Wasurenagumo (2012) わすれなぐも

Suzuri was a shopkeeper who sold historical books. his assistant was Mizuki, also the granddaughter of the land owner. while they were tidying the shop, Mizuki accidentally unsealed an ancient book and released a young spider demon, who was sealed within the book for a long time. the duo started investigating the origins behind legend, seeking ways to return the demon into the book, sealing it

Wasurenagumo (2012) was one of the four anime works that received funds from the "2011 Young Animator Training Project". Japanese Cultural Affairs government agency had been distributing these funds to studios who were giving young animators on-the-job training. as much as i enjoyed the storyline and anticipated its development, the ending was completely out of my expectation, unfortunately it was in a bad way. the daring twist was actually quite impressive if not having to sacrifice someone for it. in overall, the animation was perfect, the plot however, could be better.

Cool Cat #1: The Girl With the Cat Tattoo (2012)

Max was Melody's cat. ever since David died, Melody was lonely. during the day, she was a librarian at a children's library, but at night she would party in various clubs and brought home all the wrong men. Max could no longer stand it. one day he made up his mind to find the right man for Melody. he jumped out of the safety of their compound into the terrifying world outside. he came across the first man he found most suitable for Melody at the shelter. he led Joe home to Melody and waited for the magic to happen.

Max was a lovable character, definitely a cat with an attitude. being a cat person, i especially love the part where Max could understand human's language. i enjoyed his explorations while sharing his thoughts. but when the story came to the human's point of views, i got slightly deflated. it was difficult to thoroughly love Melody and Joe. they were good characters, just too random and not engaging enough for me to care much about them. the book was fun because it gave Max a correct attitude, so completely full of himself like a cat should be.

Walk the Line (2005)

the story was based on the life and career of country music artist Johnny Cash. Johnny grew up unloved by his father, especially after the death of his brother Jack, where an accident happened when Jack was sawing wood for a neighbor to earn some fast cash. he later married Vivian, where he worked as a salesman to support his family. he walked passed a recording studio and brought his band to perform for the owner. the began touring and meeting many artists, including June, whom Johnny soon fell in love with.

the 2 main characters stood out immensely. though i wasn't a huge fan of both Johnny and June's lives offstage, the chemistry they shared onstage, was absolutely perfect and beautiful. it was shocking to know that the actors sang the songs themselves without any help from lip sync. having been a huge fan of musicals, the performance itself was enough to impress me to a degree that i felt myself being sucked into the audience whenever they performed.

Katy Perry: Part Of Me (2012)

the single "Part of Me" (2012) was released in February 2012, taken from Katy Perry's album Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection (2012), a re-release edition of her second album, Teenage Dream (2010). it was said that the song was directed to her ex-boyfriend Travis McCoy. the lyrics and music video pictured her as a strong and unbreakable woman even after a dramatic breakup. while we were used to her videos being wild and party-themed, the army thing caught us by surprise. with the lyrics being strong and willful, her song finally became heartwarmingly meaningful for a change.

Senki Zesshou Symphogear (2012) 戦姫絶唱シンフォギア

Tsubasa and Kanade were the ZweiWing who fought against an alien race called Noise, by wearing the Symphogear armor. 2 years ago, Kanade sacrificed herself to protect a girl name Hibiki, whom later gained Kanade's power when Noise appear to threaten their peace again.

despite the absurdity, the anime managed to be enjoyable after especially the strong and dark first episode. the following few episodes were hardly memorable, but fortunately it got better from there. the anime reminded me of Puella Magi Madoka Magica (2011) and Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (2004), though with a more hardcore and IS: Infinite Stratos (2011) feel to it.

Such a Rush (2012)

Leah had been living in the trailer next to an airport with her mom, who changed from one boyfriend to another. she could complaint about the noise of the planes and smell of the fuels like her mom, or she could learn to fly while earning her college fund. saving every penny, she paid Mr. Hall, who ran an aerial advertising business, for flight lessons. when he offered her a cheaper rate for the lessons, she was more than eager to comply. but Mr. Hall died suddenly, leaving behind his business to his teenage sons, pretty boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, Leah was left feeling uncertain towards her future.

despite the seemingly straightforward plot, i was absorbed completely into the storyline by the simple and captivating way the book was wrote! Leah was a strong-willed girl, who was forced to be an adult at the age of fourteen, exploiting the choices she had with an aim she set to achieve. Grayson, Molly, even Alec were such appealing characters that their complex romance, together with Leah's unique lifestyle, made the book absolutely fast paced and engaging. it was so much better than i could ever imagine, all came down to the magical writing style the author wielded.

Up (2009)

Carl promised Ellie, his wife that they would go to Paradise Falls. however, Ellie died of sickness and Carl was left to continue her dream. when Carl was forced to go to a retirement home, he turned his house into an airship by using thousands of balloons and escaped. at the same time, a boy scout named Russell happened to be knocking on his door right before the house sailed into the wind. Carl was forced to let him in while they shared a journey to Paradise Falls.

it was truly a delightful animation. despite having Carl, a grumpy old man as its main character, it was nothing less than entertaining in many ways. especially the dog that seemed so common on the outside, happened to be the biggest laugh once he opened his mouth. there were also this huge, colorful bird that soon became one of the main character of the pack. the animation triggered so much unexpected emotions that made it absolutely engaging and fun.

Kamisama no Karute 神様のカルテ (2011)

Ichito was a doctor working in a 24-hour clinic. due to the clinic's shortage of doctors, he had little time to rest or spend with his wife Haruna. sometimes he was forced to diagnose patients out of his area of specialty. despite hoping to work at a big hospital where he could get more free time; he was also reluctant to spend less time with the patients. one day, while clearing out the belongings of a deceased cancer patient named Azumi, he received a letter thanking him for his kindness even though he couldn't cure her sickness. he was then determined to continue saving people in the clinic he came to love.

the movie was filmed based on a novel written by an actual doctor named Natsukawa Sousuke (夏川草介). from time to time, there would be moments where the camera stopped way too long on a person's face, as if waiting for some shocking facial expression to take place. but of course, nothing of that sort did happen. other than that, it had an awesome plot, enough to introduce Ichito as well as connecting us emotionally with his struggles as well as patients. it was unexpectedly heartbreaking not only to see his cancer patient died, but to see him secretly broke down, crying his heart out alone.

Hotarubi no Mori e (2011) 蛍火の杜へ

Hotaru was a little girl who got lost in an enchanted forest, where Yokai (supernatural monsters) resided. a boy named Gin appeared before her with a mask on. he had her promised never to touch him, for a human touch will make him disappear. having agreed to Gin's condition, Hotaru was led out of the forest safely. due to curiosity, Hotaru returned everyday, for every summer holiday that she spent at her grandparents' house, and the duo became great friends.

being a huge fan of the Natsume Yuujinchou series (2008-2012), i enjoyed every minute of Hotarubi no Mori e (2011). it was equally gentle and heartwarming, easily led me through the story until the very end. despite the smooth and simple storyline, there were in depth emotions for both the character. the slight touch of romance was enough to send tears into my eyes as the story progressed. to be honest, the story itself wasn't as unique nor exceptional, yet the emotions drew out its beauty, making it breathtaking and truly worthwhile to watch.

Trafficked: The Diary of a Sex Slave (2011)

Trafficked (2011) followed the story of Elena, a young widow living with her mother and young daughter named Lilian. she was first lured by a job mentioned by her friend Natalie. she will need to leave behind her mother and daughter for a month, travel to Italy for the job before settling down and bringing them there. however, she was kidnapped, drugged, beaten and raped, held in physical captive as the men who owned her and the men who bought her services used her body endlessly. when her escape attempt failed, she was sold to a worst environment in British.

i first came across the book assuming that it was a biography, only to learn that it was fictional. however, the story was equally eerie as i followed Elena through her struggles, physically as well as emotionally. although we were aware of such dealings underground, it was difficult to imagine how Trafficking worked until i finished the book. the part where the police officers became the "customers" was absolutely enraging. they were such humiliation and disgrace to the world.

Bel Ami (2012)

Georges returned from the military service, met with Forestier, his former comrade that allowed him to start a career as a journalist. Madeleine, Forestier's wife, helped him with his first article and helped adding edges to his following articles. at the same time, he remained actively involved in politics that allowed him the access to behind the scenes information. Georges became the lover of Clotilde, Madeleine's friend and also another influential woman. when Forestier's health deteriorated, Georges took advantage and approached Madeleine, asking to marry her.

Bel Ami (2012) were absolutely beautiful to watch. as Georges climbed the ladder as a poor, working man, he found his place in the high society, where sex is power that leads to connection and success, followed closely by the corrupted relationship between politicians and journalists. Bel Ami (2012) was the film adaptation of a classic novel by Guy de Maupassant. it was easy to be taken in by Georges' role, where his supposedly unlikable character was in fact still likable in the film despite the circumstances. the pace was smooth sailing and the characters kept me engaged and entertained.

Tokyo Oasis 東京オアシス (2011)

Touko was an actress that left her latest filming set and came across 3 different people by chance. first, she hitched a ride with Nagano, who misunderstood that she was committing suicide while hitching a hide by the busy roadside. later, she went to a small theater and met with Kikuchi, who was a former screen writer that currently worked in the theater. lastly, she met with Yasuko, who was studying for her college entrance exam and planned to apply for a job at the zoo.

having only 4 main characters, the movie doesn't seemed to have enough space to expand its storyline. with such detailed interview-like conversation, i felt that we were supposed to care for these 4 characters, yet failed to find myself getting anywhere near nor felt engaged in any way. expecting the movie to give out something just by some random conversation was too high an expectation. it was way too dull, boring, and completely uninteresting, unworthy of its time.

Hayate no Gotoku! Heaven Is a Place on Earth 劇場版 ハヤテのごとく! (2011)

there were only few days left before summer holiday come to an end. Hayate, Nagi and their gang decided to spend the remaining holiday at the countryside, where Nishizawa had a place for them to stay. a mysterious spirit appeared to Hayate, promising to save him. as puzzled as he was, Hayate woke up the next day where Nagi's existence were wiped off everyone's mind, including his.

for once, the Hayate no Gotoku! series (2007-2011) was considered tolerable if not enjoyable. although the plot doesn't strayed far from Hayate over-protecting Nagi from whatever harm come her way, the supernatural occurrences actually made it interesting. Nagi showed an independent side of her that transformed her into a much more likable character than the usual bossy self. Hayate however, remained as unbelieving as he was in the previous sequels, where he presented himself a loyal servant to Nagi, oblivious of any romantic feelings towards any of the girls that surrounded him, including Nagi.

E.L. Pender #5: The Boys from Santa Cruz (2010)

after his dad shot himself to refuse being taken into custody and his stepmom committed suicide after burning their trailer down, Luke was left orphaned and homeless. the court sent him off to a juvenile program. but after several members of the group turned up dead, Luke became their number one suspect again. former agent Pender was assigned on the case, insisting on tracking the kid down before anyone else got hurt. but soon, he came across more clues about another psycho killer, who turned the case into a much more dangerous situation than it originally was.

Pender often reminded me of some giant bear in colorful clothes and checkered hat. the story took a decade to tell the story of Luke, where he was a 15-year-old teenager who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time for more than once, which landed him in a mental hospital that took things into their own hands and neutralize their psychopathic patients by adding chemicals into their daily dose. by the time he regained a clear mind, it was 10 years later. Pender was brought back into the old and unsolved case of Luke, which again, was led by his gut intuition. it was difficult not to be amused or entertained by Pender, a huge man with such humor and characteristic who always manage to catch the bad guy.

The Thing (2011)

Kate is a paleontologist invited by Dr. Sandor to join his team at the Arctic. his team found an extraordinary spacecraft deep underneath the ice, and not far from the craft was the remains of a strange creature. they brought the remains back to their camp for further experiments. but as the ice melted, the creature reanimated and began attacking them, infecting them into becoming a creature like it. Kate struggled with the team to identify who was infected and who was still human, but it was almost impossible to differentiate when the infected didn't even realize that they were.

it was strange to find out that The Thing (2011) was a prequel to The Thing (1982). unfortunately we haven't got a chance to catch The Thing (1982), therefore The Thing (2011) was a completely new film for us. we half expected the film to be some cheesy horror but after the alien creature reanimated, the unique idea of how it increased its population was compelling enough to have us feeling impressed. the goriness and disturbing scenes were enough to satisfy, but not enough to cause nauseousness, which was definitely good.

Nonchan Noriben のんちゃんのり弁 (2009)

Komaki had a daughter named Non-chan, whom she made delicious bento (弁当) for everyday. her husband was a writer that hold no permanent job, thus living depending on his parents' money. intended to get away from the irresponsible guy, Komaki divorced him and returned to her hometown, bringing Non-chan along. chances appeared and out of intuition, she decided to open her own Bento Shop to support herself and her daughter.

Noribem (2009) was a delicious film. the plot was simple and straightforward as Komaki struggled to be an independent woman at the age of thirty. she failed to find a job due to her age and time-limit, having to pick her daughter up from the nursery at 2pm. her unique bento that was loved by children from the nursery inspired her to open a Bento Shop, which was where all the drooling started happening. it was frustrating not being able to bite into those seemingly ordinary yet filled with so much hidden treasures underneath bento. the film was absolutely entertaining and relaxing to watch until its very end.

Area no Kishi (2012) エリアの騎士

Kakeru's brother, Suguru was a football star. believing that he was useless at soccer, Kakeru became the manager for his school's soccer team instead. however, Suguru saw the hidden talent Kakeru had within, thus they often got into arguments due to Kakeru's denial. after an accident where the brothers got hit by a truck, Suguru died and had his heart was transplanted into Kakeru. Kakeru returned to the field to continued his brother's dream of winning the World Cup.

not being a huge fan of sports, the anime held my attention from time to time, while losing me for the rest of it, a complete opposite of how Kuroko no Basuke (2012) had my completely attention especially during the competitions. Kakeru's romantic relationship with Nana was unexpectedly more captivating compared to his growth in soccer. having no will of his own, achieving goals based on his brother's dream wasn't quite as motivating as it intended to be.

E.L. Pender #4: When She Was Bad (2007)

Lyssy and Lily were both diagnosed with Multiple Personality Disorder. Lyssy was sent to the mental institution where Dr. Al took a whole new approach of electrocution to subside the multiple personality in his patients. a few years had passed since Lyssy's other personality surfaced, Dr. Al was eager to announce his successful approach. but at the same time, Lily was sent into the institution by psychiatrist Irene and FBI agent Pender. Irene was Lyssy's last victim in The Girls He Adored (2001), which caused her to be terrified of Lyssy. Dr. Al introduced the duo to meet, creating a new friendship; but it was a deadlier move than a simple romance that they expect, at the cost of their lives.

When She Was Bad (2007) was like a twisted tale of romance. the story only started after they got together, with so many alternate personalities overlapping in one another, one could only imagine the fun it brought while the duo escape the institution, escaping the adults by of course, killing everyone in the house, and went on a murderous rampage across the country. Pender had to hunt down the duo, with the help of Irene. it was impossible to not get absorbed into the book. the intensity and adrenaline were absolutely delicious! due to its unique plot, When She Was Bad (2007) was by far the most fast read in the Pender series (2001-2010) and equally entertaining.

Piranha (2010)

a sudden underwater earthquake set free a swarm of prehistoric flesh-eating fish named Piranha. Jake enjoyed his spring break reuniting with his old crush, Kelly and friend Derrick, a pornographer. Derrick dragged them onto a lake, along with a few actresses for his movie. in the meanwhile, Jake's mother, Sheriff Julie found the body of a missing man, fully consumed and left behind the bones drifting in the lake. the police department then tried to close down the lake, but were difficult to do so due to college students gathering and partying by the lake.

having watched Piranha 3DD (2012) prior to Piranha (2010), we found Piranha (2010) to be truly much better than Piranha 3DD (2012). it was absolutely gory, with chewed off limbs and cut off bodies. it was so realistic that even when we found the bodies moaned or breathed, it was still easily believable. but it was the storyline that made it better than Piranha 3DD (2012). it was no masterpiece, but a watchable horror, not forgetting a little nauseousness and disturbing aftereffect.

Konzen Tokkyuu 婚前特急 (2011)

Chie was an OL, whose motto was to try various things and be with various people to enjoy life. she dated 5 different guys and adjusted herself to their different lifestyles, meeting with whomever she felt like at the moment. she never thought of marriage until her best friend Toshiko got married. she then decided to marry one of these 5 guys, narrowing down her choices by dumping them one after another, until the last remaining candidate.

among the 5 guys Chie had to go through, she ended up with her worst candidate was ironic and completely self-inflicted. first half of the film was still fun to watch, figuring Chie out was somewhat interesting. but for the remaining time, her fighting to win the heart of the first candidate that she wanted so bad to dump, she became some sore loser that was hard to look at. so in the end, when she really ended up being with the most unworthy, disgusting, and idiotic guy, one could only laughed at her and move on.

Sengoku Collection (2012) 戦国コレクション

the warriors and samurais from the Warring period were sent through the portal and transported into the modern world. for every episode, the story followed one particular warrior, focusing on their exploration in the new world, getting amazed towards everything they encounter. when they finally met, they became great friends due to their adventure.

despite the travelling through portal part, the adventures these warrior had in the modern world were very believing, progressing from one discovery to another. although it was slightly slow paced, the storyline was brought out smoothly and presented in a way that it was interesting to watch. the beautiful warriors that took the form of random high-schooler, each with their own personality, was the anime's main attraction. but even though it doesn't exactly stood out as an anime, it was still enjoyable to watch.

E.L. Pender #3: Twenty Seven Bones (2004)

being retired doesn't stop FBI former agent Pender to stop jumping at the chance to help solve a gruesome series of murders. it was no ordinary murder, because the victims' right hand were missing. the local police tried to keep the existence of the serial killer under the radar, with the hope of solving the crime before the media came in. Pender was convinced that the killer was Apgard, the husband of the last victim, however he had yet seen the connection between Apgard and his neighbor. the Epps were a husband-and-wife team of archaeologists, often followed closely behind was Bennie, their Indonesian assistant. they believed that if they breathed in their victim's last breath, their life could be extended.

Twenty Seven Bones (2004) were absolutely fast paced, with the involvement of plenty characters from the neighborhood, which at first was confusing but soon became so intense and disturbing as it was so difficult to identify the killer when it could be anyone from the neighborhood. the tension continued to build itself towards the dramatic end, and the unexpected twists of events kept the tale exciting and alive until the very end. Apgard managed to turn from a nobody to a distasteful character in a short amount of time. he was the rich brat who often get what he wanted and later tried to get rid of what gave him the disadvantage.

Piranha 3DD (2012)

a year after the attack on Lake Victoria, the town had been abandoned as tourism took a huge hit due to the appearance of the prehistoric piranhas. the swarm of blood-thirsty piranhas swam upstream and made their way into a newly opened water park, named the Big Wet. to defend the water park that she co-owned with her stepfather, Maddy must take on these man-eating creatures with the help of her friends, Barry and Kyle.

coming across Piranha (2010) and Piranha 3DD (2012), i choose to watch the newer one instead of the more recommended one, which i regretted the decision soon after. the film was a drag. the situation where the characters were placed in took way too long for it to reach its climax. and with the time spent dragging through its plot, the climax in contrast, seemed too short to be satisfying. and with the mess that was going on, it was difficult to tell what was actually going on. on the other hand, it had me wondering if the humors was accidental, for it absolutely doesn't fit into the genre, but further ruining an already bad film.

Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou (2012) 私立バカレア高校

Bakada High School was a Yankee (ヤンキー) boys school led by Tatsuya; while Cattleya Academy was an exclusive girls' school led by Eri. one day, Bakada was announced to be merged with Cattleya, forming Cattleya No. 2 High School. the students had a difficult time accepting each other, especially with their different backgrounds. the more time they spent together, the more incidents occurred. but these incidents gave the 2 opposing groups chances to slowly understand each other better.

despite having some predictable scenes and the Yankee's fights that seemed to drag on for way too long every single time, it was a fun drama to watch. there were plenty of eye-candies with the vast amount of beautiful boys (Johnny's Jr.) and girls (AKB48's Team 4) used, which although being amateurs, were quite believable with their sufficient acting skills. some of the key characters were frustrating if not annoying to watch at first, but they eventually grew on me.

Hiiro no Kakera (2012) 緋色の欠片

Tamaki moved to the village to live with her grandmother after her parents were transferred to overseas. the real reason she must moved back into the village was hidden from her. she later found out that it was her purpose to seal the sword Onikirimaru (鬼切丸). she had to fend herself, fighting creatures that supposedly existed only in myths. 5 young men were assigned as her guardians while she fulfill her destiny as the Tamayorihime (玉依姫).

with so many male characters circling one female character, it was obvious that Hiiro no Kakera (2012) was targeting the female audiences. despite the good looking characters, the plot was nothing new. Tamaki was the descendant of the Tamayorihime (Tamayori Princess) who was said to possess great power. however, for more than half of the series, she was just some random damsel in distress, protected by 5 stunning guys over and over again. the pace of the story was slow, which only got slightly better at the end.

E.L. Pender #2: Fear Itself (2003)

just a few days before retirement, FBI agent Pender received a letter from Dorie, mentioning some unlikely deaths of people like her, who attended conference for suffering a variety of phobias. however, these deaths seemed strange, not some random suicides as they appeared to be - a man afraid of heights fell nineteen stories to his death, a woman terrified of blood was found with her wrists slashed. now that her friend Wayne missed their appointment, Dorie was afraid that the killer was coming for them next. the moment Pender stepped into the case, he suspected these suicides were the works of a twisted psychopath.

it was so much fun following Pender on his chase and Dorie on her run. as always, Pender had his intuition to lead him to the intelligent killer, who was so good in covering his tracks that he overdid it and left a empty spot behind. the mystery was at its peak until they figured out who the killer was. but when he was on the run that sent Pender on the chase, the story became slightly dragging. fortunately when Pender caught up, there were a final showdown that made it all interesting again, giving it a perfect end. while the fear of heights and blood were much more infectious and relatable, Dorie's fear of masks was less terrifying and it could have been better if her phobia had been a more relatable one.

The Dinosaur Project (2012)

Marchant set out on a quest "The Dinosaur Project" with his team of explorers, with the aim of finding the water creature whose origins were rooted in myth. his son Luke hid in their luggage compartment of the helicopter the team were riding. hovering over the sky of an isolated African jungle, the helicopter was attacked and brought down by a flock of strange birds that looked surprisingly similar to the Pterosaurs. while they tried to survive until they were rescued, the team came across different variety of dinosaurs, which civilization had presumed extinct for million for years.

The Dinosaur Project (2012) felt like some low-budget action film that adapted the ideas from Cloverfield (2008) and Jurassic Park (1993). it was painful to watch as the film was supposedly shot from Luke's pocket cameras, where he ran and stumbled all over the place, jotting our images like the terrible Cloverfield (2008) did, fortunately not enough to cause nauseousness. the plot was fairy simple, the team strolled through the jungle, got killed one by one. when the team got down to only a few left, one of the unsuspected member turned into the bad guy and started killing people instead. Marchant and Luke had such bad father-and-son relationship that it was obvious that they had to patch up and of course, right before one of them die. the only scenes worth watching were the dinosaurs. they were believable and having such closeups, it was a thrill to look at.

Kaiji 2: Jinsei Dakkai Gemu カイジ2: 人生奪回ゲーム (2011)

a year after successfully rid himself of all debts, Kaiji was back in the same debt ridden situation. with the help of those sharing his fate in the underground, he was given 2 weeks to clear his debts and releasing everyone else that was involved. he then came across a pachinko (パチンコ) machine called The Swamp owned by the Teai organization. together with Ichizo, Sakazaki, Tonegawa, and Yumi, they threw every cash they owned into the hands of Kaiji, while their lives were at stake.

like the first Kaiji (2009), Kaiji 2 (2011) had a slow moving pace as well. the building tilting idea might be slightly impressive if not impossible to achieve, but that was how far it went. the rest of the film was mostly predictable, especially the point that Kaiji would win no matter the odds, and having everyone on board, giving him their trusts and everything. the pachinko (パチンコ) machine was a luck ridden game, though in the film it was purposely tweak to have no winner, thus Kaiji and his gang was forced to play around that to win the money it stacked within.

Acchi Kocchi (2012) あっちこっち

Tsumiki and Io were close friends. despite feeling connected and often depending on each other, they had yet become lovers. their awkward relationship was obvious to their friends, thus they often jumped in between the duo just to get on their nerves.

the story followed the life of Tsumiki and Io, where they attended school and hung out with their friends. however, the happenings around them were often hilarious. the anime reminded me of Lucky Star (2007) as well as Toradora (2008), especially Tsumiki that felt so much like a shy version of Konata or Taiga. she was a bit of a Tsundere, but absolutely adorable when came face to face with Io. even though there weren't a strong storyline behind the anime, it was enjoyable just by watching their interaction. they were so comfortable together that it was absolutely sweet and heartwarming. not to mention the satisfaction after watching every episode and yearning for more.

E.L. Pender #1: The Girls He Adored (2001)

FBI agent Pender had been investigating the random disappearances of women across the country. among the women, their only common characteristic was their strawberry blond hair. Max was an intelligent killer who suffered from Multiple Personality Disorder. he staged a jailbreak and kidnapped Irene, his court-appointed psychiatrist. she was kept in a secluded shelter away from civilization. she analyzed Max's various personalities, some viewed her as his prisoner, and others his salvation. she knew enough to survive by playing along with his game of perversion. but soon, under all the layers she discovered a shattered background of a young boy.

Max was actually a very appealing character. mass amount of time was spent on building his character, especially the abusive childhood that played a huge role in shaping him into the monster that he eventually became. at some point, i felt sorry for him for losing so much innocence at such a young age. the storyline original and engaging, being fast paced made it an absolutely exciting read. its creepiness and goriness was a delicious treat to the mind. it was one thriller that kept things tense throughout the book, with no promising ending as the story slowly formed, but eventually everything came together, giving a satisfying end.