Unquestionably, shrewd thematic decisions propelled 1997’s Titanic to break box office records. Blending star-crossed romance with an ample supply of CGI spectacle, the film appealed to an exceedingly wide demographic. Similarly, director Jun Shishido’s The ...
Read More »Hanasaku Iroha: Blossoms for Tomorrow S1 Review
The last four entries in the NIS America-published Atelier series are a rarity in gaming. While industry pundits plead for less formulaic representations of women, a quartet of female protagonists have quietly squashed stereotypes. Contrasted ...
Read More »Natsume’s Book of Friends Season 3 Review
Much like the tsundere’s transition from cold to cordial, the gradual thaw of social isolation is a familiar theme in Japanese media. Last October, NIS America localized the first two seasons of Natsume’s Book of ...
Read More »Black Rock Shooter: The Game- The Interview
Last week, Black Rock Shooter: The Game on the PlayStation Network, bringing an enticing anime-based property to PSP and PS Vita screens. We had a chance to speak with Chris King of NIS America about ...
Read More »Naruto Powerful Shippuden Review
With story sequences which surpass the twenty-minute mark, the release of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is geared toward stalwart, console-owning, fans of the teenage shinobi. Fortunately, that’s not the case with the knuckle-headed ...
Read More »Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Review
Back in 2008, when Famitsu first announced a collaboration between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, expectations were understandably lofty. Considering the pedigree of both publishing houses- the former delivering acclaimed games such as Jeanne d’Arc as ...
Read More »Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl Review
For decades, extraterrestrials have been used to invigorate the oft-mundane American sitcom. As a variation of the ‘fish out of water’ motif, series such as My Favorite Martian, Mork and Mindy, ALF, and 3rd Rock ...
Read More »Umineko: When They Cry Review
Typically, the verb ‘watch’ implies a passive experience. ‘Watching’ fictionalized television can be a relaxing recreational pursuit, as viewers discern unambiguous character development or follow the trajectory of an oft-linear plot. It’s an ephemeral process ...
Read More »Natsume’s Book of Friends Review
Save for Casper, Harvey Comics’ altruistic apparition, Western depictions of the supernatural are almost always rooted in menace. That isn’t always the case in Japan- where folklore is filled with tales of yōkai- spirit creatures ...
Read More »Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up Review
NIS America aficionados may have noticed a schism between the publisher’s interactive output and their growing library of anime. While their games habitually incorporate capricious scenarios peppered with lascivious situations and a reliable sprinkle of ...
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