Cartoon Sunday: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood Review

How's it going lurkers? You may recall from last Sunday, I mentioned that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood will be premiering on Adult Swim's Toonami block this October. 

Judging by only watching Season 1: Episode 1 on my own last week, it really doesn't seem like too bad of a series. If anything, I'm quite surprised that JASON DEMARCO, who is running the Toonami block, took such a risk.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is not the stereotypical Shonen Jump Action Anime, that would be aired on either Cartoon Network, or Adult Swim. This is a series that I would've expected to have been aired on Chiller TV, Syfy, IFC, or another cable or satellite channel. 

So far, the only real complaint I have about the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure franchise would be, that the illustrations of the characters look somewhat dated for a 2012 Anime. This Manga franchise debuted in 1987, which could POSSIBLY explain why the characters look like something from the Speed Racer Manga circa 1966. However, the Anime illustrations for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure look MORE modern compared to the Manga illustrations.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Complete Manga Set Vol. 1 (Parts 1-5)

Last weekend, I YouTubed vlogs, which gave summaries about the franchise. This was BEFORE watching episode 1 of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood. 

As I watched Lore In A Minute's animated summary for a better understanding about the characters, it made me laugh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lore In A Minute: "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Phantom Blood" Animated Summary (2016)

So, you are probably wondering what genre(s)/sub-genre(s) is JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood? 

Even though I have only watched Phantom Blood Episode 1, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is considered a Horror, Thriller, and Supernatural Action Adventure Anime.

This series is obviously meant for the male audience, since its target demographic is between Shonen (boys) and Seinen (men).

I don't know as much about JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but I WILL say that only reading summaries about the franchise, both the Anime and Manga are really complex. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure has 8 parts to it in regards to the Manga. This is not including the novel, OVA's, or Anime.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Season 1 only explains the first 2 parts of the series, which include both Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency. 

We still have yet to be given the exact date in October for its Toonami premiere. All we know is that JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is premiering in 2 more months.

Speaking of the first 2 parts of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Season 1 begins with the Phantom Blood Arc, which is set in England 1868. Dario Brando, who is a thief, tries raiding an overturned carriage.

To give a better explanation about episode 1 (since the link for today is English Subtitled), Dario then changes his mind after learning a father (George Joestar) and son (Jonathan Joestar) are still alive.

Rather than raiding the overturned carriage, he rescues them. About 12 years later, Jonathan sets out to become a "gentleman" after becoming of age. This includes fighting for a "woman's honor" (Erina Pendleton).

At the same time, Dario is on his deathbed and forces his son (Dio) to move in with Jonathan and his family, in order to fulfill George Joestar's life debt. Dio obeys his father prepared with his OWN hidden agendas.

In other words, Dio Brando moves in with The Joestar Family and social climbs his way to the top, in order to become the next heir to The Joestars.

Dio goes as far as sadistically upstaging Jonathan in performing his "gentlemanly" duties. To bruise Jonathan's ego, Dio becomes a more skillful boxer than him. Making matters worse, Dio SLANDERS Jonathan by spreading lies about him to all of Jonathan's friends.

Adding more insult to injury, Dio stoops as low as poaching Jonathan's childhood love by forcing Erina to kiss him; He steals Erina's first kiss from Jonathan, making her feel extremely violated (as if she had been raped). When Jonathan learns of the news, he flies into a fit of rage. After being punched, Dio's blood is spilled on an ancient Stone Mask. It starts to react. 

Suddenly, George has to interrupt the brawl between Jonathan and Dio. Just when we all thought the situation could NOT get any worse, it DOES!

Watching JoJo's Bizarre Adventure feels more like a Japanese animated soap opera. It will NOT surprise me, if a J-Drama will soon be in the works. 

Not only do I sympathize, but also empathize with Jonathan. Coping with slander really hits close to home for me, especially when it comes to double standards for glorified, lowlife men.

Today's blog has been quite a lengthy review. I hope did not spoil too much for everyone. There is still more that I haven't mentioned for Phantom Blood Episode 1. I tried locating a decent English Dub of this particular episode on YouTube but had no such luck.

Luckily for me, I have watched Episode 1 on another online streaming site dubbed and the characters have British accents. It is probably much better for you to watch JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood in Japanese, before it premieres on Adult Swim's Toonami block in October.

With that being said, here is Phantom Blood Season 1: Episode 1 for today's Cartoon Sunday. 

Click on the following video link:

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Season 1: Episode 1 (2012) [English Subtitles]

Cartoon Sunday: Tenjho Tenge

How's it going lurkers? Imagine if Ikki Tousen wasn't so painful to watch. We're talking LESS panty shots and a decent dialogue and plot without terrible voice acting.

Most Anime fans, who have survived streaming Ikki Tousen, have been scarred for life. Some wanted to jump off burning bridges after watching it. 

If you don't believe me, I DARE you to watch Ikki Tousen! Godspeed to you all! Only the masochists and those, who simply love having their intelligence insulted, enjoyed watching that dumpster fire.

Personally, I would rather be shanked by my gynecologist 10 times than be forced to watch Ikki Tousen EVER again. Even Anime News Network gave it a bad review. 

Listening to the voice acting is torturous. It sounds like those poor voice actors were forced to read their lines. It makes me wonder if they were waterboarded between voice acting scenes. Like I said, Ikki Tousen is horrendous!

Since Adult Swim wants to continue buying previously premiered Anime, it wouldn't hurt to buy Tenjho Tenge. A decade ago, when more cable/satellite networks competed against both Cartoon Network and Adult Swim for Anime ratings, Fuse TV premiered Tenjho Tenge.

Tenjho Tenge is a Seinen Supernatural Martial Arts Action Anime with romance. The 2 high school juvenile deliquents as freshmen, Souichiro Nagi and Bob Makihara are the main characters.

They arrive at Toudou Academy with the intent to dominate the high school with their strength. Little do Souichiro and Bob know that they encountered the Jyuukenbu. 

Jyuukenbu- Toudou Academy's Martial Arts Club. 

The Jyuukenbu consists of Masataka Takayanagi, Maya, and her sister, Aya Natsume.

Aya is a freshman, Masataka is a sophomore, and Maya is a junior. All 3 of them overpower Souichiro and Bob, which I always found hilarious. 

Well, I don't want to spoil the beginning for you. I'll simply let you watch Tenjho Tenge for this week's Cartoon Sunday.

Tenjho Tenge: Episode 1(2004)

Cartoon Sunday: Anna H's Horror Anime Reviews

How's it going lurkers? In addition to sharing Vampire Knight for today's Cartoon Sunday, I will be reviewing some Horror Anime. Are you excited? Horror and Anime fans should be.

Since there are several to review, I will start with Another. Another is a Seinen (Mens) Horror-Mystery Anime based on the Japanese novel, Another.

Koichi Sasakibara is a 15-year-old junior high student whose mother died shortly after his birth. Meanwhile, his father (a business man) traveled abroad to India for a year. This all leads to Koichi being sent to live with his aunt and grandparents in Yomiyama. 

Yomiyama is a small town where his dead mother grew up.

In the process of Koichi moving there, he acquires a serious health problem, which delays him from transferring to his new school and causes him to be hospitalized. Then, Koichi meets this strange girl with an eye-patch named, Mei Misaki.

After Koichi meets Mei, his eerie "class representatives" from his new school, visit him in the hospital. This is just before his first day of school because they wanted to learn more about Koichi's background.

After Koichi is finally released from the hospital, he starts getting strange vibes from his classmates. Mei is sometimes visible in his classroom. Everyone else pretends she doesn't exist because their classroom has been cursed, since 1972. They must follow certain rules around the campus, in order to avoid dying brutal deaths. Those rules actually backfire on everybody both inside and outside Koichi's classroom.

Another has some brutal death tolls. Some Anime critics claim that Another is similar to the movie, Final Destination. 

I cannot support their claims about Final Destination because I've never watched the movie. Koichi's homeroom teacher committing suicide in front of his entire classroom is definitely an unforgettable scene from Another.

Another: Kubodera Sensei Commits Suicide Scene (2012)

As a quick reminder, YouTube is blocking outside viewers from watching certain videos, when they're not removing them due to copyrights. Therefore, if you're at least 18 years old, you can sign into your Gmail and/or YouTube account(s) to watch the scene above. Here's the URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRW3iD7FZPQ

If you like creepy dolls, curses, ghosts, death tolls, and Horror-Mystery, you should definitely give Another a watch. It not only has a novel and an Anime, but also a live-action J-Horror Movie and Manga (Japanese Comic Books).

Next, we have the Shojo (Girls) Psychological Supernatural Horror Mystery Drama Anime, Ghost Hunt. High school freshman, Mai Taniyama and her friends exchange ghost stories. 

While exchanging ghost stories, they are introduced to 17-year-old, Paranormal Researcher/Manager of the Shibuya Psychic Research Center, Kazuya Shibuya.

Kazuya, a few psychic mediums, and exorcists are sent by Mai's high school principal to investigate an allegedly haunted school building. 

During the school's investigation, a dangerous situation occurs, when a bookcase nearly crushes Mai. Kazuya's taciturn assistant, Lin Koujo rescues her.

Lin becomes incapacitated by the falling bookcase and she destroys their expensive camera equipment. Since Lin is incapacitated and Mai destroyed their expensive equipment, Kazuya makes Mai repay her debt by making her work for his company. She later nicknames him "Naru."

"Naru" is Mai's short Japanese nickname for Kazuya being narcissistic.

The "Bloodstained Labyrinth Arc" is Ghost Hunt's scariest arc, which is later in the series. "Bloodstained Labyrinth" lasts for 4 episodes. 

In the arc, Mai starts having nightmares and has first-hand experience with the death of someone from the estate they are investigating.

Ghost Hunt Episodes 18-21: "Bloodstained Labyrinth Arc" (2006)

If you enjoy watching exorcisms, ghosts, psychic mediums, espers, and poltergeists, you'll love Ghost Hunt. The opening theme song even sets the creepy mood.

Similar to Ghost Hunt is Hell Girl. Hell Girl actually has 3 seasons. Only Season 1 aired on IFC years ago. There are 2 other unaired seasons. 

Much like Ghost Hunt, Hell Girl is a Shojo Psychological Supernatural Horror Mystery Drama Anime. However, Hell Girl's main themes are about death, revenge, tragedy, and comeuppance.

During the stroke of midnight, The Hell Girl Correspondence appears online. Avengers posting their grudges on the Hell Girl Correspondence will be visited by the Hell Girl herself, Ai Enma. She offers the person, who wants vengeance, a straw doll and 1 of her 3 companions to help seek vengeance.

Each person seeking vengeance has the option to either accept, or reject. If he/she CHOOSES vengeance, his/her enemy will be sent to hell. The avenger will also have a permanent black crest-shaped mark on his/her chest. The mark symbolizes that he/she will ALSO go to hell, when it is his/her time to die.

Basically, Ai Enma's services come with a double-edged sword. Most people follow through with seeking revenge, regardless.

At the very beginning part of Hell Girl Season 1, the stories seem repetitive. As the season progresses, viewers learn more about Ai Enma's origins and how she became Hell Girl. This doesn't happen until Season 1: Episode 13 "Purgatory Girl."

Hell Girl: "Purgatory Girl" Scenes (2005)

If you're someone like me, who loves revenge, Hell Girl is the franchise to watch.

Besides Hell Girl, there are the Hellsing Ulitmate OVA's. Years ago, Hellsing originally had an Anime series. Then, Japan released the OVA's, which were adapted more to its Manga. 

The Hellsing franchise is a Seinen Biopunk Horror Action Drama. Overall, Hellsing is named after and centered around the Royal Order of Protestant Knights.

The Hellsing Organization was founded by Abraham Van Helsing. It is currently led by his daughter, Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Helsing. 

Sir Integra witnessed her father's death at a young age. Van Helsing's death hardened Sir Integra and turned her into a lethal force to be reckoned with. Integra is protected by her family's former "trashman" now turned butler, Walter C. Dornez and Alucard.

Alucard is the original and most powerful vampire. He swore his loyalty to The Helsings, after Van Helsing defeated him.

The Hellsing Organization's main objective is to secretly search and destroy "the undead" and other evil supernatural forces, that are threats to the queen and England. In addition, there's Seras Victoria a.k.a. "Police Girl." 

Seras Victoria is a former police woman now turned so-called "Draculina." She was originally sent on a vampire mission with her squad. The mission soon becomes more than what she bargained for. It results in "Police Girl" being taken hostage by a vampire priest, who controls zombies. Alucard shoots through Seras Victoria, in order to kill the vampire priest. 

Then, Alucard gives her the choice to die or become a vampire. She chooses vampirism, which leads to Alucard becoming her master. 

Now, Seras must drink blood like a regular vampire and go on missions with The Hellsing Organization.

Hellsing Ultimate: Seras Victoria's 1st Hellsing Operative Mission Scene (2006)

 

 

 

 

 

Because YouTube keeps removing the Hellsing Ultimate clip of Seras Victoria sniping the ghoul named Jessica, the preceding image above is from that exact scene. The fact that YouTubers keep inserting Justin Bieber in this scene is highly obnoxious.

Creeping down the stretch, there is the Shounen (Boys) Supernatural Horror-Mystery Anime, Shiki. Shiki (literally translated in English as "corpse demon" or "death spirit") takes place in Sotobamura, Japan, during the summer of the 1990's.

Sotobamura is an isolated Japanese village with old customs such as the burial of the dead, for example.

Throughout the summer, 3 corpses are mysteriously found and villagers start dropping like flies. Everyone, including Dr. Ozaki Toshio, assume there's a growing epidemic in Sotobamura.

All the while, The Kirishikis conveniently move into the long abandoned Kanemasa Mansion on the outskirts. 

As more villagers die throughout the summer, Dr. Ozaki Toshio starts investigating and discovers the supernatural presence of vampires.

The vampires are referred to as "shiki" and they return from the dead, infecting the entire town.

I watched Shiki 2 summers ago. As I watched each episode, there were times I became frustrated because the main characters kept dying. 

When it comes to Megumi Shimizu, that character was and still is the most sickening character in Shiki.  

She was a snob, who was OBSESSED with Natsuno Yuuki so much so, that she stalked him. Even after Megumi died from anemia and was revived as a shiki, I am willing to believe that most Shiki viewers rejoiced, when she officially died. I know I did.

Shiki: Megumi Shimizu's Brutal & Well Deserved Death (2010)

Tokko is another Seinen Horror Action Anime. The gif above is a scence from Tokko. This has more of a supernatural, police procedural theme to it. 

In Tokko, Ranmaru Shindou graduates from the police academy and is assigned to Tokki. 

Tokki is a Special Mobile Investigation Force. 

On the same day of Ranmaru's graduation, he meets this half-naked girl, who he constantly sees in his dreams, named Sakura Rokujo. Sakura happens to work for Tokko.

Tokko is the Special Public Safety Task Force, which is secretly within Tokki.

Eventually, Ranmaru joins Tokko mostly to avenge the death of his parents and to solve the mass murder mysteries for Machida, Japan's residents. Because Tokko is a short series, the story has a faster pace. The following is a clip of the opening scene for Tokko's 2nd episode.

Tokko: 2nd Episode Opening Scene (2006)

If you enjoy watching Japanese demons and strange creatures with a blood lust being slayed, you should definitely give Tokko a watch.

Last but not least is Vampire Knight. This is a Shojo Supernatural Action Romance Bishounen (Pretty Boy) Vampire Anime with a high school theme.

Even though Vampire Knight really is not scary, it heavily revolves around tragedy. The series can be somewhat considered Horror because it has the elements. It is mostly meant for the female audience, since it is a Shojo Anime.

Ghost Hunt and Hell Girl are both Shojo Horror Anime except they have more Horror elements to them than Vampire Knight. 

In other words, Vampire Knight is more feminine with dark and tragic overtones. Anyway, Cross Academy has both Day and Night Classes. The Day Classes are for humans and the Night Classes are for the vampires. 

Cross Academy's headmaster (Kaien Cross) created the academy for both humans and vampires to "peacefully coexist." At the same time, they are still segregated on campus.

You are probably asking yourselves, "Okay what's the point? That sounds rather contradictory."

In a way, it is contradictory, not to mention delusional. 

I believe Kaein Cross built Cross Academy for his foster daughter/campus guardian, Yuki Cross and her childhood/campus guardian friend, Zero Kiryu.

Vampire Knight begins with Yuki remembering that stormy winter night, when she was nearly attacked by a Level E Vampire. Instead, she was rescued by Kaname Kuran.

Kaname Kuran is a Pureblood Vampire/Moon Dorm President/Vampire Society King. These are only naming a few titles he possesses in Vampire Knight. Out of respect for potential fans, I won't spoil everything about Kaname Kuran. 

Kaname, Yuki, and Zero are the main characters with a love triangle.

Rather than sharing clips of the Vampire Knight series, I am sharing the links below to its pilot episode. You can watch Vampire Knight on Crunchyroll either in Japanese, or English.

While watching it, you will quickly learn about Zero's self-hatred and his hatred toward vampires. This includes his seething jealousy towards Kaname.

Vampire Knight Season 1: Episode 1 (2008) [English Subtitles]

Vampire Knight Season 1: Episode 1 (2008) [English Dub]