SSSS Gridman Ep 2: It's always the Nice Ones!

Hi everyone! Let's continue the second episode of Gridman!

Yuta, Utsumi and Rika asked their classmates about yesterday's battle. But no one seemed to remember anything. Worse still, the trio noticed some of their classmates are missing and the remaining classmates does not remember having such classmates!

Look like Akane is a big fan of monsters from the Ultra Series...

Later Akane overheard Yuta mentioned Gridman and seem interested. She bumped to her homeroom teacher who didn't apologise to her. It was later revealed that Akane is the monster maker and is in cahoots with the Big Bad-Alexis.

The trio went to Rika's cafe and the man in black appeared who introduced himself as Samurai Calibur. He optimize Junk and Gridman was now able to communicate with everyone from the monitor.

The trio decided to find out more about the missing classmates and went to their homes. They were shocked to find their classmates were dead since middle school which freaked Rika since she interacted with them yesterday.

Rika also seemed to have issues with Yuta which Samurai Calibur told her she need to make the first move to communicate. Akane then created a new monster and planned to murder her homeroom teacher with it.

Clearly, this is from Ultraman but then Gridman did the same thing whenever he transform in the original series and it was Awesome!

The monster appeared and tried to kill the teacher. Yuta asked Gridman to aid him and he was given his henshin device-The Primal Acceptor and Yuta called out "Access Flash" to become Gridman (In Full power and primary colors!)

Gridman tried to finish off the monster with Gridbeam but Akane has countered it with a reflector that damaged Gridman. Rika asked Samurai Calibur to help Gridman and he too entered the monitor and become a giant sword for Gridman.

Gridman finished off the monster with the finisher-Grid End and saved the city. Although everything went back to normal, Yuta has doubts if defeating the monster will make any difference...

We got a reveal pretty early that Akane is the monster maker and it now make sense why she is in cahoots with Alexis. Akane is really a total psycho. Remember in the first episode that her offering of bread to Yuta was ruined by the volleyball players playing in the room and they were apparently killed by the monster's blasts?

It make perfectly sense that Akane want revenge on the girls and in this episode, she went way overkill trying to murder her teacher after he failed to apologise to her.

It also pay homage to the original live action series and Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad where the human villains-Takeshi and Malcom (respectively) were bullied at school and created monsters to take revenge against society.

We also learn more that Gridman and Samurai Calibur are allies and they have yet to explain further to Yuta and his friends the real threat in the city. Furthermore, no one has yet to explain why everything was back to status quo after a big monster battle. It is also creepy that the volleyball players were already dead long before and the trio were interacting them a day before. (This is going into X-Files territory. But then, Ultraman Nexus also did something similar with the whole cover-up matter)

Of course, Gridman was in full strength which explained why he has running in purple stripes in the last episode. But this episode looked similar to the live action series where Gridman used a sword and shield to defeat a similar monster. Only this time, Samurai Calibur is the sword itself and it is pretty bad-ass for the finisher!

Looking at the intro, we can tell that the remaining men in black will become weapons for Gridman in future episodes and one of them look similar to Akane. The outro also showed Rika and Akane in middle school uniform which might have some deep meaning between the two of them.

Overall, a great second episode! What will happen next as Akane will try to probe more about Gridman and what secrets does this world and Gridman have in common? Until then, see you in the next post!

SSSS.Gridman Ep 1 Review: Old Computers are Scary!

Hi everyone! After watching the first episode of SSSS.Gridman, I am pretty interested what will happen next, so this is my review of the first episode!

It started off with Hibiki Yuta who woke up in his classmate, Rikka's home and he has no idea how he got here and worse still, has amnesia. Yuta heard a voice calling out in an old computer in Rikka's home and a robot like humanoid spoke to Yuta introducing himself as Hyper Agent Gridman and Yuta has a mission to fulfill.

Rikka thought that Yuta is imagining things and even took him to the hospital. Along the way, Yuta claimed a giant Kaiju is in the sky which again, only he is able to see it. Although Rikka was not hostile to him, we could tell that her and Yuta has some issues before his memory loss.

The next day, Yuta met his supposely friend, Utsumi and accompanied him to school. Although regular school hijinks occured like the popular girl in class, Akane offered him her hot dog bun which was squished by the sport girl, Tonkawa. Meanwhile, a mysterious person was creating a statue and a sinister figure was taunting in a monitor.

Yuta and Utsumi went to Rikka's home and after showing the old computer (known as Junk), Gridman appeared and told Yuta the "danger" has appeared. Indeed, a Kaiju appeared and started wrecking the city.

Yuta asked Gridman what can he do and he was pulled into the monitor. Suddenly Gridman appeared in the real world and started battling the Kaiju. Utsumi and Rikka could hear Yuta's voice from Junk and realised that Yuta has become Gridman.

Gridman was losing energy and they could see the school is on fire. Rikka tried to communicate with Yuta/Gridman by typing in the keyboard and Gridman regained his strength. Utsumi suggested that the Kaiju's neck might be his weakness and Gridman decapitate the head.

Gridman then finish off the Kaiju with his special attack-Grid Beam. Yuta returned back as Utsumi was fanboying while Rikka was overwhelmed what has happened. As Yuta and Utsumi returned home, a mysterious man in black was watching the burning school.

The next day, the three of them found out that the school was reverted back to normal...

What I think of the first episode? It started off a bit slow like a regular slice of life show but it kinda of set the tone of what is about to come. The first half is basically introducing the characters and how their lives are peaceful although Yuta noticed something was wrong after his memory loss.

Everyone around him thought that Yuta was crazy but didn't avoid him and tried to help him. But when the Kaiju appeared, the three teens realised their world got turned upside down! There is still some questions left in the first episode like who is the Kaiju maker and the supposedly big bad-Alexis Kerib who gave life to the Kaiju. (Although in the original is Kahn Digifer aka Kilokahn)

Why does Rikka has an old computer that looked similar to the original JUNK computer from the live action series? The mysterious man in black which only Yuta could see and was at the site of the burning school. (Why did Utsumi mentioned the Ultra Series which is a reference to the Ultraman Series? Is he secretly a fanboy of Toku?)

Although instead of battling Kaiju in the digital world like the original series, the battles now take place in the real world which is basically the worst case scenario from the original series and somehow, it does feel like Pacific Rim when the Kaiju appeared to wreck the city.

Even Gridman himself also move like a giant but he was pretty awesome in his debut battle. (Although we will have to wait for Gridman to get his primary colors skin since his current purple skin looked pretty lame)

Overall, the first half was slow paced but once Gridman appeared, it was pretty fun and I can't wait to see more of what happened. (Although did Tonkawa died by the Kaiju's attack when it's projectiles hit the school?) We have to wait another week to see what happen next! If you want me to carry reviewing Gridman, show your support in the blog! Until then, see you in the next post!

Autumn Anime 2018 Preview: Let's Samuraize, Guys!

Hello everyone! This is my preview for the upcoming Autumn anime 2018 which begin this October! (Some of the series synopsis are taken from other sources)

Sword Art Online-Alicization: The third season of the hit virtual game series as the focus returned back to swords and magic for the cast of SAO.

Goblin Slayer: One of the more dark fantasy novel series that caught attention due to it's depiction of hardcore violence and sex. The story is about a man only known as the Goblin Slayer who swore to kill every last goblin on Earth and how you should never underestimate a goblin. (Think Berserk if they are Moe characters but keep the sex and violence in it)

Tokyo Ghoul:re 2nd Season: The next chapter in the horror/action series.

Fairy Tail (2018): The final chapter for the Fairy Tail series.

Toaru Majutsu no Index S3: Join Touma, Index and Misaka in their next adventure where magic and science collide in this new season!

Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken: Another Isekai series where the main character was reincarnated into of all things-a Slime creature?!

Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai: Sakuta Azusagawa saw a beautiful girl in a bunny suit but no one else but him could see her which he found out the girl happened to be his classmate Mai Sakurajima and an unknown phenomenon called "Puberty syndrome" was the cause of it...

Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet: A retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a comedy twist that the setting is between two rival schools that are set on two countries' border and are at the brine of war. Can a pair of lovers-Juliet Percia and Inuzuka Romio who are from different sides get their happy ending or all hell will break loose? (I think the latter)

Ore ga Suki nano wa Imouto dakedo Imouto ja Nai: Suzuka Nagami is a beautiful third-year middle school student and wrote a novel about a little sister who dotes on her older brother. The novel wins a light novel award. Her brother, Yuu now has to cover Suzuka by pretending to be the one who wrote the novel instead...

Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara: Hitomi Tsukishiro is a 17-year-old descendant of a witch family who grew up with stale emotions as she lost her sense of color at a very young age. Feeling sorry for her granddaughter's future, her grandmother Kohaku sends Hitomi to the past and meet a young Kohaku in the process...

Golden Kamuy S2: The treasure hunt adventures series set during 1920s Japan continue with Sugimoto and Asirpa as they continue to search for the men whose bodies are tattooed with pieces of a map that lead to a mysterious mountain of gold...

Radiant: Seth is an aspiring sorcerer and is an "infected"- one of the few living beings who survived the contact of the Nemesis-creatures fallen from the sky that contaminate and decimate all those they touch. Seth wants to find the Radiant, their presumed cradle to end the curse...

Ulysses- Jeanne d'Arc to Renkin no Kishi: During the Hundred Years' War, Montmorency immerses himself in the study of magic and alchemy at a school for knights. However, after France's defeat at Agincourt, the school is disbanded and Montmorency is forced to flee. While on the run he meets a miraculous village girl named Jeanne...

FLCL Alternative: One of the 90s classic series returned in modern time!

Conception: Based on the PS Vita game of the same name, Itsuki Yuuge and his cousin, Mahiru were teleported to the world of Granvania that was attacked by monsters. Mahiru also learn she is pregnant with a "Star Children" that is destined to save the land with Itsuki as the father... 

Jojo no Kimyou na Bouken-Ougon no Kaze: The fifth chapter of the Jojo series shifted the focus of the Joestar family to a man named Giorno Giovanna who wanted to be the top mafia gang leader in Italy but Giorno has a dark secret he is unaware of-he is the biological son of the Joestar's greatest enemy-Dio Brando!

Beelzebub-jou no Okinimesu mama: Murin lands his dream job with the demon king he's always held in awe but when his tenure begins, it turns out the demon king isn't quite what he expected...

Ingress the Animation: Makoto had a strange power which enabled him to read the memories of objects he touched and works as a special agent in the police force. One day, while investigating an explosion at a laboratory that researches a unknown substance called “XM”, he sees a mysterious memory. The memory was from Sarah’s ring-a sole survivor of the accident. It was a sight of a person being swallowed into a red light and disappearing which Makoto is now involved in a dark conspiracy...

Tonari no Kyuuketsuki-san: The modern-day vampire comedy centers on high school girl Amano, who was saved from a strange incident by a vampire girl named Sophie Twilight and has been interested in her ever since...

RErideD- Tokigoe no Derrida: Derrida Yvain became famous thanks to his contribution to the development of the "Autonomous Machine DZ" at Rebuild, the manufacturing company founded by his father. But when he was attacked by mysterious men, he was put into cold sleep and woke up 10 years later to find the world is at war by his creation...

Han-Gyaku-sei Million Arthur: Based on the hit mobile game which is about the legend of King Arthur and the various versions of legends but with the same name.

Release the Spyce: The series is about a high school girl named Momo who is secretly a member of Tsukikage, an intelligence agency that protects people.

Uchi no Maid ga Uzasugiru: Misha Takanashi lose her Russian mother recently and moved in with her Japanese Father. Tsubame Kamoi who is an Ex Self‐Defense Force officer, comes to the Takanashi household as a housekeeper not knowing that Tsubame is a lolicon who has eyes on Misha...

Zombieland Saga: With a title like this, it is all about sex, violence and lots of zombies!

Karakuri Circus: Masaru Saiga aims to become a puppeteer and after his father passed away , Masaru inherits 18 billion yen from his father's company. Masaru is now protected by two people- Narumi Kato and Shirogane who have special powers and swore to protect him and his new fortune.

Akanesasu Shoujo: Asuka Tsuchimiya and her friends were trying out an urban legend ritual which went wrong and strange things started to happen to her and her friends...

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Master - Tokyo Youma-hen: After years of waiting, the second chapter of the Senran Kagura series returned with new characters and new ninja actions (Boobs!)

Gakuen Basara: The cast of Sengoku Basara now re imagined in high school hijinks!

Double Decker! Doug & Kirill: Supposedly to be set in the same universe as Tiger and Bunny, so an action series?

Merc Storia- Mukiryoku Shounen to Bin no Naka no Shoujo: Yuu is a healer apprentice and possesses the ability to tame monsters. In a quest to regain the memories of Merc, a girl confined in a bottle, the pair embarks on a journey.

Hinomaru Zumou: One of Japan's most traditional sports is burning up as it tells the story of a small built teen, Ushio Hinomaru who is also nicknamed Onimaru (Devil) in the Sumo world and now aimed to become Yokozuna which is the highest title in Sumo!

Sora to Umi no Aida: In the future, fishes disappear from the sea around the world and only whales live in the ocean. The Onomichi Universe Fishery Union is established and begins to train space fishermen and focused 6 new space fisherman's growth...

Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san: A skeleton named Honda who works in a bookstore and Hilarity ensues daily in his work at the shop's manga counter.

Anima Yell: Kohane Hatoya like to help people and created a cheer leading team in hew new school to help others!

Gyakuten Saiban S2: Second Season of the hit 3DS Attorney game that focus on the third game which Phoenix Wright learn that his former boss, Mia has a dark secret with the mysterious prosecutor, Godot...

Inazuma Eleven- Orion no Kokuin: More high speed soccer action from the hit video game series!

SSSS.Gridman: Yuta Hibiki has amnesia but is able to see strange things that no one else could. When a monster attack the city, a voice from a computer screen called out to Yuta and he was pulled into the screen and become Gridman-protector of cyberspace!

If you saw the title of this post, you know that my most hyped series for this season is Gridman! I remember watching the Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad on TV as a teen and enjoyed the cheesy moments since it tried to emulate the success of Power Rangers. Years later, I did watch the original series, Gridman and it may not be successful as his Ultraman counterpart (Same production) but it has since gained a cult following especially the release of the blu-ray series in Japan.

Seeing that it is more of a reboot of Gridman, I don't mind it as Gridman is more relevant now especially in the current IT world we are living in. It is also interesting to see Tokusatsu other than Garo to take a shot in anime. From the trailer, it looked fine and yes, I am also anticipating the upcoming Ultraman Manga that is going to be aired next year.

If you have been following my blog for some years, you know that one of my earliest posting was the Senran Kagura series and I was hoping for a sequel since the conclusion ended with Homaru and her team becoming runaway shinobi and Asuka hoping for their return. This new series will also introduce the other two new factions that is led by Yumi and her Gessen Ninja team and the newly reformed Hebi Ninja team led by Miyabi.

Golden Kamuy, Index and Phoenix Wright are also shows that I am looking forward. With that, see you in October for the new series!