I watched this show while it was airing and found myself drawn in by its strong character writing, eye-catching visuals, and subdued humor (a far cry from the over-the-top gags I often expect from anime). As the episodes went on, the mysteries got deeper, and I began to appreciate the intentional shot compositions, the fun callbacks, and even the slick opening themes. There was a lot to love about Kusuriya no Hitorigoto.
I don’t want to overhype this show, because it’s not for everyone. But for me, it hit all the right spots and quickly became a personal favorite. I highly recommend giving this show
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Dec 27, 2023
The anime version of ReLIFE stays true to the original themes of the manga while condensing the story into a dozen and a half episodes. Watching the characters learn and grow together was a great time, and the anime improved the frustratingly glacial pace of the manga. However, many conflicts from the source material were completely omitted, resulting in a story where several characters, particularly one of the protagonists, feel underdeveloped. Some of the trimmed content may have been more pivotal to the story than the anime production team realized.
I would still recommend the anime over the manga, especially for its first season. Neither version ... 
Sep 18, 2023
Lv1 Maou to One Room Yuusha
(Anime)
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I went into this one expecting mediocrity, especially given its mundane premise, blobby visuals, and initially-sub-7 rating, but it proved to be much, much more than that. There are nuanced character motivations, layered political schemes, and a surprising amount of humanization/justification for behavior that normally gets reduced to just "bad" in simpler shows. While no conflicts or plots are taken too seriously, each one gets multiple takes from different perspectives. The two main characters also have great chemistry with each other.
I am recommending this show because it goes well beyond what I had initially expected and far beneath its seemingly surface-level tropes. It reminds me ... 
Aug 31, 2023
Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season
(Anime)
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Mixed Feelings Funny  Preliminary
(6/23 eps)
This show has MULTIPLE kickass openings and endings, crazy high production values, and enough slice-of-life scenes to flesh out its characters. I don't care too much for the magic system, but the animations and effects do a great job of selling it. Jujutsu Kaisen is a beautiful series with outstanding art direction, which lets it stand heads and shoulders above the competition visually.
However, I have trouble taking the main story seriously. It has inconsistent stakes, unbelievably convenient writing, and awkward, start-and-stop pacing. The scattered conflicts feel unsatisfying to follow and silly to the point of breaking my suspension of disbelief. I think I might just ... 
Jul 3, 2023
"Oshi no Ko"
(Anime)
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Recommended Informative 
The characters played off each other well. I thought the story moved forward without rushing. And the art style, animation, and overall production quality all impressed me. I really enjoyed this first season and would highly recommend watching it.
I had only two major complaints. First, the twins' interactions felt somewhat unrealistic--I thought they were too sparse and inconsequential to be believable. Ruby and Aqua somehow avoided learning anything about each other for an entire decade and a half. Brothers and sisters growing up together should have a tremendous impact on each other's lives, reincarnation notwithstanding. And second, I disliked the transitions between the serious, mystery-driven ... 
Feb 5, 2023 Mixed Feelings Informative Well-written 
I watched Aria of a Starless Night (the first SAO Progressive movie) two months ago, and I was pleasantly surprised by that movie's solid writing and beautiful visuals. Its thoughtful retcons made the overall story of SAO more coherent and satisfying, so I was looking forward to what Scherzo of Deep Night (this second Progressive movie) would bring to the table.
This follow-up movie had a lot of pieces to pick up, and unfortunately, most of them failed to connect. The pacing of Scherzo is strange, from the out-of-place jokes to the emotional beats that don't receive enough buildup. Compared to the first movie, Scherzo ... 
Dec 19, 2022
Sora yori mo Tooi Basho
(Anime)
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This show is disarming. Pretending to be a slice-of-life comedy at first, it hides a dramatic, heartfelt story full of personal stakes beneath the surface. The characters are multifaceted, the conflicts are raw, and the resolutions are cathartic. The overall production quality of this anime is also extremely high. I was impressed with the animations and moved by the writing--I cried during each and every episode.
I did not expect A Place Further Than the Universe to become one of my favorites, but it neatly checked off all the boxes for me. I am very happy that I gave this show a chance. 
Nov 20, 2022
Seijo no Maryoku wa Bannou desu
(Anime)
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I did not find this show on my own, nor was it recommended to me by a friend. Instead, an algorithm suggested it based on how I had rated other anime. I was initially skeptical, and the first episode left a weak impression on me. But I quickly grew to love the mature, relatable characters. They behaved appropriately for their age, acting prudently and with the foresight of grown adults. "The Saint's Power" is refreshingly devoid of the childish schemes, emotional immaturity, and rampant miscommunication which characterize mainstream anime. Also, I found all the characters to be really hot. I suppose algorithms actually can tell
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Oct 17, 2022
I was using Toradora as a background show, as I figured it would be a lighthearted romcom. The premise was cute, and the animation was solid. The characters felt silly and unrealistic at times, but that did not get in the way of a relaxed, slice-of-life style watching experience. Then, Episode 16 hit. The buildup all happened without me noticing. Things got tense, messy, and difficult in a very human sort of way. Something changes after Episode 16, both in terms of the complexities of the characters and the intangible vibes of the show. And more noticeably, the OP and ED are switched out the
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Oct 14, 2022
Xian Wang de Richang Shenghuo 2
(Anime)
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The conflicts are derivative, the audio mixing is inconsistent, and the animation is occasionally sloppy. Many parts of this show seem amateurish on the surface, and I wouldn’t fault anyone for dropping it as a result. But the dialogue is snappy, the characters are lovable, and the grounding in Chinese mythology is cozy. There is a spirited enthusiasm that this messy show has for itself, as if the creators want you to have as much fun as they did making the whole thing. It’s infectious. I am enjoying this show despite its shortcomings, and I look forward to every episode.
Xian Wang is neither innovative nor ... |
