.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Dr. Stone has given me an amazing impression on its first episode, and definitely I will be not the only one that is getting too excited about this anime. Looking forward to watch all of its 24 episodes.

But is going to be a great adaptation like The Rising of the Shield Hero? Only time… and science will tell.

For now, I will repeat the same words of Dr. Senku Ishigami.

«This is exhilarating!!»