Space Dandy

(This image is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Dandy)

I enjoy watching Space Dandy on Cartoon Network's Toonami. I have to admit, it isn't the best Anime show I have seen by far, as there have been plenty of Anime that I have seen that have made me laugh harder. Also, plenty of Anime shows have similar mixes of really good and sub par animation. However, this show definitely beats out Bleach as that series has been going downhill for quite some time now, Naruto at times when the series just drags on, and even One Piece as that series doesn't appear to be ending for another century!

This series has no consistent plot as it is mainly a parody series that makes fun of various topics. Once in a while it may have a certain new idea that might not have been seen in other science fiction shows, but for the most part, it is all for comedy. My favorite episodes are the zombie one, and the race one. Both of those episodes contain some of the best jokes by far in the series.

My biggest surprise about this show is that it premieres here in the USA in English dubbing before it does in Japan in it's native language. I find that superbly awesome! This could mean that the animation studios in Japan are realizing how popular Anime has become to the rest of the world, especially here in America and they are trying to branch out even more. This could be the beginning of a lot of interesting advancements for Anime in general as well as other media!

In a World

I hadn't heard of this movie until my friends brought it up to me after we tried to get together to see the movie "Museum Hours," which I was unsure about seeing. So when they told me they wanted to see this movie, I decided to watch the trailer. I thought the trailer was funny, so I was hyped up to see "In a World."

This movie is pretty much about a woman who is trying to get into the business of narrating for movie trailers. It has at least three of the actors and actresses from the live action show on Cartoon Network "Children's Hospital." Demetri Martin is also in this movie and I really loved his stand up performances.

This movie was funny, not nearly as funny as other comedies I have seen, but it had some cute humor. This movie did also have some good drama, and it had some realistic aspects within it like how certain characters treat each other and why certain things in life play out the way they do.

Squid Girl

(This image is from http://www.watchcartoononline.com/squid-girl-episode-10-english-dubbed)

I just finished watching Squid Girl, this 12 episode Anime on Netflix within the span of a few days. It was that good! I heard of the series as a good recommendation at a panel from an Anime convention, but I just didn't remember to look the series up. I decided to watch the first episode and I am glad I did! I know this series is new to Netflix because I have flipped through numerous Anime shows on Netflix and didn't see this until it popped up in my recommended section. I'm also surprised that Netflix now has access to episodes of cartoons from Cartoon Network like Samurai Jack, Batman Beyond, The Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Robot Chicken, Dextar's Laboratory, The Powerpuff Girls, Ed, Edd, & Eddy, and so many more!

This is a comedy series about a squid-girl from the sea who comes up onto dry land in order to invade the world of man for polluting her home. Among the numerous crazy things that happen, she ends up getting forced to work at a food stand at a beach in Japan.

There are some common anime themes that are used in this series, but it brings a lot of new, good humor with really good quality animation. The characters are all unique and funny to watch as they interact. It reminds me of another Anime Comedy called My Bride is a Mermaid. I highly recommend both of these series to others!

Robot Chicken

I find Seth Green's, Matthew Senreich's,  Douglas Goldstein's, and  Tom Root's Robot Chicken to be one of the most hilarious animated shows I have ever seen. My friends and I have often made funny references to memorable clips from certain episodes. Adult Swim should have more cartoon shows like this, instead of repeats of Family Guy and American Dad, as well as cartoon shows with horrible animation and unfunny jokes. Even the live action shows are really bad.

It is a stop motion animation show that is about to begin it's sixth season on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Each episode is less than 15 minutes long, but there is a lot of good quality humor in there. In fact, I think Robot Chicken has remained strong while Family Guy is getting progressively worse. Honestly, Family Guy was best before it had to be brought back onto the air, and as time went on the jokes became less funny, in tune with the story, and some jokes just dragged on for way too long. I think it might have to do with the fact that Seth MacFarlane trying to work on three different shows, and other projects including making guest appearances on Seth Green's show! Robot Chicken is what Family Guy wants to be, a viarity show of random jokes in completely unpredictable cercumstances.

Toonami Returns

(This image is from http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/adult-swims-toonami-releases-new-lineup/)

I had heard that Toonami, the Anime section of Cartoon Network, has been brought via requests by the nostalgic fans. I know I grew up with some Toonami. It introduced me to Ruroni Kenshin, Yu Yu Hakusho, Zoids, and numerous other cartoon shows both American and Japanese that were awesome. This time around, Toonami is on Saturday nights instead of weekdays. I think this is much better, because after school on weekdays Toonami could only show shows after they had been censored for a younger audience. Now they are only censored to a degree where adults can view it with blood and some foul language. Honestly, it helps most of the themes of Anime shows out there not to be censored.

I know Bleach is still being shown on Saturday nights, but I don't care as much for that series anymore. Many fans have been abandoning the manga and the show due to the inconsistent plot, the repetition of certain plot points, and how only certain characters develop while others are completely forgotten. This is an example for me what not to do with my own story.

(This image is from toonzone.net)

One of the new shows they began showing on Toonami is called "Deadman Wonderland." I was surprised at how much blood, violence, and censored swearing this show had with just the first episode. Even with all of those questionable points, it still seems like an interesting story. A young boy being framed for killing all of his classmates and he is sent to this very questionable juvenile prison called "Deadman Wonderland."

(This image is from hulu.com)

There was this show called "Casshern Sins" that was on a little bit too late for me to stay up because I had work the next day, but I have began to watch it on Netflix. It is a very interesting show of a mysterious robot who is responsible for the apocalypse for all robots, and he is constantly being targeted by robots. Casshern doesn't remember anything though, which is a common theme for many Anime protagonists. This show appears interesting because it has excellent fight scenes and some interesting themes, like robots who used to live forever suddenly being faced with immanent, unavoidable death. It makes me think.

There are other Anime being shown on Toonami now, but some of them are just repeated series.