The best anime in winsolu review

The best anime? We know in every year, hundreds of anime produced in Japan or in other countries. We need a list of the best anime to reference it? Here are 10 best anime in 2010 yesterday:
1. Naruto
Based on the manga by Masashi Kishimoto, Naruto is the story of a young ninja, motivated to learn that he is actually a ship of the dark forces and evil, evil nine-tailed Fox evil entity is captured by a head of the village when Naruto was a baby. The leader is a demon for a baby Naruto and later died - one from the village to blame this loss Naruto. Naruto started in quest of self-discovery, hoping to become the leader of the people next door, called the Hokage. Naruto debuted in Japan in 2002 and again in the U.S. in 2005 through the Cartoon Network Toonami.

2. Bleach
Based on the manga written by Tite Kubo Shonen, Bleach is the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, a young man who accidentally acquire the power of a shinigami. Like the more familiar "Grim Reaper", shinigami have to help the souls to the afterlife, but they have other responsibilities as well - which should protect people from evil spirits. This anime began airing in Japan in 2004. VIZ MEDIA acquire rights in North America and bring Bleach for the country in 2006 on Cartoon Network programming block Adult Swim.

3. Afro Samurai
With Samuel L. voice Jackson, Afro Samurai is based on the graphic novel by Takashi Okazaki and tell the story of a samurai alone who want a little revenge for the death of his father. To avenge this, of course, must travel the land, make friends and enemies along the road. Jackson co-produced the series and without doubt one of the best anime releases you'll find in this decade. Distributed by FUNimation, the series premiered on Spike TV in 2006 and hit DVD shelves in 2007.

4. Death Note
Based on the manga by writer Tsugumi Ohba and artist Takeshi Obata, Death Note is the story of a young student who finds a mystical book that gives power over life and death. The decision to save the world from some of the less desirable elements, he began to use the book to "downgrade" the criminals. But it was not long before the famous detective L decides to track citizens. Death Note was released in Japan in 2006 and lasted for 37 episodes. Debuted on Cartoon Network Adult Swim in late 2007.

5. Black Lagoon: The Second Dam
Black Lagoon: The Second Dam is the ongoing story of Lagoon Company, a group of mercenaries piracy and adventure travel on the road. This anime is definitely a collection of strange and scary so be careful: this is not for the faint heart. That said, is one of my favorites and have the ability to make you want "more." Since "weird" is not an official genre, may classify this film as a psychological action. Black Lagoon: The Second Dam debuted in the United States in 2008 after a career in Japan in 2006.

6. Hellsing
Hellsing is a story about a group of vampire vigilante - Hellsing Organization - and his target, the Millennium, a mysterious organization that specializes Nazis in creating artificial vampires. Created by Gonzo and rReleased in Japan in 2001, Hellsing does not hit the U.S. until much later - 2006.

7. Fullmetal Alchemist
Released in Japan in 2003 and then in the United States end of 2004, Fullmetal Alchemist is based on the manga by Hiromu Arakawa the same name and ran for 51 episodes.The story of two brothers - Edward and Alphonse Elric - Fullmetal Alchemist brings us into a fictional scientific achieved fantastic journey in which to learn all about the principles of alchemy and see first hand what happens if you do not comply.

8. Mushi Shi
Although there is some edge of your seat story, Mushi-Shi Anime makes my list because the Decade of the story is so original and most importantly, the animation is quite lovely Unlike most of the sample anime, Mushi-Shi does not really have a plot running with a warning that our narrator Ginko is a drifter who can see Mushi "- a supernatural entity - and moving around trying to minimize their cause chaos in the human world but more than that rather constant., each episode is a stand-alone story, with beginning and end, something that I found refreshing in the midst of so many stories that continue to episode 200 +.

9. Gungrave
This supernatural thriller adapted from video games Gungrave and debuted in Japan in 2003. Acquired by Geneon Entertainment and is part of the agreement with FUNimation releases, 2008. The Story of Brandon Heat and his life after death revenge, Gungrave is a terrifying, bloody impressive and, therefore, the value of "M" for mature audiences.

10.Darker Than Black
This post-apocalyptic press debut in Japan in 2007 and then click each state through the end of 2008 DVD. The story of a futuristic Earth where, apart from the odd address "distortions" in the atmosphere, there is also a new type of contractor called human. The contractor has a number of different strengths and abilities and the like used for various reasons, some good and others as well .. not so good. The series was created by Tensai Okamura and produced by Studio Bones - in an interesting side note, unlike most anime titles, manga is not created until after the anime.
How you think about list in here? Please give me your opinion. :)

Karakter dalam Naruto

Naruto
Naruto Uzumaki adalah tokoh utama cerita ini. Ia adalah seorang ninja dari desa Konoha, Salah satu desa militer terkuat di dunia ninja. Naruto dikarakteristikkan sebagai seorang ninja yang penuh kejutan, bersemangat, ceria, hiperaktif, kikuk,lugu, dan sangat ambisius dalam meraih cita-citanya untuk menjadi seorang Hokage, ninja terkuat di Konoha. Dalam tubuh Naruto, tersegel seekor monster rubah ekor sembilan yang pernah menyerang dan hampir menghancurkan desa Konohagakure segel tersebut dibuat oleh ayahnya yondaime (minato kamikaze) hokage ke 4 yang menimbulkan kematian pada ayahnya. Karena monster yang ada dalam tubuhnya itulah, ia dijauhi oleh penduduk desa di masa kecilnya hingga ia bertekat membuktikan kepada masyarakat di Konoha bahwa ia akan menjadi Hokage agar ia bisa diakui di desa itu, sekaligus menjadi incaran ninja-ninja yang menginginkan kekuatan Kyuubi, si rubah ekor sembilan.

Ia sanggat menyukai Sakura Haruno, namun cintanya bertepuk sebelah tangan karena Sakura lebih menyukai Sasuke daripada Naruto. Naruto adalah putra dari Hokage ke-4 yang bernama Minato Namikaze atau lebih dikenal dengan Yondaime Hokage.

Jurus andalan: rasengan

Sakura Haruno
Sakura adalah salah satu rekan satu tim sekaligus wanita idaman Naruto, namun ia lebih menyukai Sasuke daripada Naruto. Dia adalah seorang ninja berbakat yang selalu mendapat nilai sempurna di setiap ujian yang diikutinya. Sakura memiliki kepribadian yang unik dan seringkali ia bertindak di luar nurani untuk menjaga citranya sebagai seorang wanita yang baik dan anggun yang sering disebut dengan "nurani Sakura".

Sasuke Uchiha


Sasuke
Sasuke adalah teman satu tim Naruto bersama dengan Sakura. Ia adalah seorang ninja berbakat yang selalu menyendiri dan jarang bergaul. Sikapnya yang dingin serta kemampuan bertarung yang tinggi membuatnya dinilai banyak wanita terutama Sakura dan Ino.

Ia memiliki masa lalu yang kelam dan -sama seperti Naruto- hidup sendirian; tanpa teman dan keluarga. Cita-citanya adalah untuk menjadi ninja yang kuat dan membunuh Itachi Uchiha, kakak kandungnya, yang bertanggung jawab atas kematian seluruh keluarganya.

Jurus andalan: Chidori

Hatake Kakashi


Hatake
Kakashi Hatake adalah guru pembimbing sekaligus rekan satu tim Naruto. Meskipun terlihat lemah, ia adalah seorang ninja jenius yang memiliki sharingan, sebuah kemampuan garis keturunan khusus klan Uchiha yang ia dapatkan dari almarhum temannya, Obito Uchiha (teman Kakashi saat masih menjadi Chuunin; ia mati saat menjalankan misi dari Yondaime). Dia tipe orang yang santai dan acuh, namun dapat bertindak cepat dan serius apabila diperlukan. Seringkali ia terlihat sedang membaca sebuah buku yang berjudul Icha Icha Paradise! (Datanglah Surga!) yang dikarang oleh Jiraiya. Satu hal yang menarik dari Kakashi adalah mulutnya tidak pernah diperlihatkan kepada pembaca. Mulutnya selalu ditutupi, tidak hanya saat ia bertugas tetapi baik waktu tidur [dengan buku Icha Icha Paradise nya] maupun waktu di tempat permandian [dengan handuk]. Dalam anime, Naruto,dkk pernah mencoba melihat wajah Kakashi, namun usaha mereka gagal.

Jurus andalan: Chidori(Kakashi menyebutnya Raikiri, yang artinya 'pedang petir' setelah berhasil memotong petir dgn chidori.)

Guy
Guy adalah seorang Jonin yang sangat bersemangat dan memiliki penampilan mirip dengan Rock Lee, seorang Jonin yang handal dalam taijutsu, 'menganggap' Kakashi saingannya. Bertekad untuk menjadikan Rock Lee seorang ninja yang hebat. Pose nice guy dan rambut bob nya menjadi ciri khas dirinya dan Rock Lee.

Jurus andalan: Dynamikku Entori(Dynamic Entry)

Rock Lee
Lee adalah seorang ninja yang handal dalam penggunaan taijutsu. Hal ini dikarenakan ia tidak dapat menguasai ninjutsu maupun genjutsu dengan baik. Oleh karena itu, ia berjuang keras untuk menjadi ninja walaupun tidak bisa ninjutsu. Dulunya diejek oleh Neji karena tidak bisa ninjutsu, namun Lee berhasil membuktikan tidak semua ninja harus menguasai ninjutsu. Lee amat mengidolakan guru Guy yang dianggapnya ninja terkuat. Lee menirukan gaya dan penampilan dari Guy. Menyukai Sakura layaknya Naruto tetapi cintanya hanya bertepuk sebelah tangan. Menganggap Neji dan Sasuke merupakan rival.

Jurus Andalan: Konoha Senpuu

Neji Hyuga
Neji adalah seorang keturunan clan terkenal di Konoha yaitu clan Hyuga. Clan ini terkenal akan kemampuan mata yang disebut dengan 'byakkugan'nya. Berbeda dengan Hinata, Neji berasal dari cabang keluarga Hyuuga kalangan bawah yang harus mengabdi pada kaum kalangan atas Clan Hyuga. Semula ia membenci Hinata karena hinata suka sama agunk dan kaum kalangan atas karena dianggap penyebab kematian sang ayah tercinta. Neji juga semula percaya bahwa tiap manusia hidup hanya menuruti takdir dan tidak dapat mengubahnya. Tetapi, setelah bertarung dan dikalahkan Naruto pandangannya pun berubah terhadap takdir maupun Hinata dan Kalangan atas serta tahu alasan sang Ayah meninggal.

Jurus andalan: Byakkugan, Juuken Hou Hakke Rokujuuyonshou

Tenten
Tenten adalah seorang kunoichi yang handal dalam penggunaan senjata ninja. Mengagumi Rock Lee karena melihat tekad Lee yang kuat. Ia menyimpan banyak senjata dalam gulungannya kadang dia tidak pernah dilibatkan dalam setiap misi.

Asuma Sarutobi
Asuma adalah seorang jonin yang tangguh dan kuat. Merupakan anak dari Hokage 3, seorang perokok berat, penanggung jawab Shikamaru, Chouji dan Ino. Suka bermain shogi bersama Shikamaru. Pisau chakra anginnya amat tajam dan berbahaya, selalu menolong Shikamaru, dekat dengan Kurenai. Tetapi sayang, Asuma meninggal di tangan anggota Akatsuki bernama Hidan.

Shikamaru Nara
Shikamaru adalah seorang shinobi yang malas dan tidak tertarik dengan keterkenalan. Dibalik itu semua, Shikamaru adalah seorang shinobi yang amat cerdas dan berjiwa pemimpin. Strategi yang Ia ciptakan dalam menghadapi musuh - musuhnya amat mencengangkan baik pihak lawan maupun lawan. Selalu berusaha untuk bersikap gentleman dihadapan para wanita. Jurus andalannya disebut dengan jurus pengikat bayangan(kagemane no jutsu). Sangat menghormati sang guru, Asuma, mereka sering bermain shogi bersama - sama diwaktu luang. Ia amat terpukul saat kematian sang guru tercinta. Sahabat karib dari Chouji.

Jurus andalan: Kagemane no jutsu

Ino Yamanaka
Ino adalah seorang kunoichi yang satu tim dengan Shikamaru dan Chouji. Ino juga merupakan sahabat lama Sakura saat masih di Akademi, namun sekarang mereka menjadi rival untuk merebut hati Sasuke. Mempunyai sifat yang centil dan cerewet, menyukai Sasuke layaknya Sakura. Ia menyukai berbagai jenis bunga terutama mawar yang berwarna ungu.

Chouji Akamichi
Chouji adalah seorang shinobi yang kuat dan setia kawan. Menyukai memakan snack kentang goreng dan makan yakiniku bersama kelompok asuma, sahabat Shikamaru dari kecil. Chouji mengangap Shikamru adalah ninja yang hebat dan lebih kuat dari siapapun. 'Gendut' adalah kata tabu baginya.

Jurus andalan: Nikudan Sensha

Jiraiya
Jiraiya adalah salah satu Legendary Sannin(3 ninja legenda) yang terkenal di Konoha, disamping Orochimaru dan Tsunade. Jiraiya berperan melindungi Naruto dari organisasi rahasia akatsuki dan mengajari jurus dari hokage keempat setelah Naruto beranjak dewasa karena Naruto kerap diincar oleh akatsuki yang menginginkan kekuatan dari "kyubi".

Jurus andalan: Rasengan

Orochimaru
Salah satu dari 3 ninja legenda selain Jiraiya dan Tsunade. Orochimaru dianggap paling jenius diantara 3 ninja legenda. Awalnya akan diangkat menjadi hokage ke-4 oleh hokage ke-3, Sarutobi, namun karena ia menggunakan ilmu gelap, Sarutobi mengangkat Minato Namikaze sebagai Hokage ke-4. Orochimaru menginginkan kekuatan dan kehidupan yang abadi, sehingga ia mengembangkan jurus Tensei (perpindahan roh) untuk berpindah-pindah tubuh. Ia menginginkan tubuh Itachi yang mempunyai sharingan, namun kemampuannya masih jauh dibawah Itachi, sehingga ia mengincar Sasuke yang menurutnya berpotensi

Daftar Istilah dalam cerita naruto

Berikut istilah-istilah yang sering digunakan dalam cerita ini:
Bijuu
Siluman yang berasal dari cakra yg berjumlah besar, berjumlah 9 ekor (Ichibi, Nibi, Sanbi, Yonbi, gobi,rokubi,nanabi, hachibi, dan Kyuubi). Dan menurut para penduduk yang desanya memiliki Bijuu, satu tebasan ekor mereka dapat menyebabkan Tsunami,Gempa, dan bencana besar lainnya.
Chakra
Tenaga yang mengalir dalam tubuh yang tersimpan setelah latihan keras dan bisa digunakan untuk berbagai macam hal; terutama untuk mengeluarkan jutsu.
Hokage
(ho = api) ninja pemimpin/terkuat di negara Api. Negara-negara lainnya memiliki kage-kage yang lain semacam Kazekage dll.
Jinchuuriki
Orang yang ditubuhnya tersegel bijuu.
Jutsu
Jurus, teknik, sesuatu yang digunakan oleh ninja sebagai serangan maupun pertahanan. Dibagi menjadi tiga, yaitu taijutsu, ninjutsu, dan genjutsu. Yang dimaksud dengan taijutsu adalah teknik dasar ninja berupa gerakan fisik seperti melompat, memukul, atau menendang. Ninjutsu adalah teknik ninja yang menggunakan chakra untuk mengeluarkan jutsu-jutsu dengan elemen tertentu. Sedangkan genjutsu adalah teknik ninja yang mampu membawa musuhnya ke dalam dunia ilusi. Sebenarnya masih ada satu jurus lagi yang disebut fuinjutsu atau jurus segel, contohnya segel yang ada pada tubuh sasuke yang bisa membuatnya lebih kuat meski hanya bisa sampai joutai 2 dan segel yang berada pada naruto tempat kyuubi berada.
Kuchiyose
Kuchiyose atau "hewan panggilan" (summon) adalah hewan yang dapat dipanggil untuk kemudian digunakan untuk menyerang sebagai senajta tinja. Contohnya adalah ketika Kakashi memanggil sepasukan anjing (dog pack) untuk membantunya melawan Zabuza (versi anime: episode 6 hingga episode 12 dan versi manga dari jilid 3 hingga jilid 6), Jiraiya memangil keluarga katak Gamabunta (raja katak),Gamaken dll., Orochimaru memanggil Manda (raja ular raksasa), Tsunade memanggil Katsuyu (Siput raksasa) dan Naruto memanggil katak yang merupakan anak dari Gamabunta yaitu Gamakichi (kadang-kadang datang bersama adiknya Gamatatsu yang akhirnya cuma mengganggu saja). Summon juga dapat digabungankan atau berubah bentuk bila bersatu dengan pemanggilnya.
Kunoichi
Ninja perempuan. Seperti Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Tenten, Temari, Tayuya,Tsunade, Shizune, dan masih banyak lagi yang pokoknya ninja perempuan.
Shinobi
Sebutan lain untuk ninja.

Mermaid Saga

If you've heard of Rumiko Takahashi before and you're about to write Mermaid Forest off as yet another love story, you are making a mistake. Not only is this NOT a love story, it's not even bright and cheerful as her usual works are. Based on her Mermaid manga series, Mermaid Forest starts us off in the middle of the story's timeline but the anime itself alternates between the past and the present, so you don't feel confused.

This dark tale about human relationships and greed does not lack anything that can make your skin crawl. If you are a visual person, it has buckets of blood and mutated monsters galore. What we love about Mermaid Forest however is it shows you just enough to make you imagine what comes next. Just as Alfred Hitchcock can make us "see" Psycho Norman Bates bloodily slashing Janet Leigh in the shower with just her scream, his knife, and that music, Mermaid Forest makes us cringe with just a scalpel and a skinned human face.

Although Mermaid Forest tried to be faithful to the original artwork from the manga, it has been 10 years between the two and certain things needed to be updated: darker colors, more shadows, and more angles. All in all, this update accentuates and brings everything closer to the eeriness and disturbing feel of the story.

Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts

We think we can all agree that being able to summon monsters during class would make school more fun. In Baka and Test: Summon the Beasts (otherwise known as BakaTest), the students can do just that, but there's a catch; it's still school. If your grades aren't up to snuff, well, your monster isn't going to be very intimidating, now is it? This premise- where the strength of students' 'beings' (actually super-deformed, and quite adorable, versions of themselves) is directly proportionate to their grades- pulls off the neat trick of combining the character interaction of school-based anime with the charm and sheer fun-factor of Japanese strategy RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea. And it's pretty ingenious; the only problem with it, and the main problem with BakaTest in general, is that the show doesn't use it enough.

The story centers around the lowest-ranked class, with the weakest grades and therefore the weakest summons, trying to challenge the stronger classes for the prize of better facilities- the better classes get snacks and posh classrooms, while the "baka" (idiots) have to make do with cardboard desks. Yoshii, the school's worst student and our protagonist, has a being with a very interesting ability- to explain what it can do would be to spoil it. Adding to our poor students' chances of actually earning proper desks are Himeji, a student who should be in a better class (but doesn't mind sharing the lowest tier with Yoshii, her crush) a tomboy, a budding evil mastermind, a peeping tom, and a boy who looks so much like a girl that even the other boys want him. The rest of Class F is usually depicted as a faceless mob who are so downtrodden, they will beat up anyone lucky enough to get a date (and poor Yoshii!)

When BakaTest is firing on all cylinders, it's fast, frenetic fun, and above all, funny- in fact, BakaTest has some of the funniest jokes we've ever seen in anime, period. Characters like Yoshii manage to check off a lot of items on the typical anime character checklist, yet still feel like their own characters as opposed to archetypes. Some of the anime in-jokes- Code Geass, and Evangelion are just two of the many anime parodied- make the show a special treat for those who watch lot of anime.

However, it often seems like there wasnít quite enough great material to fill the showís twelve episodes, leading to a lot of repetition of the jokes. At worst, it wallows in some of the tired school-anime and romantic comedy staples that itís supposed to be parodying. For example, Minami, the resident violent girl, often uses ridiculously complex and brutal wrestling moves on Yoshii. The first few times you see it, it's quite funny- by taking the "girl beats up the guy she likes" joke and taking it to such elaborate lengths, they manage to make a rather tired joke funny again. However, by the time you've seen it for the fifteenth time, it's become the same old joke that you're sick of again, because you've become immune to the audacity of it. Furthermore, a different couple takes the "girl beats up guy" joke so far that some may find it disturbing, but that's a separate issue.

Entire episodes pass that have nothing to do with the main plot, and feature the cast in typical situations where their summoning abilities are an afterthought- it comes across as obvious filler. The filler is such a problem that we found ourselves irritated with the show more than once, wishing the cast would just get on with the summon battles again. Fortunately, just when you think BakaTest has completely emptied it's bag of tricks, an episode will come along that squeezes so much animated eye candy and pure fun into twenty four minutes that you find yourself slightly in love. It's frustrating, because when it's good it's very good, but the weaker episodes can be borderline insulting to your intelligence.

Furthermore, the show's desire to skewer lots of common trends in anime can work against it. For some reason, incest has become a surprisingly common theme in anime lately, so of course, BakaTest includes it and dials it up to, if not 11, at least a solid 8. Without even getting into the fact that incest is bound to make some viewers uncomfortable, there's still the problem that the incest storyline isn't nearly as funny or interesting as anything else that's going on. Several plot points in the show seem to have been added because they represent common themes in anime lately, not because the show needs them or even has much use for them.

Still, even if the show only lives up to its potential half of the time (and that's being generous), the great art and direction pushes it more firmly onto the side of the angels. Even the poorer episodes always have a few great sight gags, and the character art is crisp and attractive. There's a great use of screen real estate; a lot of care went into how shots are framed, and it really shows during chase scenes. Finally, If you like fantasy RPGs at all, you'll probably love the summoned beings- complete with fantasy weapons and armor- and even if you don't, they're still adorable. If Yoshii's being in particular, with his little fluffy tail, doesn't get an "awwww, cute!" response from you, we really don't know what to tell you; you might be weird.

The repetitive nature of many of the gags makes it difficult to give the show an unqualified recommendation, but the fact remains that BakaTest at its best is a force to be reckoned with. We think that for most viewers, the clever premise and inventive direction will be enough to make BakaTest a gleeful watch, but those who find themselves easily bored or annoyed with the kinds of jokes that are popular in anime these days had best look elsewhere- there are only a few episodes that focus purely on summoning, and perhaps too many focused on the whole "Baka" angle.

Angel Beats

The afterlife is a subject of great debate by philosophers, scholars, and... animators? Okay, well, pretty much every medium has espoused stories of the afterlife, but Angel Beats at least gets points for putting it in a different setting, school.

Set in a school-like afterlife, where main protagonist Otonashi has woken up with no memories of his life prior to death. Not only does he learn that he is dead, but that there are rules he must abide by in order to keep existing. Actually, the major guideline to merely oppose the natural way of things.

As a purgatory setting, the school is seen as a place in-between life and death, a place of purification. The majority of the school is staffed with NPCs (Non-player characters) and the general belief is that by going with the flow of things, you disappear and pass on. The thinking, feeling characters in this narrative band together, and oppose the school, in order to validate their existence, and continue on.

Drafted in to the SSS (Shinda Sekai Sensen - Afterlife War Front) by the charismatic Yuri, Otonashi engages in a series of disruptive, but otherwise prank-like mischief, and ironically, seems to help people pass on regardless.

Beyond the concept, the work comes off as incredibly derivative. While the character designs are enjoyable, there are incredibly notable parallels (design and personality) between characters in this and characters in the more prominent Haruhi Suzumiya series. Possessing the gloss, polish, and soundtrack a high budget brings, the show should be enjoyable, but opening it up for such scrutiny does not end up well for Angel beats.

Though, a note for the sake of Key fans, the concept and character designs were done by Key staffers Jun Maeda and Na-Ga, known for their work on titles like Kanon, Air, and Clannad.

Ginban Kaleidoscope

As a show about figure skating, the typical rule of sports anime applies to Ginban Kaleidoscope: if you like the sport, add +10 to your interest level in the anime. However, unlike a lot of sports-based anime, the details of the sport aren't that terribly important- we couldn't tell if the animators were really making a triple lutz look different from a triple flip, and it didn't seem to matter. What does matter is that it's one of the most romantic anime around.

Our vantage point is frosty Japanese figure skater Tazusa, an unusually unsympathetic protagonist (although the show makes it work.) Tazusa is arrogant, aware that she's both beautiful and skilled, and is pretty much hated by the media in Japan for her attitude despite her obvious talent. She is soon possessed by a Canadian ghost named Pete Pumps: we'll let that sink in for a moment.

Early on, when Tazusa is running around like a chicken with her head cut off, screaming "Why am I possessed by a Canadian ghost?" and "I hate you, Pete Pumps!", the show actually approaches so-bad-its-good territory; it really does look and sound pretty darn ridiculous. However, if you can put up with the rough and silly beginning, there's a great emotional payoff in Ginban Kaleidoscope; despite the fantastical nature of Tazusa and Pete's relationship, it actually develops in a much more interesting, and dare we even say realistic, manner than most anime couples. Not only does our ice princess (yes, it's the most obvious pun ever) thaw noticeably without ever crossing into to-good-to-be-true territory, as many reformed characters do, but the way the two end up sharing Tazusa's sensations- one meager life, split between two people- is surprisingly nuanced and poignant. It's also the rare show with a definitive beginning, middle and end.

There is a fair amount of humor, but it's more successful as a romance than as a comedy- the jokes are rarely laugh-out-loud funny, and some of the humor may not even be strictly intentional. Nevertheless, the show has its moments- one comment of Tazusa's to a snotty rival is pure comedy gold.
The character design, animation and production values in general are average- Tazusa could be any number of raven-haired anime girls, and no one else really stands out. There's even a Rei Ayanami clone among the figure skaters for no apparent reason. However, the writers really commit to the story, and for that reason, it's in a better class of entertainment than a lot of anime that are far more pleasing to look at.

It's also somewhat unique among sports anime in that winning and losing is comparatively unimportant; while you do find yourself rooting for Tazusa as she sheds her arrogant shell and starts to share her life with Pete, how she places in competitions starts to feel unimportant. That's part of what makes Ginban Kaleidoscope so satisfying; instead of striving for that first-place victory- which usually feels inevitable in sports anime, and therefore somewhat hollow- it's about a different type of victory. Yet, it's never patronizing, and maintains that winning is important, especially for a professional athlete; it's just that, much like Tazusa and Pete, our thoughts are primarily elsewhere.

For those who are fans of both figure skating and anime, Ginban Kaleidoscope is a no-brainer recommendation; after all, it's not like there's a tremendous amount of entertainment featuring this sport to choose from, anime or otherwise- and the less said about Skating with the Stars, the better. However, for viewers who enjoy something romantic- not melodramatic, drawn out and soap opera-like, not hot and sexy, but that all too rare thing, something genuinely, unabashedly romantic- this anime is a hidden gem.