• Case Closed
• Chobits
• Fruits Basket
• Inuyasha
• Wolf's Rain

• Inuyasha 1
• Inuyasha 2
• Inuyasha 3
• Inuyasha 4
• Spirited Away

In Japan there are robots known as Persocons, walking computers in the shape of humans which preform many mundane tasks. They seem to be incredibly expensive, if a student saved up enough money he might be able to buy a little one. A boy named Motosuwa Hideki who works at a bar and is also a prep student for college decides he's going to buy a one of these expensive robotic companions. Of course, being broke he can't afford one, but he finds a Persocon in the garbage outside of the store. Being an oppurtunistic guy, he takes her! The rest of the manga describes his trials and joys with the little Persocon he names Chii.

Card Captor Sakura is the magical girl story about Kinomoto Sakura, a 10 year old girl who has to use magic to collect cards, which have escaped from a magical book, by accident.

The cards can take the form of several elements like water, wind, fire and many others, and some of them are very powerful enough to destroy the world.

The heroine, 15 year old Kagome is far from helpless and her super-cute hanyou [half-demon] foil, Inuyasha [dog-demon] is actually at first a bad guy. In the second chapter, he is forced to play nice with Kagome who unwittingly possesses amazing powers. She only has to say the word osuwari [sit] and she can subdue the hanyou.

Kagome also unwittingly possesses something called the Shikon no Tama [Jewel of the Four Souls]: a mysterious round jewel which can give both youkai [demons] and ningen [humans] who find it a huge power-up. Accidentally, the jewel is splintered into numerous shards. It is up to Kagome (the only person who can see them glowing) and Inuyasha (who kicks some serious demon ass!) to find all the pieces before it falls into the wrong hands as well as defeat the super-evil Naraku who pisses off just about every one he comes in contact with.

Before buying Inuyasha manga, I was told by reviewers and people familiar with Takahashi's other works (Ranma 1/2, Maison Ikkoku, Urusei Yatsura, etc.) that this, her most recent work, was dark and serious. Yes, it is that, but it is also well spiced with Ms. Takahashi's famous humor. This coupled with the obvious romantic implications of a teenage girl and a cute bad-boy as the main characters makes for a great manga series.

The anime plays down the romance, in my opinion to keep viewers pining for more. It's created by Sunrise, the same company that makes Gundam and Cowboy Bebop, so the animation style is dark, high contrast and swift, a change from the bright, almost pastel look Kitty gave Ranma 1/2 and befitting such a dark subject.

The 'strange realm' into which Kagome is drawn is actually feudal 16th century Japan. This era [Sengoku Jidai or 'warlord era'] is filled with violence, poverty, and real demons that can kill people. It is a demon which drags Kagome into Sengoku Jidai, sensing the presence of the Shikon no Tama. It isn't long before various demons come after her for the same purpose. Takahashi-san has done her homework on this one. Instead of a fantasy world, this is a mythological world. I know very little about Japanese mythology, and I have a feeling I will learn a lot from this series, not only be very entertained.

The story of Steel Angel Kurumi is set during the period of Japan's Taisho Era (1912-1926 AD), the Japanese government has produced special androids of immeasurable power and potential. Any one of these unique androids possessed the prospective ability to obliterate an entire army, and they remained unconditionally loyal to whoever first activated them. Depending on who awakened androids first, the world could be either reduce to rubble or lead in to a new era of peace and prosperity that was void of conflict and strife. These special androids were known as the Steel Angels.

A groundbreaking project known as "Angel Heart Revised" was created by Dr. Ayanokouji, an earnest man who had humanity's best interests at heart. The plan that he had envisioned was to create the ultimate Steel Angel and use this android for the honorable intention of saving the world from those who would use the power of the Steel Angels for their own minuscule schemes, and evil plans. However, things did not proceed as the good doctor originally had planned.

Nakahito Kagura, a young mystic in training, found himself being pulled along by a group of mischievous school mates towards his impending date with destiny. Nakahito was forced to enter into an old basement where it was alleged that a sinister doctor liked to perform grisly experiments on living girls. Due to the extensive presence of Japanese Imperial Army forces in the area, the intimidating trio of boys grew unnerved and decided to leave; abandoning Nakahito in the gloomy basement. Nakahito falters around aimlessly in the dark and happens across a young woman with long, pink hair and dressed in Maid's attire. He cautiously approaches the peculiar feminine form to make sure that she isn't one of the mad doctor's slain victims--when a thunderous jolt from the military activity ensuing outside shakes the very foundation of the building. Nakahito and the mysterious woman land lip-to-lip in the ensuing chaos.

Much to Nakahito's surprise and horror, the girl comes to life and courageously rescues him from the Imperial Army's giant robot, which was laying waste to the house that they were occupying. Kurumi, the newly-activated Steel Angel completely ignores the instructions of her baffled creator--as Nakahito, or "Master" as she so endearingly refers to him as, was the one who activated her first. Thus, the most powerful weapon on Earth, Steel Angel Kurumi, is now at the beckon call of her new master; an 11-year-old boy known as Nakahito.

Adjusting to life with Kurumi was a bit of a stretch for the 11-year-old. Here he has a fully-grown woman that is totally infatuated with him, even referring to him as "Master"; and yet poor Nakahito hasn't even the slightest clue as to what he should do with her. Kurumi on the other hand, has plenty of thoughts of her own on that little subject. While Nakahito is still trying to make light of the situation he finds himself in, the Imperial Army is not remaining dormant during this interlude.

Recovered from Dr. Ayanokouji's basement laboratory was the second Steel Angel, Saki, whom the Army is working feverishly to try and activate for the ominous plans they scheme. Within the Army's hands, Saki could be used as a dangerous weapon without peril. Turning her loose against the happy-go-lucky Kurumi, however, would prove a worthy challenge for even the strongest opponent. When a forced charge awakens the slumbering Saki in a cold rage--the stage becomes set for a ruthless confrontation that could rip the heavens asunder.

After her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, Chihiro must fend for herself as she encounters strange spirits, assorted creatures and a grumpy sorceress who seeks to prevent her from returning to the human world.

Chihiro embarks on a journey that sees her assume adult resposibilities and set aside her self-centeredness for the good of others. With the support of her friends, she is introduced to a world without the shelter of parents and must adapt to survive! Will her new qualities be enough to help her find her way home?

A young girl named Honda Tohru looses her widowed mother, leaving her without parents, or a place to stay. She was supposed to live with her grandfather, but she had to wait until her extended family added another room to the house before they would have room for her. She told her grandfather not to worry because she was staying at a friend?s house. Not wanting to worry or burden her friends, Tohru secretly lives in a small tent in the woods. Although her predicament is not a good one, Tohru stays happy and lives life with such a positive attitude, that no one would suspect she was hurting. She cherishes a picture of her mother and holds a part time job in order to pay for her own schooling so she can graduate (her mother?s unaccomplished dream).

One day, on her way to school, she passes a house belonging to one of her classmates, Yuki. Yuki is the class ?prince? because he is very attractive, intelligent, and popular. Tohru starts talking to a man named Shigure on the doorstep about his jyunishi (12 month animals) set. She thinks they are cute and shares the story her mom told her when she was little involving the jyunishi. She recalls that the cat was tricked by the mouse and left out of a party. She tells Shigure that she cried for the cat, and ever since then wanted to be a cat. Shigure is touched by the story. Yuki comes out and introduces Shigure as his cousin and then walks Tohru to school. The girls at school are jealous of Tohru and start to make fun of her, but her two best friends come to her rescue. Later, Yuki and Shigure are out in the woods behind their house, and notice Tohru in the tent. They bring her to their house and she tells them her story. The two offer to let Tohru stay at their house until her grandfather can take her in. Tohru reluctantly agrees. One day Kyou shows up and starts fighting with Yuki. To stop the fight, Tohru tackles Kyou from behind and to her surprise, he turns into a cat. When she tackles Yuki and Shigure they turn into a mouse and a dog. She is surprised, but thinks they are cute. They explain to her that they are each possessed by one of the jyunishi and that when they are hugged by a girl, they revert to animal form. They make Tohru promise to keep their secret, which she does.

The three become attached to Tohru over time. They come to admire her constant cheerfulness and her encouraging speeches?not to mention her cooking abilities. Yuki and Kyou eventually fall for Tohru, and they accompany her a lot. The four live happily together as a family. Tohru?s grandfather finally gets the house ready for her. She moves in with him and her extended family. There, she is sad because they treat her badly and she misses the Chomore boys. The boys also miss her terribly, so they go to the house and take her back to live with them. Over time, Tohru meets the other jyunishi one by one as they show up at the house. Each of them has a sad story from their past, and some emotional wounds that need healing. Tohru brightens the spirits of each of them and becomes known and loved by most of the Chomore family. One day, Kyou?s old mentor shows up and forces him to change into his other secret form in front of Tohru. His other form is the ugliness of the cat?s angry spirit. Upset and embarrassed that Tohru saw his other form, Kyou runs off into the forest. Tohru runs after him, but as she thinks of what she saw, she gets sick on a tree. There, she is confronted by Akito, the head of the Chomore household. He tells her it serves her right for getting involved with his family, and that he will make her suffer. She runs off, drenched by rain to her mothers grave. There, her two best friends find her and encourage her that there is something she needs to do. Weakened and dirty, she gets up and slowly walks away to find Kyou. When she finds him, Yuki shows up as well, and although it hurts him, he holds Kyou from running away and encourages Tohru to tell him how she feels. Tohru grabs hold of Kyou and tells him that she wants to be with him and that she will take the good with the bad. Kyou is so touched by this that he changes back into his human form. He then tenderly embraces Tohru and changes into a cat. Tohru carries Kyou back to the house in her arms. After that, Tohru insists on going to see Akito. When she arrives, he is cruel to her and grabs her by the hair. The others defend her. Even in pain and frightened, Tohru expresses understanding for and concern for Akito. Her tenderness is new to him and works to heal his spirit. He lets her go. The group returns home. After this, everything seems back to normal, and Tohru is heard saying that everyone is walking forward to a place far away from here....

Wolf's Rain takes place in a futuristic, apocalyptic society. Humans have devastated the Earth, destroying what little remained of nature. Many species of animal are either extinct or on the brink of extinction. Domed cities are sprinkled over the desolate surface of the Earth. Humans have been divided into two main groups; an aristocracy called the Nobles, and the rest of the commoners, many of which have become outlaws. There is a legend of wolves appearing just before the end of the world to lead everyone to Paradise. No one believes these legends, however, because they believe wolves have become extinct over 200 years ago.

However, wolves do still live and thrive, and only are able to do so by developing a special ability to manipulate people's minds so that they see the wolves as humans. In this way, the wolves can co-exist with humans with the humans being none the wiser. Many wolves integrated themselves into human society, becoming common workers, gang members, and even lowly street dogs. Many who had once desired to seek paradise had lost interest in doing so, settling instead to live among the humans.

The four wolves, Kiba, Tsume, Hige and Toboe, all have their own individual goals, but all desire true freedom, away from the humans. They are searching for the mythical Paradise, but in order to do so, must find the Flower Maiden. However, they have much opposition, in the form of Quent Yaiden, the hunter who wishes to eliminate all wolves from the face of the Earth, and his dog Blue, who helps him locate the wolves. There are also the detective Hubb Lebowsi, and the various research scientists, including Cher Degre, who wish to prove the existence of these wolves. Yet another obstacle is the mysterious Darcia, who kidnaps Cheza, the Flower Maiden who can sense the wolves' emotions and pain.

Myth has it that only the wolves will be able to find the way to paradise, but does paradise really exist?

A sophomore at Titan High School, Jimmy Kudo is no ordinary teenager. Jimmy has developed a celebrity status as a world-class detective, solving crimes that leave the city's top law enforcement officials stumped and the nation cheering. One day, while at an amusement park with his girlfriend, Rachel Moore, Jimmy unwittingly finds himself at the scene of a sinister crime. Undaunted by the severity of the situation, Jimmy employs his keen deductive powers to skillfully locate the trail of the suspects. However, just as Jimmy stands poised to solve the case, he is captured by two members of a mysterious organization that operate under the darkest veil of corruption. In an effort to permanently silence the young detective, these shadowy men force Jimmy to drink a newly developed poison. One that "can't be detected in an autopsy". Miraculously, Jimmy escapes death, only to find that the toxin has reduced his 17-year-old body to the size of a 2nd grader! Distraught about his pint-sized appearance, Jimmy resolves to discover the whereabouts of these evil perpetrators. He enlists the help of his eccentric neighbor, a scientist and an inventor named Dr. Agasa. Dr. Agasa's first suggestion is that Jimmy keep his identity secret, even from his girlfriend Rachel, fearing that if anyone found out, the dangerous killers would certainly come back. The doctor's second suggestion isn't as easy – to live with Richard Moore, a washed up private detective that also happens to be his girlfriend's father! Disguising his true identity by adopting the name "Conan Edogawa", Jimmy begins a series of intricate cases, cracking puzzling and sinister crimes, in a quest to unravel the secrets behind his attack and the poison that shrunk him.