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Dec 14, 2021
What do you get when you want to create an anime with plenty of action and equal amounts of fanservice, but don't quite fully commit to either? You get Devils' Line.
See this anime started, in my opinion, as solid as a fanservice-oriented anime could be. We have an edgy love interest, a surprisingly responsive MC (despite her total lack of personality), and actual decent tension between them. It's not a love story for the ages by any means, but they tip-toe this delightful line (ha, ha) that pulls you in just enough to keep you watching.
It's just plain good fanservice, and it doesn't
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have to be amazing - you can appreciate a good guilty pleasure anime for what it is.
Thing is, despite the heavily nsfw undertones, tension, and build up to a relationship, there's something dark lurking in the background: an attempt at having a plot.
The love interest, Anzai, is part of the police, and as the anime progresses, the focus shifts more and more towards the crime/mystery.
This wouldn't be an issue if the story was interesting, but no - we're treated to this vague series of events that feels rushed beyond belief (the 12-episode curse strikes again), characters that you form no attachment to because of how irrelevant they seem in the grand scheme of things, and no satisfying conclusion.
Not only does Devils' Line fail to deliver any kind of compelling story, but it shoots itself in the foot by removing any of the fanservice that it started with. People looking for tight action will be disappointed, as will fans of romance. There's just nothing to latch onto, except for hope that things get more interesting.
I don't think it does, but if you're stuck at home and need a little entertainment, I'd give it a go. It might do more for you than it did for me! Besides, they do have a killer lineup of seiyuu, so they at least did good in that department.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Aug 2, 2021
(May be slightly biased, as this was one of my very first anime. This review only applies to the original japanese version of Tokyo Mew Mew, and not the absolute horror that is Mew Mew power/The unholy English dub)
I thought this show deserved a review, considering how many positive memories I have of it. That being said, in order to chuck off the rose-tinted glasses, I rewatched all of it - but I still had a blast.
Tokyo mew mew (TMM for short) is just a lot of nostalgic, light-hearted fun. It isn't something to go into for epic battles, realism, and complex dilemmas. It's
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a show full of pink, sparkles, and blushes, and it very much sticks to that the whole way through. Think of it as a "turn your brain off" kind of anime; though they attempt to give it some depth, and... it doesn't quite work.
The story itself is very basic, and follows a 'monster of the week' formula. There are, of course, a fair amount of twists and turns along the way, but the enjoyment of the show relies heavily on the characters - so if you don't like those, the whole story will just seem pointless and without much substance. That's why I can't say it stands up well on its own, despite how much I enjoyed the environmental aspect and how they defined magical girls.
The art is a big yes, though! Expressive, saturated, with bold, fun details, cute outfits, and adorable animations. It's pure eye candy the whole way through. Only thing that gets a little tiresome is how much they reuse all kinds of animations, both for transformations and for attacks. The transformations are so important to the magical girl genre, yes, but I found myself skipping through a lot of these.
The sound is a bit of a mixed bag. I adore the soundtrack as a whole, but I think a lot of it was also just not very memorable. Neither was the voice acting, while we're at it...although Masaya's voice was especially bad, imo.
Speaking of which, let's talk about the characters. They are such a defining feature of this show, and *have* to shine to make up for the lack of complex storytelling. And you know what? The main girls kind of do. They're very digestible clichés with a lot of heart, and a clear common goal. Except for Zakuro - I thought her edgy spiel was a bit overdone and I tired of her really quickly, especially since she never seemed to truly fit in with the rest of the cast.
Their banter with Shirogane and Akasaka was great, and the hints of romance between the former and Ichigo were a lot of fun.
And then there's Ichigo's main love interest...Masaya. I can't list any defining features because the boy is so bland and empty and devoid of humanity that most of the times it feels like Ichigo is just simping over thin air. This is probably the most frustrating aspect of the show, because she spends half her time fawning over this character that you don't find appealing in the slightest, and the show also expects you to enjoy him to a similar degree that she does.
To make matters worse, she has more interesting romance, tension, and banter with the main antagonist of all people. Kisshu literally saves this show's boring romance by offering a twisted, almost bordering on yandere kind of love that, although one-sided, still gives the audience little bits of hope to latch onto. He frequently shows conflicting emotions and inner dilemmas due to him loving the one person who's in the way of his plans. If it were realistic and he were the only love interest, the audience would be disgusted because he's rather unethical in his advances, but because you're stuck with a bland cardboard cutout and another poor lad that has no chance, you find yourself rooting for Kisshu in this strange way...if you enjoy villain characters.
Kisshu has great banter with his two fellow antagonists too, who also happen to have some kind of interest in two of the other girls. Their side of the story is just so much more interesting!
Despite not really enjoying the way things turn out in the show, I still thought TMM had a lot to offer, and I couldn't help but binge this with a good cup of tea and a switched off brain. If this is something you think you could enjoy, even if just a little, I'd recommend this wholeheartedly, even if just for the sake of watching a cute classic.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 18, 2021
Satsuriku no Tenshi left me with several questions, about how it was created and what the intentions were. Not all were answered, but nonetheless, I enjoyed this anime a lot more than expected.
First of all, the story is solid, though a little open-ended. There's a lot of room for interpretation in every part, where you could take it as a metaphor for something else, for example. They make heavy use of symbolism, which may be off-putting to some, and really interesting to others. I thought it was good food for thought, so it made it all the more enjoyable for me.
Its often very obvious that
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it was once an RPG, as characters have voice lines that feel a little out of place within the anime, but would make perfect sense if you were playing as Rachel. Just something to keep in mind, as it could break immersion.
I loved the art. It's got a clean, easy on the eyes feel that feels just right. Where needed, it reflects the atmosphere well, and portrays gorgeous, dynamic scenes. No complaints here.
The soundtrack was very reminiscent of classic pixel horrors for the most part, with certain themes repeating a lot more than expected. Ending wasn't very memorable, but the opening was stuck in my head for a day or two. Tldr; did its job.
The characters are probably my favourite part of the anime, though not all are created equal.
I have a soft spot for problematic, sadistic characters, so the shows efforts to make the viewer sympathetic to a literal serial killer worked wonders on me. I thought Zack was fun and cathartic to watch, though his constant shouting did get on my nerves at times (watched the dub, maybe this is different for the sub). I know many people would find him a little one-dimensional, but I applaud the show's efforts to make us feel this uncomfortable sympathy towards him.
Rachel I find a little more uninteresting. She's a classic kuudere, which I don't necessarily mind, but she keeps spouting the same lines over and over. At least there's some clear growth throughout the anime, and you see her (very slowly) peek out of her shell. The dynamic between her and Zack makes it all worth it.
The supporting cast is surprisingly enjoyable. I thought a lot of them would just have their episode and be cast aside shortly after, but that wasn't the case. They offer much needed diversity, but sadly, aren't much more than that (except for two, who offer a surprising twist/clear up what the viewer might not have understood of the story).
I just really, really enjoyed this. Made me feel unexpected feels. If you're feeling like a bit of an edgy, but also comedic series might be what you need, I wholeheartedly recommend.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jan 11, 2021
I have a confession: I really enjoyed Diabolik lovers.
But hear me out, because I think a majority of the audience has either watched this with the wrong mindset/idea, or shouldn't have watched it, because they weren't necessarily the audience for it.
This anime is niche, because it's very specific fanservice that leans more towards the kink department. Actually, scratch that. It's a BDSM fantasy, and should be treated as such. This is meant to be for people who enjoy the idea of sadists, vampires, and attractive men.
The plot is laughable at best, and if you think you should give it a shot for the story,
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then let me stop you right there. The plot is secondary. *It's irrelevant.* This anime is purely about the fanservice, and whatever story there may be is just because they scraped together things from the visual novel it was adapted from.
I'm still giving it a low score because the plot is just missing in action, yes, but I think there's a reason for it.
If you play the game, its presented as a bunch of small scenes/snippits of your daily life with one of the brothers. A lot of it is just slice of life. And honestly, story doesn't play a huge part in that either, unless you really go through and complete the routes for all characters from beginning to end.
Tldr; forget the plot.
The other gripe people have with DiaLovers is the characters. And to be fair, Yui isn't very inspiring, nor does she have a spine. But I didn't get annoyed by her lackluster behavior or naiveté, because she fulfilled her duty as the protagonist in this case: be the character that would allow for the specific fanservice that the anime offers.
The Sakamaki brothers are all abusive, manipulative, and whatever else you want to call them. Definitely. But that's the point. Nobody should try to condone/forgive their behavior, but again, they're there to fulfill a fantasy. They're sadists to the core, and offer a whole colourful array of ways to torture the heroine.
Some of the brothers are more abrasive and rash (Ayato and Subaru), some more disciplinarian (Reiji), some have mommy issues (Laito), some are collected (Shuu) and some are outright creepy psychopaths (Kanato).
I personally found Shuu more tasteful compared to the rest, but each one has their own appeal, and gets a variety of scenes with the main character.
Their relationships don't evolve into anything meaningful or deep, even after the final twist, which is disappointing for sure. But I think they all had a presence, and that's all I wanted from this anime.
Overall, DiaLovers is an experience. Not for just anyone, and I understand that. But I found myself really enjoying the setting, the voice actors' fantastic job, the fact they sang the opening too. And I just really enjoyed the character interactions. Sometimes, you just need some mindless fun, and if that's what you need, then maybe you should give this one a try.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jan 11, 2021
I once wrote a review about this, a few years ago, and after rewatching it purely out of nostalgia for those days, I thought I'd write an updated review.
Spoiler alert: it's not great.
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I'm of the opinion that (reverse) harem anime don't necessarily need a plot, in order to leave space for what most people came for: the fanservice. So this aspect shouldn't bother me too much - except that Dance with Devils tried really hard to have a plot, and took itself way too seriously in the process.
Worst part is that the story they presented is so lackluster it'll put you to sleep. It's
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shallow, the twists along the way are painfully cliché/predictable, and in the end, it's all kind of for nothing. Nobody really evolves after the events, it's literally just a case of "yes I wanna go back to normal". And, well, it does. Frustratingly.
The art is really, really gorgeous. I'll gladly admit that. It's consistent, the colour palette is easy on the eyes, and the characters were nicely designed. That's about it, though.
I'm really split on the music, to be honest. The regular background music blends in just fine, so you never notice it much. The opening and ending are fantastic - I usually stuck around a little longer for them. Real catchy stuff!
But then, halfway during every episode, you're suddenly subjected to these seemingly out of nowhere musical acts/songs? The transition between the scene and the songs are very jarring, so you're always kind of taken off guard. Doesn't help the songs aren't great, either. I'm sure this is exactly up someone's alley, but I only felt cringed out.
And then, ah, the characters. They should arguably be the show's saving grace, but they really aren't. If anything, they're a little entertaining (I'm looking at you, fluffy dog), but without much depth to them.
The heroine, Ritsuka, is someone I remember being better, but she's something like a horror movie character, the kind that always makes bad decisions. She's uninteresting, which I usually expect from reverse harems, because she's supposed to be self-insert material. We're supposed to want to see the events unfolding through her eyes. But they try to force personality into her, and have a colourful cast of 6 entire guys fawning over her.
!! One of those 6 does include her "brother"...so if you're not into the incestuous undertones, stay away.
Again, for this kind of anime, the love interests should be the compelling part. They're cute, and some of the interactions are nice fanservice. But none of them are much to write home about, and we don't see a lot of development between either of them and Ritsuka - except for one. So when we see her take her final decision at the end and actually pick someone, you do see it coming.
To some, this might ruin the reverse harem formula where there's no clear choice (and the viewer can interpret the ending for themselves), but seeing a concrete choice being made is fairly refreshing.
I think the start and middle of the anime are genuinely enjoyable, and if you've got a bit of time, it might just be worth it. But the predictable ending and unfortunate pacing just left me disappointed.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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Oct 10, 2020
I'm going to attempt to write the most unbiased review of Naruto that I can. A disclaimer: This show has impacted my teenage years alot, and I hold a place for it in my heart. These are my thoughts after rewatching it recently (except for the filler - I will not be reviewing anything that doesn't pertain to the main story).
First, the story. This is one of its strong points, but I find that the quality of the story depends a lot on the arc. Some being better than others (for example, the Chuunin Exams is still one of my favourite arcs to this day),
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and sometimes, it takes quite a dip. For example, the Tsunade retrieval arc was a little lackluster. Following Naruto on his journey to becoming hokage is classic and timeless plot, and seeing the genin grow together is well worth it.
As a side note, its unfortunate how much filler they crammed in that series - but if you follow an episode guide, you can easily skip the filler and still enjoy the story to the fullest.
The art is good, but...that's it. Just good. The studio really did their best and captured the essence of what Naruto wanted to show, but its obvious that some parts are a little rushed. Now the fight scenes - that's where the animation shines. I can understand if the overall style is a bit of a miss for some, but to me, its done its job, and shows a lot of character.
The soundtrack is of the things I can't find a fault in. The openings are catchy and energizing, the endings a little less so, but with an equal amount of soul in them. The music throughout the whole show is just really well composed, diverse, and a pleasure to listen to.
The characters are the most important part, in my eyes. There's a lot to say about them, and they easily carry the whole show.
There's one big problem - the show's main characters, Naruto and Sasuke, are annoying. This might not be the case for everyone, but to me, they are both unrelatable, irritating, and covered with the heaviest plot armor I've seen by far. The show does a good job of making Naruto a little more sympathetic in the beginning (and he is far better in this show than he is during Shippuuden), but that is quickly lost in the waves of problems that he brings with him. Immature, taking some awful decisions, brash to a fault, and not always consistent in the way he's written. He frequently dismisses good advice, and while that may be part of his character and showing his flaws, I think it becomes difficult to like him after a while, even though we may find ourselves cheering for him to overcome hurdles and become stronger.
Sasuke's issues run deeper. He is unrelatable, arrogant, and though the show tries to make you sympathize with him, it does not work (especially towards the end). During the first few arcs and episodes, you might have a soft spot for him, because he's shown as more humane. But as time progresses and the anime shows clear favoritism, and his growth takes a very different turn...it's hard to like the guy, it really is.
What saves the show is all of the side characters - their interactions, their banter, their powers. There's a varied and memorable cast that carries the story on their shoulders, and even if you may not like the main characters, the rest will surely make up for it. I consider Sakura a part of the side characters for now, because she (sadly) doesn't become relevant until far later, and Shippuuden. Naruto isn't very good at writing female characters, but there's some gems that stand out, and that truly make you want to keep watching.
Despite how much I've dragged the show down, as a whole, its very enjoyable - as long as you skip the filler. There's some great messages about hard work and perseverance, about friendship and trust. If that sounds like your jam, I think you won't regret it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Mar 17, 2020
I just finished watching this, and I've come to the conclusion that this anime is the definition of a shitpost.
I say this for multiple reasons - but as a long-time watcher and reader of yaoi and other fujoshi-oriented content, I couldn't enjoy this anime as a yaoi. Did I enjoy it as a comedy though? Absolutely.
First, the story. It's just layers of absurdity, without much substance. If you're looking for something with deep romance, complex themes, or the like, then this isn't for you. If you're looking for a bit of mindless enjoyment, you might want to give this a shot.
After all, it
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does look pretty good. The art is consistent and genuinely cute, I found it to be very easy on the eyes.
Second, the characters. Most of them are one-dimensional at best (the cutesy one, the closeted nerd, the kind-hearted seme, the jerk, etc), but they work well with the setting. Yuri especially was a breath of fresh air. Still, you shouldn't try and look too deeply here. They may be the focus of the story, but they're poorly developed.
Lastly, and ironically, this may be a crazy-looking anime with very promiscuous themes, but the actual spicy scenes are more like tiny little snippits without build-up. There's a constant reminder that everyone is shameless (and alot of them are in the nude anyway), but...nothing really happens, honestly. So, if you're looking for something spicy, this won't really satisfy you either.
Overall - a mess. But a delightful mess nonetheless, that made me laugh a lot more than expected.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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Jun 5, 2016
You know...I don't even know where I picked this one up in the first place, and I certainly never expected it to be this good. This truly was a breath of fresh air, and something decidedly different from any other seinen anime I've ever seen.
There's something about the story which just kept me hooked until the very end - and yet, it's just about a girl taking matters in her own hands and choosing the job that would truly make her happy. With the persuasion of a few people, of course. The setting is all about fashion, and while you may not be interested
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in clothes, this anime puts a very nice twist on it. It all flows very naturally, plus THE DRAMA IS REAL.
The art itself might turn some people off - and I can understand that, as it's rather unique. But in my opinion, it's beautiful, and as stylish as one of the characters' hand sown dresses. It's very expressive and pleasant to watch.
As for the characters themselves, they were what kept me hooked the most. All of them had their clear faults and realistic personalities, and didn't really have that 'anime' feel to it. I loved every single one of them, got mad at them, cried with them, and I cannot express how satisfying it is to watch some well developed characters who grow and mature beautifully. Their relationships are also both believable and interesting. The romance is wonderfully written, and you can't help but squeal when Yukari and George share their first kiss. There may be times where the characters [the protagonist especially] will make you sigh, though.
The music was rather pleasant, but nothing out of the ordinary. The opening and ending songs were, however, both catchy and fun. Extra points because the ending made me stay.
And to conclude everything, let me tell you this. If you need a break from all the constant fluff and tsunderes, and would rather have something down to earth and realistic, then you should give this one a shot for sure. I don't usually rewatch anime, but this one enraptured me, and I recommend it 100%.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 5, 2016
I started watching 'Another' as a way to sate my curiosity. It's been rumored by some to be one of the best horror anime, and by some as the worst. I wanted to see how it truly was for myself.
To start off this review, I'd like to point out the anime isn't scary at all. There's a decent amount of gore, but unless it makes you very squeamish, you should be fine. Everything is based around ghost-story like things, and it's hardly believable. In fact, I can say for certain that if you want a good scare, you're better off playing some horror games. The
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thing that kept me going in the case of Another was the suspense and the mysteries waiting to be solved.
The story itself is rather cliche for an anime of it's genre, but I'd say it's forgivable and works rather well. It runs smoothly, and since the anime isnt too long, it doesn't start off slow or have pacing problems. It gets straight to the point. I think there are some points where you may lose your patience however, as problems arise from easily avoidable misunderstandings.
Visually, Another was rather appealing, I must say. The colours are perfectly suited for the gloomy atmosphere, and the characters are well drawn. They really nailed the character expressions, which were a MUST in this case.
The sound was...not really memorable, but they added some pretty neat effects at times, and it worked out well in the end. I think the sound may have been the scariest thing, to be honest.
Now, the characters...they are so bland and uninteresting I barely remember their names. They were all dull and seemed like cookie-cutter, underdeveloped characters, save for Misaki Mei [who was kinda cute, not gonna lie] and to a certain extent, Teshigawara, whom the anime desperately needed because he was the only upbeat character.
Overall, I'd say it really isn't that bad, but it's nothing special. There are scarier and more interesting things to watch out there, but it certainly is an experience. I believe I won't be looking at umbrellas the same way ever again...
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 3, 2016
After finishing the first two seasons of Junjou Romantica and feeling kind of 'meh', I decided it was about time to check Sekaiichi Hatsukoi. I had heard many good things about it, and believed I should give it a shot.
I was extremely dissappointed.
The story itself actually does have some backbone, and the setting in general is interesting - the editing industry isn't often spoken of in anime or manga, and I think it captured the atmosphere really well.
But then...there's the art. To be fair, Nakamura-sensei has really improved over the years, and the anime looks clean. But in some places, it just seemed
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very unappealing and awkward. That's only because I'm very picky with the art, though - I may be a little harsh, here.
Now, if there is something I cannot forgive, however, it's the characters. Where do I even begin? All the ukes look pretty much the same [there were points where I couldn't figure out who was who], and act the same too. In fact, if you don't like tsunderes, you might as well dump the whole anime altogether. I'm sick of seeing underdeveloped characters who act childish and cannot admit their love. It's exhausting to watch, and many situations are based upon misunderstandings that could have easily been avoided. I honestly think that Nakamura-sensei could have done so much more with the characters. Perhaps I'm judging too fast, and there are many improvements in the second season, but I'm having my doubts.
The semes always have to do all the goddamn work. While they do have some variations in personality, which is a breath of fresh air, the artwork really isn't flattering at all. They also look pretty much the same...it's just so frustrating to see. There could be so much more improvement!
The soundtrack isn't much to write home about...it's nothing very memorable, but it does blend into the atmosphere pretty well.
Overall...I guess I just dislike tsunderes :') I'm sorry if I said anything to offend the fans. I'm just an old potato x ~ x I'm picky with my animes at the moment.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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