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May 26, 2019
Noragami is the kind of anime that truly gives justice to its country--Japan.
[NO SPOILERS, THIS REVIEW IS FOR NON-WATCHERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE HEHE ]
"All ye who desecrate this Land of the Rising Sun*! With my advent, I, [Yatogami], lay waste with the [Sekki] and expel thy vast defilement! --- Rend!"
I want to give emphasis that the very cultural appreciation, merged with wise and comedic storytelling makes it a perfect watch, anime-lover or not. But if you're a sucker for romance, comedy AND adventure--this will surely be a good weekend starter, I can bet my 5 yen on that ;)
STORYWISE - 9.5/10 "CULTURE-WISE
...
AND THE PRIDE OF THIS ANIME HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A GREAT STORY"
NORAGAMI is an anime that revolves around the story of gods of Japan. Which...isn't one of the most common tales you'll have ever heard. Most anime, like Spirited Away, or Wolf Children--focuses on Shintoism. Naruto uses Izanagi and Izanami and Amaterasu for some of the jutsus or names. It only shows how Nationalist of a country Japan is. Don't get me wrong, the accuracy is not at all perfect--but the INTENT, and RESULT which the manga artist has done for this work...it will make you attached to it and will leave you hanging; you will 'beg' to see the next episode.
The story is, actually, simplistic in nature. You will see phantoms. They call the 'afterlife' nearshore or aftershore. Wow. What the hell?
CHARACTERS - 9.2/10 "BISHAMON IS THE BADDEST BEAST, THE BEST GODDESS YOU HAVE EVER SEEN AND YATO IS GOD-DAMN BEAUTIFUL."
The protagonist is human, completely human--Hiyori. What I love about Hiyori is that, she is, surprisingly, not as annoying. She is the kind of heroine that you will admire for her bravery and courage. What makes her different is that while other anime characters have some sort of supernatural powers--her love, admiration and friendship is what makes her stand out. She isn't so special however, not super beautiful, which makes me curious if the author had intentionally done that.
On the other hand, YATO IS BAE. I am kidding. It is bizarre that a god would be in a jersey. It is bizarre that his Regalia is a simple, bittersweet boy. The characters would not stand out as fascinating at first. But as you get to them--when you ride on their journey to phantom-killing, and getting to know the bitteracheness of their hearts...now that it reminds me of Death Parade. Yuki was kind of annoying, but you'll understand later why he was made that why.
Next, let's move on to what everyone's been waiting for.
Bishamon, the Goddess of War.
Now traditionally he would be a "HE"; but in the anime, he is portrayed as this sexy beautiful long blonde woman who's riding a lion and every bit of her clothes are her bodyguards (Regalia). What I love about how she is portrayed in the anime is her mysterious entrance. Angry, insane, void of sympathy for Yato. She isn't the most perfect anime character, as well, but you will love her and fall deeply in love with some of her traits which is not only how feisty she is...but how soft she turns out to be.
(PS: did you know that Eren Jaeger and Captain Levi's voice actors are Yuki, and Yato, respectively? hehe :p AND Daikoku is Captain Erwin hehe)
The characters aren't mere black and white. They are multi-dimensional. They are witty, some will be selfish, but they are searching for something even in the laid waste of the emptiness and void they had been living in (some villains, I mean).
Kofuku is funny and cute :( I loved her.
CONCEPT/THEMES - 10/10
I loved the concept and idea of Regalias? :( The theme is not just about achieving your goals, but it's more of an existential crisis. What do you want to do, how do you want to live your life--it tells the story of gods so everything gets really intense to see it all play out. I love also, how solid the story is--it doesn't crumble. You will remember what this character said and the rules/laws that apply to gods.
The tattoos and "names" inscribed to a Regalia is really mesmerizing. It talks about companionship. It talks about being good. Can anything not be mad and beautiful in Noragami?
MUSIC - 9.7/10
Surprised how lovely the OST is. It is a mix and flavor of JAPAN. HAHAHA. Amazing. The fight scenes--you will savor them. It will make you look it up on Youtube! <3
Bottomline is, Noragami: Stray God is a fun, entertaining and cultural-wise anime that will teach you the value of companionship, essentialism, and that gods are humans too. <3 Watch the anime. This review is too small for it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jan 4, 2019
9/10 - Beautiful as its message.
The Borrower Arrietyy/The Secret World of Arrietty doesn't share the beautiful, blossoming and complex character of Howl or the kind of goosebumps ambience Spirited Away would give you. It has its own world. It feels most normal compared to the rest of Studio Ghibli.
What I like in the anime is the romance between the two, Arriety and Shou. Lines like 'Don't be afraid', 'You gave me courage to live', and 'You are beautiful'. I love the metaphor of the two. The film is a huge spark of environmentalism at its finest--'You change things. You destroyed our home' really hit
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me. The metaphor and symbolisms of these two couldn't be more perfect.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 14, 2018
Let me write this while it's still raw:
I never knew the topic of death is like a maze that you could endlessly run to--there is more to life than a mere 'death'. In fact, the moment we are judged is might as well the only time we get to have a glimpse of the reflection of ourselves which we have not taken seriously when we still walked the earth,
'Death Parade'; from the title itself, as if it is celebrating Death with a new meaning: it is not something you should mourn, for people die every single day; it is not something you should stay
...
happy about, for leaving an unfinished life; but it is something you should rethink again and again because before you even know it--we're mere dummies, powerless, and may not be able to touch and see ourselves as humans that are able to have a life. Life, after all, is fleeting--and the future remains unpredictable. In Death Parade, you come to question: what can I do that would make my life extra meaningful? What will I do, in order to reach out, and live again?
Death Parade expands on the topic theme--more like a 'problem'--of Death. With a beautiful, eye-tearing OST soundtrack, and a flashback of the way the Dead have lived their lives...it's unfathomable to describe the feeling of watching a human in its most vulnerable form. How they died...how would they choose between being reincarnated or being in the darkness forever...
'The Infinite, Ambiguous Meaning of Death'
In a way, the author is magnetized to the topic of Death. It's as if Tachikawa, the writer and director of this tv series (I mean, whoever has been in the Afterlife?) is diving deep into this pool of wonders no one really knows. Combine with a perfectionist of an animation by Madhouse (Death Note, Hunter x Hunter, Wold Children, etc.), there's a sketch of mild falling raindrops of blood; you have darts that will target to your vital points; you find out a reason why people commit suicide.
It is the lack of light, purpose, and understanding of one's self do we fall into the abyss of taking our own lives. And I cannot further elaborate, not even my own tears--of how sad it is that we have given up in doing so. I mean, I myself, have always thought that humans are complex beings. In this anime, we get to have the honor of watching somebody else's life glimmer with our own eyes and find our connection with the themes of jealousy, obsession, vengeance, injustice, greed--and more.
Until the end, we've no idea what Death is like. But Death Parade tries to make it easy for us, attempts to summarize it into a god-like "Arbiter" that has the will to pass "judgment". The whole series, they question THE morality of the Dead. But what about THEIR MORALITY? It is funny to think that while the anime has fully established that 'Arbiters' have no right to emotions (Clavis, Ginti, Nonna...except Decim at least) but in the end their lack of empathy makes them a little bit of miserable and plain. One way or another, they've been trying to provide 'justice' despite the fact that they never 'lived', but only watched from above or thereso.
They have come to the point that death is the norm. What they haven't figured is their emotions: which is, like the living, one will always be in search of their purpose and light.
'Popular Voice Actors'
Did you know that it was the God Pein himself from Naruto that voiced our beloved Decim? Or how Reiner Braun from Attack on Titan voices Ginti? Still, these are impressive and passionate voices. You will truly hear them from the other side of the mic.
SOME OF THE BEST QUOTES I WILL NEVER FORGET:
"'Memento Mori': it means one day you will have to die."
"The truth is, there are no lives that are nothing but pretty." - Nonna
"To suffer, yet to stand firm--that's what it is to live, isn't it?" - Nonna
'Nihilist Setting for a Nihilistic World'
The anime has various quotes and dialogues that dwell on life and death as if it's just a one-way ticket. Almost everyone is as pessimistic and nihilistic as they get/seem (what do you expect from receiving many deaths?). But the truth is, what if sometimes the way to seeing the world for what it is is actually seeing as it is so--and we move far away from that perspective and start thinking that life has meaning at all?
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 28, 2018
"I can't wait for summer, spring, or winter, to be with you again."
"I want to touch Gin."
"Hotaru, come here..."
These are the words we've heard that further broke our hearts. "Hotaru" means firefly in Japanese, and I can't simply express how something delicate and sad can be turned beautiful such as that of a flickering light of a firefly. I mean, the romance was something I wasn't hoping for--because if you were to met a strange guy (that doesn't age) and you start visiting him year by year and can't seem to touch him--if that isn't sad, that is merely tragic. Love grows in
...
places we last expect. Sometimes it betrays us.
Time, betrays us.
The moment Hotaru grew up to be a lovely girl, there goes she--perhaps the only friend of Gin (what a lovely name), longing to see him again...as a 'friend'.
What we learn from 'Into the Forest of Fireflies' Light', is that...*cries*...*sobs*...*cries*...*sobs*...
I have three aspects to look here, which were complimenting factors of the film. (1) I've read reviews that it is nationalistic to Japan, which is if you were to look at the masks in the festivals and having watermelons as snacks. (2) The story is hauntingly beautiful, effective. A supernatural world and a supernatural character who presents himself as a "ghost", is alive, but weak, as he cannot touch his supposed own kind. (3) For 30 effing minutes, it was shortened up to that...and the film still lived up to its glorious madness of breaking our hearts.
Hotarubi no Mori e is a generally heartbreaking story of two lovers that can't be together...because of fate. Sooner or later, come to think of it, if the price of touching each other is Gin's death...he wouldn't have made it over a year. Physical connection is important, one can't deny it. Hotaru may have avoided it...but Gin, whose soul hasn't touched one his whole life (and now manages so), couldn't...
So, apart from Gin obtaining Kakashi Hatake's hair and the story representing a metaphor of life's flicker of light and dark, Hotaru no Mori e is nothing but beautiful, exquisite, dramatic.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 19, 2017
Hen-tai. HENTAI. Cartoon pornography.
But I'll tell you that this one HAS a story, and it's realistic, and as I've read the other reviews--in a genre filled with rape/toys/'bizarre' fetishes this one is on the right track...with the right ingredients that are just enough not to feel the slightest disgust or guilt.
You want a romantic 'story'? If you are a very hopeless romantic person, congratulations.This one got ya covered!
It's about a main protagonist that is supposed to pick a fiance on the four sisters (they're not really, but childhood friends). But all of them are seemingly obsessed with him and every part of him,
...
and so they flirt with him, see how it goes--and we all know what ends after that.
What I applaud this anime for is its capacity to hold on tightly to its plot line or its slice-of-life theme when things have reached its turning point (*winks*). What's more important (in porn) than sex, right? Well as a woman I think it's important for me not to focus on the heart of the story but the brains in it--what it tells us, and what we'll learn thereafter.
After glancing through some reviews, I do believe that Ane Yome Quartet is one of the rarest and best hentai out there.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 19, 2017
10/10 everything: When Isayama came to Tokyo in order to pursue his dream at 21, that changed the anime industry forever. At 31, he's come to be a bestselling author that sells millions of copies and has had an anime which is being talked about by your classmates, your guy buddies, or by some person at the restaurant--or anywhere. I don't believe anyone can create a masterpiece like him: a battle manga that is out-of-this world, but somewhat connected to ours with its universal themes; political and melodramatic.
Is there such a thing as perfection? No.
Well, maybe in anime, there is (LOL).
This one only
...
comes one in a millennium. I am listening to the first opening song right now, Crimson Blow by REVO--and that's just one of the MILLION things you'll love about Shingeki No Kyojin. Imagine a music that drives you crazy: its tension and energy that makes you want to get back it. It becomes a living piece of the anime, that once heard of, you will think of a thousand memories you've had of it.
Basically Attack on Titan is your not-so-typical science fiction that revolves on some appocalyptic society--and yes, IT IS F*CKING BETTER than the Hunger Games, Maze Runner, or any other film adaptation of books--one with blood and cannibalism involved, at least. Because there is such little to love in a genre that is not loved by many, the story is compelling to the point that it is LIKE A DRUG.
Year 775--that was the setting, when a new breed of Titan appeared from outside the heavenly walls that sheltered and protected humanity: the Colossal Tital, kicking a hole out of Wall Maria and thus shattering every life that is in it. Wall Maria, one of the three walls humanity built, was invaded and immediately became Titan territory.
But, the event wasn't just destruction; or the downfall of humanity we will all frown upon...
...it was the day our protagonist was recreated: Eren Jaeger.
'YAMERU!!!!!!'
'I have decided to kill them all. Every single one of them.'
Shit goes on, but not all hope is lost. Eren, who was probably ten at that time, travelled to Wall Rose along with his overprotective, adoptive sister Mikasa and good friend Armin. It was that time that they offered their lives to become cadets--to be trained as soldiers, it's either the battlefield or the farming. And Eren didn't even hesitate. It was like all his life, he was meant to be the slayer of Titans, and nothing ever broke his will (as Reiner once said). He was almost too perfect a character.
'Too Perfect Characters'
Watching the characters do their thing, got me curious. Observing them at some point and appreciating how beautiful and unique and special each of them are not makes me stop watching, despite how I'm supposed to be functioning in my normal life. Compared to other anime characters, these characters do not have a 'necessary evil' (other anime have irredeemable villains)...but they were united against the Titans, and I guess it was that struggle of keeping themselves alive every single day and protecting humanity that became the roots of their stronger, better selves. Jean, for example, who once opted for a lazy and comfortable life in the Interior, became a great leader soon after the fall of Shinagasa District (he's almost had the same determination level with Eren). Note: it doesn't have to be the Titans, either. The greatest enemy in this world, might be a different beast--it is human nature. Take Mikasa whose parents were killed by ordinary humans who just wanted to make a trade for money. What I mean is, these characters at some point lead us to something: You'll never know until you never try.
Let's talk about the best characters created in this planet (in my opinion, apart from Eren of course): Levi, Mikasa and Hange. Personally, I am in love with Levi and could have been his lover on another timeline, but let's not get onto that...Levi is a stoic captain, greatly respected by his comrades, with his fearlessness and hidden passion to kill Titans. No wonder if you open Pinterest you'll often see fanart commissions of LevixEren--because they are parallels. What makes Levi different from everybody else, is apart from the fact that he'll probably live longer than the other characters, he'll live trying to piss others with his dry humor and he will still be beloved. He doesn't get anyone bored with him. Strange enough, it's a wonder why he doesn't have a girlfriend.
Shall we get started on Mikasa? MIKASA. The beautiful, raven-haired girl, who saw how cruel the world was but still found it beautiful. It was no longer about keeping her childhood memories alive with Eren, or protecting him for the sake that they're family or shit--Kami, she is in love with him. She stayed by his side for as long as she could remember, she couldn't imagine a world where she wasn't. It was also his existence, perhaps, that added to her indomitable strength. ('I am stronger than you. All of you.'). What I love about her is, as her voice actress said--she's bad at expressing her emotions. She isn't perfect, but she has this morality. To save humanity. To save Eren. She 'is' perfect--well, for me. It made me curious how the author, Isayama, must have been a feminist.
Hange is voiced by the same goddess of a voice actress that voiced Temari. The moment I heard her voice, my soul got more uplifted. Because most of the time, only the voice actress can truly convey the message of the character itself, enflaming the burning touch of the story. The difference between her and the Scout soldiers was her perspective that somehow there will come a time where humans and Titans will come along (that's how I see it). With her wicked passion to slay the human-devouring Titans, comes an inner longing for peace soon to be shed light through enough research and experiment, and most of all dangerous 'attempts'. It's like, you can't risk not risking--you'll die not knowing or not finding out. And I think Levi and her teammates respect her for it :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 9, 2017
The most beautifully drawn characters I've ever laid my eyes upon. I am in love.
But, that doesn't mean this one's my favorite.
For despite it's a pretty art, the story is kind of unsatisfying.
Here is why: the characters have their own uniqueness, but some have their missing pieces. Especially Yuki, who joins the bandwagon of damsell-in-distress (ugh, I hate those) that later becomes powerful. For some arbitrary reason.
And the most powerful tool a writer could come in force with, is the reasoning.
...
There is not much reasoning in Vampire Knight now, is there?
Except for the part where one girl falls in love with the vampire, the vampire likes her back, and it's a love triangle--! The author seems confused on whether he should give Yuki to Kaname or Zero, anyway, for both of them are gorgeous and eternally broken. And I believe that 'that' romance made this anime stand out. People in general will always look for a love to suck on to, that they will feel like they're in a sort of paradise--in Vampire Knight, the romance focuses on a love based on protection, temptation, for the sake of vampirism. Had they become humans, there wouldn't be a story, but I think that's unfair to the author. I do respect the maker of this, since it's a story based entirely on fantasy that only lacked the logic of reason, and consistent plot magnets.
Plot magnets are, compelling--obviously--but they're almost perfect that the bullet holes are patched up. In Vampire Knight, like I said, it's like the plot lost the connection of the dots. Fair enough, the beauty of this anime is that ignorant bliss that some romance will only taste sweetly once it last longs. Luckily, Vampire Knight lasted for 2 seasons.
And I kept sucking onto it. For the sake of the taste. Not really because I was being guilty of my vampirism.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 9, 2017
How do you define a better world?
What is a world without crime?
What makes a world rotten?
Watching Death Note pretty much makes you question the depths of these philosophical questions. Moreover, coming from the point of view of evil protagonist/antagonist Yagami Light--the handsome, most intelligent (but not so intelligent as he is taken over by greed)--18-year-old that wanted a better world by vanquishing all criminals. It took me a horde of anime to reconsider whether the author (Ohba; as Obata is the artist) got ourselves a protagonist 'and' antagonist. Because in the end, no matter how you put it, people will want to be on Team
...
L's side (and I was in denial)--because his ideologies are much practical and best fits humanity. Light wanted to be a god that wanted to dominated the world, that was just it...or how I captured him in his red eyes and evil snares and smug faces in the dark.
He killed his 'best friend' (or what could be)--L. Mercilessly. He could have killed his younger sister. And, he killed his own father.
He should be the worst person on earth, deserved to be in Hell, but he made it look like he 'was' the Devil: a beautiful manipulative devil that got what he wanted. Killing all the angels (the ones who've pursued him).
The author, Ohba, is very wicked and powerful with this psychological thriller. It was brutality of the mind. And the characters are really compelling. From Light to L and to his successors, and to the women who are (*coughs*) addictive to Light's charm and will do everything to help him win, they all add up to make Ohba's art one dark masterpiece. You will sometimes wonder what did life did to him that he brought us this lavishing darkness: beautiful, it speaks of us--telling us the real horrors of human kind.
We are greed and justice. We almost have no empathy; but we sometimes care about ourselves only. We are love and tactics. We are bloodlust and many other gory things once things go down the shittiest way possible, and, bam! That's us humans. Yep, we're just passing by.
I enjoyed the music overall. Since the first episode, it's the thing that doesn't get out of me--the 10/10 score. It's rock and roll, it has a choir that sings for the gods (Requiem, Kyrie, etc.). It will sing you a funeral song when you're dead.
I also love Mello and L. Period. And Misa deserved more. Women shouldn't in any way, be portrayed as objects to be thrown away once useless. So the only element of the anime that doesn't make it perfect is, it is sexist. But, doesn't really change anything now really. So I gave it a nine because I'm really more on the story. The next review I made, Bakuman, had deductions because of the author's 'blindness' (?) towards misogyny or sexism.
Also, it is nine because I thought it lacked another tiny thing: a heart.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 9, 2017
'You know, after I stopped playing...I've realized how much I wanted the piano.' - Emy
Much as it pains me, the April Lie could have been 'more'. You will only see memories here, when they were children, and here I thought I could have seen more of the mystery in Kaori's death.
So much for the audience's expectations.
It has nothing to say against the real anime.
The OVA boasts of the characters' 'beginnings'. It was pretty much centered on that setting, without having a solid impact. And I know that yes, just like any anime with a predecessor that wins, it had potential--that didn't reach it.
But
...
though, when the OST 'You'll be forgotten' played on the beginning of the song, it just got to me!
But still, thank you for your efforts :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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May 7, 2017
7/10 THE. STORY. IS. DISAPPOINTING.
Let me just say this on the matter:
The artwork is the most beautiful thing in this planet. You will never see anything like it. It has blessed your soul with the very thought that anime could surpass reality--Shinakai looked like he really HAS invaded reality with his art! Have you seen how the rain fell, in its small driblets? Have you seen how the leaf-studded trees touch the pond softly and carefully? Have you seen food in anime--food that'll make you wish you were in Japan? Have you seen a beautiful person? A beautifully sketched one? Everything in the art
...
is solid and will make you wish you were an animator (at least, that was what I felt). The director/editor/writer's efforts--he who was the magnificent creator of Kimi No Na Wa, too--were clearly fused into this, turning it into a masterpiece. A very work of art, in this modernity.
Most people will look back to this a hundred years later on, for its spectacle.
On the other hand, just like love--I do believe however that no matter how outragously handsome or beautiful a person is, if their heart or personality is not something you are fond of, good bye.
But I wouldn't say 'Sayonara' to Garden of Words. Rather, 'You could have been better'.
I've probably read three reviews to align my thinking, or to find the opposing ones to find a justifying answer. And there it is: many have also seen through the lackluster of the emotions found in the two. It's almost as if they lacked chemistry, because their love really confused me. True, it was forbidden. True, they were mostly...carried away. But the art nevertheless doesn't resolve for an unspoken romance.
There were metaphors, and again, rich in imagery, but the story could have had a greater potential. It had, but somewhere it felt like it got lost in the way.
But since majority find the anime a must-see for its lovely visual components and satisfying romance genre, I do believe my review has little effect on the convinced mind. To each his own! You might love this anime for its simplicity and appreciation for bizarre relationships. :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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