The Irregular at Magic High School (Mahoka Koukou no Rettosai)
Directed by Manabu Ono
Based on Light Novel Series by Tsutomo Sato
Produced by Madhouse, Aniplex
Voice cast: Saori Hayami, Yuuichi Nakamura, Yumi Uchiyama, Ryouhei Kimura.
Air dates: Streaming Saturdays at 1 p.m. CDT on Crunchyroll

In my experience in the world of academia, the two times of the academic year that are the most stressful for students and instructors alike are its beginning and end. It’s particularly stressful for students who are either entering an institution for the first time or are transferring from another school. Beside the usual difficulties, there is also the challenge of navigating the sometimes-treacherous waters of whatever social hierarchies exist in an academic environment.

Now imagine dealing with all that in a school full of magic users in a world in which magic has been systematized into an actual arm of technology. Such is the setting of The Irregular at Magic High School, or Mahou Koukou no Rettosai, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

By Graceland Geek

Transformers Cybertron
The Ultimate Collection
Directed by Manabu Ono
Starring Ryan Hirakida, Brian Drummond, Paul Dobson, Richard Ian Cox, Michael Dobson
Paramount Home Video
Release Date: July 22, 2008

Transformers Cybertron: the Ultimate Collection is a great follow-up sequel series to the Hasbro/Takara co-productions of Transformers: Energon and Transformers: Armada.

The series main characters, the Transformers, are done in computer-generated format while the human characters are in traditional “japanimation” format.

The series revolves around the Transformers arriving to Earth after the Unicron’s (an immense robot that is neither Autobot nor Decepticon that transforms into a mechanical planet) destruction creates a massive black hole forcing the Transformers to flee to Earth while trying to figure a way to save their planet of Cybertron. The major human characters are Coby, Bud and Lori, all three of whom are voiced by actress Sarah Edmonson.