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Labelled as a dark fantasy, Kyoukai no Kanata is an interesting show that has received quite a mixed reception, with some liking it and others criticising its strange mix of genres. In my opinion, the best way to describe what the show is like is that it is a supernatural anime with comedy and hints of slice of life.

Story: 8
Probably the weakest point of the series is the story. Kyoukai no Kanata is based in a fantasy world where Spirit World Warriors have to defeat youmu and the story follows the unique half youmu Akihito. Despite having a very interesting premise, I believe the execution ... was done quite badly. The pacing of the show and action scenes were good, however, often I found that tense moments were ruined by the untimely comedy that they felt the need to put in. Also, after watching the whole show I found that its genre was not very defined, at times it felt like the supernatural action anime that it should be, and then by the next episode I felt like I was watching a slice of life. Another point I have to criticise is the fact that many points in the plot aren't explained until much later on, sometimes leaving me confused as to why what is happening is happening, and some points aren't explained AT ALL. However, despite it lacking a bit it was still interesting and enjoyable to watch.

Art: 10
Like I'd expect, the art coming from Kyoto Animation did not disappoint. The overall style of the art was great and I found that the character designs of the main characters were quite imaginative and memorable. The action scenes looked amazing, with both vibrant colours and also fluid animation, and the show had beautiful backgrounds that remained detailed both normally and during fights. Overall, there's not really anything I can criticise here.

Sound: 8
Overall I found the sound in Kyoukai no Kanata pretty awesome. I loved the opening and ending, as they both had interesting visuals but also a great song that personally I believe fit it perfectly. The voice actors were good, being able to show different emotions with conviction, and the characters had unique and memorable voices for the main cast. As for the soundtrack, to be honest I was too immersed in the show to really notice or appreciate it. Re-watching parts though, I found that the musical score was pretty good although nothing outstanding.

Character: 8
Although the fetishes may put some people off, I think that the characters are pretty good and interesting to watch. The lead characters, Mirai and Akihito, have mysterious backgrounds which are explored through the course of the series and their relationship is developed as well. However, for character development this is pretty much as far as it goes; the other characters don't really change too much and lose some character depth because of this. One thing I have to point out is that there are a lot of characters in this show who had different motives, but in the end they never really explain the reasoning behind the motives and it leaves you feeling unfulfilled. Despite that, I still found the characters overall quite intriguing and good to watch.

Enjoyment: 10
For me, the combination of amazing art, great sound and interesting plot allowed me to really enjoy the show. I gave it a 10 despite its flaws because I feel it really is worth watching and enjoying.

Overall: 9
To sum up, Kyoukai no Kanata, like all anime, has good points and bad points. However, I think that the great presentation, art and compelling plot make up for the bad points. I would recommend this to people who are open minded and like a good mix of action, fantasy and slice of life, as if you like those things you will really enjoy this show.

My personal advice if you want to properly enjoy this anime is to try not to focus too much on the slightly weak plot and just let yourself be absorbed into the show, as in the end the plot and characters are all very interesting.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helped!

Kimi to Boku. A story about five friends who have a heck of a fun time (maybe not for Kaname) and we see their relationships and everyday life pan out. At first I didn't really know how good or bad this anime was going to be, but after watching the first few episodes, I was hooked and wanted to watch more.

Story: 9
The story follows the life of the five main characters, and with it the usual and unusual events that unfold. This show doesn't have too much of a deep plot, as it is a slice of life, but we get to see many different ... things happen and it is a joy to watch if you like that. There was more comedy than I originally expected, which was great as I particularly like the way it is done in this show. It is a very 'light' show and is very relaxing, and for me is certainly a 'feel good' anime.

Art: 8
I found the art in this show was nothing spectacular, but it was that which made it great. The simplistic design complements the general feel of the show, and it's very easy on the eyes. A very enjoyable feature in this anime that you art lovers will like is that occasionally at certain scenes (usually near the end of the episode) the screen will pause and fade into a watercolour version of that frame. These pictures are also used in the ending, which is a pleasure to watch. One thing though, what's with all the random cats?! I found it strange how cats are shown as some kind of transition between a lot of the scenes. Otherwise, fantastic art.

Sound: 9
Kimi to Boku. has some of the best background tracks I've ever heard in anime. There's sweet melodies for flashbacks, funky music for comedic moments and much more. These are all played at just the right moment to create a very 'alive' show that keeps you mesmerised. The opening and ending have great music, and special mention goes to the intro at the start of each episode, which I'm sure many people jump in glee to when they hear it. Each of the voice actors have very unique voices, which both contrast and complement each other. We have the Asaba twins and their monotonic (and often synchronised) speech, Shun and his quite feminine voice, Kaname who's quite brash and loud, and of course Chizuru who is very lively and childish.

Character: 9
Every one of the characters have a unique personality which, like their voices, contrast each other and complement each other to make a great show. The show takes turns to focus on each of the characters' lives, with quite a few flashbacks and this generates a deep background and depth for each of them. We get to see relationships develop and how their personality changes, and I think this gives the show has a massive amount of depth to each of the main characters.

Enjoyment: 10
When watching this anime, I really enjoyed myself and found myself smiling and laughing along with the characters. I can really relate to some of them, and just the general easy going theme in this show makes it really great to watch. I'd recommend watching this if you're looking for something relaxing, funny, and all in all very enjoyable to watch. This is definitely a 'feel good' anime, and if you are feeling a bit down, just watch some of this and I can guarantee that you will feel better in no time.

Overall: 9
Kimi to Boku. is maybe not the show for everyone, but if you like your slice of life, this is a must watch. It is a great show to escape to, if you just want to get away from reality for 24 minutes and indulge in the antics of the five friends.

Thanks for reading, and if you have chosen to watch this I hope you enjoy it! It made me feel really happy, and I hope it does for you too!

Hataraku Maou-sama! is one of my favourite anime for many reasons, and I think it is a must watch for any comedy/action loving fan. Please read on to find out why!

Story: 8
I found that the story, although not completely original, was executed very well. It begins with a very action-packed opening scene, and transitions nicely into the characters arriving in this strange land known as 'Tokyo'. The comedic timing in this show is spot on, and because of that it often made me actually laugh out loud (that is rare). The story pans out a little slowly, and although the action at the start is ... quite flashy, there aren't many other moments in this anime where you get that. If you don't really like action though, then it will be just fine.

Art: 9
It was hard to find faults in this shows art and animation. The character designs were very attractive, and the scenery is quite plush. When it was time for the action scenes, the movement was fluid and there weren't any frames where the characters looke like a different person (has anyone seen Naruto vs Pain?). The only reason I didn't rate this section a 10 was because at times, and this is very infrequent, the characters face did look a little odd and disproportioned. Otherwise, the quality of artwork was top notch.

Sound: 8
The opening isn't played until quite late in the anime, but I found it well worth the wait. The chosen song is very enjoyable to listen to, and the animation complements it nicely. The ending is very soothing and finishes the episode very nicely. The voice actors were very good, portraying emotion well in many different situations, and it had a broad variety of voices. The soundtrack was nothing outstanding, but it fitted the scenes and one track in particular (The Devil Regains His Strength), after the first time it was used, every other time I heard it, I was filled with anticipation and knew something awesome was about to happen.

Character: 8
There is a wide variety of different characters, each with very contrasting personalities. I found it quite enjoyable every time they introduced a new character. They did this every couple of episodes, but in a way that made it seem infrequent and fitting. One thing that confused me was how Maou acted, as he is the demon Overlord who terrorised Ente Isla, and yet he does things in Tokyo that really makes me question his evilness.

Enjoyment: 10
Although there are some negatives, I really did enjoy this show to the max, which is why I gave a 10. I just found it really fun to watch, and I had fun all throughout, even in the bits that looked a little 'icky'.

Overall: 9
Hataraku Maou-sama! is definitely an anime I would recommend to all anime fans, as it is very entertaining and will give you a good laugh. In my opinion, this show should have a second season, as it doesn't quite give you that sense of fulfillment at the end.

It is my first review on this site, so it probably isn't great, but hey, thanks for taking the time to read it!