D&A Studios Recap The Week Of November 5th!

Hey guys n’ gals! It’s time to bring you another recap of our YouTube videos that we’ve done during the week of November 5th. We’ve got a brand new Nerdz of the Decade that just dropped this past Friday, as well as another D&A Studios product review. Be sure to share these videos with your fellow otaku, and of course we thank you for all of the love and support that you continue to give us from the blog; as well as D&A Studios. Until next post, stay nerdy my friends! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess Episode 5!

Okay, the time has come for me to give you another episode review from Fena: Pirate Princess. After watching this episode first hand, it appears that the secret of the glass stone has finally been revealed. Now that that revelation has come to pass, what will that mean for Fena and the crew?

So it looks like as the episode kicks off I (the viewer) discover that Yukihisa and Kei are talking about a witchโ€™s spell placed on Yukimaru, but knowing how these types of situations go down, I (the viewer) donโ€™t find out until the last three episodes of the series. The voyage continues with Fena and the crew as she focuses on the map given to her by the Berger mister after leaving the place that I cannot even pronounce the name to. They eventually end up going to another island full of various holes and pathways leading to some kind of underground mine, but sadly theyโ€™re not alone, for another crew of pirates (the same ones from Bar-Barel) followed close behind them.

Other than Karin getting spooked and pissed off at Enju for spooking her inside the mine, the rest of the episode gets a little more serious. As they get deep into the mine Fena starts acting a little strange; as if sheโ€™s been in the area before, causing Yukimaru to become curious and confused at the same time. The crew reaches a vast area where just in the middle of it was what looked to be the area where the glass brick fits right in. After that the crew discovers that the little scratches were actually coordinates to another location which was later revealed to be El Dorado, however by the time they figured that out, the other pirates showed up and held Fena hostage while taking the coordinates for themselves.

As a way to add insult to injury, they took several boxes of explosives and used them to blow up the only way in and out of the cavern. By the end of the episode Tsubaki was still on the ship not knowing what happenedโ€ฆ

Looks like the fun and games are over for the moment as the plot is starting to pick up. Though we now know what the clear stone was used for, thereโ€™s still so much we donโ€™t know about Fena; or why the other pirates kidnapped her and are on their way to El Dorado. Guess weโ€™ll find all of that out on the next episode.

Until then, stay nerdy my friends. ๐Ÿ˜‰ย 

A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess Episode 4!

Hey there! It appears that Iโ€™ve been summoned to give you another episode review from Fena: Pirate Princess. If thatโ€™s the case, then Iโ€™ll go ahead and do just that for you guys. Fena and the crew continue their voyage on the path to finding out the mystery of the stone; which is the name of the title of this episode. Anyway, letโ€™s go!

Fena and the crew are out at sea looking for the island of โ€œAdenopensteinโ€ as Kaede called it (even though thatโ€™s not the real name, but I canโ€™t spell or pronounce it either so weโ€™re just gonna call it what Kaede called it). While inside Fena had just finished treating Yukimaruโ€™s wounds and stated that sheโ€™ll do everything she can to be more useful to the team. Yukimaruโ€™s response to that was pretty much a โ€œHell no, you almost got me killed!โ€ type of response, while she argued that no matter how opposed he was to this decision, that Fena was GOING to be useful to the crew!

Later on Shiton joined Fena on the deck of the ship as she asked if he would train her on how to use a weapon. Shiton handed her his bow and arrow, but just like before, she sucked at it. She then asked other members of the crew to train her on how to use a weapon, but they all declined in comedic fashion. Eventually the crew came around and helped train Fena on how to use a sword and gun (thanks to Shiton), although the training sessions were brutal. (Hopefully Fena will get better at combat in later episodesโ€ฆhopefully.)

After a day or two the crew finally makes it to โ€œAdenopensteinโ€ (as Kaede called it) as Fena asks the locals if they know anything about the stone. Although it appeared as they werenโ€™t getting the answer they were looking for, a woman named Arya appeared and introduced herself to Yukimaru and the others. She saw the stone and told them that she might know of a person in the village that can help, and that person turned out to be her father; the Berger mister of the village. While on the hike it looked as if Yukimaru was getting a little too chatty with Arya thanks to the twins reading too much into the conversation taking place, and leaving Fena to think that Arya might be hitting on Yukimaru. (And she was starting to believe it thanks to the twins.)

Aryaโ€™s father took a look at the stone and it appeared that it was made in the village, but something about it seemed strange. Although it appeared that it was carved in the village, it was commissioned by someone else; someone who was killed five years after the inscribed date of the stone. By the end of the episode Fena told Yukimaru that the person Aryaโ€™s father was referring to, she was called that name beforeโ€ฆ

So it looks like weโ€™re given more information about the stone, and based on the plot progression of the story, this piece of info will play a big part later on in the series. Could there be a connection between Fena and the person Aryaโ€™s father mentioned while in โ€œAdenopensteinโ€ (as Kaede called it)? Guess weโ€™ll cross that bridge when we get to it!

Anyway thatโ€™s it for my review on this episode, until next time, stay nerdy! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess Episode 3!

Salutations fellow otaku! I have returned with another episode review from the original series; Fena: Pirate Princess. Now that the gang has a ship and has set sail, itโ€™s time for the real adventure to begin! So letโ€™s get to it!

The third episode kicks off with Fena walking through the chambers of the newly crafted ship thanks to Karinโ€™s design; of course a little comical banter between the two occurred when Fena made a comment about the shipโ€™s corridor being too small. (I like keeping the spoilers to a minimum so if you want the full deets youโ€™ll have to watch the episode.) The two met with the others as they were discussing something about the free country of Bar-Barel; where pirates from all over the globe congregate and stop by โ€“ mostly from England or other surrounding areas. After the meeting was over it ended up being one of the stops on the crewโ€™s voyage, of course there was one detail that was left outโ€ฆYukimaru had to stay on the ship with Brule (Fenaโ€™s dog) while Fena, Shiton, Karin, Tsubaki, and the others went into the town of Bar-Barel. Yeah, that sucked but it gets better at the end.

While in town various shenanigans take place; Karinโ€™s running around like a kid in a candy store at the various shops and street vendors, the twins Kaede and Anju are being their โ€˜usualโ€™ goofy selves, and Shiton was about to get his freak on with a lady on the street until Makuba intervened. Tsubaki told the others it was time to collect supplies for the voyage while they were in town, except Fena and the twins were not with them โ€“ pissing off Tsubaki in the process. Kaede and Anju took Fena to a shop where she wanted to try some new clothes, afterwards she really did look very much like a pirate (and a cute one might I add).

Sadly trouble arose when Fenaโ€™s ex-fiancรฉe; the creep she was supposed to marry back in the first episode, returned with his own band of pirates who surrounded Fena and the twins. Back at the ship Yukimaru asked the others where Fena was, and though they said she was with the twins he knew something was up, and raced into town to find her. It didnโ€™t take long though, as the twins were fighting off the creepโ€™s pirates with one of the twins complimenting one of the female pirates saying that heโ€™d like to take her out for dinner next time. (That was Anju by the way.) Yukimaru joined the fight and took out the remaining pirates in the area before grabbing Fena and hauling ass back to the ship.

Although his hand got nicked by one of the bullets from one of the pirates who shot him, Yukimaru stated to Fena that it was only a flesh wound, and that she shouldnโ€™t be so reckless. By the end of the episode Tsubaki was so furious at Fena and the twinsโ€™ actions that he threw the three of them overboard as punishment. The fact that Fena was a girl did NOT save her from receiving the same punishment as the twins. Although Bar-Barel was their first stop, the adventure for Fena and the crew has only just begun.

Though Iโ€™m three episodes into the series, I like the balance of comedy and action in the story a little bit. I know many fans (including my friend A. Goldman) have been craving that in several of the titles that have been released so far, but as far as Fenaโ€™s concerned, I like what Iโ€™m seeing. The crew comes with various personalities; such as the twinsโ€™ annoying and silly persona though theyโ€™re skilled fighters who are very close, Karinโ€™s creative spirit who keeps most of the guys in line, Tsubaki who makes sure the crew stays on their mission, Makuba whoโ€™s the strength of the crew, and Shiton whoโ€™s the pretty boy all the women wanna be with. That pretty much leaves Fena; the MC of the show with a lovable personality and kinda silly herself, and Yukimaru who hasnโ€™t quite accepted his feelings towards Fena just yet. (Hopefully weโ€™ll see that when the story progresses.)

Alright, thatโ€™ll end this review on my side of the tracks, but as always thereโ€™s more content on the blog to come! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess Episode 2!

Hey! Welcome back guys nโ€™ gals! Itโ€™s time for another anime episode review from yours truly of D&A Anime Blog; D.J. Lewis! Weโ€™re diving into the original anime series Fena: Pirate Princess, as I review the second episode of the series. So strap on yerโ€™ boots and prepare to set sail ya scallywags! (Relax, Iโ€™m kidding. Letโ€™s get this party started!)

The Cast

So the second episode opens up with Fena on a boat with Solomun and Otto, as the three of them finally got off the island of Eden. Theyโ€™re pretty much out in the middle of nowhere as a nasty storm was beginning to brew; only that storm seemed to conjure up an island that appears to be set in the timeline of Edo Japan. The trio along with their dog goes through the cavernโ€™s entrance while seven individuals wearing samurai armor stood atop the hill; including the red armored man from before. Fena and the others make it to a building where the inside looks like a dojo, as a man appears before them named Yukihisa.

After the greetings and conversation they had Yukihisa gives Fena a crystal clear stone, and tells her that only she knows the mystery of it. Sadly after that โ€˜bonkโ€™ to her head by Yukimaru Fena doesnโ€™t really have a clue about the stone, or even why her late father gave it to Yukihisa. So it looks like Fenaโ€™s father died during the raid ten years ago after Yukimaru cut the rope and sent her out to sea, but never got to finish his main voyage. That evening Fena is still trying to figure out what Yukihisa meant about her discovering what the clear stoneโ€™s true purpose is, but again, she has no clueโ€ฆfor now.

The next day sheโ€™s met by a girl named Karin, who shows her around town as she tells her about the stuff sheโ€™s designed and even invented. However, Fenaโ€™s attention span is that of a squirrel, as she dashes off to explore her new surroundings. Sheโ€™s meets another man named Mokuba; along with Tsubaki, two rather annoying twins (one of which is named Kaede), and an archer. Yโ€™know how Iโ€™m good with faces but names are kinda difficult to remember only if Iโ€™ve known you for a long time, well this is one of those times where I know the characterโ€™s faces but once in a while I might forget their name โ€“ because I watch and review a lot of anime and tend to get my shows mixed up sometimes. Woof! XP

By the end of the episode Yukihisa tells Fena that his family would protect her fatherโ€™s descendants and orders the seven individuals from before; including Yukimaru, to go on a voyage and uncover the mystery behind the crystal stone. Now Fena finds herself picking up where her fatherโ€™s voyage left off with her new crew of samurai pirates on a ship/submarine (but it resembles more of a submarine).

The first episode was an introduction to Fena herself while the second one gives us an introduction of the rest of the cast. Her brand new voyage begins as she has a crew to back her up in case of any issues with other pirates, while Otto and Solomun stay behind and wish Fena a safe return. So yeah, thatโ€™ll wrap up my review on episode number two! Until next post, stay nerdy and Happy Halloween! ๐Ÿ˜‰

A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess Episode 1!

Yo! Whatโ€™s good anime fam? In case you donโ€™t know who I am, Iโ€™m D.J. Lewis; representing one-half of this two-man operation known as D&A Anime Blog! Iโ€™m also the guy whoโ€™s the head writer for the blog as well as all of the many nerd-centric posts that Iโ€™ve written in the past 5 years. Instead of doing the usual Anime REvisited posts that Iโ€™ve done for past titles, Iโ€™ve taken control through a new anime review series called โ€œA Founderโ€™s Review with D.J. Lewisโ€! But enough about me, letโ€™s dive into the Crunchyroll/Adult Swim original series; Fena: Pirate Princess!

Fena: Pirate Princess

I had the chance to check out the trailer for this original series, and when I found out that it was being produced by Crunchyroll and Adult Swim (with the animation by Production I.G.), I almost fell outta my chair. I know that many fans have been craving something a little different as of late, which is not to say that any anime titles that are new or renewed are not worth watching (more on that later). But once the series made its way to Toonami, I had to give it a shot.

Jumping into the first episode of the series I was treated to the opening scene that took place 10 years before the start of the series. There was a battle going on with cannons being fired, stuff being burned, and people possibly being killed. Fena (probably 7 or 8 years old at the time) was put on a boat by a boy (no older than 9, but could be 10) and was told by a man to make her way to the island of Eden before being hit by something. The boy cut the rope as Fena pretty much disappeared. Then after the opening weโ€™re brought up to present day where Fena (probably about 18 years old now) finds herself about to be married off to one of the rich guys of the town. If anime has taught me anything itโ€™s that โ€˜thoseโ€™ guys arenโ€™t exactly gentlemen; theyโ€™re dicks!

Fena was chatting with a girl named Angie (who is probably one of the girls working at the bar/brothel, cuzโ€™ thatโ€™s what it looked like when I saw it), and devising a plan of escape. Sadly none of her plans was going to work as a couple guys came in and told her that it was time to meet the man she was getting married off to. She had one more plan in her back pocket, but that went south after passing the second floor of the tower. (I guess the bar/brothel was one the lower level I assume.)

When faking like she had the stomach flu didnโ€™t cut it, the guys got upset and tossed her up against the wall and told her that if she didnโ€™t go through with the marriage, sheโ€™d be killed. Suddenly she was heroically rescuedโ€ฆby a middle-aged fat man, and an elderly man who looked like he stepped out of one of those 1965 โ€œMr. Scroogeโ€ cartoon Christmas carol movies. After their flashy entrance Fena discovered that theyโ€™re named Solomon and Otto; who happened to be the man on the ship from ten years prior. The trio got the hell out of the tower and made their way East to where Otto said there was a boat they could get on and get away. Too bad none of them had a compass cuzโ€™ theyโ€™ve been going the wrong way the whole time, and that was hilarious! XP

Towards the end of the episode Fena and Otto were now in the forest when they were ambushed by a group of men; with one of them knocking Otto unconscious. Her capture didnโ€™t last long; as each of the men were slain by a mysterious figure wearing dark red samurai battle armor and carrying two katana blades that were both sheathed by his side. Fena looked closely at the man who looked quite familiar with her โ€“ almost like sheโ€™s seen him before (maybe even ten years before). Then it hit her; Fenaโ€™s knight in shining red armor was actually the boy named Yukimaru, but before she could even say her name she was โ€˜bonkedโ€™ on the head and laid out on the ground as Yukimaru told her that she was โ€˜chatty and annoying as everโ€™.

With this being only a review of the first episode, I was quite interested with the elements that weโ€™re brought in upon my first impression. You definitely feel like this is going to be a high-seas adventure-romance with bouts of comedy, and samurai pirates. Itโ€™s a breath of fresh air in terms of creativity, and as far as the plot of the story goes, Iโ€™m kinda liking the direction itโ€™s going; although more will probably be revealed later on in the series.

Thatโ€™s it for my first episode review on Fena: Pirate Princess. You can find this series airing on Toonami; in fact you can see the whole first season coming on Toonami this weekend! Until next time my dudes nโ€™ dudettes, stay nerdy! ๐Ÿ˜‰ย 

Guess What? It’s D&A Studios Recap Time!

Sup’ nerds and nerdettes! We’re dropping another recap post on what we’ve been doing lately with our Youtube channel; D&A Studios. If you’re just discovering our channel for the first time, we wanna let you know that although we sound like a production company or even a voice over studio, we’re a sub-brand of D&A Anime Blog. Basically D&A Studios is our media division. It’s where we host Nerdz of the Decade (our podcast), our D&A Studios Product and Anime Reviews, and our convention coverage videos which will be called Nerdz On Location (working title). If you haven’t already be sure to subscribe to our channel so you don’t miss a single video that we drop on a weekly basis.

A Founder’s Thoughts with D.J. Lewis: Something New For November!

Whats good, anime fam! This one’s pretty much a check-in post to let you know what I’ll be doing mostly on the blog; among other things. If you’re just jumping on for the very first time, I wanna say welcome to D&A Anime Blog and hopefully you’ll have an awesome time! For those who’ve been with us since day one, I wanna say thanks for being awesome. The last 21 months have been a roller-coaster for pretty much all of us; as we make the best out of whatever you call ‘normal’ around these parts. (There’s still a lot of work to do, but I’ve got faith we’ll get there!)

In the meantime, for the month of November (aside from it being my birthday month) I wanted to try something a little different for a change – something new! I’m not quite sure how it’ll turn out but I’m gonna give it a shot, and if it turns out great, then I’ll make it a regular thing. If not, then it’ll be a one-time thing. This thing I’m gonna try is “Poetic Rants Through Comedic Circumstance”. Basically I poke fun at comedic circumstances that happen in anime (mostly Ecchi and Harem, but other genres too) with poetry and ranting. Rants are kinda 50-50 depending on what the subject matter is, but instead of me ripping on a show or genre of anime I’m not a big fan of, I take the comedic approach and turn that negative rant into a melting pot of laughter.

I feel like these days America might have lost its sense of humor in some way or form (but if I’m wrong feel free to let me know). Sure, there have been a lot of things that we’ve tolerated (especially in the media) a few decades ago, but now we gotta think twice about what we say or run the risk of getting ‘cancelled’. I hear the word ‘Cancel Culture’ being thrown around like rice at a wedding, but because its such a ‘hot button’ word considering the social climate that we live in, I usually stay away from it. I’ll say this; when you cancel something, you leave it alone. You don’t talk about it, you don’t think about it, you don’t even tweet about it. It’s dead to you. It no longer exists to you. You don’t watch it on TV or hear it on the radio. To me, that’s what cancelling something is.

Accountability and Responsibility Culture is what we really should be doing more of. There’s a lot of people out there who need to ‘Man Up’ or ‘Woman Up’ to what they’ve done to the people or person that they’ve done it to; directly or indirectly. It’s virtually IMPOSSIBLE to please everybody; cuz’ not matter what you do, there’s always gonna be one or two knuckleheads who are gonna talk crap about you. Don’t give em’ a second thought, just keep it movin’! I would go into this a little bit more, but I’ll save it for one of my ‘vent posts’.

Anyway, that’ll do it for me and my semi-rant about where we are socially. Catch ya’ll next post!

Next Week!! A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis: Fena: Pirate Princess!

Remember when you were a kid and your teacher asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up. Well, when I was a kid I wanted to be either a samurai, or a pirate. Sadly those dreams didn’t come true, but I do get the chance to experience what it would look like if there was a such thing as Samurai Pirates! Every once in a while an anime title comes around that is a ‘breath of fresh air’ to the eyes and ears of those looking for something new, and mixes things up in terms of what’s been released as of late. Although we’ve reviewed various anime titles from the past under the name Anime REvisited, I thought it was time to shake things up and put a new spin on this segment! So starting next week, Yours Truly; Donte’ “D.J.” Lewis of D&A Anime Blog presents my first new anime series review segment known as “A Founder’s Review with D.J. Lewis”! It all kicks off with Fena: Pirate Princess as I give you an episode-by-episode review of the original series by Adult Swim and Crunchyroll. Until next week, stay nerdy my friends! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Fena: Pirate Princess

D&A Studios Recap Post! (10/12/21)

What’s good, anime fam! It’s time for another recap post of all of the Nerdz of the Decade and D&A Studios videos that we’ve done this past week. As always we’re dropping new podcast episodes and product/anime reviews every single week, so be sure to subscribe to our youtube channel so you can stay up-to-date on the latest n’ greatest of all things otaku! That’s it for now, but there’s more content comin’ later! ๐Ÿ˜‰