- Last OnlineAug 13, 2013 5:12 AM
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- BirthdayDec 15, 1988
- LocationKentucky
- JoinedJun 30, 2011
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Sep 1, 2011
These are my Reviews if they're helpful great, if not, that's great too. I am NOT adept at writing/typing this is merely a contribution to the site. I assume the reader has finished the show.
Story
This will be covering both the original series along with the 4 episode OVA as a single set.
Wolf's Rain has a premise that for years kept me from giving it a fair chance. The thought of Wolves disguising themselves as humans sounded silly to me along with a flower in the form of a girl. Only wolves can reach paradise, they are also enamored with "The Flower Maiden" so right from
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the beginning you see she is important to the story. Which is just that.. finding paradise. Beyond the symbolic side I had so many questions like why were wolves special? How were they disguising themselves? What drove the world to a wasteland? Why does a flower look like a girl? As the series closed in on it's second half I didn't care anymore, everything was cohesive and full of emotion. The pacing was unmatched in my opinion. Slow and grueling at the start but I cared what happened by the end. The ending had me slightly disappointed but still one of the best I've seen. Looking back I appreciate Wolf's Rain more and more, something that is new for me.
Animation
Their is nothing special about the animation or post-apocalyptic art style when you review it individually. Seen as a whole with all other aspects of Wolf's Rain and somehow it becomes special. You feel the world and it's hopeless future. The colors have a very low but welcome tone for it's setting. Designs were unique for each character which I loved. Their is not a lot of big fights or flashy scenes but that's not where it's strength is. Wolf's Rain is most powerful showing resiliance in a dying world, to the end. Depressing landscapes and a crumbling society is where it shines.
Sound
I usually don't include the music section because it's most of the time not worth mentioning. To not credit it here would be shameful due to the impact on the viewer. Music is just as important as the story in this case because it bring's the emotion across with some beautiful and sad themes. Once again Wolf's Rain functions as a whole, each aspect supports the other resulting in a dramatic and heartfelt adventure. Even so the music stands strong on it's own and in my opinion is the best part altogether.
Characters
Characters were the other aspect I liked early on. Their all developed thoroughly from the start to the end, but it had very little back story. If it wasn't for their conflicting personalities and the slow pace of the show to understand them I would not of cared as much as I did towards the finale. Even side characters if you want to call them that play somewhat important roles. Everything literally has a place in Wolf's Rain and presents itself exceptionally.
Final Thought
The story may have been the weakest part when it's over but I'll keep saying, it's powerful when everything else is involved. The other aspects are so strong that even though it presents nothing new it still raises the bar for what's average. Hopefully someone understands that. This will be one of two box sets I'm buying and I don't purchase much anime for whatever that's worth :)
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 31, 2011
These are my Reviews if they're helpful great, if not, that's great too. I am NOT adept at writing/typing this is merely a contribution to the site. I assume the reader has finished the show.
Story
5 Centimeters per Second is quite simply the story of time. It's about two people separated by time and distance, how life slowly but inevitably divides them down different paths. Their is no actual plot involved we just follow the characters through their life as they try to hold on to the memories of those they left. The full range of emotions are displayed through this simple story making this
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easy to relate to for anyone. I felt the third arc was slightly rushed but it had no negative effect on the full experience. Their is really not much to say because their is no plot.
Animation
Very high detail to environments and the excellent use of lighting makes this one of the most beautiful works I've ever seen. I'm particularly glad it's not another anime of it's genre with Clannad style character designs. Their is very few negative things I could say about it. One of which being as the movie progresses all the "Awe" moments show less and less. This isn't a bad thing because it's still beautiful but with much more detail in the beginning.
Characters
Their is only three characters, none of them have any development. It's intended this way so anyone from any walk of life can relate to the story being told. The emotions they display are pretty surreal and more than likely you can relate to, that's great coming from a Anime. The main character tries hard to keep in contact with a special child-hood friend despite life's obstacles. Then eventually he struggles with remembering the feelings they shared, wondering if they're even the same people anymore. I am impressed because no anime seems as genuine as this does in my opinion. Well done characters mirrored from real world relationships.
Final Thought
As you see from my review the focus of 5 Centimeters per Second is in the human element, how it connects with you personally and emotionally. This will determine it's impact and your enjoyment. No one can deny sharing some of the experiences portrayed here in their own life and in their own way. That simple truth told in the most simple way. Watch it. Live it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 29, 2011
These are my Reviews if they're helpful great, if not, that's great too. I am NOT adept at writing/typing this is merely a contribution to the site. I assume the reader has finished the show.
Story
Durarara!! from the beginning doesn't really have nor does it ever develop a single focal point to drive the story. Their are so many different elements and possibilities as the show progresses that it almost feels "safe" (someone has to like it). Coupled with the somewhat slow pace it felt to me as if Durarara lacked direction. Hell we got street gangs, school kids (surprise!!) and a damn dullahan. I'll stop
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their before I start dropping spoilers. Towards the finale even though still nothing was answered you see that somehow their is a plan to all this mayhem. It just surprised me how successful they were interweaving all the different elements, even if they still were a little thin. Despite minor frustrations I'm looking forward to the continuation with season 2 so they can build on this web they've created.
Animation
The animation is not stellar by any means and only details what's important in each scene, for example bystanders will not be colored in or the backgrounds are not moving at all. They implement this conservative style very well and do great work with their budget. The City looks great at night and their are sporadic moments the animation is amazing. Aside from the dullahan, supernatural elements look fantastic. Some moments like chatting on their computers for example just felt like another way to cut a corner, even though their is a purpose behind it. However in this situation due to the intended audience I'll give it higher remarks for creativity.
Characters
So many characters are introduced in the first few episodes you have to like at least one right? Not in my case. The character development, if anything, was difficult to make connections with because they were not giving enough time to a single character. A couple of them frustrated me, had cheesy backgrounds or was just plain boring. Some of the relationships had me going wtf? So every-time I seen them I turned off half my brain. All the characters are light hearted on the outside, but everyone has secrets not even the closest person to them knows. But somehow in the end I accepted all these schizophrenic characters and enjoyed in hindsight. One in particular was just badass.. you either know or will know him.
Final Thought
Durarara!! was a interesting experience that almost got dropped numerous times in the beginning. Through all the hype I was passing it off as another fanboy attractive show. It may still be that but it has it's own unorganized charm that reveals itself in the later episodes. Everything seems cluttered but it's that way for a reason, hopefully they don't make a fool out of me in Season 2. If anything look at this as the hook to what's coming. If your easily amused you'll love it, if not, like me have a little patience and watch with no expectations.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jul 27, 2011
These are my Reviews if they're helpful great, if not, that's great too. I am NOT adept at writing/typing this is merely a contribution to the site. I assume the reader has finished the show.
Story
Paranoia Agent wants to confuse the hell out of you, unfortunately it's way more simple then it would have you believe. It confuses you and uses outrageous metaphors to deliver the most simple messages. Over and over each episode is delivering the same message in a new way, but it never delivers the plot. Which is basically people mentally breaking from minor life issues and blaming it all on a ..
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was about to spoil, I mean really it's not that difficult. I believe they forgot to tie in the weak story until the last two episodes resulting in a borderline filler middle and a rushed ending. If only they kept the continuity of the first four episodes my score would be higher because those four had potential! Went and gone off the deep end.
Animation
At first glance it looks great but don't look deeper. As the series progresses the animation and quality of the artwork suffer. This is inexcusable for a 13 episode series. Even though I agree with raising the quality of animation for important sequences only, Paranoia Agent takes a really weird route. Intended or not I wasn't impressed and felt more like they were cutting corners. Towards the end episodes were with cardboard characters.. I fail to see this as creative. If anything the diversity of character designs was the best part.
Sound
When the show decides to be serious it does well to give the viewer a creepy feeling, much thanks to the music. However these moments are so short and grow further apart. It sets the mood for certain situations fulfilling it's purpose but isn't showcased enough. Why? Moments to do so disappear the more Paranoia Agent moves forward. What could have been exceptional is above average when it tries. The opening theme made me feel like I was having a mental breakdown wishing someone would hit me with a bat. The ending theme was pretty damn catchy, but when it's in my head two days later it pisses me off, where's a bat? my problems are too much.
Characters
All the characters had problems in life that weighed on them mentally and would progressively affect their behavior. However in most cases the problem did not make sense of the actions causing them to feel forced and just downright fake. Character development is their to a small degree, a couple I even enjoyed watching. The rest were either cast off too soon or uninteresting from the start, leaving me indifferent to whatever happens to them. New episode, new mental breakdown, some exaggerated reason and BAM! Is that a spoiler? I did think one of the detectives was hilarious even though it's not my kind of comedy. It's not all lost!
Final Thought
Paranoia Agent tries to lighten the story with comedy aimed at a younger "Shounen" audience while attempting to maintain it's thought provoking premise. It's been done successfully before but not this time. I'm not sure what exactly it wants to be. Humor was overdone in a attempt to hide how mediocre the show really is. Based off the ratings and reviews it's done that well. I feel like Kira was writing this story epically eating potato chips when he realized their was only one chip in the bag to begin with :D Let is resonate. Anyway my low score should imply I didn't understand the series right? No, I understood all of it and my score remains the same.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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