Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール)

Genre: Action, Martial arts, Science fantasy, Comedy

Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール, Doragon Bōru) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Akira Toriyama. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995; later the 519 individual chapters were published into 42 tankōbon volumes by Shueisha. Dragon Ball was inspired by the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West. It follows the adventures of the protagonist Goku from his childhood through adulthood as he trains in martial arts and explores the world in search of the seven mystical orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which can summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. Along his journey, Goku makes several friends and battles a wide variety of villains, many of whom also seek the Dragon Balls for their own desires.

The 42 tankōbon have been adapted into two anime series produced by Toei Animation: Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z, which together were broadcast in Japan from 1986 to 1996. Additionally, Toei has developed seventeen animated feature films and three television specials, as well as an anime sequel titled Dragon Ball GT, which takes place after the events of the manga. From 2009 to 2011, Toei broadcast a revised, faster-paced version of Dragon Ball Z under the name of Dragon Ball Kai, in which most of the original version's footage not featured in the manga was removed. Several companies have developed various types of merchandising such as a collectible trading card game, and a large number of video games.

The manga series was licensed for an English-language release in North America by Viz Media, in the United Kingdom by Gollancz Manga, Australia and New Zealand by Chuang Yi and Malay-language release in Malaysia by Comics House. The entire anime series has been licensed by Funimation Entertainment for an English-language release in the United States, although the series has not always been dubbed by the same studio. In China, a live-action film adaptation was produced in 1989. In 2002, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to produce an American-made live-action film that received a negative reception from critics and fans; the movie was released on April 10, 2009 in the United States.

Since its release, Dragon Ball has become one of the most successful manga and anime series of all time. The manga's 42 volumes have sold over 152 million copies in Japan and more than 200 million copies worldwide. Reviewers have praised the art, characterization, and humor of the story. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest manga series ever made, with many manga artists such as Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Tite Kubo (Bleach), Makoto Raiku (Zatch Bell), Yoshio Sawai (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo), and Hiro Mashima (Rave Master) citing Dragon Ball as a source of inspiration for their own now popular works. The anime, particularly Dragon Ball Z, is also highly popular in various countries and was arguably one of the most influential in greatly boosting the popularity of Japanese animation in Western culture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Ball

Ai Yori Aoshi (藍より青し)

Ai Yori Aoshi

Alternative Names (異名):
Ai Yori Aoshi, 藍より青し

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Ai Yori Aoshi (藍より青し) is a Japanese seinen manga written and illustrated by Kou Fumizuki, originally serialized in 1998 in Hakusensha's Young Animal. The anime is a love story between two characters who haven't seen each other in years and who once were childhood friends.

Ai Yori Aoshi was directed by Masami Shimoda and animated by J.C.Staff. The series was made into an anime in 2002, and was completed in 2003 when its second season Ai Yori Aoshi: Enishi (藍より青し ～縁～), ended. Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi takes place two years after episode one of Ai Yori Aoshi and has the characters older. In all there are 37 episodes, this includes a special Christmas episode found in Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi. The anime was released in North America by Geneon, and the manga was released in English by Tokyopop. Four visual novels were also released for the PlayStation 2, and for Windows 98.

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Title

The title is taken from a quote from the Chinese philosopher Xun Zi: "Indigo comes from blue, and is yet greater than blue" (Kanji: 青は藍より出でて藍より青し, Rōmaji: Ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi, simplified Chinese: 青出于蓝而胜于蓝; traditional Chinese: 青出於藍而勝於藍; pinyin: Qīng chū yú lán ér shèng yú lán). The phrase is used in both Chinese, Korean and Japanese to mean that, although people are molded by their teacher, they surpass that teacher through their own efforts. The name of the main character, Aoi (葵), is pronounced the same way as a ao(i), a version of ao "blue". Aoi states that Enishi are the bonds that tie people to one another.

The series is sometimes referred to as a halfway point between a harem anime and a magical girlfriend story. It is also referred to as "Japanese Love Hina" (和製 ラブ ひな, Wasei Rabu Hina) as the story is similar to Love Hina.

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Japanese Manga | Japanese Animation | Ecchi | Harem |

Basquash! (バスカッシュ!)

Basquash!

Alternative Names (異名):
Basquash!, バスカッシュ!, Basukasshu!

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Basquash! is a sports and sci-fi anime which aired on Mainichi Broadcasting System. It involves characters playing basketball while riding mecha. The series premise was created by Thomas Romain and Shoji Kawamori, with the animation produced by Satelight.

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Plot

The story takes place in the world of "Earth Dash", an alternate, futuristic version of Earth where human society split between the far more advanced lunar society and that of the planet's surface. A popular sport is BFB (Big Foot Basketball), where players ride mecha called "Big Foot" and play basketball in a giant arena. In the city of Rolling Town, Dan JD and his companions take the sport to the streets, rename it "Basquash", and then embark on a journey to overcome their past hardships and make their dreams come true.

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Japanese Manga | Japanese Animation | Ecchi |

AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission

AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission

Alternative Names (異名):
AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission, アイカ・ルー16：　バージン・ミション

Director: Katsuhiko Nishijima
Studio: Studio Fantasia
Released: April 25, 2007
Rating: MPAA: NC-17 (US), 19+ (KR)

Genres:
Action, Adventure, Comedy

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AIKa R-16: Virgin Mission is an anime OVA series by Studio Fantasia. It is the prequel to the Agent Aika (AIKa) OVA series, also by Studio Fantasia. The series takes place 10 years before the events in Agent Aika. It is followed by a sequel OVA series, AIKa Zero.

This series also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the original AIKa OVA.

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Plot

High school student Aika Sumeragi, with her sharp mind and athletic body, has passed the C-class Salvager test and gotten a C-class Salvager license. Despite being sixteen years old now, she is still being treated as a child by Gozo. Having finally gotten a license, Aika started putting up posters offering her Salvager services. At that time her classmate and president of the Treasure Hunting Club, Eri Shinkai, posted a request for her. Aika gladly undertook Eri's request and boarded Eri's private cruiser. Onboard she learned about the mysterious girl called Karen who is the reason for the request. That night Aika was assaulted by high school girls and Karen was almost captured. What secret does Karen hold?

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Characters

Aika Sumeragi (皇藍華), 16

Aika's scientist parents did experiments on her when she was younger to enhance the human body. But during the experiment a large scale earthquake occurred; every one except Aika died. At that time she was rescued by Salvager Aido Gozo. Gozo takes it upon himself to bring up Aika.

In the future she helps Gozo in his business, but now she is a newbie C-class Salvager still in training. She is always late for school. Her behavior is somehow similar to Aida Rion, Gozo's daughter and her future "sidekick". She likes machines.

Voiced by: Ami Koshimizu (Japanese), Cristina Valenzuela (English)

Eri Shinkai (真海エリ), 16

She is the class president of Aika's class (1-A) and founder, club president of the school's Treasure Hunting Club. Eri is also a mystery fanatic and comes from a very wealthy family.
Knowing that Aika has a Class C license, she roped Aika in to help with the investigation of Karen's mystery.
Voiced by: Misato Fukuen (Japanese), Kira Buckland (English)

Karen Minamino (美波野カレン), 17

Usually silent and seldom shows any facial expression, she talks only when necessary. On Eri's investigation, Karen's past history is unknown.

Karen has a butterfly insignia on her left breast. The insignia on magnification is made up of minute numbers which decodes to the sentence "the gate of the truth will be opened by the sleeping butterfly" and a map coordinate, which is where the group is heading to.

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Erika Lenhart (English)

Risako Nagisa (凪紗りさこ), 26

A teacher of the school Aika attends. Also the teacher advisor of Treasure Hunting Club. She turned out to be an enemy, having controlled three of the students with electronic devices to attack Aika and Eri and also tried to take Karen away. Her true identity is an agent from a mysterious organization sent to observe Karen.

Voiced by: Naoko Suzuki (Japanese), Tara Platt (English)

Gozo Aida (相田郷造), 41

A Salvager that rescued Aika during the earthquake incident, brought her up and trained her in the ways of the Salvager.

Voiced by: Akio Ohtsuka (Japanese), Russel Thor (English)

Gust (ガスト), 14

Although he is from a rich family, he works as a waiter on an Eri's private cruiser. A future Salvager and Aika admirer.

Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Japanese), Sam Regal (English)

Captain (船長)

The captain of the cruiser "Regina Eri", the cruiser that the cast is on. He is to ensure that Eri returns safely. An excellent sniper with the M21 rifle.

Voiced by: Takaya Kuroda (Japanese), David Vincent (English)

Midori, Aki, Kyoko (ミドリ,　アキ,　キョーコ)

The three students controlled by Risako. Members of the Treasure Hunting Club.

Voiced by: Mamiko Noto (Japanese), Jennifer Alyx (English),
Voiced by: Sakata Kayo (Japanese), Laura Post (English),
Voiced by: Mai Goto (Japanese), Michelle Ann Dunphy (English)

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIKa_R-16:_Virgin_Mission
http://ai.animecharactersdatabase.com/kr/publisher.php?id=1629

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Japanese Manga | Japanese Animation | Ecchi(エッチ) |