‘sup Manga hounds? The weather may not have been scorching yet, but the August anime releases are so hot they’ll melt your DVD player into a plastic puddle and blow the cathode ray tubes out of your telly and into next door’s garden. Makina is back to whup undead ass in Part 2 of Shikabane Hime, there’s more saucy vamp action in Vol. 4 of Vampire Knight and there’s more boobs than the corner shop’s top shelf in Sekirei. Joining that party is one hell of a Butler, an all-girl High School rock band and even a motherflippin’ zombie outbreak! This shiz just got real.

Shikabane Hime: Corpse Princess – Part 2

What’s it all about?

Shikabane are big monsters that were once people. They come about if a person dies with intense regret. They suck. Shikabane Hime are Shikabane who kill Shikabane. They do this because if they can rack up a body count of 108 they can go to heaven. They don’t suck, They wear short skirts. They also have partners, Contract Monks, who can fix them up post-battle with a big cuddle.

Makina is our lead Shikabane Hime. She enjoys giving the Shikabane a high velocity, double lead injection from twin MAC-11’s. She’s all conflicted and shit because her last Contract Monk bit the dust and his little bro is gunning for the position.

Is it any good?

It’s alright, but I preferred Part 1. Simpler times. Less characters. More focus. Every show grows larger and more complex as it goes on, but this feels like we’re moving too fast. Plus, Makina is no longer a mysterious and aloof, purple haired angel of vengeance with machine guns. Now, though the aubergine hair and firearms remain, the mystery is gone and replaced with lots of hastily introduced characters that mean nothing to me.

Sum me up, in star form.

2½ stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English 5.1 or Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

There is a commentary on one ep and textless versions of the opening and closing title sequences, with their pretty, pretty songs.

When’s it out?

Makina has her sights set on a 1st of August release.


Vampire Knight Guilty – Volume 4

What’s it all about?

The Cross Academy is split in two halves: the blood sucky, vampy Night Class and the soft, screamy, yummy Day Class. There are guardians to ensure everyone keeps their chompers to themselves. Yuki is a Guardian and the Head’s daughter. She’s also a vampire fancier.

Volume 4 sees things at the bloodletting boarding school plod along as before, while throwing a handful of possession and Pocky into the mix. Pocky is good, Vampire Knight has gotten stale.

Is it any good?

Is this still going? People can’t get enough of the emo vamps I guess. Though I was initially sucked in by the first few volumes, I’ve had my fangful now. VPKG is just treading water now, content to drag things out as long as this particular miserable nosferatu sub-genre remains popular – someone fly Buffy to the Cross Academy.

Sum me up, in star form.

2 stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English 5.1 or Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

Blah.

When’s it out?

Volume 4 of Vampire Knight Guilty will be neck nibbling all and sundry from the 8th of August.


Sekirei: The Complete Series

What’s it all about?

Poor Minato is having a bit of a rough patch: he can’t pass the college entrance exam and he’s about to be turfed out by an ‘orrible landlord. Prepare to instantly not feel sorry for him anymore though, as the impossibly boobed Sekirei girls are about to hurtle into his life.

Sekirei are very buxom young ladies who must battle amongst themselves until their clothes have fallen off and only one of them remains. Basically, it’s Highlander with big tits.

Is it any good?

It’s topless girls fighting so yep, it has a certain charm. Whereas Master of Martial Hearts did the same thing but made me feel dirty after a few episodes, Sekirei is so blatant, happy, fun and ironically innocent for a tit-acular show that you can’t help but smile as Musubi’s top gets shredded once again.

Sum me up, in star form.

3½ stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English 5.1 or Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

The bog standard textless opening and closing title sequences and a mini, extra episode: Kusano’s First Shopping Trip.

When’s it out?

The bouncy, battling babes will be providing a right eyeful from the 15th of August.


Black Butler Series 1 – Part 1

What’s it all about?

Ciel Phantomhive appears to have it all: a vast fortune, a massive manor, an eye patch and one hell of a Butler – Sebastian. It’s not all roses, jazz fusion and Toblerone’s though, Ciel’s folks were painfully offed and he got the hell tortured out of him. Little Lord Phantomhive sold his soul to a demon for a chance at sweet, cold wevenge. Turns out that demon is Sebastian the Super Butler: he cooks, cleans, keeps the rest of Ciel’s motley servants in check, dances, performs magic shows and even catches Jack The Ripper! To quote the man himself, he really is “simply one hell of a Butler”.

Is it any good?

VERY good. Black Butler is dark, funny and exciting and I can’t wait for, or recommend it, more. Sebastian is a suave sophisticated motherfunker and one of those perfect characters that is a pure privilege to spend time with. Seeing London town anime-d is a treat too. Buy Black Butler and stock up on Battenberg and PG Tips – it’s going to make you desperate for cake and tea.

Sum me up, in star form.

4 stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English 5.1 or Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

There are commentaries for episodes 1 and 7, a bonus episode, a musician profile on Becca and yes, of course, textless opening and closing sequences.

When’s it out?

Black Butler Series 1 – Part 1 will be serving tea and chucking the silverware around as of the 15th of August.

K-ON! Volume 1

What’s it all about?

It’s Yui’s first day of High School and she needs to decide what club to join. Inundated with invites she picks the Light Music Club and starts a band with Mio, Ritsu and Mugi. Together they practise, study and get through a lot of tea and cake (bit of a theme this month).

Initially as dumb as bricks, by the end Yui has got some manky licks and together the girls are ready to rock their school’s pants off.

Is it any good?

It’s too short! Four episodes did, in no way, cut it and it ended just as the girls were getting good! It’s still great fun and though I was preparing myself for an animated Glee – I was pleasantly surprised. And relieved. The girls have some good J-Rock/Pop in their lockers and I hope we get to see them reach Budokan.

Sum me up, in star form.

4 stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English stereo or Japanese stereo with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

There’s a short and sweet interview with Stephanie Sheh, the voice of Yui.

When’s it out?

K-ON! Volume 1 will be soft rock-ing into stores as of the 29th of August.


High School of the Dead

What’s it all about?

ZOMBIES. In a High School. A High School luckily populated by high kicking fighters, expert sword swingers, a pink haired genius and a crack shot. Oh, and I hope you like massive knockers and white cotton panties cos you’re in for a lot of ‘em.

In the midst of a regular school day, a sudden zombie attack cramps everyone’s style. That is for a small band of students and a school nurse with so much T & A that they have their own sound effects. Our plucky band take to decap-ing deadheads like ducks to brains filled water and are soon cruising town in a Hummer, rescuing survivors and generally being badass zombie annihilators.

Is it any good?

It’s great. I haven’t seen anything zombie related with this much energy, enthusiasm and gusto for a long time. For the most part, played straight, things get a little fantastical in some of the zombie battles, but you’re left shouting YEAHHH! Not going “ugh, that’s so unrealistic”. The visuals are purdy, epic in scope and some of the shots are very flash indeed. I was lucky enough to get the Blu-Ray for this one and those show-y off-y shots look lush in Blu.

Sum me up, in star form.

4 stars out of 5

What are my audio and subtitle options?

English 5.1 DTS HD Master or Japanese 2.0 DTS HD Master with English subtitles.

Any bonus materials?

Textless opening and closing title sequences, some Blu-Ray trailers and DVD Credits – Hey! They’re not “bonus material”! Blimmin’ cheek.

When’s it out?

High School of the Dead will be shaking its fun bags and walloping out zombie brains on the 29th of August.

Wow, that was praps the best month yet for the ol’ AAA. What a lot of lovely anime, gawd bless the Manga folk and Farhana at The Associates! Next month’s bits have already started rolling in and we could be in for another peach. September already promises CG space shenanigans, from the makers of Appleseed, in 2001 Nights; more XAM’D (maybe it’ll grow on me) and another dose of skinny-emo-ninja stuffs in part 2 of Nabari No Ou.

It’s nearly home time, but before the bell rings I gotsta tell ya about Hyper Japan. From the 22nd to the 24th, Kensington Olympia was over-run by all things Japanesey. We were lucky enough to be invited along on the Saturday and had a total blast! We saw sushi demos, had a pop at the newest games from Nintendo and Namco Bandai, were staggered by an insane amount of brill cosplay, bought collectibles from the beautiful Square Enix folk, made lots of new friends, ate amazing udon, drank free sake and even witnessed an hilarious wasabi pea eating competition! Big, big thanks and love to the Main Stage’s host, Gil Kolirin, for the ticket and hugs to the peeps from Namco Bandai, Square Enix and Third Window. If you went too, wasn’t it aces? If you didn’t – don’t you dare miss it next year!

Also, thanks to the Annex’s new friends at Namco Bandai, I got to go to a fisticuffs-tastic screening of Tekken: Blood Vengeance 3D. It’s going to be released in a bundle called Tekken Hybrid in November. As well as the movie, the bundle will contain the original Tekken Tag Tournament, polished to HD, and the brand spanking new Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Prologue. I’ll review it for you closer to the time, but for the meantime: it looked terrific and the 3D kicked me right in the eyes. A lot.

If you see any of this month’s titles or have any recommendations, then don’t be shy and go ahead and make a dent in the comments section. If you wanna play catch up then here’s links to the previous Al’s Anime Annex’s:

Al’s Anime Annex – June
Al’s Anime Annex – July