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My favorite anime of all time is easily KonoSuba. I could rewatch dat shizz on a loop the same way my old roommate leeched off my parents' Netflix account to fulfill his dream of eternally rewatching the Office until the day he kicks the bucket (ironically, this dude was Japanese, go figure!). Despite the series sharing the same director, I was put off from starting Princess Connect by its mediocre average user rating on MAL, and it's this very reason that I feel I should set the record straight so that others like myself might give this show a chance.

After seeing a grand total of ... three episodes the glaring similarities to KonoSuba are apparent from minute one. The story of a young man sent to a fantasy world by a goddess and accompanied by three girls should sound familiar and is most certainly NOT a gimmick to lure in the male demographic to watch.
The background art and scenery design look really alike. They might as well be in the town in KonoSuba, but wait! What's this?! The roofs in the Princess Connect town are sharp and pointy! That seems to be the biggest difference that I can find so far, but I don't really care if it's a ripoff cuz it's still nice to look at. Even the theme songs were somewhat alike. Both shows begin with an upbeat, pop opening theme and finish with a more laid-back, rustic ending theme. Fun fact, the endings in both shows are dope and I hella recommend, ya dig?


Now considering how close in style Princess Connect is to KonoSuba, most of it's flaws could be seen to stem from a comparison of the two. Unfortunately, the two most frequently used words to criticize this show in negative reviews are not necessarily inaccurate: boring and bland.

Honestly, while I like this show, I totally get where these people are coming from. The MC is almost nonexistent; the show might as well have just the three main girls as the MCs. As a bonus, however, we also have Ikacchi and Charlie who have me busting a gut every time they have a line solely because their VAs had roles in KonoSuba. Especially mah boi Charlie. Ah Charlie, that rascal!
Also, even though Princess Connect has that KonoSuba abrupt, 180-development-surprise humor, some of the jokes have been directly reused without much difference. It's a little disappointing, but overall I would still say the humor is a plus for this show, and I still find it funny and entertaining.



BUT!! Let's get down to business here. There's really one big reason why people continue to watch this and why you reading this review should put on some pants and go give it a try. It's the light that will lead you through the darkness that is COVID-19: the sweet, innocent, silver-haired, little peach-cupcake elf Kokkoro.

Arise, ye of little faith! The waifu wars of Spring 2020 have a new champion! Stand back Kaguya-sama! Step aside sadistic-and-weirdly-sometimes-not swimsuit blonde girl from Gleipnir! Back of the line hot lizard dude from Tower of God! The clear best girl of this season and, dare I say it, the year 2020 is none other than this tiny lil' puddin' pop.
Now I know what you're gonna say. "But this show has a tsundere cat girl." And that's fair. I'm not going to judge you if cat ears tickle your grits. I won't blame you if that furry tail bakes your potato. However, Kokkoro is life. Kokkoro is the very embodiment of the word 'adorbs'. Kokkoro adds a teaspoon of 'smol' but does not cross into 'loli' territory. Surely no one can find a better best girl in all the land! Are you not entertained?!


TLDR:
Watch this or don't if it's boring. Kokkoro = bae Q.E.D.

The outlook you carry as you consider this show may be different from the preconceptions I had a few months ago. First, it was announced that MAPPA was the studio handling Punch Line's animation. This led me to rejoice, as I had been anticipating more of their work since I had seen Shingeki no Bahamut last year; a show that greatly satisfied me (for the most part [give it a shot {go on, try it!}]). In addition, multiple notable voice actors were revealed as part of the cast, which in and of itself is reason enough for many people to 'Plan To Watch'.

However, it is ... hard for me to say that I was wholeheartedly behind this show from the get-go. You see, a short PV was soon after posted online. That promo allotted a decent portion of its time to shots of panties and nosebleeds, and as a result, I became a bit more apprehensive towards the upcoming premiere of this show. Truth be told, ecchi definitely plays a part in the plot of Punch Line, but that does not necessarily hold the show back. For example, the main protagonist certainly does receive a power up when he's turned on, similarly to a certain future Harem King, but Punch Line wields its pervert card in a slightly different manner.

The setting is a boarding house and the main character Yuuta. He's your typical young lad who looks out for his friends/apartment mates and can cause the end of the world if too aroused. Events in the action-packed beginning of the show lead him to become a spirit forcibly separated from his body. Go figure, right? I say "typical", but he really isn't so reminiscent of any one other character that I ever saw him as boring or annoying. Overall, Yuuta is given a fair amount of time and depth as a character.
Narugino is the idol-by-day-superhero-by-day-as-well character. She is sweet, kind, shy, and kind of annoying at first. She's your stereotypical nice girl character, but eventually Narugino receives enough backstory and development that she actually sort of grows on you, so give her a chance. I saw her panties.
The resident techie and bespectacled dorm head goes by the name of Meika. Unless you literally started watching anime yesterday, you've undoubtedly heard her voice in shows such as Zero no Tsukaima and Shakugan no Shana to name just two. However, Meika's character is severely different from the usual tsundere archetype you've seen before to the point that its a breath of fresh air to not hear squeal and yell before attacking some pitiable male teenager. She aid Narugino in her hero endeavors, and she's fairly cool. I saw her panties, too.
Ito plays videogames and keeps a pet bear. She is a bit of a shut-in, meaning she does not possess that much self-confidence, but she still cares her friends and breaks out of her shell as the story calls for it. I also saw her panties.
The last resident of the dorm is Rabura the so-called exorcist. I'll be honest and say that while everyone else feels equally like main characters, it was hard to see her beyond the capacity of a supporting role, not that that's a bad thing. I suppose she is still fairly likeable, albeit more plot device than protagonist. She's your mature older woman who cannot get a boyfriend and helps her friends in a pinch. You will see her panties.
Chiranosuke, the flying spiritual cat who loves porn and guides Yuuta gets a special mention as he was one of my favorite parts of the show. Alas, he does not wear panties. Not even spirit panties.

If the multiple paragraphs devoted to character descriptions wasn't enough of a hint, Punch Line begins as a show mostly depicting the interactions of the boarding house residents, despite the overarching story premise set forth in the first episode. As a result, one believes this anime will be focused on moving forward the grand, mysterious plot from the start. However, the pace feels pretty slow until mid-way through, as it transitions back from character-oriented to a progressing plot.

Even still, this unsettling change-of-pace left me interested in the show and I looked forward to seeing where Punch Line would take me. It displayed above-average animation and solid voice acting. The plot kept me invested. In fact, I would not have been surprised had it been a two-cour show. Therein was the problem that arose. Namely, the ending did not quite live up to expectations. It fit, and I suppose it was not entirely a bad ending, but I was hoping for more. To use an analogy, it was like building up a thirst and being handed a cold can of soda. You're feeling great as you anticipate that carbonated, unhealthy, cold, sugary drink. But upon that first gulp, you realize it's slightly flat and not all that cold. It has by no means lost its carbonation and bubbliness, nor is it warm, but it simply did not live up to the hype you forced onto it.

Though I say this, don't misunderstand. I enjoyed watching Punch Line and I believe it to be pretty decent show. It was a fun watch with a varied ensemble of characters with good chemistry. Ecchi didn't ruin or hinder the quality and was sparsely used for the most part. My advice is to not walk into the world of Punch Line with high expectations and you, too, can have a good time. My other advice is to (re)watch Shingeki no Bahamut.

To be honest, I'm guilty of being biased and judgemental, and more than once to boot. A few years ago I had seen my friend's collection of Naruto manga. I scoffed and even teased him a bit, having seen what appeared to be ridiculous anime promos on TV aimed at children. Within a year, I had discovered anime and manga myself. I have since apologized. Then, a year ago in the fall FAL league, I found myself incredulous at how popular and highly praised the sequel to Kuroko no Basket was. Subsequently, I stumbled across a volleyball anime with what seemed to be an interesting ... premise.

Therefore, I believe apologies are in order. I'm sorry, sports anime genre. I'm sorry I looked down on you. I'm sorry I didn't give you a shot sooner. I'm sorry I wrote off Kuroko no Basket and Yowamushi Pedal and the several other of the genre I have since added to my plan to watch list. If you want to give thanks for my change of heart, you need look no further than a wonderful little gem called Haikyuu!!

Quickly becoming one of my favorite anime, Haikyuu!! was the show I looked forward to most each week. It is a well-rounded work that made every Sunday a little better. As today is the day it finished airing, I'm a bit surprised that more people haven't completed it and/or written reviews. Hoping to help others that may not have given Haikyuu!! a chance, here I am now expressing my humble opinion.

Adapted from a Shounen Jump manga, the story could be boiled to to pretty typical shounen stereotypes. It contains an underdog, teamwork, perserverance, etc. However, in my opinion, Haikyuu!! integrates these themes incredibly well, and also sets itself apart from your run of the mill Jump product. The protagonists are relatively inexperienced and are far from being the best volleyball players out there. Crazy quick 'level up's don't exist, and you will find no inexplicable victories here. Instead, we receive a well crafted story with good pacing that follows the formation of the Karasuno to their foray into the high school volleyball circuit.

Another issue people typically have with the shounen genre is flat, 2-dimensional characters that have little or poor development. I like to think this problem does not plague Haikyuu!! In fact, I'd say this is a strong point in relation to many other anime/manga. Haikyuu!! mainly focuses upon the exploits of the two main characters and the team as a whole, but does take the occasional detour to explore backstory, relationships, character development, comedic moments, and minor characters. That last item especially separates this show from the rest. A recurring theme throughout this sports anime is, not surprisingly, losing. I was very impressed with Haikyuu!! on how it depicts the emotions and point of view of nearly all minor characters, whether they appear again or not. For me, the level to which they were explored is rare among any story I've come across. On a side note, having not experienced not much from the sports genre, I am no authority on how others deal with losing games. However, subjectively, I think it handles the concept fantastically, and possibly better than the above-mentioned basketball and biking anime. It spends a fair amount of time presenting how the characters react and cope with loss.

As far as technical aspects go, Haikyuu!! does not disappoint. The artwork is clean and the animation fluid. Production I.G. did a wonderful job putting together a great visual work. In addition, the OST is superb. Personally, the background tracks helped set the scene and kept me emotionally invested throughout intense, comedic, and dramatic scenes. I cannot compliment the audio side of this anime enough with how well it worked. As a bonus, I fell in love with all of the openings and endings. Hopefully, you're as lucky as I was.

I pray you give Haikyuu!! a chance. If you are new to the genre, this might be a gateway to a new horizon for you. If you have enjoyed sports anime before, Haikyuu!! will continue your enjoyment of the genre. Inevitably, this show is and will be compared to Production I.G.'s other sensation, Kuroko no Basket. In the interest of bipartisanship and brevity, I will simply say that the main difference is that Kuroko no Basket relies more on spectacle, whereas Haikyuu!! integrates more realism. Regardless of opinion, I believe that you will really enjoy Haikyuu!!and, quite possibly, like me you will be eagerly awaiting season 2.

Wow. It's hard to decide where to begin. I suppose I should mention in advance that the first season of IS was one of the first anime I had ever watched, and I was naive enough to think, "This is pretty good!" I assumed the dialogue and plot were supposed to be cheesy and nonsensical. I laughed at what a silly guy that Ichika was! And so, after rewatching this franchise, I wish to apologize to every person that viewed my list in the last year and saw an 8 or 9. Undoubtedly, you shook your head in shame and wept at my foolishness, with ... good reason.

However, don't misunderstand me, I'm not completely disregarding this series. I can understand the viewpoints of both those for and against this show. It's likeable, but please, don't make it out be all that great. It is not the "bee's knees", because even people of the 20's wowed by early Mickey Mouse cartoons would probably not be in love with this show.

I'll lay out the few good points first. The animation is good. When I say this, I'm mainly referring to the mecha fight scenes. This has always been the best part of IS, and it continued into the sequel. It's a harem, through and through. So if you're really into that genre, you'll get plenty of haremness to fill your harem quota. Plenty of women fall for the main guy. In fact, aside from his sister and the girl who invented the robot suits, there is not a single female in this show that does not show some romantic interest in our hero. Lastly, IS 2 creates some depth and plot in the new season! Hooray!

Unfortunately, in order to discuss the bad stuff, I have to rip apart most of the preceding paragraph. Because IS 2 is bad. It is worse than the original. Yes, IS 1 had its flaws: a moron for a main man, lack of depth or character development, and on and on. So while IS 2 did some things slightly better, the flaws were kept and got worse.

What little character depth and romantic progress from the prequel almost completely disappeared. Laura, for example, had some backstory and development. She was originally confident and somewhat headstrong and forward, despite the little attention the show gave her. IS 2 degraded her character, and gave me the impression that she was simply socially naive and blunt. Nothing new is revealed about the other girls either, nor do they do anything but drop semi-subtle romantic hints and act as comedy/fanservice tools. Speaking of which, both comedy and fanservice are reused from the first show, maybe even dumbed down a bit. If you liked the humor in IS 1, rejoice. You're getting the same thing this season.

(One running gag is Ichika getting attacked by his harem. In the first ever episode of IS, they mention regulations and when they're allowed to use their suits, because they make such a big deal about how dangerous Infinite Stratos is. Naturally, this goes out the window for the sake of comedy, and in 24 episodes, the protagonist is ALMOST MURDERED 14 TIMES BY HORMONAL, LOVESICK TEENAGE GIRLS WALKING AROUND WITH THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED WEAPON ON THEIR ARM.)

There is kind of a plot, I'll give you that. But it fails. It is more present in the show than the 2-episode plot of IS 1, and yet it goes nowhere. You learn someone's name, and her relationship to another character, then nothing else. The bad guys attack throughout the show, but absolutely NOTHING else is revealed. The last two episodes feel incredibly rushed, except nothing really ends and you're left pondering the point of it all.

Finally, I'm going to torch Ichika, the protagonist. Without a doubt, the lamest and worst protagonist of any I've seen in the almost 20 years I've been alive. Yes, he is dumb and oblivious. He is constantly suprised, embarrassed, or confused. Apparently, his hearing should be checked because he can't hear the comments his harem makes in front of him to each other with clear romantic implications. Often times he plays them off or just doesn't react to any 'subtle' advances, because god forbid the story advance. IS 2 also makes Ichika afraid of women and female contact at times, because his character has to stay fresh, of course. He also cannot win a fight whatsoever. He's pathetic. He's constantly being saved.

Okay, rant over. Basically, there's a reason IS 2 can't even average a 7 out of 10. It's watchable, and it can be enjoyed, but it definitely helps if you are:
-into watching terrible tv/movies
-slightly masochistic
-blind
-deaf

To be honest, I've got a strange sense of humor. I laugh to myself a lot (often alone). Most of the humor I like comes from the alt-comedy community, and is weird, bizarre, silly, nonsensical, or just way too out there for a lot of people. Rather than anime, I usually would find a comedy outlet in the lesser known stand-up of people like Paul F. Tompkins, Todd Glass, Mitch Hedburg, or network TV shows, whether it be sitcoms like 30 Rock, It's Always Sunny, Community, or sketch/variety shows such as Mr. Show, Kids in the Hall, or Comedy Bang! Bang! In the anime I ... had seen thus far, comedy was certainly on the table, but it was never a main dish that could compare. I was then unexpectedly delighted when I finally got around to watching Gintama.

I was completely blown away at how funny it was and how much I was laughing. This is the major selling point of the show. It. Is. HYSTERICAL. Perhaps your stomach is sensitive, and you live in constant fear of your gut busting. Don't watch watch this show. No, forget that, watch it anyway. You'll die with tears in your eyes and a smile on your face.

Yes, Gintama will forever be good for a laugh. While I feel it is unsurpassed in this aspect, it is not constant comedy. I make this point for two reasons:

1) In a way, it has a slow start. I did not immediately think I was watching a comedic masterpiece from the beginning. It was not truly Gintama until about ep. 25 (which is coincidentally when I realized I was watching a comedic masterpiece). What I mean by that is it needed time to become familiar; to feel itself out and establish what it is. The more you watch, the more you become aware of Gintama's style and the running jokes, of which there is an infinite supply!

2) This is probably the biggest complaint the show gets, and the main reason you can breathe between in place of perpetual laughter. This show can be serious. Seriously. Some people say that the solemnity kills the mood, that it should just stick to its usual gags. Gintama is mainly episodic with little connection from episode-to-episode, and it can indeed be fairly serious in some some of its standalone episodes, mixed in with comedy, of course. Personally, while I can sort of see why people are not as into it, I have no problem with it, and even welcome it as a sort of balance. What I understand less is the not liking the arcs Ithat range from 2-8 episodes) that have a more earnest approach. A different tone is set from the start and subsequently, though there are still funny moments, it is done in a bit more mature fashion where the show takes itself a little more seriously for the time being, especially with the arcs set in Yoshiwara. In fact, this is when the show's, for lack of a better word, 'badass-ness' is in full display. I never looked at the drama and emotional bits as a weak point, but instead reveled in it, amazed that something so funny could spin emotion so well. For me, it's a nice change of pace that shows how well-rounded Gintama is.

Having discussed the 'flaws', I'll briefly touch on other criteria, starting with the plot. There isn't any. As I said earlier, Gintama is episodic, each one being distinct and usually unrelated to the next. For the few short arcs that appear, a premise is set up, giving the show its only instances of an existing story. It is a shounen anime, published in JUMP with other great shounen anime, but it is a parody show first (which is often pointed out on screen, often through the nonexistent 4th wall). While the plot and various situations that arise each time are certainly good, they are not what make this show truly shine.

The characters. O MAN, DEM CHARACTERS. The highlight of Gintama and what separates it from any other anime. Put simply, they are fantastic characters. In fact, I loathe to assign them as 'main' and 'minor'. Every one has backstory, depth, flaws, likes, dislikes, quirks, and distinct personality. This extends through a large cast of characters where there may be entire episodes centered around secondary characters, or they may make short, pointlessly funny cameos, giving the series what little semblance of a connection between episodes it has. I will always love the array of characters and the idiosyncrasies they bring to the table, such as a mayonnaise obsession, sadistic/masochistic sides, an annoyance at a nickname, a bad case of hemorrhoids, a love for JUMP, and so many more.

The art is good, though nothing revolutionary. It improves as the series goes on. Its main function is to be diverse for the use of visual gags, and in case you were wondering: yes, it does its job well. The sound is in a similar boat. It is simple, diverse, and showcases the dialogue, changing according to mood, or to help drive home a punch line. As for the OP/ED, I thought it was an amazing soundtrack, though your musical taste may be different. Go figure.

Gintama is nothing short of outstanding and hilarious. Sitting through 262 episodes was one of the most enjoyable experiences with anime I've had. I cannot recommend this show enough. You're bound to enjoy it (just ask the MAL rankings). To end with, I'll leave you with a quote that sums up the show pretty nicely.

"If One Piece teaches you how to pursue your dreams, then Gintama teaches you how to live on even if your dreams have shattered."