#11 - Welcome to the N.H.K.

You have only that one life

One more Anime series is finished and another summer is coming to it's end. 

"Welcome to the N.H.K", Welcome to the unfairness of the life.

I really enjoyed this anime and seems like it will end my August anime to-watch list. The rest will be continued in September, I want to have a little break before my first lessons in the University :)

Summary

Aired in 2006, at the same time as the 1st season of "Code Geass", but doesn't have that high-level art as the "Geass" has. The light novel was published in 2004 and the manga series of the same name was published from 2004 to 2007.

Story

A 22-years old hikikomori, NEET and college dropout Tatsuhiro Takimoto has absolutely no life, but he believes that all of this happened to him because of the "N.H.K", "Nihon Hikikomori Kyoukai" - "Japanese Hikikomori Assotiation" - A secret organisation which aims to turn certain people into hikikomori just to get rid of them. Of course, he is one of these "certain" people. His life's been the same for three years and it would have been the same if the girl, Misaki Nakahara, the ex-hikikomori, hadn't offered him her help in psychology. What will this lead to? The answer is in the anime.

P.S. The strangest thing is that I still think Tatsuhiro and Me are alike at least in out behavior. But, fortunately, I have never been socially isolated like he had been.

What's also included?

• Different story-lines and fates: an otaku and an unsuccessful businessman, a financial pyramid participant and a drug-dependent public servant, an orphan and a hikikomori.
• Eroges, aka "Gal-games" and a lot of anime otaku stuff.
• Like in OreImo, many hilarious scenes as well as many dramatic scenes.
• Bittersweet story.

In the end?

A dramatic death just isn't fitting for us

It really is a bittersweet story and the best feeling of it you can get in episodes 23 and 24. The story shows that even though every life is worthless, you shouldn't just throw it off a cliff, you shouldn't let circumstances break you. The story shows that everything is possible and Kami-sama just isn't the one who has the right to decide your own fate. 

Also I hate to admit it, but love can do great things. Sometimes.

P.S. Sorry for the language and some mistakes in the text - it just seems like I'm not in a mood today :(

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If you die, I'll die too.

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The penalty of breaking this agreement is sen man yen / 線万いぇん

#8 - OreImo

Today I've restarted watching OreImo ("Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai!" from the 6th episode, just from where I had dropped it before (In May, as I remember). Still do not remember why I dropped it then, but whatever.

Now I've finished it and just have to say: though I like it, I expected something much better.

Summary

Aired in 2010, it has 16 episodes, it's an anime-version of the same name light novel. It also has the second season aired in 2013 (But I'm just planning to watch it) and English Manga being published by Dark Horse.

Story

The main character, Kirino Kousaka, is a huge fan of.. what do you think? "Little sister eroge games". In other words, a fan of visual novels where the main plot consists of sister, brother and a bit of fanservice+sex (if you didn't mess up with choices in a game, of course). Pretty interesting thing, lol. Anyway, the plot of this anime is based on relations between two siblings: Kirino and Kyosuke, her elder brother. Even though the second season (Looked in Wikipedia for it) has a pretty good ending, things like incest are really practically impossible in this world (We should blame human genetics for it, lol). 

It's a good story, even with love, but ends not as good as it must have ended. It reminds me of ToraDora where the public opinion has a big influence on Taiga's choice in the end. But maybe the fact of having kindred relationship changes it all? Whatever.

What's also included?

• Cuteness of Kirino.
• Cuteness of Ruri (aka Kuroneko, "black cat" ^^).
• Many hilarious scenes as well as many dramatic scenes.
• Hatred, insults, trust, love and friendship. Just remember the order
• Two ends (literally). Just like in damn "Evangelion". I liked the "Happy" one, but they decided to make another ending to continue the series =\ Nevertheless, second one should be good, too. I hope.

In the end?

Unfortunately, I haven't seen the second season, but still this franchise must be at least watched, not to mention light novel, manga and games.

It's not in my "Best anime" list and I will never be there. This series just are good as they are: they do not draw tears from you nor evoke you, but they make you relax, laugh and worry.

「Story : 7/10; Characters: 8/10; Art: 8/10; Sound: 7/10」

#4 - Sengoku Basara Two

I've finished watching "Sengoku Basara Two" anime just several minutes ago. What I have to say? It's a really good damn thing! 

Summary

It was aired in 2010 as a sequel of "Sengoku Basara: Samurai Kings" (The fact is I really didn't know that there was first season while watching the second one *facepalm*). There is also a sequel for the second season - "Sengoku Basara: The Last Party" which I'm planning to watch in Autumn. So far the whole series includes 12+12 episodes +1 OVA + 1 Movie.

Story

It is the age of feudal Japan, the age of internecine wars, samurais and ninjas, as long as great armies and great deaths. 8 main characters, 8 different lives and problems united only by the war for the place of the first Shogun of Japan. Betrayal, hope, self-sacrifice, honor, delight, friendship, love and faith. These are the qualities that can be found in this anime. 

What's also included?

• Very big scale of warfare. More than half of Japan, thousands of warriors, unreal strong main characters and of course violation of all physics rules! 
• Really cute Kasuga-chan. Geez, is that me?
• High-level samurai battles: Blades, fists, anchors, swords, bats and more!
• Sea Fortress, "Fugaku". Worth to be seen in action, believe me. 
• Intrigues, heartlessness', power and devotion are included too.

In the end?

Even though this anime was very predictable for me, it is worth to be seen at least because of not-too-simple relationships line. War can create a lot as well as ruin much more.

「Story : 8/10; Characters: 8/10; Art: 8/10; Sound: 7/10」

Even if the war is over, people must continue to fight