echo By:Chloe
Konnichiwa minna! It is July and it is a new season filled with new series to watch. Here, I shall be reviewing two anime series. One was just recently released and it is still on-going while the other was released quite some time ago. So, here we go! Anime #1: Akagami no Shirayukihime (赤髪の白雪姫) 
Screenshot from the opening of Akagami no Shirayukihime
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Fairy Tale, Shoujo, Historical
Producer: Bones, FUNimation Based on: Akagami no Shirayukihime-manga (Author: Akizuki, Sorata)
Date of released: 7.7.2015
Status: On-going (Credits to myanimelist.net for the information)
Dive into the world of fairy tales and you would probably find Snow White there with her charming prince by her side. Welcome to the world of Snow White in this anime series called Akagami no Shirayukihime. An adaptation from the manga and the fairy tale that we are all fond of as a child.
To simply put, this series is about Shirayuki (Snow White)’s life as a herbalist with red hair. In this adaptation, the storyline is based on the one that we are all familiar with but there are several differences.
- The main thing that draws interest to Shirayuki (or Snow White) is her red hair. In this series, her unusual hair colour made her the target to many parties throughout the series, including Prince Raj (who wanted to take her as his concubine).
- Shirayuki eventually works in the palace as a herbalist. Here, her character as Snow White has been portrayed as an independent, smart and kind person, who also has a vast knowledge about herbs.
- In the story that we were all told, the prince charming appeared only at the beginning and at the end of the story but here our prince (Prince Zen) can be seen being more interactive with Snow White.
The portrayal of the Snow White story was executed really well. The main elements such as SNow White, the Prince, the Poison Apple were all present in this series. From the music to the story itself, each and every scene kept to the fairy tale theme. Even though there were changes in certain parts of the story but it was kept true to its original reference with its own charms and creativity. Will this series ends with a happily ever like its predecessor? Who knows. (Reviewer’s own note: In Disney, Snow White can be seen singing in the movie and in the anime, the seiyuu of Shirayuki sang for the opening theme!) Anime #2- Free!-Iwatobi Swim Club 
Screenshot from the anime
Genre: Comedy, School, Sports, Slice of Life
Producers: Kyoto Animation Based on: High Speed! Light novel (Author:Oji Koji)
Air Date: 4.7.2013- 26.9.2013
Status: Finished airing
As the theme for this time round is ‘Health and Fitness’ so here is another rather realistic sports anime. Swimming is the sports here and that is what this series is all about.This season mainly focuses on the high school life of these characters: Nanase Haruka, Tachibana Makoto, Hazuki Nagisa and Ryugazaki Rei. All of them are students of the Iwatobi High School and members of the Iwatobi High Swimming Club. The main thing highlight here is the sport, swimming. I find this series interesting and funny at the same time. (Spoiler: All of the members of that club has a girly name and it is rather comical when Rei was recruited to the club because of having a girly name).
Although this anime can fair well targeted to the female audiences, but it is a rather good series. Other than seeing half-naked, well built teenage boys in their swimwear throughout the series, it is another heartwarming series and something relatable to the audience, both males and females.
On a side note, this anime does encourage its viewers to take a swim in the pool. Some of the reviewers (a few of them being males) online even went for a swim after watching it (No kidding!), even I had the urge to go to the pool too. Furthermore, this anime even motivates cosplayers to actually workout and get fit to cosplay those characters! A prove that anime can sometimes motivate you into doing things that benefits you (such as this one)
So, that is all for now for this session of Otaku Corner. See you next time!
