Anime Ponyo

Cover of Ponyo (Two-Disc Edition)

When you hear the name Hayao Miyasaki can immediately remember the movies: Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Monoke and Spirited Away. An author and he's team of these popular films, have lots of fans around the world. Besides fans age are very varied - from child to adult. Miyasaki could be called anime pioneer in America. Tip for those who have not seen any movie yet of this author, watch as soon as it possible, and who knows, maybe even if you don't like the anime style movies, you will start like them or even become one of the biggest fan.

One of the most recent Miyasaki works are Ponyo. You may think that there are some similarities between the Ponyo and the Walt Disney movie The Little Mermaid. Ponyo as and Ariel wanted to experience something more than the ocean life. Ponyo wanted to live people's lives but her father was against it and tried to stop her.

Making use of father's magics Ponyo transforms into a human and became a friends with a boy whose name is Sosuke. When Ponyo and Sosuke meet she still was in fish form. But later she could spend time with Sosuke as a human. As Sosuke lived very close to the sea one day, after a heavy storm, his mother has disappeared and they both began looking for her. This storm has been a huge shift to Ponyo, Sesuke and all world.

At the first look, perhaps it seems that the situation is very tragic, but it is not. Miyazaki film touches such important topics as environmental pollution - ocean full of garbage. By the way at the beginning of the film in one of those garbage Ponyo almost died, Sosuke saved her. Ponyo's father could appear more harsh and angry, but that's because he love's Ponyo. He wanted to protect her. And there's nothing new, this happening in our everyday life, all parents worry about their children when they leave home, first day at school, or see them off to the marital life.

The film is involving and enchanting from the very beginning. It's full of large and small marine organisms, big and small fishes. The film also hints at the old people, in old people's shelter working Sosuke's mom. Sosuke's father is a sailor he also survived a major storm.

Ponyo film is for various age for both, children and adults, and seeing this film will not be bored and will leave you a pleasant impression.

Naruto Shippuden Episode 173

Image via Wikipedia

Naruto Shippuden Episode 173: Origin of Pain, picks up right where episode 172 left off - After Yahiko, Nagato, & Konan find the 3 sannin and begin training with Jiraiya.
Survival is pretty tough during these times. Food is scarce and everyone seems ***affected*** by the war. If being an orphan of war isn't bad enough, try surviving when your home is still the battleground for war. This is when Yahiko was attacked by a ninja; as a result, Nagato's ocular ability, the rinnegan was activated. Nagato blanked out and killed the ninja. Nagato reveals that the hate caused him to go beserk and was eventually consumed with guilt. Killing people without breaking a sweat - where's the guilt in that?
Initially, Jiraiya was rather hesitant about spending time with these kids. Orochimaru wanted to kill Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko because as he's seen plenty of war oprhans and he felt they should be put out of their misery. Jiraiya, feeling responsible, told Tsunade and Orochimaru to continue without him as he would stay with the three young ninja and train them so that they could defend themselves.
Nagato shared with Jaraiya that he feels guilt, and feels wrong for what he did. Jiraiya says that he doesn't know if Nagato's actions were right or wrong, but he does tell Nagato that because of his choice, Yahiko didn't die and that's what matters. Nagato expresses that he will protect Yahiko and Konan no matter what kind of pain he has to endure.
After Jiraiya felt he trained them enough so that they could survive without him, he had a talk with Nagato about his rinnegan. Jiraiya told Nagato about the history of the Six Paths. He says that the Sage of the Six Paths was called the Savior. He tells him that the Sage of the Six Paths believed that the era would come when people truly understand each other and expresses that Nagato maybe a reincarnation of him, since he was the only other person who possessed the Rinnegan.
We fast forward to an older Nagato who has now established a notable organization that would build peace without the use of force.
When Hanzo found out about the organization, he arranged a meeting to use their power to secure an agreement of peace among the 3 great nations. They agreed to cooperate with his proposal. However, the next day they they met at a location to discover that Hanzo's subordinates and the Leaf's Anbu Black Ops were already there. Hanzo had Konan taken hostage and revealed that this was all a plan to end their organization. Hanzo revealed that their organization was a nuisance to him and allied with Danzo, who also had personal gain, to make sure their organization was ended. Hanzo told Yahiko and Nagato that Yahiko must die because he is the leader, or that Konan will die if he resists. If he couldn't be more cruel, Hanzo says that Nagato must be the one to kill Yahiko.
Yahiko, with no hesitation, offers his life to save his two friends. Nagato slowly picks up the kunai thrown to him by Hanzo and before Nagato can make a move, Yahiko runs into the kunai of which Nagato is holding, taking his own life. His last words were, "You and Konan must survive... no matter what it takes. You are the savior of this world. I know you can do it." Even after Yahiko's death, Hanzo orders his men to kill Nagato and Konan. Nagato uses his ocular abilities to protect himself and Konan. Nagato then charges for Hanzo who tries to attack using his Fire Style Jutsu. Seeming un **affected** by Hanzo's attack, Nagato summons the Gedo Statue and it rips the souls out of the ninjas.
Nagato continues to take out Hanzo's men, as well as the Anbu Black ops as they run for their lives. Before Hanzo retreats, he acknowledges Nagato as the user of the Rinnegan.
Well, that about wraps things up for Naruto Shippuden Episode 173. Now, what I want to know is where the hell is Danzo in all of this? It would have been nice to see more of him. Don't tell me he got scared and ran off.

The Top 5 Anime Movies

Cover of Ninja Scroll [UMD for PSP]

Naming the top 5 anime movies of all time is most likely difficult for any true fan. Narrowing down any genre is a long process. Here are a couple of anime movies loved by many.

Ghost in the Shell is set in Japan in the year 2029. An elite team by the name of Section 9 fights crimes and terrorists acts caused by the outstanding technology of the future. However, when a computer virus with the ability to alter human memories is made, the team chases a case that changes them forever.

Spirited Away involves Chihiro, a spoiled ten-year-old girl, who becomes wrapped up in a world that is far from anything she is used to. Lost in a fantasy land, she must find her parents and return to reality before it is too late.

Ninja Scroll is an action packed film. When a cargo of gold gets lost in a storm, a group of highly trained ninjas race against time to find it before the evil Gemma. The treasure is so important that it is literally a match between good and evil.

In Princess Mononoke, a young boy is cursed and sets out on a journey through the forest to find help. He rapidly becomes caught in a war between the mining town and the forest creatures. Torn between the two sides, he must make a decision and choose the side he will support.

Though Cowboy Bebop was first a series, it later became a movie favorite. On the planet Mars, a deadly virus is released and threatens humankind. After the largest bounty ever is set on the man who is responsible, a gang of bounty hunters competes against others to find him. However, this proves harder than they ever imagined.

These films are just some of several that could be named the top 5 anime movies of all time. Polls are conducted constantly and fans race to answer. However, a great number of movies run through their minds when they are asked, "Which are your favorites?"

Top 3 Anime Titles in English Dubbed

There is much discussion among anime fans whether or not anime that is dubbed over with English voices is a valid media. Elitist anime fans will say that the only way to view them is with the original Japanese voices with English subtitles. They may complain that the voices in English are stupid, or whiny and difficult to listen to. However, the are several series that have an excellent dub and are an done very well. For those who may not know, anime is a form of animation that originates from Japan. After the show is released in Japan, the show is sent over to the United States of America where American fans can enjoy them. There are five series that have come over from Japan that stand out from the rest, where the quality of dubbing is superb and the voices fit the characters excellently.

1) Bleach
The show bleach originally was a comic that was first released in 2001. Bleach first aired on September 2006 to the delight of American fans. The voice of the protagonist Ichi is voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch, who has done great work in several other shows such as Hellbinders, Last Exile, and Akira. The supporting cast is also very good with Michelle Ruff doing Rukia. This show is definitely as good in English and Japanese subtitles.

2) Air Gear
Air Gear is one of the funniest shows ever created. The main character Ikki is done by Chris Patton who does a great job of keeping the humor translated over from the original version.

3) Full Metal Alchemist

Brothers Edward and Alphonse, voiced by Aaron Dismuke and Vic Mignogna, do an excellent job in this series. With several hundred episodes available in English, it's a good thing they do such a good job.