Anime REvisited: Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls Season One Episode Four!

Here we are! What are your other two wishes? Ah, right. It’s time for another episodic review from our Anime REvisited pick that you probably already know by now as Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls. Unlike the last three episodes this one’s pretty much a romantic battle of sorts with the (always added) element of fanservice. So, let’s get to it!

Jubei Yagyu

As the fallout from Jubei’s transformation continues, Princess ‘pain-in-the-ass’ Sen (that’s said with love) declares that Muneakira should keep his lips away from Jubei, in order to prevent her from transforming into her dangerous; Master Samurai self. This leads to a theory that Sanada has that if someone other than Jubei kisses Muneakira, then they two will transform into a Master Samurai. At this point in the episode you can pretty much cut the tension between Sanada and Sen with…a katana, of course!

The situation that happens after stating her theory, leads Sanada on a mission to get a kiss from Muneakira through the whole episode in order to prove it. Yep, this is one of those cat-n-mouse battles between girls who have feelings for the MC that you’ll only find in anime rom-coms. Needless to say; Sanada’s theory actually proved true, as she was able to find the right moment to kiss Muneakira and become a Master Samurai – though she didn’t know how to control her own powers and thus tore the dojo apart.

Like we said; this one’s pretty much a slice-of-life episode featuring a battle of romance between two female characters (or at least one trying to prove a theory while the other’s just c-blocking), so on that note this wraps up another anime episode review. As always stay safe and look out for each other in the times of which we all live in.

Until next post! 😉

Anime REvisited: Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls Season One Episode Three!

What’s good guys n’ gals! We’re back with another review from our Anime REvisited segment featuring our pick; Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls! So right now we’ve already met Jubei Yagyu as well as her samurai form, but the question remains…who the heck is she really? Guess we’ll find out in our third episode review!

Title Card

The episode opens up with Jubei doing some sword training with Matabei, but so far in her base form she’s pretty much a rookie. Muneakira and Sanada are trying to figure out just who Jubei is as well as who her Samurai General is. The General of course is the one who unlocks the power sealed within the Master Saumrai, and is unlocked by the pact (or kiss) of the general. Right before the opening credits Princess Sen tells everyone that the fate of the ‘criminals’ Matabei and Sanada have been decided. They are to leave the dojo and never return; much to Jubei’s disappointment that she’ll never get to enjoy Matabei’s cooking.

With Sanada and Matabei gone Princess Sen declares that she’ll be living in the dojo along with Hanzo, but yeah, Muneakira is already regretting that arrangement. (Future “A Founder’s Thought’s” post on the subject of Tsundere’s coming soon!) Midway through the episode Muneakira and Sen talk about the real reason why he was brought to the academy; to investigate several incidents of academy students disappearing, and why Sanada and Matabei might be the ones behind it – even though that assumption seems a bit farfetched. At this point in the episode Inner Jubei returns as a result of her kissing Muneakira after being frightened by a bad dream; which will turn out to be a major plot point later on in the series. She then blows up part of the interior room of the dojo as Sen and Hanzo find themselves outside while Jubei holds her daito katana in her right hand before pointing the blade at Sen’s neck.

It’s at this very moment when Sanada and Matabei return to fight Jubei, as they claim she is the shadow that has cast itself upon Great Japan. Taking those as ‘fightin’ words’ Jubei charges at the duo as Matabei uses a flash bomb before she and Sanada take off into the forest. Jubei catches up as she faces Matabei after knocking out Sanada, while Muneakira is still bound by chains due to the pact he made with Jubei. The battle doesn’t last long as Jubei realizes that Matabei is frustrated that she feels she can’t protect Sanada the way she wants to, and even though she states that once the sword has been drawn there’s no turning back, Jubei sheathes her sword and tells Matabei that she’ll ‘let it slide’ this time. The next day Jubei is asleep as Muneakira and the others are still discovering just who exactly Jubei is…

So that pretty much wraps up the episode. We’re only three episodes in so the pace may seem a little on the slow side for some if you plan on checking this series out, but rest assured that it does pick up after the fourth episode and beyond. As always continue to look out for one another and stay awesome! 😉

Anime REvisited: Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls Season One Episode Two!

Welcome back guys! We return with another installment of Anime REvisited with our current pick known as Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls! Last time was the introduction to a majority of the main cast, so without further delay, here’s the breakdown of episode number two!

Title Card

Picking up where the last episode left off, Muneakira was looking at the master samurai known as Jubei Yagyu. During this time Hanzo was in quick pursuit of him as well as Matabei and Sanada; but Jubei intercepted the girl and thus a battle quickly took place. After doing a few Matrix moves and dodging all of Hanzo’s attacks, Jubei took the fight to her after toying with her a bit. (Not to mention that during the fight she had a power level of 5 million; which probably meant she could kick second and third form Frieza’s ass, just saiyan.) It wasn’t long before Jubei had Hanzo right where she wanted her, as she unsheathed her blades from her Daisho set, and prepared to strike. Right now things aren’t lookin’ good for Hanzo, but Muneakira’s voice somehow cracked through to Jubei; as you see her ‘Inner Moka’ disappear in an explosion of dark energy and light and reverting to her former self…naked…because fanservice.

After the whole situation Muneakira along with the other two girls were back inside the dojo, with Hanzo and her boss Sen Tokugawa; who just so happens to be Muneakira’s childhood friend – his Tsundere, jealous-around-other-women, bossy-as-hell, spoiled-as-shite childhood friend. (There’s always one in 90% of the anime you watch.) Fickle reunion aside Hanzo instructs Muneakira, Matabei, and Sanada not to even think about leaving the premises or there will be dire ‘consequences’ as she put it.

Near the end of the episode Sanada and Hanzo wanted to check Jubei’s body to see if there was some kind of manifestation of some kind that caused her to transform into a master samurai. What happened to be a bit of a struggle actually sounded like something dirty to Muneakira; as all matter of imagery crept into his mind while trying to exercise it out.

This of course led Jubei to dash off away from the other girls not knowing that Muneakira was right on the other side of the door. She tripped on his coat and fell flat on top of him as he saw what the others were looking for; the mark of a master samurai right between her breasts.

The second episode gave us a taste of what ‘Inner Jubei’ can do during battle, as this may not be the last time we see her throughout the series. Usually after the second episode all of the major main character introductions are done; with the side and supporting characters coming later on in the series. Right now it appears that Sen’s older brother may be the main antagonist, but the truth behind that assumption has yet to be revealed.

Well, that wraps up another review on our Anime REvisited pick, but as always we’ve got more reviews coming your way; among other surprises that we can’t share with you just yet! Stay tuned! 🙂

Anime REvisited: Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls Season One Episode One!

What’s up guys! So if you haven’t heard it already from our social media pages, we’ve returned with another installment of our fan-favorite segment; Anime REvisted! Our pick is somewhat of an underrated title that came out ten years ago known as Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls. We’re gonna let you know right now; it’s got PLENTY of fanservice (whether you like it or not) judging by the opening, but there’s a little more to it than just your everyday TNA. So without further delay, here’s our first episode review!

The Title Card

If you’re wondering what this anime title is about, Hyakka Ryoran takes places in an alternate timeline after the Second World War; where the Tokugawa Faction remained in power. Basically this series takes place during present day times, but with a little bit of a twist. The series main character Muneakira Yagyu is brought to Buou Academy at the base of Mt. Fuji by the Tokugawa Shogunate, but was never really told why he was really there other than being invited. Upon reaching the dojo Mr. Yagyu walks in on two women changing and right off the bat he’s accused of being a pervert. So we’re going down THAT rabbit hole again, huh?

Eventually Muneakira discovers the two women as Yukimura Sanada, and Matabei Goto (both of which are named after real-life samurai) who happen to be members of the Toyotomi Faction. It’s safe to assume those groups do NOT like each other; or perhaps the Toyotomi believe that the Tokugawa government is corrupt and needs to be stopped. (And here we go with the politics…) As the episode continues Muneakira, Sanada, and Matabei end up being surrounded by the student council of the academy led by Hanzo (Hattori Hanzo), with the series main using a flash bomb to escape. They manage to do so, but the celebration doesn’t last long as Hanzo and the rest of the council catch up to the trio. Sanada and Matabei get caught in several chains that soon become electrified, but being the ‘hero’, Muneakira slashes the chains apart and frees the girls.

At this point both Sanada and Matabei took it upon themselves to escape with Muneakira following behind, however something stopped him in his tracks; a bright light that transformed into the shape of a girl with crimson hair. Upon falling into his arms the girl kissed Muneakira as a ball of light and darkness surrounded them; with the girl transforming into a samurai – a Master Samurai named Jubei Yagyu.

As far as first episode impressions go; this one pretty much introduces a chunk of the main cast and what their roles are in the series. There’s plenty of fanservice (if you’re into that) right off the bat and that might be the case going forward, but there was also a decent amount of action as well. Seeing as though this episode left off in a cliffhanger with Jubei Yagyu making an appearance, the next episode is where we’ll see her in action.

That does it for this episode review, but there’s more reviews coming soon! 😉

Avidd Music Fridays: Dariasirene – Angel in Tokyo (feat. Nyokee)

Sorry this one took so long, but D&A Anime Blog would like to welcome you to a special segment where we highlight independent music artists, DJ’s and producers called Avidd Music Fridays! To kick off this new segment we bring to you an awesome artist that reached out to us a couple months ago on the blog. Her name is Dariasirene, and we’ve had the chance to check out her latest single featuring another artist known as Nyokee. It’s a fun little song that has a future type of techno vibe with chiptune sounds that kind of remind me of an ending from a futuristic anime. The title of the track is called “Angel in Tokyo”, and it’s available on all music streaming platforms! Check it out! 😉

Hyakka Ryoran: Anime REvisted Returns Next Week!

With so many anime titles at our disposal to watch anytime, anywhere; there are some that just so happen to slip through the cracks of popularity and thus end up being forgotten. Many of our favorite VA’s have voiced in a lot of top-tier titles such as Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia, Naruto, One Piece, and Fairy Tail to name a few. In spite of all of the titles that we know our favorite VA’s from, there are some titles that they’ve done several years (and some times a decade) ago that may not have gotten the fanfare or promotion that it deserved. This is one of those titles; Hyakka Ryoran: Samurai Girls. I guess what we’re getting at is…Anime REvisted is coming back next Monday with this 12-episode title (which gives us three weeks of relief from topic ‘burnout’), so if you’re fan of samurai girls, then you’re probably going to love this one! 😉

Samurai Girls, next week!

A Founder’s Thoughts with D.J. Lewis (02/28/21)!

What’s good guys n’ gals! Since March of 2021 kicks off tomorrow, this ‘Founder’s Thoughts’ post is pretty much a thank you to all of the people who have supported us since our launch in 2016. The last 26 months haven’t been easy for anyone; from the start of what is currently the global pandemic, to Black Lives Matter, to the vaccine rollout as well as a new president in office. Yeah, we’ve been through a lot, but I have a feeling that many of us will have a greater appreciation about our lives as well as the lives of other people. Much like the anime community that A. Goldman and I have been a part of since we were kids, we gotta love and support one another through the roller-coaster that we call life. We may have our differences in opinion, and we may not always agree on everything, but we got to find that happy medium and common ground that brings us all together from all walks of life – like anime has done for so many of us. So from Yours Truly, we love and appreciate you guys from the bottom of our hearts. Of course once this pandemic is truly over, we can’t wait to see you all at an anime convention again! 🙂 

We’ll see you guys at cons soon! 🙂

D&A Anime Blog: 5 Underrated Anime Titles That Need A 2nd Season!

As an anime fan, the saddest part about your favorite titles is when its the final episode of the series. Depending on the popularity of it (i.e. merch sales as well as the fandom surrounding it) nine times outta ten your favorite title usually gains a second season. (Or third or fourth if its really popular.) With the amount of anime that’s out in the world right now, there have been several titles that have flown under the radar; meaning that in spite of having great character development as well as a decent plot, they never go past the first season – which is kind of a shame! So from us to you, here are five underrated anime titles that really NEED a second season.

This title NEEDS a second season!

Chivalry of a Failed Knight

As fans of this series we can’t tell you how much this series needs a second season! If you haven’t gotten the chance to see this series just yet, this is one we recommend that you check out! There’s so much more to Ikki and Stella’s relationship as well as what will happen at the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, so hopefully we get to see a second season of this awesome show!

A classic gem from Toonami

Deadman Wonderland

As a part of the Saturday Night Toonami lineup back in the mid 2010’s, this title is beloved by many despite the fact that it only got one season. The manga of course goes deeper and even reveals that fan-favorite Shiro is the most powerful ‘Deadman’ in the whole series; which may be one of the reasons to give this series another season, or possibly two!

Another classic that deserves a second season!

The Sacred Blacksmith

This one’s another title that had some great potential to have a second season, but like many underrated titles it never got the credit or fanfare that it deserved. If you’ve read the manga, you already know that the main characters are waaay different in personality that their anime versions. Another gem that kinda needs a second season…

You already know this title needs a second season!

No Game, No Life!

Anyone who has seen this series already knows it needs a second season! Who doesn’t want another season of Sora and Shiro? Will the two of them finally beat the God of Games and claim the world of games as their own? Welp, we’ll have to find out in the second season – IF it gets one!

Mugen and the Gang!

Samurai Champloo

Hip-Hop, Feudal Japan, and Samurai? These three things make up this classic known as Samurai Champloo! If you’re a fan of Cowboy Bebop, then you’re gonna love this series. Great characters, awesome fights, and good music! This one is NOT to be overlooked! 😉

There are so many titles out there with only one season; some of the reasons for that can range from the lack of sales (DVD’s and merch) to the studio becoming bankrupt (which has happened in several cases). Nevertheless these one-season titles are still awesome and still give you the same level of excitement as you’d find in multi-season titles. On that note that will do it for this post, but we’ve still got some more blog content coming your way! 😉

Things Are Kinda Slow, But We’re Picking Up Speed Next Week!

As the headline says; things on our end have been kinda slow lately. However if you know us well, we’re not ones to give up so easily when things get a little stagnant. We do have some rather good news to report as far as our plans for D&A Studios is concerned; after what was to be a lengthy battle, we’ve finally gotten our studio desktop and systems running at 100% again! We know we’ve been promoting and telling you guys that our “Nerdz of the Decade” podcast is coming, and that is a promise we fully intend to keep (even though it’s taking a little bit longer that we’d had hoped it would). So if this happens to be our only post for this week, here’s what we’ll be bring you guys for next week!

This show would be one of them

D&A’s Top 5 Underrated Anime Titles That NEED A Second Season!

It seems like the 2020 anime season hasn’t really brought us a lot of titles that could potentially be the next hit franchise (just yet), but one we’ve noticed is that there are some titles that are getting more seasons and climbing up the ranks of popularity! As awesome as that is, there are a few anime titles that flew under the radar and have become underrated gems in need of a second season. In this post we highlight and pick our Top 5 underrated anime titles that NEED a second season, and also throw in some honorable mentions as well!

This is How We (Used To) Do It

Nerd Homecoming: What Will Conventions Look Like When We Return?

Let’s face it; we all miss conventions. In fact the last one we’ve been to was our home convention known as Animore back in January of last year, and since then we’ve seen posts, tweets, and articles about COVID-19 putting the kibosh on anime and other nerdy conventions for what feels like an eternity. Lately there have been a lot of digital alternatives to conventions to help take our mind off of the pandemic, and perhaps they might even open the door to some new and innovative ideas once it’s safe to go back to cons once again. In this post we ask the question; what will cons even look like once we come back to them?

D&A Anime Blog Presents: Avidd Music Fridays!

Provided by Avidd Minddset (D&A’s D.J. Lewis), we highlight new up-and-coming indie music artists and showcase their awesome work on a new segment we call Avidd Music Fridays! If you’re an indie music artist, DJ, or a producer who wants to showcase their work and even have us highlight it on our page “The Lounge”, let us know through our Contact Us page. We’ll be making our first post this coming Friday!

That’s all we got for now, but as always there’s more content to come! 🙂

Anime Love & Hip-Hop with D.J. Lewis: The Present!

When last I posted I was talking about how the subcultures of anime and Hip-Hop crossed paths and came together during the 80’s and early 90’s. Even though the relationship was starting to bloom during that era in time, it wasn’t until 1997 that both subcultures took it to the next level. Unlike Western animation that at one point in time did depict real-life situations such as discrimination, poverty, and violence (early X-Men episodes and several from Captain Planet), Japanese animation took on the fabric of said situations that have attracted the youth-driven culture of Hip-Hop. Several artist that come to mind in terms of the ‘nerdy side’ of Hip-Hop would be the late MF Doom, MegaRan, and Ghostface Killah. As a lot people might’ve noticed (if you happen to be a fan of anime and Hip-Hop) the biggest anime references have been from Dragon Ball Z and Naruto; both of which are heavy-hitter titles that have drawn inspiration from many corners of the African-American community through fashion as well as Hip-Hop.

The Akatsuki bout’ to drop a mixtape!

Several well-known rappers have made tons of references to these titles as you might’ve heard in their lyrics. Others took it a step further and re-created scenes from popular anime; such as Kanye West’s “Stronger” which was heavily inspired by Akira, the 1988 film. The connection between anime and Hip-Hop culture isn’t just in America, it’s also relevant in British Hip-Hop as well. Although you have anime-inspired rappers like Lil’ Uzi Vert and Shababii, one of the most anime-influenced rappers who even has his whole persona rooted in the subculture itself, is Scarlxrd. His sound took on an infusion of Trap music and Heavy Metal; two genres that you normally do see together let alone being fused together. Scarlxrd’s inspiration from anime comes from the popular fan-favorite title known as Tokyo Ghoul; where he even wears the zipped mask that bares heavy resemblance to Ken Kaneki.

The cultural crossover between anime and Hip-Hop has led to various other achievements in the medium; from the level of inclusion of African-American characters in anime, to titles being soundtracked by Hip-Hop through artists like RZA and the late Nujabes. (Japanese Hip-Hop artist Lotus Juice also did Death the Kid’s “So Crazy” theme from Soul Eater as well.) From my view point it seems like the relationship between anime and Hip-Hop will continue to evolve, as upcoming artists are finding their creative sides through the layers of both subcultures. If you jump on YouTube right now you’ll find soooo many Hip-Hop/Rap cyphers about anime titles and characters, that you’ll think its crazy! Who knows, maybe somewhere down the line we’ll have a record label dedicated to anime-inspired Hip-Hop. That is…if it’s not already been done. (*chuckles*)

On my next post will be the conclusion to me three-part series of post between the subcultures of anime, and Hip-Hop. Until next time, stay safe and love one another! 🙂