Anime Review: Btooom!

BTOOOM!  That's the sound a bomb makes apparently and that also happens to be what this anime is about.  Ryouta Sakamoto is one of the top players in the world at an online game called "Btooom."  In this game, players fight against one another using nothing but different types of bombs.  One day Ryouta finds himself waking up on a remote island completely uninhabited by other people, or so he thought.

Ryouta soon finds out that he has been placed on an island with several other people and the only way for them to leave is to kill seven other people and take their chips.  So think Hunger Games or Mirai Nikki, but with bombs instead of Future Diaries.

Despite Btooom being yet another Battle Royale ripoff, it manages to entertain plenty.  It has a darker animation style than most other anime out nowadays and has an overall feel that's slightly reminiscent of Death Note.  It also has an opening theme that's catchy as hell.  None of the other music is very memorable though.

I don't have too much else to say about this anime.  I really liked it, and if you like anime like Mirai Nikki or Death Note chances are you'll probably enjoy it as well.  I give Btooom! a 9/10.

Anime Review: Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!

Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai, loosely translated as "Regardless of My Adolescent Delusions of Grandeur, I Want a Date!" is about... well, the title sort of says it all.  The main character, Yuuta, acted like a total geek when he was in middle school, waving around fake swords and calling himself the Dark Flame Master.  Now he has enrolled in high school leaving his childish ways behind him, or so he thought.

Upon entering high school Yuuta meets a girl named Rikka who claims she wields the "Tyrant's Eye," and is on a quest to find the "Unseen Horizon."  As the two form a club and begin to grow closer, Yuuta slowly finds himself reverting back to his old ways. 

The story, while it may sound silly, actually gets pretty serious near the end of the series, for better or for worse.  I thought the ending played out magnificently and that they wrapped everything up very nicely.  For the ending alone I would give this anime a great score.

The animation of this anime was outstanding, perhaps even another level beyond Kyoto Animation's other titles.  The moments taking place inside Rikka's imagination were especially well animated, showing off what Kyoani could do if they ever decide to adapt an action-oriented anime.

While the opening and ending themes were nothing special, the background music was very fitting and really engages the viewer in the characters' emotions, particularly in the last few episodes where feelings are at their strongest.

The characters in Chuunibyou, while not necessarily the most creative, were all very likable.  Everyone has their own individual personality that helps add to the story and make the entire series a very enjoyable experience.  I give Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai a 9/10.