Review: El Cazador de la Bruja (anime)

I've gotten to a point I've almost exhausted all the anime series Netflix has to offer.  I was getting desperate, not sure what to watch. El Cazador de la Bruja's description offered something I was interested but I wasn't sure if it would deliver.  I decided to give it a shot.  It took some times, and a few attempts to get through the first episode.  I managed to watch this whole series in the end and it was a fun trip.

Streetwise bounty hunter Nadie.

El Cazador de la Bruja follows Nadie, a bounty hunter, as she captures Ellis and brings her to her client.  As the series progresses, Nadie and Ellis develop a relationship beyond the expected.  They go from ward and watcher to sisters.  Nadie goes from simply protecting her cash cow into looking out of Ellis' best interest.  As the 26 episode series progress, strangers turn to enemies, who in turn become trusted friends.  Truths are revealed.  Hearts are broken and mended.

Likes -  It took some time but in the end, I came to really enjoy this anime. El Cazador de la Bruja has all the makings to be a repetitive anime series, like Hell Girl, but I never felt like the I was treading ground I had already covered. There was a natural evolution to the story and settings, akin to Gurren Langann, There were times I was a bit lost as to what was going on but I've had that with any good series, anime or otherwise.   I respect a show that goes full force forward and expects the audience to keep up.

Naive bounty Ellis

The big home run with this series were the characters.  Nadie immediately comes off as a caring individual with enough experience to not trust everyone she meets.  Which is in great contrast to Ellis, a young amnesiac devoid of recognizing any social cues.  From the beginning, we know that Nadie looks after Ellis.  A simple observation but has many implications through out the show.  The other characters like Blue Eyes and Ricado are developed naturally and thoughtfully.  Nothing feels forced.  All the characters seem to fall into the place we expect hem too in time.  Seeing each person get there is the real fun of the whole series.

Click here to watch the 1st episode on YouTube!

Dislikes - There isn't anything specific I disliked about this series.  I enjoyed it fully.

Overall - I recommend this series.  It was a lot of fun and definitely an enjoyable ride.  It offers settings and stories unique to anime, offering something fresh to longtime anime fans.  The are plenty of actions and gun battles.  The real enjoyment in this series comes from seeing the characters grow into something you can't help but love.  4.5 out of 5 stars!

Review: Mushi-Shi (anime)

Nothing special regarding how I started watching this series.  Netflix recommended it.  I read the description and figured it was worth the shot.  What a pay off though!

Mushi-Shi is about Mushi Master Ginko, a man who travels the lands, doing what he can to help those afflicted by mushi and trying to get a souvenir when he can.  This series is very episodic, each episode containing a full story.  The full series has no ultimate goal or climax. Instead, we see different people having different troubles.  Ginko tries his best help each one out.

Like - Though I'm not a big fan of series that don't have an ultimate plot, I really enjoyed this one.  The main reason being Ginko was such an unassuming, endearing main character.  He viewed the people afflicted by the mushi and the mushi themselves both as being victims of circumstance.  Ginko is a mix of ghostbuster, MacGuyver, and Doctor Who.  Not one to allow anyone to die, he has to find a solution where everyone, mushi and person, can walk away better off.  The animation itself wasn't anything special but the scenes were very beautiful.  Seeing the world still untouched by modern progress in each episode was really enticing.  The animators were able to create a gorgeous landscape that I had no regrets getting lost in.  The last great piece of the series was the music.  It was more orchestral then other series I've watched previously.  All these elements together create a series that was very mellow but was still very inviting.  Something truly unique.

Dislike - This isn't much of a dislike as much as it is a possible different direction.  It would be nice to see the series go towards a larger climax.  The last episode actually had very little of Ginko, though he still played a big role.  Other then that, I can offer no improvements to this show.

Overall - I really enjoyed this series.  I actually put off watching my normal slew of films of drama and horror so that I could watch the next episode of Mushi-Shi.  It's hard for me to put my finger on it exactly, but I think the characters, specifically Ginko, really drew me in.  I was glad to watch this series and I think you should too.  5 out of 5 stars!