The best way to describe a show as er... unique as Kodomo no Omocha (Kodocha henceforth), would be "pure video crack." Kodocha is so spastic I can only take it in half hour doses, lest I risk permanant problems that nobody has identified yet. The show's pacing is so spastic that it can have anybody go from rolling on the floor laughing to shedding a few tears within four seconds. Of course, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, since like life, the changes of atmosphere are totally unpredictable (unless you've seen the series) and unexpected. The series focuses around a semi-normal elementary school girl named Sana and her experiences in life. Doesn't sound too appealing at first, does it? The story quickly becomes interesting when you find out that Sana is a child actress, her mother is an eccentric award-winning author with a squirrel living on her head, and Sana's boyfriend is also her pimp. In her school life, things become even more hectic as the girl's school life, which is quite literally chaos, as local bully Akito Hayama rules her class with an iron fist. Throughout her experiences, Sana takes the viewer through many MANY hilarious scenes, as well as a few heart-wrenching scenes. The thing that makes this show so charming however, is its unusual pacing. Kodocha seems to be the "manic depressive" of anime, moving quickly from hilarity to depression, and back again within the entire span of five minutes at times. Although this sounds like something that would turn most fans off, it is actually a very large drawing point, as the changes of pace are both fitting and interesting at the same time. Of course, with a 100+ episode series, there is a fair share of episodes that make the viewers want to just jab their eyes out with a rusty spoon in hopes that the pain will eventually end. When these moments are over, the viewer is treated once again to pure visual ecstacy until the next lull in the story.

If I had to describe to describe Dragon Half in two words, they would be "pure insanity". This show seriously is action, action, action from start to finish, having an Excel Saga-ish appeal throughout. The series would have ranked much higher, but the fact stands that it's only two episodes. On top of that, the series just hangs after the second episode, with no closure or resolution to the initial plotline. Of course, the ride is fun while it lasts, offering laughs galore through the entire two episodes. I still can't get the thought of Mink's father telling his daughter that he wants "in on the fun" after walking into an awkward situation. Overall, Dragon Half is an exercise in pure hilarity, and will have even the most jaded viewer on the floor laughing so hard that tears form by the middle of the first episode.

OH MY GOD! These are the three words that viewers will get used to hearing in very loud Engrish at the end of every episode. Haunted Junction is the kind of series that successfully mixes two genres of opposite ends of the spectrum. In this case it's horror and comedy. Actually, the series is more of a satirical view of the Japanese "seven school spirits" that seem to haunt every school in the country. Of course, it's unknown whether these legends are true in reality, but they certainly are in Haunted Junction. Saito High School (where the story takes place) is a literal hotbed of paranormal activity, containing ghosts of all types that roam its halls. Because of this, the school has adopted a Holy Student Council to keep these spirits in check. Of course, what would this student council be if it weren't absolutely quirky? The council is made up of three members: Haruto Hojo, Mutsuki Asahina, and Kazumi Ryudo. Asahina is the daughter of a shinto priest, and a skilled exorcist to boot. This is especially helpful for Kazumi, son of a Buddhist monk that is always being possessed. Haruto is the odd man out in the group, being the son of a minister that seemingly has no real abilities whatsoever until he discovers that he can summon the seven school spirits. Naturally, along with these powers comes fun personalities to match. Haruto is very high-strung, and sincerely does not want to follow the religious path that has been laid for him. Instead he wants to live the "normal" life of a business worker. Asahina is seemingly normal, taking things in stride... until she comes across a boy in her desired age range of 12 or under. Then, she becomes no more than a swooning fangirl. Kazumi is probably the least stable of the group, holding a fetish for Toilet Hanako, the school spirit of the bathroom. The series holds an episodic style and is guaranteed to give a healthy does of sacreligious humor for all of those interested.

In all actuality, I don't know why this series charmed me so much. Maze is a fun romp that takes the Slayers and adds a dash of ecchi and a sprinkle of mecha action to create a well-rounded finished product. Maze's adventures through Mega-Burst Space take viewers on a trip that tells a tale of tragedy, dissonance, and forbidden love that will catch them a loop and keep them wanting more. The characters are an interesting bunch, mixing everyday modern people with the medieval characters of Megaburst Space, all having their own personalities fromt he innocent and naiive Maze to the fun-loving lady with a heart made of gold, Solude. Add in the evil Jaina cult and its followers Chic and Gorgeous and the result is the excellent series known as Maze. TO add icing to this already delicious cake, the series begins and ends with two of the most fitting and enjoyable songs in an anime series to date. The whole series is very fun and just has something special about it that separates it from other, similar series.

Argento Soma has been referred to by many anime buffs as "Evangelion, on a more personal level." I know I'm due to get a lot of hate mail for this, but I personally think it's true. Granted, the sacreligious symbolism of the famous Neo Century Evangelion is not present, it also isn't needed as much, as the series takes on a whole new direction. Every character in the series has his own demons to face, as in Evangelion, however, the problems are much more realistic and emotional than Evangelion's. The story is set several years after an alien attack that crippled the world, forcing humanity to rebuild and prepare for the next possible attack. In this time, Takuto Kaneshiro learns that his lover, Maki, is part of a secret organization known as MORGUE, who is busy restoring an alien codenamed "Frank" to hopefully unravel its secrets. Unfortunately, there is an accident that occurs and takes the life of Maki and the professor heading the project. Takuto is wounded, but still survives. In the time he is bedridden, he has nothing to do but stew in his own self-pity and plot revenge against the one that took his dearest Maki away. Nothing to do, that is, until a mysterious man in white offers him a chance to get what he wants... for a small exchange. Possessed by hatred, Takuto takes this opportunity and is promptly knocked out. When he comes to, he is in a strange hospital, where he is no longer Takuto Kaneshiro, but Ryu Soma: Air FOrce Lieutenant that was injured in an accident and currently assigned to the secret FUNERAL division of the American military.

To give credit to the writers, all of the characters seem human, and real right off the bat. Viewers feel for Takuto as he seeks revenge for Frank's misdeeds against him, but is forced to watch an escapade unfold before his eyes. Hattie has very realistic flashbacks of an incident that took her parents whenever she hears gunfire (something that has been known to happen to war veterans). These are only two of the many problems the characters express throughout the course of the series' 25 episodes and one OVA. Although many would say it is sacrilege that this series has as deep a psychological profile as the "great" Evangelion, but in truth, Argento Soma delivers that and much more, since the characters can all be related to more than an abandoned child, a clone, and a daughter of an insane mother. On the whole, Argento Soma takes the psychological drama and takes it to levels that dig deep into the psyche while still keeping the story coherent and believable.