- Last OnlineFeb 13, 2013 10:56 PM
- JoinedFeb 5, 2013
No friend yet.
RSS Feeds
|
![]()
Feb 12, 2013
Pale Cocoon is a 23-minuite Sci-Fi and kind of mystery short film that deals with some interesting themes, but ultimately comes off as bland and mediocre at best. The visuals are impressive but there's not much else here folks.
The plot is simple – the world got polluted, so they moved everyone to a giant web-like series of structures in order to survive. Ura and Riko work in the archive recovery and analysis departments, and are basically the only two left – their jobs are to go through records of what the surface was like and then analyze them. That’s it – they don’t do anything
...
else other than sit around and talk about society and how pointless they do, or don’t, think their jobs are. Of course, there’s a ‘spark’, something that triggers a real conflict of sorts, but it’s resolved in two montages divided by boredom, and it never really resolves anything. The implications of the final reveal are never explained, nor is it stated that they have any impact whatsoever. So, basically the entire struggle was pointless. Why did I decide to watch this again? 4/10
The art style is good and purposefully done completely in shades of grey – it feels less like the characters are wearing grey clothing and more like the light’s been filtered to give everything a desaturated look. You can still see hints of color in clothing and hair when they’re in different lighting. It’s a delightfully eerie effect, and the visuals would be far more impressive without two glaring flaws – the transitions where it seem slike you’re reading a book, and the mysterious white snow-like material that’s perpetually falling down in the open sections of the compound. It looks pretty, but even a single line commenting on it to give it some context would be most appreciated.The layout of the office blocks makes them into gigantic cube-shapes, with individual cubicles mirroring the format. There’s a simultaneous sense of vertigo and claustrophobia, which by itself is pretty impressive. 8/10.
The sound design is awful, at 3:10 the music picks up and it’s the auditory equivalent to being stabbed in the ears with needles. I turned the volume WAY down to go back and confirm the time, and blissfully the screeching subsides after a minute but it bounces right back again for a while. The art style favors silence, which makes the scenes even more disconcerting. I was going to write it off completely until 16:42, at which point the music becomes extraordinarily good. Unfortunately, it’s too little, too late, and the first five minutes of the film will put you in a bad mood for the next ten. 5/10.
The short film’s duals themes of ignorance and ennui meld together to ask a singular question – is there any point in knowing the past if you have no future? It’s this issue that Ura and Riko passive-agressively fight over, Ura believing that the past world is worth remembering, while Riko finds the pursuit meaningless. This serves as basically their entire personality, and I found myself extremely bored of the characters after a few minutes. The complete lack of dynamic traits made it feel like I was watching two robots talk at each other – and while this might have been the intention, a complete lack of emotion does not a character make. So for characterization, it gets a 4/10.
Did I enjoy Pale Cocoon? Not really. Without bringing any other media into context for comparison, it still doesn't stand up on its own. The challenges presented are rendered meaningless because they're resolved seemingly effortlessly, and are merely time consuming. The art style starts to seriously get to you after a while, and the blank faces of the characters make them very difficult to empathize with. Overall it's just a mess - a beautiful mess, but a mess none the less. 4/10
Watching Pale Cocoon is a lot like Ura's work - it's easy, boring, occasionally annoying, but ultimately your worst obstacle is just getting bored and giving up. I really wanted to like this short - sci-fi with a tinge of mystery is basically my favorite thing ever - but try as I might, only the lighting and architectural design of the complex gave it any redeeming value. Bottom line - it's not worth your time, and that's a pity.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
What did you think of this review?
Nice
 0
Love it
 0
Funny
 0
Confusing
 0
Well-written
 0
Creative
 0Show all
![]()
Feb 10, 2013
Katanagatari is a historical fantasy anime revolving around a set of incredible cursed 'swords'. These incredibly powerful weapons corrupted anyone who would use them, and became known ad the Deviant Blades. The main characters are Togami, a short white-haired girl who has been tasked with the retrieval of these weapons, and Shinchika, a tall dark-haired martial artist who she enlists to do the actual fighting. What follows is a grand adventure across twelve episodes and most of the country as they do battle with these cursed weapons.
This is where the Story takes a bit of a left turn. The show has a very loose definition
...
of what a sword is, and as the episodes continue, the swords become increasingly bizarre and eventually impossible, hence the show existing as fantasy. There's also mentions of a prophesy, and the hint that the events of the series are being manipulated in some kind of grand scheme that reaches across time and space itself. To say more would be to spoil the plot entirely. What I can tell you is that while the plot is serviceable enough, that's what it is - a vehicle for everything else. 7/10.
The good news is, everything else is GREAT. The Art style is different, to say the least, and looks a bit like a fusion of Samurai Jack and Naruto. While you're getting your head around that bizarre visual, let me say that it's very pretty, though the minimalist method occasionally has you begging for more detail. 8/10.
The Sound design is pretty good, and let me say while the music itself does a great job of capturing the feeling behind the moment, the actual sound you're going to hear can get a bit annoying. Some of the twangyness from a few songs stuck with me like the auditory equivalent of gristle in my teeth - mildly unpleasant but not enough for me to reduce the volume. 7/10.
Characterization is the strongest aspect of this show by far. Shinchika and Togami have a wonderful dynamic that slowly progresses from episode to episode, and you can track specific qualities of their character growth with ease. Perhaps the best part of the characterization is how the protagonists always get to know the owner of the Deviant Blade before doing battle, and the human qualities we see in them create a subtle cognitive dissonance. Most of them are not using their weapons to do any harm, so are the protagonists the 'good guys'? The show never gives any easy answers, and at the very least the nature of the characters will stick with you long after the show is over and you've forgotten the plot.
One character in particular keeps this from a perfect score - Shinchika's sister. To explain the exact nature of her character would ruin the plot of at least two episodes, but in advance she's probably the greatest Mary Sue to ever exists. Episodes with her are entertaining, but her complete lack of meaningful flaws and poor character development make her a liability more than an asset. 9/10
I really enjoyed Katanagatari, far more than the studio's previous show Bakemonogatari. The relationship between characters feels natural, the fights are a fun mix of physical prowess and cerebral strategy and tactics, and the slower pacing of the show never felt like a hindrance, rather it gave the writers more time to explore the nature of the characters presented. 9/10
I give it a solid 8 out of ten. If you're looking to blow a full day (the episodes are 50 minutes each, not 22) and you're into historical fiction or martial arts, you'll have a good time. Just don't analyze the plot too much, and just roll with it.
As a final thought, I should mention that the final episode of the show is ALL payoff, and contains one of the most brutal, one-sided series of fights I have ever seen, culminating in an incredible final showdown that will leave you wanting to watch it all over again.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 7, 2013
Psycho-Pass is a sci-fi psychological thriller set in a dystopian future where psychological scans determine whether someone is fit to be a member of society. The show draws most of its inspiration from the works of Philip K. Dick, mainly Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (which was adapted into Blade Runner) and The Minority Report (again, adapted into a film). The show merges pulse-pounding action sequences with psychological horror, while delving perhaps a little to deep into the criminal mind. It's smart, it's beautiful, and it'll leave you wanting more.
To fully understand the story, you need a bit of context with this world. Decades
...
before, the Sybil system was implemented, a system that could accurately quantify the psychological state of an individual and determine if they were a risk to society - this value is their Psycho-Pass. People whose Psycho-Pass went too high are given mandatory counseling, and if it rises too much, are arrested and placed in facilities for the protection of themselves and others. These people are 'latent criminals'.
Our protagonist, Tsunemori, is a rookie detective tasked with investigating crimes and tracking down these latent criminals. To do this, she acts as a handler for 'Enforcers', latent criminals who work for the police; their altered perception of the world allows them to more easily get into the heads of the criminals, and they serve as a psychological buffer for the detectives. The main enforcer is Kougami, and he and Tsunemori quickly make a great team, along with the other Enforcers.
Of course, no good show is without its conflict, and as Tsunemori and Kougami unravel a few cases, a disturbing pattern begins to emerge, linking them into a plot far more sinister than the sum of its parts. It's smart, it'll keep you guessing, and it never lets up. It's nearly perfect, besides a few slow sections, the motivations of some of the antagonists, and one or two very minor plot holes. 9/10
The Art style looks great, focusing mainly on dark colors in sharp contrast, and patterns are used often to help distinguish between them. I found small shifts in posture and stance to be quite effective and kept the show from feeling too static at times. It's got a very Noir feel to it, the closest I can get is Cowboy Bebop, but with fewer bright colors, aside from billboards and holographic projections that keep the theme of a gilded age. It's very Blade Runner, and that's a serious compliment. Everything looks fantastic, and it fits the feel of the show like a glove. 9/10
The sound design is good, keeping the tension up and offering a mixture of electronic and classical styles. It does what it has to, and serves to compliment the visuals rather than overpower them. It knows when to die down and when to soar. It's nor memorable, but it's very effective. 8/10
Characterization is very important with a psychological show, and Psycho-Pass does an excellent job. In particular, they go into great detail showing the psychological state, delusions, and motivations behind the villains. They range from tormented people driven out of desperation to the truly psychopathic and bloodthirsty, and they're both intriguing and terrifying. The Enforcers are equally disturbing at times, ranging from apathetic to sociopathic to deranged obsessiveness. They're all simultaneously human, though, and as much as you might want to demonize them, you can't help but feel that they're human - reflections of the darkest aspects of humanity. It's very effective and it keeps you thinking about the show well after the episode is over. 9/10
Psycho-Pass is an excellent show, the kind of thing you discuss with your friends after watching it and you swap conspiracy theories and wild speculation. The show presents the world through the eyes of detective Tsunemori, and as we see more of the world and grow more disillusioned and even terrified of it, so does Tsunemori evolve from a naive novice to a skilled and determined detective. 9/10
The show is absolutely stunning, and aside from its propensity to quote Shakespeare and Heart of Darkness at inappropriate times, it's an incredibly intelligent and thought provoking science-fiction thriller. Other shows might draw from esteemed writers to seem intelligent, but Psycho-Pass pulls it off with flying colors. If you haven't seen it and you like your anime smart, watch Psycho-Pass.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 7, 2013
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure will get your blood pumping like nothing else - if watching an episode doesn't make you want to punch dudes in the face afterwards, you don't have a fun bone in your body. JJBA is outstanding, and while it's not perfect, it's pretty damn close.
Our story begins in England at the end of the 19th century, as a carriage accident kills a nobleman's wife and creates a debt of honor between him and a passing 'samaritan' by the name of Brando. Years later, the wealthy man, by the name of Joestar, takes in the dead Brando's son as his own. Thus the
...
pure-hearted Jonathan Joestar and the cruel scheming Dio Brando become brothers, despite absolutely LOATHING each other with every fiber of their being. Their rivalry, and the presence of a mysterious stone mask, sets of a chain of events that leads to, well, a very bizarre adventure. AND IT IS AWESOME.
The key to JJBA is that it does NOT take itself too seriously. This is a world where men call their attacks, shout very loudly, and generally ham it up beyond belief. It's Fist of the North Star, only with more camp and pretty colors and less angst. The show's self-awareness allows it to have fun with the medium, mess with tropes, and generally rock out in the most spectacular ways.
The only real drawback to the show is its occasional pacing issues. The first 3 or so episodes are particularly slow, but do a great job of characterizing Jonathan and Dio. This issue pops up again in some later episodes, and while it never fully kills the mood, it's mildly frustrating.
There are also a couple of minor contrivances (the appearance of a few allies near the end of the Phantom Blood arc stick out like a sore thumb), but overall the story is engaging and will keep you guessing. Honestly, if you haven't read the original manga or seen anything else about this show, just watch this show. From my point of view, a neonate to the series, I was blown away by the plot twists and fight scenes. Don't spoil yourself unless you really have to. 8/10
The artwork is phenomenal - the male leads are physically built very differently, but come off as quite attractive. Jonathan Joestar is built like a brick house, six and a half feet of rippling muscle, but he has an honest face and you can see genuine kindness in there - which makes his anger all that more powerful in contrast. Dio Brando is thinner and more athletic, agile rather than strong, and it suits his manipulative personality. They're like the polar opposite of Bishounen; attractive in a masculine sense rather than a feminine sense. The animation also captures their physical movements spectacularly, making them at once graceful and powerful.
The character models aside, the color and framing is basically perfect in every way - the one issue being the times where they shift the colors to something like a photo negative, which is sometimes jarring to the eyes. It's not going to make everyone uncomfortable, but it put me off just a little bit when I saw it. 9/10
Sound design in the show is consistently great, the intro and outro music in particular are extremely catchy, and I found myself finding the extended versions online to listen to. The voice acting is superb, with Dio in particular standing out head and shoulders above the rest. You can almost hear the disdain dripping from his every word. 9/10
Character is also quite exceptional. Jonathan and Dio are both extremely well written and deep characters - you understand their drives, their personalities, even their quirks, and that's just in the first episode. Their growing hatred of each other and then conflict is believable, and just as Jonathan is the kind of knight-in-shining-armor everyone roots for, Dio is also alluring in an almost villain-protagonist manner. You could see him actually being the 'hero' if the show was framed differently, and as much as you love to hate him, you might just root for him a little too (I know I did). The only drawback is that some of the side characters serve as little more than observers or archetypes. 9/10
Watching Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is definitely the most fun thing you could watch this season. You will get pumped up watching this show, you'll grin like an idiot, you'll want to punch a freaking brick wall in half. None of its flaws are large enough or recurring enough to make this any less of a blood-pumping ass-kicking thrill to watch. 10/10, and I do not give that score lightly.
If you're still on the fence about watching this show, WATCH IT NOW. You will not regret it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 6, 2013
Another is a psychological horror show about a group of students being menaced by a curse, and the methods by which said students try to deal with that curse. The premise may be simple, but the presentation kicks it up a notch to make it a noteworthy thriller... just not incredible. Let's get to it then. In order to give a fair analysis, I'm going to have to discuss the premise of the show - don't worry, no in-universe events will be discussed in any way, so no spoilers outside of a general idea of what the show is about.
Story is the key to a
...
thriller, and Another's is simple and very effective. Kouichi's a new student, a late transfer to the class, and he's disturbed by now the class seems to completely ignore Misaki, a dark-haired girl with an eyepatch. He approaches her, and in so doing triggers the curse in Another. Ever since the death of a girl 26 years previously, each year a soul of a dead person is added to the class, blending in perfectly and implanting memories of themselves in the minds of everyone else in the class. This 'another' person then causes a student to die, once each month or so, until the end of the semester, at which point they disappear, and the memories of that person are wiped away, including pictures.
The only way the class has learned to combat this threat is by singling out one classmate and ignoring them for the entire year, effectively balancing out the additional person. This does not always work, however, and naturally Kouichi's disruption of this ritual starts a chain of deadly events that lead to an admittedly pulse-pounding climax for the last two episodes.
The story is like popcorn - it heats up over time and doles out information and clues in tiny amounts. Who in Kouichi's class is the dead soul, and how can they stop the curse? What is up with Misaki, and can he trust her? The show is tense and has a unique premise, only hampered by the occasionally lethargic pacing and frustrating behavior of some of the characters, Misaki in particular. There are times where the characters could, and in all reality SHOULD explain what the hell is going on, but the basically refuse to answer even simple questions until it's far too late. 8/10 for originality marred by some poor dialogue and pacing.
Art is decent for the show, again, nothing really jumped out at me, but the show went with a creepy doll motif at some points in order to artificially put the viewer on edge, but they feel forced and awkward at times. 7/10, not much to say here.
Sound was again adequate, with no glaring strengths or weaknesses. Not much to say there. 7/10.
Character, this is important. Another goes the Paranoia route of horror, eschewing isolation and claustrophobia to instead get the viewer to distrust and suspect EVERYONE, including the protagonist (though the other classmates reason that he's not the dead spirit, since he joined the class after the year started). The problem is, the classmates are universally one-note, defined by a single quality of their character and essentially nothing else. You'll find no depth there, just two-dimensional cutouts with the occasional well-developed character. It removes a lot of the tension by essentially reducing the potential list of 'dead spirit' possibilities - it has to be someone with screen time, after all - I would rate the show down a LOT more if they pulled a fast one on you at the end. Thankfully, the conclusion is satisfying and the characterization actually leads somewhere in the end, so it's fair, 6/10.
Enjoyment - I was moderately entertained by Another. It honestly had me waiting for each new episode to be released, but after the first three or four I just waited until the show was completed, then watched it all at once. It's the kind of show that makes you want to skip scenes every once in a while, but ultimately keeps you watching properly by promising hints and more information about what the curse is really all about. It's a 7/10, watch half of it one night, decide who you think the 'dead spirit' is, then watch the other half the following night. And make sure to keep the lights dim - for maximum effect, wear headphones and bring some popcorn.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 5, 2013
I'll admit, Rune Soldier has a very special place in my heart, and I'm definitely biased towards it. I hope this review will explain why.
Story-wise, Rune Soldier follows somewhat standard form. A group of female adventurers (Melissa the priestess, Genie the fighter, and Merril the theif) need a Mage to fill out their party so they can properly explore ruins and do all that fun adventuring stuff. The problem is, the only Mage willing to join their party this side of anywhere is Louie, a blue-haired, barrel-chested smart-mouth who prefers fighting hand-to-hand than casting spells (mostly because he's pretty terrible at magic). Unfortunately, Melissa's deity
...
informs her that Louie is to be her Champion, and thus the group is saddled with him regardless.
The world of Rune Soldier is vibrant, diverse, and infinitely interesting, and the characters frequently travel to new places in search of fame and fortune, while frequently returning to the capital city (which is also just as interesting and engaging as the rest of the world). Half the show is spent on their 'down-time' as well as the adventuring, so you get to learn a lot about the characters by what they do when they're not climbing wizard's towers to stop rogue elementals from destroying the country.
There are a couple of interesting sub-plots and recurring characters, mainly an elven girl who helps out occasionally, a rival adventuring party, and eventually the endgame plot, as Louie uncovers a sinister plan to take over the kingdom. The only penalties I can give the plot are than some of the episodes are less engaging than others, but I wouldn't want to cut any of them out - they all add to the characterization. 9/10, definitely.
Art style is pretty typical of the time it was made, it'll feel very similar to Slayers, but with a more mature and rough feel to it. It's good, but not spectacular. Some of the magical effects look a little dated in their presentation, but thankfully no epilepsy warning needed. 7/10.
Sound design is good for the show, but while it fit the scenes quite well, none of them were particularly memorable. They served their purpose, and would work great if you run a table-top fantasy RPG game. 7/10.
Character - oh, here we get to the good part. You see, the best thing about Rune Soldier is the character growth, and how the relationships change over time. Louie is initially relegated to being a pack mule for the group, nothing more than a waste of space that's only good for carrying things and the occasional spell (if that). His irresponsible nature and gung-ho attitude in the first few episodes only serve to reinforce their view of him in this way. However, as the show progresses, Louie improves in many ways - swordsmanship, playing nice with teammates, even magical prowess, and most importantly he gains their respect. By the end of the show, they're fighting right alongside him, trusting him enough to let him take the lead for once, and letting his infection enthusiasm get to them. It's a beautiful thing, and you can track the incremental progression from episode to episode.
The best part is, IT'S NOT A HAREM. Rune Soldier has the balls to put a male lead in a group of female characters and NOT have them falling for him at every turn. It's fundamentally about respect and trust, and it's a breath of fresh air. The only character that has even the slightest hint of interest in Louie in a romantic way is Melissa, and that's really more of a "Wow, he's actually a really nice guy. Why haven't I seen this before?" kind of moment. Overall, it's just a superb cast of characters accompanied by excellent writing, and it's one of the main draws of the show. 10/10.
Enjoyment is a huge part of any anime, and Rune Soldier does NOT fall behind. There are a lot of different episodes (since the show tends to follow an episodic rather than serialized stye), and there's something here for everyone. Dashing swordfights, tournament battles, magic duels, sea monsters, slice of life stories, festivals and fairs, exploring dark forests and holding armies at bay, there are tons of fun adventures to be had here. The show starts strong and keeps the momentum up from the very beginning. The only mar on the enjoyment depends on what method you decide to watch it. Subbed is okay, but the voice actors always felt a little off. The English dub is actually surprisingly good, with the exception of Merril, who is a little annoying and high-pitched. 9/10.
Overall, this show is AMAZING. The lackluster art and sound is only due to its age - in everything that matters, this show is top notch. Get your popcorn ready, get comfortable, and watch the first 4 episodes. You'll get hooked in no time, and the only thing you'll regret is that it's finished. 910, and a definite recommendation here, for what it's worth.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
![]()
Feb 5, 2013
Zetsuen no Tempest tries to create something profound and moving but ultimately falls flat on its face. It's flashy, creative, and 'claims' that it draws inspiration from the works of William Shakespeare, mainly Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and The Tempest, and I get why - the best Tragedy, the best Romance, and Shakespeare's final work all have powerful undertones and are infinitely quotable. The problem is, well, everything else.
First, the plot. It's the element that everyone praises about this show, so I'll give it special attention here. Mahiro (Hamlet) and Yoshino (Romeo) are best friends, but the death of Mahiro's sister Aika (Caliban / Juliet,
...
I'm pretty sure) sends Mahiro over the edge and his lust for vengeance divides the two. Then, Mahiro finds a message in a bottle that allows him to communicate with Hakaze (Prospero), a powerful mage who promises to find Aika's killer if Mahiro helps her get back at her own family for throwing her on a desert island. Fair enough.
It's the part where characters people are turning inexplicably to metal, government agents with shotguns attack Yoshino, and giant 'fruit' start popping out of the earth and ocean that everything starts to go wrong. I say 'fruit', because that's what the show calls them. In reality, they're giant rocks with eyeballs popping out and trees on top, plus a couple giant chains stuck to them that get yanked out of the ground with them. Did I mention that they appear in the dozens at a time and fly through the air? Yeah, this show is weird.
Crazy is a natural part of anime - some of my favorites are the wackier ones - but the problems arise when none of these events are explained except in the loosest of terms, and after about three episodes of action and plot, the show comes to a SCREECHING halt. About three episodes in a row are spent almost entirely in flashbacks, mainly illustrating how Aika was a crazy horny b*tch with... well, I won't spoil it. But it shatters the pacing completely and gives essentially no meaningful insight into the characters.
So, Story is a 4/10 - it tries really hard to be several things at once (action, psychological, dramatic, occasionally comedic) and it backfires SPECTACULARLY.
Artistic style in Zetsuen no Tempest is very good, honestly, not much you can knock it for. It's pretty, it's effective, and it feels distinct from other similar shows. The only drawback is the occasional overuse of certain repeating scenes (like the chanting at the Magic Tree). 8/10.
Sound design is a controversial element for the show - it uses a lot of classical music, which I find fits the show perfectly, and had my blood pumping quite a lot. However, the melodramatic music when they're showing how nuts Aika is for the 47th time, or the tension they try to build when Mahiro acts like a psychopath AGAIN gets old very, very quickly. The best moments hit a 9/10 easily, but the worst are a 5/10, so 7/10 seems like a good compromise.
Character design in Zetsuen no Tempest is, well, pretty terrible. Their characters are 'inspired' by Shakespearean protagonists, but in truth it's only in the loosest of terms. Mahiro lacks the core qualities of Hamlet - his indecisiveness, his pensiveness, the resentment and guilt that make him such a compelling character. Mahiro is your typical Shonen hero, reckless with a devil-may-care attitude and a chaotic rhythm to his behavior, and that's fine, but it's NOT BLOODY HAMLET.
Yoshino is Romeo only in that he had a tragic romance, but Romeo is defined by his ability to bounce back after a bad breakup (Rosaline at the beginning of the play, I believe). He's passionate, optimistic, and is lead by his heart, not his head. In contrast, Yoshino is a cool, calculating and dour figure who is defined by apathy and his ability to outsmart his opponents. So, not Romeo in the slightest. I could go on, but I assume you got the gist. 6/10, for not following their inspiration in the SLIGHTEST, and for reverting to type instead. You could replace the protagonists with Natsu and Gray from Fairy Tail, or Ichigo and Ishida from Bleach and you wouldn't notice much.
Enjoyment is a sticky category. You see, I still enjoyed the everloving HELL out of this anime, for the most part. My girlfriend grinned every time they quoted Shakespeare, and there was a lot of unintentional comedy with some of the shots. One quick shot of a cat turned into metal with a weird expression had us in fits for the rest of the episode, and the fact that I anticipated ALL of the plot twists by basically saying whatever I thought was the most ridiculous thing I could think of at that moment led to no end of fun. 8/10, because fun is fun no matter what.
Overall, the show merits a 7/10, Good. The visual and sound design are attractive distractions from the silly plot, overblown drama, and flying-rock-eyeball-fruit-things, but if you're looking for depth and a compelling narrative, look elsewhere.
I know this review will get me no end of flak, but honestly, to those of you who watched the first season completely, tell me that Yoshino's solution to Hakaze's 'problem' isn't absolutely ludicrous.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
What did you think of this review?
Nice
0
Love it
0
Funny
0
Confusing
0
Well-written
0
Creative
0Show all
|
