Southbury Anime Club

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:04:13 GMT

The Southbury Library Anime Club can now be found here! Please change either your bookmarks or your RSS feed!

This journal will eventually be closed.

Meeting for September 2nd

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:38:24 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for September 2nd from 5-6pm. We will be watching xxxHolic episodes 1&2. Please make sure to note our new meeting time!

About xxxHolic episodes 1 & 2:

What would you do if you were chased by spirits and ghosts? Kimihiro Watanuki has a had time living like a normal teenager with hungry ghosts following him everywhere. One day he finds himself at the gate of a odd looking shop and not a ghost in sight. The owner of the shop, Yuko Ichihara, and that's an alias for your information, is a witch who can grant wishes if you can meet her price. Is it hitsuzen, the most inevitable of fates, that Watanuki finds the one person who can help him or just a crafty witch who needs some slave labor?

As Watanuki is adjusting to life as Yuko's errand boy, a customer comes into the shop complaining that her pinky finger has become so stiff she can barely move it. But there is no medical explanation for the problem. Yuko offers the customer a ring, telling her it will help but that she needs to find the cause herself and correct the problem.

Movie Marathon!

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:53:12 GMT

Take a break from the heat and join us for an all day affair of anime viewing. Each movie will have a mystery or crime to solve. Pizza and other snacks will be provided.

Case Closed : The Fourteenth Target
Someone is dealing out murder and mayhem one playing card at a time and the deck is stacked against Kogoro Mori! Those around the bumbling detective are on the hidden hit list with nobody safe from the methodical mayhem of an unknown madman. It's a full house of faces from the past and clues from the present but super-sleuth Conan Edogawa might need an ace up his sleeve to uncover the identity of this killer. It's not going to be easy, Conan just makes it look that way! Time is running out for The Fourteenth Target!
Runtime: 95 minutes

Death Note
Ace student Light Yagami finds the Death Note, a notebook intentionally dropped by a rogue "Shinigami" or death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies. Upset with the current justice system, Light takes matters into his own hands and vows to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of all evil, and become the God of the new world. Soon, the number of suspicious deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the International Police Organization. A mysterious detective known only as L quickly learns that the serial killer, nicknamed Kira by the public, is located in Japan. Light realizes that L will be his greatest enemy, and a game of psychological cat and mouse between the two begins.
Runtime:120 Minutes

Gundam Wing : Endless Waltz
With the colonies at peace, tranquility has spread through the Earth. No longer needing their weapons of war; the Gundams are sent into the sun to be destroyed. But a high-ranking government official is kidnapped by a colony with aspirations of total domination! The pilots and their allies find themselves called to action once again. The endless waltz has begun...
Runtime: 86 minutes

Registration required. Limited to 15 teens entering 6th grade and up.

Friday, July 25th, 11-5pm

Next Meeting Details

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:56:57 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for May 13th from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 11 & 12.

About Slayers episodes 11 & 12:

What so the Seyrunn Royal family and bratty sorceresses have in common? A lot more than you think! Gourry and Lina are dragged into a Royal Rumble by Prince Phil and his brother. Don’t forget to add hero wanna-be Amelia, the biggest klutz ever, who demands Lina teach her how to use the Dragon Slave.

DVD Review – xxxHolic vol. 1

Thu, 08 May 2008 22:49:18 GMT

What they say:
Watanuki has been haunted by spirits his entire life; a curse flowing through his bloodline that prevents his peace. When incessant demons dog him to the ornate door of the Dimensional Witch Yuko, he meets a mystical woman of insight and luxury, quick to help those in a bind - for a fee.

To be free of his visions, Watanuki agrees to work in her shop of dreams and visions. Helping Yuko with her customers, Watanuki quickly learns that those looking to fulfill their desires should be wary, for the price may be higher than they ever wanted to pay...

What this Librarian says:
If you’re looking for something that’s just a little creepy, but still capable of making you laugh xxxHolic might be worth a look. Despite having to learn how to care for himself at a fairly young age, Watanuki Kimihiro is for the most part a normal teenage boy. But of course that’s discounting the fact that Watanuki can see spirits, demons and all sorts of supernatural things. And to them Watanuki is the tastiest of snacks. When Watanuki stumbles on Ichihara Yuko and her wish granting shop, he finds that he may be able to end this curse. But Yuko doesn’t offer her services for free, everything has a price and the price for Watanuki’s wish will put the teen in her employ. Right smack in the middle of everything he’s trying to avoid.

Digital Review - BusGamer

Sun, 04 May 2008 19:13:23 GMT

What they say:
When three complete strangers, Mishiba Toki, Nakajyo Nobuto and Saitoh Kazuo, are hired by a corporation to compete in the Bus Game, an illegal dog-fight conducted in strict secrecy, they are given the team code of "Team AAA" (Triple Anonymous). This group of three who differ entirely from their living environments to their personalities have to work together effectively, but without mutually wiping out their mistrust of each other or prying into each other's privacy. They only have one point in common - each of them need a large amount of money for their individual circumstances. To get the money, they must play in the game despite their very own lives being at stake.

What this Librarian says:
BusGamer is sadly short, at only three half-hour episodes, the series is meant as an introduction to the manga of the same name by Saiyuki writer Kazuya Minekura. The series follows three young men; Mishiba Toki, Nakajyo Nobuto, and Saitoh Kazou; who have been invited to participate in the BusGame. BusGame is a game created by corporate power players to ease their boredom where teams are pit against each other in a life or death struggle to protect or steal corporate secrets. The winner of the game potentially could earn millions, the only catch is to live to the end.

The series is only designed to serve as an introduction and plug for the BusGamer manga, especially now that Ms. Minekura has begun working on it again after a long hiatus to concentrate on Saiyuki. So the show ends just as things are starting to get interesting and all the players are finally introduced. This series may not be for everyone, there is a fair amount of violence and the shortness works against the show in this case.

Next Meeting Details

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:24:41 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for April 22nd from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 11 & 12.

About Slayers episodes 11 & 12:

What so the Seyrunn Royal family and bratty sorceresses have in common? A lot more than you think! Gourry and Lina are dragged into a Royal Rumble by Prince Phil and his brother. Don’t forget to add hero wanna-be Amelia, the biggest klutz ever, who demands Lina teach her how to use the Dragon Slave.

Next Meeting Details

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:58:53 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for April 8th from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 11 & 12.

About Slayers episodes 11 & 12:

What so the Seyrunn Royal family and bratty sorceresses have in common? A lot more than you think! Gourry and Lina are dragged into a Royal Rumble by Prince Phil and his brother. Don’t forget to add hero wanna-be Amelia, the biggest klutz ever, who demands Lina teach her how to use the Dragon Slave.

Review - Death Note

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:48:20 GMT

What they say:

Meet Light Yagami, a brilliant but bored high school student whose life is changed when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami, or god of death, named Ryuk. When Light discovers that any human whose name is written in the book dies, he vows to use its power to rid the world of evil. But every action has its consequences, and Light soon finds himself in a life or death battle of wits with the mysterious genius detective called L. Humanity itself becomes the battleground to determine what form of justice will prevail!

What this Librarian says:

Death Note is the mostly brilliant, sometimes painfully slow, story of a serial killer in the making. Light, who’s name sound suspiciously like the English word ‘right’ on the Japanese track, finds a notebook with the words ‘Death Note’ stamped across the cover. Thinking the whole thing is some elaborate prank, he following the directions printed on the inside of the cover, only to find that the notebook is what it says and the people's names he wrote on its pages all die. When the Shinigami who dropped the book comes to check on Light’s progress, Ryuk finds that he’s not only filled pages of the book already, but that he’s begun spinning a fantasy world where Light as ‘Kira’ will become God and create a peaceful, crime free world. When an equally brilliant and mysterious investigator known only as ‘L’ appears to stop Kira, we begin to see Light’s true character and startling decent into complete madness.

This series is based off the manga/graphic novels of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba. There are also several live action films that tie in to the manga.

Next Meeting - Details

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:16:03 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for March 11th from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 9 & 10.

About Slayers episodes 9 & 10:

Oops, it looks like Lina's efforts were too little, too late. Shabranigo has been reborn, and while it's only a fragment of the Dark Lord, it's far stronger than our tiny little heroes. But strangely enough, Shabranigo offers them an out. Become his servants or die a gruesome death. What choice does Lina have when all her spells are Dark Magic? If only they had some killer final move.... wait Lina has a spell called Giga Slave?!

Hey, Look At That!

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:21:58 GMT

Ever wonder what titles are actually available to the club?

Ever wonder what series or movies we might watch next?

Now we've got a list!

So, take a look at the side of the journal and check out the list of series and movies are available through the Miss Amy's personal collection. We'll also be listing series that are currently being reviewed for addition to the club list. Keep an eye on it, as it will be updating pretty frequently.

If you have any titles you want to suggest for review, please email us.

Next Meeting - Details

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:04:26 GMT

We've all missed the last few meetings due to bad weather and exams, so here's to actually having a meeting.

The club's next meeting is scheduled for February 28th from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 7 & 8.

About Slayers episodes 7 & 8:

Still on the run from Rezo, Lina and Zelgadis are ambushed in an abandoned village. And who else to the rescue? Gourry of course! But it's going to take more than his impressive sword skills to stop the monsters after them this time. This may take 'The Sword of Light', and how the heck are they supposed to find it out there! After narrowly escaping, the trio unfortunately run into Rezo, the last person they wanted to see. His ultimate and rather dastardly plan is revealed and things aren't looking so good for Lina.

Next Meeting Details

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 19:56:54 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for January 3rd from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 7 & 8.

About Slayers episodes 7 & 8:

Still on the run from Rezo, Lina and Zelgadis are ambushed in an abandoned village. And who else to the rescue? Gourry of course! But it's going to take more than his impressive sword skills to stop the monsters after them this time. This may take 'The Sword of Light', and how the heck are they supposed to find it out there! After narrowly escaping, the trio unfortunately run into Rezo, the last person they wanted to see. His ultimate and rather dastardly plan is revealed and things aren't looking so good for Lina.

Next Meeting Details

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:29:25 GMT

The club's next meeting is scheduled for December 4th from 4-5pm. We will be watching Slayers episodes 3 & 4.

About Slayers episodes 3 & 4:

Lina and Gourry have something that the strange man in white wants. But they have no clue what it is! There's nothing quite like bargaining blind, and Lina's a pro at asking for the impossible. The man in white isn't the only one who wants the whatever-it-is, now there's a mysterious man in red following Lina, too! On the run from all manner of crazy people, Lina's in a tough spot, her magic won't work! And don't you dare ask why, unless you feel like getting pummeled.

Next Meeting Details

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:27:32 GMT

The next meeting for the Anime Club is scheduled for October 11th at 4pm. We will be watching Black Cat episodes 19 and 20.

About Volume 5:
It is the eve of the battle between the Chronos Numbers and the Apostles of the Star, and an understudy has stepped onto the stage. This stray alliance follows the code of the Sweeper. Creed Diskenth has unleashed new and terrible forces onto the world, the world which he has damned as corrupt. And for this he must be punished. But as Black Cat extends the hand of salvation at the hour of defeat, the curse will be to live out a life of repentance...Life, not death.

Review - The Slayers

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:02:24 GMT

From the back of the box:
In a land of fantasy and fairytale, magic rules and one can prosper by the point of a sword. But somewhere between the realms of good and evil, a band of misfits stumble upon an artifact which could prove the undoing of all...
Meet Lina Inverse, a spunky sorceress with a penchant for fire, who enjoys nothing more than liberating the unearned from those less deserving. Teamed up with Gourry, a dashing swordsman of unrivaled skill and unrivaled stupidity, they must take on the forces of the demon lord and his countless servants, seeking to save the world and hoping for fame and fortune along the way.

What this librarian says:
Lina Inverse is known as the Bandit Killer and Dragon Spooker (short for Dragons Step Past Out Of Clear Revulsion, but don't tell her that), and as a sorcery genius the world is her oyster. Or at least it would be if she could get the bad guys off her tail. But don't worry, that's what the ultimate black magic spell, Dragon Slave, is for, even if it's better known for rearranging the landscape with giant craters.
Slayers is an epic fantasy romp that can't take itself seriously for five minutes. They make fun of everything they can get their grubby mitts on, even at the expense of the characters themselves. So follow Lina, Gourry, Zelgadis, Amelia, and Sylphiel as they travel the world. Pray they leave it, and each other, in one piece.

Next Meeting - Details

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:03:42 GMT

The next meeting for the Anime Club is scheduled for September 4th at 4pm. We will be watching Black Cat episodes 15 and 16.

About volume 4:

Friends watch their company grow while foes are slowly whittled away. Losses for both the Chronos Numbers and the Apostles of the Star can only be good news for the hunted Black Cat. But as one slowly slips from power, the other quickly rises in their wake. And when the largest bounty ever offered lands on the head of Creed Diskenth, Sven will use any distraction to keep Train's vengeance from awakening anew; to keep the hunted from becoming the hunter once more...

DVD Review - Shonen Onmyouji volume 1

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:16:12 GMT

From the back of the box:
Abe no Masahiro is the grandson of the great sorcerer Abe no Seimei. Unfortunately for him, his grandfather did such a great job in the past, he really hasn't had a need to perform any magical duties and as a result, Masahiro lost his sixth sense and the ability to see spirits. One day, a demon drops from the sky and proclaims that Masahiro must continue his grandfathers work or perish in flames!

What this librarian says:
Shonen Onmyouji (sort of pronounced Own me oh gee) is one of those rare little gems that just slips through the cracks. Masahiro is the youngest grandson of the greatest Onmyouji ever, Abe no Seimei. Abe no Seimei was actually a real person and considered one of the most accomplished Onmyouji in all of Japan, I do not know whether or not he ever had a grandson by the name of Masahiro.
As a child, Masahiro lost his ability to see the spirits and monsters around him. One day a small monster literally falls out of a tree and lands on Masahiro. Now Mokkun (the vaguely insulting nickname Masahiro gave him) has taken to following Masahiro everywhere, insisting that he learn how to 'see' again. Turns out that Mokkun is more that just a cute, if rather foul-mouthed, rabbit-like monster. Mokkun is actually Guren, one of Seimei's guardian spirits. Now Masahiro and Mokkun/Guren face a group of exiled demons from the west, a terrifying group that wish to devour anyone with spiritual power in order to take over Japan.

Next Meeting - Details

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:03:27 GMT

The next meeting for the Anime Club is scheduled for July 19th at 4pm. We will be watching Black Cat episodes 13 and 14.

About volume 4:

Friends watch their company grow while foes are slowly whittled away. Losses for both the Chronos Numbers and the Apostles of the Star can only be good news for the hunted Black Cat. But as one slowly slips from power, the other quickly rises in their wake. And when the largest bounty ever offered lands on the head of Creed Diskenth, Sven will use any distraction to keep Train's vengeance from awakening anew; to keep the hunted from becoming the hunter once more...

Special Event - Details

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:33:22 GMT

Dare you join us for 3 movies? Five hours of anime and pizza. We so dare you.

We'll be starting at about 11am on Friday, July 27th and should be finished by 5pm.

Yu Yu Hakusho : The Movie
Restored to life by supernatural forces, high school delinquent Yusuke was granted paranormal fighting powers to protect the balance between the human world and the afterlife. A group of exiled demons are poised to attack, turning the human world into their new home. Now Yusuke and his less than merry band of miscreants must pull every skill and cheap trick out of the bag to take down a nearly unstoppable demon king.
Runtime: 93 minutes

Origin : Spirits of the Past
The rebirth of the future from the ashes of the past...
A young boy named Agito enters a forbidden sanctuary where a glowing machine resides. This machine preserves a young girl named Toola, who has a mission entrusted to her from the past. Three-hundred years into the future, the Earth's environment has been ruined by the interference of mankind, and in between the 300 years, the forest has come to life and is at constant war with man.
It is an unsteady peace in an unnatural time. Only by searching their souls and examining the past will Toola and Agito realize the origin of all things and unite mankind with the forest.
Runtime: 94 minutes

Case Closed : The Time Bombed Skyscraper
The city is in the grip of a crazed bomber and nobody is safe as a crushing wave of terror washes over the innocent citizens. Planes, trains, and massive towers all threaten to light up the night sky; the sick whims of a brutal lunatic played out in sudden balls of fire. Conan Edogawa finds himself in a desperate race against the clock; an explosive game of cat and mouse with a deviant madman... and every second counts. Can he unravel the maniacal malcontent's scheme before the next timer reaches zero? You never know when your time might come.
Runtime: 95 minutes

Next Meeting - Details

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:06:36 GMT

Next Meeting - Details

Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:20:00 GMT

The next meeting for the Anime Club is scheduled for July 3rd at 4pm. We will be watching Black Cat episodes 11 and 12.

About volume 3:

Still in pursuit of the mysterious duo of Taoists, Sven takes on the bounty of Gyanza Rujike, a brutal killer on the loose in a small rural town. With the help of Train and Eve, they find their bounty, but are shocked to see the influence of the true Tao power. Meanwhile Creed Diskenth has arrived at the World Summit with plans for a hostile takeover. Train, still bitter about his last run in with Creed, plans revenge. Not knowing where Train has disappeared to, Sven must find him before he gets himself killed, but will he make it in time? Creed, he has a few other things on his mind—Like getting Train to recapture his evil ways. However, this Black Cat has his own plan, and no one is going to stand in his way.

DVD Review - Twelve Kingdoms Part 2

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:27:58 GMT

From the Back of the Box:
Youko assumes the throne, but she is far from comfortable with her new responsibilities. In the Kingdom of Sai, a young girl named Suza learns of Youko and wishes for the new queen to come to her aid. Suzu is also from Japan, a lost Kaikyaku who has been subjected to one hundred years of servitude under her benefactor, the immortal Riyou.

This Librarian's Review:
In these final chapters of the Twelve Kingdoms anime we see quite a few important events unfold, both current and in the past. As Youko struggles with her new role and the feelings that she's only a puppet in this world as well, we also see two young women grow from immature children into responsible adults and help Youko to understand her place in all of this. After a small civil war threatens the false stability of the Kingdom of Kei, Youko returns to En to seek advice from the King, which leads to the final tale of the series that details Shouryou's early years as King of En and a near catastrophic civil war that could divide the kingdom forever.
As I finished each episode in the series I was determined to start the next one. The quality of the animation is high and often breath-taking, and the stories are genuine and riveting.

DVD Review - Twelve Kingdoms Part 1

Sun, 24 Jun 2007 20:27:05 GMT

From the back of the box:
Upon being confronted by a mysterious stranger, Youko is told of her destiny and pulled away into another world. Thus begins Youko’s perilous journey to the Kingdom of Kei on an epic road of espionage, terror, and betrayal. The mystic world of The Twelve Kingdoms assails her with one challenge after another. Will Youko embrace her destiny?

What this Librarian says:
Twelve Kingdoms is one of those wonderful epic fantasy tales that everyone should at least try. Based on the novels of the same name, the series follows Youko as she learns how to be true to herself and her destiny. As she travels the country side looking for a way home, she meets friends and enemies alike that help her to grow and change, giving the series a similar feel at times to the Wizard of Oz, just more violent. This particular box set ends with the fate of the Kingdom of Tai and it's leadership.
Watch for the review of part two!

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 13:46:13 GMT

The next meeting for the Anime Club is scheduled for June 21st at 4pm. We will be watching Black Cat episodes 9 and 10.

About volume 2:

Still in pursuit of the mysterious duo of Taoists, Sven takes on the bounty of Gyanza Rujike, a brutal killer on the loose in a small rural town. With the help of Train and Eve, they find their bounty, but are shocked to see the influence of the true Tao power. Meanwhile Creed Diskenth has arrived at the World Summit with plans for a hostile takeover. Train, still bitter about his last run in with Creed, plans revenge. Not knowing where Train has disappeared to, Sven must find him before he gets himself killed, but will he make it in time? Creed, he has a few other things on his mind—Like getting Train to recapture his evil ways. However, this Black Cat has his own plan, and no one is going to stand in his way.