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Let me start by saying that Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. or Oregairu for short, does many things right. Coming out of the show, you know that what you’ve just watched was a cut above the typical rom-com you expected. Why? Well, that’s easy—because of the unique cast of characters that can be found within Oregairu.

In particular, it is Hikigaya Hachiman who deserves the MVP award. It is through him and his fantastically cynical inner monologues that we are granted a much more realistic, and therefore relatable perspective on youth. Time and time again, anime gives us these clichéd protagonists, whose idiocy ... has us screaming at the screen. Well, not this time, as unlike with those guys, Hikigaya actually says what you are thinking, which can be truly rewarding to watch.

And it’s not just Hikigaya who’s worthy of praise. Sure, some of the characters definitely play up to anime tropes more than some would like, but others, such as the minor antagonists (Miura Yumiko and Salami Minami) are very true to people we have all encountered in our everyday lives. At some point, we have all met people who are unnecessarily mean to others, or who use other people for their own personal gain, so the way in which this show handles and punishes such characters is incredibly satisfying.

In relation to the story, art, and sound, they were all good in their own rights. The story might not have wrapped everything up, and it may have been littered with the standard scenarios (the vacation episode, the test of courage, and the cultural festival) that we’ve all seen a hundred times before, but it was never once a chore to sit through, and that's because of the characters.

The art in particular was nice and colourful, with character designs that were fittingly appropriate. At times, there were noticeable drops in animation quality, but they were never enough to detract from my enjoyment of the show.

As for the sound, the OP and ED did their jobs amicably, even if they were never personally memorable. The OST on the other hand was used very effectively, with Episode 5, during Hikigaya’s inner monologue about ‘nice girls’ being a prime and touching example.

If I had to pick one flaw with Oregairu, it would have to relate to the consistency of its realism. What I mean by that is that whilst the show handles a lot of serious issues brilliantly, I couldn’t help but feel like it played it safe on others—in particular: romance. It honestly felt like a step back to the clichéd protagonists of lesser shows, when Hikigaya fails to acknowledge how he feels about a girl he knows likes him, but I digress. I’m simply nitpicking.

In truth, I would recommend Oregairu to anybody. Whilst it may conform to well-trodden anime conventions in places, it still stands high on the shoulders of other high school-based dramas. So much so, that I may have to revaluate some of my past scores… Enjoy!

Yuusha ni Narenakatta Ore wa Shibushibu Shuushoku wo Ketsui Shimashita. or Yuushibu for short is by no stretch of the imagination a masterpiece. With that being said, it is also by no means without its merits. Yuushibu is fine; in fact, in places it’s even good. It plays to the strengths of its premise just enough to be considered fun, and that’s ok—allow me to explain why:

The story of Yuushibu follows Raul Chaser: a would-be hero, if not for the fact that the Demon Lord has already been defeated. With his dreams crushed, and him in need of finding a way to make ends meet, ... Raul finds himself working for a magic shop, which is humorously setup to parody that of a modern day, Japanese electronics store.

It is at this point that many people may draw a comparison with Hataraku Maou-sama! and that is certainly not unfounded; however, to suggest that Yuushibu is an imitation of Hataraku Maou-sama! is not giving credit where credit is due. Where Hataraku Maou-sama! poses the question: ‘what would happen if the Demon Lord showed up in modern day Japan?’, Yuushibu instead asks: ‘what would happen to a world where the Demon Lord no longer exists?’ They both deconstruct and poke fun at a well-established genre in opposite ways, which is truly a strength of both shows.

Where Yuushibu ultimately falls short of Hataraku Maou-sama! is unfortunately in how it answers its own question. Yuushibu introduces its heroine, Fino Bloodstone, and from that point on, the majority of the show becomes the Raul and Fino show. That is not to say that this is a bad thing; their interactions are fun and make for easy watching, but it does mean that a lot of characters get sidetracked and used as mere plot devices.

The show definitely picks up its momentum going into its final arc, questioning the idea of what makes a hero and what makes a villain; but once again, it’s the questions it poses that are more interesting than what actually comes across.

Moving on to the show’s art is arguably where we can find another strength. Sure, with the exception of Fino and a few other characters, the character designs are mostly bland. This goes for the backgrounds too, which whilst being colourful, aren't really anything special. What makes this show's art a strength, dare I say it, is the way it handles its fan service and ecchiness. I hazard to use the word tasteful, but Yuushibu’s fan service never felt overused or too obscene. It was never the ‘plot’, if you get what I mean, so I felt it complimented the show more than it harmed it.

The sound on the other hand certainly wasn’t anything to write home about. Not that it detracted from my enjoyment of the show, but it never went beyond what I expected. The same goes for the voice actors too. No one character’s voice stood out as great or annoying—they were all just fine.

So to wrap things up, is Yuushibu worth watching? Yes, even if it’s just the once. At times, Yuushibu can feel like it's squandering its storytelling potential; but nevertheless, it offers up enough light romance, enough action, and enough fan service to justify the watch. Oh, and that's not even mentioning the Captain Picard cameos throughout!

Tsuritama is a show that will exceed your expectations. It will lure you in hook, line, and sinker, and make you question how an anime about fishing could ever be quite so enjoyable.

The story is set in the quaint town of Enoshima. There, the show’s protagonists—Yuki, Haru, Natsuki, Akira, and Tapioca (*quack quack*)—all come together to share in a singular pastime: fishing.

It is through the characters’ forced participation to undertake in this hobby that we are able to truly understand each and every one of their personal anxieties and motivations. We are imbued with a real sense of fulfilment, as through their fishing we are ... not only a witness to their own personal growth, but also to the most important theme of the show—friendship.

There can be no doubt that by the end of the last episode, you will find yourself truly invested in the characters. You will feel like you have walked through the streets of Enoshima yourself, and you will feel like you could just as easily cast off, and spend the afternoon winding down to a spot of fishing—it can be that immersive at times.

A big part of why is due to the art and the sound, which are both thoroughly quirky. The art in particular, opts for a unique style that colours the setting of Enoshima and its occupants, in a vivid, refreshing palette. It does a fantastic job of symbolising and emphasising certain parts, which at times can also make it feel rather reminiscent of a work by Shaft.

The use of sound is also well thought out. The OP and ED are incredibly catchy, and ease you into the feel of the show, whilst the soundtrack never feels repetitive, or out of place.

It should go without saying that there are obvious limitations. Notably, Haru, who you will turn out to either love or despise. There are also personal niggles of mine, which include how certain objects do not benefit from the art style, and how there is practically no development for the character Erika, but these are subjective.

Tsuritama, overall, feels like it offers exactly what it set out to do. It is silly, imaginative, and charming, never once complicating its wacky, yet simple plot with unnecessary information. It is a true feel good show that I can thoroughly recommend trying.

Duck!