Air DVD #1 [ ADV ]
August 14, 2007 | $29.98 | 100 min.

Yukito is a traveling performer; a wanderer. He survives with only the clothes on his back, a puppet, and a story from his mother: the story of “The Girl in the Sky.” He doesn’t know who or where she is; only that he must find her. On the verge of starvation, he is befriended by a young misfit named Misuzu, whose eccentricities serve to hide a troubled home life. Misuzu offers Yukito a place to stay, and in return he listens to her dreams - dreams in which she lives in the sky.

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Kurau Phantom Memory DVD #3 [ ADV ]
August 14, 2007 | $29.98 | 100 min.

Arriving in California, Kurau and Christmas seem to have briefly escaped the GPO, but the discovery of a facility designed to extract Rynax power quickly reveals the global scale of the conspiracy set against them. Before they can take further action, Ayaka’s task force closes in once again and a series of pitched battles follow, leaving Christmas captured and Kurau with her powers severely impaired.

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Pani Poni Dash! DVD #5 [ ADV ]
August 14, 2007 | $29.98 | 100 min.

What’s worse than having a sick teacher? Having your sick teacher be a really cranky 11-year old, that’s what. When the sick bug quarantines the whole school, both temperatures and tempers are rising to dangerously hilarious health levels. Things get even weirder when Ichijo electrocutes Himeko, turning her into a world-conquering maniac, while the Drama Club and the Film Club finally come to blows in their longstanding war against each other.

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I suppose I’ll try one of those blog-like mini reviews on the first 5 episodes of Pani Poni Dash.

There’s really not much to summarize here. If you’ve watched Azumanga Daioh and at least one other comedy anime and enjoyed them, you’ll enjoy Pani Poni Dash!

I’ll start off with the opening and ending. The background animation/graphics feels like an ’80s throwback of Cowboy Bebop’s opening with outdated “pop art.” The music originally annoyed the hell out of me and in no way made me want to “wiggle,” however as of episode 3, it’s growing on me. As for the chibi drawings in the ED? What’s more to love?

Despite the vast amount of anime references, the series so far simply feels like a cross between Azumanga Daioh (duh) and 2×2 Shinobuden (known as Ninja Nonsense in America). Don’t get me wrong, I love both series so this is a major plus! Speaking of anime references, there are a crapload, along with cultural references and even some foreign (American/European) jokes/parodies as well! It can get annoying at times constantly pausing and reading editors notes, but that just makes it all the more fun and re-watchable! I can’t imagine how all these cultural-centric jokes translate in English Dub (I have yet to watch it), anyone have any input here?

I find the mini character profiles very enjoyable even if some are completely obvious. This really reminds me of the Genshiken manga profiles which I adore. I do however wish there was slightly more information, even if completely off-the-wall weird.

All in all I was actually expecting (but not looking forward to) more random and weird “mini-arcs.” I’m very happy with the amount of continuity I’ve seen and am simply amazed how much I’ve grown to like Pani Poni Dash! Figured it’d just be some cheap rip-off; I was wrong and am very glad I finally started watching this anime - two thumbs way up!

P.S. The “filler characters” were weird in episode 3, but the new ones in episode 4 were downright scary! And what was up with that filler character being licked by a bunch of cute kitties?