Things to consider before watching this series:
-Joker Game is a 12 episode anime based off 4 novels, this anime covers different stories from each novel. These novels were written in an anthology fashion, in other words, multiple short stories that each focus on one of the spies introduced in the first episode and a really non-existent linear plot.
-Because of the way this series is written, the anime is largely episodic, with only two short two episode arcs, one at the beginning and one near the end. Also, this anime is the episodic style in which there is no overarching plot, just overarching themes.
-This anime, in
...
my opinion, is largely a niche one that will hit and miss very clearly depending on he audience.
-This anime is told non-chronologically.
Onto the review:
For all intents and purposes, I enjoyed Joker Game a lot. The first two episodes introduced the D-Agency and it's spies, along with who the audience initially thought would be the protagonist, only to be abruptly introduced to what would be the episodic style of each spies mission. The transition may fool some, and a lot of people may be disappointed by the direction this series goes with the spies. If you wanted a series involving each spy doing something with action like you see in the movies, look elsewhere.
Characters: Each episode from episode 3 onwards features a different spy, the only problem is differentiating which spy is which. As far as character design goes however, Joker Game does it really cleverly. Since the audience barely has time to register the names and faces of the spies, when it comes to their feature episode its hard to tell who's who. But that's the whole point of their designs, as spies they're supposed to blend into the background. In the novels, it's not even specified which spy does which mission, it was all on the anime director to choose which spy did what. The spies themselves aren't exactly developed characters as some people would like, but in each episode they feature in, you can see they do have some distinct traits and methods of espionage (best way to recognize them is by their voices).
Individually, the spies don't have much going for them as characters. Collectively however, what each spy does is indicative of the ideals that drive the D-Agency as a whole: Done Die, Don't Kill. If there was ever a main character in this whole anime, it would the be spymaster Yuuki himself. He is the mastermind who trained and oversaw the spies. Yuuki is a man of mystery, but is also the most compelling of the cast, because the audience ends up knowing the most about him, while also not knowing anything about him at all.
Story: Each episode is fascinating in showing the different sides of conflict during the war. As this anime is about espionage, the spies it feature prominently are the members of D-Agency, but other times one off characters from all sides of the conflict. It works much better than it sounds because of the way each individual story is handled. The audience is given insight into the many different sides to a life of espionage, from being taken by the enemy for information, to being the the background to manipulate from behind the scenes, to being able to live a life of solitude knowing that you'd likely die alone for your cause. Generally speaking, you get thrown into the episode not knowing anything, but by the end understand everything that has transpired. I think the only problem is the execution of each mission, as a lot of moments in the episode that seem insignificant at first are all just revealed in the end to be a key part in completing the mission. The audience doesn't know what to look for, so the reveals themselves are big 'wow' moments, but I would have liked it a little better if the audience had a chance to understand the truth behind the spies actions before things happened. The central themes behind the grim reality of being a spy are there, as is the central idea of playing the 'joker game', one of deception and knowing who is on which side.
Sound: Jazzy opening aside, the soundtrack for this anime is subdued, with only a few recurring piano pieces and a few tense themes for certain moments. Instead, this anime is carried solely by its compelling dialogue between characters, and to me, it just works.
Overall Enjoyment:
Joker Game to me was a fun series. I went into it without expectations, and I suspect that is why I enjoyed it more than most. I appreciated it for what it was, and followed each story to the end, ready for another one, wondering where in the world a spies mission would take place. As for it's ending, you could say it was anticlimatic, but I think it just brought its point home as to what is was going to be: a series revolving around the solitary but intriguing life that is a Japanese spy.
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Jun 28, 2016
Joker Game
(Anime)
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Things to consider before watching this series:
-Joker Game is a 12 episode anime based off 4 novels, this anime covers different stories from each novel. These novels were written in an anthology fashion, in other words, multiple short stories that each focus on one of the spies introduced in the first episode and a really non-existent linear plot. -Because of the way this series is written, the anime is largely episodic, with only two short two episode arcs, one at the beginning and one near the end. Also, this anime is the episodic style in which there is no overarching plot, just overarching themes. -This anime, in ... 
Jun 26, 2016
Nousatsu Junkie
(Manga)
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For a first serialization, this is impressive. I first read this a couple of years back, when the complete scanlation was not yet available. I enjoyed it, and when everything was translated read the rest feeling left satisfied. Charming Junkie is a shoujo manga first and foremost, and happens to be one with many shoujo tropes. That being said, the story handles them well, and the cliches are minimal. The story is basically Naka and Umi's journey and growth as models and eventual romance, with many more characters to help or harm them along the way. It's slightly like a coming of age manga in
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