YUME TSUKAI (DREAM USERS)

RATING: 3/5

CHAPTERS: 1-12 (END)

AUDIO: JAPANESE

SUBTITLE: CHINESE/ENGLISH

INTRODUCTIONS:

Yume Tsukai is a Japanese manga series by Riichi Ueshiba. The series revolves around dream masters who turn nightmares into peaceful dreams. On behalf of their clients they go around searching for nightmares which have escaped the mind of the owner and have manifested themselves into the real world, causing havoc. The nightmares are paranormal phenomenons which have the appearance of poltergeist activities.

In what seems ordinary belies occurrences of unexplainable circumstances, and underlying these special occurrences is the presence of one's dreams or "yume". In this world, the said "yume" is composed of strong emotions... Simultaneously, these emotions will break free from one's mind and transcend the borders to reality. Once the fine line between dream and reality is crossed, these "yume" may turn into nightmares and invite disasters. Misako Mishima and Touko Mishima are amateur dream-users or "yume tsukai(s)". They possess special powers to exterminate and control these nightmares. They will then search for the source of the "yume" and return it to the rightful owner.

SHOUNEN ONMYOUJI (SEIMEINOMAGO)

RATING: 4/5

CHAPTERS: 1-26 (END)

AUDIO: JAPANESE

SUBTITLE: CHINESE/ENGLISH

INTRODUCTIONS:

In the Heian period, there existed practitioners of mystical powers called onmyouji. One famous onmyouji is the legendary Abe no Seimei. This anime tells the story behind Seimei’s grandson Masahiro and his monster like partner Mokkun (Real name is Guren). Guren is a Touda - Shikigami guardian in an animal form. He looked like a cross between a rabbit and a cat.

Masahiro might be inexperience but according to the Seimei, Masahiro’s spiritual power is strong enough to be the successor of Seimei. This anime apparently sounded like a shounen anime but mostly based on the boy’s endless effort to prove his best. To know more about the story, you have to see the anime yourself. I won’t spoil the storyline at all.

LOVE HINA XMAS SPECIAL

RATING: 3/5

CHAPTERS: 1 (END)

AUDIO: JAPANESE

SUBTITLE: CHINESE/ENGLISH

INTRODUCTIONS:

When Keitaro was little, he made an oath to his childhood sweetheart that when they grew up, they will go to Tokyo University together and be happy as always. Unfortunately, the girl moved away a short while later. By the time Keitaro was a college boy, he had forgotten about the name of the girl. On top of that, he also flunked his entrance into the Tokyo University.

Things has not been smooth for Keitaro but not long after that his grandmother offered him the post of a manger in Hinata Sou, an all-girl dormitory. He soon met up with a studious yet violent Naru, Kitsume whose main interests are money, parties and mischief, Motoko, the short-tempered turtle phobic kendo master, Shinobu, a shy junior high student whi is also the resident cook, Kaolla, the mysterious foreigner who is fond of inventing various mechanical gadget. With so much fun in the dormitory, could Keitaro succeed in his third try into the University? Could one of the girls be the one Keitaro was supposed to be with as per his promise? Watch on to find out more.

HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE

RATING: 4/5

CHAPTERS: 1 (END)

AUDIO: JAPANESE

SUBTITLE: CHINESE/ENGLISH

INTRODUCTIONS:

This film is about a young beautiful 18 years old girl by the name of Sophie, who had a chance to meet the handsome but mysterious wizard Howl, who rescues her from some menacing soldiers. Howl charms her with his looks and dashing feats of magic, briefly sparking happiness in Sophie. But later that night, the vain and jealous Witch of the Waste appears in Sophie's hat shop in the form of an obese, wealthy woman, along with two of her minions. The Witch hints at a prior connection to Howl (the Witch of the Waste once came to Howl as a beautiful young woman, which there Howl pursued her as a lover, but rejected her after seeing her true form. The Witch now assails Howl with the fury of a jilted lover) and curses Sophie by transforming her into a 90-year-old woman before disappearing.

Because of her mysterious transformation and afraid that people will ask questions (not to mention the fact that the transformation spell also prevents her from telling others of her predicament), Sophie runs away from home and journeys into the Waste. There, she befriends a magically animated scarecrow whom she names Turnip Head. Turnip Head secures her shelter from the Waste within Howl’s moving castle, a chaotic ensemble that walks upon mechanical chicken legs.

The story continues with Sophie meeting up with different characters along the way and how she fell in love with Howl. This is truly an amazing work from Studio Ghibli under the directorship of Hayao Miyazaki, who along has directed other award winning Japanese anime such as Spirited Away.

CARD CAPTOR SAKURA – THE MOVIE

RATING: 3/5

CHAPTERS: 1 (END)

AUDIO: JAPANESE

SUBTITLE: CHINESE/ENGLISH

INTRODUCTIONS:

This movie is entitled “Enchanted Cards”. Sakura and her classmates in grade 6-2 are all busy preparing a play for the Nadesico Festival. Although it is a summer holiday, the girls are kept busy in daily rehearsals. During this time, Sakura ran into Syaoran and Meilin, who came for a visit from Hong Kong. Syaoran has always expressed his feelings for Sakura but she has not had the chance to tell him her feelings. Sakura’s best friend, Tomoyo, suggested that they go to the new amusement park. Just as Sakura thought that she has the chance to tell Syaoran her true feeling, both of them suddenly sensed the aura of the original Clow cards. All the Clow cards were turned into Sakura cards earlier and had since been sealed.

Suddenly, Sakura’s cards started to disappear one by one. The most powerful Clow card appeared and Sakura’s final battle begins…